Chapter Forty-two: Summer's End

Mikin appeared at Severus's door at lunchtime.

"Master wants Severus Snape to come to his office," he said. He wore a twisted smile, his hands clasped together in front of him. "Master is not pleased." He cackled.

Severus stood. Why would Abraxas be angry with him? And why would Mikin be so happy about it?

He followed the house-elf to Abraxas's office. He'd never been in there by himself. Without Lucius as a witness, what would Abraxas be like? Severus knocked on the door.

Instead of the usual muffled response, Abraxas wrenched the door open. He was scowling.

Severus's heart raced.

"Come in, Severus."

Severus obeyed, taking a few steps toward Abraxas's desk before stopping, sweat beading his forehead. The logbook he'd found in Levina's storeroom was on the desk, open to the final entry.

How much did Lucius tell him?

"So you recognize it." His tone was low, dangerous.

"Sir?"

"Don't play me for a fool, Severus; the journal."

Severus flicked his eyes to Abraxas and nodded.

The older man's jaw tightened as he moved around the desk to his chair. "You should have come to me immediately."

"I don't understand—"

"You found Fawley this morning. You saw the note in this book. What more is there to understand?"

"Sir, are you saying you think this was Lev—Madam Yaxley? Because she was surprised. I don't think it was her."

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course it wasn't her." He stabbed at the book in front of him with a finger. "But if you'd come to me with this earlier, perhaps Fawley would still be alive. If you're going to seek information, boy, you need to learn when and how to use it. I'd say preventing an attack on an esteemed businessman would have been prudent, wouldn't you?"

Severus swallowed. He'd been wrestling with the guilt all morning. Abraxas's words sliced through him, magnifying his guilt.

"Well?" Abraxas snapped. "What have you to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy," Severus said, trembling.

"For Merlin's sake. Stop quaking like a toddler caught with his hand in the biscuit jar. Stand up, look me in the eye, and tell me what you're going to do differently next time."

Severus stilled his shaking with some difficulty, then raised his eyes to his host's. Anger overshadowed some of the guilt—obviously he couldn't trust Lucius not to report everything back to his father. He remembered Abraxas's words about fear when they'd visited the Ministry earlier in the summer, and he straightened his shoulders and thrust his chin out. "Next time, sir, I'll keep my information to myself until I decide when it's most beneficial to share."

A smile played around Abraxas's lips. "Good."

#

"You told your father about Levina's notebook." Severus accosted Lucius as soon as he returned from the Ministry that evening.

Lucius shrugged. "So what if I did?"

"Fawley was murdered this morning."

Lucius frowned. "Are you sure?"

"I tripped over his body—I'm pretty sure," Severus said. He shoved Lucius. "And you told your father about the notebook."

"Don't do that again," Lucius said, voice in a low growl. "I'm fond of you, Severus, but I won't let it stand a second time. Yes, I told Father. It was information; I passed it on. It's what you do with information. What you would have done if you'd found Fawley alive, right?'

"I told you about that in confidence."

"There was nothing said about confidence," Lucius said. "You told me you had information, that's all."

"I didn't know I had to specify—"

"Well, now you do," Lucius said. "If you want something to be kept confidential, Severus, you need to either keep it to yourself, or trust the person you're telling implicity—and tell them not to repeat it."

He threw his Ministry robes over the back of his chair. "That's three murders this summer you can claim a part of. Impressive."

"It's not impressive!" Severus said. "It's horrifying! You haven't heard anything about it at the Ministry, have you?"

"My office is rather far away from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Severus. No, I didn't hear anything." He frowned and tilted his head to the side. "What did Father say to you about the journal?"

"That I should have brought it to his attention straight away."

Lucius arched an eyebrow. "Did he? That's interesting."

"Why?"

A smirk crept up one side of Lucius's face. "Who do you think killed Fawley?"

A stab of fear sliced through Severus. It hadn't been Levina, she'd been too surprised when he told her. But his uncle had left that note in the folio—was Sebastian capable of murdering someone just to keep the Luminis Praesidium research out of Severus's hands? He didn't know what to believe anymore.

"I don't know," he said honestly. And after the discovery that Lucius wasn't keeping things to himself, he didn't feel comfortable sharing his fears about his uncle. "Do you think it's connected to the other two men?"

"From that notebook, I'd say it's an excellent chance. You don't think Mrs. Yaxley is involved at all?"

"If she is, she didn't know they'd be killed," Severus said.

"That doesn't mean her hands are clean," Lucius said. "You should do more digging."

"I don't have that much time," Severus said. "I leave for Hogwarts in two days."

"Then I suppose you'll have to work quickly," Lucius said. "How are you set for your duel? Satisfied that you'll be the victor?"

"Thanks to you," Severus said, a little bitterly. "I was meant to do this on my own."

"Next time I'll let you get yourself killed," Lucius said coldly. "I was going to offer to take you out to practice again, but clearly you'd rather I didn't."

"No, I appreciate it, it's just—" Severus growled. "It would have been nice to not have to rely on you."

"You'll have the entire term to prove whether you can stand on your own. And Goyle's not going to fight fair. Make sure you're prepared for that." Lucius waited a beat, then, "Not tonight—I'm going to be seeing Narcissa—but tomorrow, we'll get one last practice in. I won't hold back. And you can tell me what you find at Levina Yaxley's shop."

#

Severus arrived at the back door of Yaxley's at his usual time the next morning, his stomach in knots. The last thing he wanted was to ruin the chance for his apprenticeship to continue the following summer, but he also wanted to follow Lucius's advice and understand what had been going on with Fawley. And as much as Severus wanted to believe otherwise, Levina had to be involved.

The door didn't budge when he pulled on the handle. He tried again. It was locked tight.

He frowned. Even when Levina hadn't come in the other day, the door had been open for him. Severus knocked; a blast pushed the door open.

Levina stood at the worktable, cauldrons already bubbling. She turned to look at him, not pausing in her preperation work. "All right, Severus?"

"Yes, fine."

"You're sure?"

He blinked. Her body was tense, her shoulders rigid. She seemed ready to spring.

On me?

"As well as I can be for tripping over a dead body, I guess."

She studied him, then nodded once. "And Abraxas? He—spoke to you?"

Severus swallowed. "About—"

"The journal," she snapped. "My private journal that you should never have touched, let alone disenchanted."

"Levina, I—"

She waved a hand. "It's done. I'm partly to blame; I should never have trusted that it would be safe here."

His heart in his throat, he broached the subject again. "About the journal. Was it—I mean, did you know Fawley was going to be attacked?"

"Of course not."

The bite of her words wasn't convincing.

"Really?"

Levina stared at him. He stared back, unblinking.

"Forget you saw that damn journal, Severus. Forget about Fawley, and keep your nose out of it, you understand?"

"How am I supposed to just forget?" Severus asked. "I fell over his body, Levina. I can't just pretend that never happened!"

"You must," Levina said. "For your own good, Severus."

He tightened his jaw. "No."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not letting it go. I'm going to find out what happened."

She sighed. "On your own stubborn head be it, then. Get to work. We'll have a last-minute rush for Hogwarts packs, so that's all you'll be doing today."

He was midway through his twelfth set of packs when Mr. Yaxley appeared at the door and stuck his head in. "Snape, you have visitors."

Severus frowned, looking toward Levina.

"Go on," she said tersely. "But take those packs with you and stock them. And don't take long."

Severus scooped up an armful of the packs and headed into the shop.

Who would be visiting me?

His mother, Sabine, and Steven were at the Hogwarts display, Steven's eyes wide with excitement.

"Severus!" Steven ran up to him, arms outstretched. He stopped short of a hug, eyeing the packs in his brother's hands, but hopped from one foot to the other. "Do you like it here? This is so cool! Do you get to do potions all day in the back with Mrs. Yaxley? Uncle Sebastian says she's really smart. Are you learning a lot?"

"Yes," Severus said, maneuvering around his brother to set the packs down and begin stocking them. "What are you doing here?"

"You invited us," his mother said, adjusting Sabine's position on her hip.

Severus had completely forgotten about the letter he'd sent his brother last month. It felt an eternity ago.

"Well, today's a bad day to visit," he said, shoving the packs onto the shelf. "We're really busy."

His mother took in the half dozen customers in the shop with an arched brow and turned back to him. "It's a wonder the Yaxleys have enough to keep you occupied if this is their standard for a crowded shop."

Severus bristled, lining up the year five packs. "It comes and goes. There'll be another dozen people in within ten minutes."

"Mum, can I get one of the Hogwarts packs?" Steven asked, picking up the year one and turning it over in his hands.

"You need a Hogwarts letter," Severus said, grabbing the pack from his brother and putting it back on the shelf.

"I'd like to meet this Mrs. Yaxley that everyone seems in awe of," his mother said. "Why don't we all go into the back, and you can introduce us? You did say you'd show Steven the shop."

Severus rolled his eyes and placed the last pack on the shelf. He gestured to the shop. "Here's the shop. Levina doesn't like people coming into the back room."

"Don't be rude, Severus." Levina's voice floated over from the door to the storage room. "Of course your family may come back for a short visit." She disappeared back through the door.

"Fine. Come on, then. Don't touch anything," he said to Steven.

Steven yanked his hand back from the barrel of beetle eyes he'd been reaching for, and put both his hands behind his back as he followed his brother. "What potions do you get to brew? Are you doing experiments? Do you get to test them on people?"

"Why do you always have to ask so many questions?" Severus grumbled.

"Because you don't answer very many. So I have to ask a lot, so you'll answer one. And I really want to know, too. So do you?"

Severus growled and pushed open the door to the backroom, stepping aside so that his family could enter.

"I'd step away again, but these brews can't be left anymore, I'm afraid," Levina said, glancing up as they entered. "Lovely to meet you, though. Severus says so little about his family, I'd started to wonder if he even had one."

"He'd like to think not," his mother said.

Levina laughed. "Well, teenage boys are like that, aren't they? When my Corban was his age, he wanted nothing to do with me or his father."

Severus's mother said nothing.

"Does Severus ever blow up anything?" Steven asked Levina.

"He hasn't yet. At least, not in my shop. There is a first time for everything, though, isn't there? Speaking of brewing, though, I'm afraid I do need him to get started on another set of potions."

Thank you, Levina. Severus breathed a sigh of relief. His family would go, and he could get back to work.

"You're welcome to stay and observe for a bit if you like."

Damn you, Levina.

Sabine cooed and peered into a cauldron, then looked at Severus as if to ask what he was waiting for.

His mother made no sign of leaving.

"Can I help, Severus?" Steven asked, stepping up to the cauldrons.

"No. And I don't fancy you lot staring at me while I'm trying to get this done." Severus pulled the ingredients out of his brother's reach and began the potions.

"Please?" Steven asked. "I'll do just what you say." Steven's face was hopeful, his eyes wide and blinking up at Severus.

A bit of Severus's irritation fell away, replaced with the guilt that had prompted him to invite Steven in the first place.

"Don't touch anything unless I say to," he said.

Steven grinned and nodded. "What are we making?"

"Numbing Potion on the end, Forgetfulness Potion in the other two." Severus tossed some ingredients into the cauldrons as he spoke.

"Oh! I know how to do the Numbing Potion!" Steven said. "Next is the stewed slugs!"

Steven reached across the workbench for the slugs, knocking half the other ingredient jars over, contents spilling across the table and the floor. Some escaped beneath the cauldron into the fire, and a sickening haze filled the room.

"I told you not to touch anything!" Severus shouted through his coughing.

Levina was beside them in an instant, clearing the air with a flick of her wand and dousing the fires beneath the cauldrons.

"Let's call this done, Severus. Clearly you need to spend some time with your family. Have a good term."

"What? It's not even lunchtime. I'll clear this all up—"

"Goodbye, Severus. I'll let you know if I decide on an apprenticeship next summer."

Severus froze. "Levina, I'm sorry. It won't happen again—" He could barely hear his own voice over Steven's sobbing.

Levina grimaced and shook her head. "No, it won't. Out, all of you. I have work to do."

His mother pulled Steven out into the front of the shop, the door open, waiting. Severus glared at them and stormed out the back door.

He was seething, his hands balled into fists at his side. He went further into Knockturn Alley rather than going up to Diagon Alley where he knew his family would be.

Not only had he failed to get more information about Fawley, now he wasn't sure if he'd even have an apprenticeship next summer.

Because his little brother was a pest who couldn't follow directions. His wand hand twitched. He wanted to go back up to the shop and hex Steven, to teach him—

Severus stopped in his tracks, icy fear gripping his heart. It was a warm day, but that wasn't why he was suddenly sweating.

He turned back to stare down Knockturn Alley toward the Yaxley's shop on the corner. What was he thinking? Hexing Steven because he'd spilled a few ingredients? Was he destined to be just like his father?

No! I'm nothing like him. But he was still seething with anger. He didn't trust that he'd be able to resist if he spoke to Steven right then. But there was someone he could direct his anger at.

He moved back up to Diagon Alley, casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself to keep his mother and brother from spotting him as he walked by. The gleaming white stone of Gringott's towered over the street, and he strode toward it.

A goblin stood beside the door his uncle had taken him through on his last visit. Severus nodded to him and reached for the handle. The goblin snapped his fingers, and the handle vanished.

"No unauthorized persons allowed," he said.

"I'm here to speak with my uncle. Sebastian Snape."

"Appointment?"

"No, he's my uncle," Severus said, his irritation rising.

The goblin peered at him, then sniffed. "Very well." He stepped aside and allowed Severus access to the door again.

As he went up each step, his irritation grew, as though simply being in the vicinity of his uncle was enough to spark his anger.

The door at the end of the corridor was closed. He went in without knocking.

Sebastian's head snapped up at the intrusion, an irritated scowl on his face that grew when he saw his nephew.

"Shouldn't you be at Yaxley's?" he asked, turning back to his work.

"Steven stopped in and mucked everything up. You'll be pleased to know I might not get asked back next summer because of it."

Sebastian didn't look up, but he did arch an interested brow. "Your brother's actions are responsible for you losing your apprenticeship? Seems unlikely."

"Maybe she's afraid she'll turn up dead, like Fawley."

The brow darted back between Sebastian's eyes, his head snapping up again.

"Fawley's dead?"

It was Severus's turn to frown. "You had to know," he said. "I found your note."

"What note?"

"In Fawley's folio, the one he kept all his research in from Hogwarts."

"The fool told you about that, did he?"

"He told me about the research. I found the note after he died."

Sebastian exhaled, tossing his quill onto his desk. "What are you implying, Severus? That I killed Fawley to keep you from finding information on Luminis Praesidium? Isn't that a bit of a stretch, even for you?"

Severus set his jaw. The way it sounded, when said out loud, did seem unlikely. But the note—

"So it's a coincidence, then? That he's dead, and suddenly his research is gone?"

"Did you ever see any of the research, boy?"

"No."

"And neither had Fawley. At least, not in the twenty years since I wrote that note and destroyed what he'd kept."

"Twenty years? The parchment was new—"

"The folio was enchanted to keep parchment from becoming too brittle," Sebastian said.

"So the fact that he could give me answers on Luminis Praesidium wasn't the reason you tried to make me quit?"

"I wanted you out of his shop because I didn't want you involved in whatever dodgy business he was doing in Knockturn Alley. And clearly, I was right to be concerned."

No. But it made sense; it all made sense. But then that meant Fawley's death had to do with the information Severus had found in Levina's notebook.

Somebody was lying to him. He just didn't know who.

"I don't know why Abraxas placed you at Fawley's. Yaxley's, I understand. I'm sure you've learned a lot from Madam Yaxley this summer. But Fawley? He did it to spite me."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Right. Because Abraxas spends all his time thinking up ways to irritate you. The only reason he and Lucius care anything about me is to spite you."

"I'm tired of this game, Severus. Tired of you running to the Malfoys for solace. You know what you are to them? A pet, boy. Lucius Malfoy whistles, and you salivate to do what he asks, because you think he's your friend. He's not your friend."

"You don't know anything about Lucius!"

Sebastian slammed his hands on his desk and stood, leaning forward so that his face was close to Severus's own.

"I know a damn sight more than you do, clearly. You know what his thoughts are on mixed blood, don't you? How could you possibly think he would ever consider you his equal?"

Severus frowned and shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

Sebastian's eyes rolled. "Lucius Malfoy would never befriend a half-blood, Severus. And you know it. You're a tool for him to use, nothing more."

"Half-blood? My parents are both magical," Severus said. "You know that. So does Lucius."

Sebastian cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing. "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"Don't you find it strange that you've never known any family outside of your parents and me?"

"I just thought they were, dead, I guess."

"No. They're not dead. Your mother's family disowned her when she married your father. Because our parents are Muggles."

Muggles. He'd never known anything about his family, but he'd just assumed they'd been all magical. He shook his head. "That's—that's not true. You gave me your mother's wand when I was nine. You're either lying now, or you were lying then."

After a moment of tense silence, Sebastian sighed and pulled out his pocket watch. "I'll wager you haven't had lunch yet. Let's get something to eat. "

#

"Your grandmother," Sebastian began, waiting until they'd both eaten before speaking, "was an incredibly kind and generous person. Nobody could ask for a better mother. When I got my letter from Hogwarts, we were all enamored with the thought that magic really did exist. It was an intoxicating feeling. And when Silias got a letter, our mother thought, just perhaps, that there was a little magic in her, as well. While we were at school one term, she bought that wand. We never found out how."

"Did it work for her?"

"Not the way she was expecting. You see, Severus, despite what some of your friends may tell you, there's a bit of magic in every living thing. Muggles just don't have enough to do proper spells. My father came home that afternoon and found her crushed under a bookcase, the wand in her hand. We can only imagine what happened."

"But you don't know? If it had been my mother, I'd have—"

"You'd have shrugged and moved on, judging from your behavior this summer," Sebastian said, his voice cold.

"If she was a Muggle, found dead with a wand? I'd have asked questions, found out where she'd gotten it. Maybe it was jinxed or cursed or something. Someone who'd sell a wand to a Muggle can't be that honest."

"If only we'd had you around to investigate," Sebastian said dryly. "All of these things were considered and cleared. They did not find who sold the wand, but they did find the last spell cast. The Levitation Charm."

"If she was a Muggle, she wouldn't be able to cast it—you said so yourself."

"Why are you so determined to prove she wasn't a Muggle?" Sebastian asked. "Is it because it would shame you to know that your blood isn't as pure as Lucius's?"

"I'm not ashamed!" Severus said, frowning. "If I cared about any of that, I wouldn't have Lily as my friend, would I?"

Sebastian arched a brow. "One token Muggle-born does not reveal your true feelings, boy. Just as the Malfoys accepting you despite your 'dirty blood' does nothing to dispel theirs."

Severus wanted to contradict him, but he knew his uncle was right. Lucius had displayed his prejudice too often to deny.

"Ah. Speaking of blood—" Sebastian stood, the smile of greeting on his face telling Severus all he needed to know about who had just walked in before he said a word. "Rebekah. How nice to see you. And Steven." His eyes flicked from Severus and back to—Severus assumed—his mother. "I understand there was some sort of mishap at Yaxley's. Hand over this little devil, and we'll leave the three of you to have a chat."

His mother passed Sabine into Sebastian's outstretched arms, and then his uncle was gone. His mother, Steven by the hand, took Sebastian's place.

Steven's tear-streaked face tempered Severus's anger, but only slightly.

"I have nothing to say to you," Severus said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Severus, I'm s-sorry," Steven said, his words catching on a hiccuped sob.

"Hush, love," his mother said, rubbing his back. "It was an accident." She turned her eyes to her eldest son. "And your brother knows that."

Steven's eyes—wide, hopeful—locked onto Severus. Severus scowled. He had moved on from the impulse to hex his brother, but he wasn't about to forgive him for getting him tossed out of Yaxley's.

His brother's lower lip trembled.

No. Let him cry. He should be sorry.

"I'm going back to the manor," Severus said, pushing his chair back.

His mother stared at him for a moment, then nodded. She withdrew a piece of paper from her robes and handed it to him. "Here. You might find you'll want this during term."

He looked at the paper. It was a permission slip to visit Hogsmeade with the rest of the students. It hadn't even crossed his mind. Severus frowned. "You forwarded my school list to me earlier; why didn't you send this as well?"

She tilted her head to the side and exhaled heavily. "You're a bright boy, Severus. But I sometimes wonder if that's going to be enough."

"Enough? For what?"

"Life, son. I held that back with the intent of sending it with a reply to your next letter. When one didn't arrive—"

Severus felt a stab of guilt.

"—I decided the best thing to do was to take you up on your offer of a visit, disingenuous though it might have been."

Another stab of guilt. This was a far cry from the disinterested mother of last year. Had his father's absence given her her own voice back? Was this who she might have been all along?

"Is that it?"

"Yes, Severus. That's it. Say goodbye to your brother."

He thought she was talking to Steven, but her eyes were still focused on him. Severus stood, intent on just walking away. But then he stupidly glanced at Steven, and his little brother's tear-streaked face and trembling lip brought even more guilt.

"Bye," he said, stuffing the paper in his pocket and sprinting out the door.

#

"Damn!" Severus shook his hand as Lucius's stinging hex broke through his pitiful shield.

"That was pathetic," Lucius said, mirroring Severus's own assessment. "You're not focused. What did you find out at Yaxley's, anyway?"

"Nothing. I didn't get the chance." He told him about the visit from Steven, but left out going to see his uncle.

"Don't worry about it. She'll have you back next year if Father has anything to say about it." The grin that spread over Lucius's face was more than a little lecherous. "And he'll have plenty to say. Now, focus, or the whole summer we spent practicing will be of little use in your duel."

Severus nodded, but Lucius's words didn't make him feel better. Was it really the loss of the apprenticeship that was preoccupying his mind, or was it his uncle's revelation? He didn't care about having Muggle ancestors, did he?

He didn't have time to dwell on it before Lucius was casting another jinx at him. Severus barely got his shield up in time.

"If you aren't going to be bothered, neither am I," Lucius said, putting his wand away. "I only hope you find your concentration before you meet up with Goyle."

"No, wait, Lucius. I'll do better." Severus closed his eyes and cleared his mind as he'd been doing for Occlumency. Lucius was right. He needed to be focused on the duel if he had any chance of coming out the victor. "All right," he said after a few moments. "I'm ready."

An hour later, Lucius clapped him on the back with a grin and they made their way back up to the manor, both of them dripping with sweat. "Duel like that against Goyle, and you'll have no trouble. If he sees you're easily distracted, he'll do whatever he can to throw you off your game. Don't let him."

"I won't."

"Good. Oh, and we've not talked about the group at all. Are you ready to take charge of it?"

The group. Severus had forgotten all about it. "Uh, no. I guess not."

Lucius groaned. "You haven't even thought about it, have you?"

"What's there to think about?"

"You've met a good many people this summer, Severus. Some of them have children who will undoubtedly be sorted into Slytherin. The more you know about them now, the less digging you'll have to do once term begins. And how are you going to handle things if one of the older members disagrees with you?"

"I'll tell them to back off and that it isn't their decision," Severus said.

Lucius snorted. "I'm sure you will. And don't forget—"

"Merlin's beard, Lucius, I don't need a bloody to-do list!"

His friend's smile faded. "Pardon me for trying to make sure you had everything in hand."

"If I don't, it's a bit late now." He sighed, ticking off items with his fingers. "Make sure to keep up the reputation by hanging around Mulciber and following his lead, take charge of the Slytherin group and choose this year's addition, don't let Goyle get the better of me in the duel, try not to get caught murdering Potter and Black."

Lucius's grin returned. "I never mentioned that last one, but it's apt."

Severus smirked. "I added that."

"It seems like you'll do fine," Lucius said. "Oh—and about the new addition to the group. There'll be a boy named Crouch coming in this year. From what I know of him, he'll be in Slytherin. If he is, he'd make an excellent candidate. Watch out for him."