Always - Welcome to the Wizarding World

Part 25

A few days after the second trial, Bartemius Crouch had mysteriously disappeared. No one had seen him or heard from him. Mind you, he was a man who kept himself to himself, but I had a feeling there was something far worse going on that the Ministry were desperate to keep quiet.

Weeks later, Zarah and I were sat in the middle of Divination class with Professor Trelawney as she went on and on about "the spirit of the mind" or something like that, when Professor McGonagall burst in, a worried expression on her worn face.

"Yes, Professor? How may I help you?" Professor Trelawney asked dizzily. Professor McGonagall's wrinkled green eyes shot about the classroom and paused on me.

"Yes, may I borrow Miss Snape for a moment, please? Professor Dumbledore would like a word" McGonagall asked hurriedly. The class let out an "ooh", as if I was in trouble for something. Professor Trelawney nodded abruptly.

"Yes, yes, of course" she allowed. I grabbed my bag and my books, rushing out of the Divination classroom with Professor McGonagall storming in front of me.

"Where are we going, Professor?" I asked her.

"Professor Dumbledore's office. He needs to speak with you on an urgent matter" was all she mumbled to me as she charged through the school. We reached the end of a ghostly quiet corridor and stopped in front of a majestic golden eagle, its wings spread wide as if to welcome us in. Professor McGonagall uttered a password under her breath and the eagle began to move upwards. Winding up and up were golden steps leading from the eagle's solid gold claws and up to Dumbledore's office. McGonagall hopped onto a step and I followed her, holding tightly to the eagle's breast.

When we reached the top, we were greeted by a black oak door, looking almost as ancient as Dumbledore himself. McGonagall rapped on the door with her wrinkled knuckles and Dumbledore called out to her from inside the room.

"Do come in" he commanded. McGonagall gestured for me to go in ahead of her and I placed my palm onto the door, it groaned open to reveal the inside of Dumbledore's majestic office. It was a large and circular room, funny little noises whispering in every corner of it. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tainted wizard's hat. The Sorting Hat itself. Stood beneath the shelf was Severus, his pale face as expressionless as ever, his clenched fist covering his mouth and his black, beetle-like eyes were wide and shimmering. Professor Dumbledore stood up from his regal burgundy armchair.

"That will be all, Professor. Thank you" he acknowledged McGonagall. She smiled sternly at him and exited the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"You wanted to see me, Professor Dumbledore?" I asked. Dumbledore nodded and edged out from behind his gigantic desk, strolling over to where I was stood.

"I did. How have you been getting on this year, Radia? I've been so busy with the Tournament, I simply forgot to ask!" he admitted, chuckling to himself. I smiled at him and stood stock still, my hands held behind my back.

"That's quite alright, Professor. I think, erm, I have been doing alright so far. I'm enjoying my classes and I'm thinking of trying out for the Slytherin Quidditch team next year" I explained. He nodded, listening intently.

"Good, good. That's all very good. Yes, they would be lucky to have such a sporting, enthusiastic young girl such as yourself on the team. And, how is young master Diggory? I'm sure the stress of being a Triwizard champion hasn't affected him in the slightest!" Dumbledore inquired. I turned away from him and gazed into the shining blue glass of the rather suspicious looking cabinet behind me.

"I wouldn't know, Professor. We don't speak much anymore" I informed him casually. Dumbledore murmured to himself confusedly.

"Why ever not, my dear? Amos informed me that you two were as thick as thieves, the best of friends?" Dumbledore interfered further. I felt my temper rising at his probing questions and I tried desperately to contain it. I span around to face him, my uncle Severus watching silently in the corner.

"Is this the only reason you summoned me out of my lesson, Professor? To pry on my personal life? Because if so, I should be getting back" I said as calmly as I could. Dumbledore shook his head and put his hands out in refusal.

"No, no, dear miss! That is not how I wanted my daft questions to come across at all! No, I am sorry, I'm just a curious old man with a very dull social life". He patted my hand with his wrinkled, decrepit one and chuckling comfortingly. I gave him a small smile.

"I apologize, sir".

"Tell her, Albus!" Dumbledore and I turned in surprise. Severus had yelled with such emotion, I could confidently say that it shocked us both.

"I beg your pardon, Professor Snape?" he asked innocently. Snape stormed over to him, his hand in a fist by his side.

"Please, you cannot act so coolly about his. I have not known you to be a coward, Dumbledore" he muttered, trying to keep composed. He had a terrible temper, just like me. I never would have known, I thought of him as a very emotionless man. Dumbledore sighed sorrowfully and muttered something unintelligible beneath his breath. 

"Miss Snape, I am afraid that I have received some very bad news" he said finally. My heart dropped in my chest. Those words were all too familiar. I had heard them not four years ago. "It's your mother, dear. I am very sorry to tell you that she has passed away".  

No. I became breathless and clutched at my chest. 

"How?" It was all I could squeeze out from my tightened throat. Dumbledore glanced over at Severus for support. He looked down at me, his black unfathomable eyes still shining.

"We believe it to be the work of Dark wizards. It seems she had gotten into a spot of trouble with them and made an Unbreakable Vow with a man named Caractacus Burke. This man is a Death Eater. It seemed the vow, whatever it was, was too much for your dear mother to bear, so she broke it. She was killed instantly. She would have felt no pain, that I can promise you". 

My eyes began streaming with tears, but I was silent. I was too shocked to say a thing. The way Dumbledore had asked me all those casual questions to lead up to this? My mother was dead. I had no family left. Just Severus.

"Why did my mother make an Unbreakable Vow with a Dark wizard?" I asked Dumbledore. He sighed mournfully.

"That, my dear, still remains a mystery to us. The Ministry are still searching for Caractacus Burke and once they have found out what sort of vow your mother died for, you will be told, I promise you". I nodded. Caractacus Burke. That name would be ingrained into my brain forever. If I ever found him, I would kill him myself. I swore to that at that very moment. I started to fall to the ground, when Severus leaped forwards to catch me. I wept against his robes as he held me uncomfortably.

"I am so sorry, Radia" Dumbledore murmured as I sobbed in my uncle's arms, which were beginning to shake. He stroked my hair uneasily as I gripped onto his cloak. "Is there anything we can do?" Dumbledore asked. I shook my head and my uncle shushed me.

"Alice was a great woman, Radia. It was unfortunate the way things turned out between you both after Scorpius..." Severus stammered, not able to finish his sentence. "Have Amos and Martha been told?" Severus asked Dumbledore. He nodded forlornly and put his hand on my shoulder.

"You'r e a strong girl, Radia. Your parents would be so very proud of you" he smiled."At least now, they can be together again". No consoling comments like that could lift my spirits. Not now. I had no parents. I could never come to terms with being an orphan, but I was now. Severus was all I had. He was the only family I had left and half the time, he was so distant from me, I forgot we were even related. I had to love him, now. I had no choice.