"Phantom Red"
Chapter Two: The House
Severus chose to spend the night at Hogwart's and rush hastily from breakfast with Malfoy and Potter back to his own apartments in the dungeon, where he packed some heavy winter robes, extra parchment and potions ingredients.
* * * * *
Harry picked at his breakfast, "is Snape okay Professor Dumbledore?"
"That's Professor Snape, Harry."
"Yeah Potter."
The remaining staff exchanged uneasy glances.
"He seemed like he was in a rush?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with Harry." The Headmaster helped himself to more pancake syrup.
"He's going to allow me access to the potions lab over the break," Draco informed everyone, but mainly Harry.
"Oh? Why is that, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall inquired.
"Erm, extra credit project."
Harry grimaced at him wishing he was in the Burrow for the holiday.
* * * * *
Severus lifted his dark eyes to the house the headmaster had been kind enough to lend him. It was a large, white house, probably built in the 1800s.
The Potions Master set down his things in the snow. He turned 'round to get his bearings, there wasn't another house in sight, nor a road for that matter. The house looked to have been abandoned by time. Though it was covered with snow, he could clearly see the paint curling and chipping off… and most of the windows were broken.
He hoisted his bags, both black, one had the appearance of a doctor's bag, that held several vials and substances for potion making. Lifting his chin, feeling certain this was the place, he moved through the snow purposefully. This was a wooded area and the trees all seemed extremely dark in contrast to the untainted snow… so that Severus felt he was almost in an old black and white Muggle photograph. He shook off that idea as he mounted the porch steps, testing each one's strength with one foot before proceeding onto the porch itself. From there he could see the cemetery not far away. It looked dark and a bit downtrodden. Many of the obelisk-like stones had fallen over, and several of the tall thin stones… the type of which told the entire story of one's life were broken in half. The squirrels seemed to like the place well enough though.
Snape turned from the macabre space that loomed nearby, produced his wand and uttered the magical password Dumbledore had given him for his Christmas-getaway-from-Hogwart's-students-house.
"Saltwater Taffy."
The door sprung to life. The lock clicked and the door opened up, well… partially, it got stuck about half-way and Snape had to force it.
"Lumos," he uttered and the end of his richly colored wand glowed, brightening the darkened corners, though it was fairly easy to see, it was morning and the light was filtering in through broken glass. His heavy winter robes picked up the old leaves and broken bits of glass as he wandered through the house-on-loan. He took note that the place was in fact, furnished… these looked to be things which had never been removed from the house, and they did have some serious water damage, and mold. The floors were also suffering from some water damage, and the once probably beautiful hardwoods, creaked underfoot, but all of this could easily be remedied, he was after all a wizard. If he couldn't resolve a problem this elementary he certainly should not be under the employ of Hogwarts at any rate.
As soon as he entered the house he had felt the undeniable feeling of serenity… calm, and it seemed to wrap about him. No matter the state of the building. He would stay. It would do. When he glided up the rather Victorian stairs to the second floor, the sensation was particularly strong in one of the smaller rooms… this one seemed to belong to a young girl. The things within, though ancient and broken, were still white, and this room still had lace curtains that were ripped and billowed in the breeze… a bit too alive. Snape lingered at the doorway of this room a little longer, there was a scent of rose that seemed to permeate the air in this room.
He took a deep breath, and presumed this might be the reason for Dumbledore's purchase of the house, it had a ghost. Albus had always been generous in that way, allowing Peeves to remain in Hogwarts although he was a pest. Apparently his generosity toward the spirit world extended to buying up haunted houses from time to time.
Severus wondered how many homes he had purchased suddenly, and if he had more than one… why he had determined to send him to this one in particular. Just then he was caught up in that intense scent of rose and the feeling of relief all at the same time. He had asked for a peaceful, quiet place… now he remembered. Well, this place certainly was that. Though he hadn't expected, nor wanted company… of any sort. Snape hoped this wasn't going to be someone related to Peeves.
He didn't need to light this room with his wand, it had very large windows which gave it lovely light. Severus soon found himself within the girl's room nosing about, unsure how he had managed to wander inside without really realizing. He was examining a large white dollhouse, a scaled down replica of the house when he decided not to do any upgrading on this room. Obviously he was being drawn inside, he needed to use some Occlumency himself, and guard his mind, or he was going to spend all his time in there… and who knows what else the spirit in this place would have him doing. Besides that he determined he would shut and magically seal the door to that room.