In the wee hours of this morning, June 2, 2006, an old soul crossed over to the Other Side. Those of you who know me are aware that my elderly parents live with me. My father's health has been poor the last few years. His physical body finally gave out this morning about 1:00. My mother and I were with him right to the end. His departure from this physical realm was peaceful.
His spirit lives on and I look to the day when we are all reunited in our true home.
Rejoice with me for a life well-lived by a man who is well-loved.
This story is for you, Dad.
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Severus
November 22, 1998
Severus sat at the dining room table, enjoying a fine cup of Earl Grey. Dobby had done an acceptable job with the meal. Of course, one could not go far wrong with roast beef, unless it was overdone and dry. And the company was reasonably good, given that Potter and Weasley were on Auror duty this evening. Besides, the group present could not have had this conversation with the two of them sitting at the table.
Remus was at the head of the table. He looked considerably healthier than he had two weeks before when he nearly died from silver poisoning. Just two days past the new moon, it was a healthy time of the month for him. Arthur sat to Remus' right, enjoying the last of his cheesecake. Albus, in midnight blue robes, was having an animated discussion with Bill Weasley about the Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw Quidditch match earlier in the day. Ravenclaw's keeper had received a concussion from an out of control bludger, knocking him off his broom and giving him a broken arm.
Minerva was unable to attend tonight's meeting. She was dealing with the detentions of an assortment of Gryffindor miscreants who had obtained some new Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, flooding three unused classrooms on the fourth floor with a substance having the texture of marshmallow crème and just as difficult to remove. Severus quirked a smile at the thought of seven Gryffindors on their hands and knees with buckets of water and rags, cleaning up the glop.
Dobby came and cleared off the table, leaving a pot of tea, cups, and a plate of chocolate biscuits for nibbling. After he left, Albus started the meeting.
"I believe Severus has important information regarding the Dark Lord," Albus began, "and then there is an update on the situation with Lucius Malfoy."
Severus nodded and took a sip of his tea.
"This may seem minor, but there is more evidence that the Dark Lord is experiencing some form of health problem. On Wednesday, I received a summons along with about fifteen other Death Eaters. There was no particular reason for the meeting other than Riddle exhorting his followers along his version of the true path of righteousness. About an hour into the exhortation, he stopped and signaled Pettigrew to come over. The rat produced a drinking flask, which the Dark Lord appeared to empty. His only explanation for the drink was that leading the Death Eaters is thirsty work. I have never before observed the Dark Lord to stop one of his sermons to drink so much as a glass of water."
"Interesting," said Bill, "But, it isn't much to go on as far as strategy is concerned."
"Nor should it be, at this stage," added Remus. "We don't want the Dark Lord to have any idea we suspect he has a health problem."
"I shall continue to be alert for anything that might give us a clue as to the nature of the ailment," said Severus.
Arthur took a biscuit and nibbled on it. "Albus, did you say there was news about Lucius Malfoy?" he asked.
Albus nodded to Severus.
"After the Solvo Ira potion debacle at the Highgate Hippogriffs and the Chudley Cannons match, Malfoy was punished by the Dark Lord. He took several rounds of Crucio and a severe beating, resulting in injuries that nearly killed him. Even with a healer brought in to reside at the Manor, he is only now able to walk again without requiring a cane. It is likely to be at least the beginning of the New Year before Malfoy is recovered."
Bill Weasley whistled at the implications. "Is this the last straw for him with the Dark Lord, Severus?"
"Yes," said Severus, "Malfoy is ready to change sides."
"How can you possibly trust him?" demanded Arthur, turning to Bill. "I didn't think I had to remind you of what he did to your sister by slipping that diary of Tom Riddle's into her cauldron when she was just a First Year." Not giving his son time to answer, he looked at Severus. "How do you know he won't betray you and us at the first opportunity?"
"I went into his mind and looked," answered Severus, calmly, "Quite literally. I have been teaching Lucius Occlumency, preparing him to hide any of his dealings with us from the Dark Lord. In the process, I have been all over his memories. I can assure you, Lucius Malfoy is completely disillusioned with the Dark Lord."
"He has seen the evidence of the Dark Lord's true intentions," continued Severus, "Which are completely different from what he pledges to the Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy has paid for his oath to the Dark Lord by seeing his family threatened with death if he did not obey, by being beaten nearly to death himself, and seeing his own reputation and that of his family slowly eroded as the Dark Lord forced him to engage in acts that have landed him in Azkaban. To describe Lucius Malfoy as disenchanted is to state the truth in a minimalist way."
"What does he want in return for this change of heart?" snorted Arthur, unconvinced.
"Sanctuary for Draco and Narcissa, if it is needed. He asks for nothing for himself. Lucius will pay the price of his disloyalty to the Dark Lord if it is required." Severus leaned back in his chair and toyed with the sugar spoon from the tea service. Pain seeped into his voice as he considered the price Lucius might be forced to pay for secretly changing sides.
"I think this is a risk we need to take, Arthur," said Remus. "I trust Severus' judgment. The reality is that the Dark Lord has changed tactics and we need more intelligence than Severus alone can provide. If Albus talks to Malfoy and determines that his willingness to change sides is genuine, then we will have twice the number of spies in the inner circle than we have right now."
Albus stroked his long beard thoughtfully. "I will see Lucius Malfoy. I will evaluate the truth of what he says by my own skills as a Legilimens. If Severus' opinion is confirmed, I will assure him of our willingness to offer sanctuary to his wife and son and provide him with portkeys for their use as tokens of our veracity."
Albus raised his hand to stop Arthur's protest. "The portkeys will bring them to the gates of Hogwarts and no further. They must walk the rest of the way. If the Death Eaters wished to do so, they could gather at the gates of Hogwart even as we speak just by apparating there. The portkeys are a symbol, a reassurance if you will. In reality, we would give sanctuary to the spouse or children of any Death Eater." Albus looked around the table. "What say you all?"
"Yes," said Severus.
"Yes," nodded Remus.
"Agreed," added Bill.
"I will trust your judgment on this after your meeting with Malfoy, Albus. I give conditional agreement," said Arthur.
Albus nodded. "Thank you for your trust in this, Arthur. If I see any reason to negate our decision, I will not hesitate to do so."
At this point in the discussion, it was decided to switch to a stronger beverage. Remus brought out the brandy and snifters, passing glasses around the table.
"It is good to be able to have a drink of something stronger than tea again," remarked Remus.
"You already had enough digestive tract distress from the potion," remarked Albus, "without adding additional stress to your system."
"Merlin knows we just about had to fumigate the house," added Arthur, laughter circling the table.
"I'm grateful to be alive and I apologize for the flatulence," snickered Remus, quite unapologetically. "If it wasn't for your work, Severus and Albus, I'd be aromatic by now in a totally different way."
"Please, Remus," groaned Bill. "Those are images we don't need."
"Besides, you are forgetting Hermione's contribution," added Arthur.
"Speaking of which, it is much to my good fortune she is still a virgin," remarked Remus, swirling his brandy in his snifter.
The statement was greeted with dead silence around the table.
Remus raised his eyes and looked at the others in confusion. "Well, she has to be or she couldn't have prepared a maiden brewed potion."
Severus and Albus exchanged a look. Severus rolled his eyes.
"Remus," lectured Albus, "We gave Hermione our word that this would not be a topic for public consumption."
"What public consumption?" asked Bill, "Everyone at this table knows the potion had to be maiden brewed. We all know what that means."
"I believe Hermione would be embarrassed to have the status of her virtue discussed over our after-dinner drinks," said Severus, his tone implying that the topic was closed.
That statement also received a silent reception. Not because of the discussion of Hermione's virginity, but that Severus referred to Hermione by her first name and defended her.
"Hermione broke up with that boy she was seeing at the college," Arthur remarked by way of changing the subject.
Severus was careful to look uninterested.
"I have a feeling he wanted more from her than she was willing to give," said Arthur.
"Not unusual in young men of that age," commented Bill, overlooking the point that he was not all that much older than the young man in question.
"Hermione has a lot of fine qualities," said Remus, "most of them of the kind young men don't appreciate. It wouldn't surprise me if she ended up with someone older."
Severus did not like the sound of that. Was Remus indicating an interest in Hermione?
"If I wasn't already taken," Remus smiled, "by a certain Auror, I'd be giving Hermione a second look. She's young, smart, and pretty in an old-fashioned way. It won't take long for some astute young man to recognize what a prize she is."
"As long as we are on the subject of Hermione Granger," said Severus, growing uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "I received a communication from Draco Malfoy regarding her. As you know, they spend time together at the college and have developed a friendship of sorts. He says there are periods of time when she sleeps poorly and does not eat properly. Impossible as this may be to believe, he states she fell asleep during class on one occasion. He expressed his belief that Granger was not doing as well regarding her grief as she wants people to believe."
"I've noticed how tired she is when she arrives at the Burrow when she has time away from Avalon. Molly feeds her up and she seems to sleep well. Hermione says the food at the college is terrible," said Arthur. "We all know she tends to throw herself into her studies and neglect herself."
"Draco also made reference to Hermione apparating or portkeying away from the college at 3 or 4 in the morning and returning a few hours later. He did not know what she was doing, but was concerned about it," said Severus.
Remus straightened up as the thought came to him.
"Could she be going to the cemetery?" he asked. Remus looked around the table. "Has she asked any of you to go with her to the cemetery?" Heads shook 'no'.
"Back a few months ago, maybe August or September?" Remus wracked his brain for the particulars. "Hermione was staying at the Burrow and she was supposed to come here to work with you on something," Remus looked at Severus. "That's right. She volunteered to help you set up the lab. She told Molly she was coming here and Molly flooed to let me know she was on her way. She didn't show up for a few hours. I confronted her when she arrived and she admitted she'd gone to the cemetery. It was as if she didn't want anyone to know what she was doing and wanted to go alone."
"It is dangerous for her to visit the cemetery alone. Certainly, she must realize that," said Severus, puzzled. "I do not believe she is an active target at this time, but it would not be outside of the realm of possibilities for a Death Eater to try and acquire her by warding the graves or turning a gravestone into a portkey."
"That's exactly what I told her," said Remus, "I exacted a promise from her not to go by herself again."
"It isn't like Hermione to lie," remarked Arthur, looking pensive.
"Grief can do strange things to people," observed Albus, "Including causing them to behave in ways that are out of character."
"Especially if the person is ridden with guilt because they failed to stop a murder," murmured Severus to himself, coming to a realization.
"What do you mean, Severus?" asked Arthur, catching what Severus had said.
Severus considered what he could say which would not violate the confidence of the things Hermione had said to him.
"About a month after the Grangers' murders, I encountered Hermione on top of Astronomy Tower in the middle of the night," he said thoughtfully. "It was apparent she was having a crisis in her grief. She told me some of the things that had been going through her mind."
Arthur looked alarmed.
"No, Arthur," he clarified, "I do not believe she was suicidal or anything of that sort. If I had any doubts, I would have spoken to Albus and Minerva about obtaining treatment for her. The gist of what she said comes down to a great deal of guilt, the feeling that her parents were murdered because of her, and that if she had been there she might have been able to save them. I was able to make the point that her presence would have resulted in three deaths instead of two. I believe I was able to get through to her on some of the issues she seemed most concerned about."
"Why didn't you say something about this to Molly and me?" asked Arthur.
"I felt what she said was in confidence," explained Severus. "Truly, if I had believed she was at risk of doing something foolish, I would have said something."
"Of course you would have, Severus," interrupted Albus. "None of you are in a position to know, but on many occasions Severus has informed myself, Madame Pomfrey, and the appropriate Head of House when a student appeared to be troubled."
"So, as far as any of you know, Hermione hasn't been back to the cemetery since August or September to visit her parent's graves?" asked Remus. "And, she's disappearing from Chicago for short periods of time in the early morning?"
"There is a six hour time differential between Chicago and London. If she is leaving there at 4 in the morning, it would be 10 am here," said Severus. "A few hours would be more than enough time to visit the graves. I wonder if they appear to be tended?"
"What do we do about this?" asked Arthur, obviously concerned. "If she feels guilty and is trying to hide it from all of us and somehow this is leading her to sneak in visits to her parents' graves, she's putting herself in danger. But, if we've got this wrong, she's going be very upset with us if I confront her about it."
Severus was never entirely sure why he said what he did, but as he talked about it with his colleagues in the Order, it did make sense.
"Perhaps, Arthur, you are not the one who should confront her about this," said Severus slowly, thinking as he spoke. He lifted his head and looked at Arthur who was looking back at him speculatively. "I may be in the best position to discuss this with her."
Remus looked surprised for a fleeting moment and then schooled his expression back to neutrality.
"She has already confided to me on one occasion," Severus continued. "Although we did not discuss it, the circumstances of my own parents' deaths have some similarities with hers. My own guilt that I was not there to defend my mother affected me for many, many years."
"You were twelve years old, Severus," said Albus softly.
"I did not say the feelings were rational, simply that they existed," answered Severus, meeting his eyes.
"How would you do this?" asked Albus, leaning towards Severus.
Severus considered for a moment and replied.
"Would you be willing to adjust the wards around this townhouse to allow Hermione to be portkeyed into the cellar and locked in?"
"What!" demanded Arthur, appalled.
"I will go to the cemetery and check the graves," said Severus, reassuringly. "I believe I will find the graves have been tended and she has placed wreaths there. I will turn the wreaths into specialized portkeys, which can only be triggered by Hermione's touch."
He turned to Arthur. "I presume I can rely on you to provide me with a bit of her hair from a hairbrush or something else I can use to set the trigger?"
Arthur nodded, reluctantly.
"If Hermione is tending her parents' graves in secret," explained Severus, "She will touch the wreaths and be transported here. If she is magically locked into the cellar, she will have to wait until I arrive. We will discuss what she is doing and why. Perhaps I can make her understand the risk she is taking. I may be able to help her work through whatever is troubling her. If this is not what she is doing, the portkeys will not be triggered and we will need to look further."
Remus nodded in agreement. "It sounds like a solid strategy. I agree that you may very well be the best person to discuss this with her. It is good of you to offer."
Severus inclined his head. He was not going to discuss his reasons for making the offer when he was uncertain of exactly what they were.
Arthur looked at Severus intently.
"Hermione isn't planning to come back until the end of the month," said Arthur. "This will be kept confidential, but if any of you sees anything of concern, please tell me. Molly and I consider Hermione to be part of our family."
"Minerva could not be here tonight," said Albus, "But I would like to disclose this plan to her. I believe she will approve and she may have other suggestions as well."
Seeing a consensus, Albus looked at the time. "I believe we are done with the business of the day. Are there any other issues to discuss?" He looked around the table. "Then I believe it is time to call it a day."
The Order of the Phoenix adjourned for the evening.