Snivellus

63

'Draco.' She panted reaching him.

He was about to answer back when Darah screamed and hid behind him as something flew out of the water and landed at her feet. It was Harry. He was dripping with water and short of breath. He looked up from the floor and smiled apologetically.

Darah mouthed that she needed to talk to him later and he gave a discreet nod before walking away. Draco remained silent, simply watching Harry in disgust.

***

Darah made her way to the gryffindor common room that same night to talk to Harry. She recited what she was going to say to him over and over. She knew she wanted to tell him that they were half siblings but she didn't know how or what this would mean for them both and for Snape.

She approached the common room door, taking a deep breath before knocking on to the portrait.

The fat lady appeared quickly after. 'Oh it's you again.' She frowned disappointedly, rolling her eyes before opening up the door. Darah stepped through smiling proudly to herself, she was practically an honorary gryffindor now.

The common room itself was full of cheers and screams from the celebrations of Harry coming second. The Weasley twins were setting off fireworks, causing all sorts of mess, laughing uncontrollably.

Darah moved through the crowd of people to where Harry was in the centre. She tapped him on the shoulder. 'Can we talk?'

They went into a side room, Darah locked the door and put up a soundproof spell so no one could hear them.

Harry raised his eyebrows suspiciously at her, waiting.

Darah had to resist the urge to say something stupid like 'hello, brother' or 'what's up, bro?'
'So Snape showed me something today.' She started off by saying.

'Are you ok? Did he hurt you?' Harry's eyes grew worried.

'Yes, yes I'm fine. I-' she paused, anything she practiced saying had now left her head at the most inconvenient time. 'You and me... we're...' she couldn't make eye contact with him.

'What?'

'Siblings.' She managed eventually.

Harry's face scrunched up into confusion. 'Darah, what did Snape say to you? Did he make you say this? Was it Draco?'

'No. Harry. We're genuinely related.' She gave a weak half smile.

Harry's mouth fell open slightly. 'You're serious?'

She nodded slowly.

Harry sat down and buried his head in his hands. 'How though? There wouldn't have been enough time for my Mum to have me and you before-'

'Harry.' Darah sat next to him and put her hand on his back. 'My father and your mother had me. My dad is Snape.'

Harry's eyes widened as he quickly jolted his head and looked at her. 'No-' he stood up, walking to leave the room, waving his hands. 'No, no, no.'

Darah stood up after him. 'Harry-'

'Don't.' He said simply.

'Please! Just let me explain.' She begged.

Harry took a minute to think. 'Fine.'

They sat back down together as Darah continued. 'I watched it happen - my birth, I mean. Dumbledore has this - thing - in his office, a pensieve. My dad gave me something, it was a memory. The pensieve let's you see other people's memories as if you were there when they happened. I saw your mother - our mother.'

Harry simply just stared at her, finding it hard to believe he and Darah were related. At the mention of his mother he perked up a little, a glimmer in his eyes. 'You saw her?'

Darah nodded, smiling to herself. 'Yeah. Yeah. She's pretty perfect.'

'Yeah.'

'I didn't know who my mother was until earlier. My father never told me, any time I brought her up, he would shut me down.'

Harry shrugged. 'If all this really is true-'

'It is.' Darah smiled weakly.

'-then I'm sorry about what I say about Snape. I've just had this... off feeling about him for the last... well, three years.' He scratched the back of his neck.

Darah hummed forgivingly. 'He can be like that. But he has a soft spot.'

Harry let out a chuckle. 'Yeah, right.'

'I'm serious!' She laughed, slapping his arm.

They sat in silence for a minute to ponder before Harry spoke again. 'So you really are my sister? Or half sister or whatever.'

'Yeah. Kinda crazy.' She let out a single laugh.

'I guess it's better than being related to the Dursleys.' He shrugged jokingly. 'I still don't understand how though. How are we the same age?'

'I thought about it too, but there's enough time in between our birthdays for Lily to have had us both, even if it was with separate dads.'

'Ah.' Harry nodded, quickly doing the maths in his head. 'But- why? Why Snape?'

Darah shrugged. 'I dunno. I mean, no offence to my dad and all but she was about to marry your father around the time I was born.'

'So you're suggesting she cheated on him?' Harry's face gave a hint of anger.

'I'm just saying what I saw!' She tried to calm him down.

'I bet it was Snape.' Harry snarled. He turned to face Darah. 'Why did you tell me this if you knew I hated Snape?'

'I just wanted you to know the truth. You deserve it.'

Harry paused. 'Who can I tell?'

Darah's eyes widened with fear. 'You can't tell anyone. If anyone knew... my father would kill me!'

Harry rose from his chair. 'Then why'd you tell me?'

'I-'

'Look, Darah. I know you didn't choose to be Snape's daughter but I can't be around you anymore. Snape will find out and he'll punish me, more than he already does.'

'Yeah? Well it was risky for me to tell you too! But what was I meant to do? Keep this a secret from you? How could I go on about my life knowing you're my brother and you had no idea?'

'Shut up.' Harry said quietly, avoiding eye contact and heading for the door.

'I know you fancied me, Harry!' She shouted after him as he started to leave. 'It would be wrong to keep this from you!'

Harry turned back around, he was so close to her face now she could smell his breath, his eyebrows arched inwards in frustration. 'Just like it was wrong for Snape to keep this from you too, until now! It was wrong, Darah and it will always be wrong! No matter what you do, you can't make this any better. And I know it's not your fault but- I'm sorry, I just can't... I can't do this anymore.'

Darah ran after him as he walked quickly out of the room. 'Harry!'

'Hey, mate, check out this sweet Fred and George gave me-' Ron started before Harry muttered that he was going to bed.

Darah stopped going after him once she reached Ron and Hermione.

'What's wrong with him?' Ron asked turning his head.

Darah stared at the stairs he had disappeared at, wishing she'd never came and talked to him. She almost wished she never saw Snape's memories.
'Oh bloody hell.'