Mary woke with a start. She, Ethan, and Anne had been at Hogwarts for
over 2 weeks and they had fallen into a schedule of studying and exploring.
They had been provided with rooms, her's painted a deep plumb, Ethan's a
light green and Anne had chosen a pale pink. She got up and dressed in her
favorite pair of baggy jeans and a T-shirt from a peace march in which
she'd participated only a few months before. The vision of the day her
parents died was slowly fading into her subconscious, she no longer thought
of it every waking moment. She pulled her hair into an untidy bun and
walked out. Their rooms were in suite next to Severus's quarters.
After checking to make sure Anne and Ethan were up, she continued to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone was already there and she felt her breath catch in her throat upon seeing Oren at the table. She didn't know why, boys usually didn't have such an impact on her. Severus was gazing at her intently. He had not overlooked her attraction to Oren. With quick thinking, he beckoned her toward him. "Good morning Mary," he grinned.
"Good morning Uncle Sev," she answered, sliding in beside him.
'Eat up, we've got a busy day ahead of us. Though you're moving at an alarmingly fast rate, there's still a lot to do before the start of term." Mary nodded. She couldn't help but notice Oren staring at her, his blue eyes looking at her intently.
"If it would be of any assistance, Professor, I'd be happy to help in any way that I can. Though I'm not the top of my class, I'm not the worst either. After all, you do have you hands full with three," he stated tentatively. Severus turned his gaze to the boy.
"I can man-" he was cut off by Dumbledore.
"That would be quite welcome Oren, thank you. Severus, I'm sure you'll agree that one-on-one training is what both Mary and Ethan need, something that you can not give both at the same time." Severus could only nod.
"Remus, would you be so kind as to watch Anne for a little bit?" Remus looked up. "Perhaps you'd like to show her some of the more interesting and unharmful animals at Hogwarts, seeing as Hagrid is absent."
"I'd be delighted." Severus glared at the old man.
"So, Severus, you'll take Ethan, Mary will go with Oren who will fill you in on what she's been working on, and Remus will take Anne." The old Professor looked around, quite pleased with himself. He was hell-bent on uniting the two school rivals. They weren't, after all, very different from one another. They rose and went their separate ways. Mary and Oren were lead, by Dumbledore, to an empty school room. Mary drew her wand from her pocket and Oren assembled some books from a shelf on an empty desk.
"So, Mary, what have you been working on?"
"Well, we've progressed to 3rd year Transfiguration, 2nd year Charms, I've bypassed Divination, 5th year Potions, 4th year History of Magic, some rudimentary Muggle Studies, and 5th year DADA."
"That's quite impressive. You've only been here two weeks?"
"I've received some pretty exceptional training."
"Let's begin with your weakest subject," Oren began. They worked through the whole morning and Mary saw that, not only was Oren superbly attractive, but a very good teacher. She got out of him that he was, in fact, top of his class. Mary was just about to leave for lunch when Oren caught her arm. "Mary, I was wondering something."
"What?"
"Would you, um, consider going out with me?" She grinned at him sheepishly.
"Nothing would make me happier." Slowly she pulled him in for a kiss. It was quick but altogether lovely. They walked hand-in-hand toward the Great Hall.
"So, apparently, my uncle and your uncle aren't the best of friends,' Oren said slowly.
"Really? I thought the cold stares and hidden shoves symbolized a strong, brotherly friendship," Mary grinned up, (up, up) at Oren.
"Well, what I mean," he started in his slow southern drawl. "Is that they're probably not going to be entirely off the wall with joy about our, um, status."
"Don't worry about it, I have Uncle Severus under my thumb." They entered the Great Hall with their hands still firmly locked. Severus was sitting with Ethan on one side of Professor Dumbledore who was playing with Anne and Lupin was sitting on the other side, leaving a place for Oren. They looked up as the two came in.
"Oy, Oren, come here," Remus squeaked in an abnormally high voice.
"Mary, come here, Ethan and I were just talking about you," Severus said in a gruff tone.
"Well, it is obvious," Dumbledore started, "That Anne and I will have to move to accommodate you two." Mary blushed deeply but they accented. They'd dodged that problem by the skin of their noses. They took their seats while their subsequent uncles glared at the other. "So, what did you two do today? Do you think Mary will be ready for the new school year?"
"Yeah, she's great," Oren's voice cracked slightly under Severus's piercing stare. "I'm a bit afraid that she'll surpass my knowledge by the beginning of term."
"I seriously doubt that, you're a great teacher," Mary chimed in, wanting desperately to cower under Remus's usually kind stare.
"Well, since Mr. Lupin is afraid that he no longer can accommodate Mary's learning capacity, maybe he should be the one to show Anne around tomorrow or maybe the library to brush up on his skills," Severus said cruelly.
"I think Oren is quite capable of the challenge, Ms. Snape-"
"It's Walker," Mary said in a low voice.
"Ms. Walker said so herself."
"Severus, Remus, I need to talk to you both in my office, now," Dumbledore emphasized the "now" and the two rose and followed Dumbledore out of the room.
"My God, that was uncomfortable!" Ethan sighed. "Are you two going out or something?"
"Yeah," Mary mumbled, going red.
"Well, I have to warn you Oren, that if you hurt my sister I'll be forced to hurt you," Ethan joked, flexing his non-existent muscles. Mary and Oren collapsed in giggles.
"You're brother's the best!" Oren exclaimed.
"I know," Mary ruffled his hair. It was amazing how fast her feelings toward her brother had changed. Only a small bit ago she had thought him a pest, now he was her best friend. Maybe it was that they had lost their parents and this had sparked and brother-sister relationship much stronger then before. She didn't know, nor did she care.
Meanwhile in Dumbledore's office, Professors Snape and Lupin were dueling it out. "YOU'RE NEPHEW WILL NOT BE DATING MY NIECE!" Severus exclaimed vehemently.
"WELL MY FEELINGS ARE THE SAME! I DON'T WANT OREN TO DATE MARY ANYMORE THEN YOU WANT MARY TO DATE OREN!"
"Why are you arguing if you both agree?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
They both turned to the old man. "Now I'm only going to say this once more. The two of you must learn to be at least civil to one another. Even if your niece and nephew don't spark it they'll probably remain friends. The two of you aren't so different as you think. Please, just try for their sake if not your own. The two of them need a friend right now, one that can sympathize with their predicament. Don't break something that can be so lovely." They turned their heads. "Please shake hands. If one good thing can come of Sirius's death, make it some harmony between the two of you." This sparked a rage inside Remus.
"Sirius wouldn't have wanted me even talking to you," he spat at Severus.
"Don't sink back into this Remus. Sirius was a great man but one with a quick temper. Don't let his decisions judge your actions." Tears were now falling down Remus's tired face. He was not prepared to let Sirius go. "If I'm not much mistaken, the two of you also need a friend. Just shake hands." Reluctantly they shook hands quickly.
For Severus and Remus, the weeks passed slowly. Mary and Ethan were learning at remarkable speeds, the two would be ready for the upcoming year. September 1st was approaching. Mary and Oren spent a lot of time together, apart from their study lessons. The two could be found on the Hogwarts lawn with Oren strumming at his guitar strings. Together, they forgot about all that had happened. In fact, Mary forgot entirely till one night when she awoke to Vivaldi pouring from down the hall. She followed the sound.
Ethan was playing Summer with all his might on the violin that had belonged to Hew. Tears were streaming down his eyes and he didn't look himself. Normally Ethan Jack Walker was calm and kind. He savagely rubbed the bow over the strings as if playing his for his life. Up the scale then down on G and D. With a flourish he ended and collapsed into a chair. He held the violin to his face, feeling the grain of the wood against his cheek. Reverently he kissed the strings and ran his fingers along the curve of it's body.
Mary hesitated before walking into the room. It took a while for Ethan to notice her. Finally though, he looked up. "M-M-Mary," he choked out.
"What is it Ethan?"
"I-I miss them so much," he sobbed, his face in his hands now. She walked over to him and gently took the violin and bow from his hands and laid them on the coffee table in front of the chair. She drew him into a hug.
"I know, I miss them too," she felt the tears fall softly down her face. "I forgot you played the violin."
"It came about a week ago, Aunt Elizabeth sent it."
"Oh, that was nice of her."
"Mary, what are we going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just can't see living without Mum and Dad for the rest of our lives. It almost seemed novel when we first got here but the novelty is quickly leaving and reality is sinking in. We can't go back to that life we had. Mum and Dad can't come back.." Ethan faded off and looked out the window at the night sky.
"I know, it's gong to be hard, really hard, but we'll get through it. We have Uncle Severus and each other and Oren." She looked away, ashamed of herself. Ethan didn't have Oren, she was the only one.
"Yeah, you have Oren."
"He likes you, you know. He says you're the best."
"That's nice," Ethan said, dodging away from her.
"Don't you like him?"
"He's fine. Uncle Severus doesn't like him though."
"Yeah, well, I can't let other people dictate what I do."
"He's important Mary, don't throw him off. At least talk to him. I know he misses having you around." With that Ethan picked up the violin reverently. Mary stood up resolutely and walked to Severus's room. She walked in without knocking and sat on his bed. She shove him a little in the side.
"W-what?" Severus asked, sitting up. He had gotten a lot more handsome since they'd been there. He had put on more weight and his hair remained short and clean. Without his hair in his face, his face was also cleaner.
"We need to talk."
"Okay Mary, what do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about Oren, Uncle Severus. I know the reason you don't like him is because you don't like Professor Lupin (it was what they were told to call him) but I really like him."
"Why do you really like him?" Severus asked finally.
"He's been through the same thing. He's nice, smart, and well, handsome. He really likes me too and I've never felt that before," she blushed. "Please try to like him Uncle Severus, for me?" With her look he melted. He sighed.
"I'll try Mary, I'll try." She kissed him on the cheek with a smile.
"You're the best Uncle Sev.!" He realized with a small smile in his heart that no one had ever called him "the best" before.
The time slipped away from them and before they knew it, September 1st was upon them.
After checking to make sure Anne and Ethan were up, she continued to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone was already there and she felt her breath catch in her throat upon seeing Oren at the table. She didn't know why, boys usually didn't have such an impact on her. Severus was gazing at her intently. He had not overlooked her attraction to Oren. With quick thinking, he beckoned her toward him. "Good morning Mary," he grinned.
"Good morning Uncle Sev," she answered, sliding in beside him.
'Eat up, we've got a busy day ahead of us. Though you're moving at an alarmingly fast rate, there's still a lot to do before the start of term." Mary nodded. She couldn't help but notice Oren staring at her, his blue eyes looking at her intently.
"If it would be of any assistance, Professor, I'd be happy to help in any way that I can. Though I'm not the top of my class, I'm not the worst either. After all, you do have you hands full with three," he stated tentatively. Severus turned his gaze to the boy.
"I can man-" he was cut off by Dumbledore.
"That would be quite welcome Oren, thank you. Severus, I'm sure you'll agree that one-on-one training is what both Mary and Ethan need, something that you can not give both at the same time." Severus could only nod.
"Remus, would you be so kind as to watch Anne for a little bit?" Remus looked up. "Perhaps you'd like to show her some of the more interesting and unharmful animals at Hogwarts, seeing as Hagrid is absent."
"I'd be delighted." Severus glared at the old man.
"So, Severus, you'll take Ethan, Mary will go with Oren who will fill you in on what she's been working on, and Remus will take Anne." The old Professor looked around, quite pleased with himself. He was hell-bent on uniting the two school rivals. They weren't, after all, very different from one another. They rose and went their separate ways. Mary and Oren were lead, by Dumbledore, to an empty school room. Mary drew her wand from her pocket and Oren assembled some books from a shelf on an empty desk.
"So, Mary, what have you been working on?"
"Well, we've progressed to 3rd year Transfiguration, 2nd year Charms, I've bypassed Divination, 5th year Potions, 4th year History of Magic, some rudimentary Muggle Studies, and 5th year DADA."
"That's quite impressive. You've only been here two weeks?"
"I've received some pretty exceptional training."
"Let's begin with your weakest subject," Oren began. They worked through the whole morning and Mary saw that, not only was Oren superbly attractive, but a very good teacher. She got out of him that he was, in fact, top of his class. Mary was just about to leave for lunch when Oren caught her arm. "Mary, I was wondering something."
"What?"
"Would you, um, consider going out with me?" She grinned at him sheepishly.
"Nothing would make me happier." Slowly she pulled him in for a kiss. It was quick but altogether lovely. They walked hand-in-hand toward the Great Hall.
"So, apparently, my uncle and your uncle aren't the best of friends,' Oren said slowly.
"Really? I thought the cold stares and hidden shoves symbolized a strong, brotherly friendship," Mary grinned up, (up, up) at Oren.
"Well, what I mean," he started in his slow southern drawl. "Is that they're probably not going to be entirely off the wall with joy about our, um, status."
"Don't worry about it, I have Uncle Severus under my thumb." They entered the Great Hall with their hands still firmly locked. Severus was sitting with Ethan on one side of Professor Dumbledore who was playing with Anne and Lupin was sitting on the other side, leaving a place for Oren. They looked up as the two came in.
"Oy, Oren, come here," Remus squeaked in an abnormally high voice.
"Mary, come here, Ethan and I were just talking about you," Severus said in a gruff tone.
"Well, it is obvious," Dumbledore started, "That Anne and I will have to move to accommodate you two." Mary blushed deeply but they accented. They'd dodged that problem by the skin of their noses. They took their seats while their subsequent uncles glared at the other. "So, what did you two do today? Do you think Mary will be ready for the new school year?"
"Yeah, she's great," Oren's voice cracked slightly under Severus's piercing stare. "I'm a bit afraid that she'll surpass my knowledge by the beginning of term."
"I seriously doubt that, you're a great teacher," Mary chimed in, wanting desperately to cower under Remus's usually kind stare.
"Well, since Mr. Lupin is afraid that he no longer can accommodate Mary's learning capacity, maybe he should be the one to show Anne around tomorrow or maybe the library to brush up on his skills," Severus said cruelly.
"I think Oren is quite capable of the challenge, Ms. Snape-"
"It's Walker," Mary said in a low voice.
"Ms. Walker said so herself."
"Severus, Remus, I need to talk to you both in my office, now," Dumbledore emphasized the "now" and the two rose and followed Dumbledore out of the room.
"My God, that was uncomfortable!" Ethan sighed. "Are you two going out or something?"
"Yeah," Mary mumbled, going red.
"Well, I have to warn you Oren, that if you hurt my sister I'll be forced to hurt you," Ethan joked, flexing his non-existent muscles. Mary and Oren collapsed in giggles.
"You're brother's the best!" Oren exclaimed.
"I know," Mary ruffled his hair. It was amazing how fast her feelings toward her brother had changed. Only a small bit ago she had thought him a pest, now he was her best friend. Maybe it was that they had lost their parents and this had sparked and brother-sister relationship much stronger then before. She didn't know, nor did she care.
Meanwhile in Dumbledore's office, Professors Snape and Lupin were dueling it out. "YOU'RE NEPHEW WILL NOT BE DATING MY NIECE!" Severus exclaimed vehemently.
"WELL MY FEELINGS ARE THE SAME! I DON'T WANT OREN TO DATE MARY ANYMORE THEN YOU WANT MARY TO DATE OREN!"
"Why are you arguing if you both agree?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
They both turned to the old man. "Now I'm only going to say this once more. The two of you must learn to be at least civil to one another. Even if your niece and nephew don't spark it they'll probably remain friends. The two of you aren't so different as you think. Please, just try for their sake if not your own. The two of them need a friend right now, one that can sympathize with their predicament. Don't break something that can be so lovely." They turned their heads. "Please shake hands. If one good thing can come of Sirius's death, make it some harmony between the two of you." This sparked a rage inside Remus.
"Sirius wouldn't have wanted me even talking to you," he spat at Severus.
"Don't sink back into this Remus. Sirius was a great man but one with a quick temper. Don't let his decisions judge your actions." Tears were now falling down Remus's tired face. He was not prepared to let Sirius go. "If I'm not much mistaken, the two of you also need a friend. Just shake hands." Reluctantly they shook hands quickly.
For Severus and Remus, the weeks passed slowly. Mary and Ethan were learning at remarkable speeds, the two would be ready for the upcoming year. September 1st was approaching. Mary and Oren spent a lot of time together, apart from their study lessons. The two could be found on the Hogwarts lawn with Oren strumming at his guitar strings. Together, they forgot about all that had happened. In fact, Mary forgot entirely till one night when she awoke to Vivaldi pouring from down the hall. She followed the sound.
Ethan was playing Summer with all his might on the violin that had belonged to Hew. Tears were streaming down his eyes and he didn't look himself. Normally Ethan Jack Walker was calm and kind. He savagely rubbed the bow over the strings as if playing his for his life. Up the scale then down on G and D. With a flourish he ended and collapsed into a chair. He held the violin to his face, feeling the grain of the wood against his cheek. Reverently he kissed the strings and ran his fingers along the curve of it's body.
Mary hesitated before walking into the room. It took a while for Ethan to notice her. Finally though, he looked up. "M-M-Mary," he choked out.
"What is it Ethan?"
"I-I miss them so much," he sobbed, his face in his hands now. She walked over to him and gently took the violin and bow from his hands and laid them on the coffee table in front of the chair. She drew him into a hug.
"I know, I miss them too," she felt the tears fall softly down her face. "I forgot you played the violin."
"It came about a week ago, Aunt Elizabeth sent it."
"Oh, that was nice of her."
"Mary, what are we going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just can't see living without Mum and Dad for the rest of our lives. It almost seemed novel when we first got here but the novelty is quickly leaving and reality is sinking in. We can't go back to that life we had. Mum and Dad can't come back.." Ethan faded off and looked out the window at the night sky.
"I know, it's gong to be hard, really hard, but we'll get through it. We have Uncle Severus and each other and Oren." She looked away, ashamed of herself. Ethan didn't have Oren, she was the only one.
"Yeah, you have Oren."
"He likes you, you know. He says you're the best."
"That's nice," Ethan said, dodging away from her.
"Don't you like him?"
"He's fine. Uncle Severus doesn't like him though."
"Yeah, well, I can't let other people dictate what I do."
"He's important Mary, don't throw him off. At least talk to him. I know he misses having you around." With that Ethan picked up the violin reverently. Mary stood up resolutely and walked to Severus's room. She walked in without knocking and sat on his bed. She shove him a little in the side.
"W-what?" Severus asked, sitting up. He had gotten a lot more handsome since they'd been there. He had put on more weight and his hair remained short and clean. Without his hair in his face, his face was also cleaner.
"We need to talk."
"Okay Mary, what do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about Oren, Uncle Severus. I know the reason you don't like him is because you don't like Professor Lupin (it was what they were told to call him) but I really like him."
"Why do you really like him?" Severus asked finally.
"He's been through the same thing. He's nice, smart, and well, handsome. He really likes me too and I've never felt that before," she blushed. "Please try to like him Uncle Severus, for me?" With her look he melted. He sighed.
"I'll try Mary, I'll try." She kissed him on the cheek with a smile.
"You're the best Uncle Sev.!" He realized with a small smile in his heart that no one had ever called him "the best" before.
The time slipped away from them and before they knew it, September 1st was upon them.