Chapter Nine-The Masons

I stumbled through the fireplace, and almost instantly Snape took ahold of my arm and dragged me back to his private quarters. My books scattered all over the floor as I tripped.

"What were you thinking?" He snarled, spit flying.

"I was thinking that I was lonely with nobody to talk to, and nowhere to go to, so I wanted to hang out with my friends! And you're hurting me!" I shook my arm, where his nails dug into.

He let go instantly, as if he'd been burned. Curtly, he reached for my arm to inspect damage, and I twisted it away. "You didn't even have a good excuse-you just don't like Harry!"

His eyes narrowed. "Go to your room."

"Go to my-" I laughed incredulously. "You haven't been my father for twelve years, and now you're acting like you're responsible?"

His eyes blazed. "If you do not leave," he hissed. "I will not be responsible for my actions."

I wanted to throw a cookie in his face and stand my ground, but it was harder than it sounds. "Okay," I muttered. Maybe if I ran to my room and didn't come out, he'd calm down and stop looking at me like I was going to be assassinated.

"Do not come out until I call you," he snarled.

And then Hedwig came from the closing door, smashed into the side of his face, squawking as she tried to slow down. Snape spluttered in outrage and drew his wand, causing Hedwig to panic.

"Stop!" I yelled. "Hed-Hedwig! Professor-your-wand!"

Hedwig scratched him once with a shrill hoot and flew over to me, landing on my head. I winced as her talons dug into my scalp.

"Leave," he snarled. "And take Potter's stupid owl with you."

O-O

Rowan,

If you get this letter, reply as soon as you can. If you don't, I'll try to come to your funeral. I told Hedwig to get this to you as fast as she could.

It might be a bad time to ask, but I was wondering if you would be taking the Hogwarts Express? It's the way students usually go. And will you still be able to continuously contact us?

Planning your funeral,

Harry

I glared at the parchment, taking a quill and dipping it in ink, thinking. I really did want to go on the Hogwarts Express; I had read it in Hogwarts, A History.

Snape.

I couldn't believe I'd done that. I'd laughed in his face and told him that he'd never been a father to me. And he was a teacher here. He had all the sources. I didn't have anyone.

Good job, Rowan. I sighed and placed the quill tip to the parchment.

Harry,

I don't know; I'm not going to risk asking. And I sincerely hope I don't die. Hedwig came screeching in like a lunatic and attacked Snape.

Does he hold grudges long?

If so, buy me a coffin.

Rowan

I looked over at the bare bookshelf and my eyes widened at the only two books on it. I'd left my books scattered on the ground.

Well, there was no way I was ever stepping foot out of this room ever again, I mused as I took Hogwarts, A History out and sat in bed. Not until he calmed down. Maybe I could apologize. After he calmed down. Which didn't seem likely.

Hedwig settled herself at the foot of my bed like a cat, and began to ruffle her feathers. I figured she was tired from racing all the way here.

I checked the chapters in the book in my hands. There was a full section on each of the Houses, and the history of it. Might as well. My essay and my note were gone; no doubt Snape had come in and found it.

Turning back to my book, I flipped open to the right page.

The door opened. Snape stood in the hallway, looking less murderous but still threatening. The tips of his oily hair swung as he breathed ominously. "Get your books," he bit out.

I didn't wait to be told twice. With two big strides, I was out the door and picking up my books. I could feel him watching me intently as I did.

"Um," I said hesitantly with my back to him. "I'm sorry about what I said before. Sir. I was just upset."

He didn't say anything back, and I flushed in embarrassment when I turned around and saw him with raised eyebrows. "Back inside," he motioned to my room, and I hurried inside. But he didn't sound quite like he wanted me to jump off a bridge and die, and I could live with that.

"Will I stay in my room until the first day of school?" I asked him, turning back to see him in the doorway.

"Oh, no," he smirked, sounding viciously pleased. "I suspect that you will not be seeing your room quite as often starting tomorrow."

He shut the door.

O-O

True to his word, I spent most of my time studying, working, and then scrubbing. I supposed it was his idea of revenge for me sneaking out; I ate my food in the classroom, a sandwich on a plate with pumpkin juice waiting as I scrubbed the bottom of a greasy cauldron.

Homework, to my dismay, didn't lessen, and by the time I was done with the day and had sent Hedwig off with letters to the Weasleys and Harry, I was exhausted. For two weeks, I ended up collapsing on the bed after sending Hedwig off, and I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

It was only on Friday that I finally asked what I'd been wanting to ask for two weeks. "Can I go somewhere else?"

Snape looked up from his pile of parchment. He was writing the lessons for this school year. "No. Eat your sandwich."

"But," I protested through a mouthful of ham and lettuce, "I won't go anywhere I'm not allowed to."

He glared at me. I swallowed, and continued. "Maybe the-quidditch pitch, or the kitchens to visit the house elves, and I promise I'll get my work done! And I won't sneak off-"

Snape snorted and went back to his papers.

"I won't!" I cried exasperatedly. "Honest."

I waited, munching on my sandwich. He didn't look up until he had gone through two papers.

"Finish scrubbing," he ordered. "And then we'll see."

I pushed the entire sandwich in my mouth and pulled on the dragon hide gloves frantically (though I still thought it was pretty cool that dragons really existed and so every time I put on the gloves I kind of felt special) and turned to the cauldrons. There were so many of them to count.

I attacked them with fervor, but the really bad ones had to be scoured and scraped after three thorough washes, and even then it left rust that had to be cleaned and fixed. I finished everything, but by then it was eight and I had finished dinner.

Disappointed, I pulled off my gloves and placed them on the table. I'd really thought he'd let me. But it was really just a motivational thing to make me scrub better.

Snape was watching me as I put all the once-dirty cauldrons away, his hooked nose in the air as the black eyes followed my movements. I shifted uncomfortably as I put away the last cauldron.

"Tomorrow," he said suddenly, his face a sneer.

"What?" I looked up, startled. "What's tomorrow?"

"Idiot girl," he scowled at me, and I bristled slightly. "Tomorrow you may go out and...explore. However, if you leave the grounds I will have you back here scrubbing cauldrons and you will never step foot out again until the first day of school, understand?"

My mouth was open in a gape. "What-really? You're going to-you're letting me?"

"Out of my sight before I change my mind," he pointed to the door, furious when I broke into a smile.

So he did kind of like me. Or maybe he just wanted me gone. I didn't really know, but I was exhausted again, my arms and back sore, so I left the room.

O-O

"So what I'm hearing is that there's a library here, and I didn't know?"

Snape inclined his head. "I do not understand your frustration."

I pocketed my wand in my pant pocket. "It's just-I didn't know there was an entire room full of books, so full of information, and I could learn so much about the Wizarding World! And I'm only finding out now? I don't have a lot of time before term starts!"

"Yes, well, this is a school," Snape rolled his eyes. "Obviously there would be a library."

"Okay," I flapped my hands impatiently. "I'll be back at six, I swear. Can I go?"

"May I go, sir."

"May I go, sir?" I hopped back and forth between two feet.

"Yes."

I rocketed out of the room, slipping through the door and rushing out of the classroom.

The first thing I did was call for Minkie. She popped up and gave an adorable little bow.

"I was wondering if I could visit the kitchens?"

Minkie beamed. "Yes, of course, Miss Rowan! Minkie is knowing how to do that, she does! Miss Rowan is taking Minkie's hand now!"

I smiled. "Actually, could we walk? I want to see how to get there when I'm a student."

And so we did. I discovered that the talking portraits were quite interested in me, and they ran alongside the frames whispering about the strange girl with the house elf. I gave them a little wave.

"Now, Miss Rowan is tickle the pear!" Minkie presented proudly, pointing to a portrait of fruit.

I blinked. "I-what?"

"Tickle the pear!"

The pear in the portrait hopped excitedly. I reached out and gave it a poke. It let out a small yelp of pain and a tiny bruise formed. "Sorry, sorry-" I ran my fingers over it lightly, and it giggled loudly before it permitted me to enter the kitchens.

Minkie snapped her fingers and the bruise disappeared, the pear sighing in relief. "Come," she smiled enthusiastically.

I stepped inside, and-

"MINKIE HAS BROUGHT A GUEST, SHE HAS-"

"CAN DORRIE GETTING YOU ANYTHINGS-"

"-GLASS OF WATER-"

"SIT DOWN-"

I stared, dumbfounded. House elves held up trays of food, excited and chattering. "Thank you, but I just came to visit. I'm kind of taking a tour of Hogwarts."

"Unfortunately," a kind voice said behind me. "I'm afraid I will have to end it."

I whirled around, and the house elves bowed as Albus Dumbledore entered.

He smiled gently, his eyes twinkling merrily. "There are people here to see you, Rowan."

O-O

I stopped breathing the moment I stepped inside the Headmaster's office.

There, inside the portrait-filled room was the Masons, looking wary of the moving pictures and the enchanted objects. Snape stood in a corner, watching with narrowed eyes.

"Mr. Mason? Mrs. Mason?" I choked, my eyes filling up. I'd known this would have to happen one way or another, but...

Mrs. Mason embraced me quickly, "I thought the old man was senile," she whispered frantically. "What he said-magic-it's true?"

"Yeah," I pulled back and let Mr. Mason put a hand on my shoulder, with a watery smile. I'd missed them so much without knowing it, and it hit me full-blast. "It is, and I'm really sorry I ran off, but after I saw Harry I just couldn't stay without answers-"

"What?" Snape said sharply, and the Masons took an involuntary step back as he approached with narrowed eyes.

"Severus," Dumbledore cautioned.

"You knew Potter before this mess?" He snarled. "Albus, how-why was I uninformed?"

"The Masons we're going to strike a deal with the Dursleys," I explained quickly. "And I went along. Harry was upstairs with a house elf, and he said something about how I didn't know about magic, and I just...I needed answers. So I left the Masons a note, packed up, and ran to the Dursleys to find Harry. And then I found out they were starving him so I went out to get him food and then there was the werewolf..."

Mrs. Mason made a sort of wet gasping noise of horror and clung to Mr. Mason, who looked pale. Snape was swelling dangerously.

"Rowan," Mrs. Mason pleaded softly. "You can-you can come home."

I stared. "Come home?"

Snape tensed.

"Forget about this and come home," Mrs. Mason nodded, smiling shakily.

"But-" I watched the Masons carefully. They weren't the youngest couple. They were old and their hairs were nearly all gray. Mr. Mason was watching me, his face calm. I could tell he was worried.

I took out the wand in my pocket. Mrs. Mason froze and scrabbled back. "Look at this," I gave her the wand. Mr. Mason took it, and gave it a couple shaky swishes.

"A chunk of wood," I told him. "But if I take it," I took my wand back and swished it gently. Sparks flew out and Mrs. Mason opened her mouth in shock.

"I can't go back." I told them. "This is my school. I have to go to school."

They were quiet. And surprisingly, Mrs. Mason straightened. "You'll write us," she demanded.

"I will," I promised. "But we send letters with owls here."

She blanched. "I'm sure that Edward will take care of that." Mr. Mason made a noise of agreement.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For not pushing me away." I felt a sudden warmth somehow, because with her phobia of birds, she was allowing them in her house for me. And accepting it.

"It's all very new," Mr. Mason dipped his head. "But I understand you have a father now."

"I do, sir."

"And a school is a school," he continued. "I expect good grades."

I smiled a little. "And then I'll get ice cream."

"Will you visit?" He asked me, squeezing my shoulder.

"Of course," I said earnestly.

"And your father too, of course."

"I think not," Snape snarled.

Mr. Mason regarded Snape, and for a moment I thought they were fighting with their eyes. Then Mr. Mason turned to me. "I'm sure he loves you very much, Rowan. And if he doesn't show it, use some of your hocus pocus, hm?"

I laughed slightly. I don't think so.

"You should have come gotten her from the orphanage," Mrs. Mason said to Snape.

"I was not aware of her until last year," Snape replied stiffly.

Dumbledore laced his fingers together and didn't speak. He watched us with twinkling blue eyes and a soft smile.

"Behave?" Mr. Mason embraced me, and his suit smelled silky new.

"As well as I can," I grinned. A thought occurred. "You should strike that deal with the Dursleys."

"Should I?" He raised his eyebrows. "They gave my wife a fright."

"They'll blame Harry," I told them. "Take the deal."

Mrs. Mason smoothed back my hair. "Alright, enough. Rowan, your belongings are in your room. Er-Dumbladure-Dumbledore-has agreed to send them all to your new room. Please write as soon as you can."

"We must be going now," Mr. Mason patted my shoulder. "We have a few extra cars parked at our house."

I stifled a groan. "You called the police?"

"Of course we did," Mrs. Mason said indignantly. "And don't think you're off the hook, either."

"That's a whole other conversation we don't need to hear right now," I said hurriedly, at the chuckle of Dumbledore. "Good luck with the police."

"I'm quite disappointed I'm not a wizard," Mr. Mason commented as he took my wand and gave it a few more swishes. He handed it back to me, and Dumbledore took him through the Floo. He came back and took Mrs. Mason. And then they were gone.

Snape glared venomously between the two of us-Dumbledore and I. "Why was I uninformed of the whole event involving Potter?"

I looked to Dumbledore for help, but he smiled and said, "I thought Rowan would tell you, my dear boy."

Oh.

Well, thanks.

Snape turned to me, but I was still kind of thinking about the Masons. I really, really had missed them.

"Are you crying?" Snape demanded.

"No," I sniffed indignantly. "I'm just-I just missed them."

Crying is not the same as a few dignified tears. It's not.

"I see." Snape looked uncomfortable. "Er-Albus-"

Dumbledore, who was being no help today, rose and said calmly, "Oh, excuse me. I think the Masons need my help with the police." And he left in the Floo.

I wiped my eyes. Snape growled and thrust a handkerchief at me.

"So that's your father," he said stiffly.

I blinked. "What?"

"Your parents," he growled.

"They're not my parents. I mean, Mr. Mason's a close second for a father, I guess."

Snape stared. "A close...second?"

"Yes." I gave him a look. "You're my dad, aren't you? Unless something changed?"

"Nothing changed, you stupid girl," he murmured, billowing his robes impatiently. "But they've raised you your whole life. They should be more important than..me."

I frowned. "I mean, yeah, I know them better and we get along better but-you're still my father. I didn't think I had anyone related to me."

Snape watched me with black eyes as dark as a cave, swirling with something unreadable.

It was still a bit of a shock to me that the Masons had visited me. I replayed the whole conversation in my head, smiling faintly.

"You should have come gotten her from the orphanage," Mrs. Mason said to Snape.

"I was not aware of her until last year," Snape replied stiffly.

"If you knew about me last year," I said quietly, shuffling my feet. "Why didn't you come get me?"

Snape took the handkerchief from my hand and vanished it with a flick of his wand. "It...This is not a conversation I wish to have right now."

"But," I stared in shock as he abruptly turned and left the room. "Wait-come on!" I followed him out, but his long legs were striding away so quickly I had to run.

"So when, then?" I demanded. "When will we have this conversation?" He stopped and turned to look at me, my voice echoing in the halls.

Snape glared at me. "It's complicated."

"Okay," I said, trying to understand. "It's complicated, I get it. But-why is it complicated? Maybe it's only complicated because you're making it complicated."

"I am not making it complicated," he hissed, turning abruptly and heading for his private quarters. I had to run to hear what he said. "It only became complicated because you came here!" He slammed the door shut behind him, and turned to give the password to the door.

I stopped following him, and he waved his hand impatiently at the opening door. "Well?"

"I didn't ask to come here," I said quietly.

"I know you didn't," he sneered. "You had a perfect, loving family and now you're stuck with me!"

"Well, yeah!" I said, furious. "But-I mean-what?"

I was not entirely sure what we were angry about. But he was livid.

"If you had never come to Hogwarts like I had planned, you would still be safe," he hissed.

"Safe?"

He looked at me, slowly releasing breath from his hooked nose. "It seems we are having this conversation. Get inside."

O-O

"There are several things you must understand." Snape said, pocketing his wand. He'd locked the door with several spells, and secured the area. The only spell I was remotely familiar with that left his mouth was Muffliato. "I did not intend for you to know about magic at all."

"But magic is one of the best things that has ever happened to me," I protested.

"It is dangerous, because you are related to me." He said shortly, pulling his wand out suddenly to cast a last spell he'd forgotten.

I blinked. "Re-related to you? What did you do, commit a crime?"

He paused. "I was...less than supportive of muggleborns. Noble families, such as the Malfoys are not to be crossed, and I must uphold certain...traditions they expect. Having a daughter-" (he grimaced at the word, and I bristled) "suddenly is definitely not a safe fact for them to have in their hands."

I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Good, because when Mr. Malfoy asked me, I only said we were related."

"You met Lucius?" Snape said sharply, inhaling quickly. I had all of his attention.

"At-Diagon Alley. I fell through the Floo Powder in the wrong spot and ended up in Knockturn Alley."

"But you told him we were merely related," Snape nodded, looking worn. "Good. From now on you are a distant relative from my mother's side. The Princes."

I bit my lip. "Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys-"

"They can be trusted with this," Snape said, looking as if he was swallowing dragon dung. "Albus will ensure the spoiled Potter brat and his cronies obey."

He ended the spells. "Go draft a letter to them explaining our relation," he said, hooked nose in the air. "Put Potter's vulgarly obtrusive owl to good use."

Vulgarly obtrusive? I shook my head, heading for my room.

So I had a father, but nobody could know. Back to square one, then. Sort of.

And my mother, well, if she'd tossed me in an orphanage like a bloody sack of potatoes and never even told her husband...

Ah, a voice said nastily. But how do you know they're married? How do you know they even loved each other?

"Dear Harry," I pounced into my seat, scrabbling for parchment and a quill. I wasn't going to think about this. I wrote my letters, envelopes eventually fisted in my left hand as I sealed the last one with my right.

"Hedwig," I said softly. The owl nuzzled my hand, nipping my hair gently, and lifted her leg. She accepted the letters and I carried her to the doorway, watching her soar in the hallway out the door Snape barely managed to open as she squawked at him. He glared at her retreating form, muttering about how she was 'as impertinent as her owner'.

A thought occurred to me. I pulled out my wand, inspecting it carefully for a family crest, or something, but there was none.

Was this...my mother's?

Scratch. Scratch.

Snape frowned at the door.

The door made the noise again, and an accompanied squawk! followed.

"Hedwig?" I said uncertainly. "She can't be back already."

"Obviously," Snape snapped, pulling the door open.

It was a hawk-like owl, ruffling itself indignantly. It had a golden collar on its neck with a crested M.

"The Malfoys' owl," Snape said in slight confusion.

I perked up. "Draco?"

"Stop your excitement, now," Snape ordered, and I tried to un-perk. "The Malfoys are interested. That is not a good sign. They spread word like wildfire."

The Malfoy owl dropped a letter in my open palm, and settled itself on Snape's shoulder. It obviously had been here before, because Snape grudgingly scratched its head and it ruffled its feathers proudly. With a small squawk, it gave Snape its letter.

I opened the letter. "Yeah, it's from Draco."

Rowan,

And I thought I'd gotten rid of you.

I rolled my eyes.

But I suppose I've got to steer you in the right direction. Professor Snape is, after all, my godfather, so it's my responsibility to help you. Firstly, I don't know where you've been these twelve years, but Snape is Snape. He will inevitably find out everything, so don't be a dunce and tell him you've been at Diagon Alley. If he hasn't found out himself, that is. And if both options fail, my father is currently drafting a letter to him informing you of your little escapade from Snape and your foolish (if you ask me)

"Nobody asked you," I muttered, and Snape cast me a strange look as he opened his letter.

adventure with Potter and his entourage of blood-traitors and filth.

Hopefully they haven't muddled up your brain yet, and I can help you if you reply. After all, you are a half-blood, and I'm a pureblood, so you'd do well to listen to your superiors.

Draco

I was gaping by the end of the letter. "He said he was my superior! He-I'll show him, that little-" I whirled around, clutching my letter and scouring for a quill.

Snape glared as he closed his own letter. "Stop it. The Malfoys may think this, but you will not retaliate. We must remain courteous-"

I snatched a quill and held it against the wall for a flat surface. "Courtesy can crawl in a hole and die. Dear Draco, you'd better apologize with a bow so low I can see the dandruff on your overly-gelled hair, you-"
"Stop," Snape ordered, snatching the parchment. His lips twitched.

"Did you just-"I stared in disbelief. "Was that a-"

"No," he snarled, clearing the words on the parchment and handing it to me. "Start over."

"You smiled," I mumbled. "Or at the very least, smirked."

"Smirked," Snape settled for, pointing at his desk. "Sit there and write your letter. I'm supervising you since you obviously can't write a courteous one yourself."

O-O

Dear Draco,

Thank you so much for sending the helpful missive sent through your darling owl. I am deeply grateful for your wise words of advice, and though I may be foolish enough to mingle with Harry Potter and his friends, I will always take your words into account, because you are my superior.

Eagerly awaiting your reply,

Rowan

Draco narrowed his eyes in disbelief. Either Rowan had been trained in the art of writing letters like purebloods, or Snape had been supervising. The compliments very nearly toed the line of suspicious sarcasm. Unsatisfied, he turned the parchment over.

Snape never checks the back of the parchment, you prat! Now, as I was saying-

Draco, you'd better apologize with a bow so low I can see the dandruff on your overly-gelled hair, you blonde rat!

You absolute prick, you pointy-nosed prat with the uppity-ness of an eighty year old and the intelligence of a five year old!

I had to sneak out of my room to get the letter back in the middle of the night to write this. Snape wasn't happy when I fell asleep while he tutored me.

Now, I know you didn't just call yourself my superior, because while I've been clever enough to hide my real letter, you wrote yours so the whole world could see it. I bet your elegant family would be proud.

Actually, I'm quite excited for your next letter. I love talking to my inferiors.

With absolutely ALL my heart,

Rowan

If Draco hadn't had the "uppity-ness of an eighty year old", he would have been gaping by the end. But when he finished the letter, he very calmly took a quill and snapped it in half, eyes glinting.

But he knew she wasn't completely serious. Of course, she was insulted. But not angry enough to really insult him.

Still, Draco considered, taking another quill. Perhaps he'd make a Slytherin out of her yet. But not too clever. After all, only he was allowed to write out such clever insults.

O-O

"I brought you dinner," I said cheerfully, placing the steaming soup on Snape's desk. A house-elf had told me it was his favorite.

Snape looked at me suspiciously, and picked up the spoon. He lifted it to his nose and took a whiff. "What potion have you spiked this with?"

"No potion," I promised, placing a treacle tart down next to it.

He picked up a fork and effectively split the treacle tart. "Too sugary for my taste. Have you drugged it? Replaced the sugar with salt? Used dirt instead of flour?"

"Nothing," I vowed, clasping my hands together.

"Fine," Snape set down both spoon and fork, eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

I gave him a sly smile, and blurted it out before I lost my nerve. "Can I take the train?"

"No," he said firmly. "There is no purpose. Furthermore, you pulled that little stunt in Diag-"

"Please!" I bounced on the balls of my feet and watched him sip his soup. If he said no I would probably dump it on his head."I've done pretty much everything you said!"

He frowned and hesitated. I took that as a good sign.

"And I won't do anything rash, I promise. I just want to take the train like any normal student."

He glared at me, and I was sure he'd say no.

But then he looked down at the soup and the treacle tart, his greasy hair falling in oily strings.

"You'll go and take the train without any fuss," he said, eyes sharp. "No running off, no lollygagging in the train hallways, and you're not to buy any sweets."

"Yes!" I shrieked, beaming.

"Lucius Malfoy is coming over for tea before he takes his son to Kings' Cross," Snape said reluctantly, looking as if he already regretted his words. "I will ask him to take you as a favor."

I nodded fervently. "Thank you," I breathed, a smile breaking on my face, eyes sparkling. He blinked, caught off guard.

Snape coughed, scowling menacingly. "Finish your essay I assigned, or you will not be going."

He didn't say anything when I raced to my room and back, settling on the armchair next to his desk to write my essay.

"I'm growing on you," I promised him, feeling brave.

Snape snorted over his soup, bending to scrawl something on a piece of parchment. "I assure you you're not a fungus."

SO SORRY THAT I UPDATED SO SO LATE! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! Also I keep getting emails about reviews but it doesn't show up in the fanfic reviews section, so I just have to hope you guys really are reviewing ;) love you all and see you next time!