Forgotten Memories, Painful Past
Chapter Seven
Forgotten Memories
Katya shook her head softly, "It is no matter, Severus. You were my friend and my confidant and my lover... I would like that memory to remain amiable."
He frowned, not accepting this as an answer. "If you trusted me then, why not trust me now?"
"Because you hurt me!" she shot accusingly, spinning around. Her hair flung around and in to her face before calming back to its previous position. "Dammit, Severus, you hurt me..." she repeated in a faint whisper.
That was one thing he had not quite expected. He had not thought their sudden split eighteen years ago had hurt her. Was that selfish of him? "Who were you talking about?"
Raine watched him, tears dangling perilously along her bottom eyelid. "Eva and Serviath."
His brow furrowed, "The new transfer students? What about them?"
"Their last name... It's false. I was going to register them under Pietrovich but I knew you and the other teachers would know..."
"Pietrovich," he repeated, letting it all sink in. Gulping heavily at all the haunting doors this revelation threw open, he stormed out of the room. His cloak waved good-bye as he vanished through the doorway.
Spending several moments composing herself, Miss Sullivan headed down to lunch. She had given Serviath the newest plans for the secret class, he was to relay them to Harry via Ron, who he'd become rather fond of. The boys, being two of maybe seven red-heads in their entire class, naturally fit well. Serviath was more intellectual, so it was easy to mediate between Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley. A smile cracked over Raine's lips, she was glad Serviath had found good friends. Eva, on the other hand, worried her desperately. Miss Bullstrode and Miss Parkinson were not her prime picks for Eva to befriend. Hopefully, she would not go near Draco Malfoy. Raine shuddered at the though. Lucius had done so much damage... Draco would be no different.
Taking her mind off her worries, she put on a grand smile and walked in to the Hall. Seating herself at the head table, she ignored Mr. Cornwell's sharp eye. Bastard. If he thinks he can come to Hogwarts and tinker with her curriculum... He had another thing coming. "Illegitimati." Severus smirked beside her, having heard her brash comment uttered hastily in anger. He also happened to have paid attention when they studied Latin their last year for fun... She couldn't help but laugh softly.
She would stay. She had to. For the students, for Dumbledore, and for Severus. Whether he would admit it or not, she got the feeling that Severus was going to need her, very soon.
The two sat next to one another at the head table, but not a single word passed between them. Raine busied herself through lunch to hurry to her class.
---
Pulling out the class's books she'd stored, she placed one on each desk.
"It is good to see you are teaching from the text now, Miss Sullivan."
Raine spun around to see Mr. Cornwell. "I doubt you will be pleased when the nature of the lesson is revealed." She finished passing them out as the second year Ravenclaws filed in. She sat at her desk, back perfectly straight and awaited their silence. "Today, we will start off with our first offensive spell. The Disarmament Charm, followed by the summing charm." She watched Mr. Cornwell's pink hued skin blanch, much to her amusement. "If you will all pick up the book before you and carry outside. Don't forget your wands, move along now..."
---
Severus watched Eva and Serviath closely as they sat on opposite sides of the room. Eva was next to Pansy, and Serviath was with Mr. Weasley. At least Granger had given up on the fool to try and aide Mr. Potter. Those eyes, they had reminded him of Katya's... With good reason. He observed Serviath's hair. A darker red than his mother's, but familiar nonetheless. Snape wondered how it had eluded him to begin with. Looking at them both, it was rather obvious. The one aspect that pestered him, however, was not so evident. Who was their father? It could be him... Though he doubted (and prayed) that they were not his children.
What child would want a father after eighteen years of his absence? Sighing, he stood to scold Neville for another failed potion. He didn't want kids, and teaching these classes was always a thorough reminder of such. Children required compassion and patience, both traits that ran short in his bloodline. Snape did not regret it one minute. "Well done, Miss Marcos, please bottle your potion and store it." Draco was finishing as well, Hermione was already in the storage closet putting it away. Not bad for a transfer student, not bad at all. Serviath finished after Pansy and Seamus.
"Class dismissed," he murmured when Neville finally finished. Hells, if they could get it done with twenty minutes left of class, why not give them the day off? He had too much on his mind to come up with an alternative anyway.
The surprised looks on his pupils' faces did not escape him as he retreated to his office and they began to slowly collect their things.
---
"What do you think is going on with Snape?" Ron queried as Hermione followed him out of the classroom. Harry had come up with some excuse to dash off rather quickly ahead of them already.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure. I doubt he was being nice, more likely lazy."
Ron laughed, "The day he's nice to a Gryffindor class..."
"Is the day Professor Sullivan is mean to a Ravenclaw?" Serviath chuckled as he came up behind them.
His two new friends laughed. "Something like that," Hermione sighed softly.
Ron took her hand. "Do you want to eat or go up to the observatory first?"
Her cheeks were blushing and Serviath noted that this would be the ideal time to take his leave. "Let's go watch the sun set."
He grinned, "Sounds lovely."
---
"Hey, where were you after class?" Serviath was surprised to stumble upon Harry in the Hall.
Harry grinned, blushing softly. "Promise not to tell Ron?"
The red-head nodded. "On my honor."
"I went to see Ginny."
Serviath looked confused, "I thought you two dated a few years back... Hermione was talking about it..."
Harry nodded, "She liked me... But she started dating other guys. Now, things finally fell in to place... I hope."
Chuckling, he patted Harry's shoulder. "I am happy for you, regardless of how Ron takes it."
"How I take what?"
Harry gulped. "Uh-"
Serviath turned to him swiftly, "I'm going to steal him away from your nightly Quidditch practice so we can discuss the DA."
"Oh," Ron nodded softly. "That's fine with me, I was going to cancel myself, Hermione and I are going to spend some time together."
Harry was still rather off-kilter from the adrenaline rush his near brush with death-by-Ron had caused. "Um, right, have fun." He looked to Serviath. "Quick thinking."
Serviath shrugged nonchalantly, a soft smile on his face. "I'm used to it, I was raised to handle any potential situation with utmost proficiency and discretion."
His brow furrowed, green eye's locking on Serviath's blue ones. "What d'you mean?"
He cleared his throat, "My family's rather prominent in Spain, you know, you learn all the aristocratic duties and the like..."
Harry accepted this answer, seeing little reason to delve deeper in to the matter. "So... Is there anything you really need to talk about regarding the DA?"
"No," he shook his head, "But, I do want to ask you something. Do you think that Professor Snape fancies Katya?"
"Katya?" Harry looked thoroughly confused.
Serviath frowned, "Raine." He sighed, "Professor Sullivan." He hated the fact that his mother was using his grandfather's name. His grandfather had been an Irish nobleman, betrothed to his grandmother as recompense for a debt magic Russia owned Ireland. Albeit his grandfather and grandmother were murdered, mother had never said anything positive about his grandfather. She looked like him though... And he had his hair. He could like to know, though, where Eva got her black hair... Who their father was had remained a mystery since birth.
"Not to my knowledge, there's been loads of gossip about it though." Harry's voice brought the new Gryffindor back to reality.
He merely nodded. "I certainly hope they're false."
Harry looked confused, yet again. "Why?"
Serviath shrugged it off, "Never mind, what do you say we head to dinner? Maybe Ginny will be there," he jested.
A soft blushed tinted Harry's cheeks but he nodded, "Hopefully."
---
Raine's eyes managed to focus again, staring at least a half a dozen students of varying Houses, McGonagall and Severus. "What?" Her breathing was still slightly quick.
"You were screaming like a banshee," Minerva looked bewildered and concerned.
Shutting her green eyes a moment, Raine saw the blood again. A puddle of it... All around him. She thought he was dead. 'Severus!' Blinking again, she bit her lip. "I'm sorry, it was just a terrible nightmare..."
The students looked a bit spooked by their rather stern teacher's episode. Severus bit down firmly on his lower lip and departed from the room. McGonagall led her in to her office and shut the door, putting a few silence charms up. "Explain yourself Miss Sullivan, you gave the entire hall quite a scare..."
"I must've fallen asleep on my desk last night... And I woke up screaming from a nightmare... I am terribly sorry, Minerva. I did not mean any harm... I cannot help my dreams..."
The older woman nodded understandingly. "Of course not, but you'd best take a dreamless potion tonight, just in case."
Nodding in agree, Katya flushed. "I really did not intend to cause such a ruckus."
Smiling softly at her, she winked. "Just don't do it again, what's left of poor Severus's heart might not be able to take another ear-piercing scream like that."
She raised an eyebrow but could not voice a question before McGonagall managed to slip out. Had Severus reacted? Oh never mind it, she still had to find Serviath and Eva before breakfast. Perhaps she could just go to the Gryffindor Tower, Serviath could notify his sister on his own. Rising to her feet and ignoring the dizzying sensation that overcame her, she headed for the tower.
---
"Do you think she's all right?" He asked curiously.
Blinking a moment, Eva turned to Draco. "Who?"
He sneered, "The new teacher, Miss Sullivan."
She shrugged nonchalantly, "She caused a scene, but who hasn't? I mean... Look at the Headmaster." It had taken Eva only moments to understand exactly how to blend in to Slytherin house. Act arrogant, be rude and never tell the truth. The three simples rules of being a Slytherin... She smiled softly. "Maybe she'll be nicer in class today, I think we deserve it."
Draco growled, "No kidding. I'm sick of her biased bullshit." The teacher they were discussing walked in to the room, taking her seat. She looked rather frazzled.
Eva sighed, "I've heard so much about her and Severus going around, is she... A follower?"
He watched her a long moment, wondering how much information to trust her with. She was a Slytherin. "I'm not sure. I doubt it... Though Snape will likely turn her, he's a loyal man."
She smirked, "Of course." In truth, her stomach turned nauseatingly. God, she prayed their Potions Master wasn't the man Draco thought he was.
Finite.
Sorry this took so long, next chapter is already on it's way. In fact, I got a muse for the chapter after that too, so it's even started.