Serena was kneeling down beside the ornate bed, leaning her upper body on the mattress, holding the hand of the frail-looking woman lying on it. The room was dimly lit, the warmth of the fireplace dancing upon the ancient tapestries and portraits that adorned the walls.
"Look at you," the woman murmured, her voice a husky whisper. She smoothed Serena's black hair with a gesture that was both loving and sad. "Such a beautiful child you are," she said, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"More beautiful than Eileen described. Look at that hair, and those lips... just like a Prince."
Serena could feel herself blush under the scrutiny, her cheeks warming up as she lowered her gaze. She wasn't used to such warmth, such affection. It was strange, but not unwelcome. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
But then the woman's expression turned somber, her hand pausing on Serena's cheek. She studied her granddaughter with a keen eye, her brow furrowing. "But you're so thin, dear. Thinner than you should be at your age."
Serena squirmed under her gaze, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness. No one had ever commented on her size before, at least not in such a concerned way.
The woman turned her attention to Eileen, her eyes flashing with reproach. "Eileen, why is the girl so thin? Have you not been taking proper care of her?"
Eileen's gaze turned icy, and she opened her mouth to retort, her lips curling into a scowl. But before she could speak, a stern voice rang out, silencing her.
"Eileen," the voice came from the handsome old man who had greeted them at the door. "Do not start."
He turned his attention to Serena. "I believe we should have introduced ourselves properly before delving into such matters."
He straightened his back, standing tall and authoritative. "I am Wilfred Prince, your grandfather, and this," he gestured to the woman on the bed, "is your grandmother, Gwendoline Prince. From today, you are a part of this family, our family. And we will make sure you are taken care of, as you should have been."
The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Serena looked from her grandmother to her grandfather, then to her mother, whose face was a mask of stubborn defiance. But beneath it all, Serena could see the flicker of something else—fear, perhaps, or regret.
Serena swallowed, she was a Prince, part of a family she had never known. In her past life, her mother had told him that the Prince line was gone. That they were the only ones left alive. And now, you're telling her that it wasn't true? Although the discovery was overwhelming, she felt a small part of her glimmer with hope. Maybe she could find the love and acceptance she had been craving all her life in this place.
Severus was a very lonely person. More so when Lily Evans ended their friendship.
Severus' much envy of other people's relationships with their families and friends turned him into a bitter person. Always pessimistic, cynical, and cold. He made all the wrong choices and ended up regretting it. This time, this life, he didn't want to die feeling alone.
Gwendoline patted Serena's hand gently, her gaze softening. "You must be tired from your journey, dear," she said, her eyes trailing over Serena's school robes and the luggage that still stood beside her. "Why don't you go freshen up and change your clothes? We can continue our talk later."
Wilfred took that as a cue, his stern features softening slightly. "Nitty!" he called out.
There was a sudden pop, and a small house-elf appeared. She was dressed in a clean, neat pillowcase, her eyes wide and curious as she looked at Serena. Her ears perked up at the sight of her, and she gave a little bow, excitement evident in her voice.
YOU ARE READING
IN ANOTHER LIFE (James Potter x Severus Snape)
Fanfiction(OMEGAVERSE) Severus finds himself rising from his near deathbed into the past, as a female 10 year old version of himself in another parallel world, where secondary genders exist. (Also uploaded in Fanfiction & Ao3)
