Harry Potter and the House of Ravenclaw

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Chapter Three - Is It Really The End Of The World?

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Harry watched as Snape walked out of the hall with Ravenclaw. Something had been wrong with Snape during the entire feast.

“Harry?” Hermione put her hand on his shoulder.

“Hmm?”

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Liar.” Hermione put her hands on her hips. “You and Ron were whispering all through the feast. What were you talking about?”

Harry looked back at the door through which Snape and Ravenclaw had left. “I’ll tell you about it in the common room.”

~~~~~

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat around the large fire in the Gryffindor common room watched by George, Fred and Ginny.

Hermione looked at each of their sombre faces. “So would anyone like to tell me what has got you all so rattled? The last thing I heard was that Dr. Ravenclaw was ‘weird’. Now you’re all acting as if it were the end of the world.”

Fred shook his head. “Not quite.”

“But bloody close,” George chipped in.

“Why?” Hermione cried out, exasperated. “What is going on?”

“Dr. Ravenclaw isn’t really a Ravenclaw. Well, not anymore.” Ron sighed. “She and Mr. Ravenclaw have been fighting for years now.”

“Mum says they’re going to get a divorce,” Ginny cut in.

“Well, Ron was telling me during the feast about how Dr. Ravenclaw isn’t exactly faithful to Mr. Ravenclaw.” Harry looked at Hermione, who raised her eyebrows. “He said that the family parties were really just an excuse to invite men over.”

George nodded. “She’s been at it for years. Mum had a go at her one year-”

“In private, mind you!” Fred cut into his brother’s sentence. “Not like she shouted at her in front of everyone.”

“True,” said George. “But we’ve never been asked to another party since.”

“She doesn’t like admitting that she’s a hussy!” Ginny spat out, causing them all to look at her in astonishment. “Well, that’s what Mum calls her, and she is!”

“As interesting as this is,” Hermione said, attempting to bring order to the situation again, “why has it got you all so… well… worried?”

“Dr. Ravenclaw wasn’t in Ravenclaw.” Ron leaned forward. “She wasn’t in Gryffindor like Uncle Ed, or Hufflepuff either.”

“She was a Slytherin?" Hermione didn't seem fazed. “So? Not all Slytherins are stuck up or evil.”

Harry nodded. “You're right, we’re overreacting.”

Ron frowned. “You saw who she went out of the hall with. Not Lupin. Not her brother…”

“Snape.” Hermione gasped. “You think she’s having an affair with Snape?”

Harry couldn't help laughing, earning him glares from the Weasleys.

“Harry, it’s not funny,” Ginny scowled.

“Oh, come on,” Hermione said, between giggles. “That’s a bit of a jump, from leaving the hall with him to sleeping with him.”

“Besides, it might do Snape some good.” Harry sniggered; then, seeing Ron’s pained expression, he stopped. “Come on. The worst that will happen is Snape’ll make her be nasty to the Gryffindors. We can handle that.”

Ron shook his head. “You just don’t understand!” he shouted and ran out of the common room and up the stairs to the dormitory.

**********

As they made their way through the corridors, Ravenclaw made no attempt to speak to Severus. As they climbed the stairs to the third floor, she did not look at him, nor did she thank him when he held the door to her room open for her, all she said was, “Come in, Severus. We must talk.”

“I thought you’d never speak.” He tried to smile at her.

“I don’t think Remus wants us to talk.” Ravenclaw took off her black cloak and hung it up behind the door. “I got that feeling in the corridors, seeing as he was following us.”

Following them? But Severus hadn’t noticed anything. Usually he got a sense when someone was following or hiding themselves, but he must have been so wrapped up in worrying whether or not Ravenclaw would speak to him, he hadn’t noticed.

“We do have a lot to talk about.” Severus walked over to Ravenclaw. “I don’t know where to start, to be honest.”

“I thought we’d start with how we feel about each other.”

Severus was taken aback; he hadn’t expected her to be so personal. “All right.” It was simple but it was all he could get out of his mouth. “So you still have feelings for me?” he asked.

Ravenclaw nodded.

“I see. Well, I’m not sure what to say. I still care for you too. I just thought…”

“Well, that came out quicker than I thought.” Ravenclaw laughed. “I still care for you too; more than care. But I couldn’t tell you; you were… well… unreachable.”

“When I was with him, you mean?” Severus looked at the floor.

“Yes.” Ravenclaw nodded slowly. “It troubled me not being able to tell you.”

“I know.” He rushed towards her suddenly, putting one hand on her arm. “It’s been like hell for me too, not being able to see you or tell you. I didn’t know how to reach you; I didn’t where to find you.”

It was good to see her again after all these years. Everything about her reminded him of better, more carefree days: her face, her eyes, and her smell. Her scent was enchanting, like something from childhood that Severus couldn’t quite put his finger on. He took a deep breath and out of the blue felt hot all over. His cheeks were flushed with the sudden surge of emotions he had kept bottled up for years.

“Calm down.” Ravenclaw put her left hand on his cheek. “Here, come and sit.”

They both sat down on the bed. Severus took another deep breath; he didn’t feel like himself; the self he’d grown to be after Voldemort. The self that hid things away to save face, the self that hated everyone and was miserable and lonely. He didn’t feel like Professor Snape, Potions master at Hogwarts. Instead, he felt like a lead weight had been lifted from his body. He felt young again. He was Severus, the self that had loved and had been loved by Verena Rowl back when he was a student in Hogwarts.

“I have to tell you how I feel.” Severus looked at her; she hardly looked any different than when they were in school. “I never stopped loving you, even when I was with the Dark Lord. Even when no one else would even look at me, I knew deep down that you still loved me too. And that was what helped me get through every single day, knowing that.”

Ravenclaw nodded. “I do love you.” Her face turned serious. “But you have to understand, things are never going to be as they were.”

“You’re married for a start.”

“Yes, for now.” Ravenclaw looked down at her hands.

“For now?” Severus felt his heart skip a beat. “Is something wrong?”

“Things haven’t been right between Bevan and me for some time,” Ravenclaw admitted. “We’ve stayed together for the children, but I think they know now and they’re old enough now to understand.”

“Are you with him?”

“Not really.” Ravenclaw shook her head. “We live together, but we have separate bedrooms and we hardly talk. We were going to wait until our son got married before divorcing.”

“I see.” Severus pondered his next question. “Well, then, I would like to know - to know where I stand. I was wondering then…”

“If I’m available?” Ravenclaw smiled softly.

Severus nodded. “In a nutshell.”

“Yes and no.” Ravenclaw shrugged. “I’m not really sure about myself or about you.”

“You don’t want to see me.”

“No, it’s not that. I do want to see you, of course I do; but things are never going to be the same.”

“I understand.”

“No, I don’t think you do. I nearly lost my brother to that bastard Tom Riddle because of you. I should hate you.”

“You called him… Tom Riddle.” Severus was shocked.

“What, instead of Lord Voldemort?” Ravenclaw laughed. Severus half winced, half gasped in disbelief. “That man was neither a Lord nor was his name really Voldemort. He was born Tom Marvolo Riddle. So that’s what I call him because that’s all he’ll ever be deep down. Plain, simple, Tom Riddle. Nothing special.”

“But he was.” Severus shook his head. “He was terrible, but he was special.”

“Not in my eyes. Going around saying ‘Oh look, I’m so important being the heir of Slytherin’. Big deal. My children are the heirs of Ravenclaw but you don’t see them going on a killing spree.”

He leaned close to her; not trying to kiss her, just wanting to be close. “I’ve been waiting for this.” Severus sighed. “I don’t feel myself. I feel happy for the first time in years.”

“You’re certainly starting to sound like that first year I met at Hogwarts. You were the one who used to spy on James Potter and Sirius Black, the one who used to put curses on teachers’ chairs and blame Gryffindor. I remember this Severus Snape, I must say. I didn’t much like that other one.” Ravenclaw rested her head on his shoulder. “Dumbledore wrote to me and told me about this Professor Snape; told me he was a miserable sod.”

Severus laughed. He had been miserable, but now he felt free.

“I’ll let you get some sleep.” He stood up slowly. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Severus.” Ravenclaw smiled warmly at him. Severus smiled and closed the door.

**********

“You could be wrong.” Hermione turned to Ron at breakfast. “You could have the wrong end of the stick.”

“And even if you do, it’s not too bad, is it?” Harry shrugged. “I mean, yeah, she’s cheating on her husband, but it’s with Snape, it’s not like it’s with Vol-”

“Don’t say it!” Ron warned.

Harry smiled but stopped himself.

“Besides, it is bad. If they are, I mean.”

“How?” Hermione helped herself to more toast.

“Well, she’s from a very… err… famous family.” Ron grabbed the last piece of bacon, but the plate refilled almost immediately. “If she got divorced it would be all over the Daily Prophet.”

“I still don’t see why it’s such a ground-shattering terrible thing if she runs off with Snape.” Hermione shook her head.

Ron’s face filled with disgust at the thought of Snape, then turned back to a stern expression. “It’s terrible because it means it would bring the Ravenclaw family into … oh, what’s the word?”

“Disrepute?” Harry put in.

Ron nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. And if the Ravenclaw family go down, so do the families linked with them.” Ron could see Harry and Hermione hadn’t got it yet. “If they get their dirty secrets dragged through the press, then so do the Rowls, the Malfoys-”

“That’s not such a bad thing,” Harry cut Ron off.

“And the Weasleys.” Ron watched as his friends grasped the seriousness of the situation.

“But… what secrets do the Weasleys have?” Hermione leaned over and whispered.

“If I told you, they wouldn’t be secret.” On seeing the rather put-off look in Hermione’s eyes, Ron added, “We’ve got some. Some aren’t that bad, but some are. And those are probably just the ones I know about.”

“Oh,” was all Hermione could say.

Harry nodded in understanding. “So if Dr. Ravenclaw is seeing Snape, then she’s putting Ron’s family in the line of fire.”

~~~~~

By the time Monday came around Ron’s mood had gotten worse. He sat on his bed and shook his head. “I can’t believe she’d do this to the family.”

Harry tried to help. “I don’t think she knows what she’s doing.”

Hermione appeared in the doorway. “If you two don’t hurry up, we’ll be late for class.”

When they didn’t move, she shook her head. “Well, suit yourselves. I’m going. I just hope you aren’t too late for Potions.”

“Potions?” Ron’s head shot up, but Hermione had gone. “We’ve got Potions?”

Harry looked at his timetable and nodded grimly.

“We’ll never make it in time.” Ron ran around pulling on his robes and grabbing his books. “Snape will kill us.”

Harry shook his head. “Not if we sneak in without him noticing.”

“How?”

“My dad’s old cloak.”

**********

Severus sat in the staff room, staring into space. No matter how hard he tried, he was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything other than Ravenclaw. Small scenarios played out in his mind of how they would spend time together, what each of them would say, and how they would say goodnight.

The environment of the school was not really the ideal place to conduct a private relationship. New rumours started every day and it was only a matter of time until a student saw them together.

Severus knew that in order to talk to Ravenclaw properly he would have to get her out of Hogwarts and into a more casual setting.

Severus mentally shook himself out of his reverie and rose to his feet. This would not do; sitting around daydreaming of lost love when there was work to be done.

He began his walk to the dungeons, thinking of yet another scenario where he swept Ravenclaw off her feet. Turning a corner near the main staircase he could see her, standing just at the foot of the stairs. She was nose to nose, if you could call it that, with Peeves, evidently putting him in his place.

As Severus got closer he could hear her saying to the poltergeist, “I don’t suppose you’d like to spend another year in an enchanted bottle or a jar, would you, Peeves?” Ravenclaw leaned forward. “I still know that spell.”

“NO!” Peeves shrieked, and floated away though a wall.

Severus came up behind her. “Ah, I see you’ve still got a way with him.”

She jumped and turned round. “I didn’t hear you coming, Severus.”

“Sorry.” He smiled apologetically. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Where are you going?”

“My first lesson isn’t until eleven so I was on my way back to the staff room.” Ravenclaw smiled back at Severus. “When is your first lesson?”

“Now, unfortunately. I’ve got the fifth-year Slytherins and Gryffindors.” Severus turned quickly to catch a second year running down the corridor. “Miss Hurtle, I don’t think that speed is appropriate for a school corridor. Ten points from Hufflepuff.”

“I see you’re in Professor Snape mode at the moment.” Ravenclaw laughed when Miss Hurtle had slunk away. “I’ll leave you to get to your lesson.”

“Wait, Verena.” Severus put out a hand and grabbed her arm gently. “I was hoping to talk with you.”

“About?”

“Us. You. Me. Anything.” He shrugged. “What are you doing this evening?”

“Nothing.” Ravenclaw grinned and tenderly took his hand in hers. “Why?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to come out to Hogsmeade with me? A new restaurant has just opened and Minerva says it’s quite good.” Severus looked down at her affectionately.

“I’d love to.” Ravenclaw gave his hand a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you at about seven. I’ll meet you in the entrance hall.”

“Seven.” Severus nodded and started towards the staircase to the dungeons.

“Oh, Severus!” Ravenclaw called.

He spun round and smiled. “Yes?”

“You may want to take ten points each from Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter. Not only are they late for your lesson, but they’ve just overheard our entire conversation.”

Severus was almost shaking with anger. That was all he needed. Harry Potter and his little friends knowing the ins and outs of his private life.

“How do you know?”

“Well, they’ve just scurried past you under an invisibility cloak.” Ravenclaw grinned and continued up to the staff room.

“Did they now?” Severus muttered as he made his way down the stairs. Well, he’d soon have that confiscated. But wait. How had she known and he hadn’t?

~~~~~

Harry couldn’t work out how Snape knew they were late for class. How could he have seen them with his dad’s cloak on? Snape had taken ten points from both of them, but luckily hadn’t taken the cloak.

That afternoon Harry and Ron told Hermione what they’d seen and heard.

“Snape’s got a date with Dr Ravenclaw.” Hermione pulled a disgusted face. “So you were right.”

Ron nodded glumly.

“Did I just hear you right?” Neville Longbottom called over from the other side of the Gryffindor common room. “Snape has a date with Ravenclaw?”

“What?” Dean Thomas looked up from his work. “You’re kidding.”

A small first-year girl pulled a face. “That’s disgusting. I mean, they’re old.”

“I think it’s romantic,” Lavender Brown sighed.

“Isn’t she married?” Lee Jordan asked.

The comments spread through Gryffindor tower like wildfire.

Fred shook his head at Hermione and sighed. “Now you’ve done it.”

**********

Severus sat watching over the students as they ate their evening meal in the Great Hall. As usual the conversations of the students were clearly audible to anyone sat at the High Table.

Nearly the entire Gryffindor table was talking about Severus. Every so often little eyes would flicker up to look at him and a whisper would go down the table.

Hermione, Ron and Harry sat staring at Severus. Harry and Hermione looked merely curious; however, Ron looked positively shocked and horrified—probably at the thought that anyone would want to go to dinner with the Potions master.

“What are they looking at?” McGonagall leaned over to Severus as he got up from the High Table. “Almost all of Gryffindor is talking about you.”

“I’m going out to dinner later tonight.” Severus gave away as little information as he could. “Potter and Weasley overheard me planning it. No doubt they find it very amusing that I have a life outside the school.”

McGonagall nodded and smiled. Severus continued past the table and out of the side door.

As he turned the corner he came face to face with Rowl.

“Hello, Edward.” Severus bowed curtly.

“Stay away from my sister,” Rowl hissed in Severus’ face. “She’s a married woman.”

“We are just friends.” Severus rolled his eyes. “Nothing more. I assure you, we are friends. We always have been.”

“You just remember that.” Rowl was in Severus’ face; he could feel the man’s breath on his cheeks. “Just stay friends or I’ll let her husband know. Understand?”

“Perfectly.” Severus breathed a sigh of relief as Rowl backed away. “Does she know you’re watching over her nowadays?”

“I always watch over her.” Rowl smirked. “Besides, next Monday Jasmine will be here; then you’ll have to behave yourself.”

With that, Rowl stormed off down the corridor. Severus shook his head and carried on to meet Ravenclaw.

~~~~~

The restaurant was small and quiet, just how Severus liked it. He and Verena had just finished ordering when he decided to ask her the question that had been burning on his mind since his encounter with Rowl.

“Verena? Who is Jasmine?”

“Oh.” Ravenclaw looked amused. “She’s my youngest daughter.”

“She’s coming to Hogwarts?”

“Yes. Lavinia’s daughter Heather is coming too, along with Edward’s daughter Lucy. They are all about the same age. They’ve been in a private school, but the Daily Prophet has been kicking up a fuss lately. So we’ve decided to move them to Hogwarts as a sort of sixth form. Just for the last two years.”

“They’re going to be a little late.”

“Only another week. Not too bad.” Ravenclaw smiled. “They’ll be in the year above Draco Malfoy, luckily.”

“Luckily?”

“At family parties and such, they always seem to spend an unhealthy amount of time together. Just Jasmine, Draco, and Heather.”

“Heather Malfoy?” Severus raised an eyebrow. “Is she anything like her father or uncle?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” Ravenclaw admitted. “I’ve never really spoken to her for any great length of time. She’s a very strange girl; has a very strange relationship with her cousin.”

“Draco?”

Ravenclaw nodded.

“What do you mean?” Severus didn’t like the sound of this.

“Well, at parties the three of them go up to whoever’s bedroom of the house where the party is and stay in there.” Ravenclaw paused as a waitress placed their drinks on the table. “They giggle and usually come out looking very flushed.”

Severus shrugged. “Sounds like normal children to me.”

“No. They don’t let any of the other children in, you see.” Ravenclaw leaned across the table. “It’s always just those three.”

“You think there’s something… improper… going on?” Severus scowled.

“I’m not sure,” Ravenclaw admitted. “But whatever it is, I’m not looking forward to having them all at the same school.”

“Is that why the girls have been at private schools?”

“Well, yes and no.” Ravenclaw took a sip of her drink. “I wanted to separate them, but also to protect Jasmine from the media. The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, Lifestyles of Wizardry, they are all getting far too intrusive nowadays.”

Severus nodded. “Hogwarts is going to attract a lot of attention then? What with you and your brother…”

“Now my daughter, Edward’s Lucy, and Heather Malfoy.”

“Not to mention Draco Malfoy and…”

“Harry Potter.” Ravenclaw finished his sentence. “Tell me, what is he like?”

“His father.”

“Enough said.” Ravenclaw scowled at the memory of James Potter. “Trouble, then.”

Severus nodded slowly. “I’d keep Jasmine away from him if I were you. He’s always putting his nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“And he knows about us.” Ravenclaw frowned. “Would he do anything?”

“I’m not sure,” Severus admitted. “Why? He’s just a boy.” He almost laughed as he heard himself quoting his sister’s words.

“I have a plan I have to stick to while I’m at Hogwarts.” Ravenclaw took another sip of her drink. “I don’t want Harry Potter getting in my way.”