Albus, Harry and Remus were gone when the Snapes woke in the morning…
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The great hall was buzzing with speculation when Harry and the Professors entered that morning. In fact, conversation was so loud that their arrival went unnoticed until they separated to go to their respective tables. Even so, Dumbledore had to let of fireworks from his wand to gain every bodies attention…
"I understand that the rumour mill will be going full strength after the events of yesterday morning and therefore it has been decided that I will satisfy your curiosity and tell you exactly what happened."
If possible the pupils in the hall sat up even straighter at this possibility.
"As you know Miss Hermione Granger is Professor Snapes apprentice, what you didn't know is that 10 and a half months she also became Mrs. Hermione Snape, his wife."
The reactions to this piece of news ranged from shocked disbelief to outright disgust with plenty of grimacing in between.
"Yes, yes settle down. Now I know this would cause some…shock… but I must ask you not to judge them right at this moment. 3 weeks ago Hermione Snape gave birth to a baby girl, they called Elissa. She was the epitome of perfection in the eyes of most the staff and her parents loved her greatly. Unfortunately, in the early hours of yesterday morning Elissa died whilst receiving her vaccinations at St. Mungos"
Harry who most people had previously taken no notice of broke down at this and sobbed loudly into his arm. Ginny reached over to him and with a quick glance at the headmaster, who nodded, she heaved him to his feet. With tears streaming down both of their faces they exited through the teacher's door, closest to where they had been sat.
For a few seconds most of the hall was still, it almost as if no-one was even breathing before they turned as 1 to gaze again at the headmaster.
"You are correct in your assumptions, both Harry and Ginny… Pardon me Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley knew of the marriage and subsequent birth of Elissa. They are both distressed by yesterday's events as are the staff. I ask that you do not create trouble today as there are a lot of grieving people presently in this school and anyone found causing them further pain will face grave punishment. Lessons will be cancelled again tomorrow as all of the staff plus some students" here Albus glanced at the staff door "wish to attend the funeral. Potions will be taught by a stand in for the next week and I insist that you do NOT seek out the Snapes at any time. Thank you, enjoy your breakfast" He flopped down into his seat and put his face in his hands.
Breakfast however was the last thing on the student's minds and it lay forgotten as the students speculated on this new piece of information.
"well, that wasn't what I expected…she married him... the greasy git…what was she thinking! He must have forced her…I mean seriously she can't really love HIM!"
"Ron, you fell out with her! Is this why! Did you know she married him?"
"YES I knew, and no she wasn't forced. She loves HIM! It's disgusting she betrayed me, after all he's done to us and she marries him! She fucks him for god's sake… that's just WRONG! And then she goes and has his baby! Stupid whore…I'm never going to speak to her again!" Ron trailed off mumbling and seeing just how red he was his classmates silently decided maybe not to involve him again.
"Well I think we should lay off them, they did just lose a baby after all." Neville looked defiant as almost all of Gryffindor house turned angry gazes upon him.
"She's a traitor, nothing more" snapped Parvati
Neville stood up suddenly shocking those closest to him
"If you think that Parvati then obviously you are no true friend or Gryffindor – we are supposed to be loyal remember! No matter what someone's choices are!"
With that he stormed away from the table towards the entrance hall, leaving a lot of hushed mumbling and quite a few shocked faces at his outburst
xXx
Harry was slumped on the floor outside the Charms classroom door when Neville rounded the corner. The tears were streaming down Harry's face and his entire body was wracked with sobs, upon seeing this Neville's heart went out to him.
He walked forward and crouched next to Harry. He wrapped an arm round his shoulder and was slightly surprised when Harry turned and started sobbing into his chest.
"It's OK Harry I understand – just let it out I'm not going to judge you im on your side"
He just sat and let Harry cry until he noticed the arrival of many of his classmates – who'd arrived early hoping to hear some more gossip on the new development. Glaring at his former friends Neville helped Harry to stand and supported him whilst he regained his balance.
There was absolute silence in the corridor whilst this was happening broken only by Harry who was attempting to stop crying. He finally quieted and moved away from Neville and the stunned group – many were astonished he was affected this much over Snapes child.
"I hate you all - you make me sick. I can see the disbelief in your eyes, I can practically hear what your thinking "how can he be so affected by SNAPES baby" but let me make this clear – Elissa was the most amazing baby you ever saw and you judge her just because you don't like her dad. Hermione loves him you no – with all her heart and he feels exactly the same and they've just lost there baby. She wasn't even a month old. NOT EVEN A MONTH OLD! AND YOU ALL STAND THERE FEELING ALL RIGHTEOUS – WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING IF YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH PAIN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW - if you can't understand that then you don't deserve to be called human."
Harry had been working himself into a frenzy but he whispered the last sentence so quietly those assembled had to strain to here it.
Having lost all his steam, he shot Neville a look to show he didn't include him in that rant. Neville just nodded and went to stand by him.
Silence reigned in the corridor as the class waited for the bell to ring. There was still 5 minutes to go when yet more crying could be heard coming from someone approaching them.
The class were completely blown away when Severus Snape came into view with tears streaming down his face – whimpering for his baby.
Harry practically flew to him and enveloped him in a hug
"Sev… what are you doing here? You should be with Hermione. Where were you going? Sev? Talk to me – come on I'll take you back to your rooms. Come on Hermione will be frantic."
"NO!" It came out as nothing more than a strangled whisper – but coming from this stoic man it seemed ten times louder than Harry's rant, his voice was so filled with pain and anguish..
"Ok Ok, what do you want to do, where's Hermione at?"
"She's going through the baby stuff, I can't watch – it hurts too much. Right here" He placed his hand over his heart as he continued "I couldn't keep watching I just couldn't. I got up this morning to feed Eli but she wasn't there – her crib was empty. She's gone Harry, she's gone!" He collapsed on the floor, once again in tears.
Beckoning Neville over – he instructed him to watch over the distraught teacher as he called Dumbledore. Expecting Harry to leave, they were all surprised when he began murmuring chants and incantations in Latin.
It only took a moment before a huge mirror appeared in front of Harry and someone stifled a gasp when the headmaster stepped out of it.
"What happened Harry…. On My God Severus…Why is he here Harry?"
Harry explained the circumstances preceding Dumbledore's arrival as he helped the aging Headmaster hoist the potions professor to his feet.
"Can I take him Albus? I can't cope with classes today – I'll just go sit in the dormitory but I can't deal with the looks today… please Albus I'll take him home and see whether Hermione's ok then I'll go straight to my rooms…please." Harry beseeched the headmaster.
"No Harry" continuing n he saw the teen's crestfallen face " we'll both take him home then we have a funeral to plan in my office – neither of them are in a state to do it right now.
Turning and ignoring the gaping students the trio slowly made their way down to the dungeons.
Just like Dumbledore had said, a lot of the teacher's were distraught as well and very little teaching got done that day.
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