Fighting for love - Severus Snape fanfiction (BOOK TWO of A Magical Muggle)

Chapter 17

The living room was silent.

The once dancing flames in the fireplace were extinguished.

The light coming from the windows was dim but enough to illuminate the objects in Ana's surrounding area. The dark red couch was filled with pillows and blankets; the dining table in the corner had enough space for 4 chairs, but no more; above the fireplace, there were frames of several people and Ana's eyes scanned every single face, eyes watering as she stared at the three-people picture. Her father, her mother, and a man. He must be about her age. And he resembled her mother in so many ways, especially in his eyes. But the smile was her father's.

She stopped for a moment, wondering if she should call them father and mother. She sure had bad memories of her childhood, but she also had good ones. And they did raise her.

Until they abandoned her.

Clenching her fists, for a moment she regretted her decision of looking for them. But she couldn't think of anyone else and she truly needed to make peace with her past. She needed answers. She demanded answers.

However, she wasn't sure she was going to have them by visiting her foster parents. Perhaps their minds were already wiped out. In fact, she didn't find any picture of herself in their house. It seemed they acted as if she was never in their lives. But then, behind every frame of what Ana presumed were relatives, she saw herself when she was 17 years old. Smiling under the Christmas tree, happily showing the sketchbook and all the art utensils she received from her parents.

Carefully not to make a noise, she picked it up, sat on the couch, and stared at the picture. A tear strolled down her cheek ton the frame's glass and she cleaned it immediately.

The possibility of meaning something to that family warmed up something in her now cold heart. And in a quiet sob, she mourned the time of her life when she was younger and more innocent. When she didn't know her true heritage. Where she didn't have to break her beloved's heart on purpose.

The lights were suddenly turned on and the living room was illuminated.

She was not alone anymore.

Ana turned around and her eyes met a pair of shiny blue orbs.

"Ana?" The man said.

She did recognize him from the pictures. And she wondered...

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I mean no harm --" She got up from the couch with her hands in the air.

Behind the man was someone she immediately recognized. Older, more wrinkled. But she did recognize her own mother.

The woman froze.

And behind her, the father showed up with the same shocked expression.

For a moment, no one said anything.

The only one who dared to speak was the unknown man that Ana was sure he was their son. Her brother? Could she call him that?

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked with a caring tone that made Ana relax a little.

She nodded her head, swallowed, and sighed.

"No," she said.

The woman approached Ana slowly.

"Ana, is that really you?" Ana nodded, not daring to move as she approached her. "You're so... so grown up."

Her mother cupped her cheeks, slowly and carefully, staring into her eyes.

"I am so, so sorry --" Ana said. "I didn't know... I didn't know what he did to you. I- I - I never meant any of it."

"Ssh, I know, I know," her mother said, pulling her for a hug. "I'm sorry we abandoned you. We were so scared."