Chapter ten: Loyalty
Upon returning to Hogwarts, no one could tell Severus had been hurt over the holiday other than a more sour disposition than before. That, however, was for an entirely different reason than his pain. He'd been stressing over what Lupin could possibly want. Would he ask him to stay away from Ariel? Convince her he wasn't really worth her time? Set his hooligan friends after him? He was reassured when Ariel found him on the train and sat with him on the way, insisting on looking at his wounds to be sure he was okay.
It had been a week since they'd come back and the wolf had yet to approach him, which made him even more anxious. Remus for his part walked around just as nervous, feeling like he was underwater with cement in his pockets. Now that he had the ring, he wanted to ask every second, only just stopping himself in time. He was almost positive she'd say yes, but still felt a lump anytime he thought about the other possibility. Then there was Snape to think about.
Hermione was getting frustrated. Both Remus and Severus seemed to be avoiding her. Anytime she and Remus were alone, he'd suddenly remember something he left behind in the library or heard Sirius call him where she heard nothing. Severus just seemed antsy anytime she came near him. Not to mention Remus. She tried to talk to Lily about it, but Lily seemed to be experiencing the same things. James was so sweet the first few months and at his home. He told her every chance that he loved her, but now he could hardly be in the same room with her.
"Severus!" He stopped to see who had called him, surprised and not happy to see it was Lupin. So here it came.
"What you want, Wolf?"
"I did tell you I wanted to talk to you, didn't I?"
Severus' hands were shaking, so he tightened them on his bag. "Yes, but I never agreed to a conversation."
"Then you just have to listen."
He glanced around to see they were alone. "What do you want?"
"Not here. Uhhhh- " Remus pulled him into a classroom. "Okay, now, don't interrupt." Remus took a deep breath and began. "Look, I know you and I aren't necessarily on good terms." Severus snorted at his audacious understatement. "Now just listen, but I love Ariel. I'm willing to put it all behind us for her. I don't like how we've treated you all this time, but I don't really think an apology would cut it so I'm not going to try. I mean, you've done your share of damage too- "
"Keep going, I'm sure you'll get to your point eventually."
"Right, sorry." Severus had never seen any of the Marauders like this. This- fidgety, trembling mess he saw before him. "I love Ariel. I always will. She's my best friend, my light, my mate. I-I couldn't imagine life without her and I can't even hardly remember what it was like before her." There was a pregnant pause. "I want to ask her to marry me."
Severus both rejoiced and lamented. He wasn't trying to take her away from him, but why was he asking for Severus' permission for her hand?
"Why are you asking me this?"
"You're her best friend. I don't think she'd marry me if you were against her doing it. And, I think it's right."
"If I say no?"
"I'm still going to ask her, I just won't have your support."
"Then why even ask?"
"Out of respect for the both of you. She wouldn't answer without talking to you first anyway I'm sure. I know that she'd say good bye to me if you asked her to."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
It did, to be honest, but he understood it all the same. "I know she loves me, but you come first to her."
Severus didn't know what to do. His first instinct was to laugh, but he looked so genuine in his plea for Severus' acceptance. And hadn't Ariel confirmed from the beginning what Lupin suspected of her? He couldn't ask her to choose, because she loved the wolf for whatever reason. But this, this was different. Her hand? In marriage? They'd both only known her since this summer, but it felt like much longer. She had the gift of making everyone fall in love with her. A gift very much like Lily's.
"You'll take care of her won't you?" Severus asked in a small voice. "Make sure nothing happens to her?"
"I promise."
"Very well."
*
"Happy Birthday."
Severus was surprised. He didn't even realize she knew his birthday. When was her birthday? He had a bad feeling he missed it. She was looking quite pleased with herself, holding out a small box.
"Oh, you didn't have- "
"I know, but I did. And it isn't really anything special. Just another thing to add to your emergency box." Which kept growing with every idea she had. Why did he need to carry a pen knife?
He took it and opened it to find a small lumpy stone. A bezoar. Even if it was just for his emergency box, it showed she cared for him. Not that he needed more confirmation than he'd already been shown, but sometimes he was still pleasantly surprised.
"Thank you," he said seriously. Then he hugged her. He'd hugged her before, but only ever when she was the one who'd initiated it. Severus didn't know when Lupin would ask her, and he knew that Ariel wouldn't just drop him because she was engaged, but it wouldn't be her fault if she were swept away with less time. He was lucky. She spent just about every possible moment with him. That wouldn't be so afterwards.
When they pulled away she smiled at her first hug from him. Her father.
"So," he asked. "Potions?"
*
March 19 1996 June 3 1996 June 9 1996
Dumbledore's Army has been discovered, the Headmaster gone, and the student club "suitably punished". This morning Miss Edgecombe came to breakfast with her forehead covered in pimples spelling 'SNEAK' and my devious daughter looking smug. That's my girl. But by the time she came to my class, her smirk was gone and instead there spelled 'I will hold my tongue' on the back of her hand.
I held her after class and rubbed a cream on it to sooth and heal, sending the rest of it with her. Mother can handle this. Otherwise I'll be escorted to Azkaban.
Mother has been attacked and sent to St. Mungo's. I promised to look after her students for her. What's happening to this school?
I write this in the Hospital Wing sitting next to my daughter after trying to heal her injury. She's sleeping and her face is relaxed and precious. I love her so.
Black is dead, after I tried as well as Lupin to make him stay behind. Hermione is hurt and it will scar according to Lupin, though how he knows I don't want to know. It's led me to remember all of Ariel's scars, including the one from our first meeting. I'm dreading the next few years.
Severus bowed, kissing the man's robes and rising at his request. Voldemort rose from his seat with an unnatural grace and motioned for Severus to follow him. There were others in the great room, the Inner Circle, an honor he'd not yet been bestowed. The most loyal of Death Eaters.
"Severus, is it?" The Dark Lord asked in a cool voice.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Yes, I am told you excel at potions."
His heart threatened to come out his throat. "It is something I enjoy doing. I don't even think of it as something to excel at, my Lord."
"I am also told you have a proclivity for befriending Gryffindors."
"My Lord?" Now he was terrified, not just for himself but for Ariel and Lily- though he wasn't sure which he worried most for.
The Dark Lord studied him for a moment and Severus almost shifted under his scrutiny. "Do you know what the biggest threat to my vision is?"
"The Muggleborns, my Lord?"
He looked at Severus almost approvingly. "You would think so, wouldn't you? But no. It isn't their fault they are trampling on our world. They simply live. No, it is the blood traitors that bring them here and teach them the dance. Dumbledore spouts the ideals of an integrated world where the Muggles and Magicals live alongside each other peacefully, but has he not forgotten why we sought separate refuge to begin with? The burnings, the hunting- now they come back to our domain to destroy our blood lines, our traditions? That will. Not. Stand. With me."
Severus watched the passion the Dark Lord expressed when saying this and was reminded of why he joined him, but he knew he wasn't finished.
"I have been unable in all my searching to find a way to weaken him. He has no connections, no family, no one. Except, he has McGonagall- his second in command for everything. I would even be willing to bet she is his second in that ridiculous little group they've made to stop me. However, even she has no connections. Her husband is dead, she herself is too well protected to get near. And so I have hit yet another block, or have I?" The Dark Lord watched Severus' face carefully. "Now, she has a weakness. Now, she has a goddaughter."
*
"ARIEL!" Severus found her the next day walking near the Charms classroom. She whipped around immediately at her name. He looked, well she couldn't really describe the expression on his face, but it was bad.
"Severus?" She asked him. "What's wrong?"
He didn't answer but grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. "You have to come with me."
"Where?"
"I'm going to Dumbledore." Hermione widened her eyes at that. What could have changed since yesterday when she mentioned it and he nearly exploded again.
Severus ran with her the whole way to Dumbledore's gargoyle and nearly shouted, "Acid Pops!" What they found upon entering were the Headmaster and Minerva in an interrupted meeting about the school's budget for next semester. The two adults looked up at the two students, one frantic and the other confused and breathing heavily.
"Severus?" Minerva asked. "What's going on?"
But like with Hermione, he ignored her, focusing instead on Dumbledore and the message he was so desperate to deliver. "I took the Dark Mark but I didn't want it and I was too afraid to come to you about it and now they want me to help capture and kill Ariel to get back at Mother and in turn weaken you."
Everyone blinked at him. The Headmaster was the first to recover. "And you come to me now to what? Offer you sanctity? Forgive?"
"I just don't want her hurt. She's been trying to convince me to come to the both of you, but I was too worried of the consequences for my actions."
"So you want me to protect Miss Mason." Severus nodded. "I see. And what would you give me in return?"
"Albus!" Minerva exclaimed, surprised at him. Hermione wasn't.
"Anything." Severus replied, ignoring his mother. Hermione knew this was it. This was what Harry had seen in his memories in the Final Battle, but it wasn't for Lily Evans. It was for Hermione. His best friend.
The Headmaster paced around the study and thought to himself, stroking his magnificent beard. He could use this boy to get to Tom. If he were to be his spy, and he knew he would be loyal to him because he was agreeing to keep the girl safe. The girl from another time. He had briefly in another afternoon pondered what could have brought her back here. This boy. That much was obvious and he could see the resemblance. Father? So, the girl came back to save her father and in turn he was saving his friend and later daughter. He would most certainly be loyal to Albus. But just for show . . .
"How do I know this isn't some trick orchestrated by Tom to spy on me?"
"How do I know you'll protect her and not just kill me?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I suppose, then, you and I will just have to trust each other."
~~~
Please please please tell me what you thought of this chapter. I was originally going to have him switch sides AFTER she went back to her own time, but there were issues with that and a few parts I have already written. What did you think of Tom? Dumbledore? How do you actually feel about canon Dumbledore? Let me know in the towel section down below and as always, Love- Skye