Chapter Three

Aurelius and Viorica

Aurelius was reviewing Owain on the flag board to make sure he had it down when Severus arrived, leaning on the door of the Auror's office to wait for his son.

"This shouldn't take more than an hour at most, Owain. You know where everyone will be if anything comes up," Aurelius told him.

"I can handle it," Owain assured him. "Jamie was giving me the basics of watching the board even before formal training."

"Yes, I know," Aurelius said dryly. "See you in a bit," he added, joining his father outside the door. "Hello, Father. I wasn't sure you were going to make it."

"We just got in this morning. Fortuna told us about it," Severus explained. "Harry sent me here to let you know they were just about ready."

"Let's go help make another widow-in-waiting then," Aurelius said, starting down the corridor.

"I hope you have enough sense not to call her that in the service room," Severus said critically.

"So, did you have a good holiday?" Aurelius asked, more to change the subject than actually wanting to know. A thin smile crept across Severus' face. Even at a quick glance, Aurelius decided it was best to rub his eyes and pretend he hadn't seen anything.

"Good? Good doesn't even begin to describe it," Severus admitted in a low, relaxed voice. "You see, I came up with this new game..."

"No! Father, I really don't want to know about..."

"It's quite alright, I can keep it clean," Severus assured him, but Aurelius was still refusing to look up. "We made a deal that during our holiday, if at anytime someone brought up any of the children, or any worries of what awaited us at home, the other person could get even with them for doing so," he explained with a wicked smile. "So 'good' is a vast understatement. It was glorious."

"And I think I'm scarred for life," Aurelius groaned, turning the corner towards the licensing office.

Despite having less than eight hours of notice, there was still a rather impressive show of support in the Ministry's service room for Mike and Delia, including Harry, Ginny, Tonks, Jamie, and Aurelius on one side, along with Jennifer, Severus, Lucky, Dale, Connie and Ron Weasley on the other. Thomas and Dennis Agate were standing with them near the front, and Percy officiated the ceremony.

Aurelius could tell from where he stood that his mother was having mixed feelings about their having a Ministry wedding in general, and she was quite glad so many had turned out. The majority of people in the room were solemn and supportive, believing this had been the right thing to do; only Delia's father was singularly worried about the speed and circumstances behind the marriage, but Thomas' firm and unyielding reassurances kept him from speaking out. He was terrified for his daughter, perhaps rightly so, Aurelius admitted. For the Postmaster and his daughter fell within very grey lines when it came to Garvan's protection; grey enough that Don might be willing to test it.

Thomas, it seemed, had taken the girl under his wing just as he had done with Beth, and was unlikely to keep an eye off of either one of them until Don was caught. If anything, it was Mike who as in the most danger... but then, as an Auror, he was always in danger anyway.

Aurelius was pulled out of his thoughts as the short ceremony came to an end with a kiss, and everyone began talking quietly. Aurelius immediately felt eyes on him, and grew intent when he realized it was Percy. After quick congratulations to the couple, Percy worked his way towards him by walking around the edge of the room. Aurelius stepped over.

"You have news, I take it?" Aurelius asked.

"Let's meet in Wizard Family Services," Percy suggested. Seeing the two of them walking back to the office, Connie slipped away to join them. Severus watched them go thoughtfully, then glanced over at Jennifer questioningly, knowing she had probably picked something up. She nodded at him knowingly, then turned her attention back to Mike and Delia.

Aurelius walked through an overgrown allotment and into the shed, locking himself in before taking out a special key. Then, he unlocked what looked to be the door of a tool cabinet. He stepped into a rustic kitchen with white-washed panels and a long row of square windows that looked out into the garden. Ginger and Viorica were in the kitchen, apparently working on lunch. Justice ran in from where he had been playing in the living room, offering his father a hug.

"Hey," Aurelius said, returning the hug and nudging him towards his small table and chair set under one of the kitchen windows.

"Hey! You're home early! I thought you had a training session with Owain first," Ginger said. "Have you had lunch yet?"

"Harry took over for me after the ceremony, and no, I haven't had lunch yet," Aurelius admitted. "Some coffee would be great too. I'm still tired from yesterday."

"I can start that," Viorica offered, getting up off the stool she was sitting on.

"Thanks, Viorica," Aurelius said, giving her a minute to start on it. "Actually, one of the reasons I came back early is to have some extra time to talk to you two before Ginger had to start getting ready for her shift tonight."

"Why? Did someone die I haven't heard about yet?" Ginger asked, putting Justice's plate down in front of him.

"No, it's nothing like that," Aurelius assured her, sitting on one of the stools. "I have the recommendations from the Wizard Family Services protection conference, Viorica. A few of them just filed a report for 'educational neglect', but a majority of them added the charge of 'abandonment or rejection due to magical ability'."

"What does that mean?" Viorica asked, putting down the coffee cup and sitting across from him.

"Well, the first charge means you can stay with your parents as long as you keep going to school at Hogwarts. You'll have a social worker checking up on you when you're home to make sure your circumstances doesn't get in the way of your schooling, or doing summer homework, or whatever. But the other charge means they can remove you for 'placement and eventual adoption with a wizard family'," Aurelius explained. "But before it comes to that, I want to make sure that's what you want to do. I know from what I've picked up from you that they weren't bad parents until you got that letter."

"No. No, they weren't," Viorica murmured. She felt her eyes starting to burn, taking off her spectacles to rub them. Aurelius immediately got up and went over to her, pulling her in just as she started to cry.

"I love being a witch... and I hate being a witch!" Viorica exclaimed through her tears. "I want to use magic... but they don't believe it! They don't accept it, even when I try to use it! They only come down on me, or they blame something else, or come up with some strange excuse..."

"I know, I know," Aurelius said with a sigh.

"I miss who I was... and who they were before magic. But that's not who I am now. It's me that's changed, not them. It's not their fault I'm different..."

"It's not your fault either, Viorica," Aurelius said firmly, gently pushing her back so he could look her in the eyes. "And it's nothing that you did. It wasn't caused by a fanciful birthday wish, or a mangled DNA pattern, or contaminated blood, or any of the other things you've ever wondered about that might have caused it. You're a witch because you're supposed to be a witch, and from everything I've seen, a damn good one despite not even being a third year yet. And I know a big part of you still yearns to be with your birth parents, so if you choose that first option, I don't blame you. But personally, I am very worried that if do choose to go back, this constant back and forth that your mind has been going through about loving who you are and hating who you are isn't going to be resolved until you graduate and get out on your own."

"I can't do it. I just can't do keep feeling this way for that long," Viorica said shakily, rubbing her face to fight the tears threatening to fall again. "I don't want to go back."

Aurelius nodded gently, hugging Viorica again and glancing at Ginger. She met his gaze, doing a fairly well job of keeping her composure despite the thoughts he had read from her in that moment.

"Ginger, do you have time to drop Justice off at the Pythers before work? I think I'm going to take Viorica out to the range for a bit."

"Sure, just don't bend my seven iron," Ginger replied. "Try to eat something, Viorica."

Aurelius sighed at that suggestion, knowing from the start that Viorica wasn't likely to do anything but pick at it. He wasn't surprised at all that she was still looking at her full plate glumly when he came back from getting dressed.

"All right, Viorica, let's go," Aurelius said, putting some clubs in a sling.

"Which course are you going to?" Ginger asked.

"Enchanted Green," Aurelius decided. "I'd rather go somewhere Wizard friendly for this first outing," Aurelius said, opening a small Portkey cabinet and pulling one off one of the rings. Viorica still didn't look as if she was in much of a mood to do anything, but Aurelius ignored it. Grabbing her hand and offering her the key, the two of them landed outside the clubhouse.

Viorica looked around curiously as Aurelius went in long enough to get a bucket of balls. It didn't look much different from a regular golf course as far as she could tell.

"I didn't know there were any Wizard golf courses," Viorica admitted as they walked towards the range.

"There aren't many. I only found out about this one after meeting another wizard while playing a round at St. Andrews," Aurelius replied. "It's the cheapest of the three clubs in Scotland, and trust me, it wasn't cheap. Especially as little time as I have to play these days. Ever played?"

"No," Viorica admitted.

"Here... you can use Ginger's clubs, since she's a leftie too," Aurelius said. "Let me show you a basic stance and how to grip and find ball position."

Viorica blinked, and before long was inundated with so many instructions on stance, grip, and swing that her mind couldn't think of anything else. Once he finally allowed her to swing on her own, his constant pauses to correct everything from her wrists to elbows to her back reminded her very much of how he taught defense forms and tried to adjust accordingly.

Finally he stepped aside and transfigured a couple of chairs, sitting down in one and throwing in an occasional comment or correction. A little while later, Viorica ran out of balls and slid into the other seat.

"Feeling better?" Aurelius asked.

"Sort of," Viorica said, rubbing her shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll give you a potion to put in your bath tonight; it'll keep you from stiffening up in the morning," Aurelius said. "I don't start until noon, so tomorrow morning we can go down and talk to someone in Wizard Family Services to get your court date." Viorica sighed in resignation.

"Okay," Viorica said somberly. Aurelius got up, turning the chair back into a handkerchief. Viorica did the same.

"So what do you think, Viorica? Do you want to try this again sometime?" Aurelius asked, stacking the buckets.

"Yeah," Viorica decided with a thin smile.

"We should probably get you your own clubs, then. Maybe we'll take care of that next time I'm off work," Aurelius decided. "Let's get a quick drink at the clubhouse, and then we'll go pick up Justice."

As they came near the building, Aurelius felt his chain react and he looked around warily, wondering who was watching them. Then again, they were out in the open, he thought, going in and getting them both a lemonade and bringing it to a small table. His chain had stopped reacting, but for some reason, the uneasiness that had come with it hadn't.

"Is something wrong?" Viorica asked in a low voice, seeing his change in expression.

"Not quite sure, actually," Aurelius admitted. "I think I'll feel better after we've picked up Justice, though."

"Alright," Viorica said. She finished her drink, looking out the window. "What a funny cart!" She commented when she was finally down to ice. Aurelius looked out to see a cycle-driven golf cart with an Imp in the seat, parked just outside of the clubhouse.

"I've seen them out here from time to time, although they're not very common," Aurelius said. "Most people at this green walk or Apparate. About done?"

"Ready," Viorica agreed, getting up.

As the two of them stepped out, Viorica immediately noticed a family lingering just outside the clubhouse in very old fashioned but neatly tailored golfing clothes, made up of a father, a teenaged girl, and a younger son. It was the girl that she recognized right away. Aurelius had recognized her too, but it was that split second on seeing the face of the wizard talking to her that made Aurelius throw up his walls full force, immediately extending them to Viorica as he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hello, Maxen!" Viorica greeted with surprise, Mari nodding to her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Maxen," Aurelius greeted as well.

"Mari, do be good and introduce us," her father said with a polite smile.

Just how are you doing that? Her father thought when he realized he was completely blocked from reading them both.

"This is my father, Worley Maxen, and my brother Eben, who'll be Sorted into our house this year," Mari introduced. "Father, this Auror Aurelius Snape and fellow Slytherin, Viorica Eddy."

"Ah, what an intriguing duo to come out of the clubhouse! The headmaster's son and the scientists' daughter," Worley replied.

However did you manage to get Sorted into Slytherin? Worley thought.

Aurelius felt Viorica's shoulder tense up.

"She's my daughter, actually," Aurelius said. Viorica's head whipped around and she stared at him in surprise. "I'm in the process of adopting her." Mari began eyeing Viorica warily, wondering how that was going to change House politics.

"Ah, I see," Worley said. That? Why would you waste time on that thing? he projected. "Well, congratulations are in order then! Perhaps I could treat you to drinks so we can chat?" he suggested amiably.

"Thank you, but we just finished ours and we need to run along now. But next time we will. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again," Aurelius replied.

Oh, you can count on that. To find out how you're doing that if for no other reason...

"Until next time then," Worley replied cordially. "Come along, children!"

Aurelius watched them step inside and finally exhaled. He pulled out his key ring, transporting them to Hogsmeade in front of Alicia's studio.

"Did you really mean that?" Viorica asked timidly.

"Mean what?" Aurelius asked, too concerned about what Worley had done to realize what she was talking about.

"About planning to adopt me," Viorica said uncomfortably. Aurelius immediately focused back in on her.

"Oh! Well, honestly, that's really up to you. I suppose I got ahead of myself trying to protect you out there," Aurelius admitted sheepishly.

"And what would happen to me, then, if I showed up at school and I wasn't a Snape after you said something like that?" Viorica pointed out with a smile. Aurelius shrugged gently.

"I still have enough influence in the House that I can make sure I'd be blamed for it in some way. It'd be a damn shame, though," Aurelius admitted. "Still, you have time to decide, after all, since we don't even have an official court date yet. But as I'm sure you can tell, Ginger and I have already made our minds up on our end. Either way, we'll support you no matter what you choose to do," he added for good measure.

"Actually, I've already made up my mind too," Viorica decided. "Besides, why would I have wasted a whole afternoon trying to figure out what 'cupping' is if I didn't want to stay?"

"Come on," Aurelius said with a soft chuckle, leading her to the Pythers' house and knocking on the door. It was followed by the sound of running feet, and the door popped open to reveal that Mickey was the winner, and Nicky was a close second.

"You're getting faster, Nick," Aurelius commented as they stepped inside.

Alicia peered curiously in from the studio door wearing an apron that was splattered with paint. Pyther looked out from the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron covered in treacle. Dawn appeared beside her father, covered in flour. As usual, the house looked as if someone had turned it upside down and had shaken it vigorously. Taking it all in, Viorica wondered if there was anywhere safe to step.

"Who are you?" Nicky asked curiously.

"It's that girl from the wedding," Mickey explained.

"It's Viorica!" Justice declared, running up to her enthusiastically.

"Hang on, let's start over," Aurelius said, pointing to the back. "That's Francis, but you can call him Uncle Pyther, that's Aunt Alicia... three of your army of cousins, Michael Marion, called Mickey, Severus Nicholas; Nicky, and Dawn Matilda... just Dawn. And this is Viorica, who is going to be a Snape once the formalities are handled. Justice, meet your new big sister."

As everyone else started to talk at once, Alicia sighed and took out her wand, tossing everything out her way to make a path. Then she walked straight over to Viorica, grabbing her arm firmly.

"You are not leaving here until I get a decent sketch of you, young lady. Security first, Rel," Alicia snapped.

"You're right, Alicia. Better go with her, Viorica," Aurelius said, watching as a somewhat confused Viorica got dragged to the studio.

"That's going to take a while, Aurelius, so you may as well stay for dinner," Pyther suggested. "Boys, why don't you pick up the living room?"

"It's too heavy to pick up," Mickey replied.

"Man, are you like your mother," Aurelius told Mickey, grabbing a toy off the floor and handing it to him. "Get sorting."

"I'm not old enough to be Sorted yet!" Mickey exclaimed.

"That'll do, Mickey, do as you're told. And your uncle is right," Pyther chuckled. "You are like your mother. Dawn, wash your hands and help them, please."

"At the same time?" Dawn asked, and Pyther nudged her towards the bathroom.

"She's like her mother too," Aurelius snorted as he came into the kitchen, Pyther chuckling at that with a nod.

"I must say, Aurelius, I was very surprised when I learned you'd taken on Viorica as a ward at all, and I'm just as surprised now on hearing that you're planning to adopt her outright," Pyther admitted, putting in the last of the tarts that he and Dawn had been making. "I thought you and Ginger had been dead set on only raising one."

"Well, you know how Father always talks about how falling in love is like a train wreck that hits the wall before you can avoid it?" Aurelius said.

"Oh yes, been there done that," Pyther agreed with a grin.

"I guess I learned that it can happen after meeting a kid who needs you too," Aurelius explained, helping Pyther clean the kitchen.

"Yes, I imagine that's something your parents understand very well," Pyther said with a smile. "Perhaps it'll give you some insight into how your mother feels about Corey."

Aurelius paused, thinking about it for a moment.

"You're right. It does," Aurelius realized. "I feel very different about Viorica than Justice. Not any less strongly; just different."

"Well, you'll find that's true if you have more than one child in any case, Aurelius," Pyther said with a smile as he began pulling things out of the icebox. "I'm very glad. I think adding her to your family is likely to benefit all four of you... at least until Justice is old enough to start getting jealous," he added mischievously.

"Oh, no. Let's not go through all of that again," Aurelius protested with a chuckle.

It wasn't until much later in the evening after both children had gone to bed that Aurelius finally had a chance to pull out his contact mirror to speak to his father. After a bit of a wait, Severus appeared in the mirror, and he could tell from the window behind him he was on the boat.

"Sorry, I hope it's not too late wherever you are," Aurelius said.

"Just an hour later locally, but we always keep the boat clock on Greenwich time when Quintin is on it; it's not worth the battle," Severus said. "What did you want?"

"By chance have you met Worley Maxen yet?" Aurelius asked.

"No, although I do know who you're talking about; Mari Maxen's father. He's never shown up at the castle, but I suspect that will happen if Mari makes the Quidditch team this year; several of the Slytherin team have graduated," Severus mused. "Why do you ask?"

"I had a really strange encounter with him at the golf course today," Aurelius began, Severus immediately looking confused.

"At a golf course?" he asked.

"There are three wizard ones, super exclusive and made up of all old families; I'm a member of one called the Enchanted Green. I had taken Viorica up there to give her a lesson and so that she could work off some steam. As we were finishing up, we ran into Worley and his kids just outside the clubhouse. He's telepathic," Aurelius explained.

"In what way?" Severus asked with a frown.

"He has truth seeking abilities, as well as a way to project thoughts at people. I had my shields around Viorica and I, but he kept throwing his thoughts at me to try and get some sort of response. I pretended I wasn't picking them up because I don't want him to know what I can and can't do," Aurelius explained.

"I agree, don't give away too much. What sort of thoughts was he projecting?" Severus asked.

"Let's just say they weren't friendly, and neither was what I was reading from his expression," Aurelius said. "He's an old family purist, and I felt like I was talking to a long lost cousin of Nelson or Lucius. I'm really concerned about what he's capable of doing, especially with how strong he is."

"Even so, he seems to be keeping a very low profile, considering how long Mari has already been going to Hogwarts," Severus observed.

"I have a feeling Mother may be the reason behind that. I bet he was trying to hide what he was capable of doing for as long as possible so that he could get settled," Aurelius said.

"One moment," Severus said, looking away from the contact mirror, having a short conversation before focusing in again. "Mari hasn't had any passing thoughts in class that would indicate it, but your mother says that most students don't even think about their parents except for after major tests and before holidays. Mari's off-topic thoughts are usually focused on House politics and how to get herself into a better position."

"I picked up a similar message from her today myself... typical Slytherin stuff," Aurelius agreed. "But now that we've had a run-in and he knows he can't hide his ability anymore, I doubt he'll be avoiding Hogwarts any longer."

"Yes, I believe you're right. Our family in particular should be practicing their Occlumency skills. I want you to subtly get word to the other members of the family that one of the Maxens is a Truth Seeker, and ask everyone to keep you and I up to date if anyone else has an encounter with the man so we can monitor it," Severus advised.

"Alright, I'll take care of it," Aurelius promised, closing the contact mirror.