Chapter Six: Old Enemies Conversing
Severus Snape stirred the cheery fire in his office. It was cool for September, but not so much so he wasn't entirely used to it. He was also, at the same time, not as young as he was, and his old bones seemed to feel the cold moreso than formerly.
Rhiannon Delaney's file lay open on his desk. It had been, he guessed, the thirtieth time that he had perused it. He had found nothing different the other twenty-nine times he had done the same thing, but to the Potions Master there was always something to be learned.
A light tapping at the door, and it opened on Snape's wordless command. His companion for the evening entered.
"Well, Severus," he said, "never expected things to turn out like this, hm?"
"Indeed not, Lupin," replied the other, gesturing for him to be seated. While Snape didn't trust the werewolf as far as it was possible to throw him, he supposed it would be best to show a bit of courtesy. Seated with cups of tea in hand, the conversation began.
"I suppose you know why I asked you here."
"Why, yes I do," replied Remus with a half-smile, "I suppose it's the matter of my goddaughter. Rhiannon...a lovely name, don't you think? Don't understand why Mika picked it though. Rin is nicer."
"I suppose you prefer to use that silly nickname," muttered Snape from under hooded lids.
"Rin—derived from the Rindou flower," began Remus in his best Professor's voice, "a symbol in Japan of poets and thinking people. Something you can't deny she is."
With a look that said he agreed, Snape said nothing more.
"She really is a lovely girl, Severus. But that's not exactly why you wanted me here. So? Tell me."
For a moment he said nothing. If Severus Snape was anything, he was patient, calculating, and methodical.
"Tell me, Lupin," he said after a moment, "is there something you wish to tell me about that girl? Oh, and in case you were interested, your bad habits seem to have rubbed off on her. She got into a fight yesterday, and with the Zabini girl besides."
With a smile, sigh, and shake of the head, Remus himself took a moment before responding.
"Believe you me, Severus, if she took a swing at Emily Zabini, she deserved it. And don't think it has anything to do with me or a lack of manners on Rin's part. She's quite docile and nice...when she isn't being bullied. Maybe you'd better do something about that, seeing as she is in your House."
Snape smirked. Ah, Lupin...he had left himself wide open to the question that had been burning a hole in his head since the moment he laid eyes on Rhiannon Delaney.
"Any—other—reason?" he asked quietly.
Lupin considered the question for a long moment before responding.
"Severus, I really think that you already know there are only one of two possibilities in this. The first of course, is that Rin is indeed, beyond any doubt, your daughter. That would, of course, mean you would find yourself in a new position; that of father. The second, is, of course, that she is not, in which case there's only way that she could have come into existence...meaning Mika was unfaithful to you."
With a low growl, Snape rose from his chair, his eyes glaring fury at Lupin.
"You dare suggest she could be? After all that time? Everything that we went though?"
"I'm not suggesting anything, Severus," said Remus quietly, "merely giving you both sides of the coin to peruse and see for yourself. But, really, did you even need to ask? I never knew you to be dull-headed."
With a sigh, Snape seated himself again, watching Remus. Was the man ever capable of giving a straight answer of any kind?
"Very well," he muttered, "I am through playing games, Lupin. Tell me what it is I want to know."
Lupin stared at his childhood enemy for a long while. There was a certain amount of respect that had grown between them over the years that had passed since their own school days and the old rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was theirs to continue. Lupin knew that, for the sake of all involved, the truth would have to come out. Now.
"I received a letter from Mika, delivered to me by Miss Lovegood," said Remus quietly, "they had been traveling together, and gone into hiding at Mika's behest while Xenophilius recovered and the house was being rebuilt. Mika had relatives off the coast, at the Isle, and she went there. They stayed until Rhiannon was born. Luna told me she died almost immediately afterward."
Difficult as this was for Snape to hear, it explained why he had not been able to find her. She would go to the one place where no one, not even people who were looking for her, could seek her out. Remus paused a moment, gauging Snape's reaction, and went on.
"Luna said that she thought Mika had tried to write—to you, Severus. But for some reason, she never did. Luna was given two letters...one to give to Circe Darid, the other to me. In the letter, Mika explained why I had not been able to find her, and why she had gone into hiding. She also told me that she would very soon have a child...a child that she knew was yours."
Another moment passed before Lupin went on.
"She also told me Luna had been given instructions to take the child someplace safe and leave her there. My task was to seek her out when the time was right. The letter disappeared a day or two later...maybe there was a charm laid on it. But then I had trouble locating Luna...you know how she loves her Blubbering Humdingers. Anyway, I found her just a few short months ago. She told me where to look."
Remus gauged the reaction, the pensive gaze of the man before him. He sat expressionless, sipping at his tea, almost waiting for his companion to give him a reason to throw him out.
"If you'll excuse me," said Snape tersely, but not impolitely, "I have things to do."
Lupin nodded, rose, and headed to the door.
"Oh—and Lupin...thank you," said Snape quietly, just as he shut the door after the other man.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the big reveal...it's pretty obvious someone has a LOT of explaining to do. ^_^ Please don't forget to review!