A/N: Well… sorry it took me a while to write this… it's a difficult chapter.

But it has Hermione and Ron in it!

Finally the beta'd version!

Dedicated to ElizaDarcy and mizlovegood for the longest and most interesting review(s) I ever received!

Chapter 12 – Christmas is all around part II: Home and alone

Hermione gasped when she took sight of the young man approaching. "What is it?" asked Ron. He looked at the entrance of the hall himself and was baffled.

"Aven?" breathed Hermione. "Harry?"

Everyone seemed to be constrained to look at the young Snape. Snape senior was accompanying him and perceived the gazes the few present teachers and the two students were shooting at his son.

Undoubtedly he looked impressive in his fine, but still rather plain robes. However, Severus reckoned that the boy - well, rather adolescent - had inherited his mother's natural grace.

"Aven, Severus! It is so nice that you have joined our little gathering. But didn't you mention that you were going to see your parents, Severus?" asked Dumbledore, kindly as ever.

"I did, Headmaster. Sure enough, dear Augustus always needs to argue and so we decided to leave early. Isabeau is back in the dormitory," explained the Potions Master.

Ron and Hermione almost had a heart attack when their teacher smiled!

He wasn't smirking or sneering, and his lips weren't curled with scorn. He actually was just smiling.

Dumbledore conjured two chairs and the others at the table moved together to make space for the two of them. Everyone, except from Dumbledore and Aven, kept Snape senior at arm's length since no one trusted his newly found kindness.

"So, Augustus is still alive?" asked McGonagall, her voice a little bit too high.

"Still alive, and even more unbearable than he ever was," answered Severus, with softness that got a second look from the Deputy Headmistress.

"Sometimes I felt like closing my hands around his neck, back in school," she murmured and that so uncommon expression was to be seen on Snape's face again. (A smile!)

No one could get used to this, and everyone wanted the old sneering and leering Snape back.

Aven smiled to himself and ate some mashed potatoes. Suddenly he felt Hermione's and Ron's gaze on him and looked up. They tried to look busy with their meal but they couldn't cheat Aven.

"Well, I'm filled up and still have some homework to do. I hope to see you later. Good day," said Aven kindly, and left the hall only ten minutes later. He waited in the Entrance Hall for Hermione and Ron. And he didn't have to wait for too long. Soon a rather hysterical Hermione left the hall with Ron on her heels.

"You refused to look at me or even to talk to me for the last seven weeks," stated Aven.

Hermione and Ron turned around and the young Snape felt sympathy for them.

"Why should we talk to you?" hissed Hermione. "You are a useless filthy git like him!"

Ron knew some stronger insults to hiss at Aven but the Aven wasn't complaining or trying to justify. He had only one comment when they were finished: "He isn't that bad when you get to know him!"

"What?" shouted a furious Hermione.

"Professor Snape, my father. He can be very kind if he wants to be kind. That's what you are complaining about, isn't it? You are upset with my father."

Ron snorted and Hermione turned as red as a tomato.

"Don't call him that!" whispered Hermione.

"You are a liar, a traitor," raged Ron.

"Perhaps I can explain this to you. But you have to promise that you won't tell anybody."

"Don't tell me that this is to keep you safe, that you are hiding and pretending to be Snape's son. If it is, you are a coward," sneered Hermione in a way that would have given Severus a run for his money.

"Not quite. Come, I'll show you something in my private chambers."

Ron and Hermione followed him and complained about him playing a role all the way.

Aven gently handed his mother's letter to the two students.

First they were surprised, then disgusted and then they were silent.

"That's coming strong," whispered Ron.

Hermione began to sob again and looked up at Aven. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be. My life is better now. I never had anyone who cared about me like Dad does," declared Aven. "Everything has changed, but I certainly feel better than I have in years!"

"But we used to hate him!"

"We did. And he hated me, but we crossed those boundaries. I'm starting to like him, he is my father!"

"Don't tell me…" asked Ron.

"Oh yes, he is my father and I love him." Aven almost wanted to bite on his tongue.

He knew that he liked his father but he wasn't sure if he could call this little affection love. He didn't show his doubts in his expression. His ex-friends' sudden sympathy had changed in aversion again.

"You cannot ask me to still hate him. He told me almost everything about himself so how can I still hate him now? He is my only parent and he… why can't you just believe me?"

"So, did he tell you how it happened that you are his son? Did he tell you how your Mum got pregnant with you?"

Aven snorted. "I think that his love life is beyond my natural concern."

"Oh please, where did you learn this shit?" answered Hermione.

Ron stared at his ex-best friend. "Perhaps he raped her? And then he told her to write this letter, he cast these concealing charms on you and bewitched the letter to take off the charms? Perhaps he just needed you as his heir?"

Aven laughed. "You don't know him, do you? He loved her. He loved her! Did you hear me?"

Hermione lowered her head. She hated this but was convinced that it was important to make Aven thinking.

"I'm not Harry anymore. I'm Avenarius Snape. I'm not going to believe your suspicions about my father and his inglorious past anymore. If the two of you feel able to admit that it was wrong to accuse him of being a bastard and whatever we accused him to be, you know where I am!"

"You don't believe that your powers are natural, do you?" asked Hermione.

"What?" exclaimed Aven surprised and angry.

"When you cast the Unforgivable in Charms without a wand and caused the windowpanes to explode. Sometimes you can focus your anger on something small and it will break. You destroyed huge windows and not only one or two of them but dozens. Harry… Sheldon… Aven… no one could be equipped with such powers by nature. This is dark magic, very very dark magic. I'll eat my socks if this isn't something Voldemort came up with!" elucidated Hermione and stared at Aven.

"I think you'd better leave now. I actually have homework to do."

-

Inwardly Aven was screaming and raging. He just had returned to Hogwarts, tried to solve the problems with his once best friends and now everything was out of control.

He had expected them to struggle, to not accept it for a while. But now he wanted their approval and their friendship.

And what happened? They didn't even listen properly and left him with a little voice in his head, asking what actually had happened between Lily and Severus. And what about his powers?

He wanted to strangle the two Gryffindors for the disturbing thoughts they gave him.

"They can't be serious!" whispered Aven. "They'll be so fucking dead if they start telling stories! I need to talk to someone… anyone…"

-

"He can't be serious!" raved Hermione in such an untypical style. "We cannot trust Snape! We cannot trust anyone… well perhaps anyone but Dumbledore! He won't be the fucking boy-who-lived anymore if he gets killed by Voldemort!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Calm down, hon!"

"No, I won't! Why should I? Ron, he is in danger! He is standing in shit up to his neck and soon enough someone will call out 'Sit!'!"

"CALM FUCKING DOWN!" barked Ron. "It won't help him if you are just raving about it! Nothing bad has happened yet!"

Hermione hung her head and leaned against the wall next to the window. "And what would you suggest?"

"We tried talking to Harry. We won't even consider going anywhere near Snape, but we can try and approach Dumbledore!" suggested Ron and walked over to his girlfriend.

Hermione smiled sadly. "That's dumb enough to actually work!"

"Well, I love you too!" grinned Ron.

-

Aven angrily headed towards the gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"What's the password?" barked the Gargoyle before Aven had even rounded the corner.

"Let us just fucking pass!" growled Ron.

"Afraid that's the wrong one AGAIN!" replied the statue.

The young Snape grew even angrier when he saw the two Gryffindors in front of the Gargoyle. "What, by the knickers of Godric Gryffindor, are you two doing here?"

The two Gryffindors stared at him with surprise.

"Well, I am waiting?" asked Aven, his hands on his hips.

They heard another voice at the end of the hallway. "You are certainly NOT telling anybody, do you understand me?"

The trio stared at a fast approaching Draco with a furious Isabeau on his heels.

"Fuck you, Corva!" bellowed the young Malfoy. "I'll do WHATEVER I want!"

The witch passed him and grabbed him by the collar of his robes.

"Do it and the whole school will hear about IT at the first dinner after start of term!" she threatened. "Think about that!"

Draco shook her off and continued his way. He spotted the little trio and sneered.

"Ah… the person in question! Tell me, how does it feel to be reunited?"

Aven stared at the blonde. "I beg you pardon?"

"Oh…" Draco bending his head to one side and smirked at Aven. "I figured that you have more Gryffindor heritage in you than you wanted to make us believe!"

Draco found himself held by the collar of his robes again.

"No word, Draco! No word to no one!"

Malfoy let his wand slip into his fingers and threw an easy stunning spell against Aven. The youth stumbled backwards, but remained on his feet and conscious.

Quickly Aven laid his hand around Draco's neck and pushed him against the wall.

"Give me a reason! I beg you!" Aven hissed through clenched teeth. "Last time Father prevented me from hurting you. I promise you, this time no one will keep me from killing you! Just give me a reason!"

Aven was dragged away from the Slytherin by Ron. "He is not worth it!"

"I don't care! Let me go!"

Again, Aven's magic got out of hand and Ron yelped by the sudden pain flashing through his arms. Aven freed himself and realized what had happened.

So did Draco after some time.

"Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck! Listen Ron, this wasn't on purpose! I hadn't… I couldn't control my magic! Sorry…"

Malfoy couldn't move. "What the hell is happening here? You are one of… them?"

Aven turned around, hate glistering in his eyes. "I am what?"

"Boys, I think it is time for a nice cup of tea, alright?" asked Dumbledore. "Hermione, Ron, Isabeau, you might want to join us."

The five teens followed the old wizard to his office.

"Have a seat, please! And tell me what your problems are?"

"I found out about 'Aven'!" stated Malfoy. "And I wish I never had!"

"What a surprise, we agree on that one!" snorted Aven, leaving it to listeners to interpret his words.

"We already knew for quite some time!" said Hermione.

Isabeau snorted slightly. "It doesn't matter who he was, does it? He is Aven Snape and there is nothing else. Just drop the topic!"

Dumbledore smiled at the young witch. "It's not that easy, Miss Corva. Mister Snape and his father are in apparent danger. I do not imply that Draco would tell anyone, but the information easily can fall into the wrong hands."

"Then oblivate me!" stated Draco. "I do not care about who Snape was. You have my agreement. Oblivate me and the thing will be over."

Dumbledore sighed. "As much as I dislike this possibility, I agree."

Isabeau looked up. "Well… then oblivate me, too. I'm as much a danger as Draco is."

Dumbledore sighed again. "Very well, Aven, Hermione, Ron, please leave the office."

The three teens left the office.

"Aven, we are sorry! We simply don't trust Snape!" stated Hermione.

"Well, come back then, if you trust him. I'm serious! You know where to find me. Just come around when you eventually trust him…"

CLIFFY! Aw, I love to be mean!

Thanks to HandsOff, ArkMage and rosiegirl for their nice reviews. I'll keep up my work and update as soon as possible.

mizlovegood - Thanks for all those reviews! No, actually I don't know the song. At least I don't know if I know the song you meant. My best friend actually gave me a song to listen to, called "Halleluja" which is performed by Jeff Buckley. I really liked that one. And about the girlfriend-question... I've waited for that one and I won't answer. smile No, that's not mean or anything, I just don't want to spoil the surprise!

Tabitha78 - Aw, you already know the story about those. snicker I really didn't want to embarrass you by uploading the unbeta'd chapter.

Anna Taure - We'll see if Augustus will receive some further punishment...

What's on the next chapter:
Did you wonder about Draco's and Isabeau's reaction? Yesssss, it will be explained in the next chapter! And we will meat ssssssomeone really nasssssty. Promissssse!
(The first one to make the right connections will get the next chapter dedicated to them! twinkle )