Chapter 7
AN: Thank you for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
After a night of nightmare where Mie thankfully didn't wake Albus as they were silent for once and she suspects he will realise the second she tries to cast a silencing charm, Mie is lying in her incredibly comfortable new bed. Having spent all of the day before in Albus's quarters, which he has made clear are also hers, Mie is starting to adjust to her new life.
Glancing over at the cloak Mie knows that soon she has to get up, but as she has gotten a little bit of time Mie uses her wand to open the window and just stares out of it as she lays in bed knowing before long, she will have to get up and get ready.
While Mie is upstairs lying-in bed Albus has called a staff meeting as he and Mie, with input from Aberforth, decided that it would make the most sense if Albus spends a few days 'away' from Hogwarts before Mie 'arrives' at school.
"Albus, is everything okay?" Professor Venning the Herbology professor asks.
"There is nothing you all have to worry about," Albus admits, choosing his words carefully, deciding to explain even though the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor hasn't joined them yet as he and Mie have to leave soon. "I will be away from Hogwarts for a few days," Albus explains. "Minerva will be in charge while I'm gone,"
"What's wrong?" Hagrid asks worried, and Albus looks at Minerva, who gives him an encouraging look.
"I have a daughter," Albus reveals, and everyone looks shocked. "Her name is Annemie," Albus explains, and everyone looks shocked at that. "She has been living with her aunt and uncle, her other parents' brother and sister-in-law," Albus explains, and everyone notices the very specific words used. "They were killed a few days ago by Death Eaters, I do not believe they realised the connection," Albus explains.
"Oh, good lord, is she alright?" Slughorn asks, concerned.
"She wasn't home, but she found them," Albus explains, putting a level of pain in his voice by thinking about his friends' deaths, and everyone realises that Albus skirted around Slughorn's question. "Annemie is eighteen, but as she was born in September, she has not completed her NEWTS yet," Albus explains. "We have talked, and she will be coming to Hogwarts to finish her seventh year, but I will help her spend the next few days getting ready for that and moving her belongings that weren't destroyed in the attack to my quarters," Albus explains.
"Take as long as you need, Albus," Professor Flitwick says, kindly. "I wish her the best,"
"Thank you, Filius," Albus responds, giving him a grateful look.
"Will she be sorted Albus?" Madam Promfrey asks curious.
"Yes, to attend classes she has to be," Albus explains. "I will explain to the students when I return, so until then I ask that you keep this information to yourselves," Albus explains.
"Of course," Professor Victor confirms, speaking for all of the staff.
"I have to go, you will be in Minerva's safe hands until I return," Albus says, before heading to the door.
"Albus," Hagrid says, and Albus turns to look at him. "If there is anything I can do to help Annemie let me know," Hagrid requests.
"I will," Albus responds, before leaving, leaving the teachers to think about what Albus just revealed.
Not long after he left the staff room Albus walks back into his and Mie's quarters where he finds her sitting on the couch with a cup of tea.
"How'd it go?" Mie asks, seeing him, feeling incredibly curious about what happened.
"They were shocked, which is understandable, but they listened to what I said," Albus explains, as he walks over and sits in one of the armchairs. "No breakfast?" Albus asks as Mie puts her tea cup down on the table.
"Didn't really feel like it," Mie says, shaking her head.
"Annemie, we've talked about this after the year you've had…." Albus starts to say.
"It will help me to eat smaller meals more often," Mie quotes as Albus has told her that more than once since they decided to change the future. "You don't have to keep telling me Dad," Mie says, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, though she likes that he cares as her birth father never did.
"I do because it doesn't seem like you're hearing me," Albus says as both Mie, who is highly amused as Albus really has become like she always imaged a real father should be like.
"I'm hearing you I'm just…. What if I have buttered crumpets? we have some of them in the cupboard don't we?" Mie asks, as she realises that she doesn't really have a reason for why she isn't eating, she just got so used to ignoring her feeling of hungry while on the hunt, and despite Kreacher's best efforts it's not a habit she has managed to break.
"We do," Albus confirms. "And we have plenty of time for you to eat some before we go," Albus explains.
"Okay," Mie says, getting up and heading to the kitchen. "Dad," Mie says, turning back around. "Thanks for caring," Mie tells him as she knows that with this starting as just a cover it could be so easy for Albus not to care, but he does.
"Oh Annemie, you never have to thank me for that," Albus responds, a level of sadness to his voice as he understands exactly why Mie is thanking him, and Mie nods before heading into the kitchen.
Within an hour of Albus walking back into the Dumbledore quarters both Dumbledore's have had a crumpet breakfast, and both are leaving for the funeral they will be attending.
Many hours after Albus and Mie left for Anne and Franklin's funeral James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter are arriving back at the Gryffindor common room after detention. As the Marauders arrive back the first thing, they notice is that while Amelia, Alice, Dorcus, Emmaline, Marlene and Mary are sitting together at one of the tables Lily isn't with them, she is sitting alone in front of the fire.
"What's going on with Lils?" James asks, looking at where she is sitting, and while he has a theory, he isn't certain.
"I don't know," Mary admits. "After dinner she sat down there, been there ever since," Mary admits.
"I don't even think she's done her homework," Emmaline says with a frown as that is very unlike Lily.
"I was just about to go over and see what's up," Marlene admits, as she looks worriedly at her friend.
"Let me," James says walking over to Lily and sitting down next to her. "Hey, you okay?" James asks concerned.
"James, short detention?" Lily asks, sounding distracted.
"Lil, it's nine," James tells her.
"Oh, I didn't realise," Lily admits, looking away from the fire.
"What's going on?" James asks concerned as the others walk over and sit down on the nearby couch and chairs, Sirius, Alice, and Marlene having climbed over the couch to sit on it while the others did so in a more regular way.
"I'm just thinking," Lily admits, and James realises that this conversation is going to be the one he suspected.
"About?" Amelia asks, having realised the same thing as James.
"Sev," Lily admits, and then signs. "He was different, when we were in Quarantine, he was different," Lily says, looking around at her friends. "He was more like the Sev I used to know, less like the horrible person he is around his new friends," Lily explains.
"I don't see it," Sirius comments, as he knows how this conversation has to go.
"Really?" Alice asks, giving the persons she considers to be her brother a look. "You were joking together towards the end," Alice reminds him.
"Et tu, Brutes?" Sirius asks, with a pretend insulted look on his face.
"Alice and Lily both have points, Snape did seem different," Remus admits, and Sirius gives him the same betrayed look he just gave Alice. "He wasn't the same as he is in classes towards the end," Remus admits.
"What the hell happened in Quarantine?" Dorcus asks shocked as this is the last thing she was expecting.
"It was a week of torture, but after things were good, really good," Lily explains. "Even you can admit that," Lily says, looking at James.
"It wasn't completely horrible," James admits, looking like it is painful for him to do so
"You want to forgive Snape, even after everything he's done," Mary realises, looking shocked, and a little hurt, at that.
"That's the thing…. I already have," Lily admits, purposely not looking at the shocked looks on most her friends faces.
"What?" the others say shocked, even those who already know that.
"Sev apologized… and I think he meant it," Lily admits, looking between her friends before looking at James. "Sev is my brother, just as much as Sirius is yours," Lily says to James. "I want my brother back in my life, but that's not possible if the rest of my family hate him," Lily says, looking between her friends as that's what they are to her, family.
"Are you asking us to forget everything he's done? The way he hurt you? The things he's said and done to not just you, but all of us?" Marlene asks, sounding shocked.
"No," Lily answers. "I know the past can't be forgotten, what I'm asking for a truce, a way to move forward," Lily explains. "Give him a chance, see that he can be the person I once knew," Lily explains. "And if I'm wrong….." Lily starts to say.
"We can curse him again?" Sirius asks, putting on a hopeful voice.
"I probably will myself," Lily admits, though she knows that isn't going to happen.
"Lil, getting us to agree is one thing, Snape may not," Emmaline says, in a gentle voice, as she doesn't want her friend to be disappointed when things go wrong.
"I'll talk to him, but there is no point doing that if you all won't try," Lily says, looking between her friends, and she notices them all exchange looks.
"We'll try," James finally says
"We will?" Sirius and Peter ask together, sounding shocked even though Sirius knew it was coming.
"For Lil," James says, looking at his friends. "But if Snape won't meet us halfway…" James starts to say.
"Then you don't have to either," Lily tells him.
"Then we've got a deal," James responds, smiling at his girlfriend.
"Wow, did hell freeze over?" Marlene asks, having no idea what to think.
"I think it just got a little colder," Alice jokes causing the others to burst out laughing.
The following morning, a little later than usual as it's Sunday, the Maunders and the Gryffindor seventh year girls are walking down the stairs into the entrance hall.
"You're really going to do this? After what he said? The way he treats anyone who's not pureblood?" Mary asks her friend, frowning.
"I'm giving him a chance, he told me he regretted what he said, that he doesn't want to be what the people he became friends with are," Lily explains, looking at Mary, and everyone knows what she is implying. "I don't know, I feel like if I don't give him another chance then that's exactly who he's going to become," Lily admits, knowing she is right because of what they read, but not being able to admit that.
"Snape's choices aren't on you," Emmaline tells Lily. "Don't you dare feel guilty," Emmaline tells her in a stern voice.
"I don't, I just…." Lily stars to say before trailing off and as she gets to the foot of the stairs, she looks at Mary. "This is a chance, but it's his last chance," Lily reveals. "If he acts like the way he's been acting, call anyone one slur, or sprouts pureblood elitist, or pro Voldemort, crap, then that's it, we're done, forever," Lily says, stressing the anyone, and meaning what she is saying. "I just want to see if he can be different if given the chance," Lily admits.
"I get that, I do, but I don't believe he can," Mary admits, then sighs. "That being said, I'll give him a chance," Mary admits, it being clear that she is doing it for Lily rather than Snape.
"Thank you,' Lily says before hugging her friend.
"If he hurts you, or anyone else, again, I'm cursing him to the Womping Willow and back," Marlene reveals, her voice completely serious, as she is extremely protective of her friends, as Lily and Mary break apart.
"I'll help," Dorcus adds.
"Same," James, Emmaline, and Sirius say together.
"Deal," Lily says, a little amused as it means so much to her to have so many people who care, and the group head into the Great Hall. While the others head to their table Lily walks over to The Slytherin table.
"Are you lost?" One of the sixth years, who is sitting near Regulus, asks, a look of disgust on his face.
"Can we talk?" Lily asks Severus.
"Of course," Severus says, knowing exactly what is going to happen, and the two of them get up and leave the hall.
For well over five minutes Lily and Severus stay outside, making it seem like they are having a serious conversation about everything that has happened, though the truth is that Lily is filing Severus in on what happened during the conversation with the others.
Once they are both sure that enough time has passed for to be convincing Lily and James walk back into the Great Hall.
"You lot!" Lily calls, looking at her friends, but also purposely getting the attention of the entire hall, and gesturing for them to walk over.
Seeing, and hearing, Lily the Marauders and the other Seventh Year Gryffindor girls get up and walk over to Lily and Severus all realising that basically all the eyes are on them as they are all well known throughout the school
"How'd it go?" Amelia asks, though she knows the answer as they planned all of this.
"We talked," Lily admits. "I explained the same thing I explained to all of you," Lily admits, looking around at her friends.
"And I explained that Quarantine gave me a lot of chances to think," Severus admits. "I thought if I were to die what would be important to me, who would I want to be," Severus admits.
"You-Know-Who's puppet?" Peter suggests, as he doesn't like the idea of Snape becoming friends with all his friends as he feels like he will lose his friends, his protection, if that were to happen as he thinks Snape will take his place.
"No, that's exactly who I don't want to be," Severus admits, causing several shocked looks on the others faces. "I want to be better," Severus admits.
"There's a hell of a lot of history here, a lot of it unpleasant," Mary reminds Severus.
"I know," Severus says with a nod. "And I know it's too much to ask for it to be water under the bridge, and I don't think it would be right for it to be," Severus admits. "But I do want to move forward, and there is one way to do that," Severus says, before taking a step froward. "I'm sorry," Severus says, looking between them. "I'm sorry for the things I've said, the things I've done, Mary I'm sorry for not intervening when Mulciber did what he did," Severus says, looking at her. "And I'm sorry for what happened," Severus says, looking at Remus, and hearing his words James, Remus, and Sirius exchange looks, and nods as they know it would have hopefully been enough for them before reading the books.
"We're sorry too," James admits. "What's happened between isn't the responsibility of a single one of us, it's all of ours," James says. "So, I'm sorry too, Severus," James says, sticking out his hand for Severus to shake, a handshake he returns.
"I'm sorry too," Remus adds.
"You've got to be kidding!" Regulus says in an annoyed, and purposely, very loud, voice. "You're all pathetic," Regulus says, putting a look of disgust on his face, before leaving, knowing that those who read with him will know that he is doing this to keep his cover, to make it clear that he didn't change like Severus during 'Quarantine'.
"Sorry about my brother," Sirius says, it actually being hard for him to say that as he knows Regulus doesn't mean his words or the look on his face. "And I'm sorry too," Sirius admits, and he and Severus shake hands.
"Look Snape, I don't like you," Marlene says, and everyone turns to look at you. "I savour holding grudgers, and I apparently don't forgive as easily as James and Sirius," Marlene says, taking a step closer. "You've hurt a lot of my friends," Marlene reminds him, and Lily goes to say something but Severus speaks before she can.
"I'm…" Severus start to say, as this isn't something they factored in.
"I don't want your words; I want your actions… got it?" Marlene says, giving him a look and saying that if he shows her wants to change and not just stay it then she will believe him.
"Got it," Severus responds, and an understanding passes between them.
"After breakfast we were going to go out to the grounds and have another round of our snowball fight, interested?" Dorcus asks.
"Very," Severus responds.
"Good," Severus says, and while Severus goes back to the Slytherin table, and everyone goes back to the Gryffindor, it is clear that things are now very, very different, and most of the school are shocked.
Hours after Severus made up with the seventh year Gryffindor's in front of the whole school Regulus, who carefully made sure that no one realised where he was going, walks into the Room of Requirements which rather than the big room he is used to looks more like a cosy sitting room, with Mie sitting on the couch.
Hearing the door Mie looks up and when she sees it is Regulus she smiles as she walks over and hugs him.
"I've missed you," Regulus says as he returns the hug as while it has only been a few days it has felt like a huge change when they had been spending twenty fours hours a day together.
"Missed you too," Mie responds, as they break apart. "So, I've got to go, how'd it go this morning?" Mie asks, as she hasn't been able to get an update and she knows that Severus and The Marauders were going to put into place their plan to explain their friendship.
"Pretty well," Regulus admits. "Everyone's talking about it," Regulus admits, as they sit down on the couch, Mie sitting down cross legged on the couch.
"That was the point," Mie comments.
"Well, it worked perfectly," Regulus admits. "Rumour has it that after spending a couple of hours on the grounds having a snowball fight, they spent the rest of the day in unused classroom doing…. I don't even want to speculate," Regulus admits, with an amused look on his face.
"Good, then things worked exactly as planned," Mie realises, looking glad as she knows that it is another thing that has worked out.
"It almost didn't," Regulus responds, and Mie looks concerned.
"What do you mean?" Mie asks concerned.
"I had gone from the hall by this point, but apparently… Marlene McKinnon I think her name is, gave Sev a hard time because he's hurt people," Regulus admits.
"Ally did say she's protective," Mie remembers. "Hopefully they managed to make it work," Mie comments.
"Seems like they did," Regulus admits.
"How are the Slytherin's reacting?" Mie asks curious.
"They see Sev as a traitor, unsurprisingly," Regulus admits. "It's going to be a tough few months for him," Regulus admits, feeling bad for his friend, and knowing he can't do anything to publicly help him.
"He knew that was coming," Mie admits, though she is still concerned about him.
"He did, but doesn't make it any easier," Regulus comments.
"Really doesn't," Mie admits, with a sigh.
"How was the funeral?" Regulus asks curious, deciding to change the subject.
"Strange," Mie admits. "Dad gave a really nice eulogy," Mie admits, looking conflicted. "I don't know in a few days we're going to say that these people had such a huge part of my life, and they're strangers, it's going to be strange," Mie admits.
"Even stranger than being in a time a year before you were born?" Regulus asks, trying to give Mie perspective.
"Guess not," Mie says, looking amused. "I just…. I don't want to accidently destroy the memories of two good people," Mie admits, and as he realises that Mie needs to talk Regulus doesn't push her, he just lets her talk at her own speed. "People are going to have a lot of questions about how I was raised, and I don't have a whole lot of good memories to draw on, and my scars won't help," Mie admits, and a lot of her scares are unable to be hidden because of the magic used to create them. "I don't want to say the wrong thing because it's all I know," Mie admits, and Regulus feels incredibly pain at that.
"There's a simple solution to make sure that doesn't happen," Regulus says, and Mie gives him a confused look. "Don't draw on your childhood memories when asked any questions about how you were raised, draw on your times with Remus," Regulus suggests. "You've said he is the first person who showed you what a parent should be," Regulus reminds Mie.
"He was," Mie confirms.
"Then if people ask think of the times you spent with him, what he taught you, what it meant to you, don't think about the people who raised you," Regulus says, not even wanting to call them Mie's parents. "And as for your scars, Mie, no one has any right to ask about them, but if someone does… you can tell them whatever you want, or even nothing, that's up to you," Regulus tells Mie.
"Yeah, guess it is," Mie says, not being able to believe that she didn't think of it, putting her hands in front of her face and pushing her hair back. "Sorry, I haven't been sleeping," Mie admits, looking at Regulus again, and he is not at all surprised by that.
"You don't have to apologize," Regulus assures her, but he gets an idea. "I know sleeping is hard for you, so how about resting, lay here with me for a little while," Regulus suggests.
"Don't you have to get back?" Mie asks, as she doesn't want to put Regulus at risk.
"I've always got time for you," Regulus says, smiling at Mie, who returns the smile before moving and lying against Regulus's chest.
As Mie is leaning against Regulus, he puts his arm around her and gently rubs his hand up and down her arm.
"You're safe, Mie, you're safe, I've got you," Regulus says and the two of them drift into silence, Mie closing her eyes as she listens to Regulus's words and desperately tries to believe them.