CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE'S TALE

Blaire turned to face Dumbledore. She stared at him. "Show me what?" she questioned him. Her eyes stared directly into Dumbledore's. "There's nothing to show me." Blaire said bitterly. She waited for an answer from Dumbledore who sighed. He gestured for her to follow him. She soon realised what he wanted to show her.

Severus Snape's memories.

Blaire looked straight at Dumbledore. "What? Why do you want to show me this?" she demanded.

Dumbledore looked at her sadly. "You don't have to. It's totally up to you." He said, placing a small flask like object on the table near them. Without another word, he left his office, leaving her alone. Blaire frowned. Why would she want to see it? Blaire knew his story didn't she?

Her gaze dropped to her marriage letter and her hands slowly picked up the flask. Curiosity got the best of her and soon she found herself being drawn to it as she bent down...

Blaire found herself at an old home. She looked around. The furniture looked old and worn. Blaire took a step back and looked around. She heard a voice.

"Severus!" A lady's voiced called out.

"Severus?" Blaire muttered to herself and turned. She was just next to a little boy with greasy black hair and clothes that were worn out and too large for him. It's Severus! She thought to herself. She smiled to herself as she realised he was rather adorable when he was younger. He could not be older than nine. Little Severus was busy reading an old book and he looked up.

"Yes Mother?" little Severus stood up as a woman who greatly resembled the adult Severus approached him.

"It's time for bed." Blaire realised that the woman was Severus's mother. His mother reached her hand out and Severus took it. Blaire followed them to an old room, where little Severus was tucked into bed.

"Is he here?" Little Severus asked, his voice a whisper as he looked at his mother with wide fearful eyes and Blaire frowned, feeling confused. His mother sighed as she stroked his hair and shook her head.

The scene changed and Blaire found herself in an isolated park. She was behind little Snape and a girl with beautiful red hair and bright green eyes. Blaire recognised those green eyes. She had Harry's eyes.

"Lily!" little Severus ran towards the girl. Lily. It dawned on Blaire, that it was Lily Potter, Harry's mother. Severus stopped and frowned as he took a look at his less than happy friend. "What's wrong?" little Severus asked as he came closer towards Lily.

"It's Petunia." Lily muttered, looking upset and little Severus instantly pulled her down to sit on the grass with him.

"She's jealous of you!" little Severus said as he stared at Lily. "Just let her be." His dark eyes were now sparkling. "Once we enter Hogwarts, you'll fit in, you'll see. You are not a freak!" he insisted, his voice getting higher.

A small smile formed on Lily's lips. "Sev?"

"Yes, Lily?"

"When we reach Hogwarts, will you stay with me?"

Severus smiled. "Always."

The scene changed and Blaire was at the Snape's home again. Her hands flew to cover her ears when a loud shattering noise broke the silence. Blaire found herself face to face with an angry looking man. Shattered pieces of glasses could be seen. Blaire gasped and moved back. The man started screaming to a woman. To Severus's mother. "Stupid woman! How many times Have I told you not to?" he screamed and pushed her to the ground. 'I don't know why I married you Eileen? You stupid witch!" he slapped her and Blaire gasped louder, feeling her heartbeat quicken as she saw little Severus running towards his mother.

What happened next caused Blaire to burst into tears.

Blaire heard a loud crash and the next thing she knew, little Severus was sent crashing and he hit his head against the wall. Instantly, Blaire rushed to little Severus, but she couldn't touch him and she let out a sob. Before she knew what happened next, she was brought to another scene.

It went fast. She was in the train with Lily and Severus. And she soon saw how horrible Severus's childhood was. No matter how hard she avoided, she saw how he was treated by Sirius and James. It was like a nightmare that never ended. She watched how he got abused at home, how he got bullied at school, how he grew more and more interested in the dark arts. Blaire didn't know why, but she felt her heart sinking

She watched as Severus desperatly tried to prevent Lily from drifting away from him, but failing slowly.

She saw how he got more and more involved in the Dark Arts.

She saw the jealousy in his eyes when James tried to talk to Lily.

She saw it. How he called Lily a mudblood. How he tried to apologise to her. How she refused to be friends how with her. How upset he was. How he cried himself to sleep that night. How he didn't really sleep.

And it dawned on her. He was in love with Lily. He wasn't just upset. He was heartbroken.

And then she was brought to another scene. An older Severus stood in front of her. He was probably her age. She followed him. It was a dark and gloomy night. She follwed him into a house and realised where she was.

James and Lily's home.

She bit her lip and held back her gasp and tears when she saw the dead body of James Potter on the floor near the front door. Severus stared at James'a body, an unreadble expression on his face before he walked up the stairs slowly, his expression showing fear.

Blaire stopped behind him. She saw his shoulders drop as there was a pained expression on his face.

He was standing near the body of Lily Potter. Severus dropped to the floor and craddled her in his arms tightly sobbing.

Blaire had never seen him in such a vunarable state. And she cried along with him

Blaire could not take it anymore. She wanted to leave the pensive. She didn't know why, but it affected her. But she couldn't leave. Instead, she was brought away to view the rest of his life. She saw everything. How Severus risked his life to save and protect Harry.

And the most horrible and painful, was to watch him die again.

By the end of everything and by the time she managed to get herself out, she was crying. No, she was sobbing hard. How a man could through such a hard life, she did not know.

"Blaire?"

Blaire turned to find herself back in Dumbledore's office. She opened her mouth to say something, only to close it back and left without waiting for any response from Dumbledore who was watching her.

Author's note: I sincerly apologise for the very late update. I just started college and it has been taking a lot of my time.

Anyway, I decided not to elaborate much on Snape's memories as I want to keep it for later. ;)