Blood and Family

Chapter 3

Flashbacks and Inquiries

Severus walked towards the dungeons. He was angry at both Leah and Dumbledore. He knew he shouldn't be surprised though. Leah hadn't been considered one of the best Aurors in the country for being stupid. She knew how to keep secrets and more importantly what sacrifices to make to keep people safe. He knew she was worried about Black even though she didn't show it.

Even that first time he saw her, after her brother's murder, she had been scared and angry, two things she could never afford to be. That part of the war was over, but how much more would there be left to fight?

The house was in ruins. Severus had known it would be. The Dark Lord was destructive and he knew Potter would do anything to protect his family. But what he saw when he looked around was insanity. Nothing had survived Voldemort's wrath, nothing, that is, except Harry Potter. How the child survived was beyond explanation. Severus didn't know and he wasn't sure he wanted to know either.

He walked out of the house and into the early morning sunshine. Despite the horrors of the night, the sun still shone brightly on the destruction that had been Potter home.

From where he stood, he saw her form perfectly. She was standing near the edge of the cliff, almost too close for his comfort. He quickly made his way to her and watched from a distance. She was pacing, her black hair falling around her face hiding the tears he knew had fallen. He didn't know much about Leah Potter, except that she loved her family and would do anything to protect them and that had meant giving up her nephew to be raised by Muggles.

She stopped and turned to look at him. Her eyes were cold and narrowed at the sight of him watching her.

"What are you doing here, Snape?" she demanded as he continued towards her.

"I came to see what the Dark Lord did," Severus said.

She laughed dryly. "Well, you finally got your wish, didn't you? Your worst enemy is dead."

Severus was silent. She was right. The one person he had hated more than anything was dead, but no one deserved to die at the Dark Lord's hand, not even the idiotic James Potter.

"Where's Black?"

"Who cares? He just better hope that the Ministry finds him before I do."

"Why?"

"He betrayed them! He told Voldemort where they were."

Severus stepped back. She couldn't have said what he heard. Sirius Black, working for the Dark Lord? It was insane...yet strangely, it made sense. Who else was a better person to spy on the Potters than their best friend?

"Are you sure?"

She looked at him with a look in her eyes that he would have never thought possible from her. He'd known her for years, but never had he seen something so dead in her eyes. "He was their Secret Keeper. He was the only one who knew where they were."

He nodded. "What are you going to do?"

Her eyes turned almost glacial. Severus had never seen eyes that cold, not even from the Dark Lord. Promptly, she turned away and walked back to the house. He followed and watched her move pieces of broken furniture out of her way as she walked to the bedrooms.

"Potter?" he asked. She didn't even acknowledge his presence or his voice.

"You know," she said quietly, "I never did understand why you and James hated each other."

"Yet you helped him."

"At times. I tried to keep him out of trouble. Never worked, but I had to try."

"And with Black?"

"I loved him."

"And you don't now?"

"He betrayed my family, his family, his godson."

"So you hate him."

"Why do you care? Why are you even here?"

"You're not as strong as you'd like people to believe," Severus said, ignoring her inquisition. "It's all a façade, isn't it? Your brother has always been there and now that he's dead, you have no one."

"Get out!"

"No."

She pulled her wand and aimed it at his chest. "OUT!"

He stood calmly, not wishing to provoke her further, but he saw something in her eyes, a fault. He knew that she wouldn't kill him, she didn't have the energy and he caught her as she collapsed.

Severus was drawn out of the flashback when someone knocked on his office door. "Enter," he said coldly, pushing the memories aside as Draco Malfoy stepped inside.

"Yes, Draco," he said almost tiredly. He knew the boy was exactly like his father and that was one thing Severus hated. He knew the boy would become just like the man and Lucius Malfoy was not a person to be admired. Severus had admired him once and it had gotten him nothing except a mark on his arm that would forever be a reminder of his mistakes.

"I have reason to believe that Potter, Wealsey, and Granger are up to something and that they've dragged Echo into it," Draco said.

Severus gave him a sharp look. He knew if Echo was involved than it was her idea. "And what makes you believe this?"

"They were outside earlier talking in whispers."

"That is hardly a cause for concern," Severus said, looking at Draco, daring him to say something more.

"I hardly think that Echo should be around Potter," the boy said. "He isn't appropriate company..."

"Don't you have somewhere to be, Draco?" Severus asked, wanting to get rid of this reminder of Lucius.

"Yes, sir," Draco said before turning and leaving the office. Severus sighed. He didn't like Echo associating with Potter but he knew what Leah's reaction would be if he tried to stop it.

During Voldemort's first rise to power, Leah had been at the forefront of the battle, working, at times, for the Ministry, but more often for the Order which she had deemed more important. Severus had never understood her devotion to her work and even now when there was so much at stake, she was risking everything to kill Black. He knew that she would go after him. There wasn't a doubt. She would protect her family, even if that meant killing her former husband in the process.

~~~

Leah and Remus walked into her office. She closed and sealed the door with a silencing charm. He looked curiously at her, unsure of her motives.

"I'm going after him," she said.

"Sirius?"

She nodded. "Fudge contacted me. Since I'm the only person who has the training who knows Black well enough to know his methods, he wants me to lead the Aurors going after him."

"So that's why Dumbledore wanted me here."

"Yes. Someone had to take over my Defense against Dark Arts classes and I don't trust Severus with the students in his own class, let alone the one that could save their lives."

"You think Voldemort will come back." It wasn't a question, but Leah nodded.

"Dumbledore has been working on it since Harry started here last month. He's planning on Voldemort's eventual return, but he agrees that Black needs to be stopped before he can help."

"You're still in love with him, aren't you?"

She glared at him coldly. "I'm married now, Remus."

"That's not what I meant, besides, how can you be in love with Severus?"

"It's complicated, Remus."

"How did it happen?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Leah, I want to help, but I can't unless you talk to me. I'll take your classes, but I want some answers too."

"I can't give you any answers, Remus."

"Leah, don't do this. If you still love Sirius..."

"How can I? He was the person who suggested changing..." she stopped, realizing her mistake. Remus looked at her in shock.

"Changing what?"

"Nothing."

"Leah you can't lie to me. We've known each other for too long."

"We haven't spoken in eleven years, Remus. We've changed."

"Not that much."

She smiled sadly. "Yes, we have, Remus." He moved over to her and took her hands in his. She smiled and leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her in a silent embrace.

~~~

The Great Hall was completely normal as dinner began that evening. Harry had noticed that Echo was distracted and distant. She hadn't spoken to any of them since her outburst at Malfoy near the lake. He was worried about her. She was hardly ever silent unless something was wrong.

Apparently Hermione shared his concerns. "What's wrong, Echo?"

The younger girl looked at her three friends, and shook her head. "Nothing."

Harry was about to say something but was cut off when Dumbledore rose to speak. "Well, students, I must inform you of a staff change. Professor Leah will be leaving Hogwarts for the remainder of the school year. She is being replaced by Professor Remus Lupin. I know that you will all be kind and welcome Professor Lupin to our school."

Harry looked at the man that Professor Dumbledore was speaking about. He was of medium height with graying brown hair. Harry's gaze then ventured to Snape who was positively livid. He had never seen the potions master so angry.

"Echo?" Harry asked. "Where's your mum?"

Echo looked as confused as he felt. "I don't know. I think it has something to do with that man who escaped from Azkaban."

"Sirius Black?" Ron asked. "They say he was You-Know-Who's right hand. He killed thirteen people with one curse after You-Know-Who was defeated."

"Yeah," Hermione said. "There was this big confrontation or something with another wizard. They say Black just pulled out his wand and cursed all those people. When Aurors showed up to arrest him," she continued, "he was laughing."

"Insane," Harry muttered. "But why would Leah go after him?" he asked Echo.

"She was one of the Aurors who captured him," Echo answered. "At least I think she was. She was talking with Lupin about the last time she saw Black. Talking about Azkaban."

"Your mother's been there?" Ron asked incredulously. "Strange."

"She was an Auror," Echo said, looking at him. "My father said she was one of the best."

Harry nodded and they ate in silence.

~~~

Severus stormed down to the dungeons after dinner. He found his wife sitting at the table with a man he didn't know. Several maps were spread out between them and they were talking in whispered tones.

"Leah." She turned, nodded to him and continued her conversation with the stranger. "Leah," he said, harshly.

"What, Severus?"

"Why is Lupin here?"

"He's taking over my classes. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"I thought you didn't care that Black had escaped."

"I don't, however, the Ministry does. Since I know how Black operates, they've requested my assistance in finding him."

"It would figure," he said with a scowl. "Who are you?"

The man stood. "Kingsley Shaklebolt, Auror."

Severus scowled and left the kitchen in a flurry of robes.

Leah sighed. "Don't mind him, Kingsley."

"I won't." She laughed and they sat back down to work.

~~~

The next morning, Severus woke to find Leah gone. He figured that she had already left for the Ministry. He got dressed and went to the Great Hall for breakfast.

He sat at the Head table and looked over the students, his eyes falling on the Gryffindor table. Near the end of the table, he saw Echo and her friends talking in whispered tones and scowled.

"Severus, you really should adopt a new look," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.

"Why?"

"People might not like you if all you do is scowl."

"I've been telling him that for years, Albus," Leah said. "He just doesn't seem to listen." Severus glared at her, she grinned innocently.

"Are you and Kingsley ready to leave?" Dumbledore asked.

"Kingsley went on ahead. I wanted to talk to Echo and Harry before I left."

"I don't think that is wise," Severus said.

"Well, it's a good thing that I really don't care what you think when it comes to my nephew, does it?"

Severus gave her a cold, calculating look. "If you would like me to..."

"Severus, Leah, not now," Dumbledore said. "Should I have Minerva excuse them from classes today, Leah?"

"Leave the option open. I told Echo almost everything yesterday and Harry knows nothing."

Dumbledore nodded and Leah left the table. Severus thought Leah was making a mistake by telling Echo and Potter now. It would do nothing to help either of them and all it would do was cause trouble he would have to handle because Leah would be out saving the world. He wanted to stop, needed to stop her, but he knew he couldn't. She was no longer content living the lie they had created and now she was going to destroy it.