Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only those that I created
myself. Please do not harm me in any way. I only do this for fun.
~_~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter twenty-three: RAT meets DA
The atmosphere was deadly, a stand off between rivals. Two decidedly unhappy pairs facing off the others. Encircling the foursome stood many very agitated Slytherins ready to come to their leader's aids if need be. There was so much hatred echoing around the office that it felt heavy in the normally friendly ambiance. The bitterness cut into Hermione and she took an involuntary step forward towards her friends.
Severus's hand fell onto her shoulder, keeping her firmly rooted in her place keeping her from doing anything foolish while she held the tiny Sebastian within her robes.
"Wait and watch." He whispered softly, only loud enough for her to hear.
Hermione could only nod as she turned her eyes back to her friends. After what seemed a lifetime, yet only a few clicks of the clock, a voice resonated out, loud and furious, gaining everyone's attention.
"Put your wands away! I will not have violence in my office!"
Hermione's eyes darted to Albus as his voice roared, ricocheting off the walls. The portrait's occupants rose hands to protect their sensitive ears from the barrage. The headmaster's angry eyes appeared just short of shooting fire as he cast his gaze around the students before him. To say that he was angry wasn't necessary; everyone within his voice range knew that.
Most put away their wands save for the four that were squared off.
"But Sir.... " Ron started to protest but was interrupted by the Headmaster.
"Do as I say, Mr. Weasley. I will not have any bloodshed in my presence." Albus stated, moving from behind the desk to stand directly in front of it, his eyes quickly darting from one group leader to the other.
"I will if they will.... " Harry snarled, still staring daggers at Draco.
"Fat chance. I drop my arm and you blast me.... no dice, Potter." Draco responded with barely restrained anger.
"All of you.... drop.... your.... wands!" Albus roared again, startling the boys. Ron and Harry darted glances to each other then slowly, cautiously, lowered their wands. Draco and Blaise followed suit just as reluctantly, lowering their wands as well. With wands now safely tucked away in their robes, the two different groups could only stare contemptuously at each other.
Harry was the first to speak. "What is going on here, Sir? Why are the Slytherins here during the holiday, in your office?" Harry asked, not daring to take his eyes off Draco. "I was under the impression that we were the only ones allowed back before term started."
"Why.... think you are special, Potter?" Draco smirked, crossing his arms across his chest arrogantly. "Believe it or not, there are others in this world that don't live to mother you and yours. You aren't the only ones of importance."
"That's not what I mean, Malfoy! You know why I am here, I just want to know why all of YOU are here. When there is an unnecessary gathering of Slytherins, there is usually carnage in their wake."
Albus sighed and motioned with his hand for the foursome go come closer. "There has been a dramatic development in the war with Voldemort." Dumbledore spoke softly trying not to smile at the obvious hatred in the boys' reaction to each other. Soon they would be forced to work together, whether they liked it or not. "Draco.... Harry." He motioned again. "Step closer to my desk."
The two boys walked forward, keeping a decent width apart, neither trusting the other for a moment.
"Harry.... Draco.... this is a monumental moment in Hogwart's history, bringing together two young and important groups in a united front. These two groups that are, in their own rights powerful, but together will be unstoppable against the dark forces."
Harry frowned, not quite understanding. "What.... groups?"
Severus took this time to step forward gently, pushing Hermione safely behind him to block her and the baby from to many prying eyes. "We've known about your group, Potter. Dumbledore's Army is it? How quaint. However, it seems we have been inadvertently overlooking another important group. One headed up by our own Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini."
Ron's voice popped up sounding incredulous. "Malfoy and Zabini? What does a junior Death Eater's group have to do with the DA?"
Draco turned his glare to the red head. "We are NOT Junior Death Eaters. Our group has been named The Revolutionaries against Tyranny! We have been fighting the Dark Lord from within our own house."
"R.A.T.... That's rich.... " Ron snorted.
"It's true.... " A female voice popped up and Pansy stepped forward. "We don't want to follow our fathers into servitude. I certainly don't want to find myself posing as a whore for the rest of my life. I want to live free.... WE want to live free." She exclaimed, indicating her housemates surrounding them. "R.A.T. will accomplish that. We have been working against the Dark Lord for some time now."
Hermione stepped around Severus, ignoring the restraining hand that he held out to keep her and Sebastian shielded behind him. She cast him a quick reassuring glance before approaching Pansy. The young blonde's eyes widened as her eyes set on the awake and very aware baby in Hermione's arms. Hermione shrugged her shoulder, pushing the cloak behind her and revealing the baby for all to see.
"How willing are you to defeat Voldemort?" Hermione asked quietly. "Are you willing to set aside all past transgressions and work alongside of us?" She turned from Pansy to face Draco "Are you willing to get along with each other, to work towards the greater good? Will our children.... " Holding out the wrapped bundle in her arms for the others to gape at. ".... have a better childhood than we did? Will we be able to work together to form a union to give our children a better life from darkness?" Her eyes went from one Slytherin to another, then landed on Harry and Ron. "Will we be able to put aside our hatred in order to work together? Harry? Ron? Can we do that?"
Harry and Ron stood silently as she addressed those around her, not quite sure of what they wanted to do. The hatred in them was like an ember, frozen in time, just waiting for the smallest of wind gust to bring it back into full force.
"I don't know, Hermione." Harry admitted softly. "It wouldn't be easy."
"Can you do it for Sebastian then?" She asked sadly as Harry's gaze flickered from the baby to Severus. She knew that Harry would eventually break and was rewarded when his hand swept through his tousled hair and he took a deep cleansing sigh.
"For Sebastian, yeah." He finally replied, making Hermione grin. She then next turned to look directly at Draco and approached him. The blonde's eyes held hers for a moment before dropping to the baby in her arms.
"Will you even protect those NOT in your house? Will you be able to protect this baby? A baby that could, with every possibility, end up Gryffindor if Hogwart's still stands after this war is over?"
"We aren't doing this for houses, Granger." Draco dragged his gaze from the black-eyed child and gave her his most contemptuous look. "We just want our freedom."
Hermione smiled finally and turned to Harry with a knowing nod.
"I trust them and we need to get the rest of the DA in on this as soon as possible." She stated firmly and returned to Severus's side. She felt a hand on her shoulder and realized that she probably shouldn't be standing so close to Severus in the presence of his house. Hermione looked questionably up into his deep obsidian eyes and frowned at his expression. His lips were pulled downward in a frown.
"Perhaps you should give the child over to Madame Pomfrey." He whispered lowly into her ear and she glanced over to see the nurse stepping into the office. The nurse's expression showing her surprise at the odd gathering.
"I'm here for Sebastian.... " She stated stalking over to Hermione and taking the baby from her. "We will be in the infirmary when you are ready to take him back home." She stated and without a backward glance, she strode out of the room, obviously peeved about something.
Hermione glanced up at Severus and he shrugged one shoulder to indicate he knew nothing about her attitude. Hermione sighed, but now with her hands empty she turned her attention back to the meeting at hand.
"Today we start a new revolution." Dumbledore grinned and motioned for the others to close in. "The union between houses have a unique ability, Bravery and Cunning. It will take bravery to accomplish the tasks before us and it will take cunning to develop the plans we will develop. Two houses united. I am most definitely proud of you all."
"As am I." Severus's gaze lingered on his own house for a moment before settling on Ron and Harry. "Proud of you all."
Harry and Ron gaped at him, not quite believing their ears. Snape? Proud of them? Now they knew that the world was ending. Hermione simply whacked them on the head and grinned.
"Don't look so surprised. He has always been supportive." She giggled and cast a side amused glance to Severus, which he in turn, tried to hide a returning smirk. "He just hid it well beneath that façade of his."
"Did a smashing job of it." Ron replied, rubbing his head from her blow. "Did you have to hit so hard? Jeez."
"Wimp.... " Draco coughed into his hand.
Ron glared, looking indignant at possible. "You try to be on the receiving end of one of her whollops and then we will see who you call a wimp."
"Oh please, I didn't hit you all that hard." Hermione shook her head in amusement.
"Well, you weren't gentle.... am I bleeding?" He whined, bending over to Harry to see.
"Oh stop it." She rolled her eyes at her friends, causing them to laugh at her.
Draco shook his head and moved over to Snape. "Are they always like this?" He watched the trio as they teased each other.
"From what I have seen.... yes." Severus looked down at his young student. "I take it that you moved over here because you have a question?"
Draco seemed to pause to think that over before looking up at his head of house. "Why Sebastian?"
Severus frowned, not quite understanding his question. "Be more specific, Draco. What about Sebastian?"
Draco looked at Harry and Hermione with a confused expression. "Why did they name their baby Sebastian? I just thought that they would have given the poor thing a name more along his father's. Like James or Harold or even Sirius.... but.... Sebastian? It just doesn't make sense."
"I'm sure they had their reasons, Draco. Not everyone names their children after their parents."
"Maybe..." Draco thought back to earlier, connecting one or two things in his head. His brows burrowed in thought. "You know what I think?"
Severus looked down at Draco and frowned. "What do you think?"
Draco grinned and gave a tiny nod over to Hermione. "I think she did name the baby after his father.... "
"I'm not following." Snape gave the boy what he hoped was a confused look.
"What is the baby's middle name? I bet its Samuel."
Snape glanced over at Hermione and then back to Draco. "Not a word, Draco. We will talk after this meeting."
Draco smirked in knowledge. So, his conclusions were correct. After thinking back, he remembered seeing Hermione rushing over to Snape when she entered Dumbledore's office, rather than rushing over to her 'husband'. That should have been a rather big tip off more than anything else.
Sebastian was Snape's kid. This was going to be a rather interesting chat between the two. He was dying to find out how and when the two got together in the first place and, most importantly, how Snape's child would reflect on the war now.
~_~_~_~_~
Acknowledgements:
Serena, Hidden In Shadows, Wiccanwillow, Akasha Ravensong, Sirius Star Holder, LiTtLe-SeRpEnT-gUaRd, CrazyForYou, Daintress, Sortbab, SweetBloom and Serena---Thank you all, I am so glad that you are all enjoying this story. It does my heart good and I'm posting as soon as I can find the time
Me, Heartnut, Tracy3, Maddy-Riddle and Raclswt:---Sorry about the cliffies...but I just LOVE cliffies...I'm obsessed with them. LOL. Just kidding. There will be more story to come and not just more cliffies.
JeanB: Evil? Well...maybe. I want to try to keep Draco as far IN character as I can yet show this OTHER side of him. I hope I can get it out right. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Sara D: Draco's not misguided anymore. I am trying to get him on the straight and narrow. I hope you got rid of that cold...starve a cold...feed a fever! Feel better hon.
Anarane Anwamane: LOL. Short but sweet.
JosieBelle: Hermione will be fine with him in time. I think I can say that with all honesty.
JustJeanette: PhDness? Is that contagious? Lol...I hope you mean studying. And thanks for the grammar correction. I will change that in the original story.
Melwasul: That reaction may not be that far off.
Emma-Kitty: To love and to lose is still being worked on. I have updated about a week ago. Im now working on the wedding. Its proving to be a bit more complicated than I thought it would be, but thanks for asking about it. And you know I am always ready to lend that ear if you need it. IM me if you wish.
Eth: I take it you like confrontations?
someone28: Good, Then I've done my job right if you didn't see it coming. Right?'
RebelRikki: hum...do I battle H&S or do I NOT battle H&S? Just have to stay tuned to find out. And no, Harry is NOT in love with Hermione.
saiyan-female 13: Malfoys are so low that they have to stand on tip toes to stoop that low.
aragornluver821: Now, did I say there was to be a battle? A disagreement maybe but no bloodshed.
Elshidia: Im glad you think so. I hate predictability.
Theophania: It will be. Keep reading.
Kelia Kelly: LOL. Least you got the Tyranny part right.
myst magic: Wow...I think you are a record. Most posts for one chapter by a single reviewer...coolness! I hope you don't like the Grangers. I made them that way and I don't want the bad boys to suddenly be the good guys. They will still be the bad boys, just doing it for the right side...uh...understand that?
Caffeine: Aww...forgive me? I would forgive you. I swear it! But hell, I miss my stalker. Uh...got that tent yet?
~_~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter twenty-three: RAT meets DA
The atmosphere was deadly, a stand off between rivals. Two decidedly unhappy pairs facing off the others. Encircling the foursome stood many very agitated Slytherins ready to come to their leader's aids if need be. There was so much hatred echoing around the office that it felt heavy in the normally friendly ambiance. The bitterness cut into Hermione and she took an involuntary step forward towards her friends.
Severus's hand fell onto her shoulder, keeping her firmly rooted in her place keeping her from doing anything foolish while she held the tiny Sebastian within her robes.
"Wait and watch." He whispered softly, only loud enough for her to hear.
Hermione could only nod as she turned her eyes back to her friends. After what seemed a lifetime, yet only a few clicks of the clock, a voice resonated out, loud and furious, gaining everyone's attention.
"Put your wands away! I will not have violence in my office!"
Hermione's eyes darted to Albus as his voice roared, ricocheting off the walls. The portrait's occupants rose hands to protect their sensitive ears from the barrage. The headmaster's angry eyes appeared just short of shooting fire as he cast his gaze around the students before him. To say that he was angry wasn't necessary; everyone within his voice range knew that.
Most put away their wands save for the four that were squared off.
"But Sir.... " Ron started to protest but was interrupted by the Headmaster.
"Do as I say, Mr. Weasley. I will not have any bloodshed in my presence." Albus stated, moving from behind the desk to stand directly in front of it, his eyes quickly darting from one group leader to the other.
"I will if they will.... " Harry snarled, still staring daggers at Draco.
"Fat chance. I drop my arm and you blast me.... no dice, Potter." Draco responded with barely restrained anger.
"All of you.... drop.... your.... wands!" Albus roared again, startling the boys. Ron and Harry darted glances to each other then slowly, cautiously, lowered their wands. Draco and Blaise followed suit just as reluctantly, lowering their wands as well. With wands now safely tucked away in their robes, the two different groups could only stare contemptuously at each other.
Harry was the first to speak. "What is going on here, Sir? Why are the Slytherins here during the holiday, in your office?" Harry asked, not daring to take his eyes off Draco. "I was under the impression that we were the only ones allowed back before term started."
"Why.... think you are special, Potter?" Draco smirked, crossing his arms across his chest arrogantly. "Believe it or not, there are others in this world that don't live to mother you and yours. You aren't the only ones of importance."
"That's not what I mean, Malfoy! You know why I am here, I just want to know why all of YOU are here. When there is an unnecessary gathering of Slytherins, there is usually carnage in their wake."
Albus sighed and motioned with his hand for the foursome go come closer. "There has been a dramatic development in the war with Voldemort." Dumbledore spoke softly trying not to smile at the obvious hatred in the boys' reaction to each other. Soon they would be forced to work together, whether they liked it or not. "Draco.... Harry." He motioned again. "Step closer to my desk."
The two boys walked forward, keeping a decent width apart, neither trusting the other for a moment.
"Harry.... Draco.... this is a monumental moment in Hogwart's history, bringing together two young and important groups in a united front. These two groups that are, in their own rights powerful, but together will be unstoppable against the dark forces."
Harry frowned, not quite understanding. "What.... groups?"
Severus took this time to step forward gently, pushing Hermione safely behind him to block her and the baby from to many prying eyes. "We've known about your group, Potter. Dumbledore's Army is it? How quaint. However, it seems we have been inadvertently overlooking another important group. One headed up by our own Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini."
Ron's voice popped up sounding incredulous. "Malfoy and Zabini? What does a junior Death Eater's group have to do with the DA?"
Draco turned his glare to the red head. "We are NOT Junior Death Eaters. Our group has been named The Revolutionaries against Tyranny! We have been fighting the Dark Lord from within our own house."
"R.A.T.... That's rich.... " Ron snorted.
"It's true.... " A female voice popped up and Pansy stepped forward. "We don't want to follow our fathers into servitude. I certainly don't want to find myself posing as a whore for the rest of my life. I want to live free.... WE want to live free." She exclaimed, indicating her housemates surrounding them. "R.A.T. will accomplish that. We have been working against the Dark Lord for some time now."
Hermione stepped around Severus, ignoring the restraining hand that he held out to keep her and Sebastian shielded behind him. She cast him a quick reassuring glance before approaching Pansy. The young blonde's eyes widened as her eyes set on the awake and very aware baby in Hermione's arms. Hermione shrugged her shoulder, pushing the cloak behind her and revealing the baby for all to see.
"How willing are you to defeat Voldemort?" Hermione asked quietly. "Are you willing to set aside all past transgressions and work alongside of us?" She turned from Pansy to face Draco "Are you willing to get along with each other, to work towards the greater good? Will our children.... " Holding out the wrapped bundle in her arms for the others to gape at. ".... have a better childhood than we did? Will we be able to work together to form a union to give our children a better life from darkness?" Her eyes went from one Slytherin to another, then landed on Harry and Ron. "Will we be able to put aside our hatred in order to work together? Harry? Ron? Can we do that?"
Harry and Ron stood silently as she addressed those around her, not quite sure of what they wanted to do. The hatred in them was like an ember, frozen in time, just waiting for the smallest of wind gust to bring it back into full force.
"I don't know, Hermione." Harry admitted softly. "It wouldn't be easy."
"Can you do it for Sebastian then?" She asked sadly as Harry's gaze flickered from the baby to Severus. She knew that Harry would eventually break and was rewarded when his hand swept through his tousled hair and he took a deep cleansing sigh.
"For Sebastian, yeah." He finally replied, making Hermione grin. She then next turned to look directly at Draco and approached him. The blonde's eyes held hers for a moment before dropping to the baby in her arms.
"Will you even protect those NOT in your house? Will you be able to protect this baby? A baby that could, with every possibility, end up Gryffindor if Hogwart's still stands after this war is over?"
"We aren't doing this for houses, Granger." Draco dragged his gaze from the black-eyed child and gave her his most contemptuous look. "We just want our freedom."
Hermione smiled finally and turned to Harry with a knowing nod.
"I trust them and we need to get the rest of the DA in on this as soon as possible." She stated firmly and returned to Severus's side. She felt a hand on her shoulder and realized that she probably shouldn't be standing so close to Severus in the presence of his house. Hermione looked questionably up into his deep obsidian eyes and frowned at his expression. His lips were pulled downward in a frown.
"Perhaps you should give the child over to Madame Pomfrey." He whispered lowly into her ear and she glanced over to see the nurse stepping into the office. The nurse's expression showing her surprise at the odd gathering.
"I'm here for Sebastian.... " She stated stalking over to Hermione and taking the baby from her. "We will be in the infirmary when you are ready to take him back home." She stated and without a backward glance, she strode out of the room, obviously peeved about something.
Hermione glanced up at Severus and he shrugged one shoulder to indicate he knew nothing about her attitude. Hermione sighed, but now with her hands empty she turned her attention back to the meeting at hand.
"Today we start a new revolution." Dumbledore grinned and motioned for the others to close in. "The union between houses have a unique ability, Bravery and Cunning. It will take bravery to accomplish the tasks before us and it will take cunning to develop the plans we will develop. Two houses united. I am most definitely proud of you all."
"As am I." Severus's gaze lingered on his own house for a moment before settling on Ron and Harry. "Proud of you all."
Harry and Ron gaped at him, not quite believing their ears. Snape? Proud of them? Now they knew that the world was ending. Hermione simply whacked them on the head and grinned.
"Don't look so surprised. He has always been supportive." She giggled and cast a side amused glance to Severus, which he in turn, tried to hide a returning smirk. "He just hid it well beneath that façade of his."
"Did a smashing job of it." Ron replied, rubbing his head from her blow. "Did you have to hit so hard? Jeez."
"Wimp.... " Draco coughed into his hand.
Ron glared, looking indignant at possible. "You try to be on the receiving end of one of her whollops and then we will see who you call a wimp."
"Oh please, I didn't hit you all that hard." Hermione shook her head in amusement.
"Well, you weren't gentle.... am I bleeding?" He whined, bending over to Harry to see.
"Oh stop it." She rolled her eyes at her friends, causing them to laugh at her.
Draco shook his head and moved over to Snape. "Are they always like this?" He watched the trio as they teased each other.
"From what I have seen.... yes." Severus looked down at his young student. "I take it that you moved over here because you have a question?"
Draco seemed to pause to think that over before looking up at his head of house. "Why Sebastian?"
Severus frowned, not quite understanding his question. "Be more specific, Draco. What about Sebastian?"
Draco looked at Harry and Hermione with a confused expression. "Why did they name their baby Sebastian? I just thought that they would have given the poor thing a name more along his father's. Like James or Harold or even Sirius.... but.... Sebastian? It just doesn't make sense."
"I'm sure they had their reasons, Draco. Not everyone names their children after their parents."
"Maybe..." Draco thought back to earlier, connecting one or two things in his head. His brows burrowed in thought. "You know what I think?"
Severus looked down at Draco and frowned. "What do you think?"
Draco grinned and gave a tiny nod over to Hermione. "I think she did name the baby after his father.... "
"I'm not following." Snape gave the boy what he hoped was a confused look.
"What is the baby's middle name? I bet its Samuel."
Snape glanced over at Hermione and then back to Draco. "Not a word, Draco. We will talk after this meeting."
Draco smirked in knowledge. So, his conclusions were correct. After thinking back, he remembered seeing Hermione rushing over to Snape when she entered Dumbledore's office, rather than rushing over to her 'husband'. That should have been a rather big tip off more than anything else.
Sebastian was Snape's kid. This was going to be a rather interesting chat between the two. He was dying to find out how and when the two got together in the first place and, most importantly, how Snape's child would reflect on the war now.
~_~_~_~_~
Acknowledgements:
Serena, Hidden In Shadows, Wiccanwillow, Akasha Ravensong, Sirius Star Holder, LiTtLe-SeRpEnT-gUaRd, CrazyForYou, Daintress, Sortbab, SweetBloom and Serena---Thank you all, I am so glad that you are all enjoying this story. It does my heart good and I'm posting as soon as I can find the time
Me, Heartnut, Tracy3, Maddy-Riddle and Raclswt:---Sorry about the cliffies...but I just LOVE cliffies...I'm obsessed with them. LOL. Just kidding. There will be more story to come and not just more cliffies.
JeanB: Evil? Well...maybe. I want to try to keep Draco as far IN character as I can yet show this OTHER side of him. I hope I can get it out right. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Sara D: Draco's not misguided anymore. I am trying to get him on the straight and narrow. I hope you got rid of that cold...starve a cold...feed a fever! Feel better hon.
Anarane Anwamane: LOL. Short but sweet.
JosieBelle: Hermione will be fine with him in time. I think I can say that with all honesty.
JustJeanette: PhDness? Is that contagious? Lol...I hope you mean studying. And thanks for the grammar correction. I will change that in the original story.
Melwasul: That reaction may not be that far off.
Emma-Kitty: To love and to lose is still being worked on. I have updated about a week ago. Im now working on the wedding. Its proving to be a bit more complicated than I thought it would be, but thanks for asking about it. And you know I am always ready to lend that ear if you need it. IM me if you wish.
Eth: I take it you like confrontations?
someone28: Good, Then I've done my job right if you didn't see it coming. Right?'
RebelRikki: hum...do I battle H&S or do I NOT battle H&S? Just have to stay tuned to find out. And no, Harry is NOT in love with Hermione.
saiyan-female 13: Malfoys are so low that they have to stand on tip toes to stoop that low.
aragornluver821: Now, did I say there was to be a battle? A disagreement maybe but no bloodshed.
Elshidia: Im glad you think so. I hate predictability.
Theophania: It will be. Keep reading.
Kelia Kelly: LOL. Least you got the Tyranny part right.
myst magic: Wow...I think you are a record. Most posts for one chapter by a single reviewer...coolness! I hope you don't like the Grangers. I made them that way and I don't want the bad boys to suddenly be the good guys. They will still be the bad boys, just doing it for the right side...uh...understand that?
Caffeine: Aww...forgive me? I would forgive you. I swear it! But hell, I miss my stalker. Uh...got that tent yet?