As the mid-October storms roared outside of Hogwarts, and soaked the students to the bone, the atmosphere inside had somehow changed. What had started as a disastrous term, was slowly settling down.
The living arrangements for newlyweds had finally been sorted out. The Carrows hadn't tortured anyone, just focused on magical supremacy in Dark Arts. Most students were pretty occupied with their homework, and lay low on pranks. Even news about people going missing in the outside world, seemed fewer this week.
In the Snape quarters, Cora and Severus played chess in the evenings, while sharing little bits of life stories. Both tried their best to not only win the game, but also get past the mind shields in the other's mind. Both seemed equally challenging.
Despite not quite trusting one another yet, Cora felt herself relax more and more together with Severus. His baritone voice was soothing and his dry comments sometimes made her laugh out loud.
The first time she did, he'd looked at her like she was from another planet. As if it was impossible for someone to find him that funny. After a while, he seemed to have accepted their common sense of humor and their small banter became a way of bonding.
With her marriage on the mend, and the school in a calmer state, Cora began to feel a sense of normality again. She figured that if she could just have a little chat with professor MacGonnagal about Quidditch, and get Draco onboard with whatever task he had been given as a Death Eater, then all would be right in the world.
Or as good as it could get, under the circumstances.
Thursday morning the 7th graders had Transfiguration. As Cora walked together with Tracey into the classroom, she sought out her cousin, hoping they could melt some of the ice that had gathered between them.
She found Draco surrounded by his usual gang, sitting next to Crabbe, in the back of the classroom. Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise were having a laugh at the expanse of some Hufflepuffs. Draco, on the other hand, wasn't paying much attention to them. He was intensely fixated on the professor on the other side of the classroom. His grey eyes were practically throwing daggers at her, for the audacity of canceling Quidditch. Because of which, he didn't notice Cora until she was standing right beside his desk.
"Move." She snapped her fingers at Crabbe, giving him a cold glare. Despite him being almost twice her size, he quickly gathered his things and scurried off.
He found the vacant seat next to his future wife, Tracey. Neither was too happy about their upcoming union, and Tracey shot Cora a pleading look over her shoulder.
"Sorry." Cora mouthed and faked an apologetic look. Frankly she couldn't have cared less about who Tracey married or sat with in class.
"Hey you." Cora gave Draco a warm smile. She put her bag on the floor and sat down next to him.
"Hey." He forced a smile and it felt like a cold shower. "Haven't seen you in a while." His nonchalant tone drew her confidence down a notch. As he opened his textbook, Cora resisted the urge to rummage through his mind. However silent she would be, he would know. And he would not appreciate it.
"It's been a lot," she sighed, hoping he would be understanding.
"It's been a lot for everyone." Draco's lips were a thin line. With a steady hand, he scribbled down some of the instructions that professor MacGonnagal now had written on the blackboard. He put a little too much effort into making the handwriting look elegant.
"Well, I'm not everyone, now am I?" Cora said, a little sharper than she had intended. Why did he have to be so childish and passive aggressive?
"Oh, I'm aware of that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she hissed.
"It means..." Draco put the quill down for a moment and tilted his head in an overbearing manner - much like his father used to do when he was mansplaining something. "That you have so many advantages and you're not using half of them."
"Advantages? Like what?"
In the front of the classroom, professor MacGonnagal stopped scribbling for a moment, and the two Slytherins lowered their voices.
"You're sleeping with the headmaster and still they cancelled Quidditch!" he whispered intensely.
"So your new demeanor is all based on Quidditch? On a game?" Cora rolled her eyes. There was so much more to life than some stupid sport!
"It's all I have left." His voice quivered for a moment. He looked more like an insecure school boy than the young man he had grown into.
Cora almost felt sorry for him, but then she remembered all the times she'd eaten alone lately because of a certain Greengrass sister.
"I would think that Astoria would be of some comfort." Now it was Cora's turn to write down the instructions on the board and ignore her cousin. She jotted the spell down quickly. The spell was way below her level, especially after the ones her father had taught her, but she didn't want to pass on an opportunity to be excellent.
"She is," Draco admitted. His words filled Cora with jealousy. She didn't like to play second fiddle in her cousin's life. It was the two of them against the world, and Astoria didn't fit into that equation.
Where does Severus fit into all of this?
The unwelcome thought fueled her anger even further, and the next half an hour she treated Draco like a whiff of smoke. He could drift away for all she cared. If he was giving her a cold shoulder, then so could she.
The minutes moved in the speed of a snail. And while Cora pretended to pay attention, she silently cursed Draco underneath her breath.
Then suddenly, something the professor said, caught her attention.
"There are several powerful objects that draw on the magic from other things." The head of Gryffindor walked calm and steadily in front of the black board.
"Like what, professor MacGonnagal?" Lavender Brown asked and batted her long lashes, clearly hoping to score some extra points for her house. Cora rolled her eyes. She had always found Lavender a little too suck-up for her taste. She was even more annoying than Hermione Granger.
Wonder what she's up to nowadays.
"Like the sword of Gryffindor, for example." MacGonnagal straightened, as if the mere mention of the sword was something honorable.
Now Cora was all ears.
"It draws on what makes it stronger."
The professor continued to list several other artifacts with similar attributes, but Cora had stopped listening.
If the sword was so powerful, then it was no wonder that Longbottom and the others had tried to steal it. But what for? Were they in contact with Harry and wanted to help him somehow? Had it been for their own protection against the Carrows?
As the professor continued with her lecture, Cora was deep in thought. She thought about the-boy-who-lived and his two friends. No one had seen or heard from them for weeks. Not after they broke into the Ministry of Magic right after term, and stole a locket from Umbridge. Why the locket was so important, Cora couldn't fathom, but one thing was certain - the Golden Trio were clearly trying to figure out a way to destroy her father. And her whole family with it.
The thought should have made her furious and plotting for revenge, but somehow it didn't. And that made her even more perplexed.
Before Cora knew it, the class was over and the bell had rung. She'd barely noticed the sound and her classmates scurrying to get out of the classroom.
"See you later." Draco got up and out the door before she could utter another word.
Cora threw long glances after him over her shoulder. The anger she'd previously felt, was replaced with sadness. The ice between them seemed even thicker than before.
As she gathered her belongings, she noticed that the professor was lingering by her desk at the front of the classroom.
"May I have a word, professor?"
Professor MacGonnagal looked up from what she'd been doing and straightened her glasses, before replying: "Certainly, Mrs Snape."
Cora smiled stiffly. She still hadn't gotten used to her new surname. As she walked past some of her classmates, several of them gave the professor nervous looks. They probably feared that Cora was about to hex her.
"I found the topic for today quite interesting," Cora said, while resting a small pile of books on her left arm.
"You did?"
Cora ignored the small sarcasm in her tone. Clearly the professor had noticed that her mind was anywhere else than in the classroom.
"Yes. Particularly the part about objects that draws on other object's magic."
"Indeed."
"I'm afraid I haven't read that much about the Sword of Gryffindor, for example." Cora could see that the older witch's grey eyes were narrowing, so she decided to put on her usual charm. She feigned a little humble laugh. "Well, being a Slytherin and all."
"Ah, yes. You Slytherins do have a certain sense of loyalty." Professor MacGonnagal gave a stiff smile.
"Guilty." Cora chuckled. Somehow her usual charm wasn't working. Probably because she had hexed another teacher, and her father was controlling the magical community with an iron fist. Trying not to let the fact that she was no longer the teacher's pet, get her down, Cora figured it was probably better to cut right to the chase. "I would like to learn more about it. Do you have some literature you could recommend?"
Professor MacGonnagal eyed her intensely. It was clear that she wondered what the descendant of Salazar Slytherin wanted with such knowledge, but she dreaded to ask. After the incident in the Dining Hall, all of the professors had threaded more carefully around Cora. None of them wanted to be on the other side of her wand.
"I might."
After the discovery of Cora's lineage, professor MacGonnagal had kept a close eye on her. She'd looked for attributes that resembled her cruel father and fanatic mother, but to her surprise she'd found the girl both warm, sensitive and kind.
Albus had been adamant that Cora was innocent until proving otherwise. She might've inherited her parent's brilliance, but been spared their cruelty due to growing up in a different environment. After all, the curious girl he'd seen walk into the Halls of Hogwarts - eager to learn, develop her magical abilities and find a place to belong - was quite different from the manipulative, cold boy that had turned out to be a mass-murderer.
Despite the growth she had seen in Cora, and the kindness she'd witnessed between her and Draco, the professor wondered - had it all been an act? Or even worse, had the genetics been there all along - just buried deep underneath the surface?
Cora watched how the expression on the professor's face turned even more grim. And just as she thought she would be dismissed, MacGonnagal rose from her chair. "I have a book you might find interesting."
Cora followed her to a nearby bookshelf. The Scottish woman drew out a small, blue book with golden, swirling letters.
"This book contains facts about several objects that were used by the founders of Hogwarts. Even Salazar Slytherin." She handed it to her and folded her hands in front of her.
"Thank you, professor." Cora let her thumb trace over the golden letters. Despite Salazar Slytherin being a muggle-hater, she'd always found her forefather's story of the more interesting kind. "It's beautiful."
"It is." She hesitated for a spell. "It was a gift from Severus."
Cora's eyes darted up again. "Really?"
The older witch blinked a couple of times. As if the memory were painful to remember.
"Yes." She walked stiffly to the black board and used her wand to remove the letters on it. Soon she began to write down the lecture for the second graders that would be walking in at any moment. It was time to leave. "I would like it back when you've finished with it."
"Of course." Cora gave a small courteous smile, even though the professor couldn't see it, and turned around. As she walked down the aisle, it suddenly dawned on her that the professor and her husband might've been friends before he killed Dumbledore. If that was the case, then why would she want the book back? After all, she'd rarely seen them exchange a word since school began.
"Mrs Snape?"
"Yes, professor?" Cora stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder.
"If you're wondering why Quidditch has been cancelled, it's better to ask your husband about that than me." She gave her a knowing, stern look over her small spectacles.
"Yes, professor." Cora smiled stiffly, put the books in her bag and exited the classroom quickly. Damn it, she can still make me blush.
Having a free period before lunch, Cora made her way to her favorite spot in the library. She put a spell on one of the wooden chairs by the window and it turned into a comfortable, brown armchair. She curled snugly into it and opened the little blue book.
"Let me see what we have here," she mumbled to herself and flipped through the pages. She skimmed quickly past the parts about Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, as neither was of any interest, and hesitated when she came to Slytherin.
Later.
She found the pages she was looking for, but was rather disappointed by the small content about the sword.
"A thousand year old sword... goblin made... owned by Godric Gryffindor. Bla-bla-bla..." Cora rested her chin on her right hand and continued to flip through the pages.
The silver sword had been coveted by goblins ever since it's making. And being goblin-made, the sword also absorbed what made it stronger. Considering that Harry Potter had stabbed the basilisk with it in the Chamber of Secrets, Cora figured that the sword now had the lethal power of the basilisk venom.
Cora remembered the basilisk voice she had heard during second grade and shuddered. Hearing the murderous whisperings coming from the pipes, still gave her nightmares sometimes. She thought she was going insane, and it wasn't until Harry had destroyed the basilisk that she realized they shared the same gift of Parsel Tongue.
Unlike her father, Cora had never found snakes that interesting and they hadn't sought her out, like they had with him. So she hadn't known about her ability. And she hadn't dared to tell anyone that she had heard strange voices all year.
"What a waste that Potter can talk to snakes!" Draco had grumbled one night in the Slytherin Common Room. He was clearly jealous.
"What for, Draco?" Pansy asked, sitting on the armrest next to him. She resisted the urge to play with his platinum hair.
"If it had been me, I would have ordered the snake to eat the ginger."
This gained some snickering from Crabbe and Goyle, and large eyes from Pansy.
"You don't mean that."
"Sure I do. She's a mud-blood-lover and deserves it. Much like little orphan-girl over there." He gave Cora a nasty look.
Cora, who had been reading a book about charms, decided she had had enough of their constant bullying. She shut the book and walked firmly across the room to where they were sitting by the fireplace.
"Potter's not the only one who can talk to snakes." She crossed her arms and raised a daring eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
"You don't believe me? Well, cast that hex you did on Potter earlier this year."
Draco stood from his chair, almost knocking Pansy off balance. He had a benevolent smile on his face. "Gladly. Serpent Sorcia!"
The snake that appeared on the floor between them, glared its fangs at her. It hissed and curled, getting ready to attack.
"Calm down. Unless you want me to turn you into a snail," Cora hissed. The snake froze and tilted its head. "I would strongly suggest that you turn around and slither towards the boy behind you."
"What are you doing?" Draco looked from Cora to the snake. It had indeed turned around and was crawling across the floor towards him. "Stop it! I'm warning you -"
"It doesn't obey your commands anymore." Cora smiled, and watched with satisfaction how Draco tried to walk away from the snake. It followed him around the room and soon he was running.
"Make it stop!" he shouted.
"Not until you apologize!"
"Ok. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Draco jumped on top of the coffee table and the snake hissed angrily.
Cora stepped up to the two of them, standing aligned with the snake. She gave the boy her coldest look. "If you or your friends bully me again I will order all the snakes in the Dark Forest to find you. And they will be hungry."
"Ok, ok. We'll be nice to you."
"Promise?"
"Yes! Now get that thing away from me!"
"Good snake." Cora smiled down to the serpent and then made it disappear. She picked up her book again and made her way to the stairs.
"How come you can talk to snakes?" Draco had gotten down from the table and stood with his two thugs beside him. "Mud-bloods can't do that."
"Maybe I'm not a mud-blood. Ever thought about that?" She gave him one last haughty look, before heading for her dormitory. Victory had never tasted so sweet.
Cora chuckled by the fond memory.
After that, Draco had slowly warmed up to her. Having the ability to talk to snakes, had certainly gotten his attention. He figured that there was no way she was a muggle-born, when she had that ability and was sorted into Slytherin.
As the lunch bell rang, Cora collected her things, turned the armchair back into a wooden stool and walked to the Dining Hall.
Thinking about her cousin, had made her determined to talk to Severus about Quidditch. Maybe she could make him change his mind. She would also bring up the sword again, and hopefully he would give her some answers this time.
Her fellow students were gathering for lunch and chatted among themselves. Cora saw Neville and Ginny give her long looks, but she ignored them. She wondered if they would attempt to steal the sword again, and figured she could use that as an excuse to talk to Severus about it.
As she was about to walk past Draco and the Greengrass-sisters to eat at the teachers table, she suddenly changed her mind.
"Hey guys!" she said cheerfully and sat down next to Daphne, across from Draco. He gave her a peculiar look. "What's for lunch?"
"Uhm.. the usual, I guess," Astoria said, nervously.
"I can't decide between toast or the salmon. What are you having, Daph?" Cora gave her friend a smile, hoping she didn't look half as pathetic as she felt.
"Since when do you like salmon?" Draco muttered, and dug into the quiche on his plate. Which also contained salmon. He put the fork in his mouth and gave her a daring look.
"Well, you always say I should eat more fish."
"Yeah, you should."
"So I thought I would give it a try." She cut herself a slice of the same salmon quiche. "And maybe the four of us could figure out how I can persuade my husband to reinstate Quidditch." She skillfully avoided his gaze.
"I have some ideas." Astoria looked from her sister to Cora. As if seeking approval, and hoping the older girl wouldn't hex her for speaking.
"Go ahead." Cora forced herself to smile and took a bite of the quiche. It tasted awful. "Ugh..." Her grimacing face made Draco laugh.
"You're such a baby."
"And you're such a brat."
The two cousins continued their banter for the rest of the lunch. Almost forgetting Quidditch. And when it was time for them to go to Herbology Class, they were friends again.
As Cora got to her feet, she looked up to the teachers table. She found the onyx eyes she'd been looking for and gave her husband a smile. He returned it with a slight nod, before exchanging a couple of words with professor Flitwick.
Cora hoped Severus wasn't offended that she'd chosen Draco over him at lunch. She locked arms with her cousin as they walked towards class. Cora mentally added her seating at lunch to the growing list of things she would discuss at dinner with Severus. The two of them often ate dinner alone, so it would be easier to discuss it in private.
"We need a strategy for how to get Quidditch back."
"I'm all ears." Cora smiled up at him as they made their way across the school yard and towards the greenhouses. "I'm glad we're friends again."
"So am I."
Herbology was a snooze as usual, but Cora endured it easier now that she and Draco saw eye to eye again. They would still have to talk more detailed about what had gone wrong between them, but she had faith they would eventually sort it out.
When dinner came, she solemnly promised to talk about Quidditch with Severus.
"I'm home!" she called cheerfully when she walked through the door.
Nobody answered.
"That's weird."
Cora furrowed her brows and walked around their quarters. On the coffee table she found a note saying that Severus would be out for the evening.
Slightly disappointed, she called for the house elf and he returned shortly with a glass of wine and a plate with lasagna.
As Cora enjoyed her favorite dish, and especially the melted cheese, she continued to read the little, blue book. To be on the safe side she cast a protection spell on it. Just in case some tomato sauce would spill.
There were several things that Salazar Slytherin had left behind, in addition to the Chamber of Secrets. Most famously was his golden locket.
Cora leaned forward and studied the picture of the locket. She wondered if it was in her fathers possession or if it too was on a shelf inside the Headmasters office.
Another thing to add to the list.
If the list became any longer, she would have to write it down.
She continued to read about Slytherin, and found that she knew much more about him than the book. The book her father had given her, proved more useful.
As the hours went by, and the candles burned low, Cora read about both Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Merlin and other notable figures. When the clock turned eleven, she'd finished the book, but there was no sign of Severus.
Cora looked longingly at the chess board. She'd grown accustomed to their evening game, and had been looking forward to try and beat him at it.
She brushed her teeth, put on a blue nightdress and slipped underneath the covers of their bed.
The world outside was a solid chaos of thunder, lightning and rain.
"Where are you?" she mumbled to herself.
A part of her felt worried, and the other part wondered when she had grown so fond of him that she actually worried about him.
With all her questions unanswered, and her husband nowhere to be found, Cora fell asleep.
A couple of hours later she woke abruptly.
"Cora.."
With groggy eyes, Cora turned towards the owner of the hoarse voice. A lightning flashed across the sky and bathed the bedroom in a bright light. The sight in front of her slapped her wide awake and reaching for her wand.
"Lumos."
Severus squinted at the light. He was soaked to the bone, had bloody stripes across his face and looked like he was about to pass out.
"What happened?!"
"Your father."
That was all he said, before he fainted on the bed.
Cora scrambled out from underneath the duvet and towards him. Kneeling next to him, she looked frantic from his face and down his body.
"Severus? Severus, can you hear me?"
