10. A visit from Lucius Malfoy
The next morning after sending the owl to Kingsley, Severus and Bobbie went to breakfast. Minerva asked Severus if she could have a word with him in private.
"Certainly! Maybe we ought to go to the teachers' lounge," Severus suggested and got up.
Minerva followed him and had a house elf bring their breakfast into the lounge where they continued their meal while discussing the things at hand.
Minerva asked Severus how his meeting with Kingsley had gone. After he told her they discussed how they could accomplish getting a prisoner to Hogwarts and making sure he didn't escape. Minerva said, "Well, thanks to the Carrows we have a couple of steel cells in that one dungeon room, in which they locked up the students. I think there are also some shackles on the inside."
"Indeed, I completely forgot about that. That would work, especially if the potion should turn out to be useless and we would have a full-blown werewolf on our hands," Severus said.
"I know tonight is full moon. We can't set up things that fast. Do you know when the next one is?" Minerva asked.
"July 9th." Then he added, "But it is also my wife's birthday."
"I understand!" The twinkle in Minerva's eyes would have rivaled Albus's. "I agree that we need a little more time but I also think you need to be with your wife on her first birthday you have together."
"I hope to take her to that new restaurant we have seen being built while walking through Diagon Alley," Severus said. "It will be open by then. It seems since the time Voldemort has met his well deserved demise, there are new stores and restaurants opening up every week."
"I also have noticed that!" Minerva said with affirmation. "It seems the entire Wizarding World has taken a new lease on life. As if people are finally able to breathe again and do things they always wanted to do but were too afraid to attempt."
Severus nodded and then said, "Going back to our earlier discussion, I would like to also have more time brewing. The whole process takes about 4 1/2 hours. I would prefer to have the first attempt on a weekend or even better, when there are no students in the castle. Can you imagine the confusion and panic it could cause if the howls of a werewolf would be echoing through the corridors? Turns out that the first full moon in the month of August is on a weekend. It will be on Saturday the 8th. That would also be during school holidays and no students would be present. I would call this the perfect opportunity."
"I agree with you that this would be the best time, but didn't you and Bobbie want to go to Canada to see her family?" Minerva asked.
"Yes, there is that...," he sighed. "We will just have to postpone it, if it would be okay with you?" Severus asked.
Minerva said, "I can move some things around and you could go a couple of weeks later. Did you run that by your wife yet?"
"No, not yet. I wanted to talk to you first. I hope she will be okay with that. She had to put her life on hold for me long enough," Severus said quietly.
"No Severus, it wasn't because of you. It was because of Voldemort," Minerva said and put her hand on his forearm. "I know Bobbie will understand."
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When Bobbie and Severus went back to their quarters that night she knew right away that there was something that was bothering him. After she let him mope around for a while she took his hand and led him to the sofa, where they sat down. She sat sideways with one of her legs underneath her so she was able to face him. "Now, tell me what has you in such a mood," she said.
He looked at her and said quietly, "You won't like it."
"Let me be the judge of that. Now, out with it...!" she said in a mock commanding voice.
"I can't go to Canada during the time we had planned," he almost whispered.
"What? Why not?" she asked, a trace of disappointment in her voice.
Severus told her what Minerva and he had decided about the cure for Lycanthropy. Bobbie thought about it for a moment and said, "I think that is a reasonable way of doing it. So we just go a couple of weeks later. If this potion is working it will change so many people's lives. I agree that this is the best time with no students underfoot."
Severus, let out a sigh of relief and stroked her cheek and said, "Minerva said you would understand. I wasn't sure what to expect. I have seen too many fights between my parents or Lucius and Narcissa, even about trivial things."
Bobbie snorted and said, "Well, it's my own damn fault. I was the one pushing you into brewing that potion." Then she cradled his face and quietly said, "I'm just kidding, Baby. I think you need to do that. It is your big opportunity and I want you to succeed. I would be a really bad wife if I would stand in the way of something as important as that. And I also know my grandfather will understand if we show up a bit later."
Severus kissed her gently and then got up and said, "I better send an owl to Kingsley and let him know when we are going to do it. He needs to find a way to deliver a viable prisoner to us in time."
888
It was two weeks later when out of the blue Lucius Malfoy showed up at their doorstep in Hogwarts. Severus opened the door and though he was surprised he didn't show it. Then he asked in an indifferent voice, "Lucius, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Malfoy with his usual arrogant aura around him inclined his head and strutted into the door and drawled, "Severus, how nice to see you. I hear congratulations are in order."
"Lucius, what do you want?" Severus asked. "I know as well as you do that this unannounced visit isn't meant to just be a friendly get-together or to extend your well wishes."
"Never the one for idle chit-chat... Very well, I was hoping I could engage you into a conversation about Draco."
"I'm listening...," Severus said. His interest piqued if for no other reason than the prospect of saving Draco from his father.
In that Moment Bobbie came out of the bedroom. When Lucius noticed her he plastered a pleasant smile onto his face and gave an aristocratic bow towards her and took her hand in greeting and brushed a kiss on it. He looked into her eyes and said, "I can see why my good friend Severus has at last changed his outlook on life and given in to marriage. I had no idea..."
Behind Lucius's shoulder she could see Severus rolling his eyes and she had a hard time not to laugh out loud. She managed, what she hoped would be a friendly smile and said, "Mr Malfoy, how nice to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you." The flashback she got from Malfoy told her right away that this was not a person she wanted to be around. Still, she played along for Severus's sake. After all he was Draco's godfather and head of house and she had already gotten the impression that this 'visit' was about Draco.
Malfoy still held her hand and asked, "Do I detect an American accent?"
"Canadian," she answered.
Lucius turned to Severus but was still holding her hand, "How on earth did you find a wife in Canada? I don't recollect you having the means of ever setting foot outside Britain."
Severus finally had enough of Lucius's derogatory remarks and said, "If you are quite done gallivanting around my wife..."
Lucius gave Bobbie a saccharine smile and finally let go of her hand saying, "It was a pleasure meeting you Mrs... Snape."
"Doctor!" Severus said.
Lucius looked at Severus with a raised eyebrow and asked, "Pardon me?"
"My wife's name is Dr Snape," Severus growled.
Lucius inclined his head toward Bobbie one more time and said dismissively, "I apologize, Dr Snape. Please excuse us, Severus and I have some business to attend to."
"By all means," she said to Lucius ignoring his condescension and then said to Severus, "I will be in the infirmary." Bobbie felt as though she couldn't get out of there fast enough but before she did she went to Severus and kissed him, and said quietly enough for only Severus to hear, "Let me know when that pompous ass is out of here." And then she was gone.
Severus couldn't help but burst out laughing. Lucius had a puzzled look on his face and said, "I don't recall ever hearing you laugh. You have certainly changed my friend."
The two men finally sat down on the table.
Severus took a deep breath. "Make no mistake. I may have not changed as much as you think I have. Do you not remember that I am a traitor? I deceive people. Voldemort is gone and I am free to do as I please. Now it is for you to find out which is the real Severus Snape," Severus said with a smirk and a trace of a threat.
Lucius swallowed hard, clearly not knowing what to think. So he went back to what he does best, which is to talk down to people. "Why would a powerful Wizard like you marry a nobody like her? Yes, she is a Doctor but what else is she? I seem to remember rumors of her being a Muggle. Others insist she is a Squib. For the record Severus, what is she?"
"What do you care? It didn't seem to bother you when you were all over her only a moment ago. She is my wife and none of your business. Let me just tell you this much... She helped us win the war. Would you really prefer to go back to being a slave of Voldemort? The last time I saw you, you didn't look too happy about it."
Lucius kept going as if he hadn't even heard what Severus had said about Voldemort. "I have to admit she is a beautiful woman but why would you marry her? Use her... have your fun with her and then discard her when you tire of her."
Severus snorted mirthlessly, "You don't know anything about her and you would never understand. Look at your marriage, Lucius. You and Narcissa are both seeing other people behind each other's back, even Draco has picked up on that already. At least I have the woman I want, every night in my bed." Severus paused for a moment collecting himself and said, "Speaking of Draco, what do you want to discuss about him? I suggest you get to the point."
Lucius decided, after he had a long look down his nose at Severus, that it was better not to push the issue any longer. Making Severus mad at him would be counterproductive, so he sighed and came right out with his request. "I fear Draco is slipping away from us. He told Narcissa that he doesn't wish to marry Pansy Parkinson. It seems he has his eyes set on one of the Greengrass girls. Yes, the parents are pureblooded but are Muggle and Mudblood loving fools. I have been hoping you could talk some sense into him. For some unfathomable reason he has always listened to you."
Severus looked at Lucius and said, "Are you listening to yourself? First you come here and pant after my wife and then insult her in front of me because she isn't up to your standards and then you turn around and want my help in talking Draco into doing something he clearly doesn't want to do, which is marrying a girl he doesn't love. Do you really want him to be as miserable in his marriage as you are, with only pretending that he is happily married? If you push him into this marriage you are setting him up for failure and he will hate you for it. Is that really what you want? Draco is of age and can choose what he wants to do with his life."
"I feel he is making a mistake. The Parkinson girl happens to be much more suitable," Lucius argued.
"Because she isn't what you call a Mudblood and Muggle Lover? Again, Draco is of age and it is his mistake to make. How can you even ask me? Here you are suspecting that my wife maybe a Muggle and then you want me to talk Draco out of something I myself am doing? Do you not notice the double standard of the situation, the hypocrisy of the whole thing? Why should he believe me? Do you even notice the insults you throw into my face?"
"You used to believe in the purity of the Wizarding World. What happened?" Lucius asked.
"That was almost two decades ago. Perhaps I grew up. Before the Potter boy saved us from Voldemort I most likely would have given in to your request of talking to Draco about that. But not because I believed in it, I would have agreed to it because I couldn't blow my cover as a spy. Hell, I am a Half-blood myself and so was Voldemort, or as my wife so fittingly called him 'that megalomaniac'. He promised us power and riches and all he ever did was take, take, take... How many galleons did you lose to him? Why do you think I always had nothing? I always knew if I have nothing I can't lose anything...
"I always wanted to go into research and find Potions that make life better but all I was ever allowed to do was brew potions for destruction or poisons to kill. Did you know that I have brewed the antidote for everything Voldemort made me do? I never wanted anybody to die by my hands even if it was by somebody else using my potion. Now I can finally use my mind for something good, something that will help people and maybe I can even accumulate enough money to give me and my family a good life. I don't have to answer to Voldemort anymore and I sure as hell don't have to answer to you or any other of his former minions."
Lucius jaw muscles were working. He clearly didn't like what he was hearing. "I admit, life is better without the Dark Lord but do we really have to lose our way because of it?"
"It depends on what your way is. I enjoy my freedom the way I see fit. Bobbie and I love each other, which is more than you and Narcissa can say."
Lucius snorted. "Bobbie... what kind of name is that anyway and why would this beautiful woman even want you? You are deluding yourself. No doubt she has some ulterior motive."
"We can't choose what our parents name us. And with your latest remark, I am thankful you are finally showing your true colours and are joining everyone else who always called me ugly. Now I know what kind of friend you truly are. This conversation is over. Get out!"
Severus got up from the chair he was sitting in and Lucius, who realized that his plan of getting Severus to talk to Draco was a lost cause, finally got up also and left but not without another insult against Bobbie. "I hope you are happy with that... wife of yours, whatever she is..."
After the door closed behind Lucius Malfoy, Severus had to take a few deep breaths for his anger to dissipate. Then he thought what Bobbie had called Lucius and he couldn't help but smile. He decided instead of making a Floo call to the infirmary he was going to walk there and get her. Maybe she had started some project and couldn't come back right away but he needed to see her and feel her in his arms now.
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When Severus walked into the infirmary he saw the two women were emptying boxes and setting the contents into the cabinets against the wall. He said, "I see the gauze bandages are here at last."
Poppy said, "Yes, it was about time. After the war the company couldn't keep up with production and of course they deliver to large hospitals first before we, here in this small place, get ours."
Poppy saw Severus walk up to Bobbie and took her in his arms and deeply breathing in her scent. She said, "That bad, huh? Bobbie said Lucius Malfoy showed up. I don't blame her for bailing out."
Severus finally broke away from Bobbie and said to Poppy, "You have no idea! He wanted me to talk Draco into marrying the Parkinson girl because Lucius believes she is more suitable than the girl Draco really likes. You should have heard the insults he threw at Bobbie and me when I refused."
"What did you do?" Bobbie asked.
Severus smirked. "I threw him out..."
"Good for you, my boy. Inside that shell of aristocratic nobility that man is scum," Poppy said.
Severus helped the women empty the rest of the boxes and then Bobbie and he walked back to their quarters. As soon as the door had closed behind them he took her into his arms and kissed her passionately and then whispered against her lips, "I am so glad that Lucius is wrong." Then he went back to claiming her lips. Bobbie felt his desire press against her stomach which in turn made her heartbeat quicken and a breath hitched in her throat.
Severus moaned when she went to the buttons of his trousers. They made short work of their clothes. Bobbie felt that Severus needed this right now for reassurance and she was not complaining. He picked her up and carried her to bed and made wonderful passionate love to her. During the afterglow she leant on her elbow looking at him with his long raven hair spread on the pillow, the passion in his black eyes and a small smile on his lips. She brushed a strand of hair out of his face and said, "You are so handsome and attractive and oh so sexy."
He looked at her questioningly and also with a trace of panic. "Can you see my flashbacks again?"
"What? No! Why would you say that? Bobbie asked.
"Because Lucius said I am deluding myself thinking that you would love me. He was hinting at my... my looks and now you are calling me... handsome. It feels almost like you know what he said and you are trying to make me feel better."
"Oh Severus, please don't listen to what that overblown snob has to say. I may have picked up on what he was thinking about you in his flashback but please believe me when I tell you that I didn't say those things because I want to make you feel better. I meant every word."
They cuddled up to each other and Bobbie asked, "So, what is 'Lucy' wrong about?"
Severus grinned at the name she had just called Lucius and said, "That you don't love me and you only have an ulterior motive to be with me."
"God, that man is such an ass," she said.
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Friday afternoon, after Severus's last class, Harry Potter showed up outside his classroom. "Mr Potter, how can I help you?"
"Minister Shacklebolt sent me to check on the cells in the dungeons. I am still an Auror in training but it seems that I am one of the people who will transport the prisoner from Azkaban to Hogwarts."
"I see, well let me tell my wife that I will show you the cells before we leave for home. Follow me!" Severus waved Harry into the direction of their quarters.
"Professor, I also would like to thank you for the new book about defence," Harry said.
"Ah yes! How did you like it? Severus asked.
"Very interesting! Ron and I tried some of those new Shield Charms in there. They're very effective against most of the spells. Luckily we tried the shields over some dummies first because we found out that Shield Charm number 3 is letting the Vanishing Spell right through. Needless to say we owe the Ministry a couple of dummies." Harry grinned.
"Ouch!" Severus chuckled. "I hope they aren't too expensive. I haven't had time to go through the whole book yet but have you seen that there are a few things in there that the Weasley twins invented?" His voice turned somber. "Unfortunately Fred Weasley isn't here to share the fruits of their labor anymore."
Harry also was a little dispirited. "Yes, he would have been proud. George still isn't the same after what happened. Lee Jordan is running the shop with him now."
They finally made it to the door and Severus invited Harry in. He looked around but didn't see Bobbie. "Looks like my wife is held up in the infirmary." He grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote a note for her about why he was running late. Then he and Harry walked out and deeper into the dungeons.
They eventually made it to the room with the cells. Harry walked up to one of them in awe and grabbed a hold of one of the bars on the door and yanked on it hard. It didn't give a Millimeter. "Wow, what where those people trying to lock up in here? Neville told me about those two cells. He was on the wrong side of Alecto Carrow a few times, but I never expected anything like this." He motioned at the cells.
"I think they would be sufficient to hold a full-blown werewolf," Severus said. "I was here when they were built. They are anchored into the rock below. Not even the cells in Azkaban are as sturdy."
Harry shook his head, "No kidding! Those things could trap a Hippogriff."
"I assume it is safe to say that you can set Minister Shacklebolt's mind at ease?" Severus said.
Harry snorted. "Yes, I would say so."
The two men made their way back up to Severus's quarters. On the way Severus said, "Unfortunately, if this potion is going to work, Remus Lupin won't have the opportunity to take advantage of it... nor his wife for that matter. It would have simplified her life."
"Yes, he would have liked that very much," Harry said quietly.
When they arrived in front of Severus's door the two men shook hands and said their goodbyes. Harry turned around one more time and said, "Good luck with that potion, Professor!"
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Monday evening after dinner, while Severus was marking papers and Bobbie was reading a book, there was a knock on the door. When Bobbie opened it she saw Draco standing outside. He said, "Good evening Dr Snape, may I talk to Uncle Severus?"
"Sure, come in." She stepped aside so that Draco could walk past her.
Draco nodded at her and said a quiet "Thanks!" He walked up to the desk where Severus was sitting.
When Severus saw him he motioned for him to sit down in the chair in front of his desk. "Give me a second Draco, I am almost done here."
It took Severus another 5 minutes and then he made a neat stack out of the papers and put them aside. Then he looked at Draco. "Okay, now you have my full attention. What can I help you with?"
Draco fidgeted for a while and then said, "Father came by on Wednesday. He... he said he saw you and he said you... that you also though it was a good idea to... to marry Pansy."
"Did he now...? Are you sure you aren't mistaken in what you heard?" Severus had to know for sure that Lucius had been lying to his son.
"I am sure. He said you agreed with him!" Draco said in affirmation.
Severus didn't want to turn Draco against his father so he said, "Well, I think Lucius must have misunderstood. I told him that I didn't think you should marry somebody you didn't want to marry."
Draco visibly relaxed when he heard Severus's answer. "I didn't think you said that but I had to know."
"Draco, I would never suggest such a thing. You should marry the person you love. It is you who has to live with her all your life and not your parents. It is you who has to feel good about the choice," Severus said.
"Like you do," Draco said looking at Bobbie.
"Like I do, yes," Severus agreed.
Draco smiled and got up from his chair and smiled at Severus and said, "Thank you! I'm glad I came by and asked you."
Severus got up from behind the desk to walk Draco out and said, "I do suggest however that you let Miss Parkinson down easy. I have the feeling that she thinks it is a done deal. It is also the right thing to do."
"I will! I have already mentioned to her that I don't want to marry her but my father is confusing the situation. Good night Uncle Severus." Then he called over to Bobbie who still sat on the sofa. "Good night Dr Snape."
"Good night Draco!" she answered him.
When Draco was out of the door Severus hissed, "That lying piece of shit! I can't believe Lucius did that."
"Well, I am not surprised. Remember when I told you that I had the feeling he would throw people under the bus if it would fit his agenda? I think that kind of qualifies for that metaphor."
Severus just stood there shaking his head. "I guess he was hoping Draco would just take what he told him at face value. I am glad he came to me and asked."
"I think Draco is slowly figuring out how his father operates. He isn't stupid," Bobbie said.
Severus snorted. "Lucius won't like it."
Bobbie got up and laid her book on the side table and walked over to him. "Come, you look tired. Let's go to bed and I will stroke your hair for a while."
He let out a long sigh just thinking about the prospect and then took her head into his hands and kissed her and said, "I would like that."