Many thanks to Yen who took the time out to correct all the silly mistakes that she could find. I greatly appreciate it, Ladio.
Ree
Scrap 3: Creating Nicholas and Holden
Severus' glare raked over the second years while his mind furiously turned over the completely unacceptable thought that was coursing through it, trying to distract him from his job. There was no way he wanted to be with Harry Potter. Forcing the idea to the bottom of his mind where it came from, he ignored it as he made it through the rest of his day.
Absolutely drained, that was how he felt. His back was pressed against his quarters door as he remembered the disappointed look that Dumbledore and the other teachers sent his way at dinner. 'It doesn't matter. I'm not a nice person, never will be. They should know that – the students will learn it.' Shoving off the door, he strode over to the sofa, glared at it, and then began pacing about. On his third circuit he pulled out the idea that had been burning softly since it appeared during his first class. 'Why would I think this now? I've only seen the boy once, held him once.' He could feel the warm little body in his arms, trustingly snuggled next to his chest, green eyes looking up at him with no fear or worry in them. 'He is in a safe place, and there is no need for me to want to be with him.'
Flinging himself onto his sofa, Severus glared into the fireplace.
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November and December passed with Severus eventually coming to terms with his connection to the child of his best friend and rival. Research between grading and lessons had forced him to recognize that there was an Infinity Bond that connected them. This recognition had led to long hours spent in his lab brewing as many tedious, time consuming and finicky potions as he could think of. The Ministry was happy to purchase a supply of Veritaserum, Pomfrey was puzzled about what to do with some of the specialized healing potions that made their way into her storage cupboard, it was just the large vats of Polyjuice, perfected to not taste as bad, that he had no clue what to do with. He considered patenting the formula, but he didn't want to go through the headache of explaining to Dumbledore why he had created it.
Decanting the potion into a number of large vials, he stored them in his personal potions cupboard. It was while he was closing the cupboard door that he figured out a use for the potion. He wanted an evening away, and he didn't want to be recognized as Severus Snape. 'The holidays are starting tomorrow. I can leave the school and go out for one evening at least.' At dinner that night, he let Dumbledore know about his impending evening out.
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Absolute stillness filled Severus as he sat at a small table in the back corner of the bar. Looking into the drink he had ordered, he finally let his mind come to grips with the idea that he was going to be teaching his future partner. 'Unless I tell Dumbledore. The Headmaster wouldn't agree to let me teach him. I doubt he would allow me to be in the same room as Harry.' With that thought, he decided that no one else would know about this bond. No one was going to keep him away from Harry, no matter if they were trying to harm or help.
The blue sleeve of his robe caught his attention. 'You aren't out here to worry over the inevitable, Severus. You are here to have a moment of not being yourself.' Taking a sip of his drink he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass partition. Short medium brown hair and light brown eyes looked back at him. 'So, I need to make up who I am.' He studied the square face, almost missing his nose. 'Nicholas. The last syllable is close enough to Severus to catch my attention. Nicholas who?' His eyes narrowed on to a group of people gathering on the other side of the glass partition. 'Aberdeen. NA – not applicable. The initials work since Nicholas is not real. Now, what about his personality? I don't want to be Severus Snape, so it should be about as opposite as I can make it - which means I need to smile and laugh.' He watched his reflection as its lips curled slightly into an easy smile that belied the effort it took to make it.
"We still need three more players! Come on, it will be fun and you might win a prize!" The crowd behind the glass cheered as the announcer looked at the rest of the bars occupants.
'Fun, playing games. That is something that Nicholas would do.' Standing up, Severus quickly lightened the dark blue robe to a true blue - Nicholas would wear with bright colors - and walked over to the announcer. "I'll join."
The announcer grinned at him. "Join the person sitting by himself over there, third table from the wall."
Severus stopped next to the table and made sure to smile at the dark skinned man. "Good evening, I'm Nicholas Aberdeen." He nodded towards the announcer, "He said to join you."
"Derrick Baldwin," Derrick checked his hand before he held it out and smiled.
Severus shook the offered hand and settled in the seat across the table from his partner. 'He works with his hands, something that gets them messy, and possible dangerously so.' He had checked his own hand before he shook Derrick's. It was a habit, one that nobody else would even see him do, but when you deal with potion ingredients it was safer to check.
"Now, the challenge! You will receive a selection of alcohols. Your job is to mix a new drink and our panel of judges will determine which is the best. As there are four judges, you have to make your mix exactly the same four times, and be able to give its recipe." The man brandished his wand and sets of seven bottles floated to the different tables. "You have forty-five minutes. Start!"
Severus looked at the seven bottles and then the stack of glasses on the table. Four glasses for the judges and a couple for them to practice on. Tapping two napkin with his pale wand, he transfigured them into shot glasses. He then pulled a quill and a scrap of parchment out of his pocket and began making a chart. The top was the name of the different alcohols.
Derrick leaned forward and to the side to see what his partner was doing. His smile changed into a grin as Nicholas pushed a shot glass towards him.
"We need to sample each of these to see what their characteristics are," Severus poured half a shot from the first bottle into his glass. He checked its color, smell, and viscosity before he took a sip, letting the alcohol roll about his palette. "Fruity, berries by the taste, strawberry, blueberries and maybe some blackberries."
Severus wrote his list down as Derrick sampled his. Watching him, Severus knew that the other man was also a potions master. 'And I have given every clue that Nicholas is as well. If Derrick asks, I have just recently received my mastery and am working as a consultant for the moment.' Both of them cast the same sanitizing spell on the shot glasses.
Smiling, both men made it through the bottles, their characteristics jotted onto Severus' chart. Ripping off a corner of the parchment, Severus pushed it over with a glass towards Derrick. "We can make up our own combination, then taste test each other's, and decide which we think the judges will prefer."
Derrick dug a quill out of his own pocket and move the parchment scrap so it was out of his work space. "Let's get started."
Silence reigned at their table in a direct contrast with the loud conversations at the others. The bottles were off to the side of the table, and the chart was in the center as they scribbled furiously on their corners. Then the mixing started, followed by tasting, followed by changes on the parchment, and then more mixing. This continued until they were both satisfied and then they made each other a glass of their beverage.
Derrick pushed his mixed drink over towards the other Potions Master, there was nothing else the man could be. "Give it a try."
He watched as Nicholas slid his combination over towards him and then analyzed the new drink. Grinning, he studied Nicholas' mixture. Both of their drinks had a red amber color to them but that was the only similarity. Derrick knew his had a sprightly fruity taste, but Nicholas' was a deep mellow flavor with a hint of spicy fruit in the aftertaste. "This is smooth... very smooth," appreciation ran through his voice.
Nicholas smiled slowly at Derrick's tone. "I'm glad you like it. Yours is refreshing, and looking at our judges, they will like yours better."
Derrick glanced over at the group of wizards who watching the groups closely. "I think you are right."
"Shall we mix them a drink then?" Severus sanitized his shot glass and pulled the judges' glasses to the middle of the table.
Derrick moved his recipe to where they both could see it and cleaned his own shot glass. "Let's start."
The two worked quietly and efficiently through the four glasses, Severus lined them up at the edge of the table while Derrick placed the bottles back into the middle of table in the same order as they started.
They finished as time was called.
Picking up Nicholas' mixed drink, Derrick moved so that he could see the other man around the bottles. "How long have you been a Potions Master?"
Severus leaned back with Derrick's concoction in his hand. "Not too long now. Yourself?"
"About two years. I'm working over at Jarrett and Klain's. You?"
"Consultant work. I'm currently between clients." Severus watched as the judges left the first table. 'Between clients? I guess that is true, the students aren't in and Dumbledore isn't making any demands yet.'
The parchment with Nicholas' scribbled chart on it drew Derrick's attention. He could use someone who was that organized to look over the mess that was their current project. He would just have to set up the consultation contract. "Want to stop by my lab?"
Severus blinked slowly, one side of his mouth twitching up in disbelief. "You just met me."
Derrick tapped the edge of the parchment, "And this shows you can do what I need. You examined each ingredient and came up with an excellent brew. On top of that, you were able to accept that yours didn't fit the clientèle. I think I am going to have to start using something like this to interview applicants."
Severus couldn't help it, laughter flowed out of him.
Derrick pulled a mock frown and sipped his drink. "It seems like a good idea to me."
"Can you charge the company for the alcohol?" Severus watched as a grin took over the frown.
"I can try."
The conversation halted as the judges stopped at their table. The judges looked at each other after they tasted the offered drinks before they looked at the two men. They had watched them sample, and then create their drinks with a professional air. The taller one acted as a spokesman for the group. "Are either of you a bartender?" As the two competitors shook their heads, he frowned. "You have the air of experience about you."
Derrick laughed as he replied, "Because our profession deals with mixing and blending."
They were shot another look before the judges moved to the next group.
"Well, that's done. They aren't going to choose ours." Severus watched as they walked on.
"They might just if they want the recipe." Derrick looked back over at Nicholas, "I want your recipe, please."
Severus passed the parchment over. "When shall I come by?"
"Tomorrow about ten in the morning."
Severus nodded and they both leaned back, enjoying their drinks.
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Jarrett and Klain's wasn't hard to find, Severus flooed into the building at nine just to escape the emptiness at Hogwarts. He approached the receptionist desk and waited until the woman there was ready to acknowledge him. He used the time to survey the room, noting all the exits and the apparition point.
"Can I help you?"
Severus focused back on the lady and reminded himself to smile. "Master Derrick Baldwin is expecting me, but I am early. Can you let him know that Nicholas Aberdeen has arrived?"
"Have a seat, I'll let him know." She waved towards a row of chairs near the door that led to the street.
Adjusting the bright red robes, Severus settled into the corner chair. After twenty minutes, he was wondering if the man was regretting inviting an unknown drinking acquaintance to look at a potion. Striding towards the floo, he was stopped when his name was called out.
"Nicolas!" Derrick rushed out the door only to see the man he wanted to know better just about to leave. "Aberdeen!"
Severus remembered to smile. "Derrick."
Derrick looked towards the floo and back to the taller man. "You weren't just going to leave, were you?"
Severus glanced at the clock near the receptionists desk. "I was going to come back closer to our appointment time." It was as good as an excuse as he could come up with.
Derrick gestured for Nicholas to follow him. "I'm sorry about the wait, but I couldn't leave my potion until now." He flashed a smile at the other man. "Are you typically this early?"
Severus relaxed, this was the same friendly man whose company he had enjoyed last night. Letting another smile out he nodded. "Typically."
They stopped in a conference room that was bare except a table and two chairs.
"I need you to sign on as a consultant before I can discuss the potion." Derrick pushed the parchment over towards the man who was giving him an almost unreadable expression. He didn't know what it was about Nicholas that resonated with him, but he knew without a doubt that he wanted his help. It had started with the way the man was unconcerned about people's opinion. Derrick could see it when he pulled the parchment out and made his chart last night. It also showed how methodical he was, and he needed someone like that.
Severus searched Derrick's face for a long moment before picking up the parchment to read the contract. He was having problems wrapping his mind around the idea that this man wanted to hire him after such a short meeting. The contract was all he could want, especially as he was technically a teacher for most of the year. 'I have to register Nicholas as a potions master in the Ministry tonight.' A small smile slipped onto his face as he wondered just how many masteries he could register himself for without the Ministry noticing.
"This sounds more than fair." Severus let his smile broaden.
Derrick passed him a quill and an inkpot. "Glad to hear it."
Once his name was dry on the parchment, Severus was guided back to a lab that had rocks scattered about on the counter, stools and floor, mixing with an array of potion ingredients and cauldrons. He spun about on his heel and was almost out the door when Derrick stopped him.
"I know it is a mess, but please stay," Derrick could see Nicholas' shoulders tense before relaxing.
Severus faced the messy lab and gave Derrick a shake of his head. "This is..." words failed as he remembered that Nicholas wouldn't be overly critical.
"A disaster, I know." Derrick gestured towards the scattered parchments. "This is what I need help with."
A groan left Severus' throat before he could control the response. A stack of clean parchment appeared next to his elbow and Derrick grinned at him.
"I'll work on my potion while you make sense of that."
Shaking his head, Severus settled on a stool and started in on the mess.
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Greg Alverz and Cynthia Redmond stopped next to Derrick's lab door, trying to figure out who else was in the room. The laughter and quick remarks that were being passed back and forth were not what they had expected to hear when they came in that afternoon. Yesterday, Derrick had been at his wit's end and cursing a blue streak when he left.
Greg cracked open the door slowly.
"Nicholas! How in the world did you think of this? I would have never thought to put those together."
Cynthia and Greg entered in just to in time to hear the other man's answer spoken in an aggrieved tone.
"Organization, Derrick, organization."
Both men spun about to face the two intruders when they heard Greg's snort.
"Ah! Greg, Cynthia! I need to introduce you to my consultant Potions Master, Nicholas Aberdeen." Derrick clapped his hand on Nicholas' shoulder only to see the man jerk away from him.
Severus almost cursed out loud at his reactions. 'How am I going to explain that? Why in the world would Nicholas Aberdeen not want to be touched. Nicholas is a friendly, easy going person... maybe an overprotective friend? Someone that worries about him being used? Not just any friend... they wouldn't care about a casual touch, but a partner.' The thoughts of the bond rushed through his mind. Maybe he could use that. 'An overprotective partner. One that trusts me, but still doesn't want others touching me. But what could scare them enough to not try. Harry has to be a Defense Master. He can't be Harry... Holden. Holden the Defense Master. He needs a last name. Pierce. Holden Pierce is a Defense Master that will slowly rend them limb for limb for touching me.'
"Nicholas, are you okay?" Derrick searched his new friend to make sure that he wasn't hurt.
Severus caught and held his gaze. "I'm fine, Derrick. It is just Holden wouldn't take - kindly – to you touching my shoulder."
"Holden?" Derrick searched his memory, trying to place the name.
"My partner, Holden Pierce. He is very overprotective. Almost didn't let me come this morning, but I assured him that you didn't attempt anything last night." Severus smiled at how the words were just rolling off his tongue.
Derrick gave him a skeptical look. "Where was he last night then?"
"He was working. A family hired him to handle a series of dark objects and curses. He was supposed to meet me at the bar, but was unable to make it. He did send his thanks for you keeping me company."
Derrick's eyes widened. "He is a curse breaker?"
Severus shook his head, "Not precisely. Holden can break curses, and clean dark objects, but his job is a freelance Defense Master. He is quite skilled at what he does."
Cynthia looked between the two before settling on Nicholas. "So, what will he do if someone touches you?"
"If they don't stop when they know that it isn't allowed, then I fear he will lose it. He lost one too many people important to him during the war." That much was true, Harry had lost both his parents in the war. "His reactions to the idea of losing me might scare You-Know-Who, or at least his followers if they were still around." Another truth, Harry had succeeded in destroying the Dark Lord, and the Death Eaters had been terrified.
Derrick tucked his hand close to his side. He did not want to anger someone that scary. "I hope he will forgive me?"
Severus did his best not to smirk at the uncertainty in the dark eyes before the conscience that he thought was dead made him regret making Derrick worry. "You didn't know, and he trusts you after last night."
The relief that washed over Derrick's face almost made Severus laugh.
Derrick shook his head and then gestured towards the two new people. "Nicholas, this is Cynthia Redmond, her lab is just down the hall. And he is Greg Alverz, his lab is on a different hall. They are both friends."
Severus nodded towards them. "Nice to meet you."
Greg and Cynthia nodded towards him, not even offering their hands. "And you."
Cynthia smiled over at Derrick. "It is good to hear that your potion is doing better than it was yesterday."
At Nicholas' look, Derrick rolled his eyes and began to tell the story of how he ended up at the bar last night.
