(3)Another Snape?
Merida waited at the bottom of the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office. It was the first Sunday of September & it was time to face Percy! She didn't know the password---yet!
"Fire Whiskey!" her father commanded as soon as he appeared.
"What? Not some sort of candy this time?" Merida asked. "Fire Whiskey sure is hot!"
"Candy is to obvious in these dark times!" Snape answered as he began to step onto the twirling staircase. But he suddenly stopped, whirled around & grabbed Merda by the collar! "And how would you know if Fire Whiskey is hot?!" he asked, angrily. "That is a very adult drink! Have you & Potter been doing something you shouldn't?!"
"N-no!" Merida yelped. "I just tried some out of Lupin's glass this morning while he was looking the other way!"
Snape let Merida go. "That mutt!" he groaned. "I must tell him not to leave such things out in the presence of students!" He marched upstairs & entered the office. "Headmaster---!" Snape began but was interrupted by a yelp & several thumps as Merida flipped over back down the stairs! "Meri--? Merida!" Snape yelped as he jumped down after her. He pulled her up. "Merida? Are you alright?"
"Fine!" Merida smiled weakly. "Stairs! Dizzy!" She passed out!
Snape buried his face in his hand as Dumbledore came downstairs, smiling softly! "Oh, don't you laugh!" Snape snapped at him! "This girl is a nightmare!"
"Oh, the joys of fatherhood!" Dumbledore teased.
Snape glared so evilly at him that it would have made Voldomort proud! "Her mother & I didn't cause nearly half as much trouble! I don't know where Merida gets it from!"
"Ha!" Dumbledore scoffed. "When you both were young, you got into plenty of trouble!" Dumbledore reminisced as Snape rolled his eyes. "Bring her upstairs!" Dumbledore returned to his office & created a long sofa. "Put her here!" Dumbledore sat behind his desk.
Snape placed a wet cloth over Merida's face to revive her. "Are you going to help me wake her?" Snape snapped. "Or are you just going to sit there behind your desk & laugh?"
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, content to watch. Snape rolled his eyes at him! "So how are you two getting along?" Dumbledore nodded to Merida.
"We're fine!" Snape pushed aside Merida's hair so the dampness would have a better effect!
"What about you & Petunia?" Dumbledore seemed to be enjoying this!
Snape glowered, furiously squeezing a lock of Merida's hair in his hand! "Ask Potter!" Snape snapped, again! Dumbledore laughed as Merida finally woke up.
"Never put me on those stairs again!" Merida snapped.
"Good, Merlin, my child!" Snape glared at her! "Could you go any lower?!"
At that moment, the door opened & in walked Mr. Weasley with Percy. "There she is!" Percy started for Merida.
Mr. Weasley yanked him back. "You're causing enough trouble, Percy!"
"Glad I'm not the only one with problems!" Snape nodded to Merida as he got up to stand beside Mr. Weasley.
"Trouble?"
"With Fire Whiskey!" Snape raised an eyebrow & glared at Merida.
"I know what that's like!" Mr. Weasley patted Snape on the shoulder in sympathy. "Several times over, in fact!" The two fathers eyed their wayward children disapprovingly!
"Alright, that's enough!" Dumbledore interrupted them. "We were once like them, I'm sure!" he raised an eyebrow. "Now, Percy! Merida! I want you to tell me exactly what happened!" Both started talking at the same time! Dumbledore raised a hand to stop them. "One at a time! Please!"
"Mind your manners, Percy!" Merida ordered. "Ladies first!" Percy scoffed in disbelief!
"Yes, that seems logical!" Dumbledore agreed. Merida tried again & then Percy said his piece.
"She just jumped at me!" Percy finished. "I know she was trying to murder me!"
"Percy!" Merida glowered at him. "Do you honestly think you would still be alive if I had wanted to kill you? I was a PANTHER for Merlin's sake!"
"Yes, Percy!" Dumbledore eyed him closely. In fact, Dumbledore hadn't taken his eyes off Percy since he first arrived. "It does seem unreasonable that you are trying to get rid of Merida," Dumbledore's gazed shifted to Percy's arm. "unless......!" he nodded to Snape.
Percy turned to run, but Snape was on him faster than lighting. "Framing others for your own misdeeds! Trying to get rid of Merida! Friends with Mcn---sir, this man is a Death Eater!" Snape exposed Percy's Mark!
Mr. Weasley gasped in shock! "My son? My own flesh & blood? A Death Ea---I will NEVER speak to you again, Percy Wea---actually forget the Weasley!" Mr. Weasley looked away from him as Snape slammed him into a chair & cast the binding spell on him.
"Leave him here with me, Arthur!" Dumbledore looked sorrowfully at Mr. Weasley.
Snape put a hand on Mr. Weasley's shoulder but couldn't bear to look at him. "Come, Merida!" he said after a moment. "I'll--uh--help you downstairs!" he added awkwardly.
"What?" Ron squeaked. "My own brother? A Death Eater?" Ron burst into tears as Harry put an arm around him.
"My father's a Death Eater!" Merida offered some sympathy even though she knew it was lame.
"Thanks, Merida!" Ron smiled in spite of himself. "But that isn't the same thing! Snape was a spy, not a real Death Eater! Oh, look at me!" Ron pushed Harry away. "I don't even like Percy! Why am I so upset?!"
"Family ties, I guess!" Harry shrugged. "I didn't like Uncle Vernon but still, I didn't want him to be dead!"
"Don't tell Ginny, OK?" Ron asked. "I want to tell her, but later! My sister will be divested!"
"Oh, Harry?" Merida remembered something. "Let's wait to ask about that Prophecy! Dumbledore looked pretty upset! Percy's trial is in two weeks. We can ask then!"
"Good idea!" Harry agreed. "I've got Quidditch practice, anyway! That'll keep me busy for now!" The first game of the season with Gryfindor against Slythering was coming up in a few weeks. Harry could keep himself occupied with Practice for now.
There were no classes Monday morning, for Gryfindor as Quidditch practice began. Oliver Wood was still their captain even though he had finished school last year. But this would be his last year for he would be leaving to train in Professional Quidditch! Unfortunately! It was all he ever babbled about!
"Now seeing that this is my last year with you," Oliver was saying (again!) "we will make it one to remember! Lots of practice & win all our games! I get to say goodbye to my favourite team!" he smiled at them all as everyone smirked & rolled their eyes! "Now today," Oliver went on. "We will--WHAT?! Oh, no! Not again!" Oliver glared at the Slythering team who were also heading for the Pitch to practice! Draco handed over the dreaded note! Oliver glowered as he read it aloud.
I, Professor Severus Snape, must allow the Slythering team to practice today given their need to train their new captain.
"New captain?!" Oliver snarled! "Who now?"
"Me!" Draco smiled smuggly & proceeded to lead his team to the Pitch. Merida blocked his path! "Move, mudblood! I have a note!"
Merida snapped her fingers at Oliver. "Hand over, Oliver! Come, now! Hurry up! You won't get in trouble for it!" Oliver handed her the note. Merida shredded it to powder with more ferociouty than a werewolf! "What note?" she smiled sweetly at Draco! "Got any proof?"
"Wait til my Head Boy hears of this!" Draco yelped. "He'll send a little mudblood like you into Hell!"
"My father & I have been fighting for the past 16 or so years!" Merida smiled. "This is just another round! However, I don't believe Snape will appreciate you calling his daughter mudblooded!"
Oliver leaned so hard on his broom that it snapped in two! He plummeted to the ground while the rest of Gryfindor Team looked at Merida in utter shock, with the exception of Harry, Fred & George! "You're.....father?!?!?!" Oliver squeaked as if he was suffering from a massive strep throat! "Snape?!"
"Yes, he is!" Merida said. "You OK, down there?" Oliver was still lying on the ground but managed to squeak a yes!
The Slythering Team, however burst out laughing! "Oh, Miss Snape!" Draco was rolling on the ground. "That was the biggest lie I ever heard! I'd like to see you call him father to his face!"
"Keeping laughing!" Merida crossed her arms. "I can prove myself easily! Pity," she sneered in a Snape-ish voice. "to bad your father is in Azkaban! You could have asked him!"
Draco jumped up! "You'll pay for that, mudblood!" he threatened as he led his team away! Talking of his father always upsetted him now.
"Nice one!" Oliver laughed as he led his team into the changing rooms. "Miss Snape! Can't believe I LITERALLY fell for that!" He pulled out his wand to fix his broom. "I should have realised you were playing with Draco!"
"Um---!" Merida glanced to Harry, Fred & George for support.
Oliver went silent a moment. "You....You mean...it's true?"
"Yes, it is!" Harry & Merida said at the same time.
"WHAT?!" Oliver dropped his broom. "When did this happen?!"
"Uh---16 years ago?" Merida smiled awkwardly!
"Oooooooohhhhh! NOT that!" Oliver went red with embarrassment! "I mean--er--uh--what DO I mean?!"
Harry, Fred, George & Merida laughed at Oliver & then told him " the rest of the Team everything!
Oliver collapsed onto a bench. "I don't belie--I just can't believe it! You're nothing like him!"
"Take after my mother, I guess!" Merida shrugged.
"Oliver?" Harry tried bringing him back to reality. "Quidditch Practice? Anytime now?"
"Hmm?" Oliver looked up. "Wha--oh! Yeah! Right! Let's go!"
"I'll watch from the stands!" Merida ran outside.
The Gryfindors had afternoon classes after practice. Potions was one of them! "Just you wait for tomorrow morning, Miss Hepburn!" Snape warned. "You are going to learn one way or another! How dare you destroy my note?" Draco was grinning widely as Snape spoke!
"Quit undermining my House, father!" Merida glanced sideways to Draco! "You promised me you'd treat Gryfindor better & then you break it? Are we Snapes not true to our vows?"
"Merida Hepburn Snape! It's not my fault Draco got promoted!" Snape glared at her. "What's wrong with you, Mr. Malfoy?"
"IthinkI'mgonnabesick!!" Draco yelped quickly!
"Oh? Well, use that old cauldron over there, then!" Snape returned to his desk & ignored Draco. At least, he tried ignoring him! Crash! Draco lay, passed out, on the floor! "Good grief!" Snape jumped up from his desk! "The rest of you, stay put while I carry Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing!" He scooped up Draco & headed for the door. "Tomorrow morning, Merida! You are going to get it!" he threatened as he left!
"I wonder what he's planning?" Merida muttered darkly to Harry, Ron & Neville on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast the next day.
"Who knows?" Harry sat down at the Gryfindor table.
"Well," said Neville. "he's up there as usual!" He pointed to the teachers table, where Snape was talking to Dumbledore. "Hey, it's a bit early for mail!"
"Oh, it's Peeps!" Merida cleared a spot for her barn owl to land. Peeps extended her leg to which a fancy red envelope was tied. Merida suddenly recognized it & let out a gasp. "He wouldn't?" She looked ahead to her father but Snape was keeping his eyes firmly on Lupin, pretending not to notice the commotion at Gryfindor Table!
"Oh, my Merlin!" Harry yelped. "It's a Howler!"
"Open it quick!" Neville shrieked. "They're ten times worse if they open themselves!" Merida did so as laughter could be heard from all tables!
MERIDA HEPBURN SNAPE!!!
The laughter turned to gasps of shock! Another Snape?
HOW DARE YOU DESTROY MY NOTE!!! I AM SO UPSET!!! YOU WILL SPEND A MONTH OF DETENTION WITH ME ONCE YOUR TERM WITH MINERVA IS FINISHED!!
The letter turned to Harry.
YOU'RE A BAD INFLUENCE ON MY DAUGHTER, HARRY POTTER!!!
It returned to Merida who was nearly strangling poor Peeps to death in her shocked grasp on the owl!
SEE YOU IN DETENTION NEXT MONTH!!! DON'T DISAPPOINT ME AGAIN, MERIDA HEPBURN SNAPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Howler tore itself up into nothing. Dead silence followed. "Well," Merida said to no one in particular as she glanced around, trying not to look at Snape! "The whole school knows now!"
"I got what I deserved!" Merida muttered to Harry as they left the Great Hall. "He does something that makes me mad! I attack! He retaliates back! It's a vicious circle!" Merida sighed. Will we ever connect? Secretly, deep down inside, Merida did want a father. After losing a family twice in a row, Professor Snape was all she had left! "He's just so stubborn & stiff & cruel &....I know! You can probably say the same about me! Lupin did!"
"You? Cruel?" Harry repeated. "No I wouldn't say that! But stubborn perhaps!" Merida rolled her eyes.
"It's very easy to like Snape," Neville teased. "except when it's---uh---difficult!"
"Silence, Nev'!" Merida snapped. "Before I bust your fangs off!" Neville covered his mouth to hide his grinning! Ron & Harry snickered behind her! "Let's get to class!" Merida ordered.
