Learning of Worlds-Private

[HopesWings]

Ellie listened without interrupting despite her many questions. She had so many things she wanted to ask, so many things she wondered about. She turned her curious gaze to the window, pondering about these things even as Snape spoke.

"Your mother..." A pause "If I'm not wrong-" Another pause. "-is my sister." Snape's words struck the girl to her very core. Her head yanked up, staring at the man with open shock. "Her name is Sage, yes?" Ellie looked back at the window, her mind struggling to bring back memories buried with time.

"I....I think so. Nan only told me her name once. She was scared to talk about her. I don't know why. Every time I bring her up she shuts down." Her words rushed out quickly. She began to shake as painful thoughts entered her childhood mind. They were unpleasant memories she had hidden away.

"She only talked about Mom one time in depth. She," a gulp. "Nan said Mom had to go into hiding, like her. There was a war, and they were both in danger. The bad people wanted Nan, that's why she had to hide. Mom had to hide because she had a secret the bad people wanted, and she wouldn't give it to them. Nan told me she also hid to protect me." Ellie looked away as tears began to spill from her eyes. She did not want the man to see them. "But they found Mom. They found her, and they---they hurt her. That's why I was taken to Nan, so she could protect me. And that's why we have to stay hidden. Nan said the bad people would hurt me too if they found me."

Rivers of pain were streaming down her young face. Ellie furiously wiped them away, angry with herself for shedding them. She refused to meet Snape's gaze again, ashamed of herself. "I-I shouldn't have left home like that. Nan would be--would be mad."

What Ellie said made sense. Sage had become a key part in the Order, and she had been one of the few who knew where Lily and James had been kept. It was always believed Siris Black had betrayed them, but perhaps Sage had been forced to give away the secret. She would have died to keep the it hidden. But, Voldermort had never told Severus his sister had been captured. He had promised to harm to befall her "She's just a foolish child," had been his words to Snape all those years ago. But Voldermort had also done whatever he felt like doing in that moment. If the Death Eaters had gotten their hands on Sage, she was as good as dead.