It was during their final course and when Severus was slipping a Stomach Soother into his drink. When Ignotus announced that Severus would becoming to live with him in his Moor and that the Evans family would be staying the rest of the summer with them as well. He did not let them refuse the invitation.
That's how Severus found himself in a Magical Moor in awe of the beauty he was seeing all around him. Lily and Petunia stood on either side of him in awe as well.
"Well, what are you three teenagers going to do today?" Ignotus asked as they came in for breakfast. I told you seeing the sun rise on the moor was worth getting up for didn't I?"
"It was incredible." Petunia breathed.
"Words can not describe what we saw." Lily answered.
"Is there a library I could look at?" Severus ducked as Lily threw a creasant at him. "I'm trying to teach the girls more about our world and we were interested in Family Tapestries. If we swear to take good care of the books would you allow us to take them outside?"
Lily seemed satisfied with Severus quick thinking for which Severus was grateful it seemed Lily had already forgotten that she could use magic.
"Of course." Ignotus nodded. "You'll find plenty of books to help you teach the girls and probably learn a lot yourself in the process. All the books have Charms on them to protect them in any environment but do be careful. I'll have the house-elves prepare a nice picnic lunch for you three. Eating on the moor is most enjoyable."
Severus located several books that would be of help in teaching the girls and then they were of to explore some of the moor and find a nice spot to study. They finally found one and settled in to study. Around one o'clock they ate their lunch. Then Severus and Lily bid Petunia farewell and took the portkey to work. They both worked until seven then took the portkey back stumbling in the Entrance Way.
"I guess we crashed last time because we ported into a Muggle house." Severus said, as they made their way into the dinning hall. "Landing was much easier this time."
"I don't like Port key." Lily moaned. "Why do we magic folk have to have such dangerous ways to travel? Floo, Apperation, Portkey? Can anyone answer that question?"
Severus laughed he couldn't stop himself and even Ignotus chuckled.
That night Severus sat in his bed in his new room and read about Healing a broken nose. When he was sure he'd understood everything he practiced saying the incantation until his screen told him he'd mastered it, he then practiced the wand movement until his screen said he'd mastered it then he did the same with channeling his magic into his wand. He always did this when learning a new spell as did Lily since he'd taught her to do it. He finally cast the spell and hissed in pain as his nose cracked loudly. He quickly went into the attached bathroom and got a wet rag for the bleeding and held it to his nose as he tilted his head back and went and sat on his bed again. It was lucky that his nose had already been swollen. With this spell and the other spells this book suggested he would be able to slowly heal his nose to the point where it would have been if his father had never broke it many, many times over the years.
Severus had no idea why this was so important to him he just knew that it was. He didn't want to bear the marks of his abuse any longer and he was going to find away to heal all of him no matter how long it took him. He knew everyone would support him but he was planning on doing most of his healing at night where he could be alone and they couldn't watch over him. He didn't want them to see what his father had done to him.
The book suggested that Severus wait until the bruising and swelling went away before he tried healing again. It also suggested that he let them heal naturally and not use a potion. Severus was annoyed with this but decided to follow the books instructions for once in his life. It said that in the meantime he could learn to heal the scar tissue that had formed. It said there were many spells to learn just like it had for the nose healing spell but Severus was game so he began learning the first one. When he went to cast it he learned it didn't actually hurt it just tingled and tickled a bit but he also learned that it could causing sneezing which lead to Severus' second bloody nose of the night. Severus was rather annoyed with that but just treated his nose until the bleeding stopped then continued his healing of the scar tissue.
When he got down to breakfast the next morning Lily spoke at once.
"Sev, is the bruising and swelling around your nose worse than it was yesterday?" She asked in concern frowning.
Severus sighed to himself of course she would notice he'd been so stupid to think she wouldn't. He debatted his options for a minute before telling the truth as he'd predicted they all supported him in learning to heal though they were worried.
Ignotus watched his grandson carefully worried that the boy had attempted Healing by himself but he'd seen enough abused people when he was helping brew potions for St. Mungos back in the day and his old friend who'd been a Healer/Mind Healer had always been a big fan of teaching her patients to heal themselves so that they could accept and overcome their abuse. He'd married his friend of course. Merlin he missed her.
"I say we let Severus do what he wants." He advocated for his grandson. "His grandmother was a very big fan of this method of Healing for abused children. She taught quite a few of the Healers currently working at St. Mungos to heal themselves. you just be careful, lad and let us know if there is anything we can do to help."
"Yes, grandfather, thank you so much." Severus said, quickly, glad his grandfather had spoken up.
Lily and Petunia were knitting a tapestry while they held lessons that day. Or rather Lily was knitting and Petunia was messing around with the thread trying to get it into a ball and out of the large pile the House-Elves had delivered it to them in. They still participated in the lesson and asked questions. It was just about time for Severus and Lily to leave for work when Petunia told them that she'd sent in her first article. They wished her luck and left.
Upon arriving home that night Severus was rather tired he'd been asked about his thoughts on ingredients and potions all afternoon and some of the customers had realized that he was the boy who'd won the contest and had asked after his article. Severus had completely forgotten about the article and was cursing himself for it. He ate his dinner that night then locked himself in his room trying to write an article that would sound as if an adult and not a fifteen year old student were writing it. After several attempts he was sure he got it just perfect and sent it off with Zeus with any luck he'd meet the deadline. He'd also sent an apology on cutting it so close to the wire stating that he'd been moving. He healed some scar tissue than fell into bed he was asleep before his head even hit the pillow. His dreams were filled with dancing cauldrons and brightly colored smokes.
