Chapter Seven - Replacing This Pain with Something Numb

01/08/2013

August has come. I have not seen a sliver of the girl.

I have a number of ingredients prepared. Jarred and sealed.

I find I cannot acquire nightshade without identifying myself.

I cannot speak, I cannot sign my signature. I cannot wave a wand and prove who I am.

I have been forgotten in these years.

It proves to be a very uncomfortable feeling.

Being forgotten.

03/08/2013

Granger returned today. She came to my hovel with her hand wrapped around that of a young boy's.

Her son, I presume.

No red hair though, must not be Weasley's.

"Severus. This is Perseus. I think. . . I think you can help him."

The more I watched the boy, the more I saw another young boy.

Draco Malfoy was once my godson. Not because Lucius held any favor for me, nor because I was to be entrusted with the care of such a. . . delicatechild.

No, Lucius was punishing me when he made me a godfather.

I saved his life once.

Lucius Malfoy never forgave me for it.

"I'm not asking you to. . . to do anything difficult. But he hasn't spoken. Theo. . . Theo doesn't know what to do anymore. No one does."

It wasn't really about the boy. We both knew that.

She wanted me to feel needed.

I wanted to feel anger.

But I could not.

I cannot recall any time previous in which a mostly selfless act was for my benefit, even an act that was never for that intention.

Is he literate?

Yes, he's not a baby.

Might I talk to him alone?

Your name is Perseus?

Yes.

Can you talk?

No.

I cannot talk either.

Why not?

I was hurt.

I can't talk.

Why?

Perseus was not Granger's child.

He was born early on the thirtieth of April in 1998 to Luna Lovegood and Theodore Nott.

Luna Lovegood had been pregnant when she was taken to Malfoy Manor at Christmas. She was tortured and beaten while protecting a child growing inside her, who would end up being her only child.

By Easter, she was nearly seven months pregnant. Malnourished and ill, both mother and baby nearly died.

Her health improved after she was brought to Shell Cottage, where Fleur Weasley found her very own mothering instinct.

Two days after giving birth, Luna returned to Hogwarts to help Harry.

She died the next day from a combination of spell damage and blood loss.

Nott was devastated. He had only found her again and she was taken.

Then Fleur Weasley brought him his son.

[slips of paper written in Perseus's hand are stuck between the pages here.]

Mummy talks to me sometimes. My father doesn't know.

You see, my mum died after the Battle at Hogwarts. I was just a baby.

When I stopped talking, she asked me why.

"Sir?" Granger's voice interrupted. Her face was ashen as she re-entered the room.

"I have to take Perseus home now. Might I come back afterwards?"

I nodded.

The boy's voice echoes in my ears.

I can see things. Things you have not seen. They told me not to speak until I found you.

Auntie Hermione said your name was Mr. Snape, but they said to call you Tobias.

His voice had been rusty with misuse and yet eerily clear.

Everything was connected.

Granger returned by nightfall. Her arms were full of the very nightshade I had attempted to procure.

"Someone reported that a strange man had tried to buy this but would not utter a word."

She sat it on the rickety wooden table with a handful of other ingredients I would not have been able get.

"I knew it was you. I knew you would never ask me to get this for you."

She sat in her chair, her chin resting on her knees. Eyes tightly closed.

"I have to help you, can't you see?"

Sano a animus.
To heal a soul.

"Yes."