Chapter 13: Changeable Conditions
"I'm going to miss this flat," Rose said as she packed for the Hogwarts reception. "There are only happy memories here."
"You won't," replied Severus. "I have arranged with the Ministry to buy it. It is a good investment, and an excellent location. We could use a London pied-a-Terre." He wasn't willing to give up the first place that ever felt like home for them, either, but to admit to such sentiment was totally un- Slytherin. "I have also found land near Hogsmeade for a home. You can start building as soon as we return from the Islands."
Rose replied with a glorious smile. She was so easy to please, he thought. Her requirements for happiness were identical to his, every step of the way, and he knew that her joy was genuine. True to her word, she was as open as a book to his examination. Rose wasn't incognito any longer, not to him. "I'm going to ask Hermione to put up my hair again, so do remember not to untie the Lover's Knot, unless you have a very good reason for me to go around looking like a drowned cat."
"I doubt we will see much of each other at all tonight. You will be danced off your feet by all the men sent to interrogate you by their curious wives. Did you bring any photos of your house designs? You might find a lot of interested customers."
"How will I carry them around? I have a design book," she waved it in the air, "and I don't want to lose it."
Severus took the book, shrank it and pocketed it. "Just send the inquirers to me. Are you ready, then?" Severus sent the luggage to his quarters by Floo, set the wards on the flat, and then wrapping his arms about her, Disapparated.
Hermione Granger was never more grateful for House Elves than after spending a night and a day with her godmother's children. Sarah and Winky got along famously. Winky took Sarah down to meet Hagrid and all his magical creatures. But it was John Mallorn that gave her particular trouble.
Hermione had last met John when she was 10 and he was a very annoying 8- year-old. Her memories of that occasion were not fond. Now she was enduring all the same kind of pestering, but this time from a grown man with a disturbing resemblance to her least favorite Slytherin classmate. By lunchtime, her patience was at an end. She and John were sitting at the table reserved for graduates of Gryffindor House. Fred, George, and Ron Weasley and Harry Potter sat closest to them. "Look, John, I don't think that I should be filling your head with trivia that you will never use, and which could get us both in trouble. You aren't a wizard, in spite of that robe, or a student of Hogwarts, and I don't have time for twenty questions. Why don't you bother Harry for a while?"
John Mallorn was affronted. He held his aristocratic nose higher in the air. "What did you say?"
"I said, you aren't a wizard and you don't need to know all this stuff and I have better things to do with my time."
"Would you please pass the pumpkin juice, John?" Harry Potter broke in, hoping to head off the consequences of Hermione's set down.
"I'd be glad to, Harry," said John. "Accio Pitcher!" And a glass pitcher full of pumpkin juice rose gracefully to his hand. The people sitting around them burst into laughter. John poured for Harry. "Would you care for some juice, cousin Hermione?"
"Wandless magic, John?" said Harry. "What else are you learning at Salem?"
"I'm majoring in Potions, with a minor in Charms."
Hermione stood, red-faced, threw down her napkin, and stormed out. "Well, that went well," John remarked. "Any chance of catching a Quidditch game before Christmas, Harry?"
"I expect we could round up enough players this afternoon. Do you play?"
"Not yet, but I'd like to learn," John replied.
Guests started arriving shortly after lunch by Floo and Portkey. Harry organized an All-stars scratch Quidditch game: Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor/Slythrerin, and was himself drafted to be Seeker. John Mallorn sat in the stands with Fred and George Weasley, who greeted him as a long- lost friend and set out to explain the action of the game to the Yankee, as they called him. "So, how do you like Hogwarts, John?" asked Fred.
"I wish I could have come here. We don't have any magic schools until college. I had to endure 12 years of Muggle education, not knowing what was wrong with me, getting into trouble all the time, and disappointing my mother. She still doesn't know."
"I didn't realize that things were so backwards in the States," Fred replied. "They used to be giving us a run for our money."
"That all changed when the Fundamentalists started taking over the scene. They are dominating politics, education, and all public discourse. People who have skills, whether scientific, artistic or magical, are marginalized, if they don't toe the politically correct line, no matter how idiotic it may be. There's talk of civil war, even, among the most hot-blooded. Public civility is breaking down."
"So, what will you do, John?" George asked.
"Finish my degree and get the hell out of the States. Find a job here, meet a nice witch, settle down and work for the eventual overthrow of the Cabal that's destroying my native land." John sighed. "Speaking of nice witches, what's with my cousin Hermione Granger?"
"She's Snape's teaching assistant, and working on the new Muggles' Studies program," said George. "Are you kissing cousins, Yank?"
"I wish," replied John.
"Well, she's available, by all reports. Not one to socialize, our Hermione. Our little brother Ron has given her up as hopeless," Fred snickered. "Actually, I think Hermione considers Ron hopeless. Or maybe Snape's snarky ways are rubbing off on her."
Just then Harry Potter dived for the Snitch and caught it. "Yea, Harry!" the cry rose from the stands.
"Well, Harry did it again, Twin," said George. "Took him all of 20 minutes."
"Yes, but he didn't fall off his broom this time," said Fred. "It's just not the same."
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Dinner was loud and festive. The Great Hall was filled to bursting, in spite of the charms to enlarge the available space. Parents divided among their old Houses, pre-school-aged children were accommodated in separate rooms with House Elves in attendance. Severus Snape sat on Dumbledore's right; Rose sat on McGonagall's left. Albus Dumbledore gave an after dinner welcoming speech, Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley spoke about the Muggle outreach program, and the newly-weds cut a huge wedding cake. Dancing followed, with bride and groom opening the first dance with a waltz. The floor was soon crowded with couples, and as Severus had predicted, wizards were cutting in right and left to dance with Rose. Her son John was the first. Severus gave him an inquiring look; John gave a slight nod. So, he was finally going to tell his mother. Severus took a turn dancing with his stepdaughter Sarah, who just glowed from the attention. Hermione cut in, and Hagrid took Sarah off in a whirl.
"Professor, John Mallorn is a wizard," Hermione began.
"Yes, I know," Severus Snape replied. "He will be looking for employment in Britain after he graduates in June."
"Does Rose know?" Hermione was quivering with indignation.
"I expect he is telling her right now," he replied. They had reached the edge of the dancing floor, so they stopped and turned to look for Rose and her son. "Your hairstyling skills are much admired, Hermione. Did you really need to use eight spells to achieve that effect?"
Hermione was staring intently at Rose and her son dancing. "Hmm? I only used five spells: Color, Snarl Tamer, Curl, Body, and the Lover's Knot."
"Strange. I counted eight separate spells when Rose asked for help taking her hair down," Severus mused.
"Well, the last three aren't mine. Maybe her son put some spells on her," Hermione spoke with a bitterness that caused Professor Snape to stare at her.
"I don't think so, his magical training didn't start until college," he replied. "They haven't seen each other long enough for anything like that to happen. John would not be one to cast spells without permission, in any event."
Harry Potter came up and asked Hermione if he could have the pleasure. She went off with him, and appeared to be giving him a piece of her mind. Severus admired Harry's courage, and was grateful to him. Hermione was at the boiling point; although for the life of him, Severus couldn't fathom why.
"This party is a complete success, Severus," Albus Dumbledore had appeared at Snape's elbow. "Everyone is happy."
"Except for Hermione," replied Snape. "Headmaster, Rose has eight spells cast upon her. Hermione accounts for five Grooming spells, but the other three."
"We must find out what they are, before you leave," Albus had completely lost his twinkle. "Tonight, Severus. I will ask Professor Flitwick and Bill Weasley to lend their expertise. A blocking curse would explain a great deal about our mysterious Rose. Three unknown spells are three too many for a Muggle, let alone a Magical." Albus gazed unfocussed on the glittering crowd on the dance floor. "Perhaps Sarah and John should be examined, as well."
Severus felt a trickle of alarm and anger. He wasn't up-to-date on conditions in the States, but he had heard some of the rumors. Dark wizardry could be sweeping the Colonies unnoticed. Because of the great distances and the number of people there, five times that in Great Britain, people wouldn't necessarily notice until the problem grew out of control. Magical society in the United States was decentralized to the point of anarchy; the absence of primary education alone pointed out the deficiencies of the government there.
"Round up your family at 10 and bring them to my office. I will alert Bill and Filius." With a swish of his star-studded robes, Albus was gone.
"I'm going to miss this flat," Rose said as she packed for the Hogwarts reception. "There are only happy memories here."
"You won't," replied Severus. "I have arranged with the Ministry to buy it. It is a good investment, and an excellent location. We could use a London pied-a-Terre." He wasn't willing to give up the first place that ever felt like home for them, either, but to admit to such sentiment was totally un- Slytherin. "I have also found land near Hogsmeade for a home. You can start building as soon as we return from the Islands."
Rose replied with a glorious smile. She was so easy to please, he thought. Her requirements for happiness were identical to his, every step of the way, and he knew that her joy was genuine. True to her word, she was as open as a book to his examination. Rose wasn't incognito any longer, not to him. "I'm going to ask Hermione to put up my hair again, so do remember not to untie the Lover's Knot, unless you have a very good reason for me to go around looking like a drowned cat."
"I doubt we will see much of each other at all tonight. You will be danced off your feet by all the men sent to interrogate you by their curious wives. Did you bring any photos of your house designs? You might find a lot of interested customers."
"How will I carry them around? I have a design book," she waved it in the air, "and I don't want to lose it."
Severus took the book, shrank it and pocketed it. "Just send the inquirers to me. Are you ready, then?" Severus sent the luggage to his quarters by Floo, set the wards on the flat, and then wrapping his arms about her, Disapparated.
Hermione Granger was never more grateful for House Elves than after spending a night and a day with her godmother's children. Sarah and Winky got along famously. Winky took Sarah down to meet Hagrid and all his magical creatures. But it was John Mallorn that gave her particular trouble.
Hermione had last met John when she was 10 and he was a very annoying 8- year-old. Her memories of that occasion were not fond. Now she was enduring all the same kind of pestering, but this time from a grown man with a disturbing resemblance to her least favorite Slytherin classmate. By lunchtime, her patience was at an end. She and John were sitting at the table reserved for graduates of Gryffindor House. Fred, George, and Ron Weasley and Harry Potter sat closest to them. "Look, John, I don't think that I should be filling your head with trivia that you will never use, and which could get us both in trouble. You aren't a wizard, in spite of that robe, or a student of Hogwarts, and I don't have time for twenty questions. Why don't you bother Harry for a while?"
John Mallorn was affronted. He held his aristocratic nose higher in the air. "What did you say?"
"I said, you aren't a wizard and you don't need to know all this stuff and I have better things to do with my time."
"Would you please pass the pumpkin juice, John?" Harry Potter broke in, hoping to head off the consequences of Hermione's set down.
"I'd be glad to, Harry," said John. "Accio Pitcher!" And a glass pitcher full of pumpkin juice rose gracefully to his hand. The people sitting around them burst into laughter. John poured for Harry. "Would you care for some juice, cousin Hermione?"
"Wandless magic, John?" said Harry. "What else are you learning at Salem?"
"I'm majoring in Potions, with a minor in Charms."
Hermione stood, red-faced, threw down her napkin, and stormed out. "Well, that went well," John remarked. "Any chance of catching a Quidditch game before Christmas, Harry?"
"I expect we could round up enough players this afternoon. Do you play?"
"Not yet, but I'd like to learn," John replied.
Guests started arriving shortly after lunch by Floo and Portkey. Harry organized an All-stars scratch Quidditch game: Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff vs. Gryffindor/Slythrerin, and was himself drafted to be Seeker. John Mallorn sat in the stands with Fred and George Weasley, who greeted him as a long- lost friend and set out to explain the action of the game to the Yankee, as they called him. "So, how do you like Hogwarts, John?" asked Fred.
"I wish I could have come here. We don't have any magic schools until college. I had to endure 12 years of Muggle education, not knowing what was wrong with me, getting into trouble all the time, and disappointing my mother. She still doesn't know."
"I didn't realize that things were so backwards in the States," Fred replied. "They used to be giving us a run for our money."
"That all changed when the Fundamentalists started taking over the scene. They are dominating politics, education, and all public discourse. People who have skills, whether scientific, artistic or magical, are marginalized, if they don't toe the politically correct line, no matter how idiotic it may be. There's talk of civil war, even, among the most hot-blooded. Public civility is breaking down."
"So, what will you do, John?" George asked.
"Finish my degree and get the hell out of the States. Find a job here, meet a nice witch, settle down and work for the eventual overthrow of the Cabal that's destroying my native land." John sighed. "Speaking of nice witches, what's with my cousin Hermione Granger?"
"She's Snape's teaching assistant, and working on the new Muggles' Studies program," said George. "Are you kissing cousins, Yank?"
"I wish," replied John.
"Well, she's available, by all reports. Not one to socialize, our Hermione. Our little brother Ron has given her up as hopeless," Fred snickered. "Actually, I think Hermione considers Ron hopeless. Or maybe Snape's snarky ways are rubbing off on her."
Just then Harry Potter dived for the Snitch and caught it. "Yea, Harry!" the cry rose from the stands.
"Well, Harry did it again, Twin," said George. "Took him all of 20 minutes."
"Yes, but he didn't fall off his broom this time," said Fred. "It's just not the same."
*********************************************************
Dinner was loud and festive. The Great Hall was filled to bursting, in spite of the charms to enlarge the available space. Parents divided among their old Houses, pre-school-aged children were accommodated in separate rooms with House Elves in attendance. Severus Snape sat on Dumbledore's right; Rose sat on McGonagall's left. Albus Dumbledore gave an after dinner welcoming speech, Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley spoke about the Muggle outreach program, and the newly-weds cut a huge wedding cake. Dancing followed, with bride and groom opening the first dance with a waltz. The floor was soon crowded with couples, and as Severus had predicted, wizards were cutting in right and left to dance with Rose. Her son John was the first. Severus gave him an inquiring look; John gave a slight nod. So, he was finally going to tell his mother. Severus took a turn dancing with his stepdaughter Sarah, who just glowed from the attention. Hermione cut in, and Hagrid took Sarah off in a whirl.
"Professor, John Mallorn is a wizard," Hermione began.
"Yes, I know," Severus Snape replied. "He will be looking for employment in Britain after he graduates in June."
"Does Rose know?" Hermione was quivering with indignation.
"I expect he is telling her right now," he replied. They had reached the edge of the dancing floor, so they stopped and turned to look for Rose and her son. "Your hairstyling skills are much admired, Hermione. Did you really need to use eight spells to achieve that effect?"
Hermione was staring intently at Rose and her son dancing. "Hmm? I only used five spells: Color, Snarl Tamer, Curl, Body, and the Lover's Knot."
"Strange. I counted eight separate spells when Rose asked for help taking her hair down," Severus mused.
"Well, the last three aren't mine. Maybe her son put some spells on her," Hermione spoke with a bitterness that caused Professor Snape to stare at her.
"I don't think so, his magical training didn't start until college," he replied. "They haven't seen each other long enough for anything like that to happen. John would not be one to cast spells without permission, in any event."
Harry Potter came up and asked Hermione if he could have the pleasure. She went off with him, and appeared to be giving him a piece of her mind. Severus admired Harry's courage, and was grateful to him. Hermione was at the boiling point; although for the life of him, Severus couldn't fathom why.
"This party is a complete success, Severus," Albus Dumbledore had appeared at Snape's elbow. "Everyone is happy."
"Except for Hermione," replied Snape. "Headmaster, Rose has eight spells cast upon her. Hermione accounts for five Grooming spells, but the other three."
"We must find out what they are, before you leave," Albus had completely lost his twinkle. "Tonight, Severus. I will ask Professor Flitwick and Bill Weasley to lend their expertise. A blocking curse would explain a great deal about our mysterious Rose. Three unknown spells are three too many for a Muggle, let alone a Magical." Albus gazed unfocussed on the glittering crowd on the dance floor. "Perhaps Sarah and John should be examined, as well."
Severus felt a trickle of alarm and anger. He wasn't up-to-date on conditions in the States, but he had heard some of the rumors. Dark wizardry could be sweeping the Colonies unnoticed. Because of the great distances and the number of people there, five times that in Great Britain, people wouldn't necessarily notice until the problem grew out of control. Magical society in the United States was decentralized to the point of anarchy; the absence of primary education alone pointed out the deficiencies of the government there.
"Round up your family at 10 and bring them to my office. I will alert Bill and Filius." With a swish of his star-studded robes, Albus was gone.