Author's Note: Parts of this are really sappy. I'm not super good at sappy parts, so tell me if it's cheesy and I'll try my best to learn from my mistakes. If you know whose patronuses are mentioned, then I'll be really happy. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Thirteen: Nothing Seems For Real
I turned around and saw him. I tried to stun him, but he dodged. Because he said his last name's Riddle, a group of people had gathered around us. He shot a spell at me. I blocked it easily.
"Hello, father. I thought you were dead, or did you find a way to slither out of that too?" I said coldly.
"You really are something from hell." I said. "Father, you know how you died last time. Do you really think you won't die the same way?" His eyes got a confused look. He quickly covered it up, though.
"Murdered? I don't think so." He said with an evil grin. "No one could kill me, and that's the truth! I tell the truth, unlike you. You even changed your last name so you could lie to everyone here! Do they even know your real last name? Do they know your uncle?" he taunted. We started circling each other.
"My last name? It's Lechen. As for my idiot uncle, he thought the world revolved around him!" I said.
"What's your uncle's name?"
"Tom Marvalo Riddle, or as he liked to be called, Lord Voldemort." I said. Gasps of shock went through the small crowd around us, none wanting to intervene.
"I see not many people knew that. What about your left arm? Has anyone checked?"
"You know I've always despised your kind. People who aren't really people."
"You didn't answer my question." He said, an evil, crazed smile on his lips.
"Indeed they have. But seeing that I have faithfully followed the Order since forever ago they believed my story. Well, Dumbledore did do Legilimency on me to make sure."
"So you're saying he didn't trust you?"
"He needed to make sure my brain wasn't damaged by the severe damage my wonderful siblings decided to put me through." I said coldly.
"I believe they were helping me get news to our lord."
"What a lord he is, considering a one year old boy destroyed him and then was killed sixteen years later by said boy. Then his brother decides to come back from hell and confront his daughter." I blasted him with a spell, but it didn't hurt him. He just started laughing.
"I told you, Samanthera, I won't be murdered again. But did I mention I'm not human?" He said. His eyes turned red and horns appeared on the top of his head. His skin got darker until it was jet black with blood red lines. Dark red wings sprouted from his back and his fingers turned to claws. People screamed, but I did not flinch.
"Well, I see some of your friends are arriving." I said. More of the creatures were arriving. People started screaming as they attacked them. Spells started being shot. However, the spells were only effecting the few Death Eaters that showed up. People started running to the castle, the only choice to not get attacked. Some of them were stopped halfway there. My father flew off and I ran towards the castle. I wanted so badly to turn around and help the people who had fallen to the ground, but many of them were already being surrounded by the strange creatures. I was almost there before I tripped and fell. A few people ran over me, causing me to be pushed to the ground in pain. Then, someone pulled me to my feet and ran me to the castle. Everything was a blur. Once we were there, I collapsed on the ground and looked up at my savior. It was Severus.
"Thanks, Severus." I asked, out of breath. Once I managed to catch my breath I continued. "I have an idea, but it might not work. They remind me a lot of dementors. Maybe we can get rid of them the same way."
"It might just work." He said, pulling me to my feet. I walked up to the edge of the castle. For some reason, they wouldn't come inside. I stood there for a moment before doing anything.
"Expecto Patronum!" I screamed to the sky. With a wave of my wand, a snake came out and let into the line of creatures. A few of my family members were shocked to see me producing a snake instead of a bobcat. I looked at Severus. He came up to my side and produced his own patronus. Instead of a doe, it was a bobcat. He put his hand out and I took it in mine. Minerva walked up after a moment. Her cat flew out. I noticed an otter, jack russel terrier, stag, two wolves, and so many others join ours. The creatures were being driven away. If they didn't move, the patronuses would choke them until they did. Sense they couldn't attack us, the creatures started attacking the Death Eaters. The patronuses faded after a few minutes. I turned to Severus.
"Do you forgive me?" I asked.
"Yes. I shouldn't have gotten upset. I guess I was mad that you didn't trust me." He said in his silky drawl, not meeting my eyes. "It was hard staying mad at you."
"I feel the same way." I said. "Now let's stop being all mushy gushy and help the people that are hurt."
"Good idea, love birds!" Minerva said, coming up to us and shaking her head. "I never imagined Poppy being right about something, but I guess it had to happen sometime." I went over to some of the people who were lying on the ground and started healing some of the simple cuts that were caused by falling. Then I noticed a body I thought I recognized that people were already gathering around. The Dark Mark was above it. I finished healing the kid I was working on and went over to the unmoving body. I knelt down beside him and stroked his cheek before checking for a pulse.
"Richard!" Ivy screeched when she saw him.
"Ivy, go get Poppy, please. I can't lose him." I said. My voice sounded weak and frail. I healed up a gash that had opened up in his leg with a wave of my wand. His eyes still wouldn't open. When Poppy arrived, I stayed by him. I couldn't leave my brother, who happened to be the closet with to a father I had. About a minute after Poppy arrived, she looked at me.
"Sam, send a message to your mother." She said. I tried making a patronus form, but it was only wisps of silver light. I looked at Severus, who was having a seventh year drink a potion and a silver snake came out of my wand and went into the direction of Hogsmeade. I turned my attention back to Richard.
"He always helped the right side, didn't he I girl?" I said softly, smiling at the nickname.
"Sure did, S girl." She choked with a sad smile. "He protected us so much from father, and yet we couldn't protect him this once."
"He'll be fine. Our brother always could last through any of father's bursts of anger." I said. I don't care if the stupid students hear new things about me anymore. I just do not care anymore.
"I don't know if he's going to live." Poppy said, desperately trying to fix a rather large gash on his chest. "There's too much damage on his heart." Richard's breathing was getting shallower and shallower. Then an idea came to mind
"Ivy," I said slowly, "I think you should try it on him. For him." Ivy moved her hands till they were directly over his heart. A strange light started coming from Ivy's hands. She pressed them down onto Richard's shirt, just above his heart. He gasped in a sudden breathe. His eyes opened and Ivy pulled her hands off of his shirt.
"Don't move, Richard. You're hurt. Severus should be here soon with a potion that should help." Ivy said softly. He tried to say something, but all he managed was a gurgle before throwing up blood. I can't say that I wasn't a little grossed out.
"Richard, don't try to talk right now." I said, cleaning the blood off of his shirt with a wave of my wand.
"I. Can. Take. Care of. My. Self." He managed to say.
"Not at the moment." My mum said as she came over. She knelt down beside him and started talking with Poppy about what to do. With my father being who he was, my mum had a lot of experience healing cuts made from dark magic.
"Maybe that would work, Ms. Lechen." Poppy said. "I will make sure to do that."
"Oh, call me Janet. I figured it out myself, you know. My parents tried to keep me from magic, but I was ever so curios about herbs and potions." My mum said.
"Why did they try to keep you from magic?" Severus asked as he put a potion to Richard's mouth.
"I'm a squib. They hated me for that, but I don't care. They're just happy their grandchildren aren't like me." She said with a light laugh.
"Where's Matilda?" I asked my mum. It hadn't clicked in my brain that my mum was here without Matilda.
"With Minerva on the other side of the grounds. You should go and get her." She said.
"Keep him safe. If he dies, I'm blaming Ivy." I said. This got Richard to smile and Ivy to stick her tongue out at me. I took off and searched for a couple minutes before finding Minerva with Matilda.
"What was the last Dumbledore said to us?" she asked, pressing her wand into my neck once I reached her.
"Give me my daughter or face my wrath?" I asked. Minerva's wand didn't move. "Trust in Harry. He knows something you don't." Minerva's wand lowered and she handed me Matilda a long with her bag. I stared at Minerva for a moment.
"Sorry, had to make sure you weren't a Harlpon." Minerva said.
"How could you put all of us in such danger?" I asked. "My brother, my rock, may now be dying thanks to you not even telling us what to expect. And the cat's out of the bag. The students know." I couldn't help the few tears that made their way out.
"Sam, you know I didn't know what we were facing." The older woman said. "And I'm really sorry about Richard."
"I just can't believe Richard could-" I started crying and Minerva wrapped me in a hug.
"Richard's a tough cookie. He'll be fine." Once I had finally stopped crying Minerva let go. "Now you should probably go back to him and make sure he's okay."
"Thanks Minerva." I said with a light smile.
"Anytime, Sam." I headed back towards where Richard had been laying, but Richard had already been moved to the hospital wing. I stood outside for a moment, looking at the horizon. I felt someone's arm go around my shoulders. It was comforting. The three of us stood there for a minute until I looked at the person.
"Severus, thank you." I said, brushing my tears away. I hadn't even noticed I had started crying again. He took the hand that wasn't on my shoulder and brushed the rest of the tears away.
"You shouldn't be thanking me. I don't deserve it. After how mean I was to you." He said softly.
"I love you." I said.
"I love you, too." He said as he leaned down and kissed me in the cheek. All of a sudden, he was in front of me. He went down on one knee and pulled a box out of his robes. I gasped in shock as a tear trickled down my cheek. I was smiling so hard, I thought my face was going to break.
"Samanthera Jane Riddle Lechen," he started in his lazy drawl, "you have captured my heart. I couldn't ever imagine living without you by my side. When we met eighteen years ago, I knew there was something about you. As we've grown closer these past three years, I've realized how much I need you. Lily may have clouded my vision, but with you I can see clear. Sam, will you do me a great honor and marry me?" He opened the box to reveal a ring.
I didn't know what to say. I felt there were no words fit to respond. I leaned down, Matilda still in my arms, and kissed him. When we broke apart, I managed to find some words to answer him. "Yes, I will marry you." I said breathlessly. He slipped the ring onto my finger. It was a small diamond with two blue sapphires on either side.
"Do you like it?" Severus asked as he stood up.
"It's beautiful." I said, pulling him in for another kiss. We separated and headed inside without another word.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Samanthera Jane Lechen! You've got explaining to do!" my mum said when she saw the ring on my finger.
"Mum, quiet down or Poppy will kick us out and Matilda will be upset. Now don't worry, I'll explain." I said as I sat down in an open chair next to Richard's bed.
"Sam, you're already dead, so what's the point of trying?" Richard said with a smirk. His short black hair was a mess, reminding me of a Harry Potter without glasses and a scar.
"Yeah, Rich is right, for once." Nathan, one of my other brothers, said with a smirk.
"Look, I can take care of myself." I said. "I happen to have known this person for eighteen years."
"Oh really? And you've never told anyone this?" my mum said with her hands on her hips. "Sense when have you been dating this mystery man?"
"It's been a couple months." I lied. "And his name is Severus."
"Severus Snape?" Richard, my mum, Nathan, Thomas, Sarah, and Alexandro said with a gasp. Is my family really that blind to not notice how I was acting around Severus during the small little battle?
"Yep, that's the one." I said. My four brothers stared at each other and my sister and mum stared at me.
"He's a twerp. A twit. I should know. I was in his year." Alexandro said.
"You can't betray our family and run off with a greasy muggle hating git!" Sarah shrieked. Wow she's high pitched.
"He doesn't hate muggles! You guys just never got to know him like I did!" I said, hurt that they didn't except him.
"He's rude and mean! Not to mention a former Death Eater! He even has a dark mark!" Nathan said. He did not just go there! Oh no he didn't! I could see my family's shocked faces as I moved up to Nathan and pulled my left sleeve up.
"Nathan, does this make me evil. Do you all disown me for it?" I asked coldly. When he didn't answer, I pulled my left sleeve back down. I turned around and started walking to the door before I stopped. "Get better, Richard." I said without looking back at him. I walked around. I didn't even know where I was going. I soon found myself in the dungeons, knocking on a door.
"Severus, we need to talk about something." I said when he opened the door. He moved aside to let me into his rooms. When I walked in, I was in the living room. I sat down on the dark green couch with Matilda and closed my eyes.
"Do you want something to drink?" Severus asked as he closed the door. He looked worried.
"Do you have brandy?" I asked. He nodded. "Then I'll take a glass, please." He disappeared through a doorway. He came out a moment latter with two glasses. He handed me one before sitting down next to me.
"What is the problem, Sam?" Severus asked, concern and caring showing clear in his inky eyes.
"My mum saw the ring, so I had to tell Nathan, Alexandro, Richard, Sarah, Thomas, Ivy, Richard, and my mum about us. They don't approve. Say you're a spy for the other side, trying to hurt me like Samuel did." I said. I took a long drink as Severus thought for a minute.
"I don't care what they think of me. I just hope you know better than they do." He said after a moment. I leaned my head on his shoulder and he put his arm around me. I started crying. Everything that had happened. He got up and grabbed the bottle of brandy and brought it back. He poured both of us another glass. We quickly drained those glasses too. He refilled both of our glasses again and again. Matilda was almost asleep in my arms. I laid down on Severus's lap. I felt safe around him.
"Can we conjure a crib for Matilda? She's almost asleep." I said, standing up. I had to steady myself so I wouldn't fall. Severus conjured one without a word. I laid Matilda down in it and conjured a blanket for her. Her eyes quickly slid shut. I stood there for a moment before laying back down on the couch with Severus. My mind seemed a little blurry. I closed my eyes for a few moments. When I opened them, light was shining in through a window. I quickly closed my eyes.
"Good morning, sleepy face." Severus said from next to me. I opened my eyes again. I looked at his smiling face. I was laying on top of him on his green couch. I smiled back before standing up and stretching. "Don't be too loud, Matilda's still asleep."
"What time is it?" I asked. He stood up.
"About eight." He said. "Do you want to come with me to the Great Hall for breakfast?"
"I'll meet you there in a few minutes. I'm going to use the floo network and go to my quarters to change and drop Matilda off with Minerva. See you in a few!" I said. I picked up Matilda and I kissed him on the cheek before going to the fireplace. I pulled some powder out of my pocket, threw it into the fireplace, and stepped in. Ginny was working on some paperwork and groggily said good morning. I doubt she noticed I was gone all last night. I found Matilda's day bag and changed before opening the door to the hall. Minerva was right outside the door with her hand in the air like she was going to knock.
"Where have you been?" she asked. "I went to your quarters last night and no one was here! Luckily Ginny ran into me and told me you were one your way to visit Richard!" Minerva said.
"Sorry about that. I forgot to tell you I have a life." I said. I took a deep breath in before continuing. "Can you still watch Matilda?"
"Of course I can." She said, taking Matilda out of my arms and grabbed her bag. She stalked away. I walked to the Great Hall, chuckling, and got there in no time. I saw Severus and sat down by him.
"Good morning, Sev." I said, gently kissing him on the cheek as I sat down.
"Good morning, Sam. I hope you slept well." He said with a smirk.
"I did. I know you did too." I said as I grabbed a waffle and poured syrup on it. There's nothing better on a waffle than syrup. He held my hand under the table
"Of course I did. Not." He said. I stared at him with an eyebrow raised, but a smile on my face. He quickly looked away. I chuckled before cutting up my waffle and eating a couple of bites.
"I do think house elves should be free. They do all this outstanding work for us and never get any credit." Hermione said from next to me. She was talking to Hagrid on the other side of her. When she saw me looking at her, she turned to me. "What are your views on house elves, Sam?"
"I think they should have more rights. I know in the world that we live in they probably won't get freed, but we can give them more rights." I said after a moment. Severus snorted from next to me.
"Snape, do you think it's funny that house elves are being abused?" Hermione angrily asked.
"No, I think it's funny that you haven't taken a job in the Ministry." He said with a smirk. Hermione must have noticed that my left hand and Severus's right were missing under the table because she looked under the table for a moment.
"You two are a couple, aren't you?" Hermione said. It wasn't even a question, more like a statement.
"Yep. We're engaged." I said. "How'd you know?"
"Well, yesterday at the battle, your patronus was a snake and his was a bobcat." She said, putting extra emphasis on "his". "Now you're holding hands, and when you got here you kissed him on the cheek."
"Good job, Hermione. Now, I'd really appreciate it if you called me Severus instead of his, him, or he." Severus said. "I have to go, Sam." He said, turning to me and standing up. "I have a class at nine." He kissed me on the cheek before leaving.
"How?" Hermione asked. "How could you be in love with him?"
"I thought you didn't like Severus, Hermione. Or am I wrong and you have feelings for him?" I said. She looked down at her plate, embarrassed, so I continued in a softer tone. "I'm sorry for snapping and about Ron. I can't believe he ran off with Lavender." I stood up and went to my classroom. I figured the discussion was done. Nothing more to say. I do feel bad for Hermione. After Ron had run off with Lavender Brown, Hermione had hated seeing anyone show any affection to someone else. However, she needs to forget about Ron and Lavender. It's strange seeing her act like this. I got to my classroom and walked in. Some students were already there. I got to my desk and sat down and waited for the rest of the students to arrive.