A Letter, An Auror and A Potion
"Are you sure it's gone?" Severus asked.
"Yes, I'm sure." Siri answered.
"Do you need something for the pain?" His father pressed.
"No, I'm fine, really." Siri insisted.
Severus stood regarding his son carefully, looking for any hint of pain. Seeing none, he nodded and said, "I'm done here for now." He swept his hand toward the desk. "What would you like to do this evening?"
"Read Mum's letters." Siri answered quietly as they stepped out onto the side patio.
"You brought them with you?" Severus asked in surprise.
"No." Siri answered as he raised his arm. "Accio Mum's letters." He waited, arm outstretched. Soon, Severus could hear it. Years of practice waiting and listening allowed him to detect the subtle sound through the normal noises floating on the night air. Shortly after, the bundle of letters, still bound in the green ribbon, was clutched in Siri's hands.
"Impressive." Severus remarked sardonically, his smirk in place.
"Why, thank you." Siri deadpanned as he took a seat in one of the chairs placed around a table.
Severus free-spelled several candles to the table and provided enough light to read by. "Would you prefer to just read them and I'll answer any questions?" Severus asked gently.
"That might be best." Siri admitted.
"Okay. I rearranged them in chronological order for you. I thought that might be better." Severus offered.
"Thank you." Siri told him as he pulled the ribbon loose and took the first letter from the stack. He quietly read the letter and then read it again. He smiled. "She was happy I was tiny, huh?" He marveled.
"Yes, she always told me that she was thrilled you were so small. She loved to just snuggle you up close." Severus told him. Siri could only nod. He was not sure he could speak even if he could find the words. He read through several more letters before exclaiming, "I remember this!"
"What's that?" Severus asked curiously.
"I remember that I had different names for you and James!" He said excitedly. "But they both meant the same thing, that they both were names for 'father'.
"Yes, you did." Severus agreed.
"James was 'Pop-pop'!" He stated happily. "And you were 'Da'!"
"That's right, Siri." Severus smiled. "I'm amazed that you'd remember it."
"I remember because of a nightmare I had." Siri confessed quietly. "The one I had after I read Mum's last letter."
"I see." Severus acknowledged somberly. Siri went back to reading. Before too long, he was chuckling softly.
"What is it?" Severus asked, smiling at the look of delight on his son's face.
"Hide and Seek." Siri explained.
"Oh yes!" Severus smiled. "I remember that letter."
"Mum must have written it after you visited us." Siri said.
"She did." Severus began. "I had been given a rare opportunity to spend two days with you. It was wonderful. You must have been about six months old. You were crawling already. You seemed to be in such a hurry to learn each new skill and reach each new milestone. We had spent a surprisingly long time playing that game. It had started with me using your favorite blanket to hide behind. After only a few times, you had it all figured out. Being who I am, of course, I had to challenge you. I hid behind furniture, the draperies, under beds, in closets, you name it. You found me Every. Single. Time! It was one of the happiest days of my life. Your mother wrote that letter to tell me that you were looking for me everywhere after that." He concluded, sadness registering in his eyes.
"I wish I could remember it." Siri acknowledged.
"I guess James and Sirius kept up the game for me." Severus told him.
"I don't really remember." Siri shrugged.
"I didn't bring this up during the trial, but I have something to tell you now." Severus spoke softly.
"What?" Siri asked.
"You were much younger than three years old when your magic appeared." Severus revealed.
"I was?" Siri said with awe in his voice.
"Oh yes." Severus smiled. "The first time you showed your potential was when you were only three months old. You shocked your mother down to her toes!" He laughed.
"What did I do?" Siri hung on his every word.
"Evidently it was during bath time. She thought she had all she needed for your bath. She already had you in the water when she realized that she didn't have your shampoo. Evidently she commented on it out loud and the next thing she knew, the bottle floated through the air toward her!" Severus related the incident.
"Wow!" Siri exclaimed.
"There's more." Severus added. "She forgot your ducky too and it soon followed!"
"Oh God, you're not telling me I had a rubber ducky, are you?" Siri grimaced.
"Not just any rubber ducky, this one was special." Severus grinned at the look on his son's face. "It was charmed to detect if the water temperature was too hot or too cold."
"Cool!" Siri acknowledged. He picked up the next to the last letter from the stack and began to read once more.
'My darling Sev,
What was I thinking? We have few precious moments to spend together and what do I do? I ruin it by fighting with you. By making unreasonable and selfish demands! I am so sorry, Sev! I wish I could take it all back. I'm such a fool! How could I accuse you of enjoying what you do? I was so cruel and I hurt you terribly. I know I did. Can you forgive me, Sev? I didn't mean any of it.
When I told you to leave, I surely hadn't expected you to quietly turn and walk away. I wanted you to fight back. I wanted you to make me feel I was more important than Dumbledore and his 'cause'. I wanted you to turn your back on all of that and come home to Siri and me. I truly thought that you would, if I delivered my ultimatum. I raged at you as you walked away and your steps never once faltered. I thought, "My God! I've lost him!" Have I, Sev? Did I drive you away from us forever? I'm so sorry! Please come back, if only to reassure us that you will?
I love you, Sev. I'm terrified by what you do. This thin line between worlds that you walk, scares me to death. I need you here and I hate waiting. How long Sev? How long do Siri and I wait? What if he forgets? He's just a baby! He misses you just as much as I do, maybe even more! He constantly looks for his 'Da'! It is so sad to watch him! What if something happens to you? How do I tell him? What do I tell him?
He sits here, in my lap, happily poking his fingers in the splashes from my tears. He doesn't understand and lately I don't either! When will it end? Will you ever come home? I miss you. I'm sorry. I didn't want to drive you away. I wanted to pull you home.
I love you, Sev. Please come back home?
Lily'
Siri slowly folded the page and slipped it back in the envelope. He gently placed it on the table in front of himself. It was an extremely pain-filled letter. He thought about it for several long moments.
Severus knew very well which letter it was. He knew the first question his son would ask before Siri even knew himself. Severus closed his eyes and waited, holding his breath in anticipation.
"Did you go back?" Siri asked, barely above a whisper.
"No." He exhaled the word.
"I see." Siri said shortly, his expression closed, his eyes lowered to hide their anger and hurt.
"Not because I didn't want to, Siri!" Severus rushed to assure him. "I never got the chance!"
"It was nearly two weeks before she was killed!" Siri shouted, unable to hide his anger any longer. "You're telling me that you couldn't find a few minutes to spare for her and me?"
"Siri…" Severus began.
"Did you enjoy it?" Siri asked, his voice deadly.
"Did you enjoy what you were doing for Dumbledore so much that you would rather do that than be with Mum and me?" He raged.
"Or did you enjoy helping HIM?" Siri spat venomously.
"No! I didn't!" Severus shouted back at him. "I hated every goddamn minute I was away! I hated it when I could only steal a few hours with you and your mother. I hated your tears as I left. I hated the echoes in my head of your sad little voice calling to me! I hated to see your mother try to put up a cheerful front for you, trying to soothe your fears, while trying to keep her own fears at bay. I hated Every. Single. Day. I had to spend away from you! Hated it! But I did it, Siri. I stuck with it. Why? Because it was the right choice to make. I knew it. Your mother knew it. You know it." He added quietly, his anger spent.
"I loved you and your mother more than my life. I did what I had to do to make our world better for all of us. I thought you of all people would understand that. I guess I was wrong." He said sadly and walked away.
Siri sat there in the gathering darkness. He absent-mindedly stacked the letters and re-tied the bundle. He squared the stack before him with slightly shaking fingers. He thought of his mother and how terrified she sounded in her letter. He thought of his father and how he imagined things were for him.
'He couldn't spare even an hour?' Siri thought painfully. 'Why?' He rose and made his way across the grounds to the cliffside. The wind had died down, but the surf still crashed against the rocks. Siri stepped closer to the edge and watched as wave after wave bashed against the solid wall of the cliffs and broke over the jagged rocks far below his feet. What slight breeze there was blew his hair in his face and tugged gently at his cloak. He didn't understand any of it 'How could he stay away after her letter?' He sank to his knees. Tears stung his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He knelt there at the precipice until long after dark.
When darkness fell and Siri hadn't returned to the manor, Severus became a little alarmed. He didn't like the thought of Siri out on the grounds after dark with the cliffs so near. Taking a lantern from a supply closet, he headed out to the side gardens where he had left Siri hours before. Lily's letters were neatly tied and sitting on the table. Siri's chair was upturned as if he had leapt to his feet and sent it flying from the force. But there was no sign of his son.
"Damn it!" Severus growled. "Bloody fool! Wandering the grounds in the dark. He really must have a death wish!" He set off toward the cliffs. As the lantern lit his way, he saw Siri ahead. He stood behind him and silently watched. Siri sat staring out over the water at the total blackness. There was no moon in the sky and the stars were a feeble light at best.
"Siri." Severus spoke gently. "I'm sorry I didn't try harder to come back."
"Why couldn't you? Come back, I mean." Siri asked barely above a whisper.
"I was in a Death Eater camp again. I couldn't break away because I was needed by Voldemort for this particular mission." He told him quietly.
"What did you have to do?" Siri whispered.
"I had to organize the raid on Godric's Hollow." Severus told him just as softly as he sat by his side.
"You had to organize our deaths?" Siri asked.
"No. I had to organize the raids that were a diversion to what Voldemort planned to do." Severus explained. "Voldemort didn't want any of us near James' home. He was determined to do this alone."
"I see." Siri said, quietly. "So, you knew Peter was going to betray us?"
"No." Severus said. "I truly thought Sirius was the Secret Keeper. I had thought he was the one to betray you. I had no idea of the truth. If I had known, maybe things would have turned out differently."
"Of course they would have!" Siri burst out. "Sirius would never have betrayed us!"
"No, he wouldn't have." Severus agreed. "But then, he'd be dead right now. I'm sure of it." The two of them sat in silence for a while longer.
"Dad?" Siri said softly.
"Hmm?" Severus acknowledged.
"I forgive you." He said simply. Severus merely nodded. He felt he didn't deserve it. They made their way to their respective rooms after bidding each other a somewhat stiff goodnight.
Siri lay on his bed for hours afterward, just staring through the gauzy netting that was draped over the canopy of his bed. It kept irritating insects out while allowing the cool night air to filter in. He was angry once again. He had just begun to think he understood his father. He had certainly thought things were finally settling down. 'Now this.' He fumed. 'Mum had died doubting if he loved her! Why didn't he say to Hell with Dumbledore and ease his mother's frantic mind? Surely he must have had a few moments somewhere to spare her! Spare us! He had turned his back on me just as surely as he had her!' Siri clenched his fists, pressing them firmly into the bed.
"Siri?" Severus called softly from the doorway. Siri didn't answer. He held his breath, willing his father to 'go away'. "I know you're awake and you can hear me." Severus said, growing angry with his son's childish behavior.
"Leave me alone." Siri said coldly as he rolled over, showing his back to his father.
"No, I will not leave you alone." Severus declared, stepping into the room. "We have to talk about this." He could feel the rage filling the room. Siri had said he was forgiven, but the tension in the room said otherwise. He waited. He knew the explosion was forthcoming. Siri rolled onto his back, staring hard at the ceiling through the canopy.
"You knew what she was going through." He began, fury making his voice tremble. "All it would have taken was a few precious moments, to come, to tell her that you loved her. To come, to hold me and take away my fears."
"Why didn't you?" He roared. "You let her die not knowing! She died thinking she'd pushed you away! How could you?" He cried.
"And me? Look what you did to me! I was sent to that Hell! I had to endure all of it because of you!" He raged. The realization exploded in his brain. 'Oh my God! I blame him!' His mind clouded in confusion. 'Did he really blame his father for the years of abuse he had suffered?' He wondered. He grew quiet. His breath came in short gasps. The pain this discovery brought ripped through his chest and tore at his heart.
Severus hung his head in defeat. His shoulders sagged. His son had finally said the words he had expected him to say since that first night. The pain it brought devastated him. He hadn't felt this much pain even while suffering the Cruciatus Curse. He slowly turned and began to walk away. He didn't know what to say or do to make it right.
"Wait." Siri found his voice. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair. I'm sorry." He repeated. His thoughts were a confused jumble. He couldn't make any sense out of it. He drew a deep breath in an effort to calm himself.
"I knew deep down that eventually you would blame me for this." Severus told him. "I must admit that it is no less than I blamed myself for. It was a choice I made. I ultimately failed your mother. I couldn't save her or James. But Siri, what I did to you? The Hell I made your life become? I can never forgive myself. I understand completely if you can't ever forgive me either." He calmly and quietly admitted.
Siri didn't say a word. He stared hard at Severus. He stood and slowly crossed the room to face his father. The hurt and anger boiled inside him. He saw his father through a red haze as fury overtook him. He was just as shocked as Severus when his fist connected with Severus' jaw and his father staggered back from the blow. Severus barely had time to react before he was landed another blow. 'God that felt good!' Siri thought. "That one was for Mum!" He shouted as he fled from the room.
Severus let him go. He knew Siri needed space and after this altercation, he had no real desire to get too close to his son any time soon. He crossed to his room and quietly shut the door. The remainder of the night passed in eerie solitude. The next morning, not much had changed. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them managed to eat their breakfast. They carefully avoided each other. Severus, in an effort to give Siri the time and space he needed. Siri, because of the guilt he felt upon seeing the purple bruise on his father's face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sirius, Remus, Draco and Ron arrived by mid-morning. Sirius felt the tension in the air as soon as they entered the grounds. His senses were immediately on alert.
"Head's up, guys." He cautioned.
"What do you think, Sirius?" Remus asked, his senses feeling the pressure as well.
"Something isn't right here." Sirius explained. "There's hostility here. Be on your guard. We might be stepping into something."
"Wands at the ready?" Draco asked.
"We better." Sirius nodded. He reached out and opened the door. "Severus?" He called and waited. There was only silence. "Siri?" He called in a louder voice. Still not a sound greeted their ears. He drew a deep breath and eyed his companions. Silently he gestured for Draco to come with him and for Ron to go with Remus. He pointed up the stairs, indicating for Remus to take Ron and check it out. He indicated that he and Draco would cover the main floor and the basement. Remus nodded and placed a finger to his lips, telling Ron to remain silent. The teen nodded his head in understanding as he swallowed hard. His heart pounded as he imagined all manner of horrors awaiting inside.
Draco's eyes hardened and he, too, swallowed hard. His fingers clenched on his wand reflexively as he followed Sirius into the entrance hall. His ears strained to hear anything over the roar of his blood in his ears.
Sirius went into 'full alert' as he entered the kitchen at the back of the main floor. Breakfast was still on the table, apparently interrupted before it was finished. He cocked his head a little, listening hard. His eyes carefully scanned the room. There were no signs of a struggle. That disturbed him greatly. They shouldn't have been able to be taken by surprise. The wards and alarms would have alerted them long beforehand. 'What's going on here?' He thought in frustration. He automatically crouched in a stealthy pose born of years in battle readiness. Draco shifted uncomfortably, searching the room for signs of his mentor and his new friend. The room was sadly lacking both. Sirius slowly opened a door off to his left. It led down to the laboratory Severus kept in the basement. His nose was assaulted by the smell of some god-awful concoction being brewed below. He crept silently down the stairs, Draco followed closely behind him. Sirius pushed the door to the lab open. He peered into the room and his shoulders immediately relaxed. He motioned for Draco to move back a bit. The last thing he needed to do was startle the Potion's Master by bursting in unannounced.
"Severus?" He called after moving back near the foot of the stairs. "Are you here?"
"In here Paddy!" Severus called out. Sirius and Draco entered the lab and looked around.
"Everything okay, Sev?" Sirius asked.
"Not really." Severus admitted. "Siri and I are a bit on edge."
Sirius eyed his friend, especially the bruise and an eyebrow quirked. "Run into a door, Sev?" He smirked.
"You could say that." Severus growled. "Draco, I'm pleased to see you're still with us."
"Yes, sir." Draco nodded.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Severus looked at him sharply.
"I've never been more sure, sir." Draco admitted. "I just never knew I had someone I could turn to with it."
"I'm sorry." Severus told him, truly feeling he had failed this young man as surely as he had failed his own son.
"Care to talk about this?" Sirius asked as he lightly touched the bruise on Severus' face.
"Not now, Paddy." He told him.
"Siri?" He questioned, already knowing the answer to the unspoken part of the question.
"Yes. It was bound to happen." Severus admitted. "I wasn't ready." He added.
"Obviously!" Sirius chuckled softly. "Where is he?"
"Sulking somewhere." Severus shrugged. "I'm not sure where. We've been avoiding each other since this." He indicated his face.
"Why don't you heal it?" Draco asked curiously.
"Because, Draco," Severus drawled. "I deserved it and I will bear with it until it heals on its own."
"What happened that would cause Siri to hit you? He's not easily provoked. I should know!" Draco persisted.
"I'm sorry, I can't discuss it with you. It's between Siri and I." Severus told him. "Excuse me for a moment, I'm at a critical point here." He gestured at the cauldron. His two companions nodded and waited silently.
Meanwhile, Remus and Ron quietly ascended the wide staircase to the next level. Upon reaching the landing, Remus whispered to Ron, "We'll check each room together. Keep your eyes and your ears open for anything out of the ordinary!" Ron nodded his understanding and gripped his wand firmly as Remus opened the first door on his right. They searched each room with no luck.
"Okay." Remus said quietly. "Now for the towers." He opened the door leading to the north tower. It was eerily quiet. Remus peered up the stairs and listened. There was no sound of anyone being there. His eyes fell to the treads. "There's no one up there." He stated. At Ron's look of confusion, he added, "No footprints." He indicated the undisturbed layer of dust covering the stairs. Ron smiled grimly and nodded as Remus crossed the expanse of the manor to the door leading to the south tower.
Two things were obvious as soon as the door opened. First off, the dust on the stairs showed one set of footprints very distinctly. Second, the sound of a bass drum and cymbals could be clearly heard. Remus listened for a few moments before nodding his head.
"Siri?" He called. The noise abruptly stopped. Soon Siri's head poked over the railing.
"Hi Remus, Ron." Siri greeted them. "C'mon up." He gestured.
"I hear you practicing. How's it going?" Remus smiled.
"I'm not really practicing, just making noise. Draco and I are going to get serious about it now that we're here." Siri told him.
"Where is Severus?" Remus asked. Siri's face hardened immediately.
"In his lab." He stated shortly.
"Is something wrong?" Remus had noticed the change immediately at the mention of his father.
"You could say that." Siri replied. "I don't want to discuss it."
"Okay," Remus said guardedly. Ron eyed Siri curiously, but made no comment. His friend was deeply upset. When Siri was ready to talk, he would listen if needed. The three of them descended to the main level where Draco was just starting up the stairs.
"I see you found Siri." He said. "Severus is in the lab working on some delicate potion."
"He's working on a defensive shielding potion he's creating." Siri informed them. "He's not having much luck."
"Why? Your shield worked fine for us!" Ron questioned.
"Two reasons." Siri explained. "First of all, that force field takes a lot of energy to maintain. In a battle situation, it is not wise, it could work against us. Second," He continued, " the chances of all of us remaining in close proximity are non-existent. I could never cover all of us."
"So, what you're saying then," Draco interjected, "is that Professor Snape is trying to create a potion for us to use that will give us the same protection as your power does?"
"Exactly." Siri answered.
"Impressive." Remus acknowledged. "IF he can get it to work."
"That's right. So far, he's not having much luck." Siri admitted. "It falters, it isn't strong enough to last for any length of time."
By this time they were outside the door to the lab and Siri, squaring his shoulders, entered ahead of his companions. Sirius looked up and nodded, putting a finger to his lips for quiet. Severus was peering into the cauldron, moving his wand in small circles overhead. His lips were moving in a silent incantation. They watched quietly as the bubbling liquid began to glow. They held their collective breath as Severus lowered the flame beneath the cauldron. He checked his watch and looked up. Remus opened his mouth to speak and Severus shook his head, indicating that silence was necessary. His attention returned to his potion. Abruptly the glow faltered and then disappeared. Severus face registered disappointment.
"Damn." He muttered.
"I'm sorry." Siri offered his sympathy. "I know how important this is to you." Severus looked at him sharply. The unspoken message passed between them. Severus nodded and Siri's tense shoulders relaxed.
"I have an idea, if you'd like to hear it." Draco offered.
"What's that?" Severus asked.
"Well, we know that Siri has this power." He began. Severus nodded and Draco continued. "Um…I don't know if you've tried this already, but what about adding his blood to the potion?"
"That could work, in theory." Severus mused, turning the possibilities in his mind. "Of course, Siri would have to agree." He added looking to his son.
"Of course I agree!" Siri said in exasperation. "I'm not stupid! I realize what this could mean if it works!"
"When do you want to try it?" Remus asked.
"No time like the present." Siri stated while rolling back his sleeve. Severus drew a small tube of Siri's blood, while explaining where he would start.
"I'll add a few drops to this current potion. I doubt it'll work, but I can draw some conclusions from it and go from there. He had carefully labeled the tube with the date and Siri's name. He placed it in the small cooler the lab housed for just such things. He turned to the cauldron, raising the flame below it to bring the potion back to a slow bubble. Everyone crowded closer as Severus added three drops of Siri's blood to the mixture. The reaction was immediate. The glow returned, held for several moments longer than previously. A shiver of excitement passed through the group. Severus ladled a bit into another tube and eyed it critically.
"Well, only one way to find out!" He announced as he tipped it into his mouth.
"Dad!" Siri exclaimed, intending to stop him. 'What if it was now poison?' He feared.
"Ugh! That's awful." Severus grimaced. "Your blood certainly didn't make it taste any better!" They waited for several moments to see if there were any reactions. Severus shook his head.
"Other than leaving an awful aftertaste, I don't feel any differently." He reported.
Siri tossed a small glass vial at him suddenly and unexpectedly. It bounced away and smashed on the floor. Severus looked slightly surprised at the assault.
"Did it touch you?" Siri asked.
"Um…sorry, I wasn't paying any attention." Severus apologized.
"Dad, how are we supposed to know if it works or not, if you aren't going to at least test it?" Siri blurted as he threw another glass vial at his father's chest.
Severus looked down. He felt a slight pressure, but no impact from the vial. He caught it before it fell and tossed it lightly back to Siri. "Do it again." He ordered. Siri complied immediately.
"Yes! I believe it is working!" He said excitedly. "But I want to start from fresh to be sure."
"Okay, Severus." Sirius said. "We'll leave you to it. Call us when you're ready." Severus nodded, already intent on preparing a new batch.
As they all filed out, Sev called, "Siri?"
"Yeah?" He answered, cocking an eyebrow in query.
"Thank you." Severus said quietly.
"You're welcome." Siri answered. "Dad?" He added and when Severus looked up, he said, "I'm sorry. I really am."
"Forget it." Severus growled.
"I can't. I never should have hit you. I'm ashamed of myself." He confessed.
"Siri." Severus said, sighing deeply. "I am sorry it came to blows. I know you are extremely upset over this bit of news. I don't blame you one bit for your reaction. I expected it, actually. Although, I wasn't quite prepared for your sudden attack." He smiled as he gingerly touched his jaw.
"Why did you leave it?" Siri asked
"Because I feel I had it coming." His father explained.
"Can I be the one to remove it?" Siri asked softly. "I don't want to see it anymore. Please let me take it away?" Severus nodded, too choked with emotion to speak. Siri stepped over to him and lightly traced his finger over the bruise, whispering 'Pain I gave in anger, I remove with love.' The bruise and the pain faded and a feeling of warmth took its place. "Thank you." Siri told him "For letting me do this."
"We still need to talk about this." Severus warned him.
"I know, but later, okay?" Siri acknowledged. "I really think this potion is more important."
"You're right." Severus agreed.
"Are you still planning on making this potion personal?" Siri asked.
"Yes. When I get it perfected, it will then have each person's signature added to it." Severus replied. "That way, it will be ineffective if it falls into the wrong hands."
Siri nodded, saying, "I like the idea. I'll let you get back to it. I'll call you when dinner is ready. You want some lunch now?" He added as an afterthought.
"No, I'm fine." Severus told him. "I'll just eat seconds of everything later. I promise!" He smiled.
"Okay." Siri laughed softly. "See ya later."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To understand what you're reading, you need some basics here, Siri." Draco explained. "Music is usually measured in beats. There they are divided into fourths. The length of time to 'count out' a beat depends on how many 'fourths' there are to it."
"For example, if a note is three-fourths, you, as the drummer, would strike your beat and count to three before striking the next one. Do you understand?" Draco asked.
"Show me." Siri demanded.
"Um… okay. I'll play a three-quarter note, then another, and then five successive quarter notes. You'll see what I mean." Draco explained. He sat at his own set of drums and demonstrated the notes. Siri was impressed.
"I think I get it." Siri admitted.
"Do it." Draco ordered.
Siri nervously followed the same pattern Draco had demonstrated, then looked hopefully over at him.
"First off Siri, you need to relax. Loosen up! Keep your wrists flexible." He instructed, adding with a smirk, "You know, pretend your bones are liquid."
"Very funny, Draco!" Siri snapped and Draco burst out laughing at the memory. Siri shook his head, a broad grin on his face before he joined his friend in a well-deserved belly laugh.
"Can you believe that git?" Siri gasped. "He was an absolute joke!"
"I don't know how you made it through that without cursing him six ways from Sunday!" Draco exclaimed.
"I rose above it." Siri said, growing quiet.
"Does your power frighten you?" Draco asked in the quiet pause.
"It did at first, like that day in court. I was so afraid I would hurt someone." Siri admitted. Draco nodded. "After I took on the Death Eaters and I actually had control over it, I felt a little better." Siri added.
"That was some awesome show you put on that day!" Draco told him.
"Yeah, well it doesn't mean jack if I don't take Voldemort out." Siri said fiercely.
"We'll get him, Siri." Draco assured him. "We're gonna win, we have to." Siri nodded and picked up his sticks.
"Show me how to read these notes." He said, pointing at the sheet of music Draco had brought with him.
After several moments of explaining the different symbols and how to count them out, Siri watched as Draco played them. By dinnertime, Siri was able to count out the beats and hesitantly tap them out on his drums.
"Not bad for the first day, Siri." Draco praised him. "If you can manage to relax a little and flex your wrists more, it'll sound better."
"Thanks, Draco." Siri smiled, flexing his cramped fingers. He did need to relax.
"Oi! Siri! Draco!" Ron called up the stairs. "Dinner's on!"
"Coming!" Siri called down and the two of them made their way down.
The mood through dinner was relaxed and enjoyable. They discussed the training
they would start in the morning, Siri's music lessons and Severus' potion. They all looked forward to testing it.
After dinner, they all gathered in the lab. The potion was ready and Severus dosed himself. Sirius picked up a small book on potions, preparing to toss it.
"No." Severus said. "Use Stupefy."
"Sev, I can't do that!" Sirius said in mortification.
"We have to test it properly." Severus insisted.
"I'll do it." Siri volunteered.
"Go ahead, son." Severus urged, facing him.
Siri stepped away from Severus to put some distance between them. He took a deep breath, licked his lips nervously, pointed his finger and whispered 'Stupefy!' He quickly ducked as the spell bounced off Severus' chest and soared right back at him!
"It worked!" Sirius shouted.
"Fantastic!" Remus marveled.
"Wicked!" Ron added.
Siri and Draco grinned broadly at Severus. 'You did it!" Siri praised him. "Dad! You did it!"
"Yes, well, we need to test it every fifteen minutes for longevity." Severus told them, not quite ready to celebrate yet.
The potion held for just over an hour. After reviving Severus and assuring themselves that he was fine, he unnerved them all by saying, "Now for the Unforgivables."
"The Unforgivables?" Ron yelped. "But sir!"
"We need to know if it will work! One of us has to do it. I choose me." Severus insisted. "We'll start with Imperius, then Cruciatus." Taking a deep breath, he concluded, "Finally, Avada Kedavra."
"No!" Siri exclaimed, panic in his voice. "Not that one!"
"We have to know!" Severus insisted.
"It's not worth it to test!" Siri shouted. "Please don't!" His chest was tight as he fought the wave of panic threatening to take hold. His breathing became erratic and forced.
Severus, noting the signs, immediately relented. "Okay, Siri, no Avada Kedavra. I promise." He said softly, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Breathe, son. Just relax. We'll only use the other two. That will be close enough."
Sucking in deep gulps of air, Siri nodded his understanding. His hand unconsciously held to his chest, he tried to regain control.
"Better sit down, Siri." Remus said, concern forcing him to act, as he shoved a chair behind the young man.
Sirius looked questioningly at Severus who stared back somberly and shook his head. 'So much for thinking this was over with the trial.' Sirius thought darkly.
Drawing himself up, Siri said, "I'm okay. Can we get this over with?"
"Sure." Severus agreed as he prepared another dose. "Are you wanting to do this Siri, or do you want someone else to do it?"
"I'll do it, if you want, Siri." Draco volunteered.
"Thanks Dray." Siri said. "I can handle it, I think." He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "Ready Dad?" He asked.
"Go ahead, Siri." Severus spoke quietly.
"Imperio." Siri uttered softly, pointing a finger at Severus' chest. The curse once again merely bounced away and dissipated. The six men shared tentative smiles. Siri closed his eyes and steadied his nerves before the last test.
"Crucio." He said and ducked as the curse ricocheted back to him. He jumped to his feet as it disappeared. "It works! Dad this is awesome!"
"This is truly the best weapon we're going to have in our arsenal." Sirius said gravely, taking Severus' hand in congratulations.
Accepting congratulations from everyone in the room, Severus growled, "Let's hope it will be enough!"
