Healing the Darkness

Five Years Before:

"I can't believe the summer went by so quickly!" Ron exclaimed, "I'm not ready to go back to school." He, Harry and Hermione were on the Hogwarts Express, making quick progress through a pile of sweets.

"Me neither," Harry agreed, biting into a Cauldron Cake. He didn't want to go back for a different reason, however: during the summer at the Dursley's, he was sort of detached from the wizarding world and didn't have to hear about the havoc Voldemort and his supporters were wreaking. But now that he was going to Hogwarts, he had to hear about it nearly every day.

Hermione nibbled at a Chocolate Frog, her Transfiguration text open on her lap. "I'm glad to be going back," she said softly, not looking up.

Harry watched her closely. Because she was Muggle-born, Hermione and her family were in great danger. Hogwarts was probably a safe haven to her. Harry turned away as Ron put an arm around in comfort, uncomfortable with their newfound affection. A long silence settled over the compartment.

Finishing his snack, Harry looked out the window at the countryside whipping past. According to Ron, the Ministry of Magic was still denying the Voldemort had returned. This caused problems for the many unfortunate families who came home to find the Dark Mark floating over their houses. Although Harry had never had this experience himself, he knew that it was happening: almost every week, he awoke sweating and shaking, his scar burning furiously. The nightmares grew steadily worse as the summer progressed.

He was still lost in his thoughts as the train slowed and stopped. Leaving Ron and Hermione to head inside together, Harry mechanically followed the back of Dean's head into the Great Hall and to the Gryffindor table. Against his will, his eyes wandered to the Hufflepuff table, which was sadly devoid of anyone named Cedric. He couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt wash over him.

His attention was diverted by the appearance of a new batch of first years, pale and nervous. Hermione commented softly about how small the group was this year. Harry silently agreed. Most of the group became Slytherins and Ravenclaws; there were only three new Gryffindors and only one solitary Hufflepuff. When the line was almost through, a small black-haired girl caught Harry's eye. She was standing by herself, waiting for her name to be called. She was beautiful, even for an eleven-year-old. Harry wondered briefly if Cho had a little sister.

Finally, Professor McGonagall looked up. "Snape, Serena."

Ron's head snapped off his arms. Fred and George were silent, jaws dropped. Harry's eyes widened as the black-haired girl strode confidently to the stool and put on the Sorting Hat. None of the Gryffindors reacted as she was inevitably sorted into Slytherin. Finally, Ron managed, "Snape has a daughter?!" He turned to stare open-mouthed at the Potions master, who was looking very pleased.

Neville was looking stricken, however. "Oh no," he said, his round face white. "Having just one Snape was bad enough. Now there's two!"

Harry glanced over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was also very pleased with this newest member. He sidled up close to speak to her, a sly smile on his face. Harry shuddered.

Soon enough, the golden plates before them were filled with food, much to the relief of Ron. Serena Snape was forgotten at the Gryffindor table as everyone tried to eat all that was within reach. A conversation about Quidditch commenced in between gulps and bites which continued up the stairs and into the common room. Ron and Dean were still going at it as Harry drifted off to sleep later, all troubles gone from his mind.

The next morning, however, the whole of Gryffindor was buzzing about Snape's newly-discovered offspring. Determined to make their last year at Hogwarts the best one, Fred and George had lead a pack of followers in an elaborate prank against the Slytherins very early. But Serena had been up and about and had accosted them. Enraged at their plans, she gave them a brutal tongue-lashing and threw in a few curses as well. George was now convinced that many of them were Dark curses.

"I'm telling you, she's just like him!" he was telling a group of third years, "She even has the same evil glare!" Fred nodded solemnly at his elbow.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, honestly!" she said, "She's only a silly first year!" She turned to Harry and Ron. "Come on, let's go to breakfast."

As the trio climbed out of the portrait hole, Lee Jordan called, "Watch out for her, she's bad news!"

Harry kept on his guard all day, but it wasn't until nearly lunchtime when he finally got a glimpse of her, and that was as she turned a corner away from him. "You know, I think we'll be all right," he said to Ron through a mouthful of sandwich later. "I've only seen her once today and just barely."

"Day's not over yet," Ron replied worriedly.

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

After lunch came Potions. As Harry walked into the classroom, he saw her. Her back was to the door and she was speaking to her father as he stirred a bubbling potion. With the ringing of the bell, she grabbed her bag from a nearby table and turned toward the door. Her eyes met Harry's. Harry watched her expression change from startled to curious to that inevitable recognition.

"You're Harry Potter, aren't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Harry nodded. To his relief, she merely glanced up at his scar and then gave him a lopsided smile. He noticed that Professor Snape was giving him a particularly murderous glare behind his daughter's back. So he gave a polite nod and moved out of her way. Her grin turned to a look of disgust as she saw Ron, no doubt recognising him as a Weasley. But before she could draw her wand, Harry grabbed Ron's sleeve and pulled him away.

"Best to avoid her for now," he muttered to Ron. They moved to their normal desk. Serena was about to leave when the door opened again and Draco Malfoy strode in.

"What have we here?" he drawled, "Potty, Weasel and the Mudblo--"

Whack.

Malfoy was cut off sharply as Serena dealt him a stinging blow to the side of his face. He staggered a little and gaped at her in shock.

She was livid. "How dare you speak such words?" she hissed, "How dare you show disrespect to the boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and ensured your safety and happiness? I don't know who you think you are, Draco Malfoy," she spat out his name as if the words tasted bad in her mouth, "but you certainly should be the one thanking him for what he has done." She whipped out of the room, robes billowing behind her.

Malfoy stayed frozen for a moment. Recovering, he sneered, "Looks like you've gained another admirer, Potter."

Harry's face burned. He looked up to see Snape studying him before he again turned to his cauldron. This is going to be interesting, he thought.