Disclaimer: The sad and painful truthI don't own the characters of Harry Potter. Also I'm not getting any money whatsoever by writing this.
Hermione placed both Severus and the women on beds when her doors were opened. Looking up from her examination on the women she saw Remus stride into the infirmary in company with Albus and Minerva. Hermione smiled and turned to check Severus. Hermione could hear the conversation they were holding as they came to a stop at the end of their beds.
"Of course Albus, I'll be back as quickly as I can." Remus turned to Hermione. "Take care of him."
"I always do." Hermione smiled. Over the last year or so he and Severus had come to a rocky semi-normal acceptance of each other, friends was still a long way off. "Where are you off too?"
"To check her house." Remus tossed over his shoulder as he walked out. Hermione swallowed back a growl. He was at her house? Her jealous rants were cut short by a groan from the women patient. Hermione went to stand at the foot of her bed.
"Oh! She'll need a potion for the headache." Hermione jogged off to her store room, leaving the Headmaster and his deputy in her wake.
The first thing Samara noticed when she woke up was that she was now in a bed. The second thing to fly to the fore front of her thoughts was Severus. He wasn't beside her. Cracking her eye, she looked around the room. She was in a really big room, Severus was to her right, and two old people were at the foot of her bed. Whoa! Moving quickly, Samara lunged out of bed towards Severus.
"Careful now, we wouldn't want to hurt him now would we?" The old man smiled at her. Samara was frozen mid-lunge. "Now, I am Albus Dumbledore and this is Minerva. We are colleagues with Severus."
"Let her go Albus." Severus' voice rang out from the bed. He pushed her back just as Albus released her. Samara fell to the floor with a thud. Rubbing her rear she stood up and sat on the edge of her bed. Eyeing the old man coldly she turned to Severus.
"You alright?" He nodded as Hermione came out of the store room. She had the bottle of headache potion. She went straight to Severus, helping him sit up she gave him the bottle.
"Drink it while I patch you up." She command. Severus listened and followed her orders.
"I'm fine." Hermione pushed on his side causing him to wince in pain.
"Oh yeah, broken ribs are fine." She put her hands on her hips. "I can't believe they left that out of my training, 'How broken ribs are great' Rubbish!" The Doors behind Samara opened and a tall man, about Severus' age with sandy-blond hair entered. He smiled at her and Severus.
"Anything to report Remus?" Minerva questioned. Remus shook his head and frowned.
"Nothings left. The house was completely demolished. Worse, the dark mark hung over its remains."
"Whose house? What's a dark mark?" Samara asked looking from Severus to Albus. Remus cleared his throat at motioned for Albus to finish. Hermione listened on silently as she started to clean the slash on Snape's arm. The old wizard smiled sadly.
"My dear child, it is my best guess that Severus has not told you all of the happenings."
"Don't know. He doesn't talk much." Samara raised an eyebrow at him. Hermione tightened the bandage on Severus arm hard.
"Are you trying to stop the flow of blood or take my arm off?" Severus hissed at Hermione. She blinked and smiled sweetly after a brief 'oops'. Minerva eyed the act with a hidden smile. Albus was right. This indeed would be interesting.
"Your house was the one destroyed. You are now in danger. Those who went after Severus will undoubtedly be looking for you." Albus paused, "You can't go home, and as it turns out I am in need of a Muggle studies teacher. Welcome to Hogwarts."
"WHAT?" Samara snapped her head in Severus Direction. "You! Why me? Why?"
"Sir, she can't stay here and teach. She's a Muggle." Severus spoke to the Headmaster ignoring the death glare from Samara.
"Yeah, I'm Muggle! I can't teach!" She stood up and began pacing. "My house . . . what if I refused to stay here?"
"You'd be hunted and killed for aiding Severus." Remus answered. Samara rounded on Severus then.
"Great, here or death? Thanks! I'd still be at home, enjoying my night off."
"Oh shut up. My wand was snapped and I needed a quick exit." Severus snarled.
"Second choice was I? So no thought on what to do with my life after you barge in and rip me from my house."
"You should know about barging in on people's lives." Samara gasped.
"Wanker!"
"Now, now!" Albus interjected. "Is that anyway for family to fight?" Severus and Samara both looked away from each other. Samara was need less to say upset over the loss of her old life. Her house, her friends all gone in the flash of one night. Tears started to spill silently from her eyes. Quickly she wiped them away.
"Family?" Remus and Hermione asked simultaneously. Hermione looked between Severus and the woman. "How so?" She asked quietly. Both Samara and Severus ignored the inquiry.
"Amos" Samara addressed the old man. He chuckled and corrected her. "Albus, sorry 'bout that. If I stay here what of my old life? My job, money, clothes?" Samara was pacing again.
"I believe it would be better to continue this conversation tomorrow morning." Remus said taking in the haggard appearance of the girl. She stopped her pacing, ran her hands over her face and through her hair.
"I believe that is a wise choice." Albus agreed. "Samara if you follow me, I'll show you to a room," a command more than a request
Samara gave a bitter bark of laughter. "Figures you'd know my name too." She followed Albus without a second glance at Severus. The old man walked her through so many corridors she felt that somewhere along the way she lost her sense of direction. It'd be a hell of a task to find her way back in the morning. Finally he stopped opening a door he stepped in motioning for Samara to follow.
"Sleep well Ms Smith. I will send someone for you tomorrow morning."
"Oh good. I couldn't navigate those halls if you gave me a map." She gave a half smile and looked around the room. It was simply furnished, a four-poster bed, a dresser and desk. With a kind word of goodnight Albus left her. Samara sat on the edge of the bed. Her life was a mess. Lying back, she threw her arms over her head. She could stay here and teach, but she'd have to give up her old life, or she could go back home to her awaiting death. Teaching didn't sound so bad anymore. Samara kicked off her shoes and curled up on the bed. Tomorrow was a new day, a new life, maybe even for the better.
The morning came all too early for Samara. She had been lying in bed awake long before the knock on her door. Silently she rolled off the bed and padded barefoot to the door. Opening it she motioned for her visitor to come in. Samara was rumpled; her strawberry blonde hair was sticking in every direction. Her clothes looked as if they had seen better days.
"I brought you some clothes. These were all the house-elves could find in your size." Hermione pushed a pile of neatly folded laundry at Samara.
"Thank you." Samara walked over to the bed and shook out the items. A purple long sleeved shirt with a black raven on it, and a pair of jean shorts. "You said house-elves?"
"Oh right! I forgot you're Muggle. House-elves are elves that take care of chores and such." Hermione really looked at Samara for the first time since meeting her. She was very lovely, strawberry blonde hair, very light brown eyes, full lips, and beautifully tanned skin. How in the world was she related to Severus? He was pale skinned, dark haired with hawkish features. Samara was the complete opposite of him.
"What?" Samara finally asked Hermione. Hermione blinked and left her inspection.
"Last night, Albus said you were related to Severus. How?"
"I need to change." Samara walked into the tiny bathroom. Using the bottles of shampoo and body wash already left in the tub, she showered quickly. When Samara exited the bathroom fully dressed Hermione was still waiting.
"Why won't you answer the question?" Hermione demanded. Samara looked at the witch in front of her. Hermione was petite with curly brown hair and eyes.
"He never told you?" Samara asked silently. Her eyes lowered and sad.
"Tell me what? Oh no!" Hermione covered her mouth in horror. "You're married."
"No!" Samara gagged and shuddered violently. Hermione lowered her hand waiting patiently for an answer. "I don't want to have to tell it more than once so can we go to the meeting?"
Hermione nodded and led the way. Glad as she was to find out they weren't married, it still bothered her how sad Samara had looked when found out she wasn't known. What was this girl's history with Severus? Hermione walked toward the Great Hall with Samara following close behind. Her slippers scuffing the stone floor.
"Sorry I couldn't find you shoes." Hermione said motioning to Samara's at one time pink house shoes. Her midnight stroll to the castle had dirtied them.
"It's okay." Samara muttered as they walked into the giant room. Four huge tables hung on a far wall and a small circular table sat at the back. The old man along with Severus, Remus and Minerva were already seated.
"Good morning! I hope your night was well?" Albus inquired as the two girls drew near. Remus stood up and pulled out a chair for Samara. She smiled and took the seat between him and Albus.
"Thank you." She turned to Albus, "My night was interesting." Samara began to butter herself some toast. "I've thought a lot about your offer. I will stay and teach."
"Wonderful!" Albus smiled. "Am I correct in assuming there was a condition?" Samara found herself smiling at the astute wizard.
"Yes," she nodded. "I make lotions and shampoos for a living, an apothecary. I'd still very much like to continue with that."
"I think we can spare some space for a lab." He looked solemnly at her. "You do know that to the muggles you will be dead. This way your appearance here won't alert anyone we wouldn't like."
"Oh." Samara looked down at her hands. Dead to everyone? Well not everyone, the people here would know her. Not trusting her voice she nodded and began eating again. After sometime that question she had been avoiding popped up again. Looking at Severus she answered loud enough so everyone could hear.
"He's my brother." That opened way for many other questions. Severus began to vigorously eat his food. Samara held up her hand to stop the flow of inquires. Casting a glance at her brother it was obvious that he was not going to help her.
"We share the same dad." Was all that Samara offered up. "Thank you for breakfast, I think I'll take a walk and clear my head."
When Samara had left the Great Hall everyone rounded on Severus. He held up his hands in surrender. "What!"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Remus asked a bit shocked at the news.
"I didn't think anything of my personal life was anybodies business." Severus stated coolly. Minerva smacked him one the back of his head. "What was that for?"
"You git!" Hermione now understood the look of sadness. Samara felt that her brother was ashamed of her. Hermione glared at him and quickly left after his sister.
Hermione found her shortly sitting on the steps staring out over the grounds. Quietly she sat beside her. Hesitantly Hermione broke the silence.
"Would you like to go shopping with me later? We could pick you up clothes, and supplies for your lotions. Maybe have coffee and talk?" Hermione asked standing up.
"I'd like that." Samara nodded. She just might make new friends here.
