She ran down the hall and into Snape’s classroom with little concern for the first year students who were enduring their most painstaking double potions lesson to date. “I’ve just been to see my Aunt Ann.� She bristled. “You might’ve saved me a trip and just told me the truth rather than hinting at it. I know all about the obliviate spell used on my mother, what I don’t know is who and I am really burning to know.�

“Guenivere, this is not the time nor the place to discuss this.� Snape said under his breath, barely maintaining his cool, in control demeanor.

“And when will be a good time for you?� Her face was closed off, the lines around her eyes taking on a hardness that defied diamonds.

“Perhaps in my office, after classes?�

“Fine.� She said and stormed off, leaving Snape with a jittery bunch of first year students. They had never seen anyone stand up to Snape and while it was a treat it was also a terror, for Snape rounded on them with twice as much of his usual gusto.

He arrived at his office shortly after the terrified first years dashed from his room, some of them crying for not the first time after a potions lesson. He hardly felt it necessary to lecture Gwen on her dreadful decorum, but he planned to tell her off about her dreadful sense of timing.

“What is it that you want to know, now you’ve had a chance to cool off some?� He asked, while taking his seat. He seemed unusually calm to Gwen, which immediately set of alarm bells in her head.

“So you weren’t lying about my father. Aunt Ann confirmed that he was indeed a death eater. I cannot begin to comprehend it, but it looks like I’m just going to have to live with it. But you didn’t tell me about my real father and I think you know a lot more than you’re letting on.�

Snape took a deep breath. “I don’t know who your real father was Guenivere.�

She turned her face; she couldn’t look at him, even if he was telling the truth.

He immediately felt a pang of discomfort. Once again, he was actually concerned for and caring about this girl and it made no sense to him, whatsoever. He stepped around the desk and touched her arm gently. “I am sorry, but I thought you should at least be tipped in that direction. I assumed your mother would’ve known something about it and left you some notice.�

Gwen looked up at Severus, her eyes filled with salt. “Not a single note.� She said. “Only a black box with a password I can’t get past. You took a huge risk in trusting me.�

He nodded plainly.

“Why?� She asked. As she watched him scramble for an answer she thought she saw the corners of his mouth turn up just slightly in a hidden smile.

“I’m still not sure why.� He said finally. “I suppose it just felt right.�

Something stirred in Gwen’s stomach. “If you don’t know who my father is� She began slowly. “Then you must not be him.� She finished with much difficulty.

Snape looked at her as if she had just told him he’d won the Miss America Pageant. She was afraid he was going to laugh at her. Instead he smiled genuinely, something no one at Hogwarts had ever seen and said gently: “no. I’m sorry to have led you to that conclusion. I just wanted to make you think Gwen. Your mother died with so many secrets. You really have no idea.�

“No I don’t.�

“One day you’ll find that you’re so much stronger because of everything your parents put you through.�

Gwen smiled and it was like the sunshine breaking out from behind the clouds. Snape patted her on the shoulder, gave her a fatherly grin and stepped away.

“If you don’t mind terribly, I have a great deal of homework to grade.�

“I do have one question.� She said meekly.

“Go on.�

“Why did you become a death eater?�

“Why does anyone do anything? It was a bad decision and I’m paying for it, every day for the rest of my life. It’s the risk you take when you do anything of greatness. Good or bad.�

She looked at him as if she were seeing a new man, someone she had never known just sprouted out of Snape, a man she had hated for years. But she realized now that he was human, just like anyone else and that he was prone to mistakes. He’d made so many he’d lost track, but he was aiming to make up for them now, even if it was a little slow in coming.

From that day on Gwen considered Severus Snape a good friend. Strange as it was, Snape returned her friendly affection and became something of a late blossoming father figure, even if he never showed it in the classroom.

To be Continued in Episode Ninety Six