Chapter 21- Understanding
"Hey guys, Twerp brought freshly baked cookies, They smell wonderfull. Thanks." Fred said as both he and George reached out and hooked a couple cookies each. "So what is the verdict Twerp?"
"Do we get to make potions and."
"Are the Three ickle kiddies going to learn how?"
" To block each other out or what?"
"The lessons are on, but we can't start mixing the potions for Madame Pomfrey till tomorrow, your mom said supper is going to be in an hour." explained Severus who let the twins take the plate full of cookies as he settled himself down onto a comfortable chair, and everyone started munching out on Molly's cookies.
"Great." Hermione said with a large cheerful grin spreading across her face. "This is going to be fun!"
"Only you would think lessons are fun Hermione," said Ginny jokingly. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and smirked.
Harry looked a little leery about the whole idea of learning Occlumency with his two best friends. Hermione noticed Harry's look and said, "Honest Harry, it will be fun learning Occlumency together, and we can even practice with each other."
Ron shrugged his shoulders as he wondered a little as to what he had gotten himself into and said "Sure look at it this way, we get to share the experience and the headaches that come with it."
"Thanks I think, but I honestly thought you would object Ron, You always hated to think of anything even resembling schoolwork during the holidays."
"But our summer is all ready messed up Harry, we can't play quidditch since we are stuck here, and we have played all the indoor games we could imagine, I guess you might say I have become desperate for something new to do." Ron explained. His freckled nose wrinkled and his eyes widened in wonder as he realized what he had said. "And I am even willing to take lessons from Twerp? I am desperate!" Ron exclaimed as he smacked his forehead with his hand in mock anguish.
"You boys can be so impossible!" Hermione snapped. "You know you are wasting time."
"Oh Hermione don't worry, you will soon have your mind invaded." Harry waved his hand under her nose. "Maybe then you will change your mind about Occlumency."
After a few more gentle insults and teasing among themselves, they got themselves ready for the first lessons together. Severus found Hermione had already read up on Legilimency and Occlumency, which didn't surprise
him at all. He remembered what he was told about his calling her "the insufferable know-it-all when he was an adult.
Severus and Hermoine stood facing each other. "Empty your mind of emotion!" ordered Severus who gave her barely 30 seconds before he struck her with his Legilimency.
Hermione saw images of her past fly by in her mind and with a wrench she managed to shove Severus out of her mind.
"Hermione whose robes were you setting fire too?" asked Severus who had a glimpse of her as an eleven year old.
Hermione blushed to the roots of her hair as she explained, "That was you when I thought you were trying to kill Harry back in our first year."
"Nice, you must tell me the story behind your actions sometime." Severus commented dryly.
"You want me to try again?" asked Hermione as she glanced over at the twins who were sitting back watching them with exaggerated interest.
"I believe that is why we are here, you to learn and me to teach." Severus said calmly "One more time and then Ron can try." Severus grinned and "On the count of three...one...two...three."
Hermione concentrated but Severus as still able to edge his way into her mind. It was a little harder than she thought it would be, but Hermione was determined to conquer the ability.
"Not bad Hermione but you need to focus a little more, clear your mind and let go of your emotions. Ron you are next."
Ron moved into position a little warily and tried to remember the instructions that Severus had given Hermione and hoped that Severus wouldn't access any embarrassing moments."
"All right Ron clear your mind and just as I said to Hermione, one...two ...three." Ron felt his mind explode with images of his brothers changing his bear into a spider and that awful set of dress robes he wore to the Yule Ball last year.
Severus watched a few more images before Ron finally pushed him out. "Hmmm,' looks like you will need to work a little harder but you did all right for a first try. Those robes were horrible, a Halloween party get-up?"
"No." sighed Ron "Dress robes."
Severus's eyebrows shot up "Er, okay, want to try another round?"
"Thanks, that felt like my head was being torn off my neck but otherwise I guess I could handle trying it again," said Ron who felt like a good dose of headache potion would be in order after the lesson.
"You wish to try again Ron?" asked an astounded Harry.
"Yeah I may as well, hopefully it will get easier." answered Ron who figured he may as well try if only to encourage Harry to keep at it.
Meanwhile down in the kitchen, Arthur came in with Bill his eldest son who had an extended vacation from working for Gringots in Egypt. He was a tall man with long red hair tied back neatly at the nape of his neck. Molly was thrilled to see her first born coming in and gave him a very tight hug before he could sit down.
"Hi mom, I guess you missed me a little." Bill quipped as he hugged her back. "So what is this I heard from Percy and Dad that Professor Snape is living with our family?" questioned Bill.
"That's right, he is and he is currently upstairs giving Occlumency lessons to Harry, Ron and Hermione, and tomorrow he is going to be making medi-potions for Madame Pomfrey with the help of George, Fred and Hermione."
"Okay, you are saying my brothers are helping to make medi-potions with Snape... willingly?" asked an astonished Bill, "and Ron is actually wanting to learn Occlumency... during the holidays at that?"
"Yes I believe that is what I have said." Molly told him "I just hope it won't be too much for Severus to handle, after all he is only eight years old."
Bill slapped the side of his head, "Excuse me mom I think my hearing is going."
Exasperated Molly told him, "No your hearing is fine, thanks to your brothers and one of their brilliant gags he is now a child and I hope you will not hurt him."
"I won't mom, If you ask me not to, anyway if he is an eight year old child I wouldn't want to harm him, I don't like bullying little children." promised Bill "I just thought I heard you say the twins and Ron were actually doing something productive this summer."
Molly shook her head, as her son was trying to clean his ear out with an exaggerated oversize cotton swab. "Funny Bill, you heard right the boys are helping Severus with making the medi-potions and Ron is learning Occlumency with Hermione and Harry. Severus thought Harry would be more anxious to learn if his friends were learning with him."
"Now I know my hearing is defective." quipped Bill who dodged a swat from his mother." Oh no now my eyes are defective he said as he witnessed a small version of Severus Snape walking in with the twins, Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.
"BILL, when did you get here?" Ginny asked as she hurried over and hugged him.
"Yeah man, we didn't know you were coming," said George and Fred together.
"I thought my visit would be much more interesting if it was a surprise, but I see you guys also have a surprise." Bill replied as he gazed with amazement at Severus who had developed a look that clearly said "What, another person who knew me?"
"You seem to have lost a little wieght Professor." said Bill jokingly to the small boy. "I could have swore you were a litle taller too."
Severus felt a little shy and awkward but then Percy picked him up and held him on his lap.
"Twerp this is my big brother Bill." Bill looked with amazement at Percy, who was considered by his brother to be a very ambitious, self-involved, condescending git. He was being gentle and friendly...to Snape, not only that he was calling him by a nickname and the little fellow wasn't objecting! Bill rubbed his chin as he sat there thinking.
Severus said "Hello." to Bill after studying him cautiously for a few seconds. Bill was full of questions but decided to treat Snape like any other child. "Hello yourself." he said to Severus who was set down onto the chair between Percy and George, who ruffled his hair affectionately then tickled him a little. Molly raised her voice a tiny bit louder than normal and told George to settle down, she didn't want him to start roughhousing at the table. The fact that his mother did not roar like she normally would startled Bill also. He definitely wanted to know what was happening with his family.
Mad-eye and Tonks were staying for supper also and the supper was soon laid out on the table. The conversation was varied as they talked over their plans for the remainder of the summer and lastly near the end of a very fine meal, the more serious events concerning the family. Arthur was tired from having to participate in four raids that day. Percy was worried as to the subtle pressure being put on him by the Minister of Magic to consider the job offer. He had talked with his dad about the offer and both of them were suspicious that Fudge's 'friendly' relationship with Malfoy had a lot to do with the offer. Mad-eye Moody had a very concerned look on his face as he considered the options and considered it to be a piece of subterfuge on the part of Fudge. "Your family are known as blood-traitors by Malfoy and if your suspicions are correct Arthur, it could be that Fudge wants Percy to spy on his own family due to the kind of friends you have."
Mad-eye had a frown as he thought some more and weighed the facts that were put before him. "Percy, if you take the job Fudge may try to fill your mind with some very disagreeable ideas, he knows you as an ambitious man and probably thinks you would turn against your family if it meant you could be high up in the Ministry,"
Percy thought over what Mad-eye said and then said "Up to recently I did have a desire to make it big in the ministry, I admit that. I have heard much said, in my presence by the Minister about my family being mixed up with a dangerous crowd."
Mad-eye snorted and Molly looked bewildered as Arthur confirmed what Percy said. "The Minister considers anybody who is friendly with Dumbledore and Harry as suspicious. If you have read the Daily Prophet and I don't mean skimming just the front page Harry. There have been some unpleasant remarks made because of the claims made by Dumbledore and Harry that Voldemort is alive." Arthur looked at Harry with concern "You will find there are those who think you are lying or mentally unhinged because of what has been printed in the Prophet but please remember you do have those of us who know and believe in you.
Harry looked perturbed but nodded to show he understood the problems he was facing.
Mad-eye looked back at Percy and indicated to him that he would like to hear what had changed Percy's goal in life.
Percy took a deep breath, looked down at Severus who was drinking his juice and continued, "I admit I was starting to question my upbringing and was on the verge of leaving. I was amazed when I first saw Mom and Dad bring Severus to the burrow and I was curious then concerned as time went on. I learned of his past and witnessed how he slowly responded to my parents and family. I started to rethink my own values and found I was the one to come up short." Percy reached over and hugged him. "I began to believe once again in the beliefs and values that were taught to us by Mom and Dad." Percy paused as he thought over what he had said, "Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
Bill grinned and looking at his younger brother said, "It is one thing to question oneself and the way one is raised, it is part of growing up. In deciding to throw away your doubts and uphold those beliefs, you have become stronger and I for one am proud to call you my brother."
Molly's eyes filled with tears as she exclaimed. "You would have left us, but changed your mind because of the way we looked after Severus!" she wiped the tears away with the cuff of her robe, "It never occurred to me that you were starting to question our values Percy."
"Yes mom, I did for a while, but I don't now." Percy admitted.
Sirius looked thoughtful and glanced over at Severus who was listening to the conversation around him and obviously thinking about what was being said.
Severus was walking through the drawing room not really paying attention to who was there or where he was going. He was thinking over what Percy had said at supper, and about the Occlumency lessons that he was giving to Harry, Hermione and Ron. He was pleased with how the first set of lessons had gone and hoped that this new lesson strategy would make Harry more receptive to learning his Occlumency lessons.
Severus did not notice that Sirius was walking through the drawing room on his way upstairs to feed Buckbeak till he looked up at the same time as Sirius saw him and tripped over his feet trying to get out of the larger mans way, He felt himself falling as he stumbled and lurched backwards.
"Snape watch out, your going to..." yelled Sirius as Severus fell back against an old cabinet which teetered and crashed down to the floor before Sirius could reach him. Severus stared at him and shrank back. He was feeling a little fuzzy and his head hurt a little.
The noise brought everyone running. Harry saw Severus on the ground along with the broken cabinet and sprinted over to where the little boy was looking very dazed. Harry skidded onto his knees and reached over to Severus who jerked back thinking it was Sirius who had come near. "Severus its okay It's just me, Harry. Let me check you for injuries." he said soothingly. Severus relaxed a little as Harry talked to him.
The twins came racing down the stairs and were also upset when they saw the scene.
"What the heck did you do to him this time Sirius?" "Why can't you leave him alone?"
"We thought you two were starting to get along."
Tonks came running to the scene and said to Sirius "You really do have it in for him don't you?" She gave him a glare that would have made the elder Snape proud.
Sirius didn't move, he was pinching the top of his nose as if he had a sinus headache, which he expected to have shortly. He knew no one would believe him if he denied doing anything.
Mad-eye grunted as he limped into the room with Molly, Bill and Percy close behind him, his magical eye swung around noting Harry carefully picking Severus up out of the debris and Hermione repairing the cabinet with a wave of her wand The twins were close by the scene with identical worried faces..
Molly was all ready to go after Sirius when she saw the man standing there and Severus on the ground.
"SIRIUS." Molly roared and moved towards him. Bill and Percy prevented her from making a scene by grabbing her and holding her back.
Severus looked dazed a little but seemed unharmed otherwise. He spoke quietly as he expected to be severely rebuked, "Sorry Harry my feet didn't want to go where I wanted them to."
Harry smirked, as he felt relieved that Severus was not attacked. "You tripped?"
Severus nodded and said softly as he glanced back at where Sirius was standing "I was thinking about the Occlumency lessons and I didn't look where I was going."
"That isn't like you Severus." Percy commented. "But I am happy to know you are okay.".
Molly knelt beside Harry and Severus then reached out, took Severus from Harry and smothered the little fellow in hugs and kisses which he objected to just a little since there were so many people around. Molly looked up at Sirius and apologized for thinking he had tried to harm Severus this time.
Sirius bent his head and rubbed the toe of his shoe against the carpet as he stood there and said, "It's all right Molly, I understand. I haven't given anybody any reason to believe that I wouldn't harm him."
Molly studied the tall thin rough looking man carefully, "This is your chance to prove to us that you won't harm him." she said firmly as she held Severus and Harry 's nodded his head and encouraged Sirius to try and communicate with Severus.
Sirius knelt down and reached out to touch the boy's cheek. He noticed a tremor go through the little body as if he expected to be struck. No one moved as they watched to see how Severus would react to being touched by Sirius. His eyes widened as he stiffened slightly. Sirius lowered his hand, pulled back a little and waited.
Molly and Harry looked at each other over Severus's head and leaning closer to Severus's ear, Harry whispered softly, "I think he wants to say he is sorry for scaring you Severus."
Severus reaction was to look nervously up at Sirius and study the man's face. He wondered if he should trust this man or not.
His face showed his uncertainty as he got to his feet and moved a little closer to where Sirius was still kneeling.
He didn't notice the others watching them or hear the slow intake of each person's breath as he put his tiny hands on each of Sirius's shoulders and looked squarely into Sirius's eyes.
They saw Sirius's eyes widen as the little boy touched him, yet he did not move a muscle. His brain was in agony as he felt the little boy probing his mind. Severus said nothing as their eyes locked together. It was a very long minute before Severus nodded and a tiny smile flitted across his face. Sirius relaxed and slowly put his arms around the little boy and hugged him.