Note: In this AU, Snape is still a double agent, serving both The Dark Prince and Albus Dumbledore.

Chapter 20

It was early the next morning. Senna was still fading in and out of sleep on the old creaking bed. A sharp knock broke her from the cycle. She bolted to the door.

The hunchback bartender was standing in the doorway.

"Aye, Miss." He greeted her. "You have a man waiting for you downstairs. Asking for the young lady in the black and white uniform." He pointed to the stairs. After delivering his message, he hobbled back down the hallway.

Senna's heart flipped. From both anxiety—and something else. She was… pleased. He had come, despite everything. She guessed he would be absolutely furious, and yet he had come to her aid. It made her heartspace feel warm. She wasn't used to counting on others.

She darted to the bathroom for a quick clean up, trying her best to smooth out her now crinkled uniform. Then she made her way downstairs.

As she came around the corner, she scanned the now bustling crowd. The Leaky Cauldron was densely populated this morning. Witches and wizards in robes and suits, noisily enjoying breakfast and shuffling through the cramped space. Senna scanned the space for the tall, willowy, man with greasy black hair. Her heart pounded in her chest, with both fear and relief. But she didn't spot him. So she waded into the crowd.

On her way past the bar, she handed the landlord his key back.

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Enjoy yer stay in London!"

She kept looking for Snape. But she didn't see him. Did she take too long? Had he left without her?

A tall blonde man wearing a refined robe stared at her as she walked, but she paid no attention to him

Senna, now worried, checked the otherside of the pub. Still no sign of him.

Someone ran into her back. She moved out of his way, assuming one of the early morning drinkers was already drunk and incapable of walking. But when he didn't move, she looked up at the man. He was unfamiliar. Older man, dark curly hair, dark eyes. His robes were well kept. He was looking directly at her.

"What's your problem?" She tried to move past him, but he grabbed her by the arm.

He swung her around, forcing her into the less-busy hallway in the pub. Her wand was already out, pointing directly at his chest. She ran through a list of hexes in her mind.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt you, Princess." He threw his hand up in surrender. His voice was quiet and gruff.

Once he released her, she backed up against the wall to put some distance between them. "Oh, it's not me who's going to get hurt." She spat.

"I just want to speak to you."

Senna scoffed. This man was crazy. "You don't even know who I am."

"Yes. I do."

This took Senna by surprise. He said it was such confidence, it made her curious. She contemplated hearing him out. Senna didn't really know who she was.

"Senna Snape."

This surprised her. Her face has never shown up in the papers.

"Who are you?" Senna asked.

"Armidian," He told her, "Armidian Tusk." This was unfamiliar.

"And what do you want? How did you know I was here?" Her mind jumped back to the letter. Had it been intercepted?

"Rumor had it... that a female student was wandering Knockturn alley after sunset."

"And? How would you know it was me?"

"And of course I knew right away," He bowed to Senna, "that our Princess was looking to return home. Why else would you go through the trouble of escaping the castle? You did a fine job, Princess, getting away from those Aurors. And as your faithful servant, I was very eager to meet you and escort you on your way home."

She simply stared at him. Where was this home he spoke of? She had no words to respond to his crazy scheme. Not a single part made sense. If he didn't know her name, she would've thought he had mistaken her for someone else. He was just crazy. He must've fried his mind with a poorly done memory charm. She slid along the wall, trying to put more distance between them.

Severus Snape's POV:

"That stupid girl!" Snape roared. He paced back and forth in Dumbledore's office.

"Are you sure it's from her?" Dumbledore's voice was calm and unbothered.

"Yes." He grumbled, "She's not in the Brownwell dorms. I woke up Richmond this morning to go check." He paused. "And she mentioned the cloak. No one else knows about that."

"Ah, I see." Dumbledoor returned his attention to the papers on his desk, seemingly uninterested in the matter at hand. This irritated him more. The castle was supposed to be secure. They had to figure out how she got past all the patrolling Aurors. And a portkey? If there was an unauthorized portkey somewhere near the castle, this was big news.

"And?" Snape leaned over Dumbledore's desk, impatient.

"And?" Dumbledore said back to him, not sharing his sense of urgency.

Snape's hands balled up into fists. "And what should we do? About that girl?"

Dumbledore looked at him for a moment with an unreadable, but relaxed expression. "Do what you must. I trust your judgement."

Snape let out a frustrated sigh. Of course. No direction whatsoever.

"But whatever it is you decide to do," Dumbledore was no longer looking at him, but tending to the papers on his desk, "I suggest you hurry."

Snape spun around and left the Headmasters office at a brisk pace. He was going to London.

The sun was up, and the streets of London were full of witches and wizards. Snape made his way to the Leaky Cauldron. The pub was already crowded. He pushed his way past the crowd, arriving at the counter, where the old hunchback landlord, Tom, was taking orders from his customers. He debated for a moment, simply to iterupt thier stupid orders. But then Tom turned to him. "Ah. Professor Severus Snape. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I'm here to pick up a student. A girl. Black and white uniform. Long black hair. Where is she?"

Tom's brow furrowed. "Another man showed up for her." He told him, looking around the bar for the girl. "She turned in her key and left with him, I believe."

"What?" He could not hide his disbelief. "Who did she leave with?"

"I don't know." Tom shrugged. "Didn't say his name."

Snape ground his teeth in fury. He could not believe it. "You let an underage student leave with a complete stranger?" His voice was quiet, but grave.

Tom did not reply. But Snape wasn't going to waste any time arguing with him. Snape had begun searching the crowd.

Snape spotted Lucious Malfoy, sitting with a latte, staring towards the back of the pub. Snape went to him. Lucious, especially, would've noticed Senna right away. He was there at Elena's trial and interrogation, sixteen years ago. He had walked away, a free man, and a valuable member of the ministry.

During Elena's trial, Elena was strapped to the center of the courtroom, and dosed with veritaserum, a powerful truth potion. She was forced to admit all her crimes. And towards the end, she spoke about giving birth to twins. She admitted that the Dark Lord asked for a son. She had admitted to secretly sending the female infant away, and keeping the boy, Struan. However, prior to the trial, she had cast a powerful memory charm on herself, wiping anything that could lead Aurors to finding her children. Veritaserum couldn't pull her children's whereabouts. Not even Elena herself could find her children, even if she so desired.

Post trial, whispers of Voldemort's children ran rampant. Searches were done. It was the biggest political drama for three years after the trial. They were being searched for, but what would happen after they were found? They were just children after all. Innocent of their parents' crime—or were they? But as years passed, the searches came up empty. No children were ever found. People stopped talking about the twins born to Lord Voldemort. And people forgot. Until Struan started making his first moves to restart the war his father started.

When Senna arrived, her name became the talk of the Hogwarts staff. And then it spread, somehow, to the rest of the wizarding world, Deatheaters included. And eventually, it reached Struan.

And Struan wanted her. Though he had not yet shared his reasons with the Deatheaters, he made it clear to welcome the Princess home.

Lucious was engrossed, staring at the back of the pub with intensity. Snape followed his gaze, but didn't see anything of interest. Just people drinking and eating. Lucious jumped when Snape greeted him, "Morning, Lucious."

He gave a nervous chuckle, "Good morning Severus." He moped up the spilled latte with his napkin, "You gave me a fright there. It's astonishing to see you away from the castle during the school day. How can I help you, Severus?"

"Senna. She was here." Snape cut to the chase. "Have you seen where she went?"

Lucious stared at him for a moment, as if debating what to tell him. Snape grew impatient. "Well?"

Lucious gestured for him to sit down. Snape took the seat directly next to him. "Tusk has her." Lucious said in a whisper.

Snape knew him. Armidian Tusk was Prince Struan's top General. Unfortunately, this man outranked Snape in the Death Eater ranks. It would be tough to overrule him.

Snape held his composure. He spoke in a quiet voice. No one paid attention to them. "Oh? Tusk came here himself? That is rare."

Lucious nodded. "Interesting isn't it? I don't know if he sent him, or if he came here on his own accord." Snape knew that the 'he' Lucious spoke about was Prince Struan.

"Where are they now?" Snape asked.

Lucious nodded his head in the direction of the back of the pub.

Snape stood.

"Is there a need to intervene?" Lucious asked, perplexed.

"Yes, unfortunately." Snape said. He waded through the crowds.

Snape stopped at a poorly lit hallway. It looked like a female figure, wand arm outstretched, so he ducked into the hallway. Senna was there, wanding pointing at Tusk's chest, a grimace on her fine features. Tusk looked unbothered. They both looked up when he arrived.

"Ah, Severus!" Armidian Tusk approved.

"Professor!" Senna sounded happy to see him, and she began to lower her wand.

"Having a chat, I see." Snape made his voice sound monotone and uninterested, but his mind was jumping through ideas on how to escape. He needed to make sure Tusk was not suspicious of him. He has been suspicious of Snape for years, but as he was the Dark Prince's uncle, it wasn't so easy to get him prosecuted.

"Uh—yeah. But I think we're done here." Senna put her wand back in her blazer and headed to Snape.

"Hang on." Tusk put his arm out to stop her. "The Dark Prince wishes for you to come home. Isn't that where you want to be?"

"Ummm...no." Senna muttered, confused. She threw a glance at Snape, her eyes wide with confusion. "Professor, this man is crazy."

Tusk laughed, but no one else shared his humor. "Come on, Princesses." He held out a friendly hand to Senna. She cringed away from it.

"She is needed back at the castle, unfortunately." Snape told him. "There are search parties all over the city as we speak."

Tusk laughed again. "So what? We take her back now, before anyone catches us. With your help, it will be easy." He grinned. "The Dark Prince will be elated! Think of how he'll reward us if we were the ones to bring home the Princess." But then he looked at Snape in an accusatory manner, "But we won't forget who found her first, won't we?"

"No," Snape insisted. "She must return to the castle. It's the middle of the school year—"

Tusk scoffed. "Preposterous! You're only saying that because you're a school teacher! Who gives a damn if she finishes the school year!"

"Do you think the Dark Prince wants her to miss out on her magical education?" Snape said fiercely. But even to him, his argument seemed weak. "How useful is an uneducated witch? She will be more useful to him if she finishes school."

"Are you willing to go against the Dark Prince's wishes, just because you think she needs school." Tusk's voice became grave. "You ought to—"

But Tusk paused mid-sentence to look at the spot where Senna was standing. Or used to be standing. Snape and Tusk were now very much alone in the hallway.

"Damn!" Tusk cursed and swung his arm to push Snape out of the way. "How did she disappear like that?"

Both Snape and Tusk left the dark hallway, and began weaving through the crowds. Lucious was still at his table, staring at them with an eyebrow raised.

Tusk was not able to remain composed, which was unusual for him. He often had a temper with the other Death Eaters, but in the public eye, he seemed like a patient older man. He huffed and puffed, searching each end of the pub with wide, frantic eyes. When there was no sign of the girl, he approached Snape, his eyes livid.

"Do you see her anywhere?" He panted.

"No."

"This is your fault." He said in an angry whisper.

"No Tusk, you got caught up in your excitement, and let her escape."

Tusk's face turned red from anger, "And what about you? You let her escape too. You did nothing but ruin this."

Snape stared back at him.

"Well, if we're done here," Snape turned to excuse himself, "I have a class to teach."

He could feel Tusk fuming behind him. "He will be informed of this!" He hissed.

"Of your failure?" Snape mocked. "Best of luck to you then."

Snape knew his nephew was not a patient boy. Just like his father, he did not tolerate the failure of his subjects in a tolerant manner.

Snape left the pub, and headed down the streets of Diagon Alley. He turned in the direction of Magical Menagerie's shop of magical creatures. This street wasn't as crowded. Snape checked the reflections of the windows he passed. No one was behind him, yet he heard the distinct sound of footsteps following. Senna must be behind him, invisible. He was quite impressed. A complete disillusionment charm was a very difficult thing to accomplish. It was very advanced magic. Snape entered the small crowded shop. The shop was smelly and very noisy. Animals were squawking and hissing as he passed. The shop owner was busy tending to a cage full of screeching feathered amphibians.

However rude it was, he walked straight to her fireplace. He grabbed a fist full of floo powder in one hand, snagged the invisible arm of Senna, who squealed in surprise, and threw the floo powder down into the pit. The two of them went up in a green heat-less blaze, and then they were in a very dirty and dark fireplace.

Snape had taken them to Hogshead. They were alone in the backroom. It was very dark and dirty. The shock of traveling through the floo network had broken Senna's disillusionment charm.

Snape didn't waste any time. He used the hand around her arm to pull her to the front of the Inn.

"Explain yourself. What were you doing?"

Snape hissed through his teeth. They burst through the door, entering the front of the Hogshead. The few patrons turned their head towards them, including the bartender tending to the counters. Snape ignored them. Nobody stopped to question them.

"Wait… who was that Tusk guy? And what was he talking about?"

"You're not at liberty to ask any questions right now. Explain yourself."

Senna fought against his grip. They were outside now. The streets of Hogsmead were relatively empty.

"Isn't today Hogsmead day for the students?" Senna asked him.

"Not anymore. Thanks to your little stunt last night, the Hogmead visit has been canceled for investigation." Snape tightened his grip on Senna as he pulled her towards the castle. "Now tell me what you were doing last night."

"I snuck into Hogsmead. Then I accidently stepped on a port key, and it took me to Knockturn Alley."

"How? How did you get out of the castle? Where was this portkey?"

Senna ignored his first question. "In the trees behind Honeydukes."

Snape contemplated this for a moment. Snape had to report this to Dumbledore right away. An unauthorized portkey to Knockturn Alley. It could be the medium in which the Death Eaters were entering Hogmead. Despite Price Struans trust in Snape, Tusk and the other members did not share his trust. Snape was often kept out of the loop.

"Why did you leave the castle?"

Senna did not answer.

"Well?"

Senna's face was hard, a stubborn expression that immediately reminded him of himself. He shook off the weird feeling that arose from finding his likeness in Senna.

"You wouldn't understand." She said.

"I don't care. Tell me."

"I felt trapped. I had to go…" she said in a soft voice.

Snape felt the rise of his rage start at the pit of his stomach. She escaped from the castle, risked her life, and started all this commotion...because she felt trapped? The audacity of this child astounded him. How could she not understand? There was a war going on. There were things going on that were bigger than her feelings. He had just warned her, and yet she disregarded everything, simply because she felt like it. How narcissistic. Snape held his tongue from expressing these thoughts. He knew that reasoning with teenagers was pointless.

"This will not happen again, do you understand?" He said firmly.

"I understand." Senna said, defeated.

Do you? Do you understand? Snape thought to himself, overwhelmed with frustration. They had crossed Hogmead, and were approaching the castle gates.

"Now it's your turn." Senna turned to him. "What was that Tusk guy talking about?"

"I don't think so." Snape grit his teeth, trying to contain his rage.

"You owe me an explanation. You two seemed to know each other. Who was he?"

"I don't owe you anything."

Senna made an exasperated noise, then, with surprising force, ripped her arm from his grip. "Then why did you bother coming?" She yelled.

Snape sighed. Her emotions were irrational and untamed.

"Enough! Let's go." Snape demanded. They were close enough to the gate to where the Aurors guarding the entrance turned around to face the commotion.

"No." Senna yelled. "You're still hiding things from me. I'm not a child. I'm not going anywhere until I understand what hell is going on."

Snape's temper rose even further. "Don't you understand that there are things going on that are bigger than you? There are reasons for what we are doing, you need to trust—"

"Trust you?" She barked with a sarcastic laugh. "Not until you tell me what's going on."

Senna backed up further, reaching into her blazer.

Snape knew right away what she was doing. She was going disapparate. No, she better not. Not after all the trouble he went to retrieving her. "Don't you dare." He warned.

"You knew him. You knew what he was talking about." She accused him.

"It's confidential. It's not your business." He told her, trying to convey the importance of this.

"That Tusk guy seems to think it's my business." Senna said, "I think I'll just go and ask him."

Snape's stomach felt even hotter. That ungrateful brat. Does she only think of herself?

"That's enough!" Snape snapped, walking towards his insolent niece. "Let's get back to the castle."

To his surprise, Senna didn't fight him away. She let him grab her and continue pulling her towards the castle gates.

"Fine." She spat.

The Aurors nodded at Snape in acknowledgement, and opened the gate for him.

After a moment, she muttered, "It's not like I have anywhere else to go. Unless you count the place that creepy guy wants to take me."

Snape didn't respond.

"It's Prince Struan isn't it?" Senna asked in a whisper.

Snape didn't respond right away. But he figured she would throw another tantrum if he continued to deny her information. He would give her one small piece at a time. He knew the emotional capacity of a teenager was extremely minuscule. He nodded silently.

"Why?"

"That, I do not know." He answered semi-honestly. He figured it had to do with the fact that she was his sister, but for what purpose he wanted her for, he had not yet confided.

Snape watched her process her thoughts. Her brow was furrowed. Then, they walked in silence.

They did not speak again until they were further on campus. Snape had released her arm.

"What do I say to my headmaster?" Senna groaned.

"I do not believe he knows you left."

"What?" Senna looked at him with disbelief, "You said there were search parties…"

"I lied."

"Moody spotted you, and the Aurors searched Hogsmead. But this was not relayed back to the Brownwell staff. As it is Saturday, and there is no class, I assume your Headmaster thinks you are enjoying the weather."

Snape and Senna both glanced over the stone fences. The weather was unusually good for October. The sun was shining and the wind was not as bitter.

"You're not going to tell him?" Senna raised a single eyebrow in question. In that moment, Snape saw a flash of his sister in her face. Her sister, in her youth… she was very pretty, much like Senna. She too, had midnight black hair, and pale skin. An unexpected jolt of regret, nostalgia, and longing hit him. His little sister was annoying, and sometimes naive. So he tried to pretend that her fate didn't bother him. And yet, the regret he felt in the pit of his stomach was strong enough to knock the wind out of him. He couldn't protect her. But what could he have done?

Snape instinctually turned away from the girl, out of fear the emotion would be seen.

"Well…" Senna continued, "Are you?"

"No." Snape said, facing the unusually blue sky. "I'll handle the mess you caused. You need to lie low. I'll tell you what you need to know when the time is right, but I don't know enough myself right now. So stop with the delinquent behavior, do you understand?"

When Senna didn't respond, he peered down at her. She had an unfamiliar expression on her face. Somewhere between amusement and… something else he couldn't put his finger on. Gratitude? Joy?

"Thank you." She lunged forward with her arms outstretched. At first he thought she was attacking him. But she just wrapped her arms around him for a brief moment. What was she doing?

But before his brain could finish processing her actions, she had bounded away down the hall. She moved with an undeniable grace that was her father's for sure. Elena had not been as coordinated.

She had hugged him?

He stood at the spot, feeling a range of things he was not used to feeling. He was still angry. But now his stomach was tight with something else he could not describe. This feeling crawled up his stomach, and made his heart feel tight as well. What was this feeling? Memories of Elena, that he worked so hard to suppress, flooded his mind. Images of their childhood. When he started Hogwarts, she always wanted to be like Severus. She thought he was so nonchalant and cool. He was good at everything. Then the memory of her delivery intrusively entered his mind… She was in bad shape, it was a stressful labor. She was covered in sweat. She looked exhausted. But even in that state she managed to smile at the two wrinkled babies in the crib. 'Struan Tobias, after our father,' Elena said lovingly. Snape cringed. He has never had any positive memories of his father. He was a cold and angry man. 'And Senna Severus, after you, the world's best uncle.' She cooed. Severus sighed. 'I hardly think so,' he had told her, 'And isn't that very conspicuous?'

Snape shook the images from his head. He had to focus. He was able to clear his head. But he couldn't seem to clear his heart. The tightness in his chest did not leave. It ravaged him, making it hard to breath. He got the sudden urge to search for fresh air, though he was still outdoors. He wanted to get away from here. Escape the feeling in his chest that had come over him so suddenly…

'I felt trapped. I had to go…' Senna had said.

And then he understood, that feeling she spoke of.

Snape clawed at his own chest, trying to ease the discomfort. "That stupid girl…" he muttered.

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