The Blue Eyed Raven

Chapter Three: The Secret

Artemesia walked through the destroyed castle, remembering those, who have died. It were too many for her to remember all the names. The hope she had just felt moments ago began to fade. "Artemesia!", a familiar voice called out. She turned around and saw Peter Fowley, a Ravenclaw student who was also one of her closest friends. Relieved that he had survived the most horrible night either of them could've imagined, Artemesia ran towards him and wrapped her arms around her friend. His arms closed around her. She could hear his heart beating and closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm so happy you're alive, Peter.", she whispered. Peter looked at her and gave her a faint smile. "It's pretty hard to kill me, you know?", he replied. The young girl's face brightened up a bit, but not for long. She felt guilty for smiling. "Hey, look at me.", Peter gently said and Artemesia followed his instructions. She looked up into his hazel eyes and pressed her lips together. "You don't have to feel bad for smiling. I know, very bad things have happened last night, but we mustn't let it take away our ability to smile.", his words reminded her of her father's. "You will be happy again.",she remembered. "I know, Peter, but I feel so broken and....alone. Smiling seems like lying right now.", she replied. The boy slung one arm around her neck and began to walk with her. "You're not alone. You're mom is there for you and you're not able to get rid of me, even if you tried.", Peter grinned and Artemesia couldn't help but repeat his smile. "There we go.", he commented. "Besides, you'll never be alone in Hogwarts. There'll always be someone here to be there for you when you need them. Professor Flitwick said that we will begin repairing the castle tomorrow, when most people have gone home. I vounteered to stay. My parents are coming, too.", Peter said and put his hands into his pockets after running them through his dark brown hair.

Artemesia looked at her friend and felt another sting of guilt. He has told her everything there was to know about him. But she lied to him and said,she didn't know who her father was. Now that he was dead, she could really use Peter's comfort, but she was also afraid of revealing the secret. Artemesia and Peter had known each other since the day they first stepped on bord of Hogwarts Express. She wavered and bit her lower lip. "Oh-oh. What is it you're hiding? Come on, I know you want to tell me something.", the boy asked and waited for an anwer. But Artemesia looked around and shook her head. "Not here.", she whispered and grabbed her friend's hand. Together they left the castle and hid in the forest. "Why did you take me here?", he curiously asked. Artemesia inhaled deeply before deciding to just tell him everything. "I lied to you when I said I don't know who my father is.", she confessed. His eyes narrowed and he sat down on a broken tree. "Who is he then?", he asked and offered Artemesia to sit down next to him. After she sat down with her shoulders curled forwards and her eyes staring at the ground, she continued to reveal her biggest secret. "It was kept a secret for my own protection. I took over his mother's birthname before coming to Hogwarts. He was afraid the Dark Lord would find out and kill me. So only McGonagall and Dumbledore knew. And my mother, of course. They all swore to keep it a secret. Now that Voldemort is dead, I see no logical reason to keep it a secret. Although, I do have a really bad feeling about it.", she tried to avoid saying his name, fearing someone might overhear her. "Come on, don't be such a tease. Tell me!", Peter demanded and smiled at his friend. She looked into his eyes with tears in her own. "My father was Severus Snape.", she whispered and the first tear rolled down her cheek. "I saw him die last night.", she added and the next tear fell. Peter's smile had vanished and he remained silent for a while. After a few moments, he embraced his friend. "I'm so sorry.", he whispered. "I understand why you couldn't tell anyone and I promise to shut my mouth until you want everyone to know.", he promised. She looked into his eyes and felt his hands wipe away the tears on her face."Enough with the crying. Tell me more about daddy Snape.", the way he said that made Artemesia chuckle. "It sounds so strange when you say it that way.", she commented and Peter shrugged. "Alright. He was-", a crackling lightning bolt crossed the sky. "What was that?", the two asked simultaniously. They got up from the broken tree and ran back to the castle. Thousands and thousands of sheets of paper were strewn all over the castle. Some were even still flying through the air. A few students had picked them up and their eyes were widened in shock. Artemesia carefully picked up a sheet and turned it around. As soon as she saw the picture, she held her breath. It was two pictures, in fact. One of only her and the other of her cradling her dead father and weeping. Below were the words she dreaded to read:

"This is a warning to Artemesia Prince, the daughter of

Severus Snape:

We know who you are. We know where you are and

we will kill you."

Artemesia froze, unable to move or speak. Tears ran down her cheeks and she began to shake in fear. "Merlin's beard!", Peter whispered in shock and then looked at his friend. The Great Hall had fallen silent. All eyes were on her. She had feared this moment for so long."They've found me.", she whispered and then her eyes turned to the back of her head. She slowly began to fall, as a woman who looked almost looked like her, appeared out of thin air to catch her. Mary Annette Dawson catched her daughter before her head could reach the stone floor and whispered: "It's okay. I'm here".