Authors note: This is kind of a long chapter, but I had to get everything in to start off the story. The only problem is that now I don't exactly know where to go with it. It's a "I'll make it up as I go along" kind of story. If anyone knows British terminology better than what I put in here, let me know, I'd like to make it better, and more "real".
BTW: typing a French accent is harder than I thought it'd be. Yup yup.
One for the money! Two for the show! Three to get ready! Shuttup lets go!
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Chapter 1
Hermione rubbed her eyes and tried again to understand the passage she was reading.
"Hermione?" Ron walked into the Grimuald Study and wrapped his arms around her, moving her bushy hair to kiss her neck.
"Not now Ron…" Hermione pushed him away.
"Hermione, it's nearly two in the morning, you need to sleep," Ron turned her chair to face him, "Look at you, you look so tired, come on, lets just go to bed."
"I've still got reading t-" Ron cut her off by kissing her, then picking her up and carrying her to their bed.
Twenty minutes later, after Ron was sure Hermione was out, he snuck out to the entry hall and waited.
With a small crack, Harry aparated into the entryway, "Well, you look comfortable," Harry chuckled.
Ron glanced down at his boxers, "Well it's not like we're in the dormitories." He glanced around to make sure Hermione definitely hadn't followed him, "So, did you get it?"
"No," Harry rubbed his eyes, feeling the symptoms of 'lack of sleep,' "It was a fake."
"Damn."
"You're telling me," Harry walked past Ron into the kitchen and poured a cup of tea, "Hermione get anything on Snape?"
Some people called Harry crazy for being obsessed with catching Snape, but Ron and Hermione knew how much it meant to him. Snape was the one who had turned Harry's would be normal life into a living hell. He'd told Voldemort the prophecy, attempted to recapture Sirius (now dead) and caused Pettigrue, a.k.a. Wormtail, to get away to rejoin Voldemort and help him regain strength, then killed Dumbledore right in front of Harry (Unknowingly, but still!).
"Took her to bed before she could tell me," Ron shrugged.
"That horny, eh?"
"No! That was last night!" Ron shouted, then turned pink.
Harry laughed, "Go to bed, Ron."
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Next morning Harry came down to Hermione frying eggs and bacon while Ron watched a Quidditch game on the new picture box that he and Hermione had set up to completely confuse and fascinate Ron.
"Harry!" Hermione ran over and hugged him, "Ron told me you'd gotten back last night! I wanted to wake you up, but Ron said to wait."
"Ok, I'm guessing you found something last night then?" Harry asked, sitting down and summoning a plate of eggs.
"Yes!"
"Well?" both guys asked at once. Ron was no longer interested in the game.
"I found a Snape!"
Harry choked on his eggs and Ron shouted, "What!"
"What do you mean a Snape?" Harry asked once the initial surprise wore off and he had his breath again.
"According to an old St. Mungo's report, 'Snape shows no sign of progress and the doses have been doubled.'"
"Well, other than being utterly and completely mad, Snape wasn't sick, was he?" Ron asked.
"But remember Ron, I said an old report. Sirius seems to have kept a record on the reports. I think he was personally interested in Snape's condition.
"Now why the bloody hell would he do that?" Ron said, starting to be amused by Hermione's game.
"I have no idea! I'm only telling you what I found! Maybe he wanted Snape dead!" Hermione spat and flopped down on a chair at the table.
"I don't think it's real Hermione," Harry said, putting down his tea.
"Why not?"
"Just don't think so."
"Well, I'm looking into it," she grabbed the teapot and poured a cup.
"Go for it. I just don't think you'll find anything worth while."
After that, conversation died. No one felt like trying to talk. Ron knew talking to Hermione would get him volunteered to help her, and honest he agreed with Harry, it seemed very far-fetched that Sirius would give a damn about any Snape. But Harry was so sour and silent these days, that talking to him was almost pointless.
Once breakfast was through Hermione went to the study (quickly turning into her own privet library, containing four different versions of A History Of Hogwarts) to work on her Snape lead, Harry went to his room to work with his pensive (given to him by the late Dumbledore), and Ron sluggishly got ready to leave for work. He didn't do anything as great as Charlie, or as ridiculous as Mr. Weasley, but it did bring in money, and he did not want to be poor or raise his children poor. He worked as an unspeakable at the ministry. He ordered prophecies. It was like being a librarian.
On his way out the door, he spotted a tawny owl sitting on the porch and flew off. He picked it up and opened it.
To the young Mr. And Mrs. Weasley,
I'm sorry I missed the wedding; I got tangled in Peru with an out of control Ridgeback. It was bloody insane!
So, how was it? Was Hermione as beautiful as you dreamed Ron? I know Mum's still going off on how you two were crazy to get married at eighteen, but, hell, with things as they are nowadays, maybe I ought to pay more attention to girls myself!
I'll send you a present sometime soon. I just haven't been able to move yet; I got a few pretty burns.
Till then, behave!
Charlie
Ron chuckled and stuffed the note in his pocket. He and Hermione had just gotten married a few weeks ago. It was still a bit strange hearing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Ron decided to walk a few blocks before dissapearting.
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When Ron got home that night, he found that the Order had assembled. Thankfully it was summer and the whole Order was gathered. The teachers, the twins, Ron's parents, Hermione's parents (muggle communications, although they were still jittery about magic, they at least were trying to help.) Fleur and Bill were there (Bill had been asked to be the new defense against the dark arts teacher for the upcoming year, so he and Fleur were trying to find a house in Hogsmead.), Slughorn had also joined along with Neville and Ginny (to Harry and Ron and her parents disapproval.) Luna was also there, but only helpful when she wasn't talking about the Quibbler. Ron prayed for the day when her dream of being a reporter came true, and she realized the Quibbler was a joke. There were also others, but Ron couldn't think of their names right now. Since Voldemort's return, the Order had grown, but before joining, each member had to take a test, and be given verisilitum by Professor Slughorn. Harry supervised and headed all of the… background checks. Ron was beginning to believe that Harry might be paranoid about another Snape, and didn't want any spies.
When Ron walked in he got two kisses, one on each cheek, from his sister in law, Fleur, "'Ow 'ave you been Ronny?" She'd taken to calling him that for some odd reason, she said she had a cousin or something that went by Ronny, and so it just appealed for her to use it on Ron.
"Good, good, and you?"
"Wanderfooll! Beell and I 'ave been lookeeng at 'omes for sale and I theenk we 'ave zeh one!" she was completely excited. Ron had been surprised that when he got married, her charm seemed to have lost it's… charm He no longer drooled every time he saw her. Either that or he feared the castration Hermione threatened.
Fleur walked off to chat with others and Ron snuck into the kitchen. His wife and mother were rushing around, cookie. Hermione spotted him and gave him a quick kiss, "There's a snack for you in the ice box, and supper should be ready in about a half hour. Don't be a pig," she let go of him and went back to cooking.
Ron grabbed the sandwich, inhaled it, and went back out to talk to people.
The basic jist of the meeting was that Voldemort had to be stalled until Harry could get all of the Horcruxes and stop him for good. The Death Eaters were planning an attack on St. Mungo's so the Order had to be there first, waiting. McGonagall offered to let Neville out of this one, but he refused the offer, saying he wanted to protect the patients more than anyone could imagine. Hermione offered to go way in advance and see if the Hospital had any fortifications at all. Ron spotted the glitter in her eyes and knew she planned to search out her 'Snape.' It was agreed upon and the Order dissolved to eat.
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Harry was quiet as usual, and completely ignored Ginny, as usual. Ron came close to punching him for it. Why couldn't he even look at Ginny! Sometimes Harry could be a real ass.
Fleur kept trying to talk Hermione into letting Fleur give her a new hairstyle, "Eet would bee more controlleble and much more neet."
"I've already told you, I like my hair just the way it is. I don't have time or patience for putting potions in my hair every morning."
"But you would bee so much prehtyer, wouldn't she Ron?"
"Huh, what?" Ron had been talking Quidditch with the other guys and didn't hear a word of the girls' conversation.
"Wouldn't 'Air-mine-ee look better weeth a new 'air style?"
Ron thought, if he said he like Hermione's hair, she'd thin he was making it up. If Ron said he didn't like Hermione's hair, she'd call him shallow… again. "Hermione would like being committed to putting potions in her hair every morning."
"But wouldn't shee look more beeuteeful?"
"Uh…" think Ron think!
"Hair doesn't define beauty," Lupin to the rescue!
The rest of supper, Fleur pouted from loosing her battle.
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Ron fidgeted with his wand and glanced out of the window again. Any moment now, and the Death Eaters would be here.
An explosion below him, in the entryway, announced their arrival. Lupin and the freshly escaped Greyback transformed into a snarling mass of fir. Neville and Luna were working back to back as usual, putting up one heck of a fight. Ginny and Hermione were safely above Ron somewhere. The twins were both all gung-ho, throwing curses everywhere, and having turned the entryway into one of their now famous swamps, complete with alligators. The Death Eaters were have a 'bloody hellish' good time trying to get out of it, while the order fired curses from clear, and safely placed (no gators) areas.
"Well, well… Pop goes the Weasel!" Ron ducked just in time to be missed by Malfoy's 'killing curse.' Threatened into the Death Eaters by the safety of his family, he was more like a frightened rabbit than the jackal he was claiming to be.
Through a mix of curses, spells, and physical fist fighting, a battle was fought. Patients and workers had to be protected at all costs.
Voldemort wasn't at this battle, as he often wasn't. He was like the Godfather, telling his mafia what to do, then sits on his throne to watch.
The Death Eaters lost, but not at a terrible price, only one had been killed and the rest of the fifteen or so left.
Tonks was sitting with a whimpering Lupin who, thanks to Slughorn, could control himself to the point of being a safe lap dog. Neville was helping Luna to stand; it looked like her leg was broken, badly. The twins were grinning big and clapping each other on the back, Fred sporting a black eye, and George, a bloody nose. Yes, the twins were the ones who had been in the fistfight. Harry had a bloody shoulder and limp arm, and Ron could feel broken ribs from having had pieces of castle attempting to crush him at Malfoy's will.
"Ron! You sent us up top so we wouldn't have to fight! Didn't you!" Ginny was glaring at him, "You bloody bastard!"
"One, language, you aren't even out of school yet! Two, I sent Hermione up. Harry requested you go with her," Ron began to relax as Hermione used a spell to repair his ribs.
Ginny let out a growl good to match the ones Bill had begun to use, and marched over to Harry, who was nursing a severed shoulder. "Harry?" her voice was so honeyed that Ron saw Harry brace for the tidal wave that was about to hit him.
Harry looked up and met Ginny's lips. She kissed him deeply and Ron finally saw true emotion pass Harry's face. At first, he didn't fight her, but after he thought about it, he pushed himself away from Ginny, "We can't," he whispered.
That was all he had to say! Gah! Harry!
"Ron?" Hermione requested his full attention, and got it. "Are you ready to meet my 'fictitious' Snape?"
"Meet? You mean…"
"Snape is here in this building!" Hermione smiled, "Go grab Mr. Emotionless and lets go."
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"Hermione, why would Snape even be here?" Harry asked as the bubbly witch pulled him and her husband up the stairs.
"After Sirius was captured for killing the Potters, Snape was believed to have helped. The Ministry interrogated Snape, but didn't get the answers they wanted, so Snape was given a very cheaply made brew of verisilitum. It reacted badly and sent Snape into a coma, and since then Snape's been recuperating here."
"Then how would Snape have taught at Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"Severus Snape taught at Hogwarts, Serenity Snape has been at St. Mungo's, recently, she's woken up and has been under surveillance. She's to be sent… t-to Azkaban at the end of the week." Hermione stopped in front of a door and sighed, "Harry, we can't let that happen to her."
Harry gave no response, but opened the door and walked in. A thin woman with un-brushed, greasy black hair sat on the bed, staring at the floor. When Harry cleared his throat to get her attention, her head snapped up so quickly, it was a surprise she didn't get whiplash.
"James? Ickle Jimmy?" then she laughed, but it was a hysterical giggle, "You're not dead! Tell them James, tell them you're not dead!" she began to plead with him almost getting up, but being held to place by a chain on her wrist, "Please Jimmy, please get Sirius out of Azkaban, please don't let me go there!"
Harry stepped back shocked, this woman didn't look anything like the Snape he knew, this woman had eyes that were black, but had shadows of smiles and kindness all around them. Her nose wasn't hooked and wicked, but button like, kind of cute.
"I-I'm not James, I'm Harry."
Serenity's eyes widened as she took him in more slowly, focusing on every feature of his face and body, "Harry? Baby Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"Bloody hell, you got tall…" Serenity whispered, "H-how long have I b-been out?" Serenity asked.
"Seventeen years, ma'am," Hermione stepped into the room, followed by a flabbergasted Ron.
"Weasley?" Serenity stared at Ron, noticing the red hair, and lankiness.
Ron nodded, apparently shocked at the same thing Harry had been.
Serenity turned her gaze back to Harry, "Yes, I see it now, you have Lilly's eyes… but the rest of you screams James."
"Yes… I know."
"Harry, please, listen to me. Sirius didn't kill your parents, I have his alibi, please, please believe me," she was pleading again.
"I know. Pettigrew killed them," Harry forced a straight face.
"Is-is he still in Azkaban?" Serenity asked.
"Who?" asked Hermione.
"Sirius," Serenity finally seemed to register that Hermione was even there, "Wh-who are you?"
"Hermione Gr-Weasley," she replied.
"Grweasley?"
"We-we just got married," Ron piped.
Serenity smiled, a little humor reflected in her eyes, "Aren't you a bit young?" She paused, then snapped back to Harry, "Sirius, is he in Azkaban?"
"No," Harry was stiff. So far in life, Harry was still having trouble accepting Sirius' death.
"He's not?" Serenity smiled, "So he's free and happy?"
"Free, yes," Harry sighed and studied the floor, "He died a few years ago."
No body spoke for a moment, waiting for Serenity's response. Ron felt the room get chilly.
"Do you see this, Mr. Potter?" there, her Snape blood showed enough to make Harry shiver, a first since they had been at school, "Look at me Mr. Potter, not the floor." Harry looked up and saw a silver dog paw on a silver chain around Serenity's neck. It was about the size of a dime and Harry was instantly reminded of Sirius' nickname, Padfoot. "This, Mr. Potter, means he'll come back to me. Not even 'death' can stop him." She obviously didn't believe Harry and her cold glare was far too much like the one Harry often got down in the dungeons of Hogwarts from the Potions Master.
Hermione all of a sudden, gasped, "You and Sirius were sweethearts!"
Serenity smiled softly, "Yes, we are. We have been since my fifth year at Hogwarts."
"Do you fully understand why you're here?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Serenity became grim, "The Ministry believed that Sirius and I were in League with the Dark Lord. Sirius was captured, and mot much later, so was I. The Ministry thought they could torture me into answering their questions. When I gave them the 'wrong answers,' they asked that Snippy Snake to give me Verisilitum. Instead, the bastard mixed it wrong and tried to kill me. Didn't work though. Here I am, solid and in full color. It only knocked me out, for what I now know as seventeen years. I wasn't even fully awake when this Jackass, claiming to be the Minister, comes in and says I'm going to Az-azka-azkaban!" Serenity dissolved into a flood of tears.
Hermione pulled the boys into a huddle, "Harry, we can't let her go to Azkaban for something she didn't do!"
"How do we know she doesn't deserve Azkaban anyway?" Ron asked.
"We don't, but… innocent until proven guilty!" Hermione hissed, "Harry?"
"That thinking is what got Dumbledore killed," Harry said monotonously.
"And let you meet Hagrid!"
"Hermione, I don't think we should argue about this in here," Ron said, but Harry had stood up and turned back to Serenity.
"Who was the Snippy Snake?" Harry asked.
Serenity looked up from her hands with red eyes and a wet face, "Why," her voice was colder than ice.
"Do you know a Sever-" Serenity verbally attacked Harry.
"NEVER say that name!" Not in front of me!" Harry jumped and Hermione grabbed Ron's arm. "I hate that creature with a passion that's not even human," Serenity snapped, resembling him again.
"But do you know him?" Harry asked, solid as stone again.
"Yes… I do."
"How?"
…
….
…..
……
…..
….
…
"He's my brother."
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