Chapter 33: Sacrificed Sincerity 

Snape strutted away from the scene quickly, he had other places to be. He wasn't really going to find Dumbledore to increase security, he just needed to get away and find Draco. He needed to talk about this unbreakable vow, it was destroying his life...literally. 

"Severus!" An annoyed voice raged behind him. 

Snape turned around and saw Jessica standing there, she was shaking at how angry she was and was trying to keep her racing heart under control. She had to form a sentence to let Snape know how wrong his actions were but the words wouldn't form and she just stood there with her fists clenched and heavy breathing making her look a bit pathetic. 

"Yes?" Snape asked in a bored tone as if addressing one of his students. 

"S-STOP IT!" She yelled, it was the only thing she could muster. "YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS!" Jessica stormed towards him as if she could finally walk again. Jessica walked until they were inches apart and prodded her finger into his chest harshly and her bottom lip quivered. "That's your daughter!" 

"Jessica — " Snape tried to say, she was very important to him and he was fed up of disappointing people. 

"NO!" And for the first time in a long time, Snape could see Jessica's fangs. He had forgotten how truly terrifying she could actually be, as if she'd actually pulled them out for the sake of their relationship. But she could never stop being a vampire. "YOU'VE GOT TO TALK TO HER!" 

"I will," Snape placed a hand on her shoulder, not frightened of her fangs. "I will talk to her. She's my daughter and I will look after her but right now — " Snape turned his head to see Draco at the end of the hallway. "I have something to do." 

"I love you," Jessica whispered all of a sudden, just as he was about to leave. 

"I love you, too," Snape replied boldly before walking away. 

 *      *      * 

"How selfish of him!" Matt raged as he held Lucy's hand. The two of them were making their way to the Slug club party that evening. Matt had mended her leg immediately, then she went to go and get changed into her dress and Matt got changed into his suit. "I can't believe he said that!" 

"Neither can I," Lucy sniffed. She was too numb to cry. Snape always cared about her, what had gotten into him? 

"You're his daughter for crying out loud!" Matt continued. "He should show some respect! You've just been attacked by a Knight! It doesn't happen every day! He should have been the first one to comfort you!"

"I know," Lucy nodded, again in a quiet tone. 

"He should wake up and protect you! He's so — " 

"I know..." 

Lucy stared at her dress miserably as they walked. Matt whispered reassuring things to her on the way but she wasn't really listening. All she could think about was Snape and how he used to be. She did this until they reached the outside of the party. 

"Smile for me," Matt commanded. 

Lucy tried her best attempt at a smile. 

"That's good enough, lets go." 

They walked into the dungeons to find everyone just beginning to start the party. It was very similar to the party at Christmas apart from the different decorations but Lucy didn't seem to mind as it made her forget about Snape completely. 

There were only a couple of pictures taken of Lucy and Matt as it seemed the Quick Quills had lost complete interest in writing articles on anything, probably under Ellen's command. This gave Lucy and Matt the freedom to do whatever they wanted without pressure so they wandered over to a corner away from the life of the party. 

"I'm so glad the press isn't here to bother us," Lucy sighed as she leaned into the wall. "I'm not up for being photogenic today, I'd much prefer to be a troll." 

"Me too," Matt laughed and took a drink from one of the waitors' trays while they were still walking past. "You seem to be having less nightmares, am I right?" 

"Yes, they've decreased. Maybe Zuc's finally given up on me." 

"Good, maybe he's finally realised that you're taken!" 

"Oh, Matt, you're disgusting!" Lucy laughed as Dean joined their group with a smile. 

"You seem rather cheerful," Matt pointed out to Dean. 

"I love parties!" Dean admitted. "And I'm with my two best friend's as well!" 

"Well if you're happy, I'm happy," Lucy replied. She turned around and faced the entrance just as Ben entered the room. "Oh look, Ben's here." 

"I thought he studied too much for parties," Matt snorted. He then looked back at the entrance. "What's McGuire doing here?" 

"McGuire?" Lucy turned around and saw Shona holding Ben's hand. "Oh, wow, looks like she's officially dating Ben." 

"If it wasn't for you she wouldn't even be talking to him," Matt frowned. 

"I know," Lucy shrugged just as she spotted Harry. "Give me a minute, would you?" 

"Sure," Matt nodded as Lucy walked over to Harry standing on his own. 

"Harry," Lucy said as she approached him. 

"Lucy," he responded, waiting for her to continue the conversation. 

"Have you made any progress on who the Half-Blood Prince is?" 

Harry shook his head and Lucy's heart sank. "No, I haven't. It's so frustrating. I'm going to go ask Professor Binns about him." 

"Don't bother, I've already tried that and it was pointless — " Lucy stopped immediately as Shona and Ben approached. 

"Hey!" Lucy and Harry said in unison. 

"Hello, Lucy, Harry," Ben announced. 

"Wow, I hardly ever see you two together. It's weird..." Shona tilted her head to the side. 

"I'm going to go and get some drinks, do you guys want any?" Ben asked politely. 

They shook their heads and Ben walked off to get himself a drink. Shona smiled after him and then looked at Lucy. "So, what are you talking about?" 

"Nothing really," Harry shrugged, knowing that the Half-Blood Prince and Princess weren't an appropriate topic. 

"So you've got nothing to say to your half-sister?" 

"What can you say really when we're both battling evil men?" Lucy scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. 

"How about we start a conversation?" Harry suggested just as Matt walked over. 

"Like how your relationship with Ben is going," Matt suggested but Lucy didn't stand on his foot to make him shut up. 

"Um..." Shona went red in the face. "Good, I guess." 

"Are you officially dating?" Lucy narrowed her eyes. 

"Er, yes..." 

"When's your next date?" Harry joined in. 

"Why are you asking me all this? It's personal!" Shona hissed and walked off towards Ben. 

"Wow, sensitive..." Matt cringed as he took Lucy's hand. "Lets dance, shall we?" 

"Fine," Lucy sighed, not really wanting to but she knew Matt wouldn't take no for an answer. He led her onto the dance floor, leaving Harry alone until Dean came along to join him. 

They danced for a little while to the slow song, Matt had his hands on her waist and she had hers around his neck. Before Matt decided it was an appropriate time for a conversation. 

"So do you think Zuc's getting stronger?" Matt whispered to Lucy so no one else would hear. They were surrounded by couples who all had all decided to dance but Lucy couldn't see Ben and Shona anywhere. Shona loved parties but Ben didn't, they'd probably just decided to show up and then leave for the library. That was why the two were still dressed in school uniform. 

"Of course he is but so am I," she replied in the same tone. "Just because he sent in a Knight doesn't mean he can beat me." 

"Good," Matt smiled, knowing that his constant kind comments he had given to her had worked. "And don't worry about your dad, I'm sure he'll come around." 

"I'm sure you're right but he can be a pain sometimes." 

"He's probably just annoyed at that Knight and Zuc." 

"Who isn't annoyed at Zuc?" 

"Fair point, you've just got to get rid of him." 

"I'll have an army to back me up. It might be a small one but it'll be my army and I'll be proud of it." 

"I hereby join Miss Snape's army," Matt said proudly making Lucy laugh. 

"Trust me, Matt, when Zuc sees someone the same height as him, he's bound to be intimidated." 

"Stop using my height as an advantage!" Matt pretended to be offended. "Well it will come in handy when I'm punching him in the face for picking on my girlfriend." 

"I'm sure you punching him in the face won't motivate him to kill you at all or anything." 

"Not at all," Matt shook his head. "Down with the King!" 

*      *      * 

It was midnight when Lucy arrived back at Snape's quarters, Matt had walked her all the way up the stairs to get there before leaving her alone. The moonlight shone on a quarter of her dress as she unlocked the door hastily to get in. Snape wouldn't be awake now because it was too late, nor would Jessica. 

She swung the door open and then closed it behind her before locking it again. When she turned around, she was met with a surprise. 

"Lucy, we need to talk." 

"I don't want to, dad," Lucy hissed and walked straight passed him from where he was sitting. But he grabbed her arm to stop her as he stood up. "Let go." 

"No, we need to talk. It's important that we talk now." 

"Jessica is asleep it would be rude to wake her." 

"Jessica isn't here, she's with the Resistance and so this is the perfect time to talk. So, sit down," he shoved her gently toward her usual chair and her tiredness got the better of her so she sat down. 

"There's nothing I've got to say to you," Lucy shrugged as Snape sat back down in his chair. "And you haven't had anything to say to me for a long while. I find that strange because at the end of last year you almost drank yourself to death because I was missing." 

"And this is exactly what we need to talk about. We don't tell each other anything anymore, we need to start doing that again otherwise we're just going to keep falling apart." 

"Okay then, I've got an idea," Lucy straightened up and tucked the sides of her dress underneath her legs. "Lets play a game of truth or dare, except there's going to be no dares and it's all going to be truths. You can start, ask me a question about anything and I'll give you a one hundred percent honest answer with this — " Lucy opened up her bag and pulled out two small vials of Veritaserum. "We'll both drink this so we get honest answers, agreed?" 

"Fine," Snape almost shook his head at the childish game but it seemed like the only way they were going to get answers out of each other. He took one of the vials before they both drank the contents at the same time and then began. "How long have you been dating Matthew Jarvin and is he your second boyfriend?" 

"Since the day I had that incredibly long sleep. We got together that night in the Hog's head and he confessed everything to me. He is my second boyfriend, Fred Weasley was my first." 

Snape pursed his lips, he disliked this fact but it was the truth. "Your turn." 

"Why did you decide to start dating Jessica again?" Lucy asked and Snape knew he wouldn't be able to hold any of the truth back because he'd agreed to the Veritaserum. 

The truth flowed from his mouth like a waterfall he could not cease. "Because after you were captured by Lord Zuc I realised how lonely I was. When you came back I was incredibly grateful and I also realised how lonely I actually am and after meeting you I discovered that it is better to have some company. Jessica also suffers the same kind of loneliness and that's why I made the decision to propose to her." Snape clenched his fists, he had never intended for Lucy to know about that. "Why Matthew Jarvin of all people? I'm sure there are nicer boys in the school." 

"Because he admitted to me that he was a horrible person and he promised to change for me so I gave him a chance and he proved himself. If he'd had made one more mistake I would have let him go, but he hasn't and that's why we're still together." Lucy suddenly found that her eyes were welling up with tears. "And he's the only person that's been there for me recently! You haven't even been there for me! You even ignored me when a Knight came into the castle and tried to kill me!" Lucy covered her mouth with her hand and tried to ignore her tears. 

Snape couldn't believe it, did he do that? Was he that much of an idiot? 

"Lucy — " he began to get up to end the truth and hold her close and tell her everything was okay, which he hadn't been able to do for a long time. 

"Sit down I'm not finished," she ordered and he sat back down. "Why are you acting so strange? What have you done or what have I done to make you this way?" 

"I made an unbreakable vow," Snape sighed. "With Draco Malfoy's mother so I would protect Draco and I'm not even sure why I'm doing it. I was so hungover at the time that I can't even remember what it was for." 

Lucy shook her head and replied in a sarcastic tone. "Well done, dad, you're always making brilliant decisions." 

"I didn't mean to! Now I've got to keep it up otherwise I'll die..." Snape looked at his hands and not at Lucy. "I'm sorry..." 

"Sorry won't change your death sentence." 

"It's not certain!" 

"It is if you don't complete your task," Lucy snorted. 

The two of them were becoming incredibly drowsy because of the Potion and were slipping into a somewhat drunk state and eventually their questions turned stupid. But they weren't awake enough to notice. 

"Hey, dad," Lucy laughed. "Why do you dress like a Goth?" 

"Just because it's black," Snape rolled his eyes. "Besides, Lily said it looked good on me once." 

"You're so obsessed with mum, you're supposed to like Jessica now." 

"Oh, of course..." Snape looked up at the ceiling. "We're going to have a big white wedding and you're going to be a bridesmaid...they'll even be wine..." 

"When's the wedding?" 

"Soon, when this mess with Zuc is all over. The quicker you defeat him, the quicker me and Jessica can get married. You're so stupid when you fight...like when you wore that stupid outfit and killed those Knight's..." Snape grinned.  

"When he comes back to visit me I'll try and kill him," Lucy smiled looking rather dazed. "I'll just stab him in the chest and see how he likes that." 

The two looked at each other all of a sudden and began laughing. If anyone had been watching they'd just shake their heads in shame but other's would find it very amusing. 

"Hey, dad," Lucy said when they'd both stopped laughing and regained the power of speech. 

"Yes, Lucy?" Snape replied looking at her lazily. 

"Who's The Half-Blood Princess?" 

Before Snape could reply, Lucy fell asleep leaving Snape to talk to himself until he too fell asleep under the effects of Veritaserum.

*      *      * 

Zuc walked down the stairs of his vast castle gracefully in his brand new suit. He knew she was visiting today and he had to look his best for her. He held the hem of his jacket as he reached the bottom of the stairs and Kingston stood before him wearing a suit like Zuc's but it wasn't as expensive. 

"Good evening, My Mighty," Kingston bowed. "She's just arrived, she's in the library waiting for you." 

"Brilliant, thank you, Kingston," Zuc smiled and walked past Kingston and to the library. 

Zuc flexed his fingers before pushing the double doors to the library open, revealing a lady browsing the many books on her tiptoes while a couple of guards and Martyn stood nearby. 

"Oh! Lord Zuc! What a pleasant surprise!" She turned around immediately when she knew he was there. 

"It's Zuc to you, Lady Maiden," Zuc kissed her hand as she held it out to him. 

Kingston hadn't seen Lady Maiden for a long time and this was Zuc's first time meeting her. She had been responsible for the destruction of Mr Cousins when he was found making weapons for the Resistance and was given the job to ensure that his son left the island. But before she could ensure it, he was already gone. 

"How lovely!" Lady Maiden giggled, her rouge lips turning up at the corners to make what was presumably a smile. "Now, I must request that we talk in private, Zuc. Would that be alright?" 

Zuc glared at Lady Maiden's guards, Kingston and Martyn. They scattered out of the room immediately leaving Lady Maiden and Lord Zuc alone. Lady Maiden stepped gracefully on top of one of the tables and looked up at the top of the shelves in the library. 

"I can't help but ask, what was up there?" She pointed to a broken case and Zuc turned to look. 

"That was where Merlin's sword was held but..." Zuc cleared his throat. "But it was stolen." 

"By who?" The amount of make-up on Lady Maiden's face made her look like a clown but Zuc didn't seem to mind. 

"Lucy Snape stole it when she came into my castle," Zuc admitted guiltily. 

"Surely you mean that she took it back from you when she came here," she corrected. "As it is rightfully hers." 

"Yes..." he was about to argue when he couldn't think of a valid argument. "I need to talk to you about her, we need to think up new tactics to get rid of her." 

"You're doing nothing wrong, Zuc," she sighed, resting a hand on his shoulder from where she was stood on the table. "You just need to try harder." 

"I am trying harder, I'm preparing my army right now so Lucy Snape will be caught by surprise..." Zuc grinned to himself. 

"I can't help but notice but you obviously hate Wizards and Witches in general, and not just because of Lucy Snape. Why is that?" 

Zuc faced away from her. "My parents were killed by Wizards and Witches and I want revenge. Not only when I bring in my army will lots of the Wizarding population be destroyed but so will Lucy. I'm doing this for my parents and for fate." He turned to face her again all of a sudden. "Besides, she was having far too much fun today at a party with her boyfriend. I might just kill off her boyfriend first to show her how my mother felt when my father was killed first. That would be lovely to see..." 

"She'd just get stronger," Lady Maiden shook her head. "You'd just be giving her more ammunition, it would be more of a motive for her." 

"You're right but it would be lovely to watch. Just for her to feel what my mother felt, just for her to feel the same loss as I did. But I'll get her soon, even if I have to tear down Hogwarts' security system piece by piece with my own bare hands." 

"How did you manage to send that Knight into Hogwarts, then?" Lady Maiden inquired. 

"Knights can penetrate the security system easier and go undetected next to the one's in their Entrance Hall, it's quite simple actually."

"But you can only use that trick so much." 

"Agreed," Zuc nodded. 

"I suggest before her sixth year is up you attempt to penetrate the security system yourself with Kingston and show her who's boss. You can bring a couple of Knights with you to penetrate the system first and then you can get to her and do what you want." Lady Maiden smiled. "I heard a few of your army are practising that fake magic like the Resistance do, if you can use that you'll be well on your way." 

"Yes..." Zuc eyes brightened at the thought. "Yes, of course!" 

"I'll leave you with that, my dear," Lady Maiden whispered before kissing him on the cheek, hopping off of the table and leaving his castle. 

Author's note: 

If you can't remember who Lady Maiden is, she appeared in the third book. I had intended to bring her back into the book sooner but I couldn't find the correct place. I'm sorry about that. 

— TheHalfBloodPrincess x