Darkness and Light - Snape's Daughter

Chapter 18 (End of Year 1)

Lucy's POV

I woke up to my whole body aching horribly. I tried opening my eyes but instantaneously shut them again when I saw a blindingly bright light streaming through the hospital window. I had only ever been in this room during the castle tour that first years get, but I immediately recognised it by its large windows.

"Good morning dear, can you hear me?" I heard a sweet lady's voice ask next to my hospital bed.

Not wanting to open my eyes again, I weakly nodded.

"I'll quickly go fetch your father, he's been worried sick." The lady, who I assumed must be a nurse, said and then I heard her leave the room.

I was surprised but also happy at the same time to hear that my father was concerned because it meant he cared about me. While waiting for him to come I thought about my friends. I wonder what happened after I passed out, I hope Harry managed to get the stone and finally realised that Severus was not after it.

Soon enough I heard someone bursting through the doors of the hospital wing and towards my bed. Without having to hear his voice, I knew it was Severus.

My eyes were still closed because of the pain and I was pretty much laying here lifelessly, but once Severus put my hand in his and gently rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand I squeezed his ever so slightly.

"I'm so glad you are awake, I was so worried." He whispered. I wondered how long I must have been knocked out for, but the nurse answered that question for me before I could even muster up the strength to ask.

"You gave us quite the shock miss Snape, you were unconscious for almost 2 weeks and had lost a lot of blood."

In that moment I suddenly felt really sleepy again and in less than a minute I drifted to sleep.

I woke up again and this time when I opened my eyes it was dark out so my eyes adjusted quickly to my surroundings. This time I was in a sitting up position, I guess the nurse must have moved me to be seated like this. It was actually a lot more comfortable than I felt while I was laying down earlier today.

I scanned the room and spotted Severus sitting down on a chair next to me. He was reading a book so he must have not noticed me waking up.

I still didn't have a lot of strength, but I wanted to let him know I am awake and he doesn't need to worry.

"Dad?" Was all I was able to get out, barely above a whisper.

He immediately closed the book and before I could even register that I had called him Dad for the first time, he moved his chair closer and took my hand in his again.

"I'm here, are you feeling any better?" He asked gently.

I nodded in response. In that moment I suddenly saw the corners of his lips move up and his eyes widen a little, probably just then realising what I had just called him. I was glad to see he wasn't mad at me for calling him that, instead he just tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and gave me a warm smile.

I spent the rest of the night resting in my hospital bed with Severus sitting next to my bed in the same chair and reading a potions book. Every few minutes he glanced over at me and then went back to reading. I wanted to tell him he didn't need to stay by my side the whole time and he should go get some sleep, but I did not have enough strength to do so. I did enjoy his presence a lot though, so I was glad he stayed with me.

— Time skip —

2 days had passed and I already felt a lot better. My friends were finally able to visit me again and Jennie was almost crying when she flung her arms around me, telling me how worried she was.

Severus stayed with me for most of the day except when he had classes to teach and once I had enough strength I was able to tell him that he didn't need to stay by my bed all night and could go get some rest himself.

Currently it was evening and all of my friends were seated on the two empty beds on either side of me. We were talking about what we wanted to do over our Summer holidays because those were approaching. Our conversation was interrupted by Severus and Dumbledore entering.

"Why don't you lot head to your dormitories, Professor Snape and I have a few things to discuss with Lucy." Dumbledore spoke and everyone nodded, wishing me a goodnight and leaving the hospital wing.

"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked, taking a seat at the foot of my bed while Severus sat down on the chair that was next to my bed.

"A lot better, thank you. But what is it you need to talk to me about?"

Severus sighed next to me and looked like he was struggling to find the right words to say. Before he could say anything, Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"If it was up to your father you would have known about this a lot longer ago, but he put his trust in me and I believe it is best we do not reveal everything at once." He began.

I tilted my head in confusion.

"You see, you know that your mother is dead but you do not know that she had another child before she was murdered. I asked Severus not to tell you this, but he insisted that you deserve to know so I will tell you. However you must promise not to tell Harry or anyone for that matter about this."

"Wait are you saying Harry is my mothers other child?" I asked, my eyes widening a bit. Why on earth would I not be allowed to know this?

Dumbledore nodded with a slow blink.

"That makes him my half brother right? But why can't I tell him? And why am I only finding out about this now?" I had so many more questions but Dumbledore raised his hand.

"I understand this is a lot to take in. But you must at this current time accept that there are many more things concerning you and your family that you may not know about just yet. Harry included, when the time comes everything will fall into place." With that he stood up and swiftly left the room without another word.

I immediately turned my head to Severus whose expression I could not read at all.

He thought for a moment.

"Lucy, I'm sorry I wanted to tell you earlier. Albus forbade me and I trust him, he is one of the greatest wizards of all time and I have faith that he knows what he is doing." Severus placed his hand onto mine.

"I also want to apologise in advance for anything you will find out in the future. But please understand that right now we need to be certain that Albus is right and now is not the time to be revealing everything."

I was honestly too exhausted to argue back, so I just nodded and decided to change the topic completely. I could sense that it was killing Severus not to tell me something, but I also had no doubts that Dumbledore must know what is right if my Father trusts him so much.