Chapter 4 The Old One
'Le Général' poured himself another glass of wine and listened to his son's account in silence. Severus had by now related all the events during the Triwizzard Tournament including the Goblet of Fire turning into a port key and carrying Harry Potter off to Lord Voldemort.
" And this is how the monster managed to mix his blood with the boy's!", Snape concluded. His voice was sad and there lay a dark shadow of sorrow over his eyes. "Wormtail, also known as Peter Pettigrew had made a potion with the bones of his father, his own flesh, and Harry Potter's blood for Voldemort. He got his body back," explained Severus in a monotone voice.
"Just another step to bring him closer to power.........He recalls his followers, doesn't he?", stated Aurelien Rogue[1] de la Bédoyere, Comte de Villeon et Duc de Bretagne. "Did he...?" The old man pointed his finger on the Dark Mark on Severus' right forearm.
"Yes, 'papa' but it was not the very best moment to react and skip away from Hogwarts to join that brood again and play his faithful Death Eater! Anyhow, he'll not wait for long before reassembling his followers and I'll figure out something to make him believe that it were cowardice and weakness that kept me away from him on his first call!"
Aurelian snored angrily at the last words of his son. Cowardice and weakness were not particular traits of character in his family. For almost one thousand years those of the blood had served their country well, was it Brittany or France, magic or human. Since Merlin had first thrown in his knowledge and power with the House of Pendragon to free humans and magic creatures alike from the forces of Darkness, they'd always served well. It was this old bond with the British Isles that fifteen years ago had convinced him to let one of his sons go and join forces with Albus Dumbledore, although their kin had not been treated nicely on the other side of the Channel for the last eight centuries.
"Severus," the General replied in a low, menacing voice, "Never ever again use the words 'cowardice' and 'weakness' in my presence. I insist that you go and see the Old One before taking any inconsiderate step that you may regret afterwards. You've already once paid a high price and I do not intend to put your life or the existence of the Order at stake. They decided to turn away from the old religion and from the old gods just to avoid long and difficult training to ensure that powerful magic is well handled by a conscious and responsible elite for the benefit of many. Now they find themselves again confronted with a dark wizard....It is no business of ours to each time clean up their mess......"
Snape gave his father a mocking smile. Then he stood up and strode over to a chimney piece on which a couple of silver-framed simple muggle photographs stood. He gave a short glance to one of them. It was black and white but had slightly turned into yellow with age. A black satin band was slung over one edge. The engraving under the photograph read "Capitaine Livius Rogue de la Bédoyere, 1894-1915". Severus lifted the frame carefully from the chimney piece and turned to his father.
« Le Chemin des Dames! », it had been one of the most horrible butcheries of the 1st World War. The younger man returned with the frame and placed it back on the chimney piece. He chose another of the photographs. There was no engraving on it and no black band. It showed two men in their 20ies in battle fatigues, holding easily Sten machine guns in their hands. They leaned against an Army Jeep and smiled broadly. In the background the Arc of Triumph and the Champs Elysées were visible. Severus turned around again:» This one you remember well, don't you? How often did you relate to us the day when Paris was free again, when Leclerc's Tank Division was the first to enter the Capital and when it was all over after five long years. From France to Africa, from Africa back to France..........you'd chosen a uniform in those days, but you'd chosen to fight against the darkness. Do not try and convince me that I shall sit in an armchair by my fireside and cross legs, while outside the world is going upside down. There is no more theirs and ours today. Even though the old ways are slowly fading away, we cannot speak of their world and ours: There is just one place for all of us and we must try and keep it alive and going together...."
Aurelian stood up from his chair and went to embrace his son. He pressed him firmly against his broad chest. His eyes were sad and proud at once. In a last attempt to change Severus mind he softly murmured into his ear: "I have already given a child to the cause. I do not want to lose another one! I do not want to live again through what we have been living through when your brother died...."
"Papa, please! Don't...." Severus murmured back. "I promise that I will not do anything unconsidered, but accept that I must do what I believe is right."
Harry stared with eyes wide open on his room. He had understood from Genevieve that this was the 'Chambre de Guesclin', although he did not know who de Guesclin was. There were large granite-sculpted windows and an enormous chimney which allowed to burn full size trees. Adjacent to 'Chambre de Guesclin' was a kind of medieval sauna, they called 'étuve', with basins for hot and cold water and a heating system within the floor and walls. A beautiful granite spiral staircase led up to a first floor and a fortified door. There were gobelins and paintings on the walls, some of them clearly magic, because their motives moved, others muggle. They showed people in clothing from times long gone bye, knights in armour, ladies in long robes, unicorns, horses, hunting dogs. It was more a museum then a guests' room. In the middle of the room stood an enormous but obviously comfortable bed with a baldachin. There were some bookshelves and a large chest. His trunk had been brought up, and Hedwig sat on a wooden falcons' display with a carved food bowl and glass water bowl.
Genevieve showed Harry a bell string and said in French:" C'est pour les elves, si tu on a besoin, mon garçon!", then suddenly she slapped her forehead with her hand and smiled :"Mais...Nous sommes vraiment bêtes!"
From her robes a wand appeared and she pointed it towards Harry:'Lingua'.
Snape's mother gave a satisfied smile :"That is better, isn't it, Harry! We did not think at all about the fact that you may not speak French!"
To his utter surprise Harry replied:" No, I never learned your language at school!", without any effort or accent. Then the boy gave a large smile: 'Wow, how did you do that? That's cool!"
Genevieve laughed and took him into her arms:"C'est magique! And now go to sleep and have beautiful dreams. You had a very long day and if you want to enjoy your holidays you must be rested." She turned away and the huge wooden door to the 'Chambre de Guesclin' swung close behind Snape's mother.
Harry caressed Hedwig, then quickly took of his clothes and fell on the huge comfortable bed. He had not seen anything of this ditty old bat of Potions Master, since he had delivered him to his family and the Chateau de Montmuran. Perhaps Snape had simply delivered a parcel for and on behalf of Dumbledore and he would not see his horrible teacher for the rest of his summer holidays. Judging from the size of the fortress there were certainly glorious dungeons with enough space for Snape to hide, brew potions and stay out of everybody's way....although his family was really nice and Harry had felt instantly at ease with Genevieve and 'Le Général'.
- Chapter 5
----------------------- [1] In the French translation of Harry Potter Severus Snape became Severus Rogue: It is a game of words that I am playing here, so do not wonder about his family having 'another' name: They do not...apart from the long wormtail, which is historically linked with the medieval fortress Montmuran in Brittany's Ille-et-Villaine department, near the town of Rennes. Brittany is a very 'magic' place : It harbours the Brocéliande Forest, where legend tells us, Merlin remains forever in the trees and the nature.....
'Le Général' poured himself another glass of wine and listened to his son's account in silence. Severus had by now related all the events during the Triwizzard Tournament including the Goblet of Fire turning into a port key and carrying Harry Potter off to Lord Voldemort.
" And this is how the monster managed to mix his blood with the boy's!", Snape concluded. His voice was sad and there lay a dark shadow of sorrow over his eyes. "Wormtail, also known as Peter Pettigrew had made a potion with the bones of his father, his own flesh, and Harry Potter's blood for Voldemort. He got his body back," explained Severus in a monotone voice.
"Just another step to bring him closer to power.........He recalls his followers, doesn't he?", stated Aurelien Rogue[1] de la Bédoyere, Comte de Villeon et Duc de Bretagne. "Did he...?" The old man pointed his finger on the Dark Mark on Severus' right forearm.
"Yes, 'papa' but it was not the very best moment to react and skip away from Hogwarts to join that brood again and play his faithful Death Eater! Anyhow, he'll not wait for long before reassembling his followers and I'll figure out something to make him believe that it were cowardice and weakness that kept me away from him on his first call!"
Aurelian snored angrily at the last words of his son. Cowardice and weakness were not particular traits of character in his family. For almost one thousand years those of the blood had served their country well, was it Brittany or France, magic or human. Since Merlin had first thrown in his knowledge and power with the House of Pendragon to free humans and magic creatures alike from the forces of Darkness, they'd always served well. It was this old bond with the British Isles that fifteen years ago had convinced him to let one of his sons go and join forces with Albus Dumbledore, although their kin had not been treated nicely on the other side of the Channel for the last eight centuries.
"Severus," the General replied in a low, menacing voice, "Never ever again use the words 'cowardice' and 'weakness' in my presence. I insist that you go and see the Old One before taking any inconsiderate step that you may regret afterwards. You've already once paid a high price and I do not intend to put your life or the existence of the Order at stake. They decided to turn away from the old religion and from the old gods just to avoid long and difficult training to ensure that powerful magic is well handled by a conscious and responsible elite for the benefit of many. Now they find themselves again confronted with a dark wizard....It is no business of ours to each time clean up their mess......"
Snape gave his father a mocking smile. Then he stood up and strode over to a chimney piece on which a couple of silver-framed simple muggle photographs stood. He gave a short glance to one of them. It was black and white but had slightly turned into yellow with age. A black satin band was slung over one edge. The engraving under the photograph read "Capitaine Livius Rogue de la Bédoyere, 1894-1915". Severus lifted the frame carefully from the chimney piece and turned to his father.
« Le Chemin des Dames! », it had been one of the most horrible butcheries of the 1st World War. The younger man returned with the frame and placed it back on the chimney piece. He chose another of the photographs. There was no engraving on it and no black band. It showed two men in their 20ies in battle fatigues, holding easily Sten machine guns in their hands. They leaned against an Army Jeep and smiled broadly. In the background the Arc of Triumph and the Champs Elysées were visible. Severus turned around again:» This one you remember well, don't you? How often did you relate to us the day when Paris was free again, when Leclerc's Tank Division was the first to enter the Capital and when it was all over after five long years. From France to Africa, from Africa back to France..........you'd chosen a uniform in those days, but you'd chosen to fight against the darkness. Do not try and convince me that I shall sit in an armchair by my fireside and cross legs, while outside the world is going upside down. There is no more theirs and ours today. Even though the old ways are slowly fading away, we cannot speak of their world and ours: There is just one place for all of us and we must try and keep it alive and going together...."
Aurelian stood up from his chair and went to embrace his son. He pressed him firmly against his broad chest. His eyes were sad and proud at once. In a last attempt to change Severus mind he softly murmured into his ear: "I have already given a child to the cause. I do not want to lose another one! I do not want to live again through what we have been living through when your brother died...."
"Papa, please! Don't...." Severus murmured back. "I promise that I will not do anything unconsidered, but accept that I must do what I believe is right."
Harry stared with eyes wide open on his room. He had understood from Genevieve that this was the 'Chambre de Guesclin', although he did not know who de Guesclin was. There were large granite-sculpted windows and an enormous chimney which allowed to burn full size trees. Adjacent to 'Chambre de Guesclin' was a kind of medieval sauna, they called 'étuve', with basins for hot and cold water and a heating system within the floor and walls. A beautiful granite spiral staircase led up to a first floor and a fortified door. There were gobelins and paintings on the walls, some of them clearly magic, because their motives moved, others muggle. They showed people in clothing from times long gone bye, knights in armour, ladies in long robes, unicorns, horses, hunting dogs. It was more a museum then a guests' room. In the middle of the room stood an enormous but obviously comfortable bed with a baldachin. There were some bookshelves and a large chest. His trunk had been brought up, and Hedwig sat on a wooden falcons' display with a carved food bowl and glass water bowl.
Genevieve showed Harry a bell string and said in French:" C'est pour les elves, si tu on a besoin, mon garçon!", then suddenly she slapped her forehead with her hand and smiled :"Mais...Nous sommes vraiment bêtes!"
From her robes a wand appeared and she pointed it towards Harry:'Lingua'.
Snape's mother gave a satisfied smile :"That is better, isn't it, Harry! We did not think at all about the fact that you may not speak French!"
To his utter surprise Harry replied:" No, I never learned your language at school!", without any effort or accent. Then the boy gave a large smile: 'Wow, how did you do that? That's cool!"
Genevieve laughed and took him into her arms:"C'est magique! And now go to sleep and have beautiful dreams. You had a very long day and if you want to enjoy your holidays you must be rested." She turned away and the huge wooden door to the 'Chambre de Guesclin' swung close behind Snape's mother.
Harry caressed Hedwig, then quickly took of his clothes and fell on the huge comfortable bed. He had not seen anything of this ditty old bat of Potions Master, since he had delivered him to his family and the Chateau de Montmuran. Perhaps Snape had simply delivered a parcel for and on behalf of Dumbledore and he would not see his horrible teacher for the rest of his summer holidays. Judging from the size of the fortress there were certainly glorious dungeons with enough space for Snape to hide, brew potions and stay out of everybody's way....although his family was really nice and Harry had felt instantly at ease with Genevieve and 'Le Général'.
- Chapter 5
----------------------- [1] In the French translation of Harry Potter Severus Snape became Severus Rogue: It is a game of words that I am playing here, so do not wonder about his family having 'another' name: They do not...apart from the long wormtail, which is historically linked with the medieval fortress Montmuran in Brittany's Ille-et-Villaine department, near the town of Rennes. Brittany is a very 'magic' place : It harbours the Brocéliande Forest, where legend tells us, Merlin remains forever in the trees and the nature.....
