Chapter 15: Samhain Wild Oats
"What are you doing for Halloween, Hermione?" It was Friday afternoon and Harry was packing for a weekend at the Burrow: broom, homework to grade, a small gift for Mrs. Weasley and a larger one for Ginny.
"I am doing some divination with Sybil tonight. Now that her predictions have been shown to be true, she is much more secure in her gift. She claims that Samhain is the most propitious time of the year for predicting the future. Then on Saturday my parents are having a party and I am going to see them and my American godmother. Do you want to come? I could invite all the Weasleys-my father's been asking after Ron's. They took quite a shine to each other back in 2nd Year at the Lockhart book signing."
"Well, I will convey the invitation, although it might be better if it were written formally. Can you have your mother owl us tonight?" Harry stood in the fireplace, preparatory to Flooing off.
"I will. Give my love to Ginny!"
Severus Snape frowned as he surveyed his image in the mirror. He was wearing his basic black robes and suit.
"You don't look much like a wizard in those, Severus," remarked Professor Dumbledore. "And how is the Minister costumed?"
"I am not sure, Headmaster. I did try to convey the idea of masquerade to Weasley, but I think he thought he had to Transfigure like a Animagus, which would defeat the whole purpose of meeting Muggles, to be sure." Severus examined his backside. "I'm not sure that dressing up in gauds like yours would suit me, Albus. I am not the Merlin type. I am more a Mordred at heart."
"You look more like a Death Eater than anything else in those black rags," observed Dumbledore.
"I am a Death Eater, Albus, and nothing will ever change that." A look of infinite regret contorted his face. "I made a great mistake in my youth, and nothing will ever unmake it."
Albus stepped into Severus' line of sight. "The Dark Mark disappeared with Tom Riddle's death. Your bravery and sacrifice and the money you have given to victims, the children you protected and saved from fates worse than death, the orphans you train now, all these good works have tipped the balance for your youthful mistakes. You are not a Death Eater, and you were not a Death Eater either by birth or inclination. Renounce that title forever! You were one of Riddle's victims, too, and you have righted a great wrong. You took great risks, spying for the Order, frustrating Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic at the same time. Everyone has forgiven you. Harry Potter and Miss Granger and all the Weasley family consider you a personal friend."
Albus put a hand on Severus' shoulder. "You have a new life before you. You have a great future to plan and live fully. Turn away from the Darkness at last, and look to the Light. There is nothing in the Past worth pining over; there is nothing in the Future to fear. These are your new orders from the Phoenix: rise from your ashes, Severus!"
Severus put his hand on top of Dumbledore's. "Oh, very well, if that will make it possible that I can get to this party on time, I will."
"Good man." Albus picked up the wand on the desk. "Is this the fake wand the Weasleys sell?" Albus waved it, and it turned into a rubber chicken with a squawk. " I shall have to get one myself next time I am in Hogsmead."
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Arthur Weasley was waiting for Severus at The Leaky Cauldron, dressed as a Gryffindor lion. Severus looked him over carefully for flaws. "Arthur, you cannot do any part of your costume by magic. It must all be removable, just like clothing, or cosmetics. I hope that you are not too warm in that fur, either. Dancing makes one quite sweaty."
"Oh, I'm not dancing, Severus. Molly said I was to avoid dancing at all costs. She doesn't think it safe for the Muggles." The Minister adjusted his costume, removing the spell on his shoes that had them looking like paws with real claws. "Is that more authentic?"
How should I know? wondered Severus. He wanted to check with Hermione, or even Harry Potter, but since he did not know where they were, he would just have to trust to his own judgment. "Just don't have the tail lashing about, and I think that will do." It will have to; he added to himself, there isn't time for any major change. "Come on out; we have to find a taxi."
Rose looked in the mirror at herself in harem silks. Should a woman on the wrong side of 40 even think of wearing a belly dancer's costume? This would probably be her last chance. Waiting wouldn't make her any younger. And she had taken all those lessons; now would be a good time to use them. The wig made her practically unrecognizable, so if she did anything foolish, she would escape the consequences of a too public display. She resolved to keep the veil up, as well. She sprayed on her favorite rose scented cologne, and for the street, she wore her opera cloak.
******************************************************************
The shabby hall in Kent glittered with the costumes of the arriving partygoers, glowed in the candlelight of a hundred pumpkins. This more than anything else put the Professor and the Minister at ease; it resembled nothing less than the traditional Hogwarts feast.
A lavish buffet ran along one wall; small tables with pairs of spindly chairs lined the opposite. The usually naked and unforgiving dance class mirrors were gilded with fanciful designs, and the floor thronged with dancing couples in all manner of garb. Waiting at the entrance were Aidan and Francesca Oldham, dressed in Elizabethan style. Francesca was the Virgin Queen herself; Aidan portrayed her father, Henry VIII. Most of the entering guests gave full court bows to the pair, and those that didn't were accosted by armoured knights, who saw that the proprieties were observed.
"How shall I announce you, honored guests?" a knight in black armour with gilt inlay addressed Severus.
"I am Mordred, son of Arthur Pendragon," said Severus. Arthur Weasley startled at this. "And this is the Gryffindor Lion."
"May I present to your Royal Highnesses Mordred, son of Arthur Pendragon, and the Cowardly Lion!" bellowed the knight.
"Arise, Prince Mordred," said Francesca. "Arise, King of the Beasts."
Severus stepped forward and kissed her hand, as usual. "Your Highness is in radiant looks tonight. Fanny, may I present a colleague of mine, Arthur Weasley? Good evening, Aidan. You must have gone off your diet. My colleague, Arthur Weasley."
"I rather expected you to arrive with one of our American Beauty roses, sir." Fanny was playing her part to the hilt. "They are perhaps not as delicate as the classic English rose, but they ought not be slighted by anyone."
"Of course, your Majesty," Severus bowed again and swept the Minister off.
"Severus, why did that knight call me cowardly? I've a mind to call him out!" Arthur Weasley was totally confused, and he had just set foot in the hall.
Severus grabbed him by the arm, to forestall his move to challenge the knight. "I am sure it was nothing personal, Arthur. He misheard me due to the noise." Severus saw that he would need to be minder for Arthur, with no possibility to dance, or converse, or look for Rose or his other acquaintances. He was rather anxious about Rose; she had been rather distant. He wasn't sure what he was doing with her, he wasn't sure why he was doing it, and he wasn't sure what he wanted to happen. Too many things were happening too fast for him to plan anything. But the first thing to do was to settle Arthur.
Severus ushered the Minister over to the buffet and helped him to fill a plate with tidbits. He watched the crowd as the dancers passed and the others drifted by. He was hoping to draw one of his acquaintances into conversation. Finally the Oldhams promenaded in his direction. "Our cousin of long ago, Prince Mordred, and the King of Beasts, we would engage your attention for this time," Fanny intoned in her best Gloriana style.
"As Your Majesties command," conceded Severus, bowing with a hand on his breast. "My companion is a stranger to this court, and here on an embassage. He wishes to meet the people I have met, to extend his own circle."
Aidan struck up a conversation with Arthur, abandoning the royal We mode for the typical professional man style of sizing each other up, while Fanny cut Severus out to a somewhat quieter spot behind the buffet.
"Russ, is this man a colleague, a relation, or a lover?"
"No, Fanny, he is my boss' boss. He wanted to see London and Londoners, and I am on assignment to show him the sights and a good time."
"Is he available? I have some other single women that could benefit from a dancing partner."
"He is married, has seven grown children, all of whom I have taught, and he is under strict orders from his wife not to dance, so that he doesn't hurt anyone."
"I see. Well, I will endeavour to keep him out of trouble for part of the evening, so that you may mix a little pleasure with your business, after the entertainment."
"What kind of entertainment are we expecting?"
"We have some specialty dancing tonight: various styles of folk dancing from other lands. It appears that the entertainment is starting now."
The lights dimmed save for the center of the room. Three strapping young fellows in Cossack garb came in to do a troika with all the athleticism one could desire. Then a Spanish beauty performed in flamenco style, an Irish lass clogged, and lastly, a raven-haired, dusky woman in skimpy lavender silks performed the Middle Eastern style commonly known as belly-dancing. This last dancer circled the edges of the crowd, playing up to the men, ending at the Gryffindor Lion. She coaxed and teased and patted, until poor Arthur was quite ensorcelled. She lassoed him with a filmy scarf, and he followed her like a dog on a leash. Severus was forced to catch hold of his Minister once again. "Let her go, Arthur. It is entertainment, not an assignation. Let her go, I say!" The woman disappeared into the darkness and the crowd. Arthur shook off the spell, and sniffed the scarf still around his neck.
"Attar of roses, such a divine fragrance for a divine dancer. Do you think I could meet her later, Severus?"
Severus came to his aid in removing the scarf, and muttered, "What would you do, take her home to meet Molly, Arthur?" He wadded up the scarf to stuff into his robe, when he caught the scent, too. "Roses! That was Rose?" He turned to Fanny, but she had drifted down the hall. Aidan, however, was still standing nearby. "Aidan, can you stay with Arthur while I seek out Rose? I will return her scarf and then come back." Severus started off, then turned back and asked, "Where might I find her?"
"Try the Ladies loo." Aidan was smiling a bit too broadly for Severus' taste. He enjoyed a good romance, and this one was looking very promising.
"What are you doing for Halloween, Hermione?" It was Friday afternoon and Harry was packing for a weekend at the Burrow: broom, homework to grade, a small gift for Mrs. Weasley and a larger one for Ginny.
"I am doing some divination with Sybil tonight. Now that her predictions have been shown to be true, she is much more secure in her gift. She claims that Samhain is the most propitious time of the year for predicting the future. Then on Saturday my parents are having a party and I am going to see them and my American godmother. Do you want to come? I could invite all the Weasleys-my father's been asking after Ron's. They took quite a shine to each other back in 2nd Year at the Lockhart book signing."
"Well, I will convey the invitation, although it might be better if it were written formally. Can you have your mother owl us tonight?" Harry stood in the fireplace, preparatory to Flooing off.
"I will. Give my love to Ginny!"
Severus Snape frowned as he surveyed his image in the mirror. He was wearing his basic black robes and suit.
"You don't look much like a wizard in those, Severus," remarked Professor Dumbledore. "And how is the Minister costumed?"
"I am not sure, Headmaster. I did try to convey the idea of masquerade to Weasley, but I think he thought he had to Transfigure like a Animagus, which would defeat the whole purpose of meeting Muggles, to be sure." Severus examined his backside. "I'm not sure that dressing up in gauds like yours would suit me, Albus. I am not the Merlin type. I am more a Mordred at heart."
"You look more like a Death Eater than anything else in those black rags," observed Dumbledore.
"I am a Death Eater, Albus, and nothing will ever change that." A look of infinite regret contorted his face. "I made a great mistake in my youth, and nothing will ever unmake it."
Albus stepped into Severus' line of sight. "The Dark Mark disappeared with Tom Riddle's death. Your bravery and sacrifice and the money you have given to victims, the children you protected and saved from fates worse than death, the orphans you train now, all these good works have tipped the balance for your youthful mistakes. You are not a Death Eater, and you were not a Death Eater either by birth or inclination. Renounce that title forever! You were one of Riddle's victims, too, and you have righted a great wrong. You took great risks, spying for the Order, frustrating Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic at the same time. Everyone has forgiven you. Harry Potter and Miss Granger and all the Weasley family consider you a personal friend."
Albus put a hand on Severus' shoulder. "You have a new life before you. You have a great future to plan and live fully. Turn away from the Darkness at last, and look to the Light. There is nothing in the Past worth pining over; there is nothing in the Future to fear. These are your new orders from the Phoenix: rise from your ashes, Severus!"
Severus put his hand on top of Dumbledore's. "Oh, very well, if that will make it possible that I can get to this party on time, I will."
"Good man." Albus picked up the wand on the desk. "Is this the fake wand the Weasleys sell?" Albus waved it, and it turned into a rubber chicken with a squawk. " I shall have to get one myself next time I am in Hogsmead."
***********************************************************************
Arthur Weasley was waiting for Severus at The Leaky Cauldron, dressed as a Gryffindor lion. Severus looked him over carefully for flaws. "Arthur, you cannot do any part of your costume by magic. It must all be removable, just like clothing, or cosmetics. I hope that you are not too warm in that fur, either. Dancing makes one quite sweaty."
"Oh, I'm not dancing, Severus. Molly said I was to avoid dancing at all costs. She doesn't think it safe for the Muggles." The Minister adjusted his costume, removing the spell on his shoes that had them looking like paws with real claws. "Is that more authentic?"
How should I know? wondered Severus. He wanted to check with Hermione, or even Harry Potter, but since he did not know where they were, he would just have to trust to his own judgment. "Just don't have the tail lashing about, and I think that will do." It will have to; he added to himself, there isn't time for any major change. "Come on out; we have to find a taxi."
Rose looked in the mirror at herself in harem silks. Should a woman on the wrong side of 40 even think of wearing a belly dancer's costume? This would probably be her last chance. Waiting wouldn't make her any younger. And she had taken all those lessons; now would be a good time to use them. The wig made her practically unrecognizable, so if she did anything foolish, she would escape the consequences of a too public display. She resolved to keep the veil up, as well. She sprayed on her favorite rose scented cologne, and for the street, she wore her opera cloak.
******************************************************************
The shabby hall in Kent glittered with the costumes of the arriving partygoers, glowed in the candlelight of a hundred pumpkins. This more than anything else put the Professor and the Minister at ease; it resembled nothing less than the traditional Hogwarts feast.
A lavish buffet ran along one wall; small tables with pairs of spindly chairs lined the opposite. The usually naked and unforgiving dance class mirrors were gilded with fanciful designs, and the floor thronged with dancing couples in all manner of garb. Waiting at the entrance were Aidan and Francesca Oldham, dressed in Elizabethan style. Francesca was the Virgin Queen herself; Aidan portrayed her father, Henry VIII. Most of the entering guests gave full court bows to the pair, and those that didn't were accosted by armoured knights, who saw that the proprieties were observed.
"How shall I announce you, honored guests?" a knight in black armour with gilt inlay addressed Severus.
"I am Mordred, son of Arthur Pendragon," said Severus. Arthur Weasley startled at this. "And this is the Gryffindor Lion."
"May I present to your Royal Highnesses Mordred, son of Arthur Pendragon, and the Cowardly Lion!" bellowed the knight.
"Arise, Prince Mordred," said Francesca. "Arise, King of the Beasts."
Severus stepped forward and kissed her hand, as usual. "Your Highness is in radiant looks tonight. Fanny, may I present a colleague of mine, Arthur Weasley? Good evening, Aidan. You must have gone off your diet. My colleague, Arthur Weasley."
"I rather expected you to arrive with one of our American Beauty roses, sir." Fanny was playing her part to the hilt. "They are perhaps not as delicate as the classic English rose, but they ought not be slighted by anyone."
"Of course, your Majesty," Severus bowed again and swept the Minister off.
"Severus, why did that knight call me cowardly? I've a mind to call him out!" Arthur Weasley was totally confused, and he had just set foot in the hall.
Severus grabbed him by the arm, to forestall his move to challenge the knight. "I am sure it was nothing personal, Arthur. He misheard me due to the noise." Severus saw that he would need to be minder for Arthur, with no possibility to dance, or converse, or look for Rose or his other acquaintances. He was rather anxious about Rose; she had been rather distant. He wasn't sure what he was doing with her, he wasn't sure why he was doing it, and he wasn't sure what he wanted to happen. Too many things were happening too fast for him to plan anything. But the first thing to do was to settle Arthur.
Severus ushered the Minister over to the buffet and helped him to fill a plate with tidbits. He watched the crowd as the dancers passed and the others drifted by. He was hoping to draw one of his acquaintances into conversation. Finally the Oldhams promenaded in his direction. "Our cousin of long ago, Prince Mordred, and the King of Beasts, we would engage your attention for this time," Fanny intoned in her best Gloriana style.
"As Your Majesties command," conceded Severus, bowing with a hand on his breast. "My companion is a stranger to this court, and here on an embassage. He wishes to meet the people I have met, to extend his own circle."
Aidan struck up a conversation with Arthur, abandoning the royal We mode for the typical professional man style of sizing each other up, while Fanny cut Severus out to a somewhat quieter spot behind the buffet.
"Russ, is this man a colleague, a relation, or a lover?"
"No, Fanny, he is my boss' boss. He wanted to see London and Londoners, and I am on assignment to show him the sights and a good time."
"Is he available? I have some other single women that could benefit from a dancing partner."
"He is married, has seven grown children, all of whom I have taught, and he is under strict orders from his wife not to dance, so that he doesn't hurt anyone."
"I see. Well, I will endeavour to keep him out of trouble for part of the evening, so that you may mix a little pleasure with your business, after the entertainment."
"What kind of entertainment are we expecting?"
"We have some specialty dancing tonight: various styles of folk dancing from other lands. It appears that the entertainment is starting now."
The lights dimmed save for the center of the room. Three strapping young fellows in Cossack garb came in to do a troika with all the athleticism one could desire. Then a Spanish beauty performed in flamenco style, an Irish lass clogged, and lastly, a raven-haired, dusky woman in skimpy lavender silks performed the Middle Eastern style commonly known as belly-dancing. This last dancer circled the edges of the crowd, playing up to the men, ending at the Gryffindor Lion. She coaxed and teased and patted, until poor Arthur was quite ensorcelled. She lassoed him with a filmy scarf, and he followed her like a dog on a leash. Severus was forced to catch hold of his Minister once again. "Let her go, Arthur. It is entertainment, not an assignation. Let her go, I say!" The woman disappeared into the darkness and the crowd. Arthur shook off the spell, and sniffed the scarf still around his neck.
"Attar of roses, such a divine fragrance for a divine dancer. Do you think I could meet her later, Severus?"
Severus came to his aid in removing the scarf, and muttered, "What would you do, take her home to meet Molly, Arthur?" He wadded up the scarf to stuff into his robe, when he caught the scent, too. "Roses! That was Rose?" He turned to Fanny, but she had drifted down the hall. Aidan, however, was still standing nearby. "Aidan, can you stay with Arthur while I seek out Rose? I will return her scarf and then come back." Severus started off, then turned back and asked, "Where might I find her?"
"Try the Ladies loo." Aidan was smiling a bit too broadly for Severus' taste. He enjoyed a good romance, and this one was looking very promising.