A.N: Apologies for the delay but I've been a busy bee in work, and have been travelling to and from London all week, so it's been difficult to post. Hopefully, I'll be able to post near enough every day from now on, and I hope you enjoy this rather belated chapter...
Chapter Thirty Seven: The Calling
"Miss Snape, how much asphodel does one need to add to an infusion of wormwood in order for the said potion to be a success?" asked Severus as he stalked around his classroom one particularly cold January afternoon.
"Ten grams sir," replied Septima, who was almost certain that her answer was correct.
"Grams?" repeated Severus with a sneer. "Are we in a Muggle Chemistry lesson, Miss Snape?"
"No sir."
"Then I will ask you again, how much asphodel-"
"Approximately 10 cubic zentiers, sir," she interjected impatiently.
"Ten points from Slytherin for your rude interruption Miss Snape…Now," he continued as he turned from his daughter with a snarl and towards his class, "I would like you all to get on with the preparation process for the set potion and lay out your ingredients for me to check at the end."
"Ignore him," said Albus Potter in hushed tones as he laid his much larger hand upon Septima's angrily clenched one. "He's obviously just had a tough night, that's all."
"What are you going on about?" asked Septima snappily, her angry glare never leaving her Father who had already begun berating her fellow Gryffindors.
"Look at the way he's walking with a slight limp," explained Albus as he gestured towards Snape who was heading their way, "and look at the small slash that cuts through his left eyebrow."
Septima closely observed her Father's walk and than looked up towards his face to see this cut that Albus was talking about. Unfortunately for her, Severus noticed her direct and scrutinising glances and marched straight over to her and Albus' desk in the far corner of the room. As he increased his pace his limp became more apparent.
"Would you like a closer look?" he chided sarcastically as he leant in so that she could see his face much more clearly.
"Well yes actually I would," rebuked Septima. "What happened to you Dad, you look bloody terrible?"
"Let's just say I had a rough night, and your incessant questioning, along with your muggle chemistry references, are doing nothing for my mood!"
"Geez, calm down Dad," said Septima defensively, as she pushed back on her stool to provide some distance between herself and her increasingly irate father.
"No I will not calm down," snapped Severus angrily. "I don't think you would be calm if you'd had to endure what I did last night!"
"Professor, people are staring," informed Albus, who when Severus snarled him, wished he hadn't opened his mouth.
"One point to Gryffindor for your talented observations!" reprimanded Severus sarcastically. "Now get on with your work the lot of you!" he roared and the scuffling of nervous hands on ingredients came soon after.
After his tiresome day's work, Severus retreated to his office for a much needed cigarette and a small glass of whiskey (for medicinal purposes of course.) Despite Madam Pomfrey's best attempts to heal his shattered knee which he had received the night before thanks to The Dark Lord and his anger, he was still in an increasing amount of unbearable pain.
Once again Severus had been severely punished by The Dark Lord for not having any information regarding the Order, and it was getting to the point where he was even considering making something up, just so that the could escape humiliating and hurt that came accompanied with his lack of tidings.
Overall, there was little movement on the war front, as neither side felt ready to attack and certainly were not fortified enough to defend. So, as time drew monotonously on and war kept its distance, Severus Snape's time in limbo between Dark and Light, stretched endlessly on.
Just as he took his first drag on his cigarette, the fire in Severus' office glowed a familiar shade of green, and a tall blonde figure stepped out onto the stone floor.
"Ah Scorpius," drawled Severus as he released a puff of white smoke from the confines of his nostrils, "to what to I owe this unexpected pleasure."
"I'm afraid I am not the bearer of good news," returned the younger wizard as he took a seat opposite Severus and lit a cigarette of his own. "I have word from the inner ranks that tomorrow you will be called, and you will be expected to bring Septima."
Severus' nostrils flared angrily but he waved his hand hurriedly for the blonde haired man to continue and elaborate.
"The Dark Lord told my Father in confidence, that he would summon you tomorrow and then insist that you return home and bring Septima back to him within the hour. Severus I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you this," added Scorpius with a forlorn tone.
"It is not your fault," dismissed Snape, "but I am grateful that you pre-warned me. That was very valiant of you."
"I know that I have done wrong by you in the past Severus and although I did have my reasons, I just want now to ensure that I make up for any mistakes I have made whist I am with the Order."
Severus nodded in recognition of the younger mans honestly. "Did The Dark Lord intent to keep me oblivious of the situation until I was summoned?" asked Severus who was growing tired of his duplicitous roles and character.
"I believe so. He told my Father that he must ensure that you did not know that he planned to give Septima the mark until the last minute. That way you had no way to back out."
"Although I am grateful for you coming here and warning me of The Dark Lord's plan Scorpius, I still cannot 'back out' as it were for the safety of my family."
"Your family," muttered Scorpius.
"What was that?" inquired Severus sternly.
"Nothing."
"How are you dealing with the whole spying situation?" asked Severus who surprisingly had found himself genuinely caring about the boy of late.
"It was difficult at first to maintain a certain façade and then switch back to being me again," answered Scorpius with a frown, "but I've learnt how to control it all now, and I'm settling into my new role quite nicely."
"Never become complacent," instructed Severus. "The Dark Lord can sense a spy in his ranks like a wild cat can its prey with a strong wind in its favour, so just be careful."
"I will Severus," returned Scorpius with a reassuring smile, "I learnt from the best."
Severus nodded modestly as Scorpius stood to leave.
"I'll be there tomorrow night to ensure that Septima will be safe," said Scorpius as he tightened his robes before stepping into the large fireplace of the office.
"Thank you," replied Severus as he thrust out his hand for Scorpius to shake.
After accepting Severus handshake, Scorpius Malfoy disappeared into a thick mist of green flames.
At midnight on the night of Scorpius' brief return to Hogwarts, Severus and Hermione lay in bed taking about their day's events.
"Ginny had the baby tonight," informed Hermione as she cuddled into Severus' chest. "Harry owled me an hour or so ago to tell me…It's a little girl."
Severus just mumbled in reply and Hermione frowned. "I've just told you that our friend has just given birth and you only mutter in reply…what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," came Severus' short reply and he rolled over so that his back was facing his wife.
Hermione who had no intention of sleeping and had rather been looking forward to having her husband alone all day, rolled him back over and straddled him so that she could kiss down his chest and torso.
Severus allowed Hermione to make her decent down his body, until she began slipping her fingers beneath the waist band of his sleep pants in an attempt to pull them off. Immediately before she could succeed in undressing him, Severus sat bolt upright and rested his back against the headboard.
"Hermione will you just stop for five bloody minutes!" he roared.
A startled and confused Hermione emerged from the confines of the covers suddenly and glared up at him.
"Seriously Severus," she snapped, "what's wrong with you!"
"You," he retorted angrily although it was not true. "This whole entire mess!"
"So our marriage is a mess?" she asked with a snarl.
"Well can a man not just sleep without his wife trying everything she can for something more!" he reprimanded. "I simply haven't got the energy to meet your exuberant needs!"
"My exuberant needs," she hissed, sitting upright herself. "Severus we've hardly been together since Christmas so is it too much to ask to make love with you just one night?"
"Hermione I haven't got the energy!"
"Well that's fine; I accept that but just say so instead of making a huge deal out of it and losing your temper."
Severus sighed as he knew she was right.
"I'm sorry," he said as he pushed his hair out of his face. "I just used the whole sex thing as an excuse for the real reason to explain my mood."
"Severus you can tell me anything, you do know that?" said Hermione softly as she reached up and kissed his cheek.
"I know and I'm sorry for reverting back to my old ways of keeping it all bottled in."
"Just tell me what's wrong," she insisted.
"Scorpius came today," he admitted with a frown.
"I hope you told him to piss right off!" cussed Hermione whose anger had the upper hand over her much more appropriate use of language.
Severus smiled briefly at Hermione's blatant fury, but it soon faded when he went on to explain the meaning of the visit.
"Actually Hermione I think you should start seeing young Scorpius the way I do," said Severus firmly. "He risked a lot by coming to me today."
"Like what, being Voldemort's number one Death Eater?" she retorted sarcastically. "He's bad news Severus and you don't even know if you can trust him."
"I can trust him," stated Severus. "I can and I do."
"He's a Death Eater Severus!" snapped Hermione vehemently.
"And by rights so am I," reprimanded Severus with a gesture towards his branded arm. "So are Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, Marcia and soon Septima. All the people you love have taken the mark Hermione, but you fail to see the purpose behind such an action."
Hermione frowned, he was right.
"Scorpius came to tell me that the Dark Lord plans to summon me tomorrow night and then later give our Daughter the opportunity to take the mark."
"Opportunity," spat Hermione. "You say it as if she has a choice."
"She does," came the short reply. "The Mark or death."
Hermione suddenly burst into tears and Severus pulled her to his chest to comfort her.
"Hermione, tomorrow when she is in The Dark Lord's presence she will be surrounded mostly by those who are spies and her family. I, Marcia, Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Scorpius will all be there to protect her if something, which it won't," he added, "goes wrong."
"So tomorrow's the big day," mused Hermione, as she attempted to stop her flow of tears. "Surely you must tell Septima as soon as possible?"
"Actually I'm at a loss as to whether to tell her at all," sighed Severus forlornly. "Even Iam not supposed to know of the plan to give Septima the mark tomorrow and so if we lack a surprised demeanour, the Dark Lord will become aware of a spy in his ranks."
"I will not have you sending her in unprepared!" screeched Hermione forcefully.
"She is more prepared than she could ever be," informed Severus. "She is as good an Occulems as me now, due to her excessive training and dedication, Salus taught her the 'Perspicuus'spell should she need to make a hasty exit, and finally we all know that she can defeat the Dark Lord single-handedly thanks to the prophecy and the necklace containing the stolen magic."
"Okay so she's physically prepared," chided Hermione, "but what about mentally Severus. This is your daughter that we're talking about Severus, the one who cries when The Holyhead Harpies lose a game. How do you know that she won't just break down in his presence?"
"I don't know," admitted Severus. "But if she is anything like us, she'll be strong and she'll manage just fine."