Chapter 31

"What's taking so bloody long?" Harry exclaimed, jumping up from the sofa.

He couldn't believe that Sirius actually thought that he'd stay away from the house when Isabelle was in danger. A knot formed in his stomach. How could he just wait here when a madman was attacking his pregnant aunt? He paced up and down the room, feeling like a caged beast.

"Phillip and Bill left just five minutes ago," Hermione pointed out quietly.

"I say we go after them," Stephen said angrily. "I'll kill him myself."

"Stephen!" Harry, Hermione and Ron exclaimed simultaneously.

"What? He killed my whole family! Mom, Dad, M.J. and Rose. And, Aunt Sarah Lindsay, Uncle Thomas and Carrie. Do you know what he used to do to Aunt Isabelle?" the little boy screamed.

The teenagers looked at each other wearily. Stephen was more than a little wound up, but they stayed quiet and let him vent.

"He beat her! He hit the nicest, most wonderful person ever. I want him to die. No, I want him to suffer first. I want him to hurt just like he hurt Aunt Isabelle."

"Well, I can't argue with you there," Harry muttered underneath his breath.

"Me, either," Ron agreed. Hermione burst into tears.

"I saw him h-hit her," she sobbed. "He threw her on the floor and ch-choked her, too. And, I didn't do anything! I just sat there and watched the whole thing. This is all my fault."

Harry rushed over to her and led her to the sofa. "Hermione, look at me. You didn't attack her. This isn't your fault. Aunt Isabelle's smart. Do you know what she was probably doing?"

"What?" she sniffled.

"Trying to give him a false sense of confidence so that he'd start bragging. If she looked weak, then he'd toy with her a bit and tell her some useful information. There was nothing you could've done to help her. Sergei Remizov is pure evil. The minute he saw you, he tried to kill you, remember?"

She nodded, beginning to sob again. "And Vi-Viktor died instead of me! It's all my fault he was there, anyway."

"And, it's my fault Cedric ended up in that cemetery last year," Harry said flatly, staring at the wall, trying to block unpleasant memories that threatened to overcome him.

"Why us? Why does Voldemort want to kill us?" Hermione wailed.

"I don't know. I just don't know," he replied.

Ron looked at his friend jealously, wishing he were the shoulder she was crying on. While he knew that Harry understood exactly what she was going through, he couldn't help feeling excluded. He set his jaw and decided to go to Phillip's study to do work. As he stood to leave, Hermione jumped up and ran into his arms.

"Please don't go," she begged. "I need you."

I need you. Those words echoed through this head over and over as he fought to keep from grinning like a little boy. He quietly held her as she cried, burying his head in her hair to hide how happy her simple words made him.

Ron didn't know how much time had passed until he heard the front door slam with a loud bang. To his dismay, Hermione instantly broke away from him and hurried towards the front hallway. Before she reached the doorway, Phillip and Bill stormed inside the room. Both men looked incredibly irate.

"What's going on?" Harry asked calmly, trying not to provoke either of them. "We're not completely sure," Bill answered through clenched teeth. "All we know is that Remizov and Krum are dead, and Isabelle's in a coma."

Hermione gasped loudly. "Can we go see her?"

"I don't see why not." Phillip huffed. "The person to ask is Sirius, and he's nowhere to be found. So yeah, I guess y'all are free to return to the castle." They didn't need to be told twice. Harry, Hermione and Ron bolted for the door, partially because they were eager to see Isabelle. And partially to get away from Phillip and Bill, who were still fuming.

By the time they reached the hospital wing, all three teenagers were completely out of breath and panting heavily. So, they paused to compose themselves before rounding the hallway to battle Madame Pomfrey, who surely was guarding Isabelle vigilantly.

"Excuse me?" a snide voice traveled down the corridor. "Just what do you think you're doing here?"

"I have just as much of a right to be here as you do, Snape. Move," a low voice growled.

"The last thing Isabelle needs right now is you. Every time she's ever been in danger you have failed her miserably. So why don't you take a leaf out of your own book and do something entirely self-fulfilling?"

"Wow, that's harsh," Ron whispered.

"Shhh!" Hermione hissed back. "Do you know what'll happen if we're caught here? Papa told me to stay at Phillip's until--"

"Oh, sod off, will you? It's a little obvious that Sirius forgot us, isn't it? So, if we get caught, we have a perfectly reasonable excuse – visiting Aunt Isabelle. And I wish those gits would move so I can do exactly that," Harry said angrily.

"Maybe we should just come back later," Hermione said in a small voice. Today had already been more than traumatic enough for her. Overhearing her father argue with Professor Snape wasn't exactly on her list of fun things to do with her evening. She began to quietly back down the corridor, when Ron grabbed one arm and Harry grabbed the other.

"Where do you think you're going?" Harry asked, astonished that she would pass up eavesdropping on the fight of the century.

"Nowhere, it seems," she answered gloomily.

"I'm weak?" they heard Snape scoff loudly.

"That's right," Sirius said calmly. "And a coward. Sneaking around, nosing in other people's business. Come to think of it, you've always been like that, haven't you?"

"And, you've always selfishly disregarded the consequences of your actions." "I wish that James hadn't saved you that night," he spat.

"Funny, he said the same thing. Regina thought differently."

"Don't you ever say her name in front of me."

"I thought that you'd like to know how reckless and impulsive she thought you were. I'm sure you're wondering how I would know that, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," he answered in a menacing tone. Hermione got a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. This was not good.

"Because she told me the next day. That's right, Black – Regina and I spent quite a bit of time together when we were students here."

"You're a bloody liar."

"Am I?" Severus seethed. "When you were out shagging your flavor of the week, Regina was with me. How does it feel to know that you got the sloppy seconds?"

Harry and Hermione both gasped, looking at each other in astonishment. They both wondered what Snape meant by that comment, and crept closer so that they could hear more clearly. It wasn't necessary.

The sound of Sirius punching him squarely in the jaw echoed throughout the corridor. Severus laughed wryly.

"Truth hurts, doesn't it? Regina wanted a man who hasn't been with every woman in existence. Things haven't changed a bit through the years," he mused. "You're so pathetic that you shagged Isabelle the first chance that you got. The only person you've ever raised, and you couldn't wait to jump in bed with her, could you?"

"My relationship with Isabelle is not your concern," he answered through clenched teeth.

"Actually, it has always been my concern. I should thank her, really. You abandoned Regina all those years ago to stay with her in Dover, and sent the supposed great love of your life to another continent, alone."

"I had no choice, and you know that. Isabelle needed me, and Regina understood that. You took advantage of the situation."

"Took advantage of what? It just kills you that she loved me first, doesn't it? In every sense of the word," he said suggestively, making Hermione's stomach churn. "I didn't have to trick her into marrying me, unlike some people."

"She left you." Sirius spoke slowly and clearly to drive in the point. "You stole her! You couldn't stand that fact that she actually married me, so you blackmailed us both. Poor, trusting Regina believed your pack of lies. I bet there was no arrest warrant, or any danger to her at all."

"There wouldn't have been if you had been a proper husband to her and kept her away from those druggie friends of yours."

Husband? Hermione's mind whirled. Her mother was married to Professor Snape? Why hadn't anyone mentioned this before? she wondered, feeling incredibly ill.

"A proper husband? I did everything I could to keep her away from those drugs. When she got sick, I sold my soul to evil itself to take care of her. You didn't have to watch her waste away in that hospital bed."

"You didn't hold her as she took her last breath."

"No, and what I would've given for that privilege, you selfish," he proceeded to swear a litany of curses that made all three teenagers blush profusely.

"You killed her!" Sirius thundered. "You introduced her to the drug scene. You let her become an addict, and you didn't take her to a doctor when she started acting sick. Why didn't you come to her parents when she was dying in a Muggle hospital bed? They would've moved heaven and earth for her, but no, you decided to take care of the problem yourself. Good job."

"At least I had the good sense not to start a family with a woman who had chronic heart disease. The doctors told her not to have children back in New York. That baby of yours killed her, not anything that I did."

"Don't you ever say that again," he said in a dangerously quiet tone. "Regina died of a staph infection; my daughter had nothing to do with it. If I had known that my wife had heart trouble, maybe I would've done things differently. I never planned to be the single father of an extremely premature baby, but that's how it ended up. I don't regret having Gracie for a second. Children are a gift, Snape, and sometimes they come at a high price. That doesn't make them a mistake. You can't blame the sins of the mother on the child."

"How incredibly poetic of you," Severus said sarcastically.

"Thank you," he answered in an equally facetious voice. "You're so jealous of me that you can't see straight. You can't stand it that Regina chose to have a family with me. So, what did you do? You stole my whole damn family right from underneath my nose. I bet it was real fun all of those years, wasn't it? Did you have a good laugh when you dropped off my daughter with complete strangers? Or, when you took Isabelle away to America? Knowing all those years that I mourned their deaths, when they were very much alive? What about how you let me rot in Azkaban, when you knew I was innocent!"

"Innocent? Nothing you have ever done is innocent. Why would I believe the story of a traumatized sixteen-year-old girl? As for raising Isabelle, yes, I did enjoy raising her. She was a fun kid; you know that as well as I do. You abandoned them, Black. You should be grateful that I saved their little lives and bothered to make sure that they were taken care of."

Sirius snorted. "Bet you just loved the fact that I walked in front of my own child for years and didn't recognize her, thanks to you! And, I really appreciate you changing her name. Nice touch."

"I thought so," Severus said snidely. "Be happy I reversed the Fidelius Charm so that you could attempt to salvage what's left of your pathetic life. Trust me, I wouldn't have done it if I knew what you were going to do to Isabelle. She deserves much better than you. It's your fault that she turned out the way she did."

"No, I think that damage was done long before my time. All I ever tried to do was do right by her. I'm not perfect, and I've never pretended to be. But, I raised her the best way that I could. What she deserves is someone who loves her unconditionally, and tries to make her happy."

"And you think that you fit that description?" Severus asked in a mixed tone of sarcasm and skepticism.

"Yes, I do," he said flatly.

"All you've ever done is hurt her and let her down. Every time that she's needed you the most, you've never been there. But, funny how when you need help, she drops everything for you. News flash, Black – she had a life before last July. She had friends, a career, an entire life that nothing to do with you. And, she gave it all up, knowing that her psychotic ex-husband would come after her. She's laying there, nearly dead, because of you!"

"No, she's laying there because that psycho attacked her. We both know that it was just a matter of time before he found her in Virginia, and so did Isabelle. She didn't have anything to lose by revealing her identity, but she had a whole hell of a lot to gain. Like her family. Have you ever taken the time to watch her with the children? Being with them brings her a joy that I've never seen her had, and I bet deep down in your pitch-black, callous heart, you know that I'm telling the truth."

"And," Sirius continued, "I wouldn't be so smug if I was you. Where were you when Remizov threw her into prison? Oh, sorry, nowhere to be found. What about when Malfoy preyed on her? You didn't lift a finger to help her. I think what was going on was pretty damn obvious. He treated Isabelle about as well as his house elf. She gets up enough courage to leave whole situation, and ends up barely alive. Then you show up."

"I didn't just 'show up'. Who do you think kept Remizov from finding her? Who comforted her as she watched her daughter slowly die? I did. I went with her to bury Kate, and I took care of her when she couldn't even walk. I was there for her when she needed me, which is more than I can say for you."

"I would have been there if I had known! Don't you think I know how much it hurts to watch someone you love die, and know there's not a thing you can do to stop it? Or how it feels to mourn a child? Not to mention that I certainly can relate to the long-term effects of being thrown into Azkaban when you haven't done anything wrong. Isabelle and I are soul mates, Snape, and nothing you say will change that."

"Only because you can't keep your bloody hands off her. You raised her!" he reminded Sirius. "Doesn't that make you feel the least bit guilty?"

"Of course it did! And, still does, although that's not your business."

"Amazing how a tumble or two can wash away shame."

Sirius had finally had enough of Severus' sanctimonious attitude. "There is nothing shameful about Isabelle, or with being with her. Regina herself tried to tell me shortly before she died that I'd fall for Isabelle, but I didn't believe her. I tried to adopt her, for Christ's sake! The last thing I ever expected was to feel this way, but I do."

"What would Regina know, anyway?" he asked, clearly rattled.

"More than we ever will. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that she could See. Not as much as Mummy P did, but she Saw enough. The Sight is a family trait on her mother's side," Sirius explained curtly.

Hermione fell to the floor limply and put her head in her hands. Earlier that day, she recognized Isabelle as the woman from her dreams. Now, she realized that she wasn't having dreams at all. They were memories of her childhood. And, the 'dreams' about the future weren't dreams, either. They were visions, just like she suspected. A funny smile passed over her face.

Take that, Trelawney, she thought spitefully. I am a Seer, which makes you a big, fat phony.

As Severus viciously responded to Sirius' statement, Professor Dumbledore quietly walked past the three eavesdroppers. He rounded the corner and cleared his throat to get their attention. Both men immediately fell silent, not wanting to argue in front of the headmaster.

Knowing that the argument was as good as over, Harry tugged on Ron and Hermione's robes so that they could leave the hospital wing before anyone else caught them. He practically had to carry his traumatized cousin into the hallway, followed by a suspiciously calm Ron, who acted unsurprised during the whole argument.

When the trio snuck into the empty common room, Hermione completely broke down, shattered by the events of the day. She desperately wished that she could go back to bed, pull the covers over her head, and pretend like today didn't happen. Like it was a horrible dream. Except, she reminded herself, my nightmares become real.

Somehow she managed to walk to a couch, surrounded by Harry on one side and Ron on the other. No one said a word for several minutes, each afraid to break the silence. That, and no one knew quite what to say.

"Um, Hermione?" Harry said gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"What's there to say? Once again, my entire concept of reality has been turned upside down. I hate her. I hate her so much that I can barely see straight."

"Hate who?" Ron asked. Harry winced and sat back, bracing for the storm.

"My mother," she spat. "How could she run off and marry that – that – ooh! I hate him, too. They deserved each other. I don't feel sorry for Snape one little bit, and I'm not wasting any more tears on my mother. She lied to my father for years about being sick. I'm glad she's dead; Papa deserves so much better than her."

"Hermione!" Harry admonished her, flabbergasted. She turned and looked him straight in the eye.

"He does. All he ever did was worship the ground my mother walked on. And, that's how she repays him? She makes me sick."

"Aren't you being a little hard on her? I mean, Sirius did ditch her for Isabelle way back when. Maybe Snape was different back then," Ron offered, trying to calm Hermione down and make her see some sort of reason.

"Isabelle was an orphaned eight-year old girl who couldn't even communicate with anyone except for my father. And, he was the only person that she trusted. What do you know about my family, anyway?" she snorted, suddenly tired of his attitude.

More than you know, love, Ron thought, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.

"What? You knew about Snape and Aunt Regina all this time, and you didn't tell us?" Harry exclaimed, staring at his friend disbelievingly.

He didn't realize what he was saying, or the possible consequences of his words until it was too late. Hermione looked at Ron with a mixed look of rage and devastation. He looked at Harry, opening and closing his mouth, attempting to find his voice.

"Is that true?"

Ron looked into her wounded eyes, and wanted to lie. But, he just couldn't. "Yes."

"How?" she pressed.

Harry wanted the floor to swallow him whole. It really wasn't their business how Ron figured things out before they did, and it certainly wasn't fair to use his own thoughts against him. Especially since he knew what was coming next, and it wasn't going to be pretty.

"Attorney-client privilege," he said simply. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. It's illegal."

"You lied to me. Lie by omission is still a lie, and I don't really care about your precious attorney-client privilege. This is my life, my family, which we're talking about here! I knew it was a little funny that you didn't seem at all surprised back there in the hospital wing."

"Hermione, please let me explain," he begged. She shot him a look of pure venom.

"I don't want to hear another word from you, ever. I thought we had something, Ron. Something special, but I was so wrong. To think, I was going to dump Viktor today for you. He died for me. What have you done for me? Hidden the truth about my own family."

She stood up and wiped the tears off her face. "I gave you everything I had, and I wish to everything holy that I could take it back. All of those late night talks and endless study sessions – wasted time. Not to mention my heart; I gave that to you and you just stomped on it."

"This isn't my fault," Ron protested lamely. "I didn't do anything wrong, here. Stop blaming me for what Sirius didn't tell you. Obviously he had a good reason not to, because you're certainly not taking the news well. Put yourself in my place for a minute. If I told you that your mother married Snape, then I'd be breaking ethics laws. I want to be a lawyer, Hermione. And part of that is keeping your mouth shut, even when you don't want to. Don't you think that I wanted to tell you? Of course I did! I started to tell you a thousand times."

"What stopped you?" she fumed.

"The idea of being brought up on ethics charges. Not to mention what Sirius would do to me if he found out that I told you. I love you more than anything, and the last thing that I ever wanted to do was to hurt you. Please believe me," he said quietly.

"How can I? What else are you hiding from me? I don't trust you, and I don't think I ever will again."

Harry watched in horror as Hermione stood up and ran out of the common room, bawling. Without even looking in his direction, Ron headed for their dorm room, wiping away his own tears before walking up the staircase. Between causing his best friends to break up, and his Aunt Isabelle being in a coma, this was by far the worst day in Harry's life.

-----

"Come on, Harry, you have to eat something," Ginny coaxed him, trying to tempt him with his favorite pudding. He had barely eaten a thing in days, and was beginning to worry her.

"I'm not hungry," he said listlessly, staring blankly at his Astronomy notes.

"You sound just like Ron," she remarked, knowing that they weren't on speaking terms.

"How is he?"

"Well, considering that he's barely left his bed for days, hasn't eaten anything and refuses to talk about it, I'd say he's doing pretty badly."

"It's all my fault," Harry said, putting his head in his hands. "Me and my big mouth."

"Pretty much," Ginny agreed.

"Thanks for the support."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"True."

"You know that Ron thinks that you're mad at him, too," she said casually. Harry's head shot up.

"What? I thought that he was mad at me."

"Nope. Just heartbroken. He must really have it bad for Hermione. I've never seen him cry before."

Harry felt even more awful, and swore to watch what he said more carefully from now on. Ginny smiled at him sympathetically, knowing how horrible he must feel.

"How's Isabelle?" she asked conversationally, changing the subject.

"The same," he replied, frustrated. "None of the doctors Sirius keeps shipping in knows why she's in a coma. All they say is that the more time she's unconscious, the less likely it is that she'll ever wake up. Cheerful thought, huh?"

"Are you going to go visit her today?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, after Quiddich practice."

"Want company?"

"Sure," he said gratefully, wondering what he would do without Ginny's support. "It's so funny how someone you've known for less than a year can become so much a part of your life that you can't imagine living without them."

"Well, don't imagine it because she'll snap out of the coma in no time," she said reassuringly.

"She shouldn't even be in that coma! It's all my fault, Virginia."

"How? You didn't force her to marry that abusive git."

"No, but she stayed married to him because of me. Because my life was in danger, she was gathering information to protect me. She's been helping me all these years, and I didn't know it. I didn't know that she even existed!"

"So, you shouldn't feel guilty, Harry. She wanted to help you, or she wouldn't have bothered. That's what families do – they help each other."

"Who helps Aunt Isabelle?" he roared, venting his anger at both Sirius and Professor Snape. "Who's looking out for her? They sure aren't!"

Knowing exactly whom he was talking about, Ginny chose her words carefully. "Then it's a good thing she can count on you. Speaking of counting on people, why don't you go talk to Ron? I think he could really use you right about now."

"Yeah, you're right. I seriously owe him an apology."

"Damn straight." She giggled at the shocked look on his face. "What? You wrecked my brother's love life. What did you expect me to say?"