I own no part of Harry Potter. JKR I am not worthy!
The Secret Life of Professor Snape
Living Conditions
Severus rubbed his eyes in exhaustion as Faustine stared at Ron and Hermione with distress. The two were more grief stricken then anyone she had ever seen in her life. Severus had revealed to her the intimate nature of the three teenagers friendship and she had little doubt about how the two left behind were feeling. Both were pale and withdrawn, sitting perfectly still at the dining room table where their friend had died. Faustine knew that the two had to be exhausted, but she could feel how uncomfortable their new living conditions were for them. Severus could not have hidden the fact that he was unusually harsh on these young wizards and that there was little love loss between them.
After the group had sat for a quarter of an hour, Faustine could take the tension no longer. She stood and went to the living room, charming a fire to warm the cool spring morning air that wafted through the window panes. She called to her husband in her mind and asked him coax the children out of the dining room so that they could remove the table and alter it to ease their pain.
Severus agreed with his wife's instructions. "Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Go warm yourselves by the fire," he ordered them. The two rose and walked to the other room without word of protest. Snape quickly removed the table with a spell and left for the living room. Faustine motioned for Ron and Hermione to sit on the sofa, which they did. She took a blanket out from a cupboard and covered the young souls with it. Severus sat in his lounger and she took a seat on his lap, earning her disturbed looks from the youth. Ron particularly cringed at the sight of Snape tangling his fingers in his wife's hair. He looked away to the fire and then began to notice the rest of the room. It was unusually large, but warm. It was beige in color and had a large fireplace on the far wall with the couches wrapped around it. The room had several book cases with books, pictures, and trinkets adorning them. Most of the pictures were of the Snape's with friends. Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and even Bill Weasley were in these photographs laughing and dancing and hugging. The sight was unnerving for Ron and he directed his eyes away towards the candles that lit the room and cast a musty cinnamon smell that enveloped him. More pictures and dried flowers embellished the walls and made the room feel lived in. It was cozy and definitely not what he would have expected from Professor Snape.
Ron then turned his attention back to the professor. He did not look like the man he knew. Snape had always been so ghostly pale and withdrawn, with his long, greasy, raven black hair and his long black robes. He always wore a sour expression and a rigid posture. But the man before him was something entirely different. His skin had a bronze tone to it and his hair was short, stylish and clean. His pajamas were modern and casual, and he wore a wedding band. The only hint of black on him was his short hair. He appeared distraught over Harry's death and showed a sort of fatherly concern for Hermione and himself. Professor Snape was an entirely different man from what Ron was used to and it frightened him to think of the other changes that might be in store for him.
Faustine felt Ron's concerns and cleared her throat. "Ron, Hermione," she said, drawing their attention, "I'm sure you two have a lot on your minds right now, but I want you to know that while you are here, you are to think of this flat as your home." Severus nodded in agreement and his wife continued. "You may stay in separate rooms or room together, we have no preference for you, just use your best judgment." Snape shot his wife a disgruntled look and she realized his concerns. "Severus, I'll know what they're doing so don't be so concerned..." Ron and Hermione looked confused, but Faustine continued with the intension of giving them a further explanation. "You may go into any room and look through anything—we have no secrets in our home, it is not a really private place because of me." Severus coughed disapprovingly, but Faustine continued. "As soon as it is safe, we'll send you to see your families and you will go back to school. Albus wants you to get back to your normal routine as soon as possible. I know this is not the ideal, but it is necessary... for now."
Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement. "Mrs. Snape," Hermione whispered, "I don't mean to be rude, but what did you mean by "not private"?"
Faustine sighed. "It's my gift, my magical talent if you will. I know what people want. It's more then just Legilimency, I can't help but read the thoughts and feelings of others and so I project Occlumency onto others to avoid reading every private thought. It's my defense against my gift. Hence the lack of secrecy in the house." Ron and Hermione stared, gape mouthed at Faustine. "I'm sorry, kids..." she said miserably, "I've tried not to read your thoughts, but with your current pain, you are kind of screaming them to me. So, let's just say that all of your cards are on the table."
Ron closed his eyes and his ears reddened with embarrassment. "Bloody Hell!" he shouted with frustration.
Hermione stared at the floor, ashamed of her feelings and thoughts of anger, disappointment and guilt. Her thoughts were interrupted however by Snape as he grumbled, "Language Mr. Weasley!"
Faustine put a gentle hand on her husband's arm, hushing him. "Severus," she warned, "You are not at school..." Snape sighed and flopped his head back on the chair. "There will be no detentions or demerits. Everyone will be equals. Ron and Hermione are the children of friends and we are looking out for them." Faustine gazed at her husband, searching for his consent. He reluctantly nodded and agreed to stop criticizing and start nurturing them.
Hermione looked at the couple with fierce determination. "I understand that you all seem to think that this is the safest place for Ron and I, but I feel very disadvantaged." Severus and Faustine eyed Hermione thoughtfully and she continued. "You know everything about Ron and I, but we really know very little about you. And I admit that that scares me. I really want to feel safe, but knowing that you're related to Voldemort... it just makes me distrust you. Could you please explain your relationship to me again so that I can try to feel more at ease?"
Faustine squinted, "What do you want to know?" she asked tentatively. Snape growled, indicating that Hermione would want to know everything and Faustine laughed. Ron and Hermione gave the couple a questioning look. "Sorry," Faustine giggled, "It's just that Severus and I talk to each other without speaking—he was complaining about telling you two everything, but I think it is necessary." The teens continued to look at the young Mrs. Snape expectantly.
"I am the grandaughter daughter of Tom Riddle and Rosemary Wilder." Faustine started. "My grandparents met at Hogwarts as first years fifty five years ago. He was a Slytherin and she was a Huffenpuff. My father was conceived when they were still in their sixth year at school, before Tom opened the Chamber of Secrets. When my Grandmother found out she was with child, she told my father and he shunned her. She decided to give up her career as a witch and chose to raise my father instead." Hermione gave Mrs. Snape a sympathetic glance as she continued. "They lived with my grandmother's family until my grandfather turned into Voldemort. Then they were then turned away and shunned by all of their relations, except for my grandmother's uncle, Albus Dumbledore." Ron and Hermione both gasped with shock, which was not overlooked by the Snape's. Faustine let out a strangled laugh, "Yes, Albus is my great great uncle. The Dumbledore's and the Riddle's, good and evil, were connected through my father and are now connected through me."
Ron and Hermione continued to gape as Faustine spoke again. "Uncle Albus took in my father and grandmother and they lived under his wing quietly until my grandmother's untimely death. Albus then raised my father who went to school with your parents, Ron. His name was Angus Winters and he became an Auror..."
Ron interrupted, "Winters... I know that name..."
Faustine continued, "Yes you should, Dad trained with your father at the Ministry..."
"Wow!" Ron said amazed and then he looked embarrassed for his interruptions, "Sorry, keep going."
Mrs. Snape smiled, "No worries Ron. Father married my mother, Tally Waldrake when he was twenty two, but it took them nearly ten years to have a child. They were both so busy with the ministry..." Faustine' face darkened, "I didn't get to meet my father, because during a raid against some Death Eaters, he was killed. His death marked my mother and she died while giving birth to me. Uncle Albus was distraught, losing Dad and Mum, but he decided to keep me and raise me. He named me Faustine, which means lucky because he said I was lucky to be alive. He kept my familial identity a secret and took me to Hogwarts where I lived until I graduated."
Faustine looked at Severus, who uncharacteristically smiled and encouraged her to continue her story. "I befriended Severus in potions class when I was fifteen, but we didn't fall in love until I was twenty. We married three years ago and will be having our first children in two months time." Ron shot her a surprised look. "Yes Ron, I'm having twins—the Weasley's are not the only family to have them." Severus chuckled and Faustine took a deep breath as she set about to say what needed to be said.
"I know this is a bit much—especially on top of everything else you are dealing with, but rest assured that I am not evil. I am very proud of what Harry Potter did. I only wish that there was something that I could do for him in return. I do not and have not ever supported my grandfather or his plight. I have no connection with him or his followers. In actuality, he didn't even know I existed and I was therefore in any danger from him. I use my gifts against him and I have made this house is very safe from his regime. Aside from my powerful mental block from Voldemort, I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix and I work as a secret keeper and liaison for the Order's spies, so I also have a powerful physical block from the Death Eaters. This house is nearly as safe as Hogwarts with all of it's wards." Faustine brightened, "Right now I am on maternity leave so I have been inactive, but I am still a very strong source of good for the Order. I will not hurt you and you will be very safe within my home."
Ron and Hermione gratefully smiled at Faustine, letting out the breaths that they had been holding. Her genuine concern and sympathy flooded them and they felt at ease, until they saw the expression of discontent on Professor Snape's face. He stood, leaving his wife on his chair and faced the fireplace. "I suppose you now need to hear my story," he mumbled. The two curious Gryffindor's stared at the mysterious professor, urging him to continue.
Snape coughed, "Right then. I spent my life living in the shadow of James Potter." Severus looked down as he remembered Harry, but quickly shot up and continued. "I fell in love with my best friend, Lily, who fell in love with my enemy. After graduation I was angry and hurt so I followed in my family's footsteps and became a Death Eater." Snape paused and smiled, surprising Ron and Hermione because they had never seen the man grin before. "That lasted for about a month," Snape continued with a laugh at Faustine. "My conscience got the best of me and I decided to join the Order. It took some time, but I convinced Professor Dumbledore that I could spy on the Death Eaters for him and I have for twenty years." Severus took a breath, "I started teaching potions and protecting Hogwarts ten years ago as a favor to Albus and there I met Faustine Riddle. She became my secret keeper and my contact when she graduated from school and we fell in love." Severus walked over to Faustine and held her hand. Their simple act of love caused Ron and Hermione to give each other a quick knowing glance as Snape continued.
"I use my time-turner to teach and spy and I use my shape shifting abilities to maintain my sanity." Hermione's jaw dropped and Snape chuckled, "Yes Miss Granger, you are not the only one to use a time turner..." Hermione blushed and Severus continued in earnest. "I know this may sound strange, but I change my physical persona to help with my self preservation. The pasty miserable man you see at school is who I was twenty years ago—I keep up the façade for my own protection and cover as I work with the Death Eaters." Ron looked at Snape disbelievingly. "Being cold and indifferent allows me access into other people's lives and keeps me distanced from others so that I am not missed when I disappear," Severus said defending himself. "When I am home thought, I look like this. This," he said motioning to himself, "Is who I really am. I am not evil and I don't hate you, I only act that way to keep up my mystique and cover my tracks so that I can help the Order."
Ron looked at Snape with awe, "Brilliant," he said shaking his head with wonder.
Hermione stood, "So you were pretending to hate us all that time?" she asked with amazement.
Severus grinned, "Yes Hermione, I was. I am actually quite amazed with your skills with potions and memorization and Ron's lack thereof." Snape snickered and then sobered. "Harry was so awkward, yet natural..." Hermione sank back down on the couch next to Ron.
"What'll we do without him?" Ron asked painfully.
Faustine caressed her pregnant belly and sincerely said, "Live your life in a way that would make him proud."