Chapter 15: Somethin' Stupid
The first week of 1995 was relatively uneventful for the Banks family, despite them spending every meal it felt like at the Burrow. Ida and Remy had gone back to France after the gala for the remainder of the break to spend it in their French countryside estate. Their home had been given to their mother by Sirius as an engagement gift as well to ensure her safety while he continued to fight in the war in England. After his arrest, she remained at the estate with Remus moving in with her to help her care for Remy and Ida as they grew up, but he moved back to London the previous year to teach at Hogwarts.
The Banks and Weasley families would go to Remy and Ida's French countryside estate at the beginning of the summer to have an early birthday celebration for Ida and Remy before they would move permanently to London and live in Grimmauld Place with their parents and Remus, they would also transfer to Hogwarts for the next school term. The trip that coming summer and back to London would be entirely paid for by the Black and Roux family accounts.
The families were gathered around the table at The Burrow enjoying breakfast, Richard and Arthur were reading the special New Year edition of the Daily Prophet while Hallie read her special New Year edition of Witch Weekly. The prophet and Witch Weekly already had the gala from last night published. With Peri sporting the front page of both.
The prophet had a picture of her curled into Draco after the clock struck midnight and they watched the glitter fall from the enchanted ceiling like snow. Witch Weekly played the image of the New Year's kiss. Peri had the constant memory of her interaction with Barty, "What is a legilimens?"
Cassie had just lifted her coffee cup to her lips to take a sip before she set it back on the table, "What?" her voice was confused by the sudden question.
"I heard someone mention it at the party, I wanted to know more about it," she switched her gaze between the adults at the end of the table.
Holly looked at her and then answered her after none of the adults spoke, "It is the magic of navigating through the many layers of a person's mind and correctly interpreting one's findings. A person who practices this art is known as a legilimens. No-majs tend to call this mind reading. The opposite of legilimency is occlumency, which is used to shield one's mind from the invasion and influence of a legilimens."
Peri looked at Richard who gave a nod, "They are rare, because of how difficult it is to do."
"Have you ever met one?"
"Dumbledore is one," Arthur spoke, "But that is the only one I know of still living."
Cassie looked at her plate, "Severus is another…" her voice barely audible, "he became trained very early but became an expert at it during the war."
Suddenly the Banks' family owl, Pudding, flew up to the window tapping upon it. Richard stood up opening the window allowing the cream-colored owl to fly in and perch herself on the counter. She offered him the letter in her beak, he accepted it then handed her a treat from his pant pocket. With the treat given she flew out and he closed the window before turning the letter over to see who it was for.
"Peri it is for you."
He walked to her handing her the letter, "Who is it from?" Alicia asked shoveling eggs into her mouth.
Hallie crinkled her nose at the youngest, "You and Ron have some of the worst table manners," she spoke as she ate a piece of fruit.
Alicia rolled her eyes turning to look at Peri, who was opening the letter. She removed it from the envelope.
"It is from da…Snape," she spoke, reading over the small letter.
Snape was asking her to join him for dinner that evening, with the farewell signature crossed out multiple times with different names. He started with dad but crossed it out. He tried to sign father but crossed it out. He attempted to try Snape, but once again it was crossed out. He ended with simply Severus.
"He asked me to join him..."
"No!" Cassie said before she could finish her sentence, "He has no rights to you except as your potions professor."
"He is my father though…he is my blood."
She shook her head in disappointment, "Richard is your father. That man simply helped in creating you that is all. Richard has been there through every sickness, every nightmare, every first of yours starting from three and older. Severus ignored you and me. I sent countless letters informing him of you before your birth and after. You will be sixteen in March, why can you not understand this?"
Molly took this moment to step in, "Cassie…this should be Peri's choice. If she chooses to have this relationship that is her choice. As you said she is almost sixteen let her decide. You have told her how you feel, but this is her choice."
Everyone looked down the table at Peri who sat there silently debating what to say.
After a few moments of awkward silence and everyone staring at her she answered, "I am going…I should at least try. He was seventeen or eighteen years old, I do not blame him entirely for not wanting to be fully committed to a child that young."
Cassie stood up tossing her napkin on the plate in annoyance before storming out of the kitchen, Richard went after her.
"Perhaps all of you should go outside and enjoy the snow," Molly told them more as a command than a suggestion.
Bundled in winter clothing the children were sent outside to wander in the freezing snow.
"Are you seriously going to have dinner with Snape tonight?" George asked approaching her side as the others separated to go into other parts of the property near their homes.
She looked at him noticing Fred and Hallie disappear into the forests probably to find a place to snog or shag, Peri shook that thought away in disgust wrapping her cloak more around her. Just ahead of them were Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Alicia discussing quidditch. Slightly behind them was Mallory who stayed near Hermione discussing different potions, especially healing potions and spells.
She looked at him, "I am…do you disagree?"
He shrugged, "It is not Malfoy I could care less who you spend dinner with."
"George," she sighed, "I am sleeping with you not him."
"But he gets to flaunt you whenever he wishes. All I get is secret snogging sessions and…" his eyes scanned her body then looked directly at her porcelain face.
She turned away as she blushed, hoping he would take it as her being cold. She avoided his gaze releasing a long sigh, "Please, do not make me explain this to you again."
He wanted to argue with her again with his mouth open but shut it, "Fine."
The two wandered through the snow with the others until that early evening.
When they returned the others went upstairs to change and warm up while she disappeared into the living room. She crossed to stand in front of The Burrow fireplace, staring into its emptiness of it. All that was inside was ash from the previous floos or simply fires to keep the house warm.
She was nervous to go to this dinner, this would be the first time she had an interaction with her father. She glanced up at the clock when a set of footsteps approached her, steps she would recognize anywhere—her mother's footsteps.
"Mom…" she said softly without looking at her as she continued to stare into the fireplace.
The two remained in silence before Cassie spoke in a soft, calm tone, "I do not want you to get hurt…" she paused taking a breath in and letting it out before continuing, "I was that girl once. Wanted his attention, but he pushed it away…multiple reasons why. Loving someone else was a major one. Perhaps the fear of having a child as you mentioned this morning…he did not have a good home life, especially from his father. I am sure the fear of having to raise his own terrified him, it terrified me. It was easier though for me to have you than remain in my parents' home," Cassie sucked in another breath, "Peri, he named you…in a way," she placed a hand on her necklace.
Cassie wore a necklace daily except on special occasions, necklace was a simple periwinkle flower that hung from a delicate gold chain. Peri turned to her mother looking at the necklace, "You've told me you named me after a flower."
"I did…but I chose it because of the necklace and how I officially met Severus. We knew of each other being in the same house, but we connected when we were fifteen when I met him officially. It was the first flower of spring that we had seen, it had been a long winter. I love potions…"
Peri already knew this about her mother, but allowed her to continue.
"...Professor Slughorn had shown me a potion that required periwinkle. A rare flower to find around Hogwarts. You can find it around Europe, but it is harder to find around Hogwarts and since it is not a typical ingredient for potions Professor Sprout does not keep it in her greenhouses. I wanted to try and create it if I could. I was returning from Hogsmeade when I spotted the flower in the melting snow. Severus spotted it, too. We connected at that moment over a flower and remained close until our final day at Hogwarts."
"Mom, what is all this about?"
Cassie moved closer to her daughter and then brushed a hand on her daughter's ebony hair, "I should not allow my issues with him being pushed on you. You enjoy your dinner, but come home tonight."
Peri smiled with a soft laugh, "My home is with you, mom. I just want to have dinner with him. It is not like he is going to sue you for custody, he simply asked for dinner and any other interactions I have with him will be at Hogwarts."
She watched as her mother's emotions flicker to worry for a moment when she mentioned suing for custody, but settled back on calm just as quickly as it had changed.
"Mom, I am not going anywhere."
Cassie said nothing, but pulled her into a hug, "You are more of a Gryffindor than a Slytherin," she kissed the top of her head before releasing her, "Go. You will be late."
She nodded, stepping back and grabbing a hand of floo powder then entered the fireplace, "Spinner's End!"
Exiting into a small sitting room she began to remove her clock, the whole room possessed a lingering musty smell and the temperature remained cold, almost damp feeling. She scanned the room as she dusted off the soot from the fireplace. The walls throughout the entire room remained bare minus the shelves of books within the room, the books were old and either black or brown leather bound. There was a threadbare sofa, an old armchair, and a rickety table that stood grouped in a pool of dim light cast by a candle-filled lamp hung from the ceiling. The place had an air of neglect, as though it was not usually inhabited.
Snape charged into the room suddenly with his wand drawn, "Oh, Peri…you came," he sounded surprised as he quickly lowered the wand.
"Yes…" she stuttered, "Yes. Sorry I should have responded to your letter."
He shook his head tucking his wand in his sleeve then brushed off her apology, "Come."
With that, he turned on his heel leaving the room. She quickly followed him handing her clock on a coat rack she spotted in the entry hall, "So…you live here," she asked examining the continuous bare walls.
He stopped at the stove, where he was currently cooking something that surprisingly smelled delicious, "I thought you were supposed to be smart?"
"I am smart or so I am told, but I am just attempting to make conversation."
"Not very good at it."
She rolled her eyes noticing the bottles of wine on the counter, "May I?"
His head whipped towards her, "Peri! No! Your mother and stepfather would kill me if I allowed you to drink underage," he turned to a tea kettle on the stove before magically pouring her a cup of tea then set cream and sugar in front of her, "You get tea."
She rarely drank tea except in divination, she was raised on coffee being the proper drink you serve to underage guests, "Tea? What am I English?"
He made no expression and kept his tone monotone, "You are English."
"I was raised American though."
This time he rolled his eyes, "Well learn your culture and drink the tea." She huffed and took the cup, she made it as she knew her mom would make her cup of tea. Cassie only had coffee in the mornings and chose tea throughout the rest of the day.
Snape finished his cooking and served it into chipped bowls, "What is it?"
"Stew," he answered sharply as dropped the bowl in front of her. It sloshed out slightly onto the table, "Eat."
She grabbed her spoon that had a slight bend in it, she took a bite "Very good."
He did not acknowledge her.
The two remained in silence throughout most of their dinner, "Why did you ask me here?"
He had raised a spoon to his mouth with his eyes glancing at her before finishing his bite then answered her, "You are my child."
"Yes…but you did ignore my existence for sixteen years."
He reached for his wine glass taking a long sip before giving her a simple response, "You sound like your mum."
"I am her child."
He magically poured himself another glass of wine.
She took a mental note of this as he had nearly finished an entire bottle of wine since she had arrived, "Mom, mentioned you are a legilimens."
He paused the glass that touched his lips to give her his full attention as he lowered the glass to the table without taking a sip this time, "I am…what about it?" he questioned.
She twirled her spoon in her stew looking at it not him despite feeling him watch her, "Remember when you found Richard comforting me before grandfather found us?"
He gave her a nod stating he remembered.
She continued still looking at the stew, "Grandfather had brought me to his study to meet a couple of his friends…one of the men mentioned me not being a legilimens because you would have had to teach me and we don't have…"
"A relationship that would promote me to teach you my skill."
She gave a nod informing him he was correct.
The room was silent again for some time before he spoke, "I will teach you then…how late can you stay because I do not know if your mother will allow you to come back, and once at Hogwarts my time to teach you will be limited."
She raised her head which had still been looking into her bowl, "I can stay as late as I need."
"Are you finished then?"
He looked at her half-eaten bowl of stew. She had been hungry, but nerves made her unable to eat as much as she wanted. She gave a nod and he magically sent the dishes minus his wine glass to the sink to begin its self-cleaning.
He stood up from the table which she followed, he took her to the sitting room. He took a seat in the armchair closest to the fireplace, "Sit," he commanded of her.
She took a seat on the couch, it was lumpy and uncomfortable. She was highly accustomed to nicer things, which she had never really considered a luxury item until she met the Weasleys.
"So…" she began.
He simply stared at her without words. She could tell he was thinking about how to begin this lesson, "This is a difficult skill, but to learn legilimency you need to learn occlumency first. Do you know what that is?"
"Yes, Holly told me that since legilimency is the ability to read minds. Occlumency is the ability to prevent someone from reading your mind."
He nodded, "Good. Ten points to Slytherin…and I suppose your know-it-all friend…sister can have points, too."
She laughed softly at his small joke of the points, she noticed the laugh gave him the smallest, barely noticeable smile. It disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
"How do I learn to block others from my mind?"
He took a sip of his wine before answering, "Remove all emotions…block any feelings you have inside you. Clear your mind of all thoughts and feelings."
She raised a questioning brow, "I can't think?"
"You need full control of your mind to put walls up to block the person penetrating it. You having emotions visible to your mind weakens it, this will allow one to enter your memories easily. Memories are our greatest weapon."
She gave a nervous nod.
"The Dark Lord himself is a legilimens and a strong one at that."
"But he is gone…"
He did not answer her. This did not ease her mind.
He took a deep breath as he sat up more in his chair continuing to study her, before moving to a standing position. He motioned for her to stand as well, and she followed his instructions "Clear your mind, Peri. I am about to attempt to break into your mind. You are to resist and push walls up blocking me from your memories, I want you to attempt to turn me away from the memories I push into. Show me how powerful you truly are. Brace yourself, Peri now... Legilimens!"
She sucked in a breath as he penetrated her mind going through her memories starting with her earliest memories.
Mid-September 1981
Peri watched Snape search the memory, she tried to recognize it herself till a ship horn blew, she turned to see the ship that had taken her, Hallie, Holly, and her mom to America.
The sea air blew her hair as two-year-old Peri stood next to Cassie, she did not understand the tears from everyone or why they were leaving England. The ship horn blew next to them, it startled the children.
"What that?" a small Hallie asked looking in the direction of the noise.
"A ship. We go bye-bye," a young Holly informed her twin.
"Mummy? Daddy?" Hallie asked looking up at Cassie, who ignored her as she hugged Remus and then took each of the twins' hands.
"Peri, grab Holly's hand. And let us go find out new home."
Home? The toddler Peri had a look of confusion as she did not understand, this was home to her. Why were they leaving?
She took Holly's hand anyway and walked up the gangway with her mom, Hallie, and Holly. Once aboard they found a bench to stand on near the edge of the ship, "Bye-bye!" the three toddlers called out to Cassie's friends waving as the ship disembarked.
Snape continued to dig through her memories trying to find something deeper and emotional to her. She attempted to throw walls up to block him from anything of interest.
December 1984
Peri was five-years-old, she was sitting on the floor of their New York City penthouse, which they used during the holidays. Their main house was in the Hamptons, she was playing with her sister. Mallory was a year and a half, Alicia was eight months old, and the twins were four-years-old. Richard was sitting on the floor holding Mallory playing with the Christmas puppets they had, "Hohoho, I'm Santa!"
The girls laughed except Peri, who felt dazed.
"Peri?" Richard questioned noticing her not herself behavior, "Cassie!"
Cassie hurried into the room holding Alicia, who was currently having a bottle, "What's wrong?"
He was holding Peri now, "Peri…she's warm and barely responding. I ran a fever spell on her, her temp is hundred-two."
"Hospital now, please. I should go with though, but the children."
"Stay I have her…"
Snape pulled away quickly from this memory, she figured he did not want to watch Richard be a father to her.
August 1989
"Peri!" Cassie called up the stairs of their Hampton mansion.
The eleven-year-old Peri was dancing around the media room of their house with her sisters while they were singing along to the no-maj song Like a Prayer by Madonna on their radio.
When you call my name it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Cassie came up to them with Richard behind her, "Peri!" she said again as Holly turned down the music.
"Sorry, mom. We were listening to Madonna," Peri said falling into the neon pink beanbag chair.
She smiled at her girls then held up a letter, "You got mail."
Peri gasped jumping back up from the chair and rushing to her mother and Richard, "It came! I'm going to Ilvermorny?!" She quickly tore open the letter, "I'm going to Ilvermorny!" she squealed before hugging Cassie and Richard happily.
September 1990
Peri stood with her Ilvermorny classmates inside the circular room just passed the entrance doors. She watched as the students were called to be sorted, "Periwinkle King!"
She sucked in a breath before entering the circle, she stood on the gordian knot engraved in the marble floor. She had all eyes on her, she examined the different wooden carvings that had creatures representing each house before her. She looked up at the balcony where the older students were. She looked at the professor in charge of the sorting, "Go ahead, Peri. There is no bad house here," she informed her.
She looked back at the figures before approaching each one cautiously. She approached the Horned Serpent first, but the gem on its head turned cloudy gray instead of shining claiming this was not the house for her. She sighed moving to the Thunderbird and instantly began flapping its wings, the Thunderbird students in the balcony above her erupted into applause and cheers.
She turned to the professor smiling then looked up at the balcony seeing her housemates.
December 1993
This memory was fuzzy for her due to the amount of alcohol she had consumed. By this point, Peri was fourteen years old. She had been dating a fellow housemate who was seventeen, she enjoyed the reputation this gave her more than actually liking him. She was up late one evening with him and his friends, his brother had sent him the alcohol. The group was drinking while getting heavily drunk, some were smoking cigarettes while they played wizard poker, "Have you two not fucked yet?" one of his friends asked as if she were not there.
Her boyfriend had her in his lap as he played he had a cigarette in his other, he took another blow before answering, "Not yet, but very soon."
He put the cigarette out and began to run a hand up her skirt while kissing her neck, "My dorm is occupied," she moaned.
Peri attempted to push Snape from the memory, but he pushed more in.
"Then it is a good thing you are dating the captain of the Thunderbird's quidditch team."
"Mmm is it?"
His eyes flickered dangerously, "Well guys, that is it for me," he tossed his cards onto the table, "My lady and I…" he stood shakily, "we need to…to take a walk." He yanked Peri to a standing position wrapping his arm tightly around her. He pulled her out of their common room down to the quidditch pitch, stopping to kiss her along the way by pushing her against various walls and feeling up her skirt.
Snape pulled out of this memory at the moment with fury, she could feel it. She had attempted to block that memory as it was from the time she lost her virginity, but was finding it harder to block memories.
August 1994
"Girls!" Cassie and Richard called to them, "Come here, please."
"Peri, what did you do?" Holly asked with a snap as they went downstairs.
"Me? Why do you think I did something? It could have been Hallie?"
Holly laughed, "Ha! Funny! The most dangerous thing she has ever done is forget about an assignment being due."
"That is because school is entirely useless," Hallie defended herself, "Not everyone needs school to succeed."
The five girls reached the living room, "Mom. Dad." Mallory said taking a seat on the couch next to Hallie and Holly with Peri and Alicia sitting on the armrests of the couch.
"Can two sit in the chairs, please? We have furniture for you to sit on," Cassie told Alicia and Peri.
"Technically we are sitting on the furniture, not the seat but still furniture."
Cassie let out an exasperated sigh, "Peri, please."
Peri groaned moving to sit down in one of their armchairs, "Happy now?"
Cassie did not respond but simply looked at Richard, "Well we have some news."
"School is over!" Peri asked excitedly.
"Well sort of…no more Ilvermorny, but all of you are going to a new school."
"A new school?" Holly asked, "How?"
"We are moving to England," he told them.
All of them were furious over this, "No! No!" the five girls shrieked.
The memory flipped to later that week
The family was packed and standing on the docks of the New York City harbor, "Mrs. Banks! Mr. Banks!" reporters shouted as they took pictures of them standing preparing to board the ship to take them to London. Richard and Cassie gave waves as if they were truly a royal family, not just what they were called by the press.
The memory must have bored Snape because he moved on rather quickly from this one
August 1994 ~ The Burrow
They had arrived at The Burrow for the first time since being back in England and had their elaborate greeting from Molly when the shuffle of movement from upstairs was heard as they all began to come downstairs, "I at least hope the guys are attractive…," Peri whispered to Hallie and Holly who stood next to her.
"Did you not see the Christmas card from last year? They are just alright," Hallie said, "I hope the men at Hogwarts look way better. Although I am very much looking forward to meeting Harry Potter."
Peri gave her a side-eye glance, "You could not stop staring at the twins. What are you talking about they are just alright?"
Holly let out a small groan as they stood near the staircase, "Is that all you two think about is how attractive a man is?"
"No…" Hallie said as she glanced up at the stairs just as Fred and George walked down, she instantly went speechless.
"You were saying?" Peri teased but Hallie was too distracted by staring at Fred
Fred and George approached them, "hello boys," Peri said, "my name is Periwinkle but everyone calls me Peri and these are my sisters…well godsisters Holly," she indicated to her.
She gave a small nod of her head to greet them, "this is my twin, Hallie."
Hallie was a bright shade of pink, "Hi…" she squeaked which just made her pinker in the face.
"Are you alright?" Fred asked with concern noticing her coloring and the squeak in her voice.
She was very embarrassed turning almost red in embarrassment, "Oh…um…yes. Please excuse me," she walked away quickly.
Peri laughed, "Yeah she is totally fine just having a…" Cassie had been observing the situation and glared at her daughter, "a bad case of the giggles. I had just told a joke before you and your brother approached. I do not believe I caught your names."
Fred was not even looking at her just in the direction of where Hallie ran off to which was to be by her two younger sisters, "I am Fred and this George," he told her, "so…Hallie likes jokes?"
She smirked slightly, "Do you like jokes?" knowing she was about to make some mischief happen.
Fred and George both laughed looking at each other and then back at her, "Do we like jokes she says. Peri, we love jokes but especially pranking."
"Oh well, Hallie does n…" Holly started but Peri cut her off.
"Loves jokes and pranks. She adores them."
This appeared to get them excited but more Fred than George, "Really?" they both said
"Yes! You did not hear this from me though. Excuse us though we have other people to meet."
Peri pulled Holly off to meet the others but kept glancing over in George's direction.
She attempted to greatly to block him from the next memory she could see him trying to enter. She knew it was similar to the one from the previous year with her ex-boyfriend and certainly did not want him to see that one.
She managed to block him, but he found another involving George. Thankfully a more innocent one.
October 1998
Peri was sitting at the black lake reading a book on dragons, she had just learned about the first task when George approached her.
"Hey, Peri…dragons? Have you been talking to Charlie?"
She looked up at him with a smile, "Hey, George. No, I haven't. I was reading about the different types of dragons for the care of magical creatures class."
He gave a slight nod as he sat next to her, "I got you something."
"Oh?"
He handed her a four-leaf clover.
"Clover? Why?" she took it from him.
"It is supposed to be lucky…I thought you could use it for your first task. Whatever the task will be…" he glanced down at her book and then back at her.
She was not looking at him, but at the clover, "You are giving me luck with a clover?"
"I just said that…I get it if you don't," he started to take it back.
She pulled it closer to her. She found it childish the thought of this being lucky, but he gave it to her, "No, it's mine."
He smiled softly at her, she noticed the look on his face it was familiar to her. A new expression she had never seen towards her, "Peri?"
"George?"
He did not say another word, but his eyes took in her facial features with his eyes landed on her lips. Her heart was racing, he was going to kiss her. Did she want this? Yes…she did, but why? She did not date, she had hookups or boyfriends that resulted in mostly just sex, not a true connection.
He leaned in and captured her lips in a soft kiss. His hand came to cradle her face in his, her hands simply rested on his chest, and began to remove his tie out of the habit of undressing the men she simply kissed.
He pulled away from her, "P?" he breathed against her ear, "No."
That was all he said to her before the memory flipped to the evening before the Yule Ball.
December 1994
Peri was in the music room practicing a no-maj song, she was unsure why she was choosing this song. It was not one of her usual types of music, "Ah! P, there you are!"
She looked up at him smiling, "Hey, George!" she was standing in front of the piano.
"You missed a fun day in Hogsmeade!" he dropped a bag of candy beside her on the piano.
She was focused on her sheet music, "You know we are having a party tomorrow?"
He chuckled, "Yes, I am fully aware of the Yule Ball tomorrow, but that is tomorrow, and sweets are always welcomed."
She laughed as well moving to the piano keys and setting the sheet music in front of her, "What can I do for you then?" she played the keys softly.
He watched her play, "Nothing…what song are you playing?"
"It is a No-maj song. t is called Somethin' Stupid by Frank and Nancy Sinatra."
He examined the sheet music with the lyrics, he scooted her hands from the keys and began playing
I know I stand in line until you think you have the time. To spend an evening with me. And if we go someplace to dance, I know that there's a chance. You won't be leaving with me
He paused his playing to look at her.
She smiled softly at him, "I did not know you could play piano…or sing."
He shrugged, "Mum, wanted me and Fred to learn music like Percy. She thought it would help us develop our minds better to be like him. I did well, I will admit it but it was not me. We spent more time playing pranks on our teacher than learning. I feel bad sometimes because mum and dad spent money they did not have for us to learn and we played around instead of trying," he ran a hand along the keys, "but I do enjoy playing."
She took her wand out and set the piano to play from the beginning as she took his hand leading him to the center of the music room, the two danced and sang together.
And afterward, we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid like "I love you"
I can see in your eyes, that you despise the same old lies
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true, it never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever lines to say
To make the meaning come through
But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late
And I'm alone with you
The time is right your perfume fills my head
The stars get red and oh, the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid like "I love you"
The time is right your perfume fills my head
The stars get red and oh, the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid like "I love you"
I love you
I love you
I love you
George finished their dance by dip-kissing her.
The memory faded away slowly before Snape pierced into another one. The longer they continued the more pain she felt, but he was growing closer to present-day memories that she knew the lesson was near ending.
Yule Ball 1994
Peri returned from pictures with Draco and re-entered the Great Hall she made her way over to George, "You and Malfoy…are dating?" he asked disappointed. The two were not dating, they fooled around but the feeling for him was more than that, and judging by his questioning she assumed he felt the same way.
She looked around them not responding, before nodding her head for him to follow. He followed her the way to the Slytherin common room, she gave the password allowing them both entrance into the room. He took in the room around him, the dark Slytherin green decorated throughout with dark furniture. While their Christmas decorations remained silver and icy.
"Why am I here?" he asked her in a hushed tone as if they would be caught any moment.
"We are alone in here…everyone else in the house is either at the ball or home for the holidays. I wanted to ask you something."
He raised a brow at her, "What is it?"
"Will you be my date to the New Year's Eve ball? Hallie has already asked Fred. I believe Holly has asked Harry…although I believe he declined her."
"What about Malfoy?"
"I do not love Draco. I love you!" she took a step back realizing the words that had escaped her mouth, "I'm sor…"
She was stopped in her words as his lips touched her own, "I love you, too." He spoke against her lips before returning to her lips in a kiss.
Her hands moved around his neck into his shoulder-length hair, which was nicely combed for once. He moved them together stumbling onto the black leather sofa, his body fully above her own. Even with their stumble their lips remained connected. He raised slightly panting against her, she caught herself nearly gasping for air at this point. She slipped her hands under his dress robes feeling the mussels of his Quidditch abs. His brown eyes danced across her, she began to feel his hand trace up the lace of her corset. He placed his head against hers. His breath misted against her ear, as he began to trail a hand up her thigh, "What do you want?" he asked her with a slight smirk.
She was about to respond when she heard the common room door open, "Oh my! Peri!" Draco snapped turning around and holding his hands over his eyes, "I thought you went to lie down. Not get laid…on."
The memory pulled out and switched to New Year.
The memory began with her turning the knob to open the door revealing the study as Erling walked away leaving her there. She saw a singular figure dressed in dark, baggy clothing with his back to her looking out the window at the snow falling. She entered the room cautiously as the door closed suddenly behind her, "Hello? My grandfather said he wanted me to meet you?"
"Peri King, I have been waiting to speak to you," the man spoke still unmoved, "Tea?"
Snape seemed to shutter slightly in his investigation of her mind when the man spoke.
A cup was offered to her by another man she had not noticed until then, a much shorter man than the figure by the window who was about the same height as herself. The shorter man's hair was colorless, with a large bald spot on his head. He had a rat-like appearance, "Um…thank you," she took the cup from the man next to her.
She tensed more at the memory as this was newer, but this memory seemed to be the one he had been searching for. She struggled to block him as the emotions were new and triggering to her.
"Enough!" Barty barked, "We are not here for a reunion…" He stepped closer to her allowing the light from the fireplace to illuminate his face, "Peri King."
"Yes? That is me. And who are you two?"
Barty looked at Peter before answering, "This is Peter and I'm Barty."
"Last names?"
"Confidential."
She looked into the man's eyes once he turned to face her, "Why am I here?"
Barty walked closer to her where he was mere centimeters from her, she could feel his hot breath against her. He raised a hand to her face, ran a finger across her skin, and then did a weird snake-like thing with his tongue.
"I suggest you remove your hand from my body," she hissed at him stepping back.
"Ooo feisty. We like that...don't we Peter?"
Peter nodded agreeing.
"You did not answer my question. Why am I here?"
Barty turned at his heel going over to the bar cart in the study and pouring himself a glass of fire whiskey, "Our master wants you for the greater good …But he is currently too weak to be here himself. We are here in his place."
She raised a brow in confusion, "Your master? You are not house elves," her eyes then darted back to the mark and then the man before her. She sucked in a breath then shook her head with anger, "No!"
This time he raised a brow, "No? I have not even asked anything and unless you are a legilimens like your father which I doubt you are since he would have had to teach you and you barely have any relationship with him I doubt you are one."
"I am not one of them. I will not be forced into one like my mother."
He gave a displeased nod, "I see…consequences will occur if you do not accept his offer."
She scoffed, "I will accept the consequences then."
He rolled his eyes taking a long sip from the dark liquid in the glass, "Stupid girl. If you were not Severus' child, you would be dead…we have no use for dirty blood such as your own."
She scowled at him, "You inform Voldemort I will not be a puppet in his army. I am Peri King. I am my person."
He set the glass on the mantle of the fireplace, "I will inform him you need time to consider his offer."
Snape tore from this memory with anger causing her to feel more extreme pain than before.
January 1, 1995
Peri had been struggling to sleep following the New Year gala, so she stood from her bed and made her way down the stairs. The home was much larger to The Burrow, smaller than what they were accustomed to in America but with the children of their family rarely home most of the year there was no point in a large estate anymore. Plus with them spending most of their free moments at The Burrow anyway the size truly did not matter.
She stood in front of the living room window looking out at the openness of the countryside, she watched the snow fall slowly. She grabbed her cloak wrapped it around her and stepped into her boots before exiting the house, she made her way across the land that separated their home from The Burrow.
She looked up at the night sky, the freezing snow hitting her face. She felt at peace, the first time since entered in the tournament that her feelings felt like her own. It was the feeling she needed. She was alone and the world was quiet.
She was startled when she heard a noise crunching through the snow from the direction of The Burrow, "Peri?" a voice asked.
She recognized that voice, "George?"
"Yeah?" he approached her from the darkness holding a candle.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I saw you from my window. Mum and dad got me and Fred a telescope for Christmas this year. They think Fred has an interest in astronomy how often he has been seen coming from the astronomy tower with Hallie," he chuckled at that, "But of course, we know that is not true. Now I ask you the same question."
She laughed as well, "I couldn't sleep. Something I was asked today…do you know anything about legilimens?"
He shrugged, "No, I have heard of it but never really knew much about it. It deals with the mind."
"I figured…"
"P?"
"Hmm?"
He looked up at the snow falling, "It is a romantic evening."
"What do you know about romance," she teased.
His gaze turned to her, "I am discovering it. I understand why my brother is so invested in Hallie now. I found mine," he stepped closer to her.
She smiled, "I think I did, too."
He leaned in and kissed her with the snow falling around them as he hummed against her lips. He pulled away resting his head against hers, "The time is right your perfume fills my head. The stars get red and oh, the night's so blue. And then I go and spoil it all. By saying something stupid like I love you."
Snape pulled himself out of her memories, she stumbled back into the couch with a crash. She was panting, her eyes resting on the floor for quite some time as she attempted to recover her head felt as if it had been given the cruciatus to only her brain. Once she felt ready she looked up to see him standing above her.
"You are weak in occlumency. You will need heavy training especially if the Dark Lord wants you. He is highly trained in this and uses it to torture his victims. He will attempt to enter your mind."
She shook her head which made her hurt more, "No! No! I do not want him near me. I am prepared for the consequences though."
Snape leaned more into her so that he hovered above her, "Peri, he targets those closest to you to punish you for not joining him or disobeying him. From your mind, I could tell your family and George Weasley are important to you. He will stop at nothing to go after them. If Barty is there assisting him you won't survive without assistance."
She sucked in a breath as he stood up straighter moving to a cabinet on one of the bare walls, "Then help me!"
He took a vial out before returning to her, "This will help your head, occlumency always is painful for the person who receives it, especially after that many memories," she accepted the vial and swallowed it, "As for helping you I can try, I will inform your mother you need tutoring in potions. I will have to change your grades to prove it until then I suggest that you begin reading about different plants."
"Plants? How is that helping me block him out of my mind and protect those I love."
"It doesn't, but it will prepare you."
"For what?"
He groaned in annoyance, "You are supposed to be clever right? You mentioned that earlier tonight."
"And you are not supposed to be an ass," she growled.
He turned from her exiting briefly to grab her cloak then handed her a handful of floo powder from the bucket next to the fireplace, "You are too much like your mother. I will see you at Hogwarts and try opening the egg underwater."
She crossed the couch to him and took a handful of powder, "Egg?"
"Your mind is full of scrambles. Leave and figure it out. Goodbye, Peri," he said then left before she entered the fireplace.