This story will get far more angsty later the first few chapters are just introductions really. Enjoy! Review even if you hated it.
Chapter 2: The Truth Will Out
"Truth is on the march, nothing can stop it now."
Emile Zola
"Severus, it's about Gabriella." Snape stiffened when he heard that name.
"I thought we had an understanding, Albus, that you would never mention her name!" Snape did not say this in his usual sharp manner but rather with a slightly wounded tone, this was almost more than he could bear; the dream and then this!
"I know Severus" said the older man softly "I merely thought that you might wish to be informed that Gabriella is not dead!"
McGonagall gasped. She had been standing at the back of the office, this was news to her, she had just been told to summon Snape- she hadn't known why. "How can that be, Albus?" She asked shakily.
Snape was extremely pale and looked at Dumbledore trying to gauge whether or not the aged wizard was bluffing. His face gave nothing away. Why would he lie about such a thing? With this thought Snape blanched even more, if such a thing were possible.
"Severus, I can assure you that this is not some kind of sick joke." The headmaster now looked at Snape with a slightly hurt expression that made the blood rush once again into the younger wizards cheeks.
"As for your question, Minerva, I will explain."
Dumbledore's story had started on that night; the night when Severus Snape's life had been ruined.
"Let me take you back to that Halloween night" Severus' jaw clenched "I know this will be difficult for you Severus, but you must bear with me. Anyway, as you know that was the night when Charlotte was killed and the night when we assumed that Gabriella had also been killed. You will furthermore know that that Halloween night 15 years ago was also when Voldemort was defeated." Severus looked down at his lap; his wife, his daughter- that bastard! "You already know most of this story so I won't linger on it long. Voldemort went to the Potter's house, killed Lilly and James and then tried to kill Harry. The spell backfired and Voldemort was weakened. In his damaged state he ventured to your house, Severus, hoping that you would be able to brew a potion for him to regain his strength." Snape looked up from his lap, his eyes were blurry. "When he could not find you he took his anger out on your wife and child. When you returned home to find your wife dead and your baby gone you of course believed the worst. You came to me and asked if you could join the Order."
"I already know all of this, headmaster" said Severus, his voice weak.
"I know you do my boy, I know, that is why I have sped through it so. There are, however, things you do not know, things that I myself only found out today. Voldemort did not kill your daughter, Severus, he turned on her as he had turned on the Potter's child and, as was the case with Harry, Ella could not be killed. Can you remember the prophecy, Severus?"
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." Snape remembered.
"As the spell backfired off Ella the effect was so powerful that both she and Voldemort were transported far from that place. Ella is the child the prophecy speaks of, not Potter or Longbottom as we had thought. Ella was born at the end of the seventh month. Severus, that night you told me that you had already been ready to leave the Dark Lord; that you had rebelled against him, three times if I recall." Severus looked shocked and opened his mouth as if to speak but thought the better of it. McGonagall however interject.
"Surely the child in the prophecy would be a boy, Albus?"
"The gender off the child is unimportant, Minerva" Dumbledore said gently. "The prophecy merely speaks of it as a he because males are thought to be the dominant sex. The child was transported to a small village just outside of Plymouth. She is approaching her sixteenth birthday and currently resides with a Mr and Mrs Andrews who adopted her. She attends an all girls Grammar School in the old Devonport and is an extremely bright student."
"How do you know that this girl is my daughter?" Questioned Snape, reviving from his stupor.
"I received this letter this morning" Dumbledore handed the letter, which bore the Ministry seal, to the younger man whose hand was shaking.
It read as follows:-
Headmaster,
It is my grave duty to inform you that a child by the name of Gabriella Snape, now Andrews, has been detected using magic in a Muggle school. Occurrences of this nature must not happen again as they have serious implications on the wizarding community. I suggest that you look into this before the Ministry itself is forced to take action!
Yours Faithfully,
The Minster of Magic
Cornelius Fudge
"A very formal letter from Fudge there, don't you think?" said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling benevolently.
"My daughter is alive" said Snape softly "how did we not hear of her magic before?"
"It is my belief that Charlotte knew what was going to happen, that she would die but her daughter would live. I think that she placed more than a mere protection spell on Ella that night."
"Mage domire" muttered Snape in understanding.
"Your wife always was a brilliant witch" beamed Dumbledore. "She knew that if her daughter was seen to have magic in her then Voldemort could find her. Even as a one year old baby her magic was strong. Charlotte placed the spell on her so that Ella's magic would only appear when she was truly angry or frightened. It would appear that your daughter has always been quite calm up until now!" Dumbledore smiled gently at Snape. Ever since that day fifteen years ago the young man had been bitter with the world. He had been especially hateful towards Harry Potter as he had survived what he thought his daughter had not. It had been bad for Severus, thinking that he had outlived his own child and blaming himself entirely for his family members' deaths. Hopefully he could put that behind him a little now. "Would you like to become reacquainted with your daughter, Severus?"
