Chapter 6: Not so bad
By: Alexa V.
Regulus had been watching Severus closely since the 'three vs. one' fight at the dorms. The curiosity to his change was like an itch in his brain that needed to be scratched. Days after the incident, Regulus noticed that Severus would always leave the great hall at dinner before anyone else did.
"It's itching again." Muttered Regulus, while he was reading.
"What's itching?" Asked Barty Crouch.
"Nothing, Crouch." Regulus said, closing his book on History of magic.
"If you'd like, I know a thing or two about itches, especially ones in the head." Barty said, pointing a finger to his forehead, his twitching form bending closer to Regulus so that Madam Pince wouldn't hear them.
"I told you it was nothing, must be an ant bite I got from the grass yesterday." Regulus said, dismissing Barty.
"If you say so, it'll be dinner soon. Do you think they'll serve mudblood this time?" Barty said, chuckling at his own dark humored joke. But Regulus remained stoic.
"Hush, lest Madam Pince hears you." Regulus said, shoving his quills and parchments into his bag to head to the great hall. While Barty followed close, an involuntary twitch in his walk.
At the great hall, Regulus kept a close eye on Severus. Watching the scrawny pale boy's every move to the point he didn't even touch his own plate. The moment Severus stood up to leave, Regulus excused himself to head to the restroom. Heading out the doors first he waited in corner behind two gargoyles that sat by the doors of the great hall, out of sight from anyone. He watched Severus walk out of the great hall and approach the door to the stairs leading to the Hufflepuff house. Regulus followed Severus closely. But rather than go further down to the Hufflepuff house he approached a food themed painting that directed him towards the kitchen where all the house elves were. Before Severus could tickle the pear Regulus spoke.
"What are you doing down here?" Regulus asked.
"I could ask you the same thing." Severus said, turning to face Regulus who stood behind him.
"Is this where you've been going to every night after dinner?" Regulus further questioned.
"And what's it to you? Curious?" Severus asked, approaching Regulus.
"No, just making sure you don't cause enough trouble as you've already stirred." Regulus answered, lifting his nose up high.
"If you're so curious, would you like to see for yourself?" Severus said, gesturing to the food themed painting.
Regulus didn't answer but Severus took it as a yes, turning back to the painting. Severus tickled the little pear, it giggled like a child and the painting gently swung open. What met both of them on the other side were numerous house elves who greeted Severus joyfully.
"Master Severus! Master Severus has arrived yet again tonight!"Joyfully cried out a house elf.
"Master Severus, would you like a cup of tea?" Asked another female house elf, named pinky.
"Not tonight pinky, I'm here for the same reason as the previous nights." Severus said, his strong features had softened when faced the house elves, smiling as he talked gently to them.
This surprised Regulus to an extent. But he made an effort to seem unfazed.
"Oh! Master Regulus has joined master Severus, would master Regulus likes some tea?" Asked pinky, happy to see Regulus.
"I'm good, Pinky." Regulus replied, with a gentle smile on his face. This gesture made Pinky's ears flap happily.
"Now come around, same as the previous nights. Who's knee has been aching today?" Severus said crouching down to their level as he spoke.
"Same as always master Severus, old Volky here. But Volky loves master Severus' knee balms. They make Volky feel young." Said a house elf named Joobey, who brought an old wrinkly house elf towards Severus.
"Master Severus." Croaked Volky lifting a hand.
"Hello again Volky." Severus greeted with a warm smile, gently holding Volky's hand and leading him to a stool.
Taking a out the knee balm he brewed, he gently placed some on Volky's knees. Volky exhaled a relieving sigh.
"Has he been doing this for awhile?" Regulus asked Pinky who still stood next to him.
"For the past few nights, yes! Master Severus came down here to give us house elves knee balms and they work wonderful! He also's promise to visit us lots of times. We house elves love visitors." Said Pinky happily.
Regulus seemed to ponder for a while before quietly approaching Severus, crouching down to the house elves' level as well.
"May I help?" He asks Severus, Severus nodded and pulled out an extra knee balm to give to Regulus who also began to work on the other elves' knees.
After placing knee balms on the house elves' who needed it, the two stayed for tea while the house elves told them about their day. Showing them whatever mushrooms and herbs they found in the forest. Doing tricks and told funny jokes and stories. Regulus glanced at Severus from time to time and he couldn't deny that what he was seeing right now was pure genuine smiles and attention for the house elves.
'I guess this isn't so bad.' Thought Regulus to himself.
While Severus was watching the Elves begin to clean the kitchens and Pinky was still telling Regulus how she met a centaur the same day in the forbidden forest. Iris protruded Severus' thoughts.
'You look like you're having a wonderful time.' Iris said through telepathy.
'I won't deny that, the house elves give a certain comfort from being surrounded by stuck up idiots the whole day.' Severus replied, watching, as Pinky make grand and wide gestures using her hands while talking to Regulus who simply nodded at her, while smiling.
'Does that include me? I'm hurt.' Iris said, Severus could hear her chuckle.
'Are you watching us right now?' Severus asked.
'Mhm. Through a bubble.' Iris confirmed.
'A bubble?' Severus asked.
'I'm taking a long bath, Lily's eyes have been watching me the whole day so this small minutes of privacy is quite relaxing.' Iris said, while sighing. 'You both haven't talked today as well?' Iris asked. Severus remained silent for awhile before answering Iris.
'No.' Severus said, grabbing a dozing little house elf by the arm before he could fall off his chair. Bringing the child closer to him, the little house elf snuggled into Severus' robes.
'I see.' Iris said, a tone of understanding in her voice. 'But I also noticed that you managed to have slowly achieved your goal. I'm surprised though. I thought Regulus would take a little while longer before actually following you. But it seems it only took a few short nights before his curiosity gave in.' Iris said, changing the tone of the conversation.
'Regulus was born a naturally curious boy. He's smart that way.' Severus answered.
Regulus glanced at Severus to see the little elf cuddling close to the tall pale boy. Turning back to Pinky who now diverted the topic from meeting a centaur to telling a funny story about a weird mushroom that grew two more heads whenever she picked it.
'Wish I could say the same for his older brother.' Iris said, chuckling. This made Severus chuckle as well, luckily his laugh was simultaneous to Pinky's story so they all had a light chuckle.
After awhile, Volky approached them, this time without the assistance of Jooeby.
"Come now, Pinky. Master Severus and master Regulus also need slumber. Can't have them getting caught after curfew cause of us." Volky said, gesturing for Pinky to come down from the stool. While Joobey picked up his son from Severus' arms. Pinky's ears fell flat, saddened that the night was already over. Regulus patted her head lightly.
"Don't be sad, we'll be back." Regulus said, reassuring Pinky. This changed Pinky's whole mood entirely. Happily jumping down the stool.
"Good night masters Severus and Regulus." Pinky happily greeted. With a small curtsy.
Regulus and Severus also curtsied back with a small bow. Gentle smiles on both of their faces.
"Good night Pinky." Regulus said, making Pinky giggle.
The four house elves disappeared in a blink, leaving Severus and Regulus alone in the kitchen.
"I think you have a little admirer." Severus said to Regulus, while walking out of the kitchen.
Regulus said nothing for awhile as they walked towards the dungeons. Only when they were close to the entrance did he speak.
"You're not going to make me open it for you again, right?" Regulus asked glancing at Severus.
"Not tonight, I'm in a good mood." Severus said with a light chuckle. "Hopefully I could say the same thing for you?"
Regulus paused before answering. "Yes." He replied.
"By the way." Severus pulls out another knee balm from out of his bag and handed it to Regulus. "I heard a yapping bird mention that Kreacher's getting a bit old and slow, you might want to use that for him." Severus said, approaching the wall to whisper the password.
"Are you referring to my brother?" Regulus asks. As the wall creaked open sideways.
Severus lifts a brow at Regulus, confirming his question.
"Thank you, Snape." Regulus mutters.
Both boys entered the dorms.
Severus suddenly awoke in a sweat, his heart felt as if it were about to burst. What met him when he awoke were glowing eyes that stared right through him.
"I'm surprised you haven't screamed this time." Iris said, floating above him.
"After being constantly around you for days, I've gotten used to it." Severus said, scooting to the side, swinging his legs over the bed to sit upright. His back against Iris who still kept staring at him.
"You're still having nightmares?" Iris asked.
Severus didn't speak nor flinch at her question. In a simple nod he confirms it. She floated to change her position into sitting with her legs crossed, hovering inches over his bed.
"I can take them away if you'd like, or would you prefer that I enchant you to have dreamless sleep for the rest of your life?" Iris asks, genuinely.
It took Severus a while to reply, he was actually considering what Iris had offered. But he declined.
"No thank you, although appreciated. My nightmares help remind me of my goal. It helps me focus, tells me not to be blindsided." Severus says, standing up from his bed to walk to the window of his dorm, staring at a school of fishes who froze in place. "I know it will only stop once the dark lord is gone and I can rest easy, knowing that any threat towards Lily ceases to exist." He finishes. Turning to his side, Iris' face meets him instantly, had he not been used to her, he'd have flinched in surprise.
"Stop brooding." Iris says.
"I'm not brooding." Severus replies.
"You're brooding."
"I'm not."
"You are. Stop it, you're too young to have wrinkles in between your brows." Iris says, flicking the skin in between Severus' eyebrows., before floating away from him. A jolt of energy courses through Severus, as if his magical core was equally jerked by Iris' gesture. This made Severus shiver.
"I completely understand your urgency and fears. I too wish to avoid a future where the old coot uses a boy, we both do not wish to exist, who is barely even eighteen to do the old man's job for him. But I also insist that you enjoy yourself with this opportunity I have given you. Not many are given the chance to rewrite their past and create a new future." Iris said, approaching Mulciber's sleeping form, while Severus was trying to shake off the nerves. She sighs heavily while staring at Mulciber.
"I'm surprised of myself." Iris mutters.
"Of what?" Severus asks.
"I'm not usually so emotional. When you're a god you tend to care very less over many things. But this-" Iris says, pointing a finger to Mulciber's forehead. "-this really irritates me." Iris says, muttering her words in a seething dark manner.
"Ignore him, right now he's harmless." Severus says. Approaching Iris. "Why did you wake me up, Iris?" Severus asks the deity, whose eyes seemed to have dimmed as she continued to stare at Mulciber.
"Your progress with Regulus, how is it?" Iris asks, turning away from Mulciber, approaching the door. To float to Regulus' dorm.
"We're in good progress, I'm sure that as long as I stick close to him he'll soon trust me." Severus said.
"That was smart of you to aid the house elves with those knee balms you brewed. I honestly thought Slughorn would have given you a hard time before allowing you to use his ingredients to brew." Iris said, floating over Regulus as she spoke.
"Pfft, only after I agreed that you and I will be joining his next little gathering with his favorites. After that it was smooth sailing." Severus said, blowing strands of hair from his face as he recalled how Slughorn insisted that he and Iris join the party.
"Oh, kindred souls, you dragged me into it? That plump old man and his stupid little parties, it encourages competition and biases. But rather, he sees it as boasting material. Chances of great wizards and witches to have once been his students. How gullible." Iris said, her face contorting into disgust as soon as she heard Severus had agreed on her behalf. There was a brief silence that passed them for awhile, but Iris could see it in Severus' eyes that he wanted to say more. After awhile he finally spoke.
"But I realized a problem in the midst of this little mission." Severus says, following Iris. Stopping at the door.
Iris who had brushed a strand of hair off of Regulus' face turns to look back to Severus, who answered the questioning look in her eyes.
"Crouch, he's wary of me. I feel his stare boring into me whenever he's in the area. Recently he also seems to be sticking too close to Regulus. If he catches wind to what we're planning he'll make sure it never happens. He was a headache to deal with when I tried to protect Potter from him, yet he still managed to grasp the boy where he wanted him." Severus explains, nodding his head to Crouch Jr. who slept in a fetal position on the bed closest to the door where Severus was leaning on.
"I'd have loved to offer to deal with him myself, but with the amount of enemies you have in your dorm alone, I'm afraid that I can't keep up with watching over every single one of them. I hate having limits. Makes me feel like a mortal." Iris says floating towards Severus.
"You really need to control your god complex." Severus says, rolling his eyes at her.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny, Viper." Iris said, sarcastically. Jerking her head, she mutters to Severus. "Can't talk any longer than this, we'll continue this conversation tomorrow."
Before Severus could protest, Iris snaps her fingers. Severus opens his eyes to find himself in bed again.
'Out of all the things I had gotten used to when it came to her. I don't think I'll ever get used to that.' Severus thought to himself, when a brown pudgy owl hooted at him, perching at his bedside table. It held a letter at its beak. Taking the letter from the owl he scratches it's neck.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any treats for you. So maybe this will do for now." He says to the owl, while continuing to scratch its neck and head. The owl hooted in delight.
Turning the letter over, Severus felt his stomach drop as he read who the sender was. Quickly he opened the letter to read its contents.
In the great hall, numerous owls swooped around dropping letters to students. Iris who sat at the Gryffindor table, next to a pile of unopened letters from different admirers from school, was picking through her vegetables, she was agitated. Nipping at her thumb.
'That was close, way too close. It was brief but I felt Taranis' essence, he had passed through this timeline. My essence must have slightly overflowed, but it wasn't enough to give Taranis my exact location. I need to limit myself from using my powers until I'm sure he's nowhere near this timeline.' Iris thinks to herself.
She was also hesitating whether she should tell Severus, but as she had decided against informing the boy. He had appeared right before her in ragged clothing, clutching pieces of parchment tightly in his fist, he creased it. This surprised Iris, Severus never went out of his dorm on a weekend, much less in the morning where everyone could see him in his ragged outfits. She could feel his urgency. Before she could open her mouth to ask him what was wrong. He hands her the letter he received that morning. Iris takes it from him, reading the first line alone was enough to completely garner her full attention.
Dear Severus,
I am delighted to inform you that news of your gallant act and intelligence in Potions class had reached my beloved, Narcissa and I. It pleases me to know that you had already used my gift to you as a means to show your betterment from your inferior classmates. I can assure you that this achievement will not be unrewarded and unheard. This will further prove your right to a place within our kind and our cause. The dark lord will be pleased to know that a talented wizard such as yourself will be joining us very soon.
I also invite you to a ball that Narcissa and I will be holding in our manor. I shall sponsor you as my protege and hope that you will come. I plan to introduce you to many of my associates, take this opportunity as a means to numerous doors awaiting to be unlocked by you. I will provide you with the necessary attire if you choose to attend, free of charge, take it as another gift from me to you. I do hope that you still recall the formal dance lessons that Narcissa had taught you in your second year, for you will be needing it for this event. Before I end this letter, forgive my pertinence but I hear that you have recently gained the eye candy of a very powerful and important Pureblood of french decent and is the last of her line. If you would like her to be your plus one, I would be tremendously overjoyed and highly encourage you to bring her to the ball.
With the highest regards,
Lucius Malfoy
By the time Iris had finished reading the letter, Severus had already sat down in front of her, ignoring the hard stares of the many Gryffindors. Iris, in her most stoic of faces, calmly folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. Returning it back to Severus, who took it without a word. Both of them stayed silent for what felt like forever before finally they spoke in unison.
"What should I do?" Severus asks.
"I don't know." Iris responds.
Another pause passes the two again before speaking.
"Has this happened before?" Iris asks.
"No, this has not happened in the future I know." Severus replies.
"He's flaunting you, after the whole mermaid scale incident." Iris says.
"I am aware." Severus answers.
Both fell into silence again, inhaling deeply simultaneously.
"Attend it." Iris says.
"What?!" Severus says, aghast that Iris had just asked him of such a thing.
"I said, attend it." Iris repeated herself. Severus inched closer to Iris from across the table, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"I thought I told you that I am not and will never associate myself with the likes of them in this lifetime, ever, again."
"If it's a ball that the Malfoy's will hold, then surely the Black family will be there as well, and since Regulus is there star child, his parents will also use this opportunity to flaunt him to their many associates.. Like peacocks in a zoo. You can grab this opportunity to get closer to Regulus." Iris answered back, a determined look in her eyes. Severus, couldn't find anything to say in regards to what Iris had told him. "Lucius also mentioned that he would be introducing you to his associates, what are the chances that Tom will be there as well?"
"Now that is a very little percentage, Iris." Severus said.
"Well whether he's there or not, you have nothing to lose, Regulus would still be there and if Tom does arrive then it would be hitting two birds with one stone." Iris said.
Severus hesitated, memories of his death flashed before his eyes. Iris could sense why he dreaded the ball, reaching across the table to hold his hand. Severus flinched at the contact, but for some reason he felt calm at her touch, he wasn't sure whether this was her power or her presence alone.
"Don't be afraid. I'll be there with you. Did you really think I would allow my little Viper to prowl the grassy planes alone? I will make sure nothing happens to you." Iris said, reassuring Severus. Grasping his hand tighter at her promise. Severus focused on her blue eyes as she spoke, calming down he finally began to speak again.
"What should I write back?" Severus asks.
"Tell him you're coming and you will be bringing me. Also you don't need a new set of robes, I'll be handling that." Iris said, smiling as she did. Conjuring parchment, ink, and a quill under the table. She hands them to Severus helping him write his response.
Lily stood at the entrance to the great hall. She felt entranced as she stared at both Iris and Severus, Iris held Severus' hand as they both stared into each other's eyes. She didn't know how long she stood there until she heard someone speak next to her.
"Lovely couple aren't they?" Rosier said.
Lily scoffed at him and turned to leave the great hall but Rosier continued to speak.
"And where are you going mudblood? Aren't you glad to see Snape is out of your hands? I thought you'd be overjoyed. Now that he seems to know where he actually belongs." Rosier said, without turning to Lily.
Lily felt seething rage, turning back to Rosier she grabs his collar and brings him close to her face.
"Don't call me that foul name! And you're wrong, Sev, knows better. I know him better. You and your disgusting group will never reach him." She said through greeted teeth.
"Is that so?" Rosier said, tilting his head smirking at her, reaching to her hand to pull it away from his collar. "Then would you like to know where that letter he holds right now came from?" Rosier asks, fixing his collar while pointing at the letter Iris held in front of Severus while they talked. Lily didn't answer, but by the look in her eyes, Rosier took it as a sign to continue.
"It seems that Snape had received the Malfoy's invitation to their ball. I and the rest of important lines had received one as well, and it seems the Malfoy's had encouraged Snape to bring a plus one." Rosier said, further curling the end of his lips at the notion to Iris. Lily flinched, despite trying hard not to react. But Rosier saw right through her, continuing to speak, riling her up.
"News has spread between the Purebloods and important figures in the English wizarding world that Miss Alarie there, seems to be the descendant and the last living heir to a very important and powerful bloodline in France. Their union, if it were to so come, would highly be applauded by many, it would totally rid Snape of his foul muggle blood from his father." Rosier said, inching closer to Lily as he spoke. Observing Lily closely, riling her up as much as possible.
"Face it mudblood, you stand no chance. What have you to offer to him? Friendship? A pretty face? Hah! How naive and childish of you, in this world it's survival of the fittest. Marrying into a line almost equal to royalty, Snape's got good taste. You stand no chance." Rosier said, lacing his last sentence like poison.
Lily swerved to hit him square in the face, but a body had cast itself between them.
"Remus." Lily chocked out.
"Not causing trouble here are you?" Remus said, tilting his head as he spoke to Rosier.
"Oh Merlin, no. I know better than to squabble in arguments like simpletons. I was just giving miss Evans here some brief information I thought she could use for future purposes." Rosier said, tilting his head to peek a glance at Lily. But Remus moved to block her from him.
"Is that so? Then you don't mind if I take her from you, now do you? She and I have important matters to discuss in regards to our duties as prefects." Remus said, smiling at him. But this smile wasn't gentle, it was almost as if he was warning Rosier.
Waving his hand in a shooing motion Rosier began to walk away from the two to enter into the great hall.
"No, no, I don't mind. Do take her, this moment will be the last time I will ever come in contact with her anyway. So do rest assured, Lupin, was it?" Rosier said, turning to Remus before completely entering the great hall.
Remus only nodded, while Rosier smirked at him, finally he entered the great hall and disappeared.
"Are you alright?" Remus asked Lily, turning to face her.
"Yes." Lily answered.
"You know better than to swing a fist at the likes of Rosier. I don't know if I should ask, but what did he say to you?" Remus asked, genuinely concerned for her.
Lily took awhile to register everything Rosier said to her, opting instead to not share this with Remus she swayed her head side to side.
"It's nothing, Remus." Lily said.
Remus knew it wasn't just nothing, but he respected her wishes not to tell him. Leading her away from the great hall, they left.