Swept From the Past

Chapter 39: The Mother-in-law -- part one

Severus Snape used Floo Powder and appeared at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore had set a meeting at the last moment, interrupting Severus while he was busy correcting essays. Severus entered the room where the meeting was supposed to be held. He grimaced, noticing Lupin's presence. What was the werewolf doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be in the Shrieking Shack, howling to pass the time?

Severus stepped forward. "Lupin," he hissed. "Have you lost your cage? I don't think that animals are tolerated in this room."

Lupin frowned. "I think they'll make exceptions for the both of us," he replied quietly

Severus grimaced. How dare that awful werewolf talk to him like that? "It would be so easy for the Dark Lord to win the war," he said. "He'd just have to wait until you bite all of us!" He sneered.

"Which will never happen while under treatment," Lupin retorted. "According to the Healers, I can leave the Shrieking Shack for several hours."

"You'd better not bite me," Severus replied.

"I won't," Lupin replied. "You'd probably taste terrible."

Severus was about to reply something when he was interrupted by Weasley senior.

"Ah, Remus," Weasley said. "I'm glad to see you back!" He shook Lupin's hand.

Weasley... What did Severus remember about him? Ah, yes... didn't he have an obsession with Muggles? Probably. They were all insane in that family anyway. How many children did they have? Fifteen? Twelve? The Ministry should do something to prevent people from having so many urchins!

Severus left the room. He was irritated by those uninteresting people. Then he saw Burns. It was the second time that she had come to a meeting of the Order. What was she doing here? She was speaking with Moody and... was it Weasley's wife? What would come next? The Weasley twins? The Bubonic Plague?

Severus sat on a couch close to the little group to eavesdrop on the conversation. From where he was, he could hear everything and see Mrs. Weasley's expressions. Burns' back was turned to him. She wouldn't notice that he was observing and listening to them.

"Alastor," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "I can't believe that you agree with that!"

"There's nothing quite as educational as an actual demonstration of battle tactics," Moody replied. "The students need to know what they're up against. There's no better way to learn."

"But Ron wrote to Fred and George that there were vampires on the ship!" Mrs. Weasley retorted.

"They were caged," Burns said quietly.

"It doesn't change anything!" Mrs. Weasley replied. "Vampires are dangerous creatures!"

Moody slipped away discreetly, leaving the two women arguing.

"Tigers are also dangerous creatures," Burns responded. "And children like observing caged tigers in zoos. I see no difference between vampires and tigers. Think of it as an educational trip," she said ironically.

"You fought against vampires in an arena!" Mrs. Weasley replied, colour rising on her cheeks.

"A zoo, a circus..." Burns said, sounding bored. "It's all the same! And it was your son who fought in the corridors! Not me!"

"And what about Ginny, sent to the Hospital Wing because of that Alphonso?" Mrs. Weasley snapped.

Severus screwed up his eyes, remembering the git. Awful prat!

"So now I'm responsible for your daughter's hormones?" Burns replied mockingly. "It's not my fault if she can't control herself!" Severus laughed inwardly at the remark.

"She couldn't control herself because of his Veela charm," Mrs. Weasley responded sharply.

"Exactly," Burns retorted. "His Veela charm. Not mine."

"I don't understand why Dumbledore gave you the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Mrs. Weasley replied, throwing a very nasty look at Burns. "You don't set a very good example for the children! You're terrifying them. You drink all the time. Poor Gilderoy Lockhart! You must have made him suffer!"

Severus' jaw clenched. Again Gilderoy Lockhart?

"Ah, here we are," Burns replied, sighing. "Another fan. Famous Gilderoy Lockhart and all the rubbish of the Daily Prophet. What? You didn't get your autograph?"

Severus smirked at the comment. Mrs. Weasley put her hands on her hips. She looked upset. Her face had reddened. Severus didn't know if it was from fury or embarrassment.

"I've already said on Christmas that I never dated him," Burns added. "Don't you ever listen?"

"They wrote an article about him," Mrs. Weasley retorted. "Gilderoy Lockhart declared that you broke his heart. He said he'd write a book about it."

A book? Severus' jaw clenched. He wouldn't let the prat write anything about Severus' ex fiancée!

"Has he been cured of his memory troubles?" Burns asked sharply. "He probably read something in the Daily Prophet about our meant-to-be-relationship! Then he made a false declaration to get himself in the limelight! And he'd better not write anything about me! Me? Dating him? The Daily Prophet's full of rubbish! Isn't Lucius Malfoy a Death Eater? Was Sirius Black Voldemort's best ally?"

Mrs. Weasley flinched at the Dark Lord's name. "Haven't you married Sirius?" she replied coldly. "Because Dumbledore said that you had."

Severus' fists clenched. Bloody Black!

"Technically, yes," Burns responded with irritation. "We made a legal marriage for administrative reasons. All the rest about me dating the whole planet is false. I've never been engaged to Gilderoy Lockhart or to any other clown dressed in lilac clothes. And why don't you mind your own business? Don't you have a son to bother somewhere in the Ministry of Magic?"

Mrs. Weasley's mouth snapped shut. Her lower lip trembled. Her face betrayed her anger.

"End of discussion," Burns snapped.

"How can you--" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed.

But she was interrupted by the sound of broken crockery coming from the hallway. A very loud shrill cry filled the air. Many other shrieks followed. Severus frowned. All that sudden agitation bothered him.

"TONKS!" Mrs. Weasley shouted.

Severus sighed from irritation. Of course, no one other than Tonks could have produced so much trouble.

"Sorry!" Tonks' voice responded among the cries.

"Oh, bloody hell, what's going on?" Burns exclaimed.

"Mrs. Black," Mrs. Weasley replied sharply, a look of deep exasperation on her face. "Her portrait is hanging on the wall and it's impossible to take it down. We think she used a Permanent Sticking Charm."

"Really?" Burns asked. "We'll see." She stepped forward. Mrs. Weasley followed her. Severus stood too and followed them to the hallway, where Tonks was desperately trying to close the curtains on the screaming portrait.

"You, horrible half-breeds, freaks, abomination of nature!" Mrs. Black shrieked. "Leave this honourable house of mine!"

"I'm really sorry!" Tonks exclaimed.

"We know," Mrs. Weasley replied loudly. "You'd better go to the meeting room with the others."

Tonks apologised a last time and left.

"... filthy mutants, horrible gathering of dirt!" the portrait screamed.

Burns stood in front the portrait. She cleared her throat while she tapped it with her fingers. Then she took a deep breath and shrieked loud. Severus and Mrs. Weasley covered their ears. Damn! The shriek was piercing!

All the pictures around stopped yelling to stare at her, including Mrs. Black. Burns continued to howl until she emptied her lungs.

"Like my voice?" she asked quietly when silence had come back. She turned to the portraits in the hall. "Be quiet," she said, "or I'll start it again with the Sonorus Spell."

Mrs. Weasley cast her a disapproving stare. The disgusting image of the old Mrs. Black glared at Burns. "You!" she spat, her eyes wide opened, full of fury. "How dare you enter my house? Daughter of filth! You deserve to die like your parents! Shame on them!"

What was the bloody portrait talking about? What did that old hag know about Katarina's real parents?

"Filthy traitors, who tarnished the image of Pureblood wizards!" she exclaimed. "Who defended Mudbloods and freed house-elves!"

No, the old shrew was talking about the Burnses. Severus was relieved she didn't know the truth about Katarina's adoption, but he was angry to hear those insults.

"LEAVE MY HOUSE!" Mrs Black continued, drooling. Her eyes rolled.

Burns laughed devilishly. The old Mrs. Black stopped yelling and stared at her, her eyes wide opened.

"Shut up, old dusty portrait!" Burns exclaimed. "You can't do anything here except scream like a pig. I'm the new Mrs. Black within these walls!"

The portrait gasped. Severus screwed up his eyes and grimaced. Burns had become Mrs. Black instead of becoming Mrs. Snape. Filthy Black, who had married her!

"I never allowed this marriage!" the old shrew yelled.

"Of course you didn't," Burns replied. "You're dead!" She smirked. "Do you think that a pathetic screaming portrait scares me?" she continued. "Even the real Mrs. Black couldn't do anything against me! You think that you're terrifying? You haven't seen my first... sort of mother-in-law. She was something else!" She burst into satanic laughter.

Severus scowled. He hated thinking of his mother. Burns was right. The old Mrs Black was nothing compared to Agrippina Snape.

"If I remember well," the old Mrs. Black said crossly, "she would not allow your marriage either. She knew that you would bring shame on her family! Lucky for her that her son never married you!" she continued, staring at Severus with a knowing stare. "He realised in time that you were as dirty as your filthy parents."

Severus was livid. "Shut up, old shrew!" he hissed, glaring at the ugly hag. "You don't know anything! Shut up!"

Mrs. Weasley gasped. Severus turned his head, realising that she was still there. He had forgotten her presence. She was staring at him and Burns, a shocked expression on her face, her hand over her mouth. She had understood. "You... you were..." she asked.

Burns kept staring at Mrs. Black and ignored Mrs. Weasley's presence. "Actually," she replied to Mrs. Black, "my filthy parents had adopted me. Your son married a disgusting half-blood, my dear mother-in-law!" She smirked. "Happy?"

Mrs. Black's eyes rolled. She drooled more and shrieked all sorts of insults.

Burns pulled a dagger out of her cloak and inspected the blade, a nasty smile on her face. 'She should have been sorted in Slytherin,' Severus thought.

Old Mrs. Black shrieked again, but now from terror. Mrs. Weasley wheezed.

"I have a hobby," Burns said. "I like throwing daggers at life-size, screaming portraits."

"How dare you?" the old Mrs. Black yelled, her voice quivering.

"You will not..." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Why not?" Burns replied. "All that I see is an ugly portrait which keeps yelling all the time. Annoying! It's stuck on the wall, right? So she'll keep screaming here forever if we don't do anything!"

Severus agreed. What was the use of keeping this old shrew here?

"Dumbledore said that he didn't want to use violence," Mrs. Weasley said, reproach in her voice.

"It's my house now," Burns replied. "I don't need Dumbledore's approval."

Mrs. Weasley glared at her. Severus smirked. He was amused by Mrs. Weasley's outraged expression. How pleasing to see a Weasley treated that way, especially that annoying woman.

"Stupid abomination of nature!" the old Mrs. Black yelled at Burns. "You can't do anything to me with this dagger. Charms protect the canvas!"

"A Permanent Sticking Charm, yes," Burns replied. She approached the portrait with the dagger. A green light appeared when the dagger touched the canvas. The dagger flew away. Severus frowned. How could Burns manage to take the picture down or damage the image?

"Ah!" Mrs. Black retorted. "You see, you can't do anything!"

Burns smiled sadistically. "Can't I?" she asked, bringing the dagger back. "Mrs. Black used a Permanent Sticking Charm and an Anti-Cutting Charm. Let's try the third option..."

"The third option?" Mrs. Weasley asked, her eyebrows arched.

Burns pulled her wand out of her cloak, and pointed it at the portrait.

"Incendio!" Burns exclaimed. The portrait caught on fire. Mrs. Black screamed with terror. The canvas was devoured by the hungry flames. The ugly image disappeared.

Severus stepped backwards.

"Do you want to burn down the whole house?" Mrs. Weasley shouted, alarmed. She pulled out her wand.

"It won't happen," Burns replied. She pulled her wand back in her clock, stepped forward and put her gloved hands on the canvas. Ice came from her hands, extinguishing the flames. Mrs. Weasley seemed surprised to see Burns using magic that way, but her angry expression didn't disappear. "And what will you do about the fumes?" she asked reproachfully. "We have a meeting to hold!"

"Ask Gilderoy Lockhart," Burns retorted. "He probably wrote that in one of his books..."

"MURDERER!" A loud voice hissed behind them. Kreacher, the Blacks' house-elf, jumped on Burns. She fell onto the floor. Kreacher threw golden power at her face. She stopped moving. Severus and Mrs. Weasley rushed over to her to stop the elf, who was trying to strangle her. Severus grabbed the elf, but the creature bit his right hand. The Potions master emitted a brief howl of pain. The creature took advantage of Severus' surprise, jumped free, and escaped down the hallway.

Severus quickly leant over Burns and took her in his arms. She was pale and seemed... no, she was just asleep. Severus sighed, relieved. But why hadn't she struggled when that bloody elf had attacked her? The creature had probably drunk one of Mrs. Black's fortifying potions to find the strength to fight Burns. And... why was she asleep? What had that elf thrown in her face? Severus passed his hand over Burns' face. Then he inspected the golden powder that remained on his fingers.

"It's Somni Pulveris," Mrs. Weasley said, kneeling down too. "Mrs. Black kept the powder in a pot in her bedroom."

Somni Pulveris... of course. A pinch of Somni Pulveris into water plunged a person into sleep for hours. The elf had used it to prevent Burns from reacting. She had inhaled the powder and immediately fallen into slumber. Severus glared at Mrs. Weasley. "Weren't you supposed to clean the house," he whispered under his breath.

Mrs. Weasley arched her eyebrows. "The house is clean!" she replied. "The powder is not dangerous, and Mrs. Black's bedroom was locked."

"Oh, it was locked?" Severus said ironically. "How did that elf manage to enter then?"

Mrs. Weasley didn't reply right away. She appeared to be thinking. Then she searched in her pockets. "Oh," she exclaimed suddenly, "I've lost the key!"

"Lost?" Severus asked. "Been stolen, yes!"

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Weasley said. "But how could I know that Kreacher would steal it and use it?"

"You should have," Severus spat. "Imagine what could have happened if we hadn't been here. The elf would have strangled Burns! The price for your negligence!"

Mrs. Weasley looked shocked and angry. But she seemed to take hold of herself. "Fine," she snapped. "To repair my negligence, I'll bring Professor Burns to one of the bedrooms and watch over her."

"Certainly not!" Severus hissed. "I'll do it."

"You must attend the meeting," Mrs. Weasley said. "Arthur can fill me in on the details."

"I said no," Severus replied. "I'll stay with her!"

"Listen," Mrs. Weasley retorted stubbornly. "I don't know anything about your history. But as you've mentioned, I'm partly responsible for that incident. So I'll stay with her."

"Didn't you listen to me?" Severus shouted. "I--"

"What is happening here?" Dumbledore's voice interrupted. The Headmaster cast a look around, bringing his eyes from the consumed canvas to sleeping Burns.

"Kreacher attacked Professor Burns because she destroyed Mrs. Black's picture," Mrs. Weasley said. "Professor Burns has inhaled Somni Pulveris. I'll take her to a chamber to keep an eye on her while Professor Snape attends the meeting."

Bloody woman!

"I said that I would take care o--" Severus hissed.

"That is a good idea, Molly," Dumbledore interrupted, casting a knowing stare at Severus. "Professor Snape's presence is required."

"Headmaster..." Severus retorted furiously.

"I would advise using a Levitation Spell to move Professor Burns," Dumbledore continued, ignoring Severus. "She has strange magical reactions when she is sleeping. You should avoid any kind of physical contact with her."

"Headmaster," Severus repeated louder.

"We cannot revive Professor Burns right away," Dumbledore said, cutting off Severus' objections. "We need special medicine for that, and I do not think that we have anything suitable here. Professor Burns will wake up by herself later. Then I will notify her of the details of the meeting.

Severus was about to argue, but Mrs. Weasley spoke first.

"How did Kreacher manage to attack her if she's the new Mrs. Black?" she asked.

Severus raised an eyebrow. He hadn't thought of that.

Dumbledore took several seconds to think. Then he appeared to be a bit awkward. "Actually," he said, "Professor Burns and Sirius agreed to have a pro forma marriage..."

"That's what she said,' Mrs. Weasley replied, 'but why...?"

"Let us say that what is recognised by the Ministry of Magic does not work with house-elves," Dumbledore responded.

Severus smirked. Of course... The magic that linked the house-elves to their masters was old. Being legally married didn't have any importance, until the marriage had been consummated. So that was true. Here was the proof that Black, that bastard, hadn't touched her. Severus felt a great feeling of satisfaction. He sometimes feared that Burns had lied on that subject, but she fortunately hadn't. Black couldn't laugh at the Potions master, saying that he had taken Severus' fiancée from him. Burns had just accepted the marriage for Potter. She hadn't accepted more.

"I don't under--" Mrs. Weasley said.

"The marriage has never been consummated," Severus interrupted, irritated by the woman. He felt rather pleased to say it out loud. He could attack his rival on his pride and take his revenge!

"Oh," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. She blushed. An awkward silence followed. "So I'd better watch her, in case Kreacher comes back."

"Excuse me," Severus replied with irritation, "but I refuse tha--"

"The meeting will start in a few minutes, Severus," the Headmaster interrupted.

Severus didn't add anything. He had no choice. He reluctantly followed Dumbledore, silently cursing Mrs. Weasley.

***

Harry stood in front of the door to Burns' chambers, under his invisibility cloak. Since he'd had his last conversation with Lupin, he'd decided he would learn more about Burns. Lupin would never tell him what had happened to her, so Harry knew the best way to find out was to search for clues. Harry had cast a quick glance inside her office at the end of her classes. He had noticed that her Pensieves had disappeared. Where were they? Harry had thought that they were on The Emerald Star, but this idea was too discouraging.

Burns had said she was the only one able to go to her quarters on the ship. Harry could never have access to the Pensieves in that case. But he'd had another idea. Why weren't the Pensieves at Hogwarts? In her chambers maybe? It was a silly idea, but Harry wanted to check.

He wanted to try something, just in case. And he'd heard Burns saying to one of her crew that she would leave the castle for a couple of hours. Harry had thought it was the perfect occasion. But how would he get through that damn door?

He uttered a few incantations, but they didn't work.

"You, under the cloak," a voice asked, making Harry jump. He raised his head and noticed the portrait of a young pirate above the door, staring straight at him. Could the portrait see him?

"Password," the picture said.

"Er..." Harry said. A password? What password would Burns use?

"Vampire," he tried.

"No," the pirate replied. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Harry.

"Sword?" Harry said. "Pirate? Cloak? Grindelwald? The Emerald Star? Snape? Potions Master? Sirius Black?" he continued, hoping to find the right password among the list. The pirate in the picture shook his head. Harry felt angry. "Oh, can't you just let me in, bloody--"

The pirate arched an eyebrow.

Harry realised he should not have insulted the portrait. "Oh," he said, "er... sorry, I--"

"Password incomplete," the pirate said.

"Pass... what?" Harry asked. Password incomplete? "Sorry?" he repeated, hoping he had found a part of the password.

The pirate shook his head again.

No, it wasn't 'sorry.' What had Harry said? He didn't remember. He focused on the last words he had uttered. "Bloody?" he asked, half-thinking that it was correct.

"Password incomplete," the pirate repeated.

So there was 'bloody' in the password? No need to say that Burns had chosen the words. "Bloody bastard," Harry tried.

"Password incomplete," the picture said again. Harry tried many associations of words, using insults that would have shocked McGonagall. But the portrait only replied the same words.

"Bloody hell," he said at last, frustrated not to have found the right words.

"Come in," the pirate replied, surprising the boy. Harry heard a click and the door unlocked. He quickly entered the room, a smile on his lips. Having guessed Burns' password gave him a feeling of satisfaction. But now he had to pay attention. Burns mustn't find him in her quarters.

The room were he stood was a large sitting-room which looked like his common room. Harry cast a quick glance around, but there were no Pensieves there. The boy was a little disappointed, but he hadn't searched the whole quarters yet. And if he didn't find the Pensieves, he could search for photographs or letters. Harry felt ill at ease. It was bad to be there and search for personal objects in Burns' chambers. What would Harry's mother have thought of him if she had seen him spying on her best friend?

But it was too late now. Harry wanted to know. Maybe his mother would have wanted him to help Burns. And the only way to help her was to learn about her.

Harry observed Burns' bookshelf, but there was nothing special in it, except that it contained literature of all sorts. Hermione would have been happy to have a look at those books. Harry didn't see any photo album or any sign of something from her past. He left the bookshelf and entered Burns' bedroom.

The first thing that he saw was Burns' Pensieves. He approached and leant over them, trying to choose the best one. It was so difficult! He kept focusing on the images that appeared on the surface, but he didn't see anything that inspired him. Exactly what was he searching for? He didn't know. What had happened with Snape? Which was the right memory? Harry had three Pensieves in front of him, full of memories. And he didn't have time to check them all. He finally chose at random the first Pensieve at his right and buried his head in it. Maybe it would bring him clues about what had happened.

He found himself in the snowy park at Hogwarts. Young Snape and Burns were walking together. Harry went forward to observe them. Although he knew Snape and Burns had been engaged, seeing them together was strange.

Burns' face was beaming. Her stare was not icy at all. She looked happy and smiled. Snape looked different too. His usual nasty smirk had gone, and his stare was not the menacing one he threw at the students in Potions. His arm lay protectively around her shoulders. He obviously cared for her.

"What a wonderful afternoon," Burns said.

Snape arched an eyebrow. An expression that Harry recognised came over his face. "Wonderful?" Snape whispered under his breath. "I'm freezing!"

"Severus," Burns replied. She rolled her eyes. "I was not talking about the weather, but about the time we're spending together."

Snape's face relaxed. "So it is a wonderful afternoon," he replied softly.

Burns extended her hand in front of her and observed something on it. Harry realised she was wearing an engagement ring.

"I'm happy," she said. "These are the most beautiful holidays I've ever had."

"Really?" Snape asked. A shadow passed over his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"I love being engaged to you," Burns responded. She paused. "I thought that you would never propose to me."

Snape stared at her interrogatively.

"We hadn't seen each other for five months," Burns said, catching his stare. "Usually, that's not a good sign for engagement."

Five months? Harry was surprised. Whaw... they didn't see each other often.

"Time or distance doesn't matter," Snape replied. "I've been thinking of proposing to you for a long time." He paused. "Did you really want to leave me?"

What? Harry couldn't believe his ears. Burns had wanted to leave Snape? Why hadn't she done it?

"You hurt me," Burns replied. "You were mean... No, you were cruel. What you said about me... when you mentioned Sirius..."

Sirius? What did Burns mean? Harry listened attentively.

"I don't want to talk about Black now," Snape hissed. "Leave that bastard where he is!"

Harry's jaw clenched. He wanted to hit Snape.

"Severus," she replied, "I want to talk about him."

"Kat--" Snape said with irritation.

"I want you to listen to me," Burns interrupted. "Sirius Black has always been a good friend of mine. He has always been popular. He was and is still brilliant in class..."

Snape scowled.

"He's very handsome," Burns continued, "and he can have all the girls that he wants."

Harry grinned. He was delighted to see Snape's furious expression. The future Potions master glared at Burns.

"Is that all?" Snape hissed.

"Not yet," Burns replied. "Sirius is all of this, but there's something you own that he will never have."

"Which is?" Snape said angrily. Harry wondered the same thing.

"Me," Burns replied. "Sirius and I are not meant to be together. You and I are."

Snape's expression softened.

"Honey," Burns said shyly, "You're always acting as if... you are jealous of Sirius. I feel that you fear that..." Burns didn't continue. She sighed. "There's absolutely nothing between Sirius and me," she said. "And there will never be anything. I'm with you. Only with you. Don't you trust me?"

Snape appeared to be thinking. Then he looked at Burns warmly. "I trust you," he replied. "But I can't bear knowing that the bastard is in London with you while I'm stuck in Hogwarts. That drives me mad!"

Burns didn't reply immediately. "I'm sometimes jealous of Lily," she whispered after several long seconds.

Harry's eyes became wide. Burns was jealous of his mother?

Snape screwed up his eyes. Harry saw anger in his eyes.

"Jealous of Evans?" Snape hissed.

"It's not Evans anymore, Hon--" Burns said.

"I don't care," Snape interrupted. He snorted.

'Bastard!' Harry thought. Snape was still the same, an awful greasy bastard!

"Don't get angry," Burns replied softly. "Let me explain to you what I mean. Lily is always with James. When they're separated, it's only for five hours. And we'd been separated for five months." She paused. "Even before Harry was born, James and Lily were always together."

Snape raised an eyebrow.

Harry grinned. He loved hearing that his parents couldn't live without each other.

"When Lily and I go for a walk in town," Burns continued, "she's assured to find her husband at home when she comes back. When I come back home, I find an empty flat." She sighed. "I miss you so much," she said. Harry saw sadness in her eyes. "I know it's not easy for you to come to London with your job," she said, "but... I need you in my life, Severus. Five months without seeing you... I couldn't bear it again." She looked at Snape pleadingly.

Snape's angry expression had disappeared completely. Harry had never seen Snape staring that way at anyone. He looked at Burns adoringly. "I know," he said silkily. "I promise I will come more often." He embraced Burns and whispered something in her ear. Harry didn't hear what he had said. But it was probably something pleasing, since they kissed.

Harry turned around, disgusted. He didn't want to witness Snape kissing! Especially if he was kissing Burns! But Harry had to recognise that they seemed to love each other. What had happened to Burns that made her think Snape had never loved her?

"Do you really find Black handsome?" Snape asked softly.

Harry spun around. Burns stared at Snape with a tender and amused look.

"Honey, would you believe me if I said I didn't?" she replied.

Snape arched an eyebrow.

"I find him handsome," Burns continued, "but I don't find him attractive. He's like... a picture. Some pictures are lovely, but you don't necessarily feel something when you see them." She smiled. "And I feel something when I see you. Leave Sirius with all his groupies. Let him be happy with one of them, who will cherish him. I know you hate him but he's a nice guy, who deserves to find the right person. I'm not this person. I have my own beloved fiancé to take care of."

"Is he someone I know?" Snape asked, smirking.

"Maybe," Burns replied. "He's a very bad-tempered Slytherin. A former student of Hogwarts. You must have known him? A black-haired boy with a witty mind? With a serious potential in making potions? Very charismatic, although he doesn't know."

Snape? Very charismatic? Harry repressed a chuckle.

"A lucky Slytherin," Snape said. He leant over Burns to kiss her again.

Harry didn't have time to turn around. A hand grabbed him and brought him out of the memory. Harry found himself back in Burns' bedroom. A house-elf stood near him.

"Mister Harry Potter mustn't stay here," the elf said. "Captain Burns will be angry if she finds Mister Potter here. Cooky shouldn't be here either, but she didn't want Mister Potter to get in trouble."

Cooky? Burns' house-elf? Harry didn't mind. He was there to find clues.

"I'm sorry, Cooky," Harry replied, "but I must stay here!"

"Mister Potter mustn't peer into Captain Burns' Pensieves," Cooky said reproachfully. "Captain Burns put the right memories in his Pensieve."

"In my Pensieve?" Harry asked. "I don't have any Pensieve." What was the elf talking about?

"Mister Potter's name is written on the Pensieve," Cooky replied. "Captain Burns chose the object especially for Mister Potter."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. He inspected the Pensieves, unsuccessfully. "I didn't see my name on those--"

"These are Captain Burns' Pensieves," Cooky interrupted. "Mister Potter's Pensieve is in the dressing-room."

"What?" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide opened. He rushed over to the dressing-room. He opened the door and noticed a fourth Pensieve, on which his name was written in golden letters. Harry's mouth fell agape. He looked at the surface of the Pensieve and saw images of his parents. A letter lay near the Pensieve, addressed to Harry. The envelope was not closed, so Harry took the letter and read it:

"Dear Harry,

If you read this letter, it means that I'm probably dead or close to it. It doesn't matter, so please don't be sad. That's what I wanted. I put all my memories of your parents (I hope I managed to survive long enough to sort them all), Sirius, and Remus in that Pensieve. They are yours now.

Tell Remus that I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt him.

Tell Professor Snape that I'm sorry. I wanted to hurt him more. As much as I had loved him. As much as he hurt me. But this is impossible.

In other circumstances, I would have taken care of you as if you were my son. But you deserve more than a mother like me. As you have probably guessed, the photo album came from me. Now I can offer you more than images of your parents. My memories are the best part of me I can give to you. I wish you the best in your life. Your parents and Sirius would have been very proud of you, as I am.

Love,

Katarina Burns."

Harry was shocked. So Burns had put her memories in the Pensieve for him? She wanted to give them to him? But... Snape had said that putting so many memories in Pensieves was very dangerous. How had Burns put selected memories in that Pensieve? She said she hoped to sort them all before she died. Did it mean that she had to check all her memories? Harry felt very bad. If it was dangerous to put so many memories in Pensieves, it was even more dangerous to take them back for a check and get rid of them.

Did it alter her health? Would she die sooner because of Harry? Could he accept such a gift? He wanted to know more about his parents, but what if it killed Burns? A part of him didn't want her to give her past up. Deep inside, Harry felt the present was too big.

"Mister Potter must leave now," Cooky said, an alarmed expression on her face.

"What happened to Professor Burns?" Harry asked. The elf looked reluctant to reply. "I'll leave if you answer," Harry added.

"Cooky doesn't know," the elf replied. "The day You-Know-Who was defeated, Captain Burns' apartment was destroyed. Mistress never came back. For years, Cooky thought that Captain Burns was dead."

For years? Harry thought that Burns was famous for being a Dark Sorceress. Hadn't Cooky heard about her? And what about Snape?

"When did you hear that she was alive?" Harry asked.

"Ten years ago," Cooky replied. "The Daily Prophet mentioned mistress on the front page."

"Ten y--" Harry gasped. "Did Snape know that she was alive?"

"Cooky mustn't talk about that," the elf exclaimed.

"I know that Snape and Burns were engaged," Harry replied with irritation. "Did he know that she was alive?"

Cooky shook her head, then hit it hard on the closest wall. "Bad Cooky, bad!" she shouted.

Harry grabbed her and led her away from the wall. "Stop that," he said. "I don't want you to hurt yourself!"

"Cooky mustn't speak about that," the elf said. "It will cause pain to poor Master Snape."

"Poor Master Snape?" Harry asked, surprised. "Aren't you scared of him?"

"Master Snape is a good master," Cooky replied. "He has always treated Cooky well. Cooky mustn't speak about that!" Cooky curled up on herself and put her hands on her ears.

Harry didn't insist. The elf seemed terrified to have spoken. And Harry had his answer. Snape had thought that Burns was dead. If Harry hadn't disliked Snape that much, he could have pitied him. He understood better why Lupin and Dumbledore said that Snape had suffered a lot.

***

Molly Weasley was seated on a chair near to Burns, who lay on a bed. The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was still in deep sleep, but her sleep was agitated. She moved her head with an expression of suffering and moaned. She was surely having a bad dream. But unfortunately, Molly couldn't do anything for her. Because of the Somni Pulveris, she couldn't wake Burns up. Even if the woman was awful, Molly felt worried to see her in such pain.

Burns gasped suddenly, making Molly jump. Burns breathed hard and her body shook. "Mum?" Burns whispered in her sleep. Her voice quavered while her face covered with icy tears.

Molly stepped backwards. She had never seen anything like that in her whole life. First, the ice coming from Burns' hands, then her tears? What was going on with that woman? She had heard rumours that Burns was very ill. Was it true?

***

Burns stood in her parents' house. How had she arrived there? She didn't know. She didn't know anything. She was in the dining-room, seated at the end of a long table. It was strange. She could see the rays of sun filtering through one of the windows. From another window, she could see the darkness of the night, lit by a crescent moon. Soon, the light of the sun disappeared, shrouding the room in darkness.

Burns stood up and looked around. The room seemed empty and frightening. A portrait on the wall with only eyes was staring at her. She heard a terrifying laugh coming from the picture. She stepped backwards and left the room, entering a corridor lit by thousands of candles. When she spun around, she realised that the door behind her had disappeared, turning into an endless corridor. The other side of the corridor seemed to lead somewhere. Burns moved forward, hoping to find an exit.

After several minutes, she heard the voice of a woman, who was singing a lullaby that Burns knew. Someone had already sung it to her... a long time ago....

Burns noticed a door, opened it, and found herself in a little garden. A woman dressed in a dirty white nightgown was kneeling down on the wet grass, digging in the ground with her nails. She kept singing her lullaby slowly. Burns didn't see her face. She could only see her back and her wet dark hair sticking to her clothes.

Burns went close, but something prevented her from moving. Her legs refused to step forward. The woman stopped singing. Then she laughed devilishly.

"So you're here," she hissed without turning around. The woman stood up and turned around. It was Burns' mother, Joyce Burns, who had adopted her when she was a little girl. Her mother stared at her disdainfully, her face covered with tears. Her nails were sharp and long, full of dirt for having dug so much.

Burns gasped. She breathed with effort. She felt her body shake. "Mum?" she whispered, her voice quavering. "You... you are alive?" Emotion came over her. She sobbed. Her mother. She hadn't seen her mother since... shortly before she had died. Had she really died? Was Burns mistaken? What was real? Suddenly, Burns felt that her mother had never really died. She was more and more convinced that her mother was alive. She was real... although she looked strange. But it didn't matter. Her mother was alive.

"You're early, Katarina," Joyce Burns said, a nasty smile on her face. "I was digging your grave for you. I've already written your name on the gravestone."

Burns looked at the gravestone. Inscriptions appeared in letters of fire: Katarina Emerald Burns. Child of evil, who betrayed her family. She was shocked and hurt.

"Mum," Burns said between sobs. "What's happened to you? What's happening to me? Why are you digging my grave? I thought you were dead! Dumbledore said... he said that you were dead. And I've learnt who has killed you!"

Was her mother dead? No! So... no one had killed her... That story was nonsense. But yet... Burns knew who had killed her mother.

"I'm lost," Burns said. "I don't know what the truth is. I'm so confused and tired!" She felt she was shivering from head to foot. "I'm cold," she said. "Can't we go inside?" She noticed that her mother looked injured. "Oh, you're bleeding," Burns exclaimed, unsuccessfully trying to step forward. "Let me help you. It's so cold here. You're going to be ill if you keep that nightgown on you. Dad will not..."

Dad? Where was he? Was he alive too? Yes, he was. He had to be.

"You killed your father," Joyce said.

"What?" Burns asked, shocked. "I... no, I didn't... I didn't kill Dad!" Had she? She felt an awful sensation of guilt. Yes, she had killed her father. She didn't remember how, but she had. She was responsible for his death.

"I should have buried you here when you were a baby," Joyce said. "Awful incarnation of evil!"

It hurt. Burns felt hiccups running through her chest. The mother smiled horribly, letting two fangs come out of her mouth.

"You're a vampire?" Burns gasped.

"That's what I've become when you bit me," Joyce replied. "When you buried your fangs in my neck and forced me to swallow your blood. When you took my last breath of life."

"I'm not a vampire," Burns replied. "I didn't... transform you! I couldn't have..."

"You've murdered us!" Joyce exclaimed. "The fangs of your family entered our necks and infected us!"

"I didn't kill you!' Burns exclaimed, her eyes full of tears. "I... didn't want you to die! Voldemort sent... It's not--"

"I should have killed you!" Joyce exclaimed. "You're an abomination! That's why the Dark Lord wanted to take your powers! Your awful fiancé didn't want you. You didn't even notice that he was using you."

Burns knelt down. She took her head between her hands. Her body rocked back and forth. She felt it was too much. She was going insane. "I didn't know it would happen that way," Burns replied. "I loved him." She sniffed. "I just wanted a normal life. I've lost everything. I'm living in hell."

"You don't know what hell is," Joyce hissed. "Because of you, your father and I have been sent there! You cursed us!"

Burns sobbed harder. "I've brought misfortune to everyone," she said again and again.

When she raised her head, she was face to face with her mother. Joyce Burns was looking at Burns with a stare full of hate which belonged to someone else. Burns realised it was not her mother she had in front of her. It was Bellatrix Lestrange. She had a dagger in her hand and stared at her sadistically. She smiled horribly.

"I'll take care of your pretty face," she said. "I'll try softly, but in the end, you'll be disfigured."

She lifted the blade to Burns' left cheek. Burns felt the dagger pierce the skin. Slowly, deeply, Bellatrix Lestrange cut her face, leaving gashes all around. Burns felt the awful sensation of pain and the blood dripping on her neck. She couldn't move. Suddenly, Bellatrix Lestrange disappeared. Burns heard laughs all around. She realised she was surrounded by hooded Death Eaters. The gravestone had moved. It was close to her, and the inscriptions were in fire. They had changed. Now, Katarina Emerald Snape was written on the tombstone.

Burns clothes changed into a white wedding gown. Blood splattered on it. The gown touched the gravestone and caught fire. Burns sobbed, cried, and stirred. She didn't feel the fire, but she felt the blood dripping on her face and clothes. It terrified her.

Suddenly, the awful scene faded. Conscious thought came back. Burns opened her eyes. She was lying on a bed. A pan boiled on the bedside table close to her. Violet fumes escaped from the receptacle.

Burns jolted awake in panic. She straightened up quickly. Where was she? Her vision blurred. The light of the candles hurt.

"It's all right, dear," the voice of a woman said. "You've just had an awful nightmare." Burns looked in the direction of the voice, but she had trouble recognising the woman.

"Who are you?" she moaned.

"Molly Weasley," the woman replied.

Mrs. Weasley? Burns closed her eyes hard and tried to focus on reality. Weasley... Ah, yes... Gilderoy Lockhart's fan. Burns was in Grimmauld Place, and that awful house-elf had attacked her.

"The effects of the fumes will dissipate in a few seconds," Mrs. Weasley said. "I remembered that Mrs. Black kept salts in her bedroom. It seemed the best way to wake you."

"I'm going to be sick," Burns said.

"Drink this," Mrs. Weasley said, giving Burns a glass. "It's water with sugar. The nausea will disappear quickly. I give that to my children when they're ill."

Burns had a drink and massaged her aching temple. A sudden, unpleasant idea came to her. "Did I talk in my sleep?" she asked.

"I'd say so," Mrs. Weasley replied.

Burns grimaced. The woman sat in a chair close to her. "When did you lose your parents?" she asked.

Why the hell was that woman asking her that? It was none of her business! But Burns was feeling so ill that she didn't find the strength to argue.

"A long time ago," she murmured. "I was almost sixteen."

"It's hard to lose your parents so young," Mrs. Weasley replied.

Burns shrugged her shoulders. "I've grown up now," she retorted. "My parents are just a memory. As anything else..."

Mrs. Weasley kept silent for several seconds. "As you know," she said, "one of my sons works in the Ministry of Magic. The relationships Arthur and I have with Percy are tense. But whatever will happen, he will remain our son."

"Your biological son," Burns snapped. He felt her anger rising. How could that woman compare her experience to hers?

"What's the difference?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"When you have your own child," Burns responded, "you know where he comes from. No bad surprises. You don't risk adopting the grandchild of some very powerful Dark Mage! My substitute parents didn't know that I would bring them bad luck."

"But... it was war!" Mrs. Weasley replied. "So many parents died! It doesn't mean that their children were responsible for that!"

"When you come from a Pureblood family," Burns retorted, "you'd better not adopt a half-blood baby who's meant to be powerful. Here is the difference. And I guess that Voldemort made it."

Mrs. Weasley flinched at the name of Voldemort. "It wouldn't make any difference to me," she replied. "You never know what will happen in life. I wouldn't hesitate to adopt Harry if I could."

Burns didn't reply. Harry... She felt guilty. She could have adopted him too, if things had been different. What would have happened if she had never fallen in love with Snape? She sighed. "I'm tired," she said. "My... dreams were exhausting."

Mrs. Weasley nodded and stood up. "You should rest," she said. She went to the door and turned around one last time. "I'll prepare sandwiches for you," she added. "It's the best way to forget about nightmares." Then she left.

Burns snorted. It was easy to say. Mrs. Weasley's nightmares stopped when she was awake. Burns' nightmares never stopped.

***

9