Loving You Through Time
The one with the family reunion and diary entry
Author: Sylvanus
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: extremely OOC
Pairing: HPSS
Summary: Post-war, a classical potion accident with unlikely result...
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise belongs to J.K. Rowling, etc… I own nothing, make no money from anything, and am writing this purely for personal enjoyment…
The one with the family reunion and diary entry
They finally decided on: Siofra Gail Cafell O\'Reilley
Since Lady Catrin O’Reilley decided to help our poor time traveller, she also took the role of mentor. Albus was amazed by the result. Each day Harry, now known as Siofra, was becoming more and more feminine. The perfect little Lady as her new guardian described her.
Siofra learned as much as she could about the O’Reilley and the Dumbledore family to perfect her role. She first discovered that both families were from a higher class that she had expected.
The O’Reilleys were cousins of Dumbledore, but the Lords of Coill were dukes, being one of the highest titles of the aristocracy. And they even had a very influential position on the Irish Wizarding Family Council. While the Dumbledores were only baronets, they still had enough influence on Britain’s Wizarding aristocracy. Both families had legendary ancestors, so they each played an important role in the history of the magical world.
That very impressive past put Siofra in a very much envious situation. But one false move could ruin all the hard work. In less than three weeks she had learned how to behave on special occasions. Being an aristocrat wasn’t that fun after all.
“You’re doing well, dear! Even better than I thought you would.”
Lady Catrin (or grandmamma as Siofra had been told to call her) kept praising her.
While she was taught how to behave in high society with Lady Catrin, she spent her time working and reading on time travelling with “Uncle” Albus, as Catrin was too busy teaching etiquette to Si. They had to find out where to start the real search. All in all, Siofra loved being with both adults, she quickly considered them as family.
A month later, an unexpected visitor dropped by. Siofra was riding through the meadow on a hazel-nut mare. She always thought that there couldn’t be anything more thrilling than quidditch, but that was before Lady Catrin showed her the stables. Galloping through the Coill’s land, hair whirling with the wind… she felt relaxed and free. Stopping on top of a small hill to admire the cottage, she noticed a dark horse coming her way. The nearer it got, the better she could distinguish the rider, he didn’t look older than forty. When he finally reached her, the first thing she noticed where his green eyes.
“Hello, you must be Siofra.” The stranger said.
He seemed to examine her. Siofra was confused, Grandmamma, had said that no one could enter the meadows… Except if they were O’Reilleys…
“Oh, where are my manners! If mother was here, she would be giving a lecture about it. Well, allow me to rectify my mistake. I’m Dermot Phelan O’Reilley.” The man said, blushing.
“Well… I’m…”
“I know who you are. I think we should head to the cottage, so mother can explain.”
He took off without waiting for her reply, and Siofra knew she wouldn’t get much information standing alone. So she followed him, spurring her mare to catch up with the black stallion. They reached the cottage at the same time, head to head. Looking at the man’s face, she noticed that he seemed impressed.
“DERMOT!”
Siofra saw Grandmamma Catrin running to the man, she then saw the smile that graced Dermot’s face… and those damn ‘twinkling’ eyes was there too!
Catrin was hugging the newcomer and already lecturing him about not sending an owl to tell her about his visit, and then she dragged them into the living room for some ‘lemon tea’. It seemed that Siofra wasn’t the only dreading the ‘lemon tea’, because Dermot’s smile almost left his face.
“Albus! Dermot is here! Isn’t that a great surprise?” She said joining him.
“Ah, dear boy! I thought you were in Tibet! When did you get back?” the older man asked also greeting the man with a hug.
“Today, after I got mother’s owl. And I felt that I was needed here, you know the feeling, cousin Albus!”
“That I do, I do!” Dumbledore joyously replied.
“Now, Siofra this is my second son Dermot, so naturally he’s now your uncle. I told him about you because you are now family!” Lady Catrin explained.
She blushed, and then turned to her new found ‘uncle’. ‘Uncle’ had always been the title reserved to Remus and Sirius, but she hadn’t had enough time to interact with both of them. Now it might have been the chance to have a real ‘uncle’.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I really would like to call you ‘uncle’, if you agree of course.” She said shyly.
Dermot laughed.
“It’s hard to image you as a boy, it’s as you’ve always been a girl! But you can call me uncle Dermot. Mother, you were right she looks enough like Conn to pass as his daughter.”
Days passed and Siofra learned more about the O’Reilley family. She spent a lot of time with Dermot, who told her about his deceased elder brother Conn. Conn was supposed to be Si’s father. Lord Rufus, the grandfather, had died of sorrow a few weeks later. Dermot was too young when he inherited the title of Lord of Coill, and he hadn’t been prepared for that. He travelled most of the time, and showed himself only on important occasions.
Catrin and Albus were now trying to understand Siofra accidental travel, while Dermot decided to take over Si’s etiquette lessons. They also revealed to the Irish Wizarding World that Conn Ayden O’Reilley had a secret love child. With the lack of new gossiping material, they easily accepted this new revelation. Adding to that, the O’Reilleys were known for their secrecy, and any leak was welcomed.
A few days later, Lady Catrin happily strolled around Diagon Alley to show off her new found granddaughter.
~ ~ ~ ~
Present time:
Summer had come, and for the first time in years, Severus Snape wasn’t staying at Hogwarts. He was returning to the land of his ancestors, not as a visitor like many years before when his parents brought him to pay their respect to the head of the family. HE was the Head now, and nothing could change that!
For many years his potion lab had been the only place he could be the master of, but now He was master in his own home: Brina, manor of the Snapes for more than 20 generations. It had defended and protected the Snapes against muggles and magical conquerors and not even the Dark Ages had diminished its beauty. Many said that it was a gift from the fairy queen to the first Snape Lord, as the magic of the ward were foreign.
Watching the lands through his study’s window, as melancholy arose inside the new Count. It happened a lot since the accident. The dreams were back, forgotten memories in his mind. The happiest moments of his life.
That night, he couldn’t sleep. Sitting up in his enormous four-poster bed, he took a black leather book. He hadn’t opened it since he entered the Dark Lord’s service.
Severus Snape’s journal entry of the 29th of August
I always thought that nothing extraordinary could happen in my life. But it did, and for the first time I believed what mother used to say. She always told me that I’ll meet someone and that there always is someone for everybody. Till now I’ve never believed it…
Today father took me to Diagon Alley, so I could get my stuffs for the new school year while he got his business settled in Knockturn Alley and I know how it ended. It always ends with him drinking the benefits!
I was finally getting my books, after escaping the Blacks and Potters. The first always wanting to point out my father’s mistakes, and the former with the Black’s ‘white’ sheep eyeing me suspiciously.
As usual someone bumped into me. I was getting ready to snarl at the offender, when my eyes met 2 identical emerald gems. Looking closely at the person I saw a dark haired girl wearing a dark green cloak. She looked flushed, but she looked more beautiful. She immediately excused herself, her eyes never leaving me.
We could have stayed like that if she hadn’t been called. The old woman called her ‘Si’…
It must be a nickname…
I hope to meet her again…. Si…
Severus closed the book and his eyes searching the memory… Siofra