Chapter 25: Cul de Sac
By Thursday, Rose was ambulatory, and on Friday she had a short tour of Hogwarts and joined the school for dinner in the Great Hall. After dinner, Severus suggested that they stay the weekend at Hogwarts, but Rose protested that they would miss the first tango class. Against his better judgment, and with promises to drag her off to her bed at the first sign of weakness, Severus Apparated to his flat with Rose in his arms and changed into his Muggle clothes. They then drove to her flat so that she could change, and took a taxi to the dance hall.
Severus found the tango soothing. He liked the gliding steps, the music, and the chance to hold Rose very close. She was very quiet, concentrating on the steps of the dance and trying to keep up the appearance of complete health. He let her believe that he was fooled, but he had persuaded her to leave the pendant off, so that he could cast a modified spell to decrease the pull of the earth on her body. He wore the pendant himself, for safekeeping. Afterwards as they rode back to his place, he gave it back to her.
"Rose, would you consider moving into my flat? I could cast wards to protect you, without limiting your freedom." Severus was feeling fear of loss all the time. Happiness wasn't an unmixed blessing.
"Why not cast wards on my flat? Or, if magic is detectable by wizards, would I not be safer in the anonymity of an unremarkable, unwarded flat where no magic has ever been done?" Rose was tired, but not brain dead. She wanted to know what Severus really had in mind.
You would be safest married to me and living at Hogwarts, Severus thought, but he did not voice that idea. After all, taking her to Hogwarts for shelter had turned out to be anything but safe. "Let us continue this discussion inside. Are you up to the effort?" he asked.
"Your place?" she smiled. "Oh, very well, but don't get the idea that I am that easily persuaded into things."
***********************************************************
Severus didn't get a chance to persuade Rose into anything. Once she was settled in front of the blazing hearth, she took five minutes to fall soundly asleep. Severus picked her up and with a sigh laid her on Hermione's bed again. Slytherin stealth wasn't getting the job done. It was time he thought of some other tactics.
After an evening of surfing the net, and some fairly restful sleep, Severus awoke and realized that something was wrong. It was after 10 AM and Rose was not stirring. He knocked on her door, and hearing no answer, entered. Rose was huddled under tightly wrapped covers, shivering. Severus took stock of the situation and summoned Madame Pomfrey. That worthy lady arrived shortly by Floo, and after a few minutes of examination, determined that Rose actually did have influenza. She prescribed various potions for fever and immune response, copious liquids, and bed rest. After Poppy departed, Severus summoned Dobby. Dobby would be able to care for Rose while Severus returned to his duties at Hogwarts. So Rose stayed at the flat as he had suggested.
While Severus had tried to arouse Rose's attention sufficiently to introduce the House Elf and explain the plan Sunday evening, he wasn't entirely successful. When her fever broke Tuesday, Rose shrieked at the sight of Dobby at her bedside. Fortunately, Severus had left behind a brief note of explanation, and Dobby and Rose were soon getting well acquainted. Rose was too weak for much of anything, but she would always find Dobby waiting when she awoke, and would pepper him with questions about elves and wizards and Hogwarts and people, until the information overload caused her to drop off again.
Severus sent her brief notes every evening by Floo, and she made the effort to answer them. She implored him not to come back until she was well and the flat disinfected, so he would not become ill in turn. Dobby had assured her that Elves were not prone to contracting human illnesses, and she was grateful for the kindness and caring that Dobby lavished on her. She wanted to repay him in some way.
"Mistress has no need to pay Dobby! Professor Dumbledore already pays Dobby handsomely. Mistress is very kind and gracious. Dobby would gladly take service with Mistress and Master once they marry and set up housekeeping, or if Mistress likes, Dobby knows of another Elf named Winky who is looking for a good family to serve." Dobby's bulging green eyes were tearing up with the thought. "The Master is so much happier now. Elves are happiest in a happy house with happy people."
"Hold on, Dobby! Who said I was marrying anybody?" Rose had been fully briefed on several years of Hogwarts gossip already, but this was something new.
"Dobby is only thinking that the Master is in love, and the Mistress is, too, and that they must be in love with each other. Mistress wears the Master's pendant. That pendant is very old; Dobby heard about it from his grandsire."
"Well, Dobby, you must tell Professor Snape all you know about this pendant when he returns. It is very important. And as for marriage, I haven't been asked, yet, so do not get your hopes up. Besides, I am not sure it would be wise for a Muggle to marry a wizard, especially Professor Snape. He has a position of importance in wizard society. The other wizards would take offense. I would be a burden to a Magical society. I cannot do anything."
"Other wizards and witches have married non-magical people before, and their children come to Hogwarts to learn. Dobby knows many of the students have Muggle mothers or fathers. Some have both! Professor Dumbledore welcomes any folk who serve the Light, even half-giants and werewolves! Why, even Professor Snape." Dobby suddenly stopped, like a faucet being turned off.
"What about Professor Snape, Dobby?"
"Mistress mustn't take alarm; Master was a Death Eater, but only to spy on the Dark Lord and defeat him. Master is really good, and since Mistress has come, Master is much better every day. Master has always been kind to House Elves and ghosts and everybody, even though he was very hard on the students sometimes but he is much nicer nowadays. And he was not well-liked when he was a student, either, but his enemies are all dead now, or have turned into friends, and Master is a much better person to everyone."
"What is a Death Eater, Dobby? And who is the Dark Lord?"
*********************************************************************
On Friday afternoon, Professor Snape wrapped up his last class, tidied the Potions Lab, packed up his homework, and met with Hermione and Dumbledore. Hermione had competently handled all the tasks he had dropped on her, and Dumbledore praised them both for the results of their collaboration. Then their talk turned to the Ministry's Muggle project. After much discussion, it was decided that Professor Snape should submit a list of areas in Muggle society where wizards could make a valuable contribution, and some possible Muggle contacts to be determined from his research and through his widening circle of acquaintances. On the other hand, areas where Muggles could contribute to wizard society were also to be listed, with possible Muggle contacts and suppliers. The area of diplomacy was beyond the scope of this investigation, and they would recommend that the proper authorities tackle that issue, after suitable orientation. Finally, the subject of Muggle Studies was to be redefined for students and additional study material prepared for non-students, with possible instructors suggested. Hermione and Harry would be taking classes on field studies in the New Year, and faculty would be invited to take weekend culture tours or explore another chosen field. Connecting Hogwarts to the World Wide Web was also discussed.
"Rose Mallorn would be a good instructor and tour guide, Headmaster. She has knowledge in both the cultural and the technological areas. Her opinions are measured and always backed by facts." Severus the lover was trying desperately to remain casual and professional, and not too eager.
"Yes, she is a very impressive individual," replied Dumbledore. "I think we can present Arthur Weasley with a useful set of recommendations and observations in the next few weeks. When you have the reports prepared, Severus, let us meet and go over them. And now I am sure that you are planning to go check on your instructor. I do hope she is on the mend."
"She has passed the crisis point of the influenza. Dobby is taking excellent care of her." Severus stood to go. "If that is all, Headmaster?"
After Professor Snape left the room, Hermione remarked, "He's got it bad, Professor."
"I agree," said Dumbledore. "Let's hope the lady does, too."
By Thursday, Rose was ambulatory, and on Friday she had a short tour of Hogwarts and joined the school for dinner in the Great Hall. After dinner, Severus suggested that they stay the weekend at Hogwarts, but Rose protested that they would miss the first tango class. Against his better judgment, and with promises to drag her off to her bed at the first sign of weakness, Severus Apparated to his flat with Rose in his arms and changed into his Muggle clothes. They then drove to her flat so that she could change, and took a taxi to the dance hall.
Severus found the tango soothing. He liked the gliding steps, the music, and the chance to hold Rose very close. She was very quiet, concentrating on the steps of the dance and trying to keep up the appearance of complete health. He let her believe that he was fooled, but he had persuaded her to leave the pendant off, so that he could cast a modified spell to decrease the pull of the earth on her body. He wore the pendant himself, for safekeeping. Afterwards as they rode back to his place, he gave it back to her.
"Rose, would you consider moving into my flat? I could cast wards to protect you, without limiting your freedom." Severus was feeling fear of loss all the time. Happiness wasn't an unmixed blessing.
"Why not cast wards on my flat? Or, if magic is detectable by wizards, would I not be safer in the anonymity of an unremarkable, unwarded flat where no magic has ever been done?" Rose was tired, but not brain dead. She wanted to know what Severus really had in mind.
You would be safest married to me and living at Hogwarts, Severus thought, but he did not voice that idea. After all, taking her to Hogwarts for shelter had turned out to be anything but safe. "Let us continue this discussion inside. Are you up to the effort?" he asked.
"Your place?" she smiled. "Oh, very well, but don't get the idea that I am that easily persuaded into things."
***********************************************************
Severus didn't get a chance to persuade Rose into anything. Once she was settled in front of the blazing hearth, she took five minutes to fall soundly asleep. Severus picked her up and with a sigh laid her on Hermione's bed again. Slytherin stealth wasn't getting the job done. It was time he thought of some other tactics.
After an evening of surfing the net, and some fairly restful sleep, Severus awoke and realized that something was wrong. It was after 10 AM and Rose was not stirring. He knocked on her door, and hearing no answer, entered. Rose was huddled under tightly wrapped covers, shivering. Severus took stock of the situation and summoned Madame Pomfrey. That worthy lady arrived shortly by Floo, and after a few minutes of examination, determined that Rose actually did have influenza. She prescribed various potions for fever and immune response, copious liquids, and bed rest. After Poppy departed, Severus summoned Dobby. Dobby would be able to care for Rose while Severus returned to his duties at Hogwarts. So Rose stayed at the flat as he had suggested.
While Severus had tried to arouse Rose's attention sufficiently to introduce the House Elf and explain the plan Sunday evening, he wasn't entirely successful. When her fever broke Tuesday, Rose shrieked at the sight of Dobby at her bedside. Fortunately, Severus had left behind a brief note of explanation, and Dobby and Rose were soon getting well acquainted. Rose was too weak for much of anything, but she would always find Dobby waiting when she awoke, and would pepper him with questions about elves and wizards and Hogwarts and people, until the information overload caused her to drop off again.
Severus sent her brief notes every evening by Floo, and she made the effort to answer them. She implored him not to come back until she was well and the flat disinfected, so he would not become ill in turn. Dobby had assured her that Elves were not prone to contracting human illnesses, and she was grateful for the kindness and caring that Dobby lavished on her. She wanted to repay him in some way.
"Mistress has no need to pay Dobby! Professor Dumbledore already pays Dobby handsomely. Mistress is very kind and gracious. Dobby would gladly take service with Mistress and Master once they marry and set up housekeeping, or if Mistress likes, Dobby knows of another Elf named Winky who is looking for a good family to serve." Dobby's bulging green eyes were tearing up with the thought. "The Master is so much happier now. Elves are happiest in a happy house with happy people."
"Hold on, Dobby! Who said I was marrying anybody?" Rose had been fully briefed on several years of Hogwarts gossip already, but this was something new.
"Dobby is only thinking that the Master is in love, and the Mistress is, too, and that they must be in love with each other. Mistress wears the Master's pendant. That pendant is very old; Dobby heard about it from his grandsire."
"Well, Dobby, you must tell Professor Snape all you know about this pendant when he returns. It is very important. And as for marriage, I haven't been asked, yet, so do not get your hopes up. Besides, I am not sure it would be wise for a Muggle to marry a wizard, especially Professor Snape. He has a position of importance in wizard society. The other wizards would take offense. I would be a burden to a Magical society. I cannot do anything."
"Other wizards and witches have married non-magical people before, and their children come to Hogwarts to learn. Dobby knows many of the students have Muggle mothers or fathers. Some have both! Professor Dumbledore welcomes any folk who serve the Light, even half-giants and werewolves! Why, even Professor Snape." Dobby suddenly stopped, like a faucet being turned off.
"What about Professor Snape, Dobby?"
"Mistress mustn't take alarm; Master was a Death Eater, but only to spy on the Dark Lord and defeat him. Master is really good, and since Mistress has come, Master is much better every day. Master has always been kind to House Elves and ghosts and everybody, even though he was very hard on the students sometimes but he is much nicer nowadays. And he was not well-liked when he was a student, either, but his enemies are all dead now, or have turned into friends, and Master is a much better person to everyone."
"What is a Death Eater, Dobby? And who is the Dark Lord?"
*********************************************************************
On Friday afternoon, Professor Snape wrapped up his last class, tidied the Potions Lab, packed up his homework, and met with Hermione and Dumbledore. Hermione had competently handled all the tasks he had dropped on her, and Dumbledore praised them both for the results of their collaboration. Then their talk turned to the Ministry's Muggle project. After much discussion, it was decided that Professor Snape should submit a list of areas in Muggle society where wizards could make a valuable contribution, and some possible Muggle contacts to be determined from his research and through his widening circle of acquaintances. On the other hand, areas where Muggles could contribute to wizard society were also to be listed, with possible Muggle contacts and suppliers. The area of diplomacy was beyond the scope of this investigation, and they would recommend that the proper authorities tackle that issue, after suitable orientation. Finally, the subject of Muggle Studies was to be redefined for students and additional study material prepared for non-students, with possible instructors suggested. Hermione and Harry would be taking classes on field studies in the New Year, and faculty would be invited to take weekend culture tours or explore another chosen field. Connecting Hogwarts to the World Wide Web was also discussed.
"Rose Mallorn would be a good instructor and tour guide, Headmaster. She has knowledge in both the cultural and the technological areas. Her opinions are measured and always backed by facts." Severus the lover was trying desperately to remain casual and professional, and not too eager.
"Yes, she is a very impressive individual," replied Dumbledore. "I think we can present Arthur Weasley with a useful set of recommendations and observations in the next few weeks. When you have the reports prepared, Severus, let us meet and go over them. And now I am sure that you are planning to go check on your instructor. I do hope she is on the mend."
"She has passed the crisis point of the influenza. Dobby is taking excellent care of her." Severus stood to go. "If that is all, Headmaster?"
After Professor Snape left the room, Hermione remarked, "He's got it bad, Professor."
"I agree," said Dumbledore. "Let's hope the lady does, too."