Life Begins Anew

A/N After Hermione left the muggle birth announcements; Severus has begun to wonder about his missing memories of his sister. Then Hades pays a visit. He decides to approach his sister, hoping for an answer and accomplishing the Headmaster’s request of his getting his sister to open up enough to reveal her intentions.

Chapter 25 Getting To Know You


Ah, Professor Snape! An unexpected surprise!” Sara replied as she noticed the visitor at her door.

Sara ushered her student out as she motioned her brother inside.

&&&&&&&&

Severus masked his surprise at seeing Hermione in the company of his sister and the fact that the color of his sister had changed. He stepped aside as the student passed him, her route indicating that she was on her way to Gryffindor tower.

Sara showed her brother to her study. “Feel free to look around. I advise not to touch any of the books though. They are heavily protected, for good reason.”

She walked over to her liquor cabinet and called out “What’s your danger, Professor?” Keeping to his request of how to address him for now. She was unsure of the purpose of her brother’s visit. After all, they had barely spoken to one another, and when they did, it was not civil at all. She decided to try the civil route.

“Fire Whiskey if you have it.” Severus absent mindedly replied as looked over the titles on her tomes.

Gods! Every title of these was only rumored to be of existence. He had found reference to some them in some of his other books, but research lead that they did not exist. They were books on darkest aspects of the Dark Arts. If Voldemort had such access to them? He shuddered on what the Dark Lord could do. He immediately understood while they were heavily warded.

Sara brought two large tumblers and smirked as she noticed that her brother was holding his wand down in one hand as he accepted the drink with the other.

She indicated for him to sit down as she dramatically withdrew her wand and set it far out of immediate reach. Not that she needed it though.

Severus recognized the silent truce as he set his wand next to hers and sat down as well. He knew of her ability to perform wandless magic and appreciated the peace offering.

“So Professor Snape, what brings you up from the world of Potions to my humble adobe of Defense?” Sara asked, cold eyes glittering with curiosity.

&&&&&&&&

Earlier in the evening


Professor Snape snarled at the students attending his detention to store the cauldrons that they cleaned up. The first year’s cauldrons were always a challenge, and he piled them up. Students scrambled for the door, thankful to be out of his presence.

He unwarded the entrance to his chambers and removed his outer robes and stored them into the wardrobe. He glanced at his liquor cabinet undecided if he wanted a drink. He decided to bypass it as the day really had not been that bad.
Severus decided that he would do a little light reading for a while before retiring to his bed chambers. He entered his study and immediately withdrew his wand and froze as he noticed a dark shape perched on the back of one of his chairs.

“Professor Severus Snape, you can put your stick away as I am no threat.” Hades smoothly replied to the still form of the professor.

Severus tucked his wand back into his robes, unfazed. “Excuse me for a moment Hades. I suddenly feel the need for a drink.” He turned around and headed for his liquor cabinet as he heard Hades chuckle.

Hades thought that the wizard handled unexpected situations quite well.

Severus came back into his room, swirling a glass of cognac. He noticed that Hades had left the chair and was pursuing the muggle birth announcements on his desk.

“By all means, make yourself at home!” Severus drily replied.

Hades eyed the wizard. “So, you admit you are related?”

He sat down and glowered at the bird. “Yes Hades, those documents make it very plain that it is true. Why are you here anyway? By the clicking of your beak last time, I felt that I was not top in the “Wizards to Visit” list.”

“Wizard! I did promise to visit you, and I am a bird of my word.” Hades flew and landed onto the wizard’s lap, sharp talons pressing slightly down on a particular bit of anatomy.

Hades noticed the discomfort of his Mistress’ brother. “You know I hate disrespect towards my Mistress.” Hades pulled his talons slightly away from the wizard’s bits. “Just a friendly reminder to keep the conversation respectful.”

Severus was fuming and trying not to project it. How did the bloody bird breach his wards?

“Professor Severus Snape, I have already told you that I am slightly bound to you, due to the blood. Your wards are quite formidable. Though it would take my Mistress about two minutes to break them, no amount of wards can keep me from any destination I wish to be.” Hades looked up to him.

“Your question to me was why is my Mistress so fascinated by death? The answer is because she cannot die. Do not look at me like that Professor Severus Snape!”

Seeing the look of disbelief on the wizard’s face, Hades continued

“I told everyone that on Samheim she will be five hundred years old. It is true as she is bounded by her benefactor. As long as he exists, she cannot die, as she is bonded to him. And she longs for death like longing for an unobtainable lover, or someone who is bonded to someone that they think would only be obtainable only by bond and not by choice.”
Hades looked at the Potions Professor knowingly.

Damn! The bird knew of his Bonded?

“I know that you have been planning to kill my Mistress Professor Severus Snape. The only true reason I am here is to give you a bit of advice. No massive disfigurement and no death related to the intestines or “Gut Shot”. She would be extremely pissed and that would not bode well for you!”

Severus eyes narrowed as he asked bitingly “And what is her goal Hades? She has not tried to garner my trust at all! If anything, her actions force me to distrust her. Why am I alive at this point in time?!” Severus growled in frustration.

Hades suddenly felt sorry for the wizard as he was just a pawn in the end game.

“Professor Severus Snape, you could always ask her!” Hades leapt off the professor’s lap, garnering a grimace of pain from the professor as he flew into the air and towards the dungeon wall.

Severus sat stunned as he watched the bird fly into the wall and disappear.

He finished his cognac and pulled the time piece from his pocket. Close to curfew. The damned bird left so many questions unanswered. He suddenly decided a visit to his sister was in order. He gathered up the muggle birth announcements and made his way towards the Defense classroom.


Back to the present…………….

“So Professor Snape, what brings you up from the world of Potions to my humble adobe of Defense?” Sara asked, cold eyes glittering with curiosity.

“First I must ask why was Miss. Granger her tonight? Is it the reason you are a different color?”

Sara growled at her brother. “It seems that she is under some kind of pressure Professor Snape. Today was the first day that she could not avoid my hex in class. It was remedial training and nothing more.”

Sara sipped her fire whisky. “Surely this is not the only reason why you are here?”

“No, Sara it is not.” He pulled the muggle news birth announcements out of his robe and handed them to her. She was surprised at the first name reference to her.

“You wish to know the past?” Sara asked. “And why I remember and you do not?”
Severus silently nodded.

“Are you free of the tediousness of patrol for the next two nights?” Sara asked.

“Yes Sara, I am.” Replied Severus. He hated addressing her at all, but damn it, he had his own means to accomplish.

“Professor Snape, I have been given clearance to be rid of this school and duties for the next 48 hours. If we can talk civilly about this…” Sara shoved her left sleeve up, revealing the Dark Mark. “Then I will tell you as much of the past as I can."

Sara walked to the door, opening it and ending the conversation. “Only not here. The portraits seem to gossip. Some things have not changed at all since I last attended this illustrious school!”

Severus drank down the rest of the fire whiskey and handed the empty glass to his sister.

“Professor Snape, I will meet you at the gates in twenty minutes. Enough time for you to clear your disappearance from the school with the Headmaster. I will wait no longer than that. She let her brother out of her chambers.

****Bootstray, Slightly! I am arriving with my brother! Wear your assassin suit and meet me in the Grand Hall****

Bootstray sent ****Sara! Is your brother that much of a danger? ****

***He is dangerous in his own way, but not to me at this time. No, because my brother’s arrival with me warrants a mission***

Slightly asked *** What tools do we need on hand? *** veiling the request of what weapons they should have upon them.

***Mission Type 3A***

She felt her wizards shock though the bond. 3A was no recon available, status and probabilities unknown, proceed with extreme caution. The Master Assassin never sent her brothers on that type of mission as if client could not provide accurate information and details, the master turned down the client.

Sara waited at the gates, looking at her time piece. She noticed her brother approach her wearing a black traveling cloak.

“Ah, freed from your master?” Sara asked lightly

“At least one of them for now.” Severus growled at her.

She placed her arm around his, twisting her body, feeling the discomfort of apparition as they appeared at her manor gates.

“Prince Manor.” Sara softly stated as she walked through the gates, her brother following her.

Soon they entered the Grand Hall and was greeted by Bootstray, Slightly and Sassy.

“Bootstray, Slightly. This is Porfessor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” She introduced her brother.

The wizards walked up and shook Severus hand.

***Sara, I can thank the Gods that you do not have his nose! *** Bootstray sent out.

Severus observed the wizards. They were dressed in some sort of a combat suit. Muggle and magical weapons were attached to a strange harness that clipped around their body. They looked very formidable.

Sara turned to her brother. “I need two Death Eaters brought to me. One of the Inner Circle and one relatively new to the Outer Circle. I need them for the conversation that you promised to discuss. I promise I will return them relatively unharmed and unaware of our identity.”

***Wizards, act like the assassins that you are. Big, bad, and no nonsense. I need to impress someone!***

Bootstray loomed over Severus and said in the darkest voice he could achieve. “Professor Snape, we need the names of our marks to perform the mission that our master requires of us.”

Severus thought for a moment. This could get Sara to reveal more of her plans to him, with little danger to himself.

“Walden MacNair, member of the Inner Circle.” Severus slowly replied. He was really tired of the wizard bragging of torture and was willing to see how he handled on his own. “He works in the Ministry as an executioner for dangerous creatures.”

“As far as the Outer Circle Eric Munch. He is a watch wizard at the Ministry.”

Severus turned to Sara. “What purpose do you see in this Sara?

“All will be revealed in time, Severus.” She answered deciding to address him by first name.

“Wizards, approach me!” Sara coldly stated.

The two wizards approached her. She conjured up a table and began removing weapons off the wizards. Severus thought that she was doing a check. She removed explosives, and hand grenades from the wizards. “I want them alive, not blown up!”

Severus was shocked as she reached down and forcefully grasped the wizards willie. She tapped the protective cup.
“Bootstray, it seems you have gone down two cup sizes.” Sara stated flirtingly.

“I assure you Master, if anything, it has increased by two. Care to physically confirm Master?” Bootstary asked, smirking at his master.

“Hmmm, maybe later.” Severus noticed his sister blush.

“Brothers! Do you understand your mission?” Sara asked

The wizards immediately kneeled and took her hand. “Our knives are yours!” Kissing her hand, they rose and exited the Manor.

Sara turned to her house elf. “Do you remember my brother Sassy?”

Sassy danced. “Oh yes Mistress! Sassy remember young Master Severus! I’s cried and cried after old mistress disowned Miss Eillen!” The house elf grabbed Severus hand and pressed her cheek upon it.

Severus remembered that day and softly told the elf “I am not that young anymore Sassy.”

“No you are not Master Severus! But I’s still remember!” The house elf squeaked.

“Sassy, a light snack in the library while we await the return of Bootstray and Slightly.”

“With pleasure Mistress!” Sara disappeared with a plop.

Sara led her brother to her library. She poured them both a large portion of fire whisky. She motioned her brother to sit down and handed him the large tumbler.

She sat down and looked to her brother. “What all do you want to know, Severus? Sara asked.

“Everything you can tell me.” Severus replied.