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Harry Potter And The Father
Chapter 2
A Letter Lay Forgotten
House elf's from in the Hogwarts kitchens started apparating everywhere, into different rooms, in different parts of the castle, as they collected the laundry, most of it was already in the laundry shoot but the house elf's checked anyway. They were never seen in day light; they popped out in the dead of the night, no one, apart from the teachers and a few of the students who knew where the kitchens are, ever seen them. They cleaned, cooked and did absolutely everything. Without them Hogwarts wouldn't be the gorgeous castle that it was. Since no students were there the house elves didn't have as much work to do only the teacher's quarters.
'Pop' a house elf landed in Severus Snape's private quarters, only a few people actually knew where it was. Severus was a private man, Dumbledore of course knew as he was the Headmaster and he had created them. Then there was Minerva who came down from time to time. They loved to play the odd game of Chess, it helped that Severus was the only one that could give her a run for her money. Hagrid knew of course, and Poppy Pomfrey she had healed him many times here after getting back from his horrific Death Eater meetings. He was a rather lonely bitter man, at times he had wished Lily had shouted and threw things at him rather than let him down gently. She had tried to stay friends; there had been a strange sadness in her eyes that night. Something Severus had wondered about after she was gone, too late for answers as usual. He wore to this day the ring he had proposed with around his neck. He hadn't had a lot of money but he had managed to get her one. It had an Emerald and onyx intertwined, almost like the yin and yang sign, a simple 'with all my love' written underneath.
Blinky (who was the one who always served Severus Snape and cleaned his quarters) made his way around the Professor's private rooms careful not to touch anything as he picked everything up and checked the pockets before popping them to the laundry and letting the other elves get their work done.
The house elf's that work at Hogwarts were loyal hard working and liked to get everything done in time. To them they were honoured to be working at Hogwarts and they would do anything for anyone. They would really hate to get clothes and be dismissed it was hard for the elves to get good work. Especially to a family that was kind and good to them, and not a family that was horrible to them. Blinky was an elf to use as an example he used to be in a family that had always hurt him the family died out and he was finally free. He came to Hogwarts to find they were treated better, thanks to Hogwarts itself; otherwise Dumbledore would be punishing them. Dumbledore could dismiss them but it is Hogwarts that is their master and she protects them. Back when the founders were in Hogwarts, elves were paid and happy never thought of being down trodden or beaten, now like so many things; things had changed.
None of Severus' clothes had anything in it, apart from a couple of bottles of something (Unicorn Blood) and a letter; he carefully put them in one of Severus Snape's many drawers where the elf was sure he would find it. Before Blinky too disappeared and went back to the Kitchen to begin the preparations for breakfast.
Severus got up and made a strong black coffee in the morning his quarters tidied he forgot about the letter as he got ready to go out again he was going back to Diagon Ally just to avoid Nott and Avery. He didn't want to deal with them being nosy asking why he stopped their money. He couldn't put up with their whining if he hated anyone it was them; they were truly sick twisted Death Eaters. He had seen them work many times and wondered silently how they had managed to get themselves out of their mess.
It had been a year since Halloween when the Dark Lord had been defeated. It was currently October little Harry was two and a bit, for a year he had been ignored and for a year he has had a very bad ugly nappy rash. For months he had cried to get out, crying for his Mummy, Daddy, Padfoot and Moony. It has been ten months since he had stopped crying, crying for food, and crying for light because he knew it would never come. He did not know how to speak properly and his vocal cords were severely damaged when he screamed the place down.
Since he entered their care he had not grew one bit he already did magic, which got him beaten. He had broken legs and arms he was skin and bones and stank he had not had a bath in about a year he was black and blue. As well as bloody his hair all matted he was barley ever awake showing his dull green eyes and hardly fed if he was lucky he was allowed what Dudley didn't drink of his bottle one ounce if he was lucky. They had given him disgusting bread when he was two which he had tried to chew it was hard and mouldy he had eaten what he could before leaving the rest it was amazing that he didn't have food poisoning with the food that have been given to him. Perhaps that had been their intent perhaps not but it was obvious they didn't give one iota about him.
When people were coming, he was given sleeping pills that were made for adults. Making him sleep for days on end, him not getting food and getting sleeping pills on an empty stomach made it all the worse it left him feeling sick and actually heaving up nothing. Harry did not like the sleeping pills they make him ill, his stomach was always in knots and always felt drowsy but it made him forget for a while and put him to sleep where he couldn't feel the pain. Harry didn't understand why he had been given to those people he didn't understand why his parents never came and got him. He doesn't understand that they are dead, but he had been told repeatedly by a viscous and jealous Aunt and Uncle.
If the police had found Harry, they would have been arrested for attempted murder not manslaughter or even child abuse and neglect it was that bad a sight.
It was thanks to the sleeping pills they were never found out Vernon was happy that the freak couldn't do any damage. As Grunnings got more and more successful Vernon began bringing more and more guests home, making more money gaining more contracts, Harry got more and more sleeping pills forced down him. They had gotten two locks for that door no one could get in if they wanted to, because the keys were separated Vernon had one and Petunia had the other. But he left his key most of the time so she could give him the pills before the guests come.
Severus went to Gringotts and got some more of his money out of the bank he wanted to go see if there was any decent books down in Knockturn Ally and then go see his mother in Snape manor. He knew before he even left for the manor she would be out enjoying the sun she always did when Severus' dad was gone. Severus knew this because he had seen her do it for a long time. She was never out side when he was home, she had to please him or she would be beaten. She was forced into marriage by her family and hated it. She knew there was nothing she could do, as long as she kept her son safe she was happy with that.
Severus after getting the money, he went to Knockturn Ally and looked around, to his surprise there were three great potions books that looked positively ancient. He bought them knowing he didn't have them already, so he had more to add to his collection. Shrinking them he left the shop and spent the rest of his morning searching the shops for books he loved his potions and his books, some times he wished he could leave Hogwarts and read and brew potions to his hearts content but life would not allow him.
He apparated from Knockturn Ally to the gates of Snape Manor, opening them up he just stood there looking at the beauty of Snape Manor his father had never appreciated it but Severus did, it was his home even more so than Hogwarts. Yes, he may live there, but Snape Manor was his home. The house was richly decorated in greens, blues, blacks, creams, whites, violet and many other colours, however there was definitely not any yellow, gold, orange, or red.
And true to his prediction, his mother was sitting on a summer chair reading a book, probably one of the many in Snape Manor she had never been allowed to touch without his permission, as soon as she saw him her smile lit the gardens up he walked up to his mum and gave her a hug.
"Hello, Son how are you?" asked Eileen a look of love and adoration on her face.
"Fine mum, just came to say hi and give you this," said Severus. As he took out a moneybag and gently put it in his mother's hands along with three key's that were familiar to her they were the Prince vaults after all. Severus' father had never allowed Eileen to have a penny, the Prince Money wasn't hers it was her sons now or so she thought. Severus' father had taken both Prince and Snape money and watched his wife and son struggle to get by. Now he was dead Severus had both, although he hadn't claimed the Prince money he had simply given it to his mother.
"Severus son I have something to tell you now that your father is gone" she said looking every bit her age, she would have told him sooner but she new she couldn't have not with his father around now he was gone she was going to tell him.
"What is it mom" said Severus as he sat down taking his cloak off and putting it next to him. Dreading the answer, since he had never seen his mother look so serious before wondering what was wrong he thought about everything that could be before shaking them away not letting himself get carried away.
"You had a twin sister," said his mom; leaving Severus stunned beyond words, he had a twin sister? Was all he could think, he then asked
"What happened to her?" asked Severus knowing that he had never seen a girl version of him in any of his memories he knew he had not had a sister that was for sure.
"You know your father son, if he had knowing I was having twins, he would have killed you or your sister. So I told him it was a month later, and he was gone on business, he was late for the birth. I got beaten for that I took your sister away to a Muggle orphanage, and hoped she had a good life," said Severus mum as she tried to get the guilty feeling away that she had abandoned her daughter at an orphanage.
"I have a sister a twin sister that's alive?" asked Severus in disbelief hardly believing what he was being told; he had always wanted a brother and sister when he was little to play with, since he was hardly allowed out of the manor.
"Yes, son you have a sister that may be alive I'm not sure I have never heard from her since your seventh year" she said
"Who is she?" he asked wondering who could be his relative. Was it someone he treated like dirt; was it someone who he liked; was it someone who taunted him? He just hoped it was not a Death Eater or no relationship would begin between sister and brother.
"I don't know who she is son, I put long life charms on her. They would never be removed she didn't tell me her name but I made her swear not to tell you or tell anyone or my life as well as hers would be in danger and she didn't reply again" said Eileen.
"So I might never hear from her then?" asked Severus feeling strangely disappointed because he had always wanted a sister and that sibling had been snatched from him within minutes how he wished he had a sister.
"Sorry son I did what I had to do to keep her alive and safe" said Eileen as she sat back enjoying the sun again, not wanting to talk about the little girl she didn't have, the girl she had been deprived of. She would have loved to have kept in touch with her but it had been too dangerous.
They were both now thinking along the same lines, now that Snape was dead now maybe she will contact them let them get to know her, let them be able to be a family that they had always dreamed of having.
They spent the rest of the day talking Severus stayed for dinner talking and catching up with his mother something he had never had the chance to do unless his father was gone, if his father was there he was always forced to go with him, not even allowed to say hello or Goodbye to his mother. He had hated his father with a passion now he hated him even more for being the way he was, forcing his mother to hide his twin sister, beating him and his mother, and forcing him into taking the mark. Oh, how he hated him but the good thing was he was free to do as he liked, he told his mother about all the accounts that had been opened at Gringotts and now how they were all closed. But it was time for him to go back, it was night time and he had to sleep in his quarters not even at the weekends was he allowed to stay away, thanks to being the head of Slytherin house. However, he did not regret his decision at becoming the head of Slytherin house he was honoured he got better quarters than just when he taught potions.
Kissing his mother goodbye, he left the grounds of Snape Manor, apparated back to Hogwarts and got right into his bed, not even putting his clothes in the laundry shoot again. He had classes tomorrow and wanted a long sleep before he had to teach brats the subtle science of what is exact potions making. He hated teaching people who did not want to learn and they wondered why he was a snarky bastard all day?
He never once thought about the letter that came yesterday again he in fact had forgotten all about it. Who could blame him? After the news he had just received a letter hardly seemed significant in any way. His mind was too full of thoughts to sleep; even Occlumency didn't help a bit. He thought of every single student that had rode over the boat with him, wondering if any of them had been his sister. His mother was fantastic at charms, but surely it couldn't have made that much of a different to any sister he had. He lay there deep in the night trying to think of any girl as good at potions as him. Meanwhile a letter lay ominously in his drawer almost begging to be read, and so it lay still forgotten the answer to all his questions.
Will Severus open the letter before it's too late? R&R