The Time Travel Crew
Chapter 9: Severus is busy
For Severus, life was hectic. After retrieving the key to the Potter vault, Severus scoured around the house in search of as many necessities as he could find - couple of robes, some cutlery, and a good number of books and framed photos of all three Potters, three albums and a couple of cushions from the ground floor and a few useful appliances from the kitchen (a blender, an oven, a toaster and a small refrigerator along with a stove and a few utensils) that he shrunk, were all he could find in one piece. He stuffed them carefully in a duffel bag he conjured.
He bade Pomona goodbye before apparating to Cokeworth, where he stopped by a nearby, still open shop and bought a toothbrush and some toothpaste before heading to the Evans's house.
The house was just as Severus remembered it, small with red, polished stones at the corners. In the dark, Severus could barely notice the moss that dried on the walls and decorative bricks and the ivy that was still in its initial stages of growth.
Dumbledore and Lily seemed to have done the job for Dumbledore wasn't around and Lily was moving around the ground floor of the house, with Harry still in her arms.
Severus knocked on the door.
"W-Who's there?"
"It is I, Severus Tobias Snape. I told you that you were a witch when you flew off from the swing at the park and made that flower bud bloom. You didn't take it very nicely at first -"
The door was flung open.
"Oh! Severus, thank goodness!" Then Lily laughed nervously, "I've become paranoid."
"Not your fault."
"Mad-Eye will be proud." she said drily and Severus laughed. And it struck him that Mad-Eye was alive as well!
The house was barren. It looked like Petunia had done away with everything in the house after Mr. and Mrs. Evans's deaths, but it wasn't anything, magic couldn't recover.
Together, they started conjuring enough furniture in the bare house to last Lily and Harry for the night and the next morning, especially in case they had visits from the ever so friendly neighbours. The rest of the the things could be taken care of the next day.
After it was all over, Severus turned to Lily and said, "I know this isn't the right time, and I cannot live with the guilt anymore, Lily. please forgive me for calling you that...that name back in our fifth year. Please."
Lily studied him for a long very moment (and Severus had to try his hardest not to squirm like a little boy who stole a cookie under her gaze) and then said with a smile, "Sev, would you mind if I named you my next child's godfather?"
Severus felt a happy, light feeling settle in his chest - he had been forgiven! He nodded, an unusual big goofy grin on his face.
Before he bade her good night and headed back to Hogwarts he gave her a small vial of dreamless sleep potion. Then he disapperated to his house at Spinner's End and found the recorder and just to be sure he played it. The words in parseltongue sounded just like they did before he time traveled.
He put the recorder into his pocket and disapperated to Hogwarts. It was past midnight when a very content Severus finally lay his head on his pillow and gave in to a non-induced slumber for the first time in a long time.
The next day, he had difficulty getting out of bed and to his good luck, Dumbledore had declared a week off for the students on account of the defeat of Voldemort. Severus would need to revise the syllabus he taught his students, for he couldn't remember what it was all about as in his time, the board had changed it in nineteen eighty-three.
And, that was one thing he hadn't thought of when he decided to go back in time...What else had they forgotten?
Harry and Lily were the limelight of the Wizarding World that day and would be from then on. Wizards and witches seemed to have forgotten all about the statute of secrecy in their bid to celebrate.
Owls and celebratory sparks filled the air much to the befuddlement of the Muggles who studied bird behaviour and the celestial bodies.
But, Severus spent his time shopping in disguise while everyone was distracted. He borrowed the key to the Potter vault and in order to buy whatever Lily is and Harry would need but didn't have. And what do you know, most things were given away for free on account of Voldemort's defeat!
Severus snorted at this madness left Diagon Alley with his purchases. His visit to the Cherished Heart, as Lily called her home, was peaceful at first. Lily had already arranged the other things Severus brought the previous night. So while she put away the puchases, Severus began cleaning up the walls without magic - their neighbours were muggles - after Lily cast a charm on the bricks and walls making it easier to scrub the moss away.
Severus's visit was marred in the end by the appearance of Black and Remus Lupin. Severus didn't give in to Black's taunts as he would have done had he mentally been twenty-one. He simply bade Lily and Harry, who decided to call him "Sev", a farewell, and left not before confunding Black into signing up for Auror training.
That would keep him out of Severus's way for a few years and maybe a few more.
The days went on, Pettigrew was arrested without a trial and lessons resumed at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was busy with the Wizengamot trials and keeping Severus away from persecution.
Severus was having a bit of a difficulty with his house students whom he was given the charge of the moment Dumbledore employed him. The students, not unlike last time, had created quite a commotion after Voldemort's downfall, with most of their parents either on the run or under scrutiny. But Severus, having previous experience, handled it faster than he did in his time.
Lily, like her father, used to enjoy making wine of any fruit she could get her hands on. That was why she began the process of wine making, a profession she would now take up for a living. She also had plans of starting her own tailoring shop. A little magic on both, the vine and the sewing machine could do wonders.
Not that the money in her vault wouldn't surfice, but this would help it go a longer way and keep her mind off her grief for her husband at the same time. The neighbours were very helpful as well. Their visits and their small cakes or fresh cookie batches kept Lily busy and all in all, Severus just knew she would be able to stand on her two feet again in no time.
The next thing Severus, Minerva, Pomona and Filius needed to worry about was the Longbottoms. Planning their moves was easy, but Filius insisted on putting a charm on Frank and Alice, that would send an alert to Severus if they were in danger before the actual date, and Severus had the presence of mind to create an illegal portkey - while the Ministry was still in chaos - that would lead him straight to the Longbottoms.
But one day, the day before the Longbottom's would be attacked, while correcting the abysmal essay not worthy of a fifth year, a house-elf brought him Pomona's message requesting his presence in the Headmaster's office.
Severus frowned. What was it that happened which needed her to call him without prior warning? Or had she mentioned it to him earlier when he wasn't paying attention? And why now? They needed to concentrate on the following day.
Severus shook his head and headed to the Headmaster's office.
He gave the password to the gargoyle, stepped onto the staircase and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Dumbledore called.
Severus pushed open the door and walked in to see Pomona along with Filius and Minerva seated in chairs opposite Dumbledore.
"Severus!" was Dumbledore's warm greeting.
"Headmaster." Severus responded with a respectful nod. It had taken Severus everything he'd got not to show the happiness he felt when he had seen him on the night of Halloween.
"Come, have a seat." Dumbledore indicated an unoccupied chair next to Pomona. Severus did as he was told.
"Severus, Minerva, Filius," Dumbledore began. "Pomona has just come up with a splendid suggestion."
Severus said nothing, remembering just in time, that he was still the newest staff of the school. He simply sent a curious look at her. But Filius asked, "What is it?"
"She has proposed a way to promote house unity... Pomona, if you will?"
House unity! Severus couldn't help but open his eyes in surprise. Neville had suggested it once during their nightly meatings, he said the unity would hopefully prevent the Umbridge and Carrow, but Severus didn't really think it would be given importance.
Secretly he was all for the unity, but his younger self didn't believe in it, so he knew he would have to make a fuss to maintain his cover. He scowled in displeasure but remained silent.
Pomona cleared her throat and said, "The thought struck me just this morning. I was thinking, how good it would be without having to come across students quarelling over the place they resided in in this school. I would be nice to have them all understand their fellow classmates from other houses. And now, that since the sorting hat has made it so convenient for us by placing ten students in each house, every year, we make teams of four comprising of a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin."
"What will be the use of that?" Severus snarled.
Pomona gave him a displeased look and said, "I'm getting there, Severus." She softened her features and continued, "We'll let them meet every Sunday in the Great Hall, on tables for four, where they can come together to study and perhaps help each other out. We will have to group them carefully. They need to get to know each other...
"Then, to make it interesting, once a month, we could send them on educational excursions together... maybe even a hunt using clues, especially clues based on what they've learnt till that date... And we should do it such that they realize the importance of every house and how important it is for them to work together. I know I've not put forth my idea very nicely, but I do know that you have understood what I'm trying to get at."
Minerva sighed said, "I appreciate the idea Pomona, but won't the older students be too used to this rivalry, especially the Gryffindors and Slytherins."
Filius said almost immediately, "That is up to the Gryffindors and Slytherins. They should learn to put aside their differences. It's the very reason of this, - hmmm... Amongst us Professors, let's call it the House United Project - has come up, hasn't it Pomona? I like the idea and I believe, pardon me, Headmaster, I'm actually looking forward to it before it is even allowed. And even if the members from the two houses decide to have a tiff, I'm sure Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw with act responsibly and put the matter right."
Severus scowled and Minerva huffed. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling with mirth just the way Severus remembered.
Pomona shrugged, "It's just an attempt, so don't be surprised if it doesn't work. However, we could try it with the first to fourth years only since the older students might find it a bit too difficult to adjust. That is if it's alright with you."
"It isn't." Severus and Minerva said at the same time.
Filius looked at them gravely, "It is the two of you who will be the reason if the rivalry between your houses worsen. What do you think of the idea, Albus?"
Dumbledore leaned forward and said, "It's a magnificent suggestion. And if it succeeds, we may not have to worry about Lord Voldemort attaining any more supporters."
"Or he may get more supporters than just the Slytherins." Minerva said.
"Especially from the Gryffindor House." Severus said snidely.
Minerva put on a fake flush that looked so real, Severus was impressed.
"Now, now, Severus, just because Peter Pettigrew turned evil doesn't mean every Gryffindor will." Dumbledore said soothingly, "And besides, these group activities should prevent anymore from turning evil."
"We're going around in circles, Albus." Pomona said exasperated.
But Dumbledore caught on one flaw of theirs. He looked at them shrewdly, "I'm glad to see that none of you fear Voldemort's name anymore."
Severus silently cursed the Headmaster's observation, of all the things... However, Filius came to their rescue.
He simply shrugged and said, "Well, he's gone for now, hasn't he?"
"But he will return some day. What will you do then?"
"We'll have to see." Minerva said with a slight shudder.
Pomona spoke again, "So, Minerva, Severus, what do you think?"
After a moment of silence, Severus sighed and said, "Give me some time to think things over, Headmaster, Pomona."
"Me, as well." Minerva said tiredly.
"One day, Severus, Minerva." Dumbledore said in the air of expecting an affirmative answer.
Severus scowled and followed Minerva out of the room. At the door, he heard Filius say, "Not to worry, Albus, Pomona, I shall see to it that they agree."
Severus stalked to his office, sat down and rubbed his face. Oh, how he wanted to agree to the House United Project then and there.
"Severus?"
Severus jumped almost out of his skin. He turned around and saw Lily's head sitting in the middle of the flames in his fireplace.
"Lily, what's wrong?" Severus frowned and got off his chair and knelt by the fire. "I don't think you should be kneeling down."
It was nearing the end of November and Lily's belly was developing a bump.
Lily ignored him, "I hope you weren't busy, Severus. I just wanted your method for preparing the pepper-up potion for babies. Harry's just starting with the flu."
Severus shook his head. "I wasn't busy, Lily. Move aside, I'll come through. I'll bring the potion and the method with me. But see that you don't brew anything. Most potion fumes aren't good for you at the moment."
Lily rolled her eyes at his admonishing and disappeared from view.
Severus took out two large vials of the potion, both for babies and adults, from his stores and flooed to the Cherished Heart
"Thank you, Severus." Lily said as he handed them over.
But before Severus could stress upon her the importance of putting aside floo calling and brewing potions for a while, Lily said with a frown, "What's the matter? Why were you looking so upset back then? What's happened?"
He sighed inwardly. Lying to Lily was useless. But Severus couldn't tell her his true problems.
Instead, he said, "The old coot of a Headmaster and two of his three favourite Heads of House have decided to try promoting house unity."
"That's brilliant!" Lily said, after a moment of silence. "That's really really wonderful! That's exactly what Hogwarts needs... That is something that was needed centuries ago!"
Severus groaned, "Not you too, Lily! Most of my Slytherins have just come out of the recent happenings. At the moment, they're considered as outcasts among -"
"Among the Gryffindors only, Severus." Lily cut through his complaint. "You of all people should have noticed that Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs aren't as prejudiced as the Gryffindors...not that I'm trying to put my house down...but what's wrong with trying? If it doesn't work, you can give it up. Go on...go for it!"
"But the students -"
"If your students have something to complain about, you could just tell them that the Headmaster has made up his mind and you are in no position to -"
Severus's watch started beeping all of a sudden, it was the alarm that he set to alert him if the Longbottom's were unsafe! And this was earlier than it was supposed to be! Severus pulled himself together, trying very hard and succeeding in not showing Lily how afraid and disoriented he was for that small moment.
Severus gasped and said, "I'm late! I have to add a few more ingredients to my potion! See you later."
Without waiting for a response, Severus flooed back to to office and disillusioned himself and, hoping he hadn't made a grave mistake by wasting time in flooing back to Hogwarts from the Cherished Heart, he tapped on his watch to activate the portkey and he felt the familiar tug of a hook on his navel.
To be continued...