The Second Star

Chapter Five

"A little more than kin, and less than kind"

--From Hamlet (Act I, Scene II).

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Holly sighed. It was impossible to track her brother down. Harry wasn't on the Quidditch pitch, in the Great Hall, the Gryffindor Common Room, or the tower at all. And the prat was hogging the Marauder's Map again, so she couldn't just look for him on there. He always had to make life difficult.

Figuring the only place she hadn't looked was the library, Holly headed in that direction. Even if Harry wasn't there, Hermione probably was. The Head Girl should know where Harry was hiding.

It actually didn't take long to spot Hermione, sitting at a table with Ron. Hermione was reading and taking notes. Ron was doodling and stealing glances at Hermione.

"'Lo all!" Holly said seating herself at their table.

"Hey, Holly," Hermione said brightly. "In for a bit of studying?"

"Sort of," she said. "I wanted to get started on my History of Magic project. The family research one. I was looking for Harry so I could see his notes from last year."

Hermione frowned. "Really Holly, I thought you were better than that. You should be doing your own work."

"She's a Slytherin, Hermione," Ron said winking at Holly so she'd know he was joking, "of course she cheats!"

"Ron Weasley!" Hermione began, "I can't believe you'd say something like that, about Holly of all people!"

"Herm, calm down," Holly said. "I'm sure Weasel-boy was kidding. And I'd rather not have to sit here while you two flirt with each other."

"We weren't flirting," Ron said, ears pink.

"Sure you weren't," Holly said dismissing the comment. "Anyway, I want to see his notes on the Potters so I can find out my grandmother's maiden name. I'm researching her family as it'll be easier to get access to Wizarding record's then the Evan's family Muggle records."

"I suppose that makes sense," Hermione nodded. "And I think I saw him and Ginny in here by the Transfiguration section."

"Harry and Ginny together?" Ron asked.

Hermione scowled at him. "They are friends Ron. And even if they weren't, if they were something more, just what would you do about it?"

Ron shrugged. "Nothing, I guess. It's just weird. I mean my sister and my best friend?"

"Nothing wrong with that," Holly said. "I think they'd be cute together. After all, Ginny's had a crush on Harry for like, ever. Harry's probably liked Ginny for about two years now."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, looking at Holly like she'd grown an extra head.

"Since Christmas of his fifth year," Holly said. "When I was stuck in the Hospital Wing, they'd both be there all the time. I think they talked while I was out. I'd even hazard a guess that she's part of the reason he came out of the depression he'd worked himself into."

"But, he gave me hell when I told him I liked you that spring," Ron said.

"Yeah and?" Holly said standing up. "Just 'cause he liked your little sister, doesn't mean he was alright with your liking his. And you were the first boy I even let near me like that, so it probably bothered him more that I liked you back. You've always known that Ginny liked Harry. But you don't seem to be able to except that he likes her back."

"Well, why don't I come with you then?" Ron said. "Maybe seeing them together will help me except it."

"They aren't together yet, Ron," Hermione said sensibly. "And you bloody well better not do anything to screw this up for them."

"Did Hermione just curse?" Holly asked as the walked in the direction Hermione indicated.

"I think she did," Ron said. "I like it when she does that."

Holly giggled. "Of course you do. Aw, look at the lovebirds!"

Harry and Ginny were both leaning over a book, apparently reading the same passage. Harry was pointing something out. Ginny had her brow furrowed in concentration. Finally, she looked up and started talking very excitedly. Harry smiled and nodded. She seemed to get it. Then Ginny put her hand on Harry's arm. It took a second but both stopped talking and just stared at each other.

"Okay, enough of this," Ron said.

Holly smiled as she followed him over to the couple. It looks like Harry and Ginny are closer then Ron and Hermione to becoming official.

"Harry," Ron said sharply. "Your sister has been looking for you."

"Hi guys!" Holly smiled slyly at Ginny. "Following my advice?"

"Don't I usually?" Ginny grinned back.

"When you don't, you should," Holly winked. "Harry, I need your help with something."

"What's up?" he asked.

"I wanted to look at your notes for the family tree you did last year," she told him. "And how far back did you go anyway?"

"Binns gave the same project again?" he asked. "Sure, no problem. I went back 500 years. After that the sources weren't so reliable. Was there anything specific you want to know?"

"Yes, actually," Holly answered. "Our grandmother's maiden name. Since you did the Potter's I'll do her family."

Harry frowned. "I don't need my notes for that. It's Snape. Our grandmother's name was Eve Marie Snape-Potter."

"As in Professor Snape?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, I never looked," Harry said.

"I guess that's why you just did the Potters," Holly said.

"I really don't want to know how closely related we are to the potion's master," Harry glared. "Although Xerxes Hayes Snape is down as her father. Evelyn Clair Snape and Dion Gregory Snape were also listed as siblings, but they were much older. Aradia Kella Hart-Snape was listed as her mother, but she died two months before Eve was born. Evelyn died on the same day her 'sister' was born. She was eighteen, a year out of school, and unwed. I always thought that was rather odd."

"And I thought you didn't look her up at all," Holly said.

Harry shook his head, "I didn't look up Severus Snape. Xerxes may have had a brother or something."

"But you think Eve may have been Evelyn's daughter?" Holly asked. "Xerxes claimed his granddaughter was his daughter to avoid the shame of it all?"

"That's what I think," Harry said. "Although it didn't really help. He disowned Eve when she was sixteen anyway."

"Why would anyone disown their child?" Ginny asked.

"Because she was too much like her mother," Harry said. "Except Eve was still in school when she got pregnant and she married the father, Adam Potter, before the baby, our dad, was born."

"Your grandmother was sixteen?" Ron said shocked.

"Yeah," Harry sighed. "Our grandfather was two years older and a Gryffindor. I think it was marrying a Gryffindor that annoyed old Xerxes. Adam had just finished school and he and Eve married that summer. He was a Quidditch player."

"Adam Potter played for Puddlemere, didn't he?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "He was a chaser. Signed right out of school in 1960. He played for them until he died in March of 1976. He was Captain the last six years. He and Eve were killed defending their home from Death Eaters. She was thirty, he was thirty-two. Aunt Rose had been killed in October of '73, so Dad was alone by that time. He was emancipated, and the Potters are an old, rich family, so he was well off until he finished school. Dad was offered a spot both as an Auror and playing for Puddlemere, also right out of school. He took the Quidditch position of chaser like his father, but he worked with Professor Dumbledore and the resistance. Dad and Mum married September 12, 1978. Mum was a medi-witch and totally brilliant. They were only twenty when I was born two years later."

"They were only twenty-one when they were killed," Holly said. "Do you think we'll be that young?"

"Holly!" Ginny yelled. "Don't talk like that. You aren't going to die anytime soon."

Holly shrugged. "People die young, Gin. And it seems like a lot of them are in my family. And we are in the middle of a war."

"Okay, you're being morbid," Ron informed her. "Stop."

"You have to admit," Harry said, "It's a possibility."

"No," Ron said stubbornly, "I don't. Neither of you, or us, are about to die. Right?"

"Right," Harry said slightly dejected.

"Right," Ginny said firmly to Harry before turning to Holly.

The Slytherin shrugged. "If you say so."

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Holly walked around the halls on her own for a while that afternoon. It wasn't that she like that thought of dying, but it was a realistic possibility. She and Harry were targets, although she was never exactly sure why. It bothered her sometimes to know so little about her own life. Harry had said the same thing a few times. That's why it was weird that he had all the information and hadn't told her.

"Knut for your thoughts?" she heard a deep voice echo down the corridor at her.

Holly turned in a circle, not seeing anyone.

"Hello?" she called. "Who's there?"

Draco dropped down from somewhere above right next to her.

"Holy shit, Draco!" she screamed. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Draco shrugged. "It'd be something to see."

Holly sighed. She really didn't feel like dealing with Malfoy's crap right now. When he didn't say anything else, she kept walking.

"You've been rather pensive all year," he said coolly walking along with her.

"I have a lot on my mind," she said.

"I've noticed. I'm curious to know what could have you so distracted."

"So it was only morbid curiosity that cause you to ask before?" Holly questioned him.

"Basically," he said in the same detached voice. "What else would it be?"

Holly raised an eyebrow at him. "You've been turning up a lot lately. Any reason?"

"Yes," he said without elaborating. "And you're avoiding my question."

"As you are mine," Holly said.

Draco gave her one of his famous, and rare, half-smiles. "Ah, but I asked first."

"Oh, so we're two now?" Draco didn't say anything. Holly sighed and told him, "I've been thinking about death a lot."

"Understandable," the blonde nodded. "We are in the middle of a war. You have just lost someone close to you. You're family has been effected by this battle quite a bit. Frankly I'm surprised you're not suicidal."

"I am far too much a Slytherin to be suicidal," Holly said.

Draco chuckled. "You say that like it's a bad thing. We do have a healthy sense self-preservation. You have been known to ignore that, though."

"Only where my family is concerned," Holly said. "It's sort of like an extended sense of self-preservation. They are a part of me. You saw how bad off I was after Hagrid."

"Ah, yes," he said. "The first time I was truly on the receiving end of your temper. But I think I looked good with blue hair."

"You think you look good no matter what," she snorted.

"But I do," Draco said almost pouting. "You haven't pranked anyone yet this year."

"Maybe I'm outgrowing it. Maybe I'm just starting to take after a different side of the family." Holly began thinking how serious Professor Snape was. He had a very dry sense of humor that he rarely chose to exercise.

Holly looked up and was about to comment when she noticed Draco had led her to a different part of the school. Instead of the dark, rarely used halls she had been wandering, he led her back to a main wing of the castle. They were actually right near the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and Remus's office.

There was a loud bark. Holly saw Snuffles running down the hall at the two of them. The dog barked again and jumped up on her, licking her face. She couldn't help but laugh at his antics.

"Well, it looks like you'll be fine now," Draco said. "I'm sure Lupin's dog will look after you."

The 'dog' now sat quietly wagging his tail at Holly side. He was watching her and Draco very closely now.

"You did that on purpose!" Holly shouted.

"Of course I didn't," he said. "And I'm sure you won't listen if I told you not to go wandering around deserted hallways on your own, so I won't bother. I won't even tell you to be more careful, if you need to be. I'd hate to see anything happen to you, Holly. We need our Quidditch Captain in one piece after all."

Holly watched him walking away with a thoughtful frown.

"He's been acting weird lately," she told her companion.

Snuffles only shook his shaggy head. Holly just shrugged it off.

"Remus in his office?" she asked. "I wanted to talk to the two of you."

Snuffles barked and started running back down the hall. Holly looked back in the direction Draco had disappeared to. Sighing, she followed the canine from of her godfather. Maybe he and Remus could give her some answers.

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Holly stepped out into the late afternoon light and breathed deeply. October was fast approaching and it showed in the air. She wanted to take a walk and clear her head before heading back to the library to work on her History of Magic project, which seemed to consume large quantities of her time in the past week. Seamus had complained loudly of this the last time she saw him and Holly had had to take drastic measures to get him to stop. Drastic, but enjoyable.

She was expecting to find the courtyard deserted this close to dinner. That's why seeing a familiar messy black haired boy sitting by the fountain surprised her.

"Hey Harry," she greeted him. "You're looking awfully pensive."

"You aren't the only to have there thoughtful moments," he said.

"So what are you thinking about?" Holly asked sitting next to him.

"Your eleventh birthday actually," Harry said. "I think that was the first time I really noticed her."

"Oh," Holly said knowledgeably.

"I remember you were really embarrasses by all the attention," Harry continued. "And Ron and the twins and I were all there, but then I noticed Ginny wasn't. It was weird since you two couldn't be separated for that entire month."

"Like you and Ron," Holly nodded. "I was really grateful to have another girl around. I remember telling Gin this on my first night there. She said she was too. And that was it."

Harry laughed. "Funny what can cause kids to become friends. For me and Ron it was corn beef sandwiches and not having money for sweets."

"So why are you thinking about this now?" Holly asked. "It was six years ago."

"Well, I realized Ginny was avoiding the party because of me," Harry frowned. "Did you notice she put her elbow in the butter dish that first morning we turned you?"

Holly laughed. "And she squeaked and ran away when you said hello. That's why it took until that night for us to really talk. I thought any girl with a crush on you must be nutters."

"Oh, ha-ha," Harry said sarcastically.

Holly shrugged. "Well, I was right, she is nutters. It's alright though. So are you. I think it'll work out just fine."

"What will work out just fine?" Harry asked genuinely puzzled.

"Oh honestly!" Holly mimicked Hermione. "What are you out here moping about? You and Ginny, of course."

"There is no 'me and Ginny.'"

"Well, whose fault is that?" Holly asked sharply. "You obviously like her. And the girl adores you. If you would just stop being a git and ask her out it wouldn't be a problem. She's far to shy to ask you, even if she has come out of her shell a bit from her butter dish-days."

Harry smiled slightly. "She was cute then, wasn't she?"

Holly sighed. "You're as bad as her."

Now Harry grinned at his sister. "Really?"

Holly nodded silently.

"So what brought you out here, Hol-lil?" Harry asked having talked enough about his prospective love life.

"Taking a brake from the library. I'll have that project done by the end of October at this rate," she said.

"Really?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow. "Find anything interesting?"

Holly shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, two things actually. Professor Snape's father is one Dion G. Snape."

"So we are related to the greasy git? Great." Harry said without enthusiasm. "Was the other thing as good?"

"Well, I was looking into who could have fathered Eve if Evelyn was her mother. It seems she was a very popular Slytherin in her day. Evelyn was top of all her classes. I even managed to find a picture of her. There's a boy in it. His name came up a lot near her hers in the Hogwarts records."

"Well, who is it?" Harry asked.

Holly took a faded picture out of her pocket. In it was the woman Harry believed was there great-grandmother standing next to a young Tom Riddle.

"Holy shit," Harry swore under his breath.