BitterSweet, Chapter 11:

Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling, hence I do not own any of the characters etc. etc.

Severus' POV:

"Ready for some more Occlumency?" Grandma asks me as I step through the floo channel. She is pacing in the room in anxiously, her velvet green robes flowing around her.

"Of course." I answer, my voice in a lighter tone. One thing I've noticed from 'when I took hold of my own future' was that my voice doesn't have that dark, deep…compelling sound to it. The thought frustrates me as I feel as though I am becoming less like myself everyday.

"Wipe that frown off, Severus. You don't want it to become permanent." Grandma demands in a strict tone. "Now, you know what to do. Prepare yourself." She warns. I sit down on a chair and breathe in deeply, trying to erase my emotions and pick a memory to protect.

"One…Two…Legilimens!" She casts, and immediately I can feel pressure building up in my head. I try to focus on protecting the 'chosen' memory, attempting to divert the 'intruder' by various memories and thoughts. As I hide the memory by showing more and more thoughts, the faster Grandma weaves her way through my defences. But, just before she gets to the memory, she gives up and breaks the connection.

"Well done, well done. I have to admit, it has been only two weeks and you have become one of the most accomplished Occlumen I have met." She compliments, her eyes twinkling. She summons an extra chair and sits down.

"Have you preformed Legilimency or Occlumency before?" She asks curiously, cocking her head to the side slightly. I remember back to when I was in the library studying various Dark Arts books, and coming across the art of Occlumency and Legilimency. I tried to study it further but I could only practice in theory because know one else knew of the subject hence I couldn't practice. Professor Baggins was the first person I had preformed Legilimens on.

"A little and only a little. I have studied it thoroughly and attempted it once before." I answer finally.

"Interesting…" She concludes. "Well, either way, you are very skilled at it, which means all occlumency lessons from now on are unnecessary and I can teach you the more important skills!…now some milk and cookies to celebrate…" she suddenly decides, leaping up from the chair and moving to the corner of the room, muttering. Then out of nowhere, milk and cookies appear. "There they are." She exclaims at their appearance.

As we sat and ate cookies, I felt happy; content. For what seems like the first time in my life, I have found somebody who loves me and cares for me. Ironically enough, it happens to be one of the most unlikely people - Grandma has turned out to be just that. Her personality is different from the general stereotype of purebloods. Although she can be moody and demanding at times, she is loving and caring, and makes me feel wanted.

"So Severus, what plans do you have for Christmas day?" Grandma asks, leaning into the chair, breaking me from my thoughts.

"I'm not sure. I do have plans for tomorrow though." I reply, not wanting talk further about said plans.

"Oh?" She queries.

"Uh…" I cough, knowing it pointless to lie. "I am going to tell Lily tomorrow night how I feel." I say, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. Had this been anyone else, I would never have said it aloud. In fact, if I were in my right state of mind, I probably wouldn't do it at all. A slight smile appears on her face.

"Congratulations. I was going to ask you and your parents to come to dinner tomorrow night, but it seems as though you will be quite busy. Nonetheless, I will ask you to invite your parents on my behalf." She comments, straightening out her robes on her lap as if we were talking about the weather. I feel the blood drain out of my face.

"My parents? What about Tobias? What about Xavier?" I ask in shock. Grandma knows that mum wants to renew the relationship with her, but she also knows that Tobias hates both family & magic and would never agree to come, nor would Xavier let them.

"I will deal with Xavier dear, as well as your father. Tobias, when encouraged and motivated, can be civilized." She comments slyly. My thoughts start running wild – when encouraged and motivated! How would she know!

"So, when you go home tonight, tell your parents that they are invited to stay at the Prince Manor for the next few days; I have a room for them already set up." Grandma concludes, interrupting me from my thoughts. "Of course, you are more then welcome to come and join them but I have a funny feeling Miss Evans will be occupying your time." She says with a twinkle in her eye that made me squirm a little. "And the lesson is officially over." Grandma declares, checking her watch. Getting up from the chair she takes my arm and apparates into the main room, leaving no time for back-chat or questions.

"Do you always have to cut the conversation off so I can't reply?" I ask, slightly irritated as I find my balance. The only answer I get is a small chuckle. Grandma and I agreed that whatever is said in the practice room must stay in the practice room, therefore conversations can't be continued outside the practice room. Grandma also constantly makes sure that we enter and leave the practice room at certain times. She is hiding something; that much is obvious. Like a Prince, she won't tell me why, no matter how many times I ask. As I ponder my thoughts, the only sound heard is the soft sound of our feet as we walk down the dark ornate hallways to the fernery, where Xavier is waiting. As we near the door, Grandma straightens her back and smoothes out any emotion in her face; all the kindness swept from her. Opening the double doors gracefully, she enters the room with a sense of confidence and well-worth. I follow in behind her, trying to imitate her grace and actions, but knowing I am no where near as good as her. Xavier turns to look at us, and scowls.

"What's the boy doing down here? He needs keep training for the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord needs to know how worthy and strong the Prince family are." Xavier grumbles, as he levitates dead rats into a golden bowl.

"Xavier, be reasonable. The poor boy needs a rest, and he needs to be going home soon. His parents are coming over to stay for a few nights." Henrietta says, staring meaningfully at Xavier. Xavier's scowl deepens as he grunts in acknowledgment. I can feel shock take over my face at his reaction – which is so different to what I expected – but remembering where I am, I wipe it off my face. "Boy. Come and meet Linguini." Xavier says in a slight mocking voice, which unnerves me. Grandma steps forward as if to stop something from happening, but holds herself back just in time. I walk forward to Xavier hesitantly.

"Xavier, he is just a boy. Maybe now isn't the best time to be showing him Linguini, after all Linguini is hungry and…" Henrietta says, trailing off at Xavier's stare.

"The boy will manage fine. If I have to deal with the bloody monster myself, so can he. He will be facing much worse soon anyway." Xavier snaps in a harsh voice. I keep my face clear of all emotion but feel my stomach turn inside. I hate snakes. I can see from the corner of my eye Grandma searching my face for any trace of fear, but not seeing any, maintains her façade and keeps quite. Xavier shows me a smirk as he walks towards a golden cage.

"Linguini, come out and play…" Xavier calls. As he opens up the gate's door, Grandma immediately takes a few steps back, as does Xavier, and I ready myself for whatever this monster is going to do. Waiting a few minutes for it to appear, I finally see a big, thick snake slither out of the cage towards me. The length of the snake must be nearing two meters, and I am frozen in shock as I watch him come towards me. Reaching my feet, he starts to climb up my legs, and coil around my body.

"So. Hungry. Must. Eat." I hear the snake call as he begins to tighten around my body, his head level to mine. I hear a small squeal come from Grandma and a loud crash, but all voices and sounds become distant.

"I am not the one you want to eat." I call back to the snake. "Get off me now, and I will give you what you seek." I say, albeit unconsciously. Linguini's grip tightens around my body for a few seconds, before releasing and falling to the ground.

"My master." The snake says. I stare at the ugly animal at my feet in realization of what I have just done. I'm a parslemouth. Gathering all my strength to not show weakness, I walk over to the golden bowl and set it in front of the Linguini. He slithers forward and bows his head to me, before consuming the dead rats whole. Unable to look at him anymore, I look up only to find my grandparents in the corner of the room. Grandma is kneeling down with a hand on her cheek and Xavier looks at me as if I had just told him I wasn't going to be a Death-Eater. Ha.

"The Dark Lord, will be most impressed…a parslemouth in the Prince family…the possibilities…" Xavier says, finally catching his voice. "Severus, you are the true Prince heir…I must prepare the house…new robes…" he says, thinking aloud as he walks out of the door, almost in a trance. I turn to look at Grandma who is now standing up.

"Good job. I was terrified for a minute; I had a terrible vision of a snake killing you…thank goodness it wasn't true…" She comments, wrapping her arms around me. I breathe a sigh of relief at my own small victory. "It's time to go now." Grandma says, leading me down to the main door.

"Don't forget to invite your parents, Severus." She says expectantly. "And take this. It is a shampoo from a muggle store that will do your hair the world a good. Good luck with Lily dear." She says, giving me the shampoo and another hug. "Mercury." She says standing up straight again, calling for the house elf.

Mercury appears and grabs my arm, and we apparate to the doorway of Spinner's End. Thanking Mercury, I walk through the door into the house.

Instead of normally going to my room, I stroll into the lounge room and sit down on one of the couches, next to mum. Mum and I never exchange words about how my visits have been going; if Tobias heard he would be livid. I just look at her and nod. I hear a grunt come from the front of the room and notice Tobias standing against the wall. He looks like a pauper; his clothes all holey and his hair flattened against his face by sweat. He has a bottle of beer in one hand and as he takes a swig, the froth of the beer covers his mouth and the tip of his nose.

"You've taken your time getting here boy. I don't know where you go, I don't know what you do, but it's going to stop now. You can't just go leaving this house everyday and coming back in the afternoon as if you have something important to do! You are a stupid, vile freak who –" Tobias's voice is cut off by my voice.

"Henrietta and Xavier Prince have invited you both over to stay at the mansion for the next few days. She won't take no for an answer." I interrupt, my voice deep with anger. Tobias just stares at me blankly, and then straightens up his holey clothes and wipes away the beer froth from his mouth. I look over to mum who is next to me to see her head bent down and her bottom lip quivering. Once again feeling useless and awkward, I walk out of the lounge room up to my room and lie down on my bed. I start drifting off to sleep with different thoughts clouding my head: Why did Tobias act so differently once I told him of the invite? Why am I a parslemouth? What is Grandma hiding? And will I be strong enough to tell Lily?

I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE! I can not believe how long it has been already. I am so sorry. And I know I tend to take forever to right, and again I am sorry for that. Lately, I have been experiencing many issues at home with family etc. and I have also been sick, but still no excuse!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and again sorry for any grammar mistakes etc. I plan to update as soon as possible. Also hope it wasn't too confusing! And I am also sorry for this irritating authors note :P I will now shush.

Please feel free to ask questions, I will answer all of them. Also, if you enjoyed the chapter, please read and review. Reviews make me so happy :)

I will try my hardest to update soon,

And thanks to everyone who has been supporting me,

Missteque.