The Untold Story

Chapter 11: The Slytherin Blacks

September 7, 1971

As Severus waited - Professor Sprout had let them out of Herbology early - in a Slytherin filled Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, he had to admit that today had been a good day. After his little excursion with Lucius yesterday, Snape had the task of looking through every potions book until he could identify possible potions that may have been used to dye hair. Then, in usual Malfoy fashion, Lucius had dusted himself free of tedious work and had told Severus to meet him once he had completed the task. Yet, Severus could not help but feel grateful for Malfoy's mentorship. After all, looking through potion textbooks wasn't as painful as his father's belt. It also gave him an excuse to meet with Lily in the library. In this morning's flying class, he and Lily had hung low in the sky flying up and down together as they brainstormed various places to meet discreetly. The library, they had decided, was a safe space because students of various houses often studied together there.

Slowly, the Gryffindors also started to filter in. Lily sent Severus a small wave as she walked in with Mary and took her seat next to Gina Greengrass. Similar to their entry in the last few classes, Black and his friends had barely arrived on time.

"Scarlet hair is a very bold style statement." Black said smoothly to Severus, as James sniggered and continued to walk towards the back of the class.

"I wonder how you would look with silvery hair." Severus retorted.

Sirius had a mask of mock horror, "Silvery hair! Never!"

"Such vanity..." Severus said as he shook his head in disapproval.

"Vanity? I call it the truth." Sirius replied.

He seemed to want to say more but Professor Hylnir entered the class and proceeded to draw his students attention. "Today will be our first practical defense class. Defense cannot be learned without a deep understanding of both theory and practice. In today's class, you will work in pairs with each other and try to disarm your partner using the basic disarming spell expelliarmus. No other spells are allowed."

Severus and Sirius headed to the leftmost corner at the front of the room and stood a few feet apart.

"You ready to lose your wand, Snape?" Sirius called.

"As if. Be read to hand me yours, Black."

"Expelliarmus." Severus's wand flew out of his hand and landed to the ground with a thud.

Sirius laughed as Severus angrily reached down to grab his wand.

Severus was still half bent over as he yelled "Expelliarmus" at a still laughing Sirius. Sirius's wand encountered the same fate as Severus's wand had a few moments earlier.

"You can't do that! I wasn't ready." Sirius protested angrily.

"People don't wait for you to be a shining star, Sirius." smirked Severus.

"You're such a Slytherin." Sirius accused childishly.

"Thanks, I will take that as a compliment." Severus smoothly replied.

Black chose not to retort, instead sending a quick 'expelliarmus' towards Severus. This time Severus managed not to relinquish control of his wand. The rest of class, Severus and Sirius continued to throw the spell at each other. By the time Professor Hlynir dismissed class, Severus had managed to disarm Sirius two times more than Sirius had disarmed him.

"Don't you ever think this is over, Snape." Sirius frustratedly said as they packed their backpacks.

"You know, you are pretty good. You would be better if you didn't get frustrated every time I disarmed you."

Sirius rolled his eyes but did not offer up a reply. Instead, he chose to walk away from Severus and join Peter, outside of the class, to wait for Remus and James.

Severus and Lily had spent the hour between their classes and dinner pouring over Potions books in the library. He had told her about Lucius's suspicions and asked her to help him find the potion.

"Sev, it's dinner time and I'm starving..."

"Hmm…" Severus nodded.

"SEVERUS!" Lily yelled putting her left hand on her hip and using her right hand to close the book he was currently peering into.

"Oh! Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I said it's dinner time and I'm hungry." Lily said tilting her head and looking at him pointedly.

"Ok, you should go to the Great Hall. I will come a few minutes later."

"No, Sev. I know how this goes...I will go and eat dinner and you will go to bed still hungry. You are coming with me." Lily stated firmly.

"Well, I promised Lucius I would have something…"

"Sev, I don't think Malfoy is a good person. Alice says he's very sleazy. I know Slytherin is different, but he just doesn't seem trustworthy."

Severus quietly nodded his head. Of course, he agreed Malfoy wasn't the best person to call a friend. However, Severus decided, he wasn't the worst either. If only Lily knew that he hadn't talked to a Slytherin other than Lucius in three days. Not that he would ever tell her or anybody that. Severus followed Lily into the Great Hall for dinner and made his way to the Slytherin table. Everybody in Slytherin was still sporting Gryffindor colours except for the older Black girl. Her long curly hair reflected her last name. Severus walked up to stand behind Lucius who was engaged in a conversation with her.

"Andromeda, what did you do to get the colours out of your hair?"

"Why must I tell you, Lucius?"

"We are Slytherins…" Lucius hissed back.

"Yes of course, I concur. It is also the same reason, I must ask you more clearly: what do I gain by revealing to you the antidote?"

"..." Lucius seemed to be at loss for words for a few moments before replying, "What do you want?"

"Oh, a lot of things. What about you first leaving my little sister, Cissa, alone?"

"Unfortunately, I'm disaquiested to your request. Lord Malfoy plans to converse with your father regarding the proposal of marriage during Yule celebrations."

"She is too young!" Andromeda, exclaimed furiously as her eyes turned a dark stormy grey.

"You're just bitter that no pureblood has come forward for you." Malfoy sneered.

Andromeda laughed coldly, "I am a Black, and I need no man, much less a dim-witted pureblood fool. As for the antidote, I brewed it using my brain."

"Did you find anything?" Lucius demanded harshly turning around to face Severus.

"No, but I have been trying."

Lucius huffed and the resignedly said, "Look into some healing textbooks in the library. Andromeda is studying to be a healer...I will also ask Narcissa to talk to her."

September 8, 1971

Severus had to his great disappointment admit that he had not found any sign of an antidote. This task had been his singular focus for the past two days and yet he had not made any progress. Andromeda had shared the antidote with her sister and then sealed her lips to everyone else. Malfoy was unsuccessful in convincing Narcissa to share the antidote with him. All she had told him at breakfast this morning was "Andy is my sister and I will not reveal her secrets." That of course ended the discussion and Lucius was unable to further the conversation with her. Malfoy had many faults, but Severus had to admit, Lucius really liked Narcissa. She was the only one who could cut him off, and he was very respectful of her decisions. Since Lucius had failed, it had fallen completely on Severus to find the antidote. He sleepily read through his Potions textbook in the Slytherin common room to complete the reading Slughorn had assigned.

"You seem very busy." said a feminine voice Severus didn't recognize immediately.

Severus jumped in his chair as another set of arms supported the chair, keeping it from falling back.

"You need to stop scaring people, Cissa." Andromeda chided exasperatedly.

"Umm...hello." Severus said nervously.

Narcissa held out her hand, "Seems like Malfoy didn't teach you anything. Kiss my hand, and bow down to introduce yourself addressing me as Lady Black."

Severus scurried to fulfill her request and made to reach out for Andromeda's hand when she straightened him up and held out her hand, "I am not a puritan like my sister. Call me Andy."

"Severus" he replied shaking her hand.

"So Cissa has told me that you are the poor boy Malfoy is using to find an antidote. He is such a lazy-arse."

"Andy…" Cissa said in a warning tone.

"Are you going to tell me what the antidote is?" Severus asked hopefully.

"What can you offer me young man?" Andy asked arching a single eyebrow. She looked very intimidating, living up to the legendary Black name.

Severus took a deep breath before replying "I don't have much but I will do anything you ask me to."

Andy gave a him a small smile. "There isn't anything I want from you. If I may, I will give you some advice: first, never commit to offering a person something which you do not have. Such desperation is not for trivial matters. As for the antidote, it exists in your hands." Turning away she said, "You seem intelligent, you'll be able to figure out the rest."

"What was that about?" Severus mumbled to himself.

"That is just Andy. She hates Lucius, so there was no way I could get her to share the antidote with him, but Andy has a good heart."

"I don't get what she said and even if I did, I am going to go tell Malfoy."

"Yes, but in that process she helps you and all of Slytherin. Let's just say Andy doesn't get along with the Slytherins in her year and she has a soft spot for outsiders. It's what gets her in trouble…." Narcissa trailed off before quickly adopting her usual calm demeanor.

"What does she mean the antidote exists in my hands?" Severus asked tiredly as he restrained the urge to put his head on the desk and take a nap.

"Just look through the first year potions book that you dropped."

Severus stared at her before asking, "Why are you helping me?"

"I am helping, my friend, Lucius."

"Then, why didn't you tell him when he asked?" Severus interjected.

"Lucius may be a friend but Andy is my family. Family above all else." stated Narcissa as she strode back towards the female dormitories.

AN: We changed the title of the story because we felt the old title was very cliched. We are also posting this story on wattpad. Love to hear back from our readers!