Disclaimer: The usual disclaimers apply.
A/N: I'd liked to thank all my reviewers for taking the time to review and offer constructive criticism! You all rock!
Chapter 26
Severus, Lily, Eileen, and Robert got up early the next morning. Eileen made breakfast and after that Robert flooed to St. Mungo's.
"Mum, do you remember what kind of place this Dragon's Tale is?" He was picturing something like the Hog's Head.
"I remember it as being a small inn, rather like the Three Broomsticks, but a little more upscale. Of course that was eighteen years ago so it may have changed in all that time."
"I guess we'll find out shortly," Severus said as they stepped into the fireplace and Eileen said, "The Dragon's Tale," and tossed down the floo powder. After a dizzying amount of fireplaces flashed past them they finally came to a halt. Severus stepped out of the fireplace and Lily and Eileen stepped out after him.
The owner, a portly white-haired gentleman, came bustling in, wiping his hands on a cloth. "Welcome to the Dragon's Tail …" His eyes widened as they fell on Eileen. "Miss Prince, it's been years since I've seen you here."
"It's Mrs. Snape now, George," Eileen said and smiled sadly. "You probably heard that my father disowned me when I broke my betrothal so I had no reason to come back here."
"Yes. It was quite the gossip round here back then. I frankly thought a lot less of your father for his action, too."
"Thank you, George for saying that." She turned back to Severus and Lily. "Sev, Lily, this is George Abercrombie, owner of the Dragon's Tale. George, this is my son, Severus Snape and my daughter-in-law, Lily."
"Pleasure to meet you," George replied nodding. He shook his head. "I did hear your father had passed through the Veil two years ago, but we'd heard nothing since."
"Well, my son just received notification from Gringotts yesterday that he's the inheritor so we're going out to the manor now."
They could hear chatter coming from the dining area and George said, "I must get back to my guests. It will be wonderful to see Princes coming through the Dragon's Tale again." He waved at them and hurried through a door which revealed a glimpse of a kitchen.
"Mum, why don't you apparate me first while Lily waits here." Eileen nodded then she and Severus went out the front door and Lily heard the faint crack of them apparating.
Severus actually didn't like apparating. It was uncomfortable feeling as if you were being shoved through a too small tube. He opened his eyes and found himself in front of an ornate gate and he could see a large mansion beyond that. He scanned the gate, immediately spotting where the pendant would fit.
"Sev, I'm going back to get Lily," Eileen said.
"Severus nodded. "Okay Mum." He took out the pendant from beneath his jumper and put it carefully in an oval shaped hollow on the face of the gate. There was a click and the gates swung open. A crack behind him announced his mum and Lily had arrived. Lily looked a little green so Eileen quickly gave her an anti-nausea potion she'd brought with her.
"Sev," Lily said looking around her in confusion. "Why are we standing in the middle of moorland?"
"We aren't, Lily, we're actually standing in front of the gate to Witches Moon." He took her hand. "Come on. I have to walk you through." He walked her through the wards and Lily gasped in awe as she saw the manor. She grasped hold of his arm. "Sev, it's huge!"
Severus looked over the manor house. It was made of what looked like grey, quarried stone. It had two wings that had been built in the same style as the main house and with the same material. It meshed nicely architecturally and aesthetically without being ostentatious like the Malfoy and Potters mansions. It had many windows and he didn't even want to take a guess at how many rooms it must have. They walked up to the front entrance and Severus looked for some way to open the door.
"You have to use the pendant again, Sev," Eileen said.
Severus chuckled. "Oh yeah, I see it now. Good thing you told me, Mum, or we'd been standing out here all day." He put the pendant into the oval shaped hollow in the door and one click later it opened. Severus stuck his head in and called, "Hello?"
There was a sudden pop and a house elf appeared. When she saw Eileen she gave a scream of joy and firmly attached herself to Eileen's leg. "Miss Eileen, Tita is so glad to see you. She has missed you since your leaving!"
"I missed you, too, Tita." She gently detached the little elf from her leg. "Tita, I'd like you to meet my son, Severus who's the new master of Prince Manor and this is his wife, Lily who's the new mistress."
Tita gave each of them a deep curtsey. "I is Tita. I and the other elves is serving you happily, Master Severus and Mistress Lily."
Severus knew house elves were uncomfortable without formality of some sort, but master was a bit much for his taste as was the curtsying. "Tita, please call me Mr. Severus and my wife can be addressed as Mrs. Lily and you needn't curtsy. We're not royalty."
"I hears and obeys, Mr. Severus," Tita replied. "Does I have your consent to tell all the elves what you has says, Mr. Severus?"
"Please do, Tita, and thank you." He watched as Tita disappeared with a pop then said to his mum. "Did grandfather really insist the elves call him master and curtsy to him for Merlin's sake?"
"Your grandfather was very strict and old-fashioned, Sev. He treated the elves very well though."
"I guess," Severus muttered. He looked around him. They were in a large entry hall and from here he could the main staircase which he assumed accessed the east and west wings of the manor. He saw a pair of double doors and went over to them.
"That's the library, Sev," Eileen said. She sighed. "I used to spend a great deal of time there."
He opened the door. "Mum, it's huge. It looks almost as big as Hogwarts library." He stepped inside for a closer look with Eileen and Lily following him. They were suddenly interrupted by an imperious voice. "Hello, Eileen."
Severus looked up quickly and saw two portraits above the fireplace in the library. They were obviously his grandparents. He discovered for the first time where he'd gotten his dark hair and eyes. His grandfather had the very same traits. They must have had the portraits done when they were in their forties somewhere. He knew the portraits were magically imbued with the personalities of his grandparents.
"Hello, Father and Mother," Eileen replied politely.
"And this must be Severus. He has the looks of the Princes', Eileen."
"Yes he does, Father." She turned to Lily. "Severus, Lily, these are my parents, Tiberius Maximilian Prince and Audra Isabella Prince. Father, Mother, this is my son, Severus Tiberius Snape and his wife, Lily Elizabeth Snape."
Tiberius turned his attention back to Severus. "How old are you, Severus? You look a bit young to be married."
Severus straightened and lifted his chin. "I'll be seventeen on January 9th and Lily will be seventeen on the 30th. We're both in our sixth year at Hogwarts, sir."
"Is there a specific reason why you chose to marry so early?"
Severus stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "I love Lily and she loves me. Normally we would have gotten married after we graduated next year, but I have a rival in Lily's house …"
"You're not in the same houses?" Tiberius asked.
Severus sighed. He hoped their being in different houses was not going to be an issue. "No sir, Lily's in Gryffindor and I'm in Slytherin, sir." Severus clarified for him. "I have a rival for Lily and he's obsessed with her. He even had his father offer Lily's father a thousand Galleons to betroth her to him. Lily's father turned him down, but her parents were afraid he or his son might try to do something illegal to force Lily into marrying him so we thought the best way to prevent that was for us to be married."
Tiberius smiled. "A true Slytherin would do no less. Who is this bounder that dares force his affections on your lady?"
"His name is James Potter and his father is Charles Potter."
"Potter … I know that name." He sniffed "They are nothing, but upstarts. The Potter family isn't even five hundred years-old."
Severus had to crush his urge to laugh especially when he thought about the way Potter strutted around as if he was the pureblood catch of the year. He didn't dare look at Lily because he knew she was probably doing the same as him and if he looked at her they'd both loose it and start laughing hysterically.
"What is your course of study at Hogwarts, Severus?"
"I'm taking NEWTs in Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Arithmacy, Ancient Runes, Charms, and Transfiguration. I plan to be a Potions Master and do research to discover new potions. I'm also considering becoming a Master Herbologist."
"Excellent," His grandfather said. "What about you, young lady?" He asked addressing Lily.
"I'm taking the same courses as Severus because I want to become a Pediatric Master Healer." Lily replied. She used Severus full name, suspecting that "Sev" would not go over well with his grandfather.
"An excellent ambition, Lily," Tiberius nodded sagely.
"Grandfather, as you know I have to put wards up around the manor and its grounds. Could you suggest the best way to do that? I want to get it done before I have to return to Hogwarts on the third."
While his grandfather instructed Severus on the wards, Lily entertained herself by browsing the library shelves. Potion and Herbology books dominated the shelves. She pulled copies of Moste Potente Potions and Magick Most Evil from the shelves. She knew these two were in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library. She glanced through them and nearly got nauseous and could readily see why they should be restricted.
Severus had apparently finished talking with his grandfather and was now visiting with his grandmother's portrait. Lily decided to go back over to Severus.
"You have a beautiful wife, Severus," Audra's portrait complimented Lily who blushed.
"I agree, Grandmother."
"You will have beautiful children, too." Audra said approvingly.
"They will be brilliant, too, my dear," Tiberius added.
Lily blushed again and Severus said hurriedly, "That's down the road a bit yet." He fervently hoped he wouldn't have them nagging him and Lily about heirs every time they visited.
"Of course, dear, you'll need to finish Hogwarts first." Audra said.
Severus excused himself saying he really needed to start setting up his wards and he would be back later to visit with them. He took Lily's arm and steered her out of the room. "Merlin's pants!" He muttered. "I certainly hope that isn't going to be the first question they ask whenever we visit after graduation."
Lily giggled. "It might be, Sev."
"Mum?" Severus called wondering where she had gone.
"In the conservatory, Sev, straight down the hall," Eileen called.
Severus and Lily walked down the hallway to a room at the end enclosed by double French doors. Through the glass in the doors, he could see all manner of plants. There was also comfortable looking wicker furniture scattered throughout the room and many windows. He opened the door for Lily and they walked in. The room was warm and smelled of the many different kinds of blooming plants. Severus imagined lazing about in this room reading or perhaps having a meal. He wondered around looking at the plants. "Mum, I'll bet there's plants here even Professor Sprout doesn't have in the greenhouses."
"I wouldn't doubt it, Sev. These plants come from all over the world," Eileen replied. She pointed at one. "This is a Tannis Populagoris and it comes from Russia. That one next to it is Venomous Kapultula from the same family as the Venomous Tentacula, but comes from South America."
"Wow! Professor Sprout would go nuts in here." Severus said. I should bring her some cutting from some of these plants especially since she was nice enough to give me that Amaryllis bulb for Rose."
He wandered over to the window and surveyed the huge backyard. Further down he could see a smaller house. It was a match to the main house with the grey-quarried stone architecture. "Mum, what that house down there?"
Eileen looked out the window. "That's the guest cottage, Sev."
"It's a guest cottage?" Severus asked bemused. "How many rooms does it have, Mum?"
"It has 22 rooms," Eileen replied.
"I can't believe this place." Severus swore shaking his head. He started back towards the front entrance. "I'd better get started on putting up my wards."
While Severus was doing that, Lily decided to explore the house. Going into both the east and west wings she discovered they were mirror images of each other. There were a lot of rooms and most of them seem to be suites. She supposed things were different in the days of the Kings or Queens progress; when they traveled with their entire court, a nobleman might need this many rooms to house them all and the guest cottage to contain the overflow.
Severus stopped work on the wards for a bite of lunch then went back to putting up the wards. He worked until it was almost dark and had gotten cold. When he finally came in he reckoned he might have a least half the manor and surrounding grounds warded. "From what I can tell there's a forest area that part of manor. I'd like to come back here in the summer and see what herbs and plants we might be able to find." Severus said enjoying the meal the elves had prepared. They had gone all out for the first meal of their new master and mistress. Fish and fowl, plus several kinds of vegetables, potatoes, and breads appeared on the table. He was hungry and ate some of everything. His grandparents had moved into their empty frames in the dining room.
"I was looking around the house, Sev, and it's huge!" Lily said. "Most of the rooms are suites and they're all beautifully furnished."
"Well, I guess we won't have any problems finding somewhere to sleep tonight," Severus joked.
After they finished supper Severus returned to the library to look at some of the Herbology books. He wanted to eventually be able to identify every plant that was in the conservatory. There were actually many of the same books the library at Hogwarts had, but also ones he had never seen before. Lily came into the library yawning. "What are you doing, Sev?"
"I'm just looking at these Herbology books. There's a lot the Hogwarts library doesn't even have."
"Sev, there's some other books in here that in the restricted section of the library." She pulled him over to another shelf and pulled down the two books she'd looked at earlier. "Like these two."
Severus leafed through Most Potente Potions. "Not all these are evil potions. I mean Polyjuice Potions are used by Aurors. Granted there's some gross stuff in here, but that doesn't necessarily mean its dark."
"I suppose not." She glanced through Magick Most Evile. "I guess this one basically tells you about the different kinds of dark magic, but isn't giving you instructions on how it's done, but it's still nauseating."
"Well, that's what many people refuse to understand. They think so simplistically. Evil is dark and good is white. They refuse to see that some of it might actually be grey."
"I never thought of it that way, Sev," Lily admitted.
"You can't fight against dark magic unless you have a through grounding on what it is and what it does. I mean Potion Masters and Healers have to be aware of what kinds of potions and spells Riddle is using before they can invent potions and spells to help. Sometimes that's going to mean having a close association with dark magic since you can't work in a vacuum."
"I guess sometimes I'm a bit naïve," Lily said ruefully.
"No. I don't think you're naïve. I think you just always want to see the best in people." He kissed the top of her head."
They said goodnight to Tiberius and Audra, left the library, and Severus called, "Tita?"
Tita appeared with a pop. "Yes, Mr. Severus, and Miss Lily?"
"Would you mind showing us to wherever we'll be sleeping tonight?"
"I is had the elves prepare the master suite for you and Mrs. Lily. If you follows Tita she will be happy to show you where you is sleeping."
"Where's mum sleeping tonight?"
"Miss Eileen decided to stay in her old room, Mr. Severus."
Severus nodded as he and Lily followed her to the west wing. She led them to a room with beautifully burnished double doors. "We is here."
"Thank you Tita for all the work you and the other elves have done for us today. You all did a great job."
Tita's ears flapped and she wiggled excitedly. "Thank you, Mr. Severus! We is happy you is pleased with our work." She gave him and a small bow then disappeared with a pop.
Severus opened the door and they walked in. Lily gasped as she looked around the sitting room. "Merlin's beard, Sev, I'll bet even Queen Elizabeth doesn't have a bedroom suite like this."
The suite was done in a light blue with honey oak woodwork and cornices. The fireplace mantle was also of elaborately carved honey oak. Most of the furniture was carved oak.
"Maybe we can do a tour of Buckingham Palace sometime and we can find out." Severus joked.
"You mean disillusion ourselves and have a real tour," Lily grinned in reply.
Severus nodded. "Sounds like fun to me." He opened the doors that led to the actual bedroom. "Lily, if you think this is large, come look at the bedroom."
Lily ducked under Severus' arm and peeked into the room. She giggled suddenly as she saw the heavy oak bed. "That bed looks big enough to sleep eight at least."
Severus looked around him. Like the sitting room the bedroom was painted a light blue with the same honey oak woodwork and cornices. He sat down on the big, Elizabethan style bed. "What I would have given to have a sanctuary like this when I was younger." He said somewhat bitterly. He looked up studying the elaborately carved canopy above him.
Lily sat down next him pulling him close to her and laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Sev, that nobody tried to rescue you and Eileen from the hellhole your childhood was."
Severus sighed. "I'm wondering why my grandparents never checked on my mum. I don't think she would have been that hard to find. Even though they disowned her I assume they didn't stop loving her."
"Maybe you should ask them when your mum isn't around."
"Maybe, but I don't want to upset mum and I suspect she would be because she probably doesn't want them to know her choice of a husband wasn't much better than their choice."
Lily didn't say anything, she just held him tighter. They remained like that for a few minutes than Severus said, "I suppose we should get to bed. I want to start on the wards again at first light."
Lily nodded and got up to undress. She wondered if there was a bathroom close by and pulled open the first door she saw. "Sev, come see this bathroom."
Severus walked over and looked over Lily's head. "This is almost as big as the Prefect's bathroom."
Lily giggled and suggested, "Maybe we should take a relaxing bath before we go to bed."
"Hmm …I am a bit sore from putting up those wards," Severus said smirking. "A hot bath may just be the ticket."
The next morning Severus awoke at first light. He had been jarred awake in the middle of the night when a memory had suddenly popped into his head. He recalled how Robert had told him even if he unable to see his attackers there might be others things he would eventually be able to recall such as something he might have heard or smelled. What he had remembered was one of his attacker's had smelled sweaty and rank as if either he were really excited by what he was doing or very scared. He knew that probably wouldn't help him in finding the ones responsible, but it meant that his memories of the incident were beginning to come back and something useful might eventually surface.
Severus, Lily, and Eileen had breakfast in the conservatory then Severus went outside to finish the warding.
Lily went to the library to browse to find something to read while Severus was occupied. As she walked in Tiberius opened his eyes. "Good morning, my dear."
"Good morning, Sir," She replied stepping in front of the fireplace.
"I've been wondering ever since Severus told me you were a Gryffindor; how did you meet? As I recall in my days at Hogwarts Gryffindors and Slytherins were quite competitive and never socialized with each other."
"Unfortunately, it's still that way. Sev lives three blocks from me. We've known each other since we were nine. In fact he's the one who first told me I was a witch." She laughed softly. "I got mad at him because I thought he was calling me a nasty name. I'm a Muggleborn, you see. He told me all about magic, Hogwarts and about the wizarding world." She paused then added, "I hope that doesn't matter to you and Mrs. Prince, Sir?"
Tiberius sighed. "No, it doesn't matter in the least, Lily. We've learned the hard way that blood status is unimportant compared to family. We made a bad mistake with Eileen and it cost us not only our child, but our grandson as well. You are most welcome to our family, Lily."
"Thank you. I'm glad that you feel that way, Sir."
"I'm glad my grandson chose such a smart wife."
Severus came in for lunch then went back to work, finishing finally when the light was beginning to fade. He said goodbye his grandparents and the elves, promising they'd be back at Easter. He waited outside the gate while him mum apparated with Lily to the Dragon's Tale then came back for him. They bade George farewell and flooed home. Severus was happy to be home.
He was tired and looking forward to sleeping in his own bed. He helped his mum prepare a light dinner while Lily sent Morgana off with a note letting her parents know they were back. Severus glanced out the front window and saw Tobias' car wasn't there anymore, but he didn't know whether that meant he was gone or just that his car had been towed. Eileen fire-called Robert and invited him for supper.
"Do you remember, Robert, saying even though I was unable to see my attackers I might remember something else; something I heard or smelled?"
Robert nodded. "You've remembered something, Sev?"
Severus nodded in return. "I woke up suddenly last night remembering that one of them smelled rank; he had a wet, sweaty smell as if what he was doing either excited him or he was really scared." Severus shook his head. "I don't think that's going to be any firm evidence against them though."
"But it does mean you're memory starting to come back."
"I wouldn't let anybody know that, Sev," Eileen cautioned worriedly. She shook her head. "It might panic Potter into doing something worse."
"Mum, I don't plan to let anybody know. Not even Professor Dumbledore."
"It was probably Pettigrew you smelled. He has the worst hygiene!" Lily exclaimed, wrinkling her nose. "I never could understand how Potter could taunt you about your non-existent hygiene problems and not notice how bad Pettigrew smelled."
"Well, I guess it's okay to stink as long as you're a Marauder," Severus replied caustically
Lily helped Eileen clean up after Robert had left. There was a tapping at the kitchen window and Eileen opened it so Morgana could fly in. She flew over to Lily with a note. Lily took the note from her and gave her a treat. She opened it. "It's from mum and dad. They didn't see Tobias anytime in the last two days so they called and had his car towed so he wouldn't have an excuse to come back here."
"That's good," Eileen breathed. "Pray Merlin, he went back to London or wherever he's been staying the last three years."
Lily went upstairs. Severus was stretched out on the bed reading Moste Ancient Potions. She lay down beside him with her head on his chest. He shifted his body to accommodate her. "What are you reading, Sev?"
"This is interesting, Lily. Do you know that Merlin believed that squibs have a magical core, but they aren't able to access it?" He put the book down. "I think most of the wizarding population now believes that squibs are born with no magic, but suppose it's really like Merlin believed? Suppose somebody could discover a potion that gave them access their magical cores?"
"The children could probably go to Hogwarts like any other magical child. Are you thinking of researching this, Sev?" Lily asked.
"I have to admit the idea has me excited," Severus replied. "I suppose it would cause some controversy, too, with the people who believe that things should never change, or people don't have the right to change."
Lily wrinkled her nose. "You mean Purebloods like the Malfoy's?"
"I expect some in the Ministry would be upset, too, such as that Umbridge woman."
Lily buried her face in Severus' chest. "I think, Sev, you should do it because it's the right thing to do no matter who has a problem with it."
Riddle would probably have a big problem with it, too, Severus thought. If he wasn't already at the top of his hit parade for refusing to join his club he probably would be if he discovered a potion to help Squibs.