Chapter Eleven - Claire.

I shift closer to the fire and blink slowly, my eyes watering slightly as I look into the emerald green flames. Despite their eeriness glow they produce quite a bit of heat. However, the cold dungeon which is the setting for the Slytherin common room is poorly insulated and is certainly not designed to be warm, so the heat of the fire is wasted and it's necessary for me to literally sit on the hearth to resist from shivering.

Sighing, I look back to my notebook and read my notes. I should feel happy - after all, I've just traced the mystery relative who wrote the letter I found to an old wizarding family called the Princes. It seems she was the daughter of an unfaithful wife in the family was cast out at a young age. Well, that last bit I'm guessing but it fits. She must have gone to live with my father's family and she is supposedly a bastard of my Grandfather so found a home there. I've even found Summerfield, the house mentioned in the letter. But for some reason this doesn't satisfy me. Evaluating myself, I guess it's because I've been up since four in the morning and my eyes - my whole body, in fact - are very tired, I've been working on it too long and I feel useless from where I am. Hogwarts is great, of course it is, but if I'm going to find out more about this branch of family that could exist, I need to pay a visit to the real world, to dare venture outside of this school and rummage through ministry records. Ever since finding out about this relative my desperation to find living ones has increased greatly, growing more urgent by the day, and I've been working on it nonstop all week. I won't admit it's consuming me, but I know that in a way, it is. I was so buried in my work I didn't hear Kate panicking about the news that Lena had collapsed and it was me who reached the hospital wing five hours late. I haven't even been able to stop the Peggy-Saoirse feud or try and stop the former in her quests involving Sirius Black, or advise Alex on Saoirse, or talk to Sisa about James Potter. The problems with Kate did bring me back to earth for a short time, but soon enough my research took precedence again. I just can't help it. It's a fight in my heart - friends who need me or family yet to be discovered? At the moment I'm being weak, and I know it. Family has won me over.

''Hey Groot.'' I hear a voice from behind me and turn to see Kate heading towards me, having just entered the common room. Her appearance strikes me immediately - instead of her usual ‘I don’t give a damn about how I look’ attire, she’s clothed in a fashionable, slim-fitted skirt and a fancy top that shows a little too much. Her hair’s also different, done up in a fashionably messy way and pulled back with straggles of her dark locks hung around her face and a few random braids here and there. She seems to be attempting to revert back to her old fashion sense, which was non-existent, and picks at one of the braids as she sits down before tugging at the skirt.

I watch her with raised eyebrows. ‘’I take it Peggy got hold of you?’’

She nods, rolling her eyes as she undoes one of the braids. ‘’She thought it’d be good if I gained a sense of style, despite my protestations.’’

‘’You did well humouring her.’’ I say, amused at Kate’s expression.

She shrugged. ‘’To be honest it was only because O.H.A. promised to take me down to the kitchens to cadge some food off the House elves. Which she did.’’ Kate rummages in the pocket of her bag and produces a paper bag before proceeding to pour its contents into her mouth.

‘’Er - so - what did you ‘cadge’ off them?’’ I say, watching as Kate takes no break and continues to pour food I cannot see into her mouth.

Kate brings the back down once more and moves her jaws to crunch down on what she has just poured into her mouth, shrugging as she closes the bag but lets much of the contents fall into the hearth. ‘’Just sprinkles.’’

‘’What?’’ I say in both disbelief and amusement. ‘’Kate, why on earth, out of all the things you could have asked off them, did you ask for artificial cake decorations?’’ I withdraw slightly as the crunching sound of her chewing gets louder. ‘’They destroy your teeth as well.’’

Kate swallows in an exaggerated fashion. ‘’They’re delicious and like sweets, plus you can eat them really easily. And they give you loads of energy.’’

I laugh. ‘’The last thing we need is you on a sugar high, Kate. You’re hyper enough as it is.’’ I feel like I ought to grab the bag of multi-coloured sugar cake decorations but realise Kate would probably kill me if I tried to take them off her, so I turn back to my notes, looking back at the picture of summerfield I found in a book in the library; ‘One hundred haunted buildings in Southern England’. Kate then continues pouring the sprinkles into her mouth and crunching them until apparently the whole bag has been consumed and then pops her head over my shoulder.

‘’What’s that?’’

I move to turn round and face her, spreading out the page with the information on Summerfield is written. ‘’You remember the letter I found in the diary?’’

‘’Of course.’’ Answers Kate.

‘’Well it mentioned a house called Summerfield, where my father and his bastard sister, the one who wrote the letter, may have lived at one point.’’ I continue.

‘’And this is the house?’’ Kate queries, looking at the book and reading the title on the page. ‘’Summerfield?’’

I nod, turning to view the page myself. ‘’I couldn’t believe it when I found it in here - I didn’t think I’d be able to find records of it anywhere.’’

Kate looks back to the page and creases her brow. ‘’’Summerfield house is located in Southern Dorset near the south coast of England. It is currently inhabited by an old wizarding family of purebloods, the Dashwoods.’’’ She reads aloud before turning to me, eyes wide. ‘’Currently? Claire, this could mean your family are still-’’

I shake my head and cut across her. ‘’No. This book was printed in the 1958, when my father would still have been living there. However-’’ I turn the page to find the information that had previously thrilled me and does again now ‘’-my mystery relative was already dead.’’ I point to a paragraph and Kate bends down to read the small print.

‘’Although the castle already hosts two ghosts, one a poltergeist, who converse and are obvious to all visitors, it is said there is another spirit that also lives in the house. Apparently this third spectre is the ghost of the bastard sister of Hugh Dashwood, the current owner of the house.’’ Kate looks at me with raised eyebrows but I simply nod back to the book.

‘’Keep going.’’

Kate obeys and resumes her reading. ‘’Dashwood, however denies this fact, although one of the ghosts of the house, Lady Ada Dashwood, claims that she does exist, but does not show herself to anyone but female members of the family and is still very shy. Lady Ada also claimed that the ghost of Claire Prince had returned to Summerfield house to wait for the next female member of the generation to inhabit the house.’’ Kate finishes the paragraph and looks back to me with a patronising stare that I ignore as I yank the book from her grasp and read the paragraph myself.

‘’Don’t you see?’’ I exclaim, skim reading the words as my excitement increases once more and I try to get it through to Kate I have actually discovered something. ‘’I can go and speak to this ghost - I can find out more!’’

But Kate looks unconvinced. ‘’Groot, you don’t know if this ghost’ll be there, or if it’ll talk to you - or even if it exists.’’

I sigh. I’m not one to deny the truth. ‘’No. It’s a bloody long shot, to be honest.’’ I look up at her. ‘’But even if I didn’t get to talk to a ghost or anything, I’d still be able to walk the halls of my Father’s home. To visit the place where my family lived for generations.’’

Kate snorts. ‘’You mean the place where your quite possibly sadistic and pure-blood family who kicked your father out because of y-’’ Kate pause, then looks to me as she realises. ‘’Wait - you’re going there?’’

I nod, smiling as I shut the book. ‘’Yes.’’ I state resolutely. ‘’It’s only in Dorset and I can take a Muggle train if I walk to the nearest town and bunk off on one of my weekends. I can work it out.’’ I look at Kate. ’’You and Lena’ll cover for me, right?’’

‘’Oh, no. No no no.’’ I crease my brow as she refuses, her voice full on patronising amusement, as if she couldn’t believe I’d ask that of her.

‘’Oh come on, Kate, wh-’’

‘’No. It’s out of the question.’’ She cuts across my resolutely. Then her expression changes as she looks as me with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ‘’Because we’ll be coming with you.’’

‘’What?’’ I stare at her in disbelief.

‘’You heard me. Eel and I’ll accompany - it’ll be a great expedition. If anything I’ll be be coming along for the shits and giggles.’’ Kate says matter-o-factly.

‘’’Shits and Giggles’.’’ I look at her patronisingly but start to grin. ‘’Kate, could you sound any more Northern?’’

‘’I’m live in Manchester, it’s inevitable that I start using slang.’’ She says before turning to me in a business-like manner. ‘’Now, when were you planning on going?’’

‘’Kate, you realise this little expedition could get us into serious trouble?’’ I say, worry returning slightly as my plan starts to become a bit more real. I’m not usually that uptight about breaking school rules - but then again I rarely break them. Plus my plan could end up being disastrous. Very.

But Kate only scoffs. ‘’Yeah, but that’s if we get caught - which we won’t.’’ She says determinedly before continuing. Despite it kind of being my mission, she now seems hell bent on organising it. ‘’Now, were you thinking of taking the train for Pastbury?’’

‘’Kate-’’ I hesitate and look at her. ‘’Kate, I’m thinking it may be better if I do this  on my own. I don’t want to get you and Lena into trouble - especially after what happened last year.’’

Kate’s face suddenly becomes strangely serious, but she remains resolute. ‘’Groot, we can’t have you going on your own. It wouldn’t be safe. Plus we’ll only get into trouble if we’re caught, and if I use James Potter’s invisibility cloak, then-

‘’Kate, we have to give that cloak back!’’ I cut across.

‘’Yes, yes,’’ She says dismissively. ‘’But we still have plenty of time and if we go and see this house sooner rather than later it’ll be fine.’’

‘’Getting that cloak back to him is more important.’’ I insist, focusing on the wrong thing in the conversation and forgetting my aims.

‘’Groot calm down.’’ Says Kate, slightly amused but a little solemn as she’s reminded of her fault in taking the cloak in the first place. ‘’First we need to use it.’’

‘’We need to figure out how to give it back to him.’’ I continue. ‘’Maybe leave it with a note? Or-’’

‘’EARTH TO GROOT, EARTH TO GROOT.’’ Suddenly Kate’s standing up and yelling at the top of her voice as I’m silenced. ‘’THE EMPRESS OF ALIENS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SHE IS LISTENING TO A WORD THE EMPRESS IS SAYING.’’

I sigh, though there’s a slight smile on my face. ‘’Kate, I’m listening.’’

She looks down at me and smiles graciously. ‘’Thank you.’’ Kate flops to the floor and then continues. ‘’Now, as I was saying, we’ll worry about the cloak later. Focus on the fact that we need to get down to Dorset on a weekend.’’

I nod and remember my plan. Though there’s unsurety within me, excitement does return, and I realise I am longing to visit the place. Perhaps it’s good thing Kate is here to remind me of that. ‘’I was thinking perhaps the weekend after this. As you say I was going to take the train for Pastbury and walk there in the morning.’’

‘’Ugh, walking.’’ Says Kate comically. ‘’I think brooms are a better idea.’’

‘’Lena hates flying though.’’ I say, though the idea does appeal to me.

Kate looks at me and raises an eyebrow. ‘’I thought you didn’t want Eel to come?’’

I look at her with disbelief. ‘’Why on earth would I not want Lena to come? I’d love her to come! It’s just I feel she might not want to.’’

‘’Eel’ll go if I go.’’ Answers Kate resolutely. ‘’It might actually do her some good. Plus she loves old houses and the like.’’

‘’Well, if you’re sure.’’ I say, my voice certainly implying that I am definitely not sure.

‘’I do.’’ Kate smiles suddenly. ‘’That’s sorted, then. Eel, you and me are going to Dorset next weekend.’’

‘’The weekend after.’’ I correct her. ‘’Don’t you have your interview for the Job at the Lovegood’s?’’

Kate rolls her eyes and flops back to lie of the floor. ‘’Yup. Not looking forward to it, though.’’

‘’You’ll do fine.’’ I say reassuringly, picking up my pen and glad of the change of subject. I don’t want to go delving into the details of our planned Dorset escapade any more at the moment.

Kate laughs. ‘’I’m not worried - I know I’ll get the job - I just don’t want to waste my weekends working with a bunch of boring old farts.’’

Now it’s my turn to laugh, raising my eyebrows in accompaniment. ‘’Well it’s obvious you’ve never met the Lovegoods then.’’

Kate doesn’t catch my words and creases her brow as she stares at the ceiling. ‘’Mm?’’

‘’Kate, the Lovegoods are certainly not ‘boring old farts’. For one they run a shop full of completely bonkers things that no one who is in any way sane can make sense of, and they have a son who’s a couple of years older than you.’’ I answer, amused at the way she’s judged something when she knows nothing about it.

Kate raises her eyebrow and sits up. ‘’Why don’t I remember him?’’

I shrug. ‘’I dunno, you probably wiped him from your memory or something. He’s would have left when you were in fifth year.’’

‘’What’s his name?’’ Questions Kate. I feel there’s going to be a nickname made if I tell her but I don’t hold back.

‘’Xenophilius, I think.’’ Is my answer.

Kate raises her eyebrow. ‘’Hmmm nicknames will be difficult with this one.’’

I laugh and open my mouth to quip that it might be better if Kate does not nickname the son of her possible employer when the sound of the common room door opening and a second later a group of Slytherins coming in. At a closer glance I see they’re sixth and seventh years, returning from watching Quidditch Practice, and since most of them I know to be the kind who eavesdrop and gossip, I terminate mine and Kate’s conversation and scoot away from the fire to retreat to a black leather arm chair in the corner of the room, taking my research with me. At the same time, Kate gets up and turns to me.

‘’Well, I’m gonna head off now, Groot.’’ She says. ‘’I said I’d meet Eel to go for a walk.’’

I nod. It’s only natural that Kate heads off as her classmates arrive - she’s made enemies of most of them and certainly isn’t welcome. I shiver at the thought of a walk, though - it’ freezing outside. ‘’Have a nice time.’’

Kate grins. ‘’We’re going to look for tadpoles.’’

I raise my eyebrow. ‘’Kate, it’s September. You aren’t going to find any tadpoles at this time of year.’’

She shrugs, still wearing a teasing smile. ‘’We’ll see.’’

‘’Well, I wish you luck.’’ Is my reply as I laugh and shake my head. ‘’See you - and remember to tell Lena about our Dorset expedition.’’

‘’Will do.’’ Calls Kate, already having started walking towards the door as she slings her Slytherin scarf round her neck. During our conversation she gradually reverted back to her old Kate form by removing all traces of Peggy’s work - there are hair ties all over the floor from the undone braids, she’s jammed a large black jumper with ‘K’ stitched clumsily on it over the fancy top Peggy probably forced her into, and the fashionable high-heeled shoes she’d been wearing are sitting by the hearth whilst she walks off in her mickey mouse slippers. I sigh and shake my head again humorously - I hope to god she’s planning on changing those slippers before she goes to find Lena. Still, it’s kind of satisfying to think of Peggy’s work being undone - it sounds malicious and spiteful but for some reason the girl irritates me tremendously. The ‘chill out and have some fun for once’ attitude she uses with me with me continuously annoys me - she seems to think I’m some flat, boring Prefect who puts a damper on everything. And that’s not an exaggeration - I’m very shrewd and have fully interpreted her opinion of me.

Trying not to think about Peggy, I reach for my bag and bring out my potions textbook, also finding a quill and parchment before leaning back and opening to volume with a sigh. Time to start on my potions essay. True, it’s due in a week and I have plenty of time, but I like to get things out of the way.

However, I’m interrupted again as I dip my quill into the precariously placed inkpot on the arm of the chair, an angry voice causing me to look up and view the unpleasant speaker.

‘’Where were you, Dashwood?’’ Severus Snape’s voice unsettles me due to the badly subdued fury in his tones.

‘’What d’you mean?’’ I question warily, putting down my quill.

‘’The Prefect meeting this afternoon you idiot.’’ He spits, black eyes blazing.

A rush of panic runs through me. ‘’What?’’

Severus looks at me with scorn and withdraws slightly, leaving a pause between his reply and sneering his reply. ‘’Oh, let me guess. You forgot?’’

Anger begins to rise in me and my answer is less stunned. ‘’I was not informed of a Prefect meeting this afternoon.’’

‘’Oh really?’’ Answers Severus jeeringly. It looks like he’s going to say something else for a second but he doesn’t - instead his mouth snaps shut and he says no more, confusing me before I continue to pursue the fact I wasn’t told about any sort of meeting.

‘’Severus, why I wasn’t told about the meeting?’’ I can already guess the answer, though, and stand up in wait for his reply.

‘’You were.’’ He insists before returning to his usual . ‘’You just forgot, didn’t you?’’

I look at him angrily. ‘’I didn’t forget because I was never told. I have an excellent memory.’’ I look at him scornfully. ‘’Unlike some. Wasn’t it you who forgot to check in on the first years when we were on the train because you were too busy planning which of them to bully with Mulciber to remember they actually existed?’’

‘’How dare you!’’ He snarls, stepping closer,  black eyes ablaze once more.

But I ignore him. ‘’Why didn’t you tell me about the meeting.’’ I demand, my voice threatening.

‘’I did.’’ His lip curls spitefully.

‘’Oh no you did not.’’ I look at his face and suddenly realise his motive had been simple. I told you I was quick. ‘’You wanted to get me in trouble, didn’t you?’’

He scoffs, though it sounds fake. By the look of his face, Severus Snape has just realised he is in deep shit. ‘’Why the hell would I try and get you into trouble? You’re not worth it.’’

I look at him. ‘’You complete and utter arsehole.’’ Is all I have to say as I pull away, my voice low.

‘’I don’t care what you think of me.’’ He sneers.

And that’s what gets to me. It’s not that everyone should care what I think of them - but the fact Severus has no respect for me whatsoever infuriates me, especially when I am the the better Prefect of the two of us and I saved his arse continuously throughout our first year as Prefects. I suppose he thinks he can’t anger me - that nothing will come of it because I stay cool and calm and will not to challenge Severus Snape. But my god is he wrong.

‘’No. That’s evident.’’ I say calmly, though there’s danger in my tones and it builds up from there as I turn on him. ‘’Because if you had listened to what I think of you and taken it to heart, you would have become a much better person. But alas, I am simply an ignorant nobody who mean nothing to you. Not that I give a shit.’’ I look up at him, my voice icy. ‘’You accuse me of being a bad Prefect, Severus Snape, when if it weren’t for me - you wouldn’t even have held this position.’’

‘’You bi-.’’ He stops himself before he insults me beyond belief but I know what he was about to say. ‘’I believe it’s the other way round.’’ He says as I stare at him with disbelief and he regains his composure, a smile spreading across his thin face.

‘’What?’’ I question, half thinking that my ears are deceiving me. He can’t be this delusional.

‘’I’ve kept the position for you.’’ He looks at me maliciously. ‘’You aren’t a true Slytherin - you never will be - and you don’t deserve to have this position. People don’t respect you because of it - they don’t listen to you - so it’s all down to me.’’

And that’s when I blow. I don’t have a hot, vicious temper like Saoirse or Sisa but when I get mad I definitely make a mark.

‘’You delusional, stupid, immature little man! You think just because I’m not spiteful and sneaky, just because I don’t act like you, that I’m not a Slytherin? That I won’t be respected? Well I have some news for you, Severus Snape. You underestimate me. I am dead scary when you make me mad.’’ My eyes are ablaze and I can see from the alarm and shock in his eyes that I’m definitely making an impact. ‘’People respect me, you slimy, pathetic little snake, not because I try desperately to use my power to make them do what I want like you, but because I actually know what I’m doing, because I’m clever and I am a good role model. Whereas you…’’ I look at him. ‘’You don’t make any impact except for one. When I first met you, do you know what my first impression was?’’ I get close and spit the last comment. ‘’You disgusted me.’’

And I’ve done it. Face red, Snape leaps up, though it looks like he’s about to slap me for a second, robes flying as he turns and races to exit the common room, cloak billowing as he strides off stormily.

I watch him leave with rage still boiling within me and turn to grab my belongings and shove them into my bag. I can't stay to do my work in the common room knowing he could make an appearance. I'm not angry often because I try to exercise control over my emotions, and to do that I need to let myself cool down when I have been in a rage, and most likely sitting alone in the common room will attract Slytherin students who will work me up even more. Yes, right now I need to be alone. Because I actually regret what I said.

I head for the dormitory, flopping down on my bed in the dark room and pulling out that potions essay once more. Maybe working will help me take my mind of Severus Snape and the fact that right now I completely and utterly loathe the greasy-haired, slimy boy who held respect for none of the right people. However, it's difficult when he's the one who constantly bests me at potions and is my biggest rival in that subject. Sighing, I put down my quill and parchment. It feels like a spot of talking to myself and blowing off steam is in order. However, before I can even begin my customary post-argument ranting, someone enters the dorm.

''Oh. Hey Claire.'' It's a housemate of mine - Cassandra Vale. We aren't friends but she's one of the few housemates I don't dislike,  though she hangs around with many of the ones who do fall into that category.

''Hi.'' I look back to my potions essay and tuck the parchment into the book before slipping it into my bag and taking out a volume of ghost stories. I need to look busy so conversation isn't essential - not because I'm antisocial but because I really am not in the mood for exchanging small talk at the moment.

Cassandra potters about for a little while, changing clothes and brushing her hair in the long, silver mirrors embellished with shining snakes at one end of the dormitory before turning to go, me just sitting there and reading my book whilst she does these things. It's a little awkward for me, for some reason, and I decide that I need to be mature and adult and start a conversation, opening my mouth to do so.  However, she surprises me and cuts across before I have a chance to say anything.

''Hey, um, Claire - is this yours?'' I look up and see she's holding out a small piece of paper, laid flat on the palm of her outstretched hand. Shutting my book and sliding along my bed to get a closer look, I see it's a photograph of a young woman - and old one, by the looks of it - not black and white but tinged with sepia.

''I found it by the fire in the common room.'' Cassandra continues as I inspect the photo.

I look up at her, brow creased. ''No - no it isn't mine.''

But I can see why she thought it was. The woman in the photo is the very image of me - short dark hair that becomes progressively lighter, large eyes with expressive brows, high cheekbones and a strong chin. Even her expression mirrors that of my posing face, though she seems genuinely happy in the picture, unlike me, being distinctly unphotogenic. It's haunting, though, and my next idea makes me very uneasy.

''I - er - think this belongs to Severus Snape.'' I say, looking up at Cassandra and remembering the way his robes flew when he turned to walk away. It could have easily slipped out of his pocket then.

Cassandra looks at it absentmindedly as she pulls back her hair. ''Oh yeah - I should have thought of that. It must be his Aunt - he showed me a picture of her before.'' Cassandra looks at me with intrigued eyes. ''Strange how she looks so like you.''

I look back to the picture, creasing my brow - I don't want to answer her comment because there's a feeling in my heart which isn't healthy. There's a thought I don't want to uncover in my head, something that's niggling in the back of my mind.

Cassandra shrugs and exits the dormitory whilst I'm still looking at the picture and I don't bother to say goodbye, instead continuing to inspect the photograph. I can't seem to take my eyes off it.

It looks to have been taken sometime in the 30s, judging by the style of her clothing. The Camera quality's still quite outdated though, so it must have been taken on an old camera. The woman's stood, not by a vase of flowers or rose bush like in many female portraits from that era, but instead surrounded by bookshelves with a tall potted fern to one side of her, clutching a leather bound volume with both hands. She seems to be in a library - not a common place for a elegant pictures such as this to be taken, but it works. I squint as I try to make out what the writing on the book in her hands says, but I realise it probably doesn't matter anyway and instead turn over the picture, wondering if there's any information on the back. I wonder if this really is Severus' Aunt. If so, I'm going to have to make up with him, give the picture back and then throw a huge amount of questions at him.

I find the back of the photo blank at a glance, but my sharp eyes catch something else as they flicker over it once more. There are words written in very small writing, the ink both smudged and faint. I can read it, however, and squint my eyes as I make out the words.

''C, L,'' I halt over the letters. ''C, L, A, I, - B?'' I pause over a particularly smudged consonant but solve it. ''Oh - R. C, L, A, I, R, E.'' I talk to myself, then spell the first word out. Claire. My name. And one that appears frequently in my family. Tensing up, I look back to the writing and try the second word. ''P - R - I - H.'' I read. ''C, F.'' I crease my brow. That can't be right. Prinhcf. But, at a second look I realise the H is an N and the F is an E, making the word not Prinhcf but Prince - which makes sense now I see it because Severus' Mother's maiden name is Prince. So this must be his Aunt. I wonder why he never mentions her - maybe she died or something, or, knowing his Mother, she was cut from contact. Or perhaps-

And then it hits me.

Claire Prince is the name of the mystery relative.

Dropping the photograph, I turn in a flash and pull the pureblood family tree book out of my bag, heaving the huge volume open and look to the 'P' section, and, flicking through the pages, find the one that contains the most recent branch of the Prince family. I found Claire Prince by looking at the Dashwood Family tree, but I never thought of finding her Mother's family in any book - but here it is. She and Eileen Prince, Snape's mother, seem to be half-sisters, sharing the same Mother. Which means...

Severus Snape and I are cousins.

I sit there for a minute hyperventilating as I shut the book, gasping. I don't believe it. I've finally found some living family and it turns out to be Severus Snape and his shrunken, unpleasant Mother. They are the last family in the world I would want to belong to.

But they're still family. Severus Snape, a boy I have just insulted and hurt, who I have attacked with malicious rage, is my cousin. Suddenly I have grasped by a mad, hysteric need to speak to him, to apologise, to tell him. Not thinking, I jump up and only pause to grab the photograph from where I dropped it before rushing out of the dormitory and through the common room, heading for the library. I know that he'll be there - he always goes there after he's been upset - which I presume is how he is feeling after what I said to him.

''Hey Claire.'' I hear a dubious voice as I'm rushing along the corridor towards the library. I pale and look to see Peggy and Laura, feeling as if I'll give away my secret if I utter a single word. As a result, all I can mutter is;

''Uh - ahem - hi. And goodbye.'' I turn to go, not wanting to deal with Peggy - or anyone, for that matter - at the moment. But, to make matters even more difficult, more voices call from behind.

''Groot!'' I turn back round to see Lena and Kate fast approaching, arm in arm and merry in expression.

''Where're you heading?'' Questions Lena as I neglect to reply and stand there tensely, needing to run again but knowing they'd only run after me without an explanation.

''To the library.'' I say stiffly. ''I - I've got to go.'' I spin round. ''See you.'' I quicken my pace and walk away, beginning to run as Kate calls after me and I pretend not to hear.

''Why the rush?''

I continue to run and ignore further comments until I get to the library, desperate to get hold of Severus. I sigh with relief as I hear his voice through the bookshelves and try to locate him. However, after stumbling around trying to locate him, I realise he's talking to someone - in the restricted section. I can hear his words from where I am but they're faint. So, inadvertently eavesdropping, I slip between shelves and get closer, catching the words easily as he raises his voice. I don't know why I'm eavesdropping - it's most unlike me - perhaps it's because I can hear Avery's sneering voice, or because I wonder if he's talking about me. Either way, I'm in a strange state of mind.

''He wants you to join him, Snape. You're useful to him.'' It's Avery speaking, but I don't understand the meaning of the words - who, 'He' is, I have no idea.

''I'm not sure, Avery. My Mother expects me to. Yet others would condemn me if I did.'' Snape answers, his words further confusing me.

''You mean that Gryffindor Mudblood would condemn you.'' Says Avery scornfully. I think he's talking about Lily Evans - I know Snape and her had known each other in the past but argued for serious reasons and she turned away from him. ''You disappoint me, Snape. I thought you'd forgotten the girl - like you should have.''

''I have.'' Snape's voice is weak and I'm strongly reminded of his pointless denial in our conversation earlier. It seems to be instinctual.

''Whatever.'' Avery does not dwell on the matter - clearly he has an aim here. ''Look, will you do it or not?''

''You can't just ask me like this, Avery. I have to think about it.'' Answers Snape hesitantly. His reply confuses me - I'm itching to know what's going on here. But whatever it is, I don't have a good feeling about this.

''I've been asking you for the past year, for god's sake.'' Avery answers. He seems bloody determined to get his answer, which gives me hope he'll be done soon so I can speak to Severus. A spark of impatience rises within me but I don't have to extinguish it because the next minute Avery freezes my body with what he adds.

''Now say it, yes or no. Will you join the forces of the Dark Lord?''

No. No no no. Please god no. What the hell is Snape doing? The Dark Lord? He's being a job offer to work with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? I knew the Slytherins had ties...It can't be helped...but not Snape. He's good, he has to be - he's my cousin. He can't be one of them, he can't be...

''Snape?''

I hold my breath as Avery urges for an answer and my head throbs as thoughts whirl wildly around it. No. He'll say no. He has to say no. He's no Death Eater, he's a good guy. I know he is.

But his answer, cold and quiet, chills me to the bone and contradicts my wild, desperate statements.

''Yes. I will join the forces of the Dark Lord. I will become a Death Eater.''