Thanks to Ru, you totally rock!

Chapter 9: You Learn Something New Every Day

Harry quickly picked up the game while Morgan and Hermione scrambled to their seats. Albus conjured up a chair for Severus, but he chose to remain standing.

"Professor Snape has just returned from the Death Eater meeting. Before you ask, he has heard nothing about Mister Weasley. His information does, however, pertain to Miss Granger."

"Yes. The Dark Lord was thrilled that I was able to secure you so quickly. He wanted me to bring you before him at the next meeting," Hermione gasped when she heard this, "but I was able to convince him that, given your stubborn nature, it would be wiser to wait until sometime after the wedding. Luckily for us, he agreed." Severus tried to remain standing, but found it too difficult. He slowly eased himself into the chair Albus had conjured.

"Yes, well, the school year begins in two weeks. The three of you will remain here until that time. Hermione, Harry, Arthur and Molly Weasley will take you both to Diagon Alley later in the week to retrieve your school things. For now, I would like the two of you to go to Gryffindor Tower where you will be staying, Minerva is waiting for you outside. Morgana, I would like you to stay behind for a few moments." Hermione and Harry grabbed their things and, after a backward glance at Morgan, left the room.

Morgan now sat alone in a room with Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Morgan had always prided herself of her ability to remain calm in some rather stressful or odd situations, but with everything that had happened to her recently, she couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"Relax Morgana, you are perfectly safe here," Albus said.

"I know, but for some reason I'm nervous. I know it's silly, but I really don't know what to expect," she responded.

"There is nothing to be nervous about. Severus and I only wish to discuss the necessary changes that will be made in order for you to remain here with Hermione."

"What kind of changes are those?" Morgan asked with trepidation.

"First, we are going to have to change your appearance," Albus answered.

"Why?"

"Because I was able to find out which Death Eaters carried out the attack on your family. Some of them have children that attend the school and as 'concerned' parents they tend to drop by unannounced on occasion," Severus said, making his way into the conversation. Before Morgana could ask another question, Severus began speaking. "I have a sister," he said, "who disappeared over twenty years ago. All efforts to find her failed. With some slight modifications, using a permanent glamour charm, you will easily be able to pass for her daughter. We might also have to change your name."

"I understand and I'm sorry about your sister."

"Morgana, you have had a hard day and now you have a lot to think about. I will escort you to Gryffindor Tower and we can continue this discussion in the morning. Severus, I'd like you to wait here for me." And with that, Albus swept Morgan and her things out of the room and took her to Gryffindor tower where Harry and Hermione were anxiously waiting for her.

Hermione and Harry were sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room when Morgan entered. Harry waited until the portrait hole had closed before turning to her and asking, "What was that about?"

"Nothing really, Albus said that they need to change my name as well as my physical appearance before school starts."

"Does that bother you?" Hermione asked her friend.

"A little, but I understand the it is vital to keeping me safe. So when I consider the options it doesn't really bother me." Hermione hugged her friend and then brought her things upstairs. She used her wand to put away Morgan's things. Upon returning to the common room Hermione saw Morgan and Harry in a deep conversation about losing their parents. Instead of interrupting, Hermione decided to go upstairs and do some reading.

"I know it must be hard for you Harry, but it's easier for you, you never knew your parents. I lost my entire family and I grew up with them. It's hard when someone you know dies, but it's so much harder when they were your entire universe. I keep forgetting that I'm never going to see them again, and I have so many regrets. I regret all the fights I had with my little sister over nothing. I regret all the times I told my parents that I hated them and that they were the worst parents ever, and I regret not hugging them, kissing them, and telling them that I love them before I left the house that day."

"At least you know what they were like. I'll never really know. People can tell my all about them, but it's never the entire picture. And you have memories. You have like a billion memories of you family, I have none."

"I'm sorry Harry," Morgan said as she pulled him into a hug. "I should have never tried to compare the two situations, they are both equally horrible and unfair." Morgan moved to pull out of the hug, but Harry kept her there.

"It's nice to have someone that knows what you are going through," he said, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek when he had finished. Harry and Morgan sat like that in front of the fire for what seemed like hours.

When Albus returned to his office he found Severus, despite his earlier lack of energy, pacing the floor. Albus observed Severus for a few moments before moving to sit behind his desk. "I know what you are thinking, Severus," he said after clearing his throat.

"Do you?" Severus said curtly. He continued pacing the floor.

"You are thinking about Viviane," Albus declared.

"So what if I am? It doesn't matter, she's been gone twenty years, it's not like she's going to just re-appear." Severus threw himself into a chair. "I just wish I knew why she left or where she went."

"Do you have any guesses as to why she left? Your sister was a very levelheaded girl, I doubt she would just leave without a reason."

"I can't think of a reason now, nor could I when she left." He dropped his head into his hands.

"Your mother and father didn't seem to concerned when she left, did they?" If Severus had bothered to look up he would have seen a knowing twinkle in Albus' eyes. As it was, Severus was too busy re-living the memory of his sister's disappearance.

"No, but you know how they were, Summanus was too busy dealing with the family finances and social standing to care about us, and Igraine was too consumed with her social life. Every time I asked them what happened to her they just shut me down and told me to go back to worrying about my NEWTS." Severus looked up at Albus and caught the twinkle in his eyes. "You know something that you aren't telling me," he accused.

"I know many things that I keep from you Severus, but yes, there is something I'm hiding from you, and yes, it does concern your sister."

"Tell me what you know!" Severus demanded.

"I think it would be best if I were to show you," Albus said. He rummaged through his desk and pulled out a rather old looking letter and handed it to Severus.

Severus opened the letter and read it to himself.

Dear Headmaster Dumbledore,

You once told me that I was to contact you immediately if I ever needed your help. What I need from you is a promise.

The other day I got a letter from my father. He began with the usual inquiries of my health and my activities. He asked me if I was enjoying my work with the Ministry, which requires me to spend a year living completely as a muggle. He then said that although Muggle Studies is a field of work which he would never have chosen for me, he is proud of my dedication to the job and the hard work and effort that I put into it. He then continued the letter with updates on the family. All in all it was a typical letter from him. It was when I got to the end of the letter that I realized that this was not just a typical letter from my father.

At the end of the letter my father informed me that I have been betrothed to one Lucius Malfoy, a student in school with my brother Severus, since the boy was born. He then told me that the marriage is to take place once my working sabbatical is over in two months. While I would normally be happy to do as my father tells me to do, I'm afraid that I have already fallen in love with a muggle and plan on marrying him. When I told my father this he became furious. He told me that I will marry my intended or I will be disowned from the family and I must never contact anyone in the family again.

That was the last time I spoke to my father or anyone else in my family. While I still love them all dearly, I can not bear the thought of being married to anyone other than my love. So it is with a heavy heart that I leave the wizarding world forever. And it is with that saddened heart that I must ask you to promise me something. I love my brother Severus dearly and I know that my sudden departure will upset him. I know full well that my parents will make no mention to him why I left, In fact, they will most likely act as if my leaving is a complete shock to them. Severus will most likely try to find me, and I need you to promise that you will hinder his attempts and try to keep him from looking for me. I also ask that you promise not to tell him where I have gone or why. I know that I am asking a lot of you, but I would not do it if I didn't think that it was absolutely necessary. I know that I can trust you and I thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Viviane Snape

Severus stared at the letter in shock. His parents had never told him anything about his sister's disappearance and now her understood why. He didn't doubt that his sister's choice to marry a muggle over a pureblood would bring his parents shame. He also didn't doubt that in that situation his parents would cut all ties with his sister. But as he sat there staring at the letter, he had to wonder why his sister didn't want him to know what had happened to her.

As if reading Severus' mind, Albus was quick to speak. "She loved you very much, Severus, and she didn't want you thinking any less of her or your parents. She didn't want you to fight with them because of her."

"That was not the last time you heard from her, was it?"

"No, I've kept in contact with her over the years. She married that muggle and had two daughters, both of whom had magical powers and were accepted to this school. I tried to convince her to send them to the school but she refused, saying that she was a muggle and that her children would be muggles too."

"Why are you telling me all of this Albus, if you promised her you wouldn't tell me?" Severus was on the verge of tears. He was relieved to know what had happened to his sister, but at the same time he was heartbroken that she didn't want him to be a part of her life.

"When she began living as a muggle for the Ministry she assumed the name Nicolette Martin. The muggle she fell in love with was Mark Smith they married and had a daughter over seventeen years ago. Shortly after their daughter was born they were all killed in a car crash. I'm telling you this because we will be able to pass Morgana off as your niece," Albus spoke in a saddened monotone voice.

"Albus, was she happy?"

"Viviane? Yes she was. In all the years that I had the privilege of knowing her I had never seen her so happy."

"Albus, although I am angry that you didn't tell me sooner, thank you for telling me what happened to my sister." Severus stood up and swept out of the room leaving Albus very stunned. The huge blow-up and hurling of hexes that Albus expected never came from Severus; instead there was a wave of grief and sorrow.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I write and post faster when I get more reviews. Just something for you to think about. The next chapter is ready to go, but I'm leaving for college on Saturday so I might not get it up before then. If I don't manage to post the chapter before Saturday then you guys are going to have to wait at least two weeks for it. I'll see what I can do.

Also, when I get my new computer I'll be able to reply to my reviews again.