"The gardens are beautiful this time of year," Rein said, stooping to capture a butterfly, "don't you think?"
"They are." I refrained from adding 'but not as beautiful as you', knowing that would sound really cheesy.
She stood and took me by the hand and led me around for a bit, pointing out the various types of blossoms and trees along the way. I knew most of them already, having done all the gardening at Number 4, but I let her explain the just the same. I like the way her voice rolls over me like a river comprised of the sweetest melody.
We crossed a bridge that led to a gazebo in the middle of a pond filled with water lilies, and sat down on the couch inside.
"The gardens are heated in the winter." She said, turning towards me. "Hungry?"
"A little." I replied, "But I don't really want to go in. It's so nice out."
"We can picnic here, if you'd like."
"Okay."
She called for a house-elf, and asked very politely for a picnic lunch for two. I just smiled and gazed at her.
"What?" She asked when she noticed me staring.
"Nothing." She gave me an inquiring look. "It's just that my friend Hermione is really into protecting house-elves' well-being. The way you addressed Nana reminded me of her."
Something in Rein's face changed as she looked away, and I realized what she must have been thinking.
"It's not like that." I said taking her hand, and looking into her beautiful eyes, "Not with her. Perhaps it could be like that with you, but not like that with Hermione. She's like a sister to me. Never like that with her." I faked a shudder and got a smile for my efforts. "That would be gross."
Nana appeared with our lunch, and we ate in a comfortable silence for a while. Eventually it was me who broke the silence.
"What's it like?"
"What's what like?" Rein asked, wiping a spot of icing off my face with a napkin.
"Having Professor Snape for a dad."
"I don't know. I've never had him as a teacher."
"You know what I mean." I said, nudging her playfully.
"Well… I don't see much of him usually."
"Oh?"
"Mmm. He's working, I'm in school…"
"I see. You live with your mom most of the time you're not in school?"
"Yup, over the Christmas holidays and for Easter. Sometimes I go home for Halloween, but lately it hasn't been safe enough in October to travel."
"Because of Voldemort."
"Because of Voldemort."
We sat in a contemplative silence for a few minutes, until I worked up the courage to ask what I'd been thinking for a while.
"He's a Death Eater."
Rein looked at me, an unidentifiable emotion in her eyes. "He's a spy."
"I know. How does… how come…"
"How come mom and I aren't being forced to join Voldemort?" she finished for me.
"Yeah."
"Because he doesn't know we exist."
It was my turn to be surprised. "Occulmency?"
"No. Well, after a fashion." Seeing my confused look, she elaborated. "He removes his memories of us. Before he goes to… the meetings, he puts all of his memories of me and mom in a pensive so old Moldy Shorts can't see them. He doesn't even know we exist."
"And what about Snape?"
"Dad? He keeps his memories of us locked away where no one can find them. Sometimes he goes months without those memories. Sometimes he doesn't even know he has a family."
"What about Dorian?"
"Voldemort thinks he's dead. Dad told him that he was stillborn and mom died giving birth. He has false memories to back his story up."
"Wow. So that's why you don't go to Hogwarts?"
"Yeah. I wanted to, when I was little. But I understand now why I can't. Why it's better that I don't. I don't think I could be in the same room with dad and have him look at me like he doesn't know me."
"So him and your mom are still for each other?"
"What? Yeah. They're all mushy and stuff when they see each other." She made a face. "It's kinda gross. I'm glad you're here."
"Me too."
Things had been quiet between us for a while, when Rein leaned over and put her head on my shoulder and asked me to tell her about my life.
"The part the books don't tell us." She added, snuggling into my arm.
"Well… I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle after Voldemort murdered my parents. They're Muggles, Petunia and Vernon. So is their son, Dudley. He's about the size of a baby hippo. But don't tell the hippo I said that, it might get offended."
Rein giggled. "Go on."
"My aunt is my mom's sister. She hated my mom and my dad. They're "freaks" to her. So am I. They all hate and fear magic. I don't know why."
"By 'they' you mean your aunt and uncle?"
"And Dudley, yes. My aunt and uncle raised me like a house elf. I was given a cupboard to sleep in, and my cousin's worn out hand-me-downs to wear. That's why I needed to replace all of my clothes. Because they were too big and worn."
"I remember."
"My uncle was abusive. He and my cousin took turns beating me. My aunt made a habit out of starving me."
"That's terrible." Rein said, wrapping her arms around me.
"And that's not even half of it."