It was days past christmas, and Severus was scheduled to have his meeting with Pomona the next day. A meeting that was probably about nonsence shit of adapting to Hogwarts, finding a solution for homesickness bulshit and blah blah blah. Severus truly had no idea of that certain meeting ,even in his future self memories there was no mention of that particular thing. It was refreshing to know that there were things to learn, even for a boy with the next 20 years memories of his future-past.
There was still part of those memories he had no access to , large memory gaps, maybe those he had occluded the most his last year. Maybe his 11 year old brain filtered them for him automaticaly. Human brain had this cool inbuilt feature to censure things that were too hurtful. He could only wonder what was more hurtful than what he had seen in those memories and shuddered.
Emerald had finally decided to come back from whatever journey she had gone with Fawkes, she was slightly larger, and definitly heavier. She barely could size in his pocket, and when Severus mistakingly metioned this to her, she bit his nose hard enough to leave a bruise.
Point to myself, never ever say that a lady is fat to her face, the results are painful.
Currently, Em was reclining on his bed, picking her feathers, rearranging them to puff or whatever. It seemed no matter the shape, every damn girl on this planet had to look beautiful and fret over non-existing problems in their appearance.
" my tail feathers are not as fluffy as I recall, I'm telling you lad when I was this small last time my my feathers were as white as snow and as soft as silk. Oh those accursed days… things I gave up for saving your useless ass…."
And again, right back on picking on him again, now she was going to go on and on about how he should better be grateful, how it was tough on her to come back here, how he has to stop being stupid and do some meaningful thing in this life… damn girl! Didn't she understand he was only an 11 year old nobody? What was he supposed to do? Go chalenge dumbles for the most horrible attire of the year or who could name more muggle candy?
" you ungrateful brat! I'm trying to get your attention for exactly a minute! Oh this new generation has no respect at all! Where are those kings who bowed before my wisdom? And those gentelmen knights who slaughtered dragons with a single beckon of my talon? How I have dropped from grace! I am stuck with a pitiful kid who can't even kill a manticure let alone a dragon!"
Before severus could answer that silly bird, he was distracted with an owl flying straight to him, not with one, but two letters.
Severus ignored emerald shenanigans and focused on those pieces of paper that were currently flying towards him.
Who they were from?
His list of contacts he wrote to, was pitifully short.
Regulus, lady Prewatt, and occasionaly, like when he needed permission to go to Bones manner, his mother.
He was pretty sure it was not from Regulus, as he sent those maddening letters with his awful awful elf, and when he was alone, always at the end of the day. He must be too desperate for attention, what with his dimwitted brother who landed himself in trouble every other day ( and Gryffindore to boost) and his mother who probably fumed in rage in sync with that time phrase. Regulus was feeling lonely, and Severus doubted that Black , with his newly found mischief maker group, had the time of the day to spare a second to think about his lil brother. Now that Regulus had found a reason to talk to another kid , even a half such as himself, a kid who he shared a delightful habbit of reading books with, would he, leave the opportunity?
Nope. Not until he was in his first year and found some friends of his own, respecfully pure blood shits.
It was also not from lady Prewatt. She did not send letters with Hogwarts owls. She sent it with her personal owl, a very formal looking expensive bred that was special to sacred 28, with the crest of Prewatts.
He knew as he had recived two of them, in fact. One for letting him know that he was on the list of a party held in their manner , honoring Bones and Prewatt union, and one to thank him for his attendance at said party. Suffice to say, the party was more boring than the one Bones held. At least Boneses were a neutral family, whereas the Prewatts were a light one strictly. Meaning there was no opportunity to run into Sylwan, Regulus or Andromeda. There was also the presence of Molly now weasley , with a 2 year old Bill and a heavily pregnant stomach.
Oh How he loathed that irritating ginger howling banshee! Really, what was wrong with being the heiress of a good family? Was her fucking love and oh so glorius passionate life enough? If it was , why Bill and charly left that hole they called home right after graduation? Those craving of her, a selfish hag who sacrificed her childern's future for a love life that could not even pay the bills and hold a solid roof on their heads? The life of her kids? Ginny being posseced and her youngest son hunted, Fred to die and Bill to be maimed?
And to think she was one of the brightest witches of her generation.
Fuck her and her swiss cheese brain.
These past days, everything was quite except for Regulus whining. The boy had some points on magical theory, but whining about his oaf of a brother to him of all people?
Abnoxious.
Marlene was busy analysing Andy's blood sample via artimency, thanks to Regulus ( what did you expect? That Severus took the time of the day for nothing? He was not a consumate Slytherin for 27 years for nothing!). She was her usual weird self, giving mysterious, calculating looks to the new couple as if measuring their chance at survival against something. (she winked at him once or twice, strange but that was Marlene for you). She was not alone in that, Hogwarts as a whole was buzzing with the news. The neutral-light pure blood couple was all you could hear about at every corner. Prewatt number two and Amelia were busy kissing, and Prewatt number one was busy trying to chaperone the idiot fools they were , saving their respectable arses from going over the border of the courtship they had and turning their families into blood enemies.
Seriously, if Severus did not kind of force them to join their hands, would those two get all kissy kissy with one another or it would take a litteral war to make them see that apparent affection?
Charity, was in comunicado. For whatever reason, she was still pissed at the wolf and therefore wasn't up for hugs at all. Severus missed charity's hugs now and that werewold was to blame.he totally agreed with being irritated at that hypocrite, but did not understand Charity's obsession with him, he was a lost cause, end of story.
He feared if Charity take pity on that scumbag and forgave his sorry arse.
Frank was frank, meaning he was fretting over the meeting with their head of house. Walking on circles to no end," what if she decides I am not good enough for being a badger? I mean I kinda ruined our first match and got our best seeker ever nearly killed! Ooh and my grades! What if she says my grades are not as good as you and Marlene and Merlin! What if she got me re sorted? I will hang myself if I am in a room with those nasty lions! Morgana what if I get suspended or…"
Yep, typical drama queen Frank. And to think that was yesterday before the meeting, today he was a bundle of nerves, an insufferable twat.
" im ganna fail, im ganna go and land my arse in gryffindore and potter and black are going to have a field day, shit! My mom kills me! My dad will spank me!"
Severus was fed up enough to kick his backside out. He could go nag at other people.( he hoped he would go bother Alice, he kinda mentioned it to him) Sev had other problems.
He was no closer to solving the Sylwan problem, so Andromeda could marry Ted without being dis inherited.
Also he had not come into terms with different memories in his head, sometimes he knew things no one knew, sometimes he felt lonely and betrayed and cold and distant. He also had some night terrors, not much, but a couple of times they were intense. And to think they would get worse with his mind and magic growing and him being able to process a whole lot of data without turning into a permanent patient at st mungo, it was plain scary.
Emerald was no help at all, teasing him about the future, bothering him with explaining her own plans to change things for the better and nagging at him constantly about the life she had lost for him.
Was Fawkes this annoying? Why the hell Albus hasn't turned bald or deaf? Was it different with a male phonix instead of a Huma?
Plus, he had not talked to Lily , like really talked for weeks now. There was ocasional hellos and polite greetings but that was it. Every time he wanted to brace himself and go have a chat like a goddamned adult, he was reminded of lily's death. Of his future rule in it, of her betreyal and mocking him with that awful name. taunting him for his poverty. Even now that they were supposedly best friends, she hang out with her girlfriends and members of her house, more like joined at the hip. Was it like this for the other Severus? How he could manage if he was a loner in Slytherin?
Add Peter and his problems with those noble lords and Ladies to be and that Severus was determined to save him from becoming a rat , his mother cold attitude and this stupid meeting he had with Pomona, seriously why she had to have this thing arranged for all firsties? What was the worst thing that could happen to a kid this young? Falling off his broom and bruise their bum?
He had a bad feeling that if Pomona pressured him , with that motherly attitude of her, and her magic that smelled like homemade cookies, and extra ordinary quality hugs she gave, especially since bloody Charity had somehow made him addicted to daily hugs and now she wasn't at all hugging him and had left him high and dry, he would spill the beans, meaning he already knew what was to happen in future, and then brought to Dumblefuck and boom.
It would be a one way ticket to hell for him.
Ok, lets put that whole can of flobberworms aside, the letters… no Regulus, no lady Prewatt…
So, the problem persists, what were those letters?
His mother would not go to trouble of sending two, so not mommy dearest .
And most importantly, where from?
He shrugged, maybe another request for interview? He still received one every week, why? He hadn't the faintest clue.
He inhaled deeply and reached for the first one, and raised an eyebrew at that.
Rita Skeeter?
From what he remembered, She was a nobody at this time. In fact, the interview that made her famous was with some death eaters after trial, the most significant being the crouch jr case. She was a normal low level column writer on Informer, at her 20s something.
She was12 years, maybe 13 his senior?
Severus skimmed over the thing, basically she had told him that she had dirt on Sylwan, and if he was interested, she would be near the lake tommorow night.
Alone.
How she had found this owl and attatched that letter to his was beyond him. He had some vague idea of her being an animagus , some fly? Maggot? Who was able to enter Hogwarts easily, But for the life of him, he couldn't guess why she decided to contact him now of all the times.
How on earth she even found out about him investigating Sylwan? Of course Charity had askedanyone who listened for info, but that was monthes ago, and only in school.
He was in two minds about it, to go or not to go? He could not go, but then, his mind would kill him bomabarding him with bizzar reasons. He could inform Emerald.. she was at least a whole century older and maybe had some idea of..
And she was not here, again.
For goodness sack! What use was this snobish chicken if she was absent every single time he needed her?
How on earth a little birdy like her, who had neither re-gained her flying abilities nor flashing could move so fast alluded him. She mostly was in the kitchens, scheming with elves, or backbiting their poor companions over tea with Fawkes. Severus shuddered vilently at the thought of having anything on common with Dumbles, but as his older counterpart used to say, life was not fucking fair,
So maybe he would go, worse case scenario? She would print some bullshit about him on that second rated magazine she worked for. Then there would be the announce of Andromeda's upcomming wedding and that piece of gossip about him, no matter how horrible, would faint next to the wedding of the century.
He mentally trembled, Andromeda would not marry that murderor, not under his watch.
And he made the mistake of looking at the second, and his main letter.
His mothe…
Eileen.
Severus
We have some news to share, I expect you at home this easter.
No excuses , they wont be tolerated.
How motherly of her.
No happy your past birthday which I have not accnowldeged, no love mom, no nothing.
Eileen wants him to come home, and he is afraid to say the least.
Who is we? There is no we in Snape household. There is Tobias and Eileen and their nerve recking fights and shameful insults.
What is we?
What will be the news?
It must be grave, to say the least.
Was Tobias dead?
No, then he would have gotten some owl from ministry too.
Was she ill? Was it serious?
Had she found some boyfriend and that was what (we) meant?
Knowing his parents, who did not tolerated him at their good days , this ( not tolerated ) was big.
Big enough to let his mouth dry and his stomach rolling painfully.
He is rocking himself back and force, shaking like a leaf in the hands of wind. He feels that his cheecks are wet and his nose needs a thorough blowing, but he can not be arsed to do it. He is trying and failing to calm himself. Severus can just remember those harsh words she had for him when he was sorted into Hufflepuff, how Eileen had said he was a failure and a disgrace, although she had not send a howler like Black's mother, she did not need to. Eileen was always skilled with words, she could cut to the bone with just a snicker or a single syllable if she wanted to.
Severus knew that her opinion, the mindset of a woman who was even more bitter than his past future older self, and more depressed than he ever was , should not bother him so much, but the truth was that it did. It broke him into pieces to know that the one person ( Tobias was not a person, he was a venomous viper ) in the world that almost everyone had no doubt about their love, saw him like that. Other kids, or adults talked like their mothers were the end and the beginning of the world. Narcissa, cold ice queen Narcissa, dared to defy the dark lord by begging him to do draco s task so that her boy could live, and here he was, stuck with Eileen bloody snape.
He shut his eyes, tried to inhale although no air enterd his lungs, his eyes were burning, his lungs were burning and he was not sure how much he could stand it anymore.
The door was opened and Frank cames inside, chatting about his meeting and not quite aware of the circumstances " why the hell I was dreding it! Our Head is the best! I am telling you Sev! She even offered me chocolate and told me she is proud of me! That she admired my loyalty to my friends and our Holloween plan wss awsome, wait Severus do you mind that I told her I was involved with the planning? Sev! Are you even listeni.."
And he draw the curtains and saw him in his all glory.
Puffy eyes, wet face designed with snots, his difficulty to breath.
" hold on! Please Seveus! I cant.. I don't.. please tell me what is wrong!"
Severus could tell frank was panicking, he himself was panicking but he couldn't even move to give him a swat on the head and tell him to stop dwadling like a mindless buffon and go get an adult, preferably Pomona. Not for the life of him.
No, Severus even more panicked when he thougt about that maybe Frank went and got Minerva because she was deputy and closer to their dormetory, and minerva went to Albus because of fucking course she would go to Albus and Albus finds his secrets…
Merlin!
Then pomona comes to their room too. Severus lost it then and there.
Pomona had a very busy day ahead. Conducting a meeting with her perfects, aranging an appointment with the quidich team ( as they surprisingly managed to get ahead of ravenclaws and tied with Slytherins) plus the date with 5th years for their career choosing, then there was the customery meeting with first years to see how they fared.
Of course something would go wrong in a busy day like that. Pomona knew her other collegues did not bother with the meetings with first years and left the Quidich to the Captain, she was tempted to leave that to the captain too. And the perfects? They had this year headgirl, so it shouldn't be a problem, she would keep them in line.Except she couldn't.
As Ted Tonks was more and more stressed with the upcoming wedding of his beloved, the whole team was in shambles. Bones was acting like a simplton in love and was found more on the Gryffindore tower than on her dorm. Pomona was not averse to a bit of romance , but this much love problems in her house?
Absolutly despicable.
She had divided first years between her sparce free time, skipped breakfast to talk to the team so they would behave a little, and ate a meager lunch to speak with her perfects and that lover girl. Now she had only fifth years and longbottom and Snape to talk to. She had told her fifth years to not bother her until weekend and that was it. She was exhausted to the bone.
Frank longbottom came as planned, right on time with an excited/ stressed smile on his face. After she offered him some chocolate to relieve his nerves and he accepted with an eager face, Pomona suddenly was reminded of that doomed first Quidich , how this small boy was to die if not for…. And her body gave an involuntry shudder. They talked abit about Frank time in school, how he liked here, how much he missed home and if he had any problems with other houses. He hesitated there.
Was he bothered? Did sombody hurt him?
She was concerned and said as much.
" I mean professor, I don't. but you know? Severus is a really good boy, and I love him like my brother, but those Gryffs always find some way to bother him. It is not that their head….
And the boy, suddenly reminded of his place, ate his words.
Pomona knew Minerva was more than a bit biased towards her charges, but by Merlin if she had pulled another stunt….
Frank seem to understand that" no proffessor, professor Mcgonagal is alright somehow, but…there was this time that Charity told lupin that Severus has this cute little phonix and Potter and Black went and ambushed him and Pettigrew… and went on and told the tale.
Pomona had to smack Minerva once or twice, what was she thinking making a boy barely out of hospital mad, if Snape had less control on his magic and had an acccidental magic episode… was she not aware he had not his wand on him for a reason? Bless Pettigrew for being with him. She made a mental note to award the chubby boy some points during herbology.
Her heaart did a flip. His soft boy was a kind one. First with helping out Bones and Longbottom, then defending Pettigrew to a proffessor who wanted to unjustly punish him, and his friendship with the twins and miss Mckkinnon, wasn't he a model of Hogwarts unity? Brave , loyal and smart with a cunning mind on him. She was filled with pride for her badgers. She did not care about his Phonix like others did, she knew Albus ( who had a phonix also) for years and he was a manipulating chill hearted bastard. But his actions, Severus actions spoke loads about his character.
" umm, and he writes to Regulus lots. He thinks I don't know, but his elf is a nutter…
Pomona first reprimanded him for his word ( nutter? Mr Longbottom?) and his spying ( you should not listen to other people mister! That's unbecoming of a gentleman!) but praised him for bringing the matter to her.
" I am proud of you and your loyalty to your friends and sticking for what is right. Bullying is a monsterous act and we, badgers do not allow it, whether it be towards us, or a fellow Slytherin. I think your family is proud of you too mr Longbottom. "
Then dismissed the now too happy boy who had a sprint in his steps and was left with her thoughts. Dealing with a Black, even a spare was dangerous, as his older brother would not react kindly to this. He would say his brother was stolen from him, or that Snape had replaced him on purpose. How much of genius Snape was, as half blood first year he could not help but be unaware of the whole political situation of the wizarding world.It would not help that the older Black was out for Severus at every corner. Also Snape was a half, so if Sirius , heir to a pure blood family, was to say some words to some people, his life would be ruined completely.
Then she saw that talkative boy had left his scarf on her office table. She sighed. The weather was still cold and those tiny first years were always in danger of getting a cold even fully clothed, let alone if one forgot to put on their scarf. Poppy hands were full with stressed fifth and seventh years who found out they were to take owls/ newts in a couple of monthes and were freaking out. Horace was grumbling obsenities every time he was to brew another batch of potions too. Also with upcoming valentines, there was the problem of healing those stupid kids who brewed love potions incorrectly and correctly.
She used her wand to point her the kid location, as it was expected he was in his room.
" hold on! Please Seveus! I cant.. I don't.. please tell me what is wrong!"
Pomona pushed the door and was shocked to see her young charges. Frank was kneeling near Severus's bed, shaking him to snap out of whatever phase he was in. poor lamb was not aware that people could not simply snap out of an episode of panic. Severus himself was rocking himself back and forth, mumbling that he did not want to go. She took a closer look and found his hand around a crumbling piece of paper, and cursed. Was it his headcase of a dam? She could clearly remember those foul words she had sent his young son. And if those words bothered her, imagine what it could do to a kid? She stepped in, carefully removed Longbottom from the boy and assured him that she will see to the situation, then handed him a calming draught and told him to rest a bit." Severus dear, try to breath with me, out, and in" but the boy was past that clearly. Pomona sighed, hugged the boy and stood up. His weight had not changed much. She slowly went to the common room to floo to the hospital. At this record Severus would have a whole case built till he graduated.
When they landed in infirmary, Poppy was dealing with a crying Ravenclaw who was raving about binns.
" how am I going to pass history? Madam Pomphery please tell me! Why we are saddled with that useless ghost of a teacher! Even peeves has its uses but binns.. please! Can you talk to the headmaster? Can you…"
Pomona sighed, there were two- or three students per year who complained about him. But with the budget they had.. a ghost had no expenses and the boared had no intention of changing that.
" excuse me, Poppy…"
" again?" if she sounded irritated, Pomona gave it to her. This was only the second term and Severus was spending more time in the hospital wing than in his dorm.
And she unburdened her from her charge. Pomona sighed in relief, he was in good hands now.
When Severus came to himself again, it was dark outside. He remembered Pomona coming to the rescue when he lost it, again. he was angry at himself for letting a letter get the better of him. Seriously was he not a master occlumense for heavens sack?
" awake at last Mr Snape?"
And here it was again, Poppy bloody pomphery would not let it go easily, and that bloody woman knew exactly when he told lies. Whether he was a poor lier or she was a good detective , he had no idea.
" let it be known for once young man, pretending to be asleep never works with me"
Severus sighed, time to face the music.
" hello ma'm. I was just…"
" looking for ways to make me let it go?"
Damn it, was he that obvious?
Poppy chuckled " to be young and naïve again… now tell me what was wrong? If I have something to say about it, I prefer not to deal with you having a panic attack ever.."
This made severus to hang his head in shame, was he a bother for her too? Of course it is shameful to be this weak ..
" none of it young mister. May be the fault lies with me. When I said I do not like to deal with that situation, I did not mean it like that you are to blame. I meant that it pains me to see you, or any child or adult for that matter like that. I assure you , you are the most passiante brave kid I have seen, and weaknesses are not something to be ashamed of. Did you know the first time I had to draw blood from a patient I fainted?"
Severus did not know, and picturing that, a young pomphery fainting in the middle of a session with a patient. He giggled.
Poppy smiled too.
" now, would you like to talk about it with me, or your head? If you are uncomfortable, we can have it in a week, but you can not escape it lad. Understood?"
Severus nodedd." Umm it was nothing, honest! "
Poppy rolled her eyes. " whatever keeps you satisfied. But we will have that one way or another" and left.
Severus sighed in relief, at least he did not have to endure Poppy hounding him for information on his pitiful life and his shamful episodes. He was pretty much sure that Rita's letter was either not found or it had some concealment charm on it. He timidly searched his pants pockets which was neatly folded near his bed and found that. Apparently Rita had enough of a mind not to send that letter without precautions.
To mr snape
If you are interested in hearing about mr Sylwan, meet me at the lake tommorow night
Ps write your answer behind this letter
Ok, another thing Severus had not noticed. He did not need to send an owl, but what if Rita had some secret agenda of her own?
Knowing the bottersome insect animagus ,he was sure she was not to be taken at face value. And he was not certain if after today , he could hide from the careful watch of either Madam Pomphery or Pomona. If anything, they would go all the way to make Flitwick concerned, Slughorn worried and Minerva guilt tripped to watch him. So it was now or never.
So he wrote back.
: tonight, half an hour
And that was it. He knew madam Pomphery would not bother checking on him for an hour or so, at this time, she was probably busy gossiping with Minerva and poking fun at the latest lovesick couple caught by professors in the act. He hoped it was not the Bones- Prewatt whole-heartedly.
He changed into his uniform quickly and practically ran all the way. When he arrived there, no one was present.
How disappointing would it be for him to have to put up with Poppy's ire for nothing?
Then out of no-where Rita Skeeter appered before him, Startled he let out a yelp.
" easy there mister, don't you look even cuter in person?"
Damn bug, of fucking course she would pull this up, the hag!
Rita was not much of a hag, to be honest. She was tall, blond and in the prime of her youth. She had long eyelashes and full lips. Her attire was abit revealing, but for a gossip writer of a trashy magazine, it was normal.
Severus was annoyed, cuter his hairless ass!
" is it considered rude to say you are more charming from a far?"
Rita laughed, a muffled one albeit.
"my my, arent you the picture of a british gentelman!"
Then changed her demenure to a bussiness one.
"as I am sure you must be aware , there is no private…place in Hogwarts"
Severus thought about all those devices in headmaters office, as they were enchanted by Albus they were pretty useless to Severus of the future past. But to think Dumbledore kept them for their beauty, was laughable.
He noded in confirmation.
" what would be your suggestion, asssuming we are to talk about…some… confidential notes? You can not come here completely unprepared"
Rita stared at him for a moment, then carefully chose her words.
" you took me by surprise Mr Snape, I was told you are merly a bookish nerd with a good memory, clearly I was mis-informed. If I told you I know of some way to go to hogsmeed, and of course returning you here… we only need half an hour or so, what would be your response?"
Seveus was desperatly in need of his stupid familier, but like always, that useless creture was out doing merlin know what. What was the purpose of his rescue if she did not lift a finger to help him?did emerald even do anything but nagging at him for one thing or another?
But it was neither here nor the time, it was now or never.
He noded.
Rita was surprised the boy said yes, she means no harm, but the boy is still innocent isnt he? Not aware of the dark dark things waiting to invade your inner light, rub you of your innocence. No this kid, brilliant as he was, was still a kid.
Rita did not have a bright future ahead,with the resume she had, no good marks, no recommendation, no admirer… she was a column eriter in a shitty magazine, and if some miracle did not happen, she was lost. Now Samuel Sylwan true, he was the son of the notorist Sylwanus Sylwan but that was not the reason she detested him at all… she had hated him with all that was left of her after he broke up with her for that damn widow. May be Rita was kind of cracked for still … as much as she hated him, she would never , could never wish him death or harm. She was only a teen and the taste of that messy break-up was still on her toungue. Samuel had always backed up her dream to become a journalist, and to go dig up what ever those nasty posh people were up to when everybody back was turned. She even found out about Orion Black's past broken engagement with Eileen Prince . well that gave her a serious talking to from Slughorn, a near Sapina from both Black and Prince families. Well serves the Princes right if they gone ectinct what with both Lord and lady dead due to dragon pox. Rita was certain her situation ( not being accepted by any decent magazine )was due to them and Blacks. Even now, she was sure, that Arcturus Fucking Black had a hand in her job at informer. Of course the old sod was laughing his mind off. She could even hear his deep sound " ms Skeeter, such a shame to see a.. promising young lady wasting at .. what was that name again? informer? You were such a bright star …. Really it saddens me to see our young generation like this."
Samuel was kind and caring at first, he constantly chatted about his young brother. Rita knew by heart that he hated his useless father. They both wanted to go into journalism and discover all those secrets about rich pure families. But then, he broke up with her, his brother died when he was still studying for newts and he was engaged to that pretty widow with a son to boost.
There was some talk of that widow ( she was not sure of her name) being a bastard Black. Rita could certainly relate to that. She hated her with a passion riveling only Arcturus…
But then the widow basterd and her son died, Sam Father died and he left the country for years.
No word.
Not even a goodbye.
And now? Hearing of his upcomming wedding to that chit, Andromeda something Black? For crying out loud the girl was years his junior! And Cygnas must be out of his mind to do that, he always was out of his mind, come to think of it.
The only one in that family who resembled Cygnas was Bellatrix, as mad as a cat. There was even talk of Andromeda and Narcissa being from.. another father, but it was probably bullshit. Orion came out right, well as right as you could hope for a black. Maybe it was a sibling curse?
Arcturus, in right mind.
Arasmus his twin, a complete man whore.
Orion , in his sound mind.
Cygnas? The little said the better.
Also Bella and Sirius were nutters while their siblings behaved almost like a human being.
And this little fella, Severus…
A half blood Prince…
She had no idea of him, beyond his maturness for his age and his recklessness. But the chief of daily prophit wanted a one on one interview with juicy bits of her to accept her among his recruits and to turn a blind eye on her unfortunate curriculum vitae, so the chief would get it.
If this boy was as briliiant as they said, he would find another way to shine and bury anything rita wrote about him in a couple of years or so. He was young and had powerful allies like Bones and Longbottoms, maybe now Prewatts were in his favour too.
What did Rita have?
A broken promise of a miserable boy. A broken heart and a grey future ahead.
She needed this for her, for her damn cv so that Barnabas would accept her.
Really, it was the only option for her to pay the bills and have a roof over her head. The other one was go to knockturn and do you-know-what.
Of course She had no intention of giving the boy the slightest clue about Samuel, those rumors were dangerous to spread and she had no death wish.
So maybe Sam killed that widow. Serves her right, that lustful wrinkled ass.
Maybe he killed his father. No less than he deserved.
But Rita could swear he was not a child murderor, not his brother…
So the rumer must be a rumer right? If he did not kill his brother, he had not done all that nasty things.
Right.
Back to mister Snape…
And her interview.
Personaly she didn't have anything on the boy, but the public were still hounding papers for more info on him, and even with the introduction of the new famous light couple, Prewatt-Bones, which was surprisingly a first since 1700s, there were people who swore on their wands that the boy was the brain of the union.
What a hassle. The boy before her, was trusting enough to open and respond to a stranger's letter, go out of Hogwarts with said stranger and sit to talk with a known gossip writer all because of a false promise to find out about Sylwan.
Did he know a thing about this world?
He was short, short enough to be mistaken for 8-9 years old. He had jet black hair with obsidin eyes and marble like skin, a very huggable cute mixture indeed. He had a good head on his shoulder, she gave him that. But he lacked much needed experince.
Experince to tell him not to go to Hogsmeed with a stranger.
She took his hand and from not so much of a secret passage down the woods, near the forest they went to Hogsmeed. When they sat behind the table she had reserved at three broomsticks, she heard his stomach rumbling.
" seems you are hungry young mister Snape?"
His face had reddend a nice pink color from ear to ear, Rita definitly wanted to at least ruffle his hair, but refrained from doing so because she waas damn sure the kid would not like that one bit.
While his head hang low, he remained silent.
Rita pushed the menu in his hands and watched him hesitating to order.
" as I have troubled you enough , is it not only fair you can at least gain something from me? I know the…conversation we are about to have is more to my benefit as.. I will be taking… my revenge against him… so it is only acceptable that I offer you something?"
Then he had ordered one from the least expensive thing on the menu, some bread (pita)with broth.
Wasn't he cunning? Ordering a cheap thing for the sack of both ordring and being polite, but cheap so he could pay for it himself. Also taking into account his hunger and that his food be something hard to tamper with, for example adding potions.
Adding anything to the laready baked bread was hard, and adding a thing to a broth only flavored by salt?
Quite impossible.
She ordered a glass of water.
"Ms skeeter, now we are here, maybe it is better if we started? The sooner we start, the sooner we finish, am I right?"
"right, Mister Snape, to tell you the truth I am a bit lost , about how you would use this info, and if Sylwan would be able to track this to me.."
" Ms skeeter, let us avoid baeting around the bush, I know you and your game, you want me to say something so you can twist to your heart desire and write a scandelous story, but I did not buy myself a hard time in school and a detention just so you can amuse yorself. You possibly forget that I can tell auras, and I can understand that you are being untruthful. And why it would be? "
Damn it, so it was true? The boy had perception? Fuck her chance! How in morgana's pants she could do a thing now?
Keep cool
Keep cool!
" you know Mister, us reporters always have another agenda of our own, and if indeed you have what we call perception, it is a bigger mistake to reveal it to a reporter such as me, isnt it? I am aware you are a… Hufflepuff, but you came from a line of Slytherins and you should know better to say anything of your weaknesses or strengthes, am I mistaken?"
The boy lost all the color on his face, so it was a good save.
"water?"
The boy noded, how green of him.
It was now or never.
Rita adedd the potion to her own water and quickly switched the glasses, one of the perks of being a friend of Sylwan. He often had to switch his fathers drink to something milder so he could at least appaarate without splinching.
She plastered a fake smile and offered the drink to the nervous boy and gleefully watched as he poured it down his throat.
Rita waited for a few seconds until the potion took effect.