Trials of the Heart
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Chapter Four
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Beta: TheLovelyDanish
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Tap … Squeak … Tap … Squeak … Tap … Squeak …
Snape groaned sleepily as the annoying noises continued. He raised his head slowly from the pillow, looking around for the source of the irritating noises. His owl was screeching loudly in her cage in response to the mysterious tapping. Snape's eyes darted up to see a brownish owl tapping outside the high narrow window of his bedroom. Blinking, Snape's eyes focused on the owl as his mind slowly recognized the male, Great-Horned owl.
"You must be joking," he groused, pushing himself up and taking his wand. With a soft Alohomora, he opened the narrow window, allowing the bird to enter. The owl flew in and settled itself on the large desk; Snape's owl squeaked even louder at the new bird.
"Shut up!" the Potions Master growled as he got off the bed, feeling his hangover getting worse by the minute. Searching the bedside table's cabinet, he took out a potion for his headache and drank it. Feeling slightly better, Snape went to the bathroom and washed before returning to the bedroom. He went to the waiting owl and took the letter attached to its feet after treating it with some breadcrumbs. Breaking the seal, Snape started to read.
'My dearest Rus,'
He scowled at the offending endearment.
'It's been a long time since we last met. I hope you're doing fine.
I'm in England for three days on some business, what do you say we meet today for a nice meal and drink in…Hogsmeade, maybe? It may be a good time to finish my shopping as well.
Anyway, it's your choice. Send your reply with my owl, Donn.
I'm looking forward to seeing you, love.
Your most beloved wizard,
Nigel McGrath.'
Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance. He wasn't in the mood to keep up with McGrath's cheerful attitude, but he also knew that if he didn't meet the enthusiastic wizard today, he wouldn't hear the end of it later.
Looking at the clock, Snape sighed deeply. It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon, which meant that lunchtime was out of the question. So, he took a quill and wrote his reply on the same parchment, informing McGrath to meet him in Hogsmeade at 4 o'clock.
There would be enough time for them to shop and have supper. Attaching the letter back to the owl's leg, Snape waved his hand, dismissing the bird.
Snape's black owl squeaked in disappointment as the other owl flew away, gaining a glare from her master. Snape made a mental note to hex McGrath to the next century for buying him a female owl from the same species as his own.
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Lupin roamed around Hogsmeade, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the village while looking at the different shops' displays, trying to decide what to gift his friends in Christmas. Many people were walking around with the same intention in their heads, seeing that Christmas was only two weeks away.
As he passed Dervish & Banges, he decided to enter and check their merchandises, in case he found something interesting to buy.
He was strolling between the shop's shelves when his ears caught something.
"We've been here for an hour, Severus." An Irish-accented voice whined. "Are you going to buy that damn lunascope or not? I'm bored and hungry."
The werewolf felt his heart skip a beat when he heard a familiar silky voice reply.
"I thought we're here to finish your Christmas shopping? Besides, it's only prudent to check the merchandise before buying them."
Lupin slowly took a couple of steps ahead and peered from between the shelves. Snape was standing between the shelves with a wizard whose tall and well-built figure was partially hidden under his brown cloak. His face was round and pale with slightly rosy cheeks and big brown eyes and neatly framed by light auburn shoulder-length hair.
The wizard sighed in defeat. "But we're here since 4 pm, and I still didn't find anything worth my attention."
"If you want, we can always go to Diagon Alley." Replied the Potions Master coolly.
"I'm done shopping for today." The wizard declared. "Why do you need a lunascope, anyway?" he asked. "I thought you already have one."
"None of your business."
The wizard frowned slightly at the raven-haired man but didn't comment.
"Are you going to buy the damn thing or not?" he asked instead.
"Yes. I'll buy it. Stop whining like a child."
"Good, then. Buy it and let's go eat."
"Fine." The Potions Master had said in defeat before he allowed himself to be dragged away.
Lupin stood in his place, blinking several times. To say that he was shocked would be an understatement. The Snape who was standing just a few steps away moments ago wasn't the Severus Snape he knew and dealt with since their schooldays. The Potions Master he knew didn't smile, didn't laugh, and didn't put up with cheerful, happy and lively individuals!
The werewolf temporarily wondered if it wasn't Snape, but an imposter. Shaking his head, Lupin snapped from his thoughts and decided to continue his shopping.
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Around 7 pm, Lupin decided to drop into the Three Broomsticks for a light dinner and a drink. His attempt to shop for Christmas had been a complete failure after his little encounter in the Dervish & Banges. His mind kept wandering to Snape and his mysterious companion rather than concentrating on the different merchandise in front of his eyes. Lupin couldn't imagine how the two personalities could get along; it had amazed him how Snape could keep up with that amount of exuberance without being tempted to hex the other wizard.
Entering the pub, Lupin looked around for an empty table. The place was crowded with people as usual, and it took him a while to find an empty table partly hidden under the stairway. Settling down, he motioned to the waitress who smiled at him in acknowledgement.
After ordering his food, Lupin looked up and saw Snape with his mysterious companion walking around, looking for a table. Despite his better judgment, Lupin couldn't tear his eyes from the Potions Master.
Now that the black cloak that concealed his attire had been taken off, Snape looked simply stunning. He was wearing black dress trousers with a white dress shirt under a dark green pullover; a Slytherin scarf was thrown neatly over his shoulders. It was something so different than his usual black high-necked billowing robes.
Lupin gulped as Snape ran one hand through his hair, smiling as his companion found a vacant place … three tables away from him.
Lupin involuntarily inched away towards the dark corner, not wishing to be seen. He lowered his head and started to eat and drink quickly. However, he couldn't resist the temptation for long. As he ate, he kept stealing glances at the two wizards.
The werewolf suddenly swallowed his drink down the wrong pipe when he saw and heard Snape laughing amusingly while the other wizard held his hands possessively and spoke. Clearing his throat, Lupin stood up and left, cautiously avoiding walking next to the two wizards' table.
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"Do you have anything planned tomorrow?" McGrath asked as he ordered another pint of Butterbeer.
"Yes. I have to start sorting out my ingredients' stock and hand the students their assignments for the holidays." Replied Snape.
"Ah!" McGrath huffed in a mocked display of boredom. "How can you stand all of this, Rus? I still can't imagine how you can handle hundreds of annoying teenage brats."
"It's not like I have a choice in the matter, Gel." The Potions Master said with a slight tone of sadness. "You know the whole story."
McGrath frowned, regretting ever bringing up the matter in the first place. Shaking his head in dismissal, he quickly and cheerfully changed the subject. "Speaking of Christmas," he said. "I want you to come and spend it with me in Ardeevin+."
"Gel—"
"Rus, I will not accept any of your excuses. I've been inviting you forever to spend Christmas with me but you always refuse. For once, I want to spend the holidays with someone, instead of spending it alone." Then McGrath flashed the Potions Master his sincerest pleading puppy dog eyes.
The dark-haired wizard sighed in defeat, unable to resist the other wizard. It amazed him how McGrath always managed to persuade him into doing things he wouldn't, usually, do. If he hadn't known better, he would suspect that the McGrath had personally been trained by Dumbledore.
"How come you always spend Christmas alone when you obviously have a lot of people to buy Christmas gifts for?" he asked, trying to evade the subject.
"They are nothing but annoying social obligations and you know it," McGrath replied. "And don't avoid my request. I'm waiting for your answer."
"I won't promise you," he said. "I have to check on certain things first before accepting your invitation. I'll owl my reply within two or three days."
"Hurrah!" the other wizard exclaimed joyfully, gaining the attention of everyone in the pub and a scowl from his companion.
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Snape returned to Hogwarts quarter to midnight. Thanks to McGrath endless chatter during dinner, both had lost track of time until they realized that they were the last customers in the pub, not that he minded much being late. He always enjoyed McGrath's company even if the Irish Wizard's enthusiastic nature annoyed him sometimes and caused him a severe headache later.
As he passed the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, Snape remembered that he hadn't apologized to the Headmaster for his outburst the other day. He knew that the older wizard would not hold what happened against him but still, he felt that he should offer his apologies.
Sighing, Snape stood in front of the gargoyle and spoke the password.
Dumbledore, usually, didn't sleep early during weekends, preferring to read books, or play chess with Nearly Headless Nick.
Climbing the staircase, Snape reached the Headmaster's office and true enough; Dumbledore was engrossed in reading a huge book.
"Good evening, Albus." Snape greeted.
The old wizard looked up and smiled. "Severus, good evening. Come in and have a seat."
"I came to apologize for my behaviour the other day." said the Potions Master, approaching the Headmaster and sitting on the offered seat. "My words and tone were uncalled for."
The ancient wizard studied the young man with unspeakable expression before sighing deeply. "Severus, I know that what I'm asking of you is beyond anyone's—"
"Albus," Snape interrupted. "I didn't come here to hear any explanations. I came to apologize for my rude behavior. This was the path I chose a long time ago."
"I don't want you to think that I don't care, Severus." The Headmaster said gravely.
"It doesn't make any difference, whether anyone cares or not, Albus." The dark-haired wizard said, shrugging.
"Are you sure that no one has blown your cover? According to Poppy, you were tortured more than usual."
"Definitely." The Potions Master replied. "The Dark Lord simply wanted targets to vent his anger upon and that blasted Bellatrix directed his anger to those she disliked." He snorted. "Can we change this subject now? I came here to apologize and to ask a request of you."
"Of course, whatever you want, Severus."
"I want to ask you if it possible for me to leave Hogwarts during Christmas break?"
"Well, that's unusual," Dumbledore remarked, his eyes twinkling merrily. "Are you going back to your house?"
"No. I'll be going to Ireland."
"Is it for a mission or pleasure?"
"I prefer to call it a social visit, Albus. I'm meeting an old acquaintance of mine." Snape replied. "Pleasure is a foreign word in the dictionary of my life."
"It doesn't have to be that way, Severus," Dumbledore remarked.
"It has been that way since the day I was born." The Potions master said flatly.
"Won't there be any complications if you weren't present in Hogwarts during Christmas?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't think so. With Potter in the Burrow during Christmas," he replied. "I don't think my presence in Hogwarts will be of the essence. Nevertheless, if the occasion arises, I'm prepared to deal with it."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, then." He said. "Enjoy your break, then." Snape allowed a small smile to cross his face before he stood up and left.
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To be continued…
A/N:
+ Ardeevin = Pleasant Hills