Summer. Somewhere in London, 1998.
In such a sunny and beautiful day Draco and Hermione had to visit a darker place. They went to see professor Snape, because Hermione wanted to ask him something about her parents and not only. The Potion Master didn't like too much light in his day and life so he indicated them a shady place.
"Miss Lestrange, I'm glad to see you! I can say I'm proud of you as your faculty dean, you have very good results at the exams!", said professor Snape with a kind of smile on his face.
"Thank you, professor! I'm glad to see you too and I'm grateful for your letters and care sent to me in Prague!", replied Hermione.
"So what do you want to talk about with me? How can I help you two?", asked Snape.
"We have some questions, actually I want to know more about my parents. Can you tell me?".
"Your parents…Well, I know them from school years, we were sharing the same Hogwarts house. I remember Bellatrix always had a special, very close relationship with Narcissa, your mother, Draco. Bellatrix was protecting her sister, being elder.
I had a kind of friendship with Rodolphus - your father. He was nearly my age. I introduced him to Lucius Malfoy who was treating me as a trustworthy person. Then he met Bellatrix and they became friends. After graduation, Lucius, Rodolphus and Bellatrix became Death Eaters while I was a member of the Order of Phoenix, so our interests were different. After the failure of the Dark Lord I didn't tell the members of the Order and the Ministry of Magic about them being His followers, because of our earlier friendship. I helped Rodolphus and Bellatrix to hide you and themselves in Prague.", related Snape.
"I understand…".
"I still can't believe that Bellatrix is my aunt! I rather can't accept!", said Draco.
"Professor Snape, one day I found in my father's cabinet a photo of a woman who resembled me very much, especially our eyes, they are similar!", said Hermione.
Professor Snape seemed to become stirred, but Hermione didn't observe.
"And this bracelet! My father gave me this bracelet on my birthday and I observed it on that woman's joint on the photo! Furthermore, it has magical protecting powers, it even redirected a jinx back to Bellatrix! But my father didn't want to tell me who's that woman, he was upset for I entered his cabinet and touched the photo. Do you know something about that woman or this bracelet?", asked Hermione with hope.
Professor Snape took the bracelet in his hands and was watching it with astonishment and a kind of sadness at the same moment.
"It's really a powerful magical object! I can recognize many powerful spells, even potions and what is more important than everything – love of a woman…and a mother, because she was probably wearing it when was delivered of a child!", retold Snape and gave Hermione back the bracelet saying:"You should never take this bracelet off your joint! It's a blessing for you, it will always help and save you!".
Hermione and Draco were looking at the professor with astonishment.
"Ok, but can you say something about that woman, maybe you know her?!", asked Hermione.
Professor Snape turned his back to the young wizards and with tears in his eyes said:"I don't know who can it be!".
Draco and Hermione thanked their professor for meeting and left.
The Potion Master was overwhelmed by memories.
Early Autumn. St Jerome's graveyard, Godric's Hallow, 1979.
Two men were standing in front of a grave on which was written:
"Eleanor Greenstone
June 24, 1960 – September 19, 1979
Rest in Peace!"
"You are responsible for her death…", said Severus Snape with sorrow in his voice.
"I know! I'm conscious about my sin! My love has killed her!", replied Rodolphus Lestrange with pain.
"If you had permitted me to take care of her, to show her my love, she would have been alive now!", said Snape with tears in his eyes.
"I was infatuated with her!".
Severus looked at the little baby held by Rodolphus in his arms and said:"Take care of her, she is our only memory about Eleanor, she has her mother's eyes!".
The two wizards left and the grave remained alone in the rain of autumn leaves…