Severus Snape and the Reluctant Hero
Disclaimer: All characters in this story (except for Ravenna...Snape) belong to JKR, not me. This is my take on how our beloved Severus Snape came to be the way he is. Pre HBP but with elements from same. This is my version of year 6.
A/N: Please review...I am beginning to feel there is only one person out there interested in this story.
Chapter Six
Let the Games Begin
There was a great deal of excitement in the castle, the Christmas holiday was almost upon them and most of the students would be leaving soon. The final dinner before the holiday break was a noisy affair. As Harry never went to the Dursley's for Christmas, and he did not have Sirius to go to, he would remain in the castle. Ron and Hermione had also elected to stay, mainly for Harry's sake.
Ravenna knew she should stay, to be closer to Harry since Albus had still not returned. But she was anxious to have some private time with her husband. Even though they had managed to spend every night together since her last visit to the hospital, she was getting tired of looking over her shoulder to make sure they were not spotted in a compromising position, and to have to act publicly like she didn't care for him much. Severus had suggested they go home for the holiday, even offered to take Harry with them. While she would have loved to have him along, neither of them could think up a reasonable excuse to get him out of the castle. So she continued to pack her bag. She wouldn't need much really. Severus had made periodic visits to the house and took clothing for her a bit at a time. Before she knew it, she was heading toward the gates of Hogwarts castle. She would apparate directly to the house, Severus was already there.
"Honey, I'm home!" She called as soon as she arrived in the entryway. Seconds later she heard him running up the steps from the basement, his lab.
"I was beginning to think you had changed your mind about coming home." He said in his deep rumbling voice as he approached her for a kiss.
"I just had to make one last check on Harry before I left. I told him where we would be if he needed us and made sure Hedwig would know how to find us." She said with a smile.
"You are going to make such a wonderful mother." He said beaming at her, placing a gentle hand on her tummy. Although it was not apparent because of the way she wore her robes, she was beginning to show.
"I'm glad you think so." She responded as he pulled his face to hers for a kiss. After several moments he pulled back.
"I have to get back down there, I have a cauldron going." He said apologetically.
"Perhaps you would like to meet me upstairs in a few minutes?" he suggested seductively.
"It would be my pleasure, sir." She replied in kind.
Ravenna had ascended the stairs and entered their bedroom. The minute the door closed behind her, she panicked. Using her wand, she opened the door. No one was there. She stood there for a moment, waiting. Still, on one. Not bothering to grab her bag, she ran back down the stairs, not stopping until she was in Severus's lab.
"We have to leave, now!" she said to him firmly. "I believe this is when my vision was. We can't be here!" Now she was near panic.
Immediately Severus extinguished the flame under the cauldron. They quickly climbed the stairs to the main level of the house. When they were standing by the front door, they apparated, she back to Hogwarts, he to Hogsmeade.
Several moments later, the front door of the Snape estate slammed open. The glass in the top of the door shattered from the force.
Ravenna practically ran to the Great Oak doors. She did not stop until she stood completely inside the castle. She stood in the entryway until her heart had stopped racing and her breathing slowed. Moments later, she spotted Severus walking up the path. She walked steadily into the Great Hall, mildly surprised to find Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table with their Defense Against the Dark Arts books open in front of them. She approached.
"Might I see what you are reading?" she asked quietly, so as not to startle them. She was surprised to see them reading about the Unforgivable Curses. "Not planning on attacking anyone, are you?" she asked lightly, but looked intently at Harry.
"No ma'am." Ron responded.
"We were just wondering if some sort of shield or charm could be concocted to protect oneself from the Avada Kadavra." Now Hermione spoke. Ravenna turned her head from Harry to Hermione.
"Well, if there is one, I have no doubt the three of you will find it." She meant the compliment sincerely. Harry looked at her concerned.
"Professor Gryffin, may I talk to you for a moment?" Ron and Hermione knew Harry was still taking occlumency lessons so thought nothing of his request.
"In my office?" she said quietly, he nodded. "Sure, let's go. Ron, Hermione I will see you later." She said politely then steered Harry out of the Great Hall. Just as they exited the Great Hall, they encountered Severus coming through the Great Oak doors. He looked concerned.
Now Harry knew something was wrong, he knew they were supposed to have gone home together for the holiday. His insides began to twist. "This way Harry." Ravenna said to him, looking pointedly at Severus.
Harry watched for a moment as Severus headed towards the dungeons, and then followed her up the stairs. Neither spoke until they were inside her office.
"Ravenna, did something happen with you and Professor Snape?" Harry asked, concern thick in his voice. She smiled at him gently.
"No Harry," she paused. She did not want to panic the poor boy. "I just remembered that I had forgotten to finish some things here. Severus decided there was no sense in being there if I was here." She looked over Harry's head to see Severus standing at her office doorway."
"And…" Severus said. Harry jumped and spun in his chair. He did not know he was there. "we decided perhaps it was not a good idea for you to be left to your devices for an entire week. I, for one, am well aware of the trouble that always seems to find you." He spoke in a growl, but wore a smile. This side of Professor Snape was going to take some getting used to. "What have you managed in the short time we have been gone?"
"Nothing sir." Harry stated quietly.
"Severus, I found he and his cohorts reading up on the Unforgivables. They are trying to figure out a way to defend against them." She smiled. "I think they all would make wonderful Aurors."
"Let's not go giving him any ideas…" he fairly hissed.
"Was there anything else Harry?" Ravenna said once he was looking at her again.
"No, just making sure everything was okay. Should I come to see you before bedtime?" she shook her head in response.
"I believe you know what you need to do, right?" she said knowingly. He nodded his head. "Should you have any difficulties though… don't hesitate."
He smiled at her and stood. Giving Severus a quick nod, he left.
Now Severus closed the door behind Harry and moved instantly to Ravenna's side.
"Are you okay?" At the look of terror that was still in her eyes, he pulled her close.
"When I got to the bedroom, the door slammed shut. In that moment I was terrified." She was shaking in his arms.
"Don't worry, you will be safe here. It's probably for the best anyway." He said with a frown she could not see. He had so wanted to spend Christmas away from here. Gently, he extracted himself from her embrace and steered her towards the apartment. "I want you to get some rest." He said as she looked at him, questioning him with her eyes. Sitting her down on the bed he said. "Now, clear you mind. Think about taking a swim in the lake on a hot summer day." She closed her eyes, seeing what he was describing in her minds eye. When he saw the tension drain from her body, he gently laid her back. Once he was sure she was asleep, he quietly left headed to his office. Finding Harry back in the Great Hall, he called to him.
"Potter!" Harry looked up seeing Professor Snape standing just outside the Great Hall doors. "Come here!". Harry looked at his companions for a second before rising from the table to meet him.
"I must go make a report, please tell Ravenna I will be back soon." He said with a small hint of a smile.
"Yes sir!" he to had a small smile. Then Severus turned and left through the Great Oak doors.
As soon as Harry was in earshot Ron spoke. "What did the greasy git want now?" Harry looked back toward the door before answering. He was not going to like lying to his friends like this.
"He was relaying a message from Professor Gryffin. She wants me to meet her in her office in a few hours." Ron just nodded then they all went back to their books.
Severus was back at Riddle Manor, still surprised that no one from the ministry had bothered to investigate this place. The Dark Lord was hiding right under their noses. As he approached the study doors, McNair stopped him. "The Dark Lord left word he was not to be disturbed."
Severus snarled at him. "Do you want to be the one to explain why I have not been able to make my proper report to him?" McNair quickly stepped aside. Severus knocked on the door and waited.
"Enter." Came the hissed response from the other side of the door, and instant later the door opened.
"My Lord, I have come to report as you have ordered." Severus knelt before Voldemort.
"Continue." The word was hissed quietly.
"I have not been successful with my 'wooing', as such I have brewed a potion to further my cause." He grinned, none too friendly. "It would seem my bride has taken quite a liking to her godson."
"Excellent… She is making my job easier." Voldemort said gleefully. "I have been getting better at reaching her. As soon as you have administered the potion, I should have no trouble at all. Then, through her I will kill Potter right under Dumbledore's nose."
Severus was horrified. He was going to use Ravenna to murder Harry. That would totally destroy her.
"Yes my Lord, most excellent news. I shall make every effort to administer the potion as quickly as possible." Severus stated evenly. He could not afford to give any hint of emotion. "If there is nothing else, my Lord, I shall return at once to Hogwarts." Severus said as he bowed.
"Just one more thing. I am not entirely pleased with your progress." Voldemort hissed as he turned to face Snape, wand pointed directly at him. "Perhaps you need a reminder of what happens to those who fail me. Crucio!" He shouted.
Severus dropped instantly to the floor, the agony was overwhelming. Screams of pain filled the manor.
In the Gryffindor common room, Harry clutched his fist to his scar in pain. A moment later, he was being picking up from the floor, Ron on one side Hermione on the other.
"What happened?" Asked Hermione anxiously.
"I don't…I don't know. I felt as though someone was sticking a knife in my head." Harry was barely able to speak due to the pain.
"The last time that happened, You-Know-Who killed someone." Came the nervous comment from Ron.
"I know. I need to go see Professor Gryffin. Come with me." He said as he ran to the door. He really wanted to speak to her alone, but knew he was not to be in the corridors without someone with him.
Within moments the three entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. "You two wait here. I will get her and bring her down." He needed to tell her privately that Professor Snape had gone to see Voldemort and about the pain in his scar.
The door leading from her apartment opened at the exact moment he crossed the threshold to her office. "Harry, where is he?" Ravenna asked anxiously.
He is with Voldemort." He stated anxiously. "I think Voldemort has done something to him."
"I know he has, I just 'saw' it." She said with great anxiety. Harry was confused by the comment.
Harry stepped closer to her. She gave him a weak smile in return. "Ron and Hermione are down stairs…" he said softly.
"Under the circumstances, I believe we need to share a little information with your friends. We are going to need all the help we can get." She intoned flatly. "Have them come up here. I will do the talking, okay?" he nodded and walked to the doorway.
Seeing that they were both looking up at him, he waived to them. "Come on up."
Once everyone was inside the office, she shut the office door and charmed it with her wand. She sat looking at each of them for a moment before speaking.
"I am really sorry to have to do this, but as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall are both away I need to enlist your help. There is something about me that you do not know…" she paused, making sure she had their attention. "I am a seer. I have just witnessed Voldemort torturing Professor Snape. I can only hope he is displeased and has not discovered the truth that you all already know about him." They all three looked at each other anxiously.
"Professor" Hermione began "Shouldn't we contact someone from the Order?" Ravenna looked at her for a moment, then answered by shaking her head.
"I wish we could, but I don't have any way of contacting them. Albus and Minerva are both gone." She shook her head in frustration. If only she could go to him herself.
Now Harry spoke "Perhaps we could contact Professor Lupin, he was in Hogsmeade last weekend, maybe he is still there. He could get word to the Order."
"Hogsmeade!" Ravenna practically shouted. "Yes, there are Order members there. Ron and Hermione, you must go at once." She paused for a moment closing her eyes and placing the tip of her wand on a blank sheet of parchment. "Give them this."
Hermione took the parchment from Ravenna's hand. "Professor?" she stopped when Ravenna nodded at her.
"Yes, I know it's blank. A member of the Order will know how to read it. You both must go quickly, but safely. Harry, they will need your cloak." She smiled tightly at him. "Wait for me in your common room. I will come to you as soon as I can." Harry nodded at her gravely and then they set off to get the cloak.
Ravenna uncharmed the door as they got to it then returned to her apartment. She sat on her bed trying to get her emotions under control. She was still badly shaken by the vision, which she felt as well as saw. She knew as long as she was upset, she would not be able to think clearly. After several moments she had herself under control. Rising from the bed, she headed out to the Gryffindor tower, careful to charm her office door behind her. Moments later, she knocked on the painting of the fat lady. Harry had been waiting for her to arrive on the other side. She asked him quietly. "Do you know of any place secure where we can talk. We cannot risk being seen going back to my office. There are several Slytherins skulking about."
Harry thought for a moment. "Of course, we can go to the Room of Requirement." She looked at him in silent question. "It is on the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy." He whispered. 'Why hadn't she known about this room when she was a student here?' She gestured with her hand for him to go ahead, she would be there soon.
A little over half an hour later Ravenna made her way to the seventh floor. She strolled as if she were just exploring the castle. She stood outside opposite the tapestry, trying to figure out how to find the room when the door appeared. As she put her hand on the knob it opened. Inside she saw what looked to be a small sitting room complete with fireplace and a twin pair of overstuffed armchairs. As she stepped in Harry leaned forward in one of the chairs. "As I said, this is the Room of Requirement. It appears as whatever you need it to be." He smiled at her.
Ravenna stepped into the room quickly, the door closed itself as she crossed the threshold. "Well Harry, it would seem we have some time to kill. Perhaps we can have that conversation about you mum. Where shall I begin?" She smiled gently at him.
"Tell me what she was like." He said quietly.
"Harry, she was a beautiful person, inside and out. Extraordinarily caring and generous. It was because of her that I met and fell in love with Severus." Ravenna paused for a moment lost in the memories. Harry looked at her quizzically. "Sorry." She said sheepishly and then continued. "You know your father and Sirius did not treat Severus well when they were all here as students?" Harry nodded slightly. "Well, your mother was the person who was most responsible for stopping James's foul treatment of him. She let James know how much she disapproved of his and Sirius's antics. In his desire to win Lily over James left Severus alone and tried hard to make Sirius stop as well." She stopped talking and looked intently at Harry. "Ask your question."
"Did Professor Snape do anything in retaliation?" He asked quietly.
"Yes Harry, he did make attempts to defend himself. You must understand that it was Sirius and James who started it. As much as I loved them all, Sirius unfairly targeted Severus to begin with. You are well aware that he did not have the best childhood. His father was a cold, cruel man, and his mother was too weak to stand up to him. She did nothing to protect Severus or herself from Tobias. Severus was shunned by many and had few friends. As the years passed he became more bitter because of the treatment he had received. He reached a point where he lashed out and everyone, even those who tried to defend him."
"Like my mum?" He whispered. She nodded in response. "I saw one of his memories once where he called her a Mudblood. Did he really feel that way?"
"I don't believe so Harry. I think he was just embarrassed about being defended by a girl. Severus can be very spiteful when he is angry." She responded quietly.
"Tell me more about you and mum." He said.
"The first memory I have of her was from the sorting ceremony. She was so excited about being at Hogwarts. I, however, was not in the least." He furrowed his eyebrows at this remark. She smiled tightly for a moment before continuing. "Harry, you must understand. When we were all here times were different. Voldemort was beginning to gather followers, most of who were from Slytherin house. I feared that was where I would end up." Now he was truly baffled. "You know my father was Dumbledore's grandson and obviously a Gryffindor?" Harry nodded. "Did you know that my mother was in Slytherin?" Harry's eyes went wide at this. "No, I guess you didn't know that, my mother's name was LaTisha Black." She paused.
"Was she related to Sirius?" Harry asked quietly
"Yes Harry, she was Sirius's aunt. Sirius was my cousin."
"How did she end up married to Dumbledore's grandson?"
"They fell in love." She smiled for a moment, then her expression changed. "Harry, I am very worried. Should Voldemort discover Severus has been spying and that I have been lying he will kill him." Her eyes were dull and haunted. She knew she would not survive if something happened to her love.
"When Professor Snape was instructing me last year in occlumency, I saw one of his memories about Voldemort. He has been tortured before. Voldemort is probably angry with him about something. I really don't believe he will kill him." Harry was trying desperately to be reassuring.
"I hope you are right Harry. I really do." She said grimly.
Ron and Hermione ran as quickly as they could through the snow all the way to Hogsmeade hidden by the invisibility cloak. Once they reached the village, they made straight for the Shrieking Shack. Someone from the Order was most likely stationed there. As they approached the front door it flew open. There stood Remus Lupin, wand at the ready. "Show yourself!" He demanded. Immediately they opened the cloak. Remus was shocked.
"What do you mean by this?" He said harshly as he pulled them into the house and slammed the door behind them.
"Please Professor, " Hermione started breathlessly. "We have an urgent message to deliver from Professor Gryffin." Then she handed him the parchment Ravenna had given her. He looked at it for a moment before taking it from her.
Placing the tip of his wand on the parchment he spoke. "By the Order of the Phoenix, Remus Lupin commands you to speak." Ron and Hermione stared at each other. Before either could say anything they heard Professor Gryffin's disembodied voice.
"Urgent notice…Severus Snape may have been found out. He is currently in Voldemort's custody and under extreme duress. Advise all to be on guard. Reassign all whose positions are known by him. Urgent notice…Severus Snape has…" the parchment began repeating its message. Remus tapped the parchment with his wand tip again and it fell silent.
He looked at the parchment blankly, as if he did not understand the words it spoke. Then redirected his gaze to Hermione for a moment. "She felt it absolutely necessary to send this message with you." He was now furious.
"Yes sir, Dumbledore and McGonagall are both away from the castle. She stayed behind with Harry." With a grim nod he motioned for them to follow him. He climbed the stairs to the room they had been in before, to the room where they all found out the truth about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. It looked totally different now, the room had been completely cleaned and repaired, even the fireplace had been restored. Without a word Remus walked directly to the fireplace. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it in then said "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place" and stuck his head into the fire. After having a brief conversation with someone he removed his head from the fire and stood.
"Go back to Hogwarts immediately and tell Professor Gryffin her message has been relayed. Also let her know Dumbledore will be returning soon." He said with a small smile. "And…be careful."
Ron and Hermione both nodded their heads and ran back down the stairs with Remus behind them. Before he opened the door they placed the cloak back over themselves.
It took them considerably longer to return to the castle due to their exhaustion. They both breathed a sigh of relief when the Hogwarts gate was in view. They had been running full out since leaving the Shrieking Shack. When they were almost to the gate Ron grabbed Hermione's arm, pulling her to a stop. She turned to him and glared, before she could speak he said, "What's that?" and pointed to something black just outside the gate.
They approached quietly and cautiously. When they were almost on top of it Hermione gasped. "Ron, I think that is Professor Snape." She whispered. When they confirmed they looked at each other for a moment, then broke into a run to the castle.
Once inside the door they split up, Ron went to the common room and Hermione to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. They had to find Professor Gryffin.
Hermione skidded to a halt as she entered the classroom. All the desks had been pushed to the side. Harry and Professor Gryffin were standing in the middle of the classroom, wands pointed at each other as if they were dueling. Ravenna rapidly blinked her eyes and looked at Hermione. Before she could react to her entrance Hermione spoke. "Professor, I believe we have found Professor Snape!" Ravenna started.
"Where!" she barked.
Breathlessly she answered "Just outside the gate…" Before she could say anymore Ravenna broke into a run towards the door, not even bothering to grab her outer cloak that she had discarded while working with Harry. In her haste, she nearly collided with Ron who was just coming off the last step into the entranceway of the castle. Without saying a word she continued right out the door and down the steps. A second later Harry and Hermione were standing next to Ron. They all watched Professor Gryffin trudge through the snow towards the gate.
When she reached the spot outside the gate, she dropped to her knees. She grabbed Severus by the shoulders and rolled him onto her lap. For a moment she feared he was dead until she heard a slight moan. Relief flooded through her with almost physical force. She planted a quick kiss on his forehead before she lowered him back to the ground and stood. She then pulled out her wand and levitated him off the ground. She quickly ran back to the castle, Severus floating behind her. Ron and Hermione were standing just inside the door, Harry and Madam Pomfrey were descending the stairs.
"Poppy?" was all that Ravenna could say. Madam Pomfrey extracted her wand from her apron and quickly waived it over Severus's still levitating body.
"I believe he will be fine, let's get him up to the hospital." She said while moving towards the steps. Ravenna turned toward Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Thank you." She whispered then turned back following Madam Pomfrey.
Two days later Severus was still unconscious in the hospital wing. Ravenna had refused to leave his side. Poppy was beginning to worry more about her than Severus. She was sure he would wake soon.
"Ravenna" she said gently. "You need to get some rest. You are not doing him any good here right now." Ravenna stubbornly ignored her and continued to stare at her husband, willing him to wake.
"Will you at least lie down in the next bed for a little while, please?" Now she turned to look at Poppy "I will wake you if his condition changes. I promise." With a heavy sigh Ravenna rose from the chair, leaned over Severus to kiss him then climbed into the bed next to him. Within moments she was sleeping restlessly.
Ravenna woke with a start, someone was touching her shoulder lightly. She turned the head to see Poppy standing beside her. "I thought you told me to get some sleep. I only just laid down." She said sleepily.
"Ravenna, you have been sleeping for nearly ten hours." Poppy said softly. "There is someone who would like to speak with you." She finished, stepping aside so Ravenna could see Severus sitting up in the bed next to her.
"Severus!" She leapt from the bed and was instantly at Severus's side. She put her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him to her for a kiss. He returned her kiss stiffly, which caused her to pull back. "Is something wrong?" her face changed from elation to concern.
"Nothing." He said flatly. "If I had known being tortured by the Dark Lord would bring you around, I would have asked him to do it sooner." Now he smiled tightly.
"Severus, that's not even funny. How can you make such jokes." Ravenna was torn between relief and anger.
"I am sorry. It has been a rough few days." He paused looking coldly at her. "The Dark Lord is less than pleased with my progress these past few months."
"Oh Severus, I am so sorry. I had no idea. Perhaps we should speed things along." She said apologetically. Severus looked at her with a very confused look on his face.
Before Ravenna could question him further Poppy approached. "Severus, I really think you should eat something. You have been out for quite some time.
He began to rise from the bed. "No, thank you." He said coldly to her. "I would much prefer to return to my quarters." He abruptly pulled the privacy screen around so he could dress.
Ravenna turned to look directly at Madam Pomfrey. "Are you sure he is okay? He isn't acting like himself at all." She whispered sadly.
"Well dear, it usually takes people a while to recover from being tortured so. Give him some time, his defenses are up fully right now. I have seen him like this before, he will be fine in a few days." Poppy said gravely.
"If you say so." Ravenna said unbelieving.
She started when the screen jerked back. Without looking at either of them Severus stormed out of the hospital wing. After a few moments Ravenna followed.
She went to her office and waited. Several hours later and Severus still had not come to her. She was not sure what was going on with him. Deciding she needed to find out for herself she left her office heading for the dungeons.
She knocked firmly on his office door. A curt 'enter' was the response. When the door opened, she walked in slowly. "Severus?" she called lightly.
"What do you want?" was the cold reply that met her ears.
"Love, talk to me…Please!" she was near tears.
He rose quickly from his seat, the chair slamming into the cabinet behind it. "This is your fault to begin with. Why don't you just leave me alone." He growled at her.
She was devastated. "What do you mean?" she sobbed.
"Had you just been a little more cooperative to begin with, this would not have happened." He hissed. She stared at him in confusion. "I must leave now!" then he grabbed her face with both hands and leaned very close to her, putting his mouth against her ear. "When I return…" he whispered "it will not be me." Then he kissed her neck. He pulled his face away to again look her in the face. "You understand?" he growled. She nodded her head. He gestured with his hand for her to precede him through the door, then it slammed and locked behind them. Without another look, he walked swiftly down the hallway, his cloak billowing behind him.
"I love you." She said to his retreating form, his stride slowed for a second, then he continued. She was frozen to the spot on which she stood until he was out of sight. Then she headed back to her office.
Less than an hour after Severus left, Ravenna was sitting at her desk, staring unseeing at the doorway. She was startled to see Albus standing in front of her, she did not even see him come through the door.
"Grandfather!" she exclaimed. "When did you get here?"
"Just now, I understand Severus is in trouble." He said gravely.
"Yes, he was tortured by Voldemort. He spent two days in hospital unconscious." She spoke emotionlessly to try to keep herself composed. "He left about an hour ago. He said when he came back it would not be him." She concluded.
"Of course, we had suspected Voldemort would begin replacing people." He replied. "We must keep Harry and the others away from 'Severus'. You must tell Harry that Voldemort has control of Severus, but not that he is an imposter. We don't want to let on what we know."
"I agree." Ravenna responded quietly. "Am I to allow him to continue to sleep in my apartment?"
"I do not believe that would be wise since we do not know who it will be. In addition, it would seem Severus was successful in concealing the truth so this imposter will treat you as though you and he have not reconciled. You must not speak of the baby at all and you must limit the amount of time you spend alone with him." Dumbledore stated evenly. "I fear for Severus's safety though. Did he give any indication…" She shook her head to answer before he even finished his question.
"I fear Voldemort is going to kill him." She choked back a sob. Albus stepped closer to his great-granddaughter and placed a comforting hand on her arm.
"Fear not child, Severus has been protecting himself for a good while now. He will be fine." He smiled gently at her.
The final days of Christmas holiday passed slowly. Severus did not return to Hogwarts until dinner the night before classes resumed. When the door behind the staff table opened abruptly Ravenna turned toward it. Severus walked swiftly to his seat next to Ravenna. With barely a glance at her, he sat.
"Are you well, Professor Snape?" she asked softly.
"As well as can be expected under the circumstances." He hissed in response, still not looking at her.
"Severus, we need to talk." She started. He glanced at her snarling.
"About?" was his less than polite retort.
"Perhaps when you are less…agitated. Can you come to my office later?" She said hesitantly.
"After dinner." He said sharply the turned away, loading his plate.
Ravenna stared at him for a moment, she knew this man was not her husband but hearing him speak to her so coldly still hurt.
As soon as dinner was over Ravenna left through the door behind the staff table, 'Severus' followed. No sooner than the door closed he spoke. "What is it you wanted to see me about?" His voice was harsh.
"I really don't think here is the right place to have this conversation." She responded, unable to keep the hurt out of her voice. He looked at her puzzled.
"As you wish…Please, proceed." His tone had softened a little. Without further conversation they went to her office. As soon as he was in the room he closed the door. Ravenna was suddenly anxious, she didn't like the idea of being closed in this room with this man who was pretending to be her husband.
"I thought we were going to spend some time together during the holiday to try and work out our differences. It was your suggestion." She said, allowing him to hear the hurt in her voice. Now he looked at her confused.
"I was under the impression you didn't want anything to do with this. This was after all a marriage of convenience, wasn't it?" She looked blankly at him for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what this man knew.
"You really are thick, aren't you?" she responded, being deliberately vague.
"Really…" he paused, "Perhaps you can enlighten me."
"As I recall, it was you not me opposed to the marriage to begin with. You were the one who had reservations about my ability to serve the Dark Lord adequately. You were the one who believed having a Dumbledore around was a bad idea." She said in a pain filled voice. "Severus, I loved you then and I love you now. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you." Tears were now in her eyes.
"Why have you waited so long to share this with me." He hissed in response.
"I was angry. You brought me back here without telling me the truth about who I really was. When I recovered those memories I felt deceived by the one I love." Here her voice held anger.
"I didn't think it wise to share too much too soon." He stated evenly.
"What about when I questioned this." She said harshly, raising her left sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark on her forearm.
"You needed to rediscover who you truly were before I could fully explain."
She glared angrily at him for several moments before responding. "Well, I know who I am now. Do you not think it is time to share the rest with me?"
"And what precisely do you mean by that?"
"I mean, don't you think it is about time for me to report to the Dark Lord myself." She felt extremely anxious about this statement.
"He wants to make sure you are truly recovered before coming to him. I have been ordered to prepare you." He hissed. "We are to consummate the marriage before you are brought before him, just to make sure." He leered at her.
"I see, and I am supposed to just allow you to bed me here in the castle? She said calmly, but was extremely unnerved at the prospect. She did not want to sleep with this man who was not really her husband.
"Of course not, that would not be wise. Measures are being taken at the Dark Lord's lair. When the time is right, we are to report there." He smiled lustily.
"And in the mean time, we are to what? Continue to dislike each other. Surely there are eyes all about. If we should start acting all lovey towards each other suspicions will be raised." She snapped.
"We are to continue as though nothing has changed." Ravenna nodded slightly. Without another work, 'Severus' turned to leave. When he reached the door he turned slightly. "I am gratified to hear that you do in fact love me. Perhaps this will also please the Dark Lord. I shall see you in the morning." Then he departed.
Several hours later, Harry awoke with a start. Ron was shaking him roughly by the shoulders.
"What!" Harry barked.
"You were laughing…evilly." Ron said as he shrugged an apology. Harry stared at him blankly.
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