It happened so slowly at first that an untrained eye would never have
picked up the first hints of life in Jess Cleaver's body. The twitch of an
eyelash. The shudder of a finger. All these things came to Severus'
attention as he sat by Jess' bedside, reading and waiting for her to come
out of her drug induced unconsciousness.
"Where is my baby," was the first thing she asked him as she tried to sit up and failed, her body forcing her to lay back down and give it a rest. Snape, never taking his eyes off his book answered disinterestedly.
"Lucas is having a grand time tearing the castle apart with Minerva. In the meanwhile I suggest you rest or the pain mixture I've given you will never have a chance to work."
"I don't want to rest. I want to see my son. What happened to David?" Jess was now having a second go at getting out of bed and it looked as if she might succeed this time.
With an aggravated sigh Severus marked his place, stood, and walked to the side of the bed where Jess was currently swinging her legs over and preparing to stand, albeit unsteadily. He put two heavy, yet gentle hands on her shoulders, and pushed her back down onto the bed. She was still sitting upright, but at least she was sitting, and if she was anything like she had been in school, she was giving in quite a bit.
"David is in Azkaban. Where he belongs. I told you he wasn't good enough for you, didn't I?"
"You were my head of house, not my father. Besides, David didn't change until after we graduated." Jess was busying herself with the bandages at the nape of her neck, and Severus was busy going behind her, cleaning up all the damage she was doing to herself. Just as she would remove a bandage he would replace it.
"You're as bad as Poppy."
"It needed to be redressed anyway."
"Stop fussing over me and let me see my son."
"Shut up."
"Damn it, Snape," Jess was clearly at the end of her wits now. "I've had enough of this. I want to see Lucas. You get him here and you get him here now."
Snape finished redressing the wound on her head and came around to face her, taking his seat back. "Most former students would show a bit more respect for their former professor and head of house. You will see Lucas as soon as I've had a chance to talk to you. Now be quiet and listen."
Jess crossed her arms and stared at the ground, fidgeting her toes on the stone floor and waiting impatiently to hear what Snape had to say. When he didn't speak she looked up at him expectantly.
"Well?"
"Forgive me if I don't know just what to say. You've been away from school for three years now and not a day goes by that I don't think of you. I knew it would turn out this way. I could see this in David. I predicted it. You would have been prudent to listen to me."
"You have no idea how creepy you sound right now. You were my professor and yet you sound as though you wanted to keep me for yourself."
Snape looked at the ground and then back at Jess. "Don't be ridiculous. You were my best student. I'd hoped good things for you."
"Better hush up. Wouldn't want any little Gryffindors overhearing you being all sentimental now would you."
"Oh isn't that just like you. You never were comfortable when someone was trying to be nice to you. No wonder you went for a stupid prat like David Cleaver."
"He wasn't always a stupid prat!" There were tears forming in the corners of her eyes now, and Jess was becoming more and more agitated, evidenced by her increased fidgeting. She was now starting to bite her nails.
"He was, Jess. He just didn't let you see it. You were always better than him, you just couldn't see that either."
"Well it's all over now. You'll never have to worry about seeing me with David Cleaver again. Or anyone for that matter. I've completely sworn off men of all sorts."
"Bully for you. A good choice, I think. You'll find that absence of personal relationships in your life will leave plenty of time for academic pursuits."
"As well as the attitude of a hermit. And a snarky one at that."
"I'm going to ignore that comment."
"That's fine. I've plenty more."
"Jess. Just be quiet for a moment. You're here because you need to rest. But you're here for another reason as well. I need an apprentice. I can't teach forever, nor would I want to with the increasing ignorance of this generation of young witches and wizards. You were by far the most exceptional potions student I had. Albus desperately wants you to teach potions when my contract is up in five years. And I have to say if someone must replace me I don't think you'd be the worst choice."
"Apprentice? Me? Please, Severus, you know I have no talent for teaching. I almost died of stress when we had to give our oral presentations on Polyjuice Potion seventh year. You yourself said it was the worst speech you'd heard since Cornelius Fudge lectured about wand standardization in your second year of teaching. Absolutely not. David had a substantial savings tucked away and I plan to retire on it, seeing as how he won't be needing it in Azkaban. I'm going to live a quiet life free from stress and free from work. Now may I please see my son?"
"He is here, Jess, but I must beg you to please reconsider your answer to Severus' proposal." Albus' voice came tinkling in from the entrance to the hospital wing, and Lucas was bouncing up and down in his arms, giggling and tugging at the old wizard's white beard. At the sight of his mother Lucas laughed out loud and clapped his hands, his face broken into a wide grin. "We will be in desperate need of a potions professor who can equal Severus in crankiness when he is gone."
Jess rolled her eyes and took her son, who was being handed to her by Albus, with welcoming arms. She set him on her lap and handed him a ball, which she procured from the pockets of her robes, keeping him quite entertained.
"Albus, I appreciate you thinking of me, but I really don't think -"
"You needn't answer now. You're tired, and if Severus has given you the same pain mixture that he gave me last week for my back, you're certainly in no fit state to consider such a weighty decision. For now just enjoy being a guest of the castle, and keep it in the back of your mind."
"Thank you Albus, but as soon as I feel strong enough Lucas and I will be returning to Edinburgh, where I plan to raise my son and try to carry on as normally as possible. Thank you kindly."
"You won't be returning to Edinburgh," Snape cut in.
Jess turned her attention back toward him, challenging him with her eyes. "And why, may I ask, not?"
"There are deatheaters crawling all through that town. Don't you think that after one of their own was put in Azkaban they'll be seeking out the woman who accused him and exacting their revenge? Don't be thick."
"Well what do you suggest I do, then, oh wise and insightful one?"
Severus looked at Albus, his brows furrowed and looking completely confounded, as if asking wasn't there something he could do about her impertinent attitude. Albus laughed slightly and looked from Jess to Severus. "She is no longer a student, Severus. I have no control over how she chooses to speak to you any longer. And besides, I have gone temporarily deaf and missed everything she just said." Albus laced his fingers together over his belly and turned his eyes heavenward.
Severus curtly turned to face Jess again. "I'm going to follow Albus' good example and ignore your rude comments, if only for my own sanity. My suggestion, Mrs. Cleaver, is that you think of what's safest for you and your child -" at this point Lucas gave one well aimed toss of his ball and it smacked Severus square in the nose. Severus furrowed his brow and continued to speak, ignoring the giggles of the mother and son wonder team. "-and stay in the castle as long as possible. No deatheater would dare put one toe out of line if they did happen to learn your whereabouts and come looking for you."
Jess started to protest but Albus chimed in. "I must agree with Severus, Jess. I think it would be prudent for you to stay under Severus' watch."
Jess sighed heavily. The last thing she wanted was to spend the rest of her days hiding out in her old school, especially when it meant being under the protection of her old potions master. But the two men were right. It would be safest for Lucas to stay in the castle, and she wasn't about to go anywhere without her baby boy.
"Fine," she answered finally. "But one thing, and I want you both to agree to it."
"What is it," Albus asked patiently.
"I'll no longer answer to 'Mrs. Cleaver.'"
"Where is my baby," was the first thing she asked him as she tried to sit up and failed, her body forcing her to lay back down and give it a rest. Snape, never taking his eyes off his book answered disinterestedly.
"Lucas is having a grand time tearing the castle apart with Minerva. In the meanwhile I suggest you rest or the pain mixture I've given you will never have a chance to work."
"I don't want to rest. I want to see my son. What happened to David?" Jess was now having a second go at getting out of bed and it looked as if she might succeed this time.
With an aggravated sigh Severus marked his place, stood, and walked to the side of the bed where Jess was currently swinging her legs over and preparing to stand, albeit unsteadily. He put two heavy, yet gentle hands on her shoulders, and pushed her back down onto the bed. She was still sitting upright, but at least she was sitting, and if she was anything like she had been in school, she was giving in quite a bit.
"David is in Azkaban. Where he belongs. I told you he wasn't good enough for you, didn't I?"
"You were my head of house, not my father. Besides, David didn't change until after we graduated." Jess was busying herself with the bandages at the nape of her neck, and Severus was busy going behind her, cleaning up all the damage she was doing to herself. Just as she would remove a bandage he would replace it.
"You're as bad as Poppy."
"It needed to be redressed anyway."
"Stop fussing over me and let me see my son."
"Shut up."
"Damn it, Snape," Jess was clearly at the end of her wits now. "I've had enough of this. I want to see Lucas. You get him here and you get him here now."
Snape finished redressing the wound on her head and came around to face her, taking his seat back. "Most former students would show a bit more respect for their former professor and head of house. You will see Lucas as soon as I've had a chance to talk to you. Now be quiet and listen."
Jess crossed her arms and stared at the ground, fidgeting her toes on the stone floor and waiting impatiently to hear what Snape had to say. When he didn't speak she looked up at him expectantly.
"Well?"
"Forgive me if I don't know just what to say. You've been away from school for three years now and not a day goes by that I don't think of you. I knew it would turn out this way. I could see this in David. I predicted it. You would have been prudent to listen to me."
"You have no idea how creepy you sound right now. You were my professor and yet you sound as though you wanted to keep me for yourself."
Snape looked at the ground and then back at Jess. "Don't be ridiculous. You were my best student. I'd hoped good things for you."
"Better hush up. Wouldn't want any little Gryffindors overhearing you being all sentimental now would you."
"Oh isn't that just like you. You never were comfortable when someone was trying to be nice to you. No wonder you went for a stupid prat like David Cleaver."
"He wasn't always a stupid prat!" There were tears forming in the corners of her eyes now, and Jess was becoming more and more agitated, evidenced by her increased fidgeting. She was now starting to bite her nails.
"He was, Jess. He just didn't let you see it. You were always better than him, you just couldn't see that either."
"Well it's all over now. You'll never have to worry about seeing me with David Cleaver again. Or anyone for that matter. I've completely sworn off men of all sorts."
"Bully for you. A good choice, I think. You'll find that absence of personal relationships in your life will leave plenty of time for academic pursuits."
"As well as the attitude of a hermit. And a snarky one at that."
"I'm going to ignore that comment."
"That's fine. I've plenty more."
"Jess. Just be quiet for a moment. You're here because you need to rest. But you're here for another reason as well. I need an apprentice. I can't teach forever, nor would I want to with the increasing ignorance of this generation of young witches and wizards. You were by far the most exceptional potions student I had. Albus desperately wants you to teach potions when my contract is up in five years. And I have to say if someone must replace me I don't think you'd be the worst choice."
"Apprentice? Me? Please, Severus, you know I have no talent for teaching. I almost died of stress when we had to give our oral presentations on Polyjuice Potion seventh year. You yourself said it was the worst speech you'd heard since Cornelius Fudge lectured about wand standardization in your second year of teaching. Absolutely not. David had a substantial savings tucked away and I plan to retire on it, seeing as how he won't be needing it in Azkaban. I'm going to live a quiet life free from stress and free from work. Now may I please see my son?"
"He is here, Jess, but I must beg you to please reconsider your answer to Severus' proposal." Albus' voice came tinkling in from the entrance to the hospital wing, and Lucas was bouncing up and down in his arms, giggling and tugging at the old wizard's white beard. At the sight of his mother Lucas laughed out loud and clapped his hands, his face broken into a wide grin. "We will be in desperate need of a potions professor who can equal Severus in crankiness when he is gone."
Jess rolled her eyes and took her son, who was being handed to her by Albus, with welcoming arms. She set him on her lap and handed him a ball, which she procured from the pockets of her robes, keeping him quite entertained.
"Albus, I appreciate you thinking of me, but I really don't think -"
"You needn't answer now. You're tired, and if Severus has given you the same pain mixture that he gave me last week for my back, you're certainly in no fit state to consider such a weighty decision. For now just enjoy being a guest of the castle, and keep it in the back of your mind."
"Thank you Albus, but as soon as I feel strong enough Lucas and I will be returning to Edinburgh, where I plan to raise my son and try to carry on as normally as possible. Thank you kindly."
"You won't be returning to Edinburgh," Snape cut in.
Jess turned her attention back toward him, challenging him with her eyes. "And why, may I ask, not?"
"There are deatheaters crawling all through that town. Don't you think that after one of their own was put in Azkaban they'll be seeking out the woman who accused him and exacting their revenge? Don't be thick."
"Well what do you suggest I do, then, oh wise and insightful one?"
Severus looked at Albus, his brows furrowed and looking completely confounded, as if asking wasn't there something he could do about her impertinent attitude. Albus laughed slightly and looked from Jess to Severus. "She is no longer a student, Severus. I have no control over how she chooses to speak to you any longer. And besides, I have gone temporarily deaf and missed everything she just said." Albus laced his fingers together over his belly and turned his eyes heavenward.
Severus curtly turned to face Jess again. "I'm going to follow Albus' good example and ignore your rude comments, if only for my own sanity. My suggestion, Mrs. Cleaver, is that you think of what's safest for you and your child -" at this point Lucas gave one well aimed toss of his ball and it smacked Severus square in the nose. Severus furrowed his brow and continued to speak, ignoring the giggles of the mother and son wonder team. "-and stay in the castle as long as possible. No deatheater would dare put one toe out of line if they did happen to learn your whereabouts and come looking for you."
Jess started to protest but Albus chimed in. "I must agree with Severus, Jess. I think it would be prudent for you to stay under Severus' watch."
Jess sighed heavily. The last thing she wanted was to spend the rest of her days hiding out in her old school, especially when it meant being under the protection of her old potions master. But the two men were right. It would be safest for Lucas to stay in the castle, and she wasn't about to go anywhere without her baby boy.
"Fine," she answered finally. "But one thing, and I want you both to agree to it."
"What is it," Albus asked patiently.
"I'll no longer answer to 'Mrs. Cleaver.'"