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Harry Potter and the Father
Chapter 3
School starts up and the letter still remains untouched
School started again, Severus was far to busy to do anything apart from, make potions for the hospital wing. A nasty bug had broke out on the students making him have to use his extra time making them, the potion was fairly easy for him but it took most of his night to make them. Between teaching, brewing all night he wasn't exactly a happy man either way. The students that weren't ill ended up taking the brunt of his frustration particularly the Gryffindor's who insisted on blowing up all their potions. None of them got detention though, so they should consider themselves lucky. Severus was just too damn busy to even consider giving them detention.
He had books he had yet to be able to read, he was in regular correspond with his mother, and he had hoped his sister would have got in touch with him; it saddened him at the thought that she could have died in the war. His experimental potions lay at one side like a discarded toy. Severus was trying to make a potion he had called Wolfsbane, to help werewolves keep their mind during the full moon. Severus couldn't help but wish that the bug would die off and be done with it. Not only were the students ill but also some teachers, which meant the ones that were fine had to substitute or let them do as they pleased.
Severus was tired he had not had one decent nights sleep in a long time, between brewing potions and marking essays with most of them scoring T for troll he didn't think the word Terrible was enough for the incompetent students, potions is a dangerous subject and knew hardly anyone appreciate the subtle arts of what is potions making. There were a few students who were good; he had to give it that not all of them were bad. On good days he would admit it on bad days he'd rather die than say that.
Severus was now just finishing the last batch he would need of the Potion for Madam Pomfrey, he went and had a shower, which was blue, and Severus loved his bathroom as much as his potions lab. He had designed it personally and was proud of his design, it had cost him a lot but he was a rich pureblood he hardly made a dent in his money. He still sent money to his mother and she took good care of Snape Manor, which Severus was certain would not be walked in again, Severus after all didn't want children, more like he couldn't, and who would get with a hooked nose pale skinny Death Eater? His personality alone would make any woman run. Unless of course his sister came forward, perhaps she lived in the Muggle world? And hadn't heard yet. His mother hadn't named her only daughter never got the name of the girl who got in touch so there was no way for them to get in touch. The Snape family didn't have a family tree like the Black's to keep up with everyone, so they had no idea even if she was alive.
After finishing washing his hair the third time, he used a lot of shampoo getting the grease of his hair, as much as he loved potions, this was one of the disadvantages, his greasy hair. Putting casual clothes on, he knew he would not make Madam Pomfrey faint she had after all known him since he was a child and knew how nice he could be when he cleaned up, she had teased him when he did at first making him blush like a school boy, after a while he had been able to stop especially after he had started going out with Lily.
Walking to the infirmary curfew already passed, so he didn't see into any students of his, both glad and disappointment. Opening the hospital wing doors he saw there were no students in at the moment they were all well enough to go to their own room, but they have been restricted to bed, she said if she heard they were up and about they would be in the hospital wing, good job they all took her seriously or all would be back there, not that they ever doubted her word. Severus knew from personal experience that she didn't kid about the healing of her patients.
"Poppy, here are the potions for the infirmary, if you need any more, tell me" he said his normal sneering façade no where to be seen. He was genuine, Poppy knew he was, not that she doubted him she knew him better than any one else.
"Thanks Severus it seems to be calming down now thank Merlin for that, the virus has been pretty nasty this year, I cannot wait for summer how about you?" asked Poppy with a small smile on her face, before saying "You don't get enough sleep, I'm going to one day force you into this hospital wing and pour a dreamless sleeping potion down you, let you get a decent sleep for once" she said, with a small understanding sad smile on her face.
"I wish" muttered Snape with a small smile on his face, it was nice to feel wanted even by his nurse, she was just like a second mum, she was the only person who would ever get to touch him, she drew blood from him once a month in case the Dark Lord came back and in case he lost too much blood. He would not trust anyone else with his blood; blood was a sacred thing to a Wizard. It could be used in too many rituals for anyone to donate blood hence why the blood replenishing potion was created. Sometimes even that powerful potion wasn't enough, hence Poppy's actions.
"You know I would only call on you to make me potions, I would not trust anyone else to brew them, Merlin knows what they would do to the students!" she said, she was a professional she didn't trust anyone with her students apart from Severus, she knew he was moody and dark to his students but he would never let one come to harm.
"Thanks Poppy, I'm going to Hogsmeade for a drink with Hagrid and Minerva want to come, Dumbledore will get us if one of the students are ill?" asked Severus.
"You know what Severus I think I jut might, I've not had a break in weeks with all the students, just a couple mind you!" she said as she took her uniform off underneath was a pair of jeans and a top, Muggle clothes, she liked them because she was able to wear them underneath her work clothes. It may be a bit hotter but she was more comfortable, she put her hair down and tied it back but not in a bun as she did when she was working before she joined him with her purse. Her black gray hair was now in a pony tail down her back, it was easy for everyone to forget just how long her hair was. With the bun it always seemed short of course Minerva McGonagall was pretty much the same. Sever looking grannies with buns. They looked completely different when they finally let their hair down.
Together they left the school grounds Minerva joined them before they even exited the school entrance hall, walking down to Hagrid's they were half way there when they saw a huge shadow they could make out was Hagrid on the school grounds obviously walking towards the hut.
"Hagrid ready to go for a drink?" asked Poppy, just loud enough for the half giant to hear.
"Aye, wouldn't mind ataw" boomed the half giant grinning widely, his beetle black eyes were warm and inviting. The four of them didn't get a chance to go out much, so they were determined to enjoy the time away from the students.
It was not long before they reached the Three Broomsticks, Severus was never embarrassed to be seen with them, but if he was he would just say he was spying, as usual for the Dark Lord when he came back. Severus was surprised Nott and Avery hadn't bothered him for taking the money away from them. He truly didn't care, and if Voldemort came back he would just tell them he didn't want them getting the money. Voldemort couldn't tell him what to do, not with his own money he wouldn't allow it.
Severus as usual slid into the corner, slipping almost into the shadows beside the three Hogwarts employees. Poppy spoke about what she wanted to do for the holiday's, how she hoped to see her family drinking red wine, Hagrid spoke about the creatures in the forbidden forest as he drank tankard after tankard of beer. McGonagall spoke about going to Scotland to see her own family, and see how the family business (tartan shop) was doing drinking her sherry. Severus normally just listened and never joined in, but today was different as he sipped his Whisky.
"You all know my father died right?" asked Severus a bitter frown twisting his features.
"Of course Severus…is everything ok?" asked Poppy her concerned brown eyes on onyx ones.
"Yes I'm fine…I went to see my mother afterwards and she confessed something to me" sighed Severus, perhaps between those people he might get somewhere. They might have noticed something he hadn't.
"What's that?" asked Hagrid curiously.
"That my mother had twins," said Severus sipping his whisky hiding his nervousness.
"Oh dear! Many people believe twins share magical cores very old tradition it's not still done anyway thank goodness for that! There's a set of twins just been born, half blood's if I am right maybe two years ago" said McGonagall.
"Unfortunately my father believed in the old ways," sighed Severus.
McGonagall and Poppy gasped their face covered by their hands both horrified.
"Don't worry, my mother…she gave father the wrong date…she put my sister up for adoption in a Muggle orphanage as you know there isn't one in this world. I doubt she would have done anyway; after all it would have only taken someone to use the family tree potion on her and found out. She also put a very strong glamour on her…she got in touch with my mother when she was younger and that's that. We haven't heard from her since, I have just been told about her and I'm afraid she might have died during the war" said Severus bitterly.
"My Goodness Severus!" gasped Poppy looking so sorry for the Potions Master.
"Yeh will find her Severus, if anyyin can dae it its yeh" said Hagrid in the usual fashion.
Severus just smirked in half amusement.
"I can look through all the records for your year, for Muggle Born's all records are kept. Even if they do not accept their place at Hogwarts, her new parents might not have let her come" said McGonagall kindly.
Severus looked startled, he hadn't even considered that possibility, and slowly a smile began to form on his lips. Hope for the first time began to brew in his heart, not just in the potions he brewed.
"Thank you" said Severus smiling slightly. Which basically meant his lips were twitching at the side that qualified for a smile to Severus Snape.
After that news they decided to make their way back, it didn't take them long at all. Even intoxicated as they were, not that they had drank too much. Well Hagrid had drunk a lot but he was a half giant and didn't get drunk easily.
McGonagall as soon as she was in her office she began flicking though letters from the year Severus had joined. Pulling up the pile for Muggle born's and girls into one pile, she put them on her desk before going to bed, promising to help Severus find his twin sister tomorrow after classes. Even if it meant sacrificing her summer to help him, he had been through so much and she wanted to help.
It wasn't long before the inhabitants of Hogwarts were sleeping and the house elves went on their nightly routines.
No one thought of Harry Potter, as he lay prone on his shabby mattress, his breathing laboured in the small cupboard as a fever spiked, the wounds on his body had become infected. His magic of course tried to help, but unfortunately it could only so much for the child. As usual no one answered the little child's prayer for help, and that little boy had already lost hope that anyone would come - yet couldn't help but wish for it.