Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing the world and characters thought up by J.K. Rowling and using some creative license to make some adjustments. Lorelei and Seraphina are mine.
Warnings: Language
Italics are character's internal thoughts and/or flashbacks.
A/N: Thank you for reading and for those of you who are following. :-)
Severus leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. Seraphina Serpens had essentially fallen off the face of the Earth. After discovering her pregnancy, Sera ran from Hogwarts, disowned by the proud pure-blood Serpens family and sought refuge in an abandoned house only a few doors down from his own family home at Spinner's End. She was only supposed to be there for a few days, a week tops, while Severus helped her get some money to assume a new identity in another wizarding community. Severus was not shocked, though he would admit he was disappointed, that when he arrived at the house he found no sign that Sera had been there. The house was boarded up, caked with dust and not a single shred of magical energy was left behind. It looked the exact same as it had when Severus had taken Sera there nearly 20 years prior.
Severus had tried everything he could think of to track Sera. Spells, charms, even some ancient rituals and he had nothing to show for it. It had been a long, draining week since the memory charm was lifted and if he didn't find the other Potter child sometime soon, he feared what Harry Potter would do.
Harry had fallen into a deep depression after his breakdown in the kitchen. It had been shockingly up to Severus, Minerva and Poppy to get him to his room and calmed down. Even a week later, Harry still refused to let Remus and Sirius near him. Normally Severus would have found this turn of events humorous, but instead he found it bothersome. Without having the two Marauders to turn to, it left Severus being on the receiving end of Harry's incessant owls seeking information and updates. Severus slammed his hands on the arms of his chair. There had to be something. Anything.
Suddenly the man shot out of his chair. Without Severus there to help her, she would have most likely taken the easy route and disappeared into the Muggle world. Though Sera was a pure-blood from an ancient family line, she had always been open minded and curious about Severus' own partial Muggle upbringing.
Severus moved to his bedroom inside his quarters at Hogwarts, absentmindedly thanking Merlin that the Board of Governors were allowing the teachers to stay at the castle during the summer due to the extenuating circumstances, and threw on some simple Muggle clothes that would shock his students to know he owned. Donning dark jeans, a black t-shirt, a long heavy wool black trench coat and his black boots, Severus strode to his floo. "The Leaky Cauldron, London." Severus called out and disappeared in a flash.
Harry had been pacing the library floor for over an hour. Severus had sent a Patronus to Minerva advising her that he had some news on Sera and her missing child, Harry's sibling, and would meet them at Grimmauld Place to go over what he found. That was almost 2 hours prior and still no word. Harry chewed his bottom lip, ignoring the worried looks being shot from the doorway by Hermione and Ron. He loved his friends, he did, but he didn't have time to deal with their questions or concerns. His mind was completely wracked with worry over his sibling.
"Still?" Draco questioned in a harsh whisper, shocking both Ron and Hermione who had not heard the blonde creep up the stairs.
"Merlin, Malfoy, stop doing that!" Hermione hissed, smacking Draco on the chest.
"You wound me, Granger." Draco smirked, placing a hand against his chest and fake wincing in pain. The bushy-haired girl rolled her eyes and turned her focus back to a still pacing Harry.
"He still not talking?" Draco asked in a low whisper, his gray eyes watching the boy savior in worry. He hadn't seen Harry so worried since Draco had showed up to an Order meeting seeking refuge after the Tri-Wizard tournament. Sure, Draco still acted like a right git at school and played his role well, but he had really grown fond of the three Gryffindors and they had somehow overcome their animosity to become rather cordial.
"No. I've never seen him this upset. It's weird." Ron muttered, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame.
Sirius sat at the kitchen table, head in hands and feeling thoroughly defeated. Harry still wasn't talking to them and what he did say wasn't pretty.
"Pads, you okay?" Remus asked softly, leaning in the doorway with his hands in his trousers. Sirius looked absolutely terrible in his disheveled wrinkled clothes and ratty hair.
"How can Harry think I'd deliberately keep something like this from him?" Sirius' voice was strained. Remus sighed and pushed off the doorframe, sitting in a chair across from his friend.
"We were James' best mates. We have spent all this time telling Harry how great James and Lily were. Now he finds out James did this awful thing and he's questioning everything we've said." Remus leaned back in his chair, rubbing his exhausted eyes.
The two men fell into an uncomfortable silence. Sirius continued staring at the table top while Remus stared at the ceiling. Much like Harry, neither was sleeping well.
"Pads, I need to know," Remus started softly, closing his eyes, "did you know?"
"NO!" Sirius yelled, looking at Remus in shock. "I knew he had hooked up with some birds before Lily, but fuck, not this! No!"
Remus raised his hands in a sign of defeat. "I just asked, Sirius. You and James were always closer."
Sirius grit his teeth and looked away before he said something he'd regret. He understood Remus' question because yes, they always had been closer, but it still stung that Remus could even consider that Sirius would have stayed friends with someone like that. He loved James like a brother, but he still would have kicked the man's sorry ass for this.
Harry looked at the clock for the umpteenth time, blatantly ignoring his three friends who were now sitting on the couch. It had been almost 3 hours. 3 bloody hours and nothing! Harry sighed, running his hands through his ever messy hair when the floo flared to life and Minerva stepped out. Before Harry could speak she raised her hand.
"He'll be through in a few moments. Let's go downstairs to the kitchen. Severus will not want to repeat this." Minerva sternly ordered. Harry's shoulders slumped slightly, but he nodded and turned to lead the way. Minerva's stern gaze fell up on the other 2 Gryffindors and 1 Slytherin, nodding her head towards the door. Ron and Hermione quickly stood, following their best friend while Draco remained behind.
"Mr. Malfoy, are you joining or not?" Minerva asked in a clipped tone.
Draco sighed and looked at Minerva with an unusual sadness in his eyes. "Professor, Harry isn't handling this too well. Can you at least say if it's good news or bad? I just…I want to know so I can try to be there for him."
Minerva softened her expression with a slight nod of understanding. Draco was constantly surprising her with how warm and caring of a person he truly was. He might be a Class-A jackass while at school, to keep his Slytherin classmates ignorant to his true allegiance, but in the security of Grimmauld Place, he showed his sensitive side. A side that often came out when dealing with Harry.
"I don't know, Mr. Malfoy. Severus was very tight lipped. We'll all find out together." Minerva smiled sadly, placing a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. Draco nodded and rose from the couch, following his classmates downstairs. Minerva took a deep breath, willing her rapidly beating heart to calm. She really hoped Harry got good news. Merlin knew the boy needed it.
Minerva had just sat down at the dining table at the far end when Severus' heavy footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Remus and Sirius were still sitting on the two ends closest to the door, Hermione and Harry next to Remus, Ron and Draco next to Sirius. All eyes shifted to the door when the imposing man stepped in, still wearing his Muggle clothing.
Any other day, Harry would have smirked at Severus' very modern Muggle dress that truly did look very good on him, actually taking years off the man, but not at the moment. All Harry could focus on was Severus' dark eyes, searching them for any hint of information.
Severus stood at the head of the table, his posture betraying nothing.
"What did you find, Severus?" Remus asked, unable to bear the awkward silence.
"First, Mr. Potter," Severus' eyes landed on Harry, "you have a sister. Lorelei Seva was born on July 22, 1977."
Harry nodded his head with an awkward smile, a lump in his throat making speech impossible. He had a sister. A big sister.
"What of Miss Serpens?" Minerva asked with a slight quiver in her voice. The pain in the surly man's eyes may not have been visible to others, but Minerva had seen it. Severus cleared his throat, looking down at the table briefly hoping his voice would remain calm.
"Sera was living in Bristol, working as a clerk in an office under the alias Sara Servens." Severus looked at Minerva, his eyes glassy.
"Was?" Hermione urged, her hand gripping Harry's tightly.
"Sera committed suicide on October 24, 1981." Severus responded flatly, his dark eyes watching Harry closely. Minerva covered her mouth, eyes flooding with tears. Sirius and Remus both looked down at the table while Ron, Draco and Hermione all stared at Harry. Harry stared at Severus, jaw agape.
"What of my sister? What of Lorelei?" Harry asked with a hitch in his voice.
"No one knows. There is no record of a Lorelei Serpens or Lorelei Servens after 1981." Severus admitted sadly.
Harry shot out of his chair, frantically shaking his head. "No! There has to be something! She was only 4! Where is my sister?!" Harry screamed, his eyes flooding with tears and face flushing red.
"I do not know, Mr. Potter." Severus responded in a monotone voice.