Starting Over
Chapter One - The Retirement
(Any characters that you recognize belong to JK Rowling)
Severus Snape looked about the classroom, his eyes drifting from student to student. A deep sigh arose from his throat, the intake of breath expanding the gaps of the many buttons of his course, black tunic. He pinched the bridge of his generous nose with his thumb and forefinger. On average days the short tempered professor was seldom in good humor, and today he seemed to be suffering a particularly nasty headache on top of his declining spirits.
The result of this sinking mood would have led one to expect an outburst of poisonous vitriol, or at the very least, a snarled sarcastic observation aimed at anyone who dared to meet his glare. But on the contrary, today he exhibited none of his usual nastiness. He simply continued to stare in an almost noncommittal fashion at the occupants of his potions class who sat before him.
Neville Longbottom was struggling with the cork of a flask that contained Essence of Vulturia, reddening more and more deeply as the stubborn object that sat at the neck of the beaker refused to move. Snape was certain that at any moment the boy might truly be foolish enough to attempt to pull out the unyielding cork with his teeth.
Well, that will be a grave mistake, he thought to himself, picturing in his mind the last time this had occurred in his classroom. Six years prior, another student had attempted that regrettable action, and with a resounding pop, the liquid in the glass flask had splashed out onto his hands and face, causing his nose to instantly take on the shape of the hard and pointed beak of a Quadra-winged Vulturia, his hands cramping into long and sharp claws. Good Luck, Longbottom, he sniffed with contempt. Next time you will read the assigned chapter that clearly outlines the simple spell for removing the cork..
His eyes moved to the double desk that was occupied by the Boy Wonder and his constant red haired sidekick. They had both apparently finished their brews and were now discussing, heads together, some subject that more dearly occupied their minds. He glanced at the bubbling cauldrons and noted that neither had achieved the desired shade of mandarin orange, but rather Potter's was a hue of blue, and Weasley's a color that Snape had genuinely never before observed in his life. And added to this curiosity, he noticed that soggy grey feathers were emerging from the top layer of the dreck, and perhaps even some type of… eyeball? Had he mentioned that the contents of their cauldrons would have to be ingested? Good Luck to you, Weasley. If you thought that vomiting slugs was a nasty surprise, it will feel like a stroll in the park in comparison.
ENOUGH! the voice in his head screamed, and he stood up suddenly, moving as if pushed by demons to the door that emptied out into the wide dungeon hallway.
"Professor, aren't you going to check our cauldrons before you go?" he heard the whiny voice of the Granger girl.
He turned slowly and stared into her face, and noticed with some shock that he had an insane desire to dunk her wild and frizzy-haired head into the smoking pot in front of her.
"No," he managed in a controlled voice.
"B-but, are you coming back?" she pushed her luck.
"No," he heard himself say the word again and finally believed it. "No, I'm not. Oh, and by the way, Weasley, if you drink that, you'll be seeing large, black, poisonous spiders, the preferred snack of the Vulturia, in your dreams for the rest of your life. Consider that information a parting gift from me."
With those words he swung around and exited the threshold of the door that he would never cross again.
Severus climbed the stone stairway to the little cottage that he had rented. He stared past the scraggly row of pines toward the ocean and breathed in the briny air. He had had some misgivings about leaving Hogwarts, but they had been fleeting and hadn't the teeth to change his mind. Voldemort was now a shell of his former self, his Horcruxes destroyed. He was firmly locked up in Azkaban, stripped of his powers, and the Order of the Phoenix was stronger than ever. His own position as spy/counter spy had ended, and his continuation at the school would just be an endless nightmare of exploding cauldrons and pimple faced teenagers, mocking him for eternity.
There had to be more to life, and his decision had been made. Dumbledore had been surprisingly cooperative. "I think, Severus that you deserve to find something that will finally bring you happiness. You have given much more of yourself than most of us, suffered great mental and physical punishment over the years as my eyes and ears into Riddle's demented master plan. But I will be sorry to see you leave."
He had cleared out his office and his suite, Spelling them into just three small suitcases, and left quietly without fanfare. And now he stood, his remaining briefcase in hand, staring at the small cottage that would be his home. He'd never had a home to himself from the day he first left his family's side to enter the walls of the Academy and he rather liked it. The fireplace was tall and masculine, heavy rounded stones that sat squarely one on top of the other and formed an interesting pattern in the light of the fire's warm glow. The window in the small dining room faced the ocean and even now in the evening light he could still see the surf that pounded up onto the shore. Ship's lights dotted the horizon and it gave him a comfortable feeling of being not quite alone. His bedroom was perhaps the largest room of the house and also faced the water, a small deck encircling it. When the weather was warmer he reasoned that he might enjoy putting out some chairs and perhaps a small table to take in some of his meals in the fresh air.
He looked at the bed. It was the only thing in the house that truly bothered him. His whole life had been spent sleeping in beds that were barely larger than his tall frame. This bed was colossal, the rustic pine headboard perhaps as large as Dumbledore's, everything in the Headmaster's suite being disproportionately huge, a mark of honor to the position he held. But Severus did not need a bed so massive, so enormous. So, so… so much a reminder that he would not be sharing it with anyone.
Lily. The memory of the fair Witch floated before his mind's eye. Would she have enjoyed a bed of this size if things had turned out differently and he had been able to make her his own?
Severus shook his head wildly as if to clear his brain of any further meanderings. Leave it alone, he mumbled darkly.
Turning and walking out to the small and cozy kitchen, he lifted his finger and flames appeared instantly under the silver colored kettle that sat on the stove. He would have tea by the fire and start to plan for his new future.
He rubbed his tired eyes as the fire crackled and sizzled before him. The tea was acceptable but nothing to brag about, somewhat bland and tasteless, and as his stomach growled loudly, he puzzled as to why he hadn't thought to purchase a food supply. He wondered briefly if there was an inn somewhere in the little village and would it still be open for customers at this hour?
A loud crack startled him so severely that he almost let the teacup fly from his hands, instead spilling large wet blobs of the hot brown liquid onto his pants. His yelp was unmistakably from pain.
"Peas or carrots, Master Snape?" the nasally voice inquired, and as Severus looked up from the puddle in his lap, he saw the Elf that stood in front of him, wide eyed and grinning.
"BLOODY HELL!" he yelled, pulling out his wand and removing the steaming hot mess before it could cause a blister on the skin beneath the fabric. "You scared the Dark Curse out of me," Snape bellowed loudly. "Who are you?"
"Nobby," the floppy eared Elf answered as he dabbed a dirty handkerchief at the large man's knees. "Headmaster Dumbledore sent Nobby to look after Master Severus Snape," he lisped in an excited voice.
"I damn well don't need looking after," Snape growled menacingly, spittle flying into the wide open eyes of the small creature, "especially if your idea of 'looking after' is to startle the daylights out of me."
"Oh no, that was certainly not Nobby's intention. Nobby thought that Master must have known of Nobby's presence from the fire that Nobby prepared for him. Nobby has been elsewhere bringing more wood for the night as it will be very cold soon."
Snape looked at the logs that were expertly lined up inside the fireplace grate, now burning with the pleasant aromas of madrone and walnut. "I just assumed… "
"Master assumed that they carried themselves into Master's house and burned on their own," the Elf stated frankly with no underlying cynicism in his voice. "Nobby knows this because that is how all the Masters thinks. That is because only us Elves has the skill to accomplish these tasks without being seen," he stated, the obvious pride in his voice lifting it an octave higher.
"Well, thank you for that," Snape muttered begrudgingly, "but I won't be requiring your service any more. You needn't feel that you are on loan to me any longer; Return to Dumbledore."
"Oh, no Master," the Elf sputtered loudly. "Headmaster Dumbledore did not give Nobby to Master Severus Snape on loan. Nobby is now the Elf of Master Snape." The little man began removing Snape's boots. "Let Nobby see to your comfort, Master," he groaned a bit, falling backward as one large black boot walloped him in the chest from the force he had exerted to pull it off of Snape's foot.
"Stop that!" Severus shouted in surprise. "I don't have need of a house Elf. Here!" he raged loudly, pulling the sock off of the same foot. "Here is my sock," he flung the black limp piece of clothing at the Elf's head. "Clothing. You're now free. Free, free, free," he waved his arms at the astonished face of the small creature. "Go!"
He wasn't prepared for the large and long wail that emitted from the small figure.
"Master Severus Snape! You have made Nobby a Free Elf!" the tiny body shook and quivered, and the handkerchief that he pulled from his right ear and dabbed at his runny eyes was longer than his entire body. "Nobby has dreamed of this day, but never, ever did Nobby think that it would come," he continued to cry, his body now wracked with sobs.
"Well, then," Severus clapped his hands together, "you'll want to go out and have a proper celebration, won't you? Gather up your friends and toast your new life," he smirked. "There's no time like the present. Off with you then."
"Oh, no, Master," the Elf wailed once again. "Nobby is indebted to Master for life. Nobby is now a Free Elf and must remain here and care for Master."
Snape threw his head back against the stuffed leather chair and closed his eyes in exasperation. "After all these years of teaching, will I never be free of people under the height of a garden Gnome?" he growled.
"But if my old master truly wishes for Nobby to leave," the Elf's lip now quivered violently, "Nobby cannot refuse. Nobby's heart will be broken and will never mend, but Nobby will go," he walked around the room, shoulders slumped. "Does Master Severus Snape wish for Nobby to remove the dinner as well? It would be a shame to let the goose and the potatoes and gravy go to waste," he said, glancing sidelong to the kitchen, from where suddenly came the aroma of succulent roasted bird.
"Well, I suppose that would be churlish on my part," Snape tasted the flood of saliva filling his mouth and felt suddenly and uncharacteristically humbled. "If you promise not to make a scene, I'd be happy to share it with you."
Large tears threatened to spill from the eyes of the floppy eared Elf, but taking in a deep breath, he simply inquired, "Peas or carrots, Master Snape?"
Severus ravenously attacked his plate, piled high with crispy brown roast goose and buttery light scones the size of Quidditch Bludgers.
"Nobby, I must say, you're an excellent cook," he wiped the gravy from his plate depositing the dripping morsel into his mouth.
A strangled sob broke from Nobby's throat.
"Stop that," Severus glared at him.
"Nobby has never been with a Wizard who has given such a compliment," came the strangled voice.
"You're a Free Elf now, Nobby. You don't have to grovel for humans anymore. We won't be friends long if you continue with that," Snape said in a stern voice.
"Friends!" Nobby's eyes were frantically searching the ceiling as he attempted to thwart the fresh batch of tears that were threatening to erupt. "It's just that freedom is so new to Nobby as yet. Nobby has to practice at taking it for granted."
"Freedom is never something to be taken for granted," Snape burped into his linen napkin, "but you will have to start to practice being an equal now. And speaking of being taken for granted, I hope that you will accept my apologies. I'm certain that I have seen you many times at Hogwarts but I never knew your real name. I always thought that it was Dobby."
"Oh, but Master Severus Snape, Dobby is my twin brother. Nobby is quite certain that Master did see Dobby from time to time. Dobby served in the Great Hall. But Nobby was part of the kitchen staff, so Master and Nobby never met."
"I see," said Snape. "Well, we might as well start out as equals on your first day of freedom. From now on you may call me Severus," Snape patted his full stomach, now in a magnanimous mood.
"Oh, no," Nobby ogled him incredulously.. "Nobby could not do that. Master Severus Snape was a teacher at the grand Academy of Hogwarts. Master must be respected." His eyes lit up as he suddenly had a thought. "But Nobby could call Master... Sir."
"Alright," Snape nodded. "And is there a name that you would prefer to be called? I assume that Nobby was the name given to you by your original owner.
"Yes, Sir, it certainly was. Master Lucius Malfoy gave Nobby the name the day Nobby was born. Nobby's mother presented Nobby to Master Malfoy as the first born, and it was Master's right to name Nobby. Master looked at Nobby's bald head and laughed and said, 'Goodness, Sally, you have given birth to a nob.'"
"How incredibly rude," Snape's eyebrow shot up at the story.
"Oh, yes Sir, it certainly was. And Nobby has forever since been known as Nobby," he puffed his chest out with apparent pride.
"And yet you seem to find pleasure in being named after an insult," Severus blinked in astonishment.
"Oh, yes Sir! You see, Sir, an insult from Master Malfoy's mouth made it as good as a blessing, according to Nobby's mother. Anything that Master Lucius Malfoy considers to be right and proper is exactly the opposite."
"A very wise observation on her part," Snape nodded as he considered the truth in the words. "And your brother? Was he named after another pearl of wisdom from Lucius' mouth?"
"Oh, no Sir." Nobby stood to clear the plate in front of Snape, despite the tall man's objections. "Master Malfoy lost interest after looking Nobby over. And it was not many months later when Nobby's mother passed away from Elfinamonia. That's when Dobby and Nobby were given to Headmaster Dumbledore in exchange for a portion of young Master Draco's tuition. Master Lucius Malfoy did not want two baby orphan Elves scampering about the mansion."
"I see," Snape nodded and eyed the chocolate tart that was set in front of him, wondering if he could possibly eat another bite.
"Dobby is the good looking one in the family," Nobby went on, relishing the telling of his family history. "Nobby is best at the other thing. But Dobby is definitely the handsome one. Many a female Elf has fallen for Dobby," he blushed lightly over his pasty, yellow skin.
"Yes, quite the catch," Severus held his smile inside, clearly remembering the crumpled little man with the long face and ears that hung to his waist. "But what is the other thing, Nobby? I'm curious." The French wine that the Elf had poured several times into his glass had him in good spirits and the conversation was nothing if not interesting.
"Nobby is the funny one," he straightened his shoulders with pride.
"How so?" Severus laughed, although no jokes had been told as yet. "Entertaining, certainly, but as yet you haven't come forth with any wildly amusing stories."
"Oh, no, not stories, Sir," the Elf grinned.
Then before Snape's eyes, the Elf transformed his face into a perfect resemblance of Harry Potter. "I'm the greatest hero that ever lived," he said in a voice that mimicked his former student. "Don't you wish you were as perfect as me?" he went on to the delighted chuckles of the former Potion's Master.
A moment later his face had transformed into that of Hermione Granger. "Oh, boo hoo hoo, the teachers never call on me because I am a smarty pants know-it-all," he tossed about the long and bushy brown hairs that had now sprung up around his ears.
Snape's laughter shook the table. "Yes, Nobby, you are indeed funny. Who else can you do?"
Nobby thought for a moment. Seconds later, his face transformed into a smooth, peaches and cream complexion, the green eyes glowing brightly. As the sleek long red hair appeared to have instantly grown from his scalp, Snape was horrified to see his long lost love.
"Stop it!" he cried, flailing his arms out toward the Elf who instantly turned back into himself.
"Sir, what has Nobby done wrong?" He grasped a vase from the sideboard and prepared to strike himself with it, the instinct to punish himself still very much ingrained within him.
"How dare you mimic the dead?" Snape pounded the table with his fist, the wine clouding his vision as his hand came down squarely in the middle of the chocolate tart, spraying bits of crust and sticky sweet brown cream inches into the air.
"The dead?" Nobby's eyes were wide. "Oh, no Sir! That Mistress isn't dead. That Mistress lives in the next door cottage and walks the beach every morning. Nobby thought perhaps Sir knew her and Nobby was trying to entertain Sir with someone outside of Hogwarts."
Severus blinked as a small globule of chocolate fell from his eyelash. "Are you certain Nobby? Show her to me again."
Nobby pointed his long bony finger to the logs of the fire and the flames danced and brought better light into the room. As he transformed once more, the tightness in Severus' clenched fists relaxed.
"My apologies, Nobby," he slurred. "She is not the one that I thought."
The Elf's forehead was covered with sweat in relief and he sighed gratefully as he cleaned the tablecloth of the sweet brown stains.
"But Mistress is lovely, isn't she, Sir?"
With a smile, Snape closed his eyes and didn't even feel Nobby's gentle hands as he lifted him onto the much too enormous and empty bed