Chapter 30: Holiday Happenings

As the end of the first term neared, Severus was well on his way to mastering any Legilimens spell cast on him. As Melison had explained, there were several strengths of the spell, depending on the skill of the caster, and with the help of a new technique in one of his books, Severus had already progressed through the first four.

The final month of the term brought little change to the school – although the clamor about Pandora's death and Remi's expulsion had dimmed to a buzz, Severus was still troubled with dreams of both girls. His successes in Occlumency were due in part to the effort he made every night to prevent the dreams. At this, he was less victorious. Still, he felt confident that with a bit more practice, he could eradicate the haunting nightmares forever.

A few days before the end of term, Severus was approached hesitantly by Jonathon Minch as the older boy sat in Melison's office, thumbing through an Occlumency book disguised as an advanced Potions text. Although now a full-fledged member of the Slytherin group for over a month, the first year continued to seem on edge-particularly when he was alone with Severus.

"Lucius wants to talk to you," he announced. Severus stared at him, annoyed. Why couldn't Lucius come himself? "He-he's in the Common Room," Jonathon clarified, his eyes flicking from Professor Melison, who had one eyebrow cocked expectantly, to Severus, who went back to his book.

"I'll be there when I'm through," he retorted tersely. Jonathon fidgeted nervously for a moment.

"He told me to bring you straight away," he explained. Severus glared up at him, enjoying the effect his stare held over the younger boy.

"Go on," Melison advised from his desk. "You may take the book with you, son. I expect you to have it read when you return next term." Severus stood, grudgingly closing the volume as he continued to stare down the first year.

"Thank you for the book, Professor," Severus called over his shoulder as he pulled the door closed behind him. Jonathon led the way back to the common room, as though Severus didn't know where it was, and kept checking over his shoulder nervously to assure himself that the older boy was still there. It was odd, but since Pandora's death and Remi's confession, the first year Slytherins – as well as most of the first through third years in the other houses – became increasingly uneasy when Severus was around. He quite liked it.

Lucius looked up from The Daily Prophet he was reading when the two younger students entered, and lost no time in getting to the point.

"Father has asked that you not bring your family to this year's Christmas Party."

"I wasn't aware that I was invited," Severus answered.

"Don't be daft, Severus. It's a standing invitation, every year. This year you'll stay with us straight through New Year's." Severus smirked. The less time spent at his place, the better.

The train ride home was uneventful to the point of being dull, and though he and Lily chatted off and on, Severus found himself relieved when they pulled into King's Cross. He spotted his family on the platform immediately, and trudged over.

"Welcome home, Severus!" Steven gushed. He wore a grin from ear to ear, and eagerly presented the trolley he'd procured for his brother. Severus settled his trunk and Kenoa's cage onto the trolley, taking a startled step backwards as his infant sister began to squeal and hold her arms out him. With a beaming smile the boy was unaccustomed to seeing, Rebekah handed the child to him. Severus' brows were furrowed in annoyance, going still further when they began to walk towards the barrier. He tried to give the child back to his mother, but when Rebekah took Sabine in her arms, the baby began to wail. Rebekah, her eyes shining, pressed the bundle back onto her eldest son. Severus didn't move quite fast enough to avoid taking Sabine again, his annoyance delving to depths it had not previously known when Sabine's crying ceased and she cooed happily.

"Mum, can't you –" he began, holding his sister out again.

"You're doing fine, Severus," Rebekah said, taking control of his trolley.

"Uncle Sebastian said you're studying advanced Potions," Steven said, scurrying to keep up with his older brother's steps. "Are you? Do you still like the professors? Do you have much more class work this term?" Severus rolled his eyes at his brother's questions. It seemed as though the four days he had until he left for Malfoy Manor were doomed to be intolerable.

When they arrived home, Severus was pleasantly surprised to find that Silias was nowhere to be found. Neither his mother nor his younger brother commented on the fact, but Severus knew that it was odd for his father to be away on a weekend. Still, he didn't feel the need to bring it up; he felt as though pointing out his father's absence would serve only to end it somehow. His good mood grew as Sabine finally allowed herself to be given back over to their mother, and Sebastian turned up just before dinner.

Severus' smile of greeting faltered as Sebastian's cool gaze fell upon him. "Severus. Good to have you back. Though I understand you're to leave before the week is out?" His uncle made no attempt to hide the disapproval in his tone.

"Yes," the boy answered, feeling no need to expound. Lucius must have sent an owl before leaving the school.

"I see. Suppose you and I have a little stroll, Severus? Rebekah, there's time before dinner?" At his mother's nod of assent, Severus sighed and followed his uncle from the house.

Lily was out in her yard when they passed; she waved at the pair, but frowned when Severus shook his head and glanced towards her.

"I really don't care for another lecture about Lucius," Severus said when they'd reached the end of the street. Sebastian glanced at him, but remained silent until they reached the river. He leaned on the bridge and stared out over the water.

"Did you know Remi Bagsby well?" Severus' blood turned to ice. He stared at his uncle, but Sebastian continued to look at the water.

"I'm sick of hearing about first years," Severus muttered.

"I know her father, William. He works directly under me at Gringott's. Good man. Terrible shame how he's changed since his daughter was lost."

"Lost?" Severus asked, his heart sinking.

"Oh, you hadn't heard?" Sebastian asked, his tone implying that he'd known this would be news to the boy. "The basis of her expulsion was worrisome to the ministry. Feeling she was a danger to herself as well as others, they've sent her to Lordrum's." Severus felt as though the blood had drained from his body; Lordrum's was a mental institution. He wasn't very familiar with it, but he did know it was only a small step above Azkaban. "Too young to be sent to Azkaban," Sebastian went on. "I suppose they hope that she may reform at Lordrum's. But I fear poor William will never be the same; with his wife gone these past four years, little Remi was the center of his world."

Severus suddenly felt angry that he was being made to feel guiltier than he already did. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked, his jaw set. "I didn't force her to confess, did I?"

Sebastian turned his sharp gaze on his nephew. "No, boy. You did not." He straightened and placed a hand on Severus' back. "We'll be late for dinner if we don't hurry." Severus remained silent, his body tense as he walked ahead of his uncle, the unarticulated accusation running through his mind.

Sebastian was at the house every day that week; it made Severus uneasy, his uncle's presence bringing back their conversation, and with it, the doubts that he tried in vain to suppress. He made it a point to rise earlier than the others to be at Lily's door as soon as breakfast was finished, and took the Evans' up on their request that he stay for dinner. He was able to avoid Sebastian for three days; on the morning of the 23rd – just a day shy of his leaving for Malfoy Manor – his uncle was waiting for him in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Severus," Sebastian greeted cordially.

"Morning," Severus mumbled, eager to gobble down his food and get away.

"Planning on another full day with your friend?"

"Yes."

"I see. Don't you think you ought to stay home a day before you leave for another six months?"

"If I hadn't been invited to Lucius', I would have stayed on at Hogwarts," Severus said sharply. "I hate coming back here, and I haven't tried to hide it, so don't look at me as though I've shocked you!" The look Sebastian gave, however, was far from shocked; the older man looked resolved.

"Well. You weren't always this selfish, boy. "

"Selfish? For trying to find where I belong?"

"You belong here, boy. With your family."

"I don't!" Severus' voice had risen, his face flushed. "I belong at Hogwarts, where there are people who understand!"

"And what is it you think they understand? That you despise your parents? Or is it that they tell you what you want to hear –"

"Why do you care?" Severus asked. "I've noticed Father hasn't been here all week. I can only assume that it's to do with you. And why are you suddenly here all the time? When Steven and I needed help, really needed help from you, you were here maybe twice a month."

"Things have changed," Sebastian said, calmly meeting Severus' angry stare.

"All that's changed is that Sabine is here," Severus said. He hesitated only a moment before going on. "But that's all that matters, isn't it? It's no great mystery, you know. If I've figured it out –" Sebastian's chair seemed to scream as he stood, the legs scraping across the floor until it crashed into the wall behind him. He looked furious, his hand halfway to his wand before he seemed to catch himself. Sebastian leaned onto the table, his face inches from his nephew's.

"It is unwise to speak of things of which you know nothing! Your intuition is sadly lacking, and your unfounded accusations will land you at the wrong end of a killing curse some day." He locked eyes with the boy, his gaze smoldering with anger. Severus felt a twinge of fear at the man before him; he seemed filled with a righteous anger that far eclipsed anything he'd seen in his father. After a moment, Sebastian stood, straightening his robes and replacing the chair at the table. "If you do not believe that your mother cares for you, boy, think of Steven. Though his faith may be misplaced, he does idolize you. You would do well to remember that from time to time." He was gone before Severus had found his voice.

The conversation with his uncle had the desired effect; Severus now felt sufficiently guilty enough to stay at home, trying his best not to let Steven's constant stream of questions irritate him – much. He was able to quiet the younger boy by handing over his Charms textbook, sure he couldn't cause too much trouble with whatever he happened to pick up from it.

Rebekah appeared in the doorway to the living room just after lunch, Sabine in her arms. "I'm going to Diagon Alley for some last-minute shopping," she announced. "Look after Sabine for me, I won't be gone long." The boys tried to protest, but Rebekah seemed not to hear them as she set the girl down next to Steven on the floor, then promptly flooed out of the house.

"She ever leave her with you before?" Severus asked. Steven shook his head, but began playing peek-a-boo with the baby. Severus rolled his eyes and went back to his Occlumency book. He felt her stare almost immediately, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Severus lowered his book and returned the stare with as stern a glare as he could manage, but Sabine did not look away. With a sniff of annoyance, Severus went back to his book, steadfastly ignoring the infant's gaze.

It was some time later when he realized he was no longer having to ignore her; setting aside his book, he saw that his brother was still deeply engrossed in the Charms book, only Sabine's blanket beside him.

"Where's she gone?" Severus asked immediately. Steven looked up, startled, then glanced around, jumping up when he realized their sister was missing. "Stay here," Severus ordered. "She can't have gone far." He saw her from the doorway of the living room, lying on the floor in front of the basement door, fast asleep .As he stepped into the corridor, his father's hunched figure came into view, and Severus halted. Silias' back was to the living room, and as Severus watched, his father stretched a hand out towards the sleeping infant.

A brilliant halo of light suddenly surrounded Sabine, and when Silias' hand came in contact with it, he was flung backwards into the wall. He cursed and Disapparated, leaving Severus to rush over to his sleeping sister. The light had vanished, but he could feel the warmth of it on Sabine's skin. He furrowed his brow and brought her into the living room, his eyes going from the infant to his younger brother.

"That's what you wrote to me about, isn't it?" Severus asked.

Steven managed a feeble nod; his skin was ashen, as though he'd just seen a ghost. "But-but Father hasn't been around much lately. Not since the last time – is Sabine okay?"

"How do I know? She's asleep, and she doesn't seem to be hurt," Severus said. "It's fine, Steven, go back to your book." But even as he spoke the words, he wasn't sure he believed them. He frowned down at his baby sister as she continued to sleep.

Despite Sebastian's outrage at Severus' insinuation that morning, he couldn't shake the feeling that Sebastian had a hand in whatever protected Sabine. It was a gift her brothers did not have the good fortune to share, and the thought that she should be singled out for safety when they had suffered so much made the seed of jealousy embedded in Severus' heart grow.