Disclaimer: I might as well do this properly every once in a while. JK Rowlings came up with the Harry Potter Wizarding World. I am only borrowing it for a while. She has said in interviews that she is flattered by fanfiction. I would not presume to write in her world if I did not believe she might approve.
A/N – Well, the tone has changed rather dramatically in the past few chapters hasn't it? I suppose a few months of not writing will do that to a story.
I still hope to be finished fairly soon. Although every time I finish an – admittedly short – chapter, there seems to be just as much still to write.
sadilou keeps bugging me about that. Sigh. (Gusha gripes that she was forced to beta this time, because sadilou was at work.) *sadilou retorts that Gusha should wait until she gets home, and she'll be happy to beta for her. Of course, the internet went down before Gusha could post, just so that sadilou could beta(giggle)*
(Ignore Gusha. I would like to note that she is delusional. Neither her grammar nor her spelling are up to editing standards.)
*****
Severus sagged against the wall, breathing slowly and carefully. His gaze rested on his young assistant.
Weasley had done surprisingly well. After practicing the disrobing spell on his own arm half a dozen times, he had even been able to do it gently.
The row of minor broken bones had been cursed whole without difficulty. Madam Pomphrey had then sent them to evaluate the more serious breaks - the ones where limbs had been crushed or where the shards broke the skin.
Severus had healed as many as were within his abilities. The others were sent up to the Hospital Wing with one of the house elves. Not before being doused with enough Dreamless Sleep Potion to keep them knocked out for two days.
They had just sent their last healed patient into the Great Hall to wait for dinner.
The strain of fatigue, exertion and recent injury were evident in Weasley's young face.
"That last one was really dreadful." The boy said, wincing. He placed his wand carefully in his pocket.
"You did well." Severus said softly. "Ten points to Gryffindor, if that still matters." The correct change was reflected in the row of hourglasses. "Ah, I see it does. For now at least."
Weasley jumped as if startled. Then his mouth dropped open in a most unbecoming manner.
"Let's see the arm again, Weasley." Severus' mouth twisted.
Severus waved his wand and the sleeve of the burgundy jumper revealed the injured arm once again. Where the break had been, the arm was bruised to the bone in an odd encircling band.
Severus winced, remembering similar injuries. "That looks awful already. I know another spell. Do you want me to…?"
Weasley flinched, he began to pull his arm away and then seemed to change his mind. He held his forearm out. "Go ahead. Will this one hurt?" He asked, more wearily than fearfully.
"No this one doesn't hurt." Severus assured him solemnly.
"All right then."
Severus murmured the spell and watched the dark stain of internal blood fade.
The boy sighed. Severus used the spell to pull his sleeve back down.
"So." Severus said with an odd look. "That spell to move cloth? I won't tell you never to use it on your girl." Weasley's eyes widened. "Giving you ideas, am I? Just see that you have her permission before you try it. You can get in a great deal of trouble otherwise."
Weasley nodded, a slightly incredulous look on his face.
Severus put his wand away. "And especially don't tell anyone who you learned it from." He shuddered. "That goes double for your mother."
Weasley nodded. "That goes without saying, sir."
"Let's go in to dinner." Severus surveyed the entry hall without stirring from his place on the wall.
A few scattered students were performing scouring spells on the bloodied stone steps. Dobby the House Elf was levitating the last slumbering serious injury out of the hall. Severus squinted to make out the features. Was that Draco Malfoy? Should Dobby really be trusted with his safe transport?
Severus started to call out. Then he saw the loving look Dobby gave his former master's son. Severus relaxed. Malfoy could be in no better hands than those of a house elf who still subconsciously saw him as Family.
"Dinner. Right." Weasley said, grimacing. "I'm not sure I'll be able to keep anything down after that last."
Severus' own stomach roiled as he recalled all he had seen that day. "I don't think I'll be eating meat for about a week." He bared his teeth in grim mirth. "However, be sure to eat anything you can stomach. You will recover better with a good meal and plenty of rest."
Weasley nodded.
Severus pushed away from the wall. "I'll tell you about my mother some time, if you're interested." Severus was surprised with himself.
"Your mother?" Weasley asked, clearly confused.
"Didn't Harry tell you?" Severus stopped and looked at his son's friend.
"Tell me what?"
Severus shook his head. "Mother was Maura Thornton." The boy gasped. "I thought he would have told you, as much as you know about her work."
"No, he didn't tell me. I think I'm too tired to be upset about it." Weasley looked away. "We haven't spent as much time together recently. At least, not outside class. He is always rushing off to see you these days."
"I'm sorry." Severus said. "I don't think I had realized this touched more than the two of us. I should have included you and Miss Granger more."
"It's not your fault. Besides," Weasley grinned. "It has given me time alone with Hermione, which would be almost pleasant if I could get her to stop studying."
"The two of you have worked that out then? No," Severus continued quickly, holding up his hand. "I don't want to know the details. The offer to discuss mother still stands."
Weasley, whose shoulders had tensed, relaxed. "I'd like that."
They had reached the large doors of the great hall.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Weasley." Severus said.
"Thank you for giving me something constructive to do." Weasley countered.
Weasley took a seat at the Gryffindor table and Severus continued up to the staff table.
Then Severus was finally sitting. His posture was carefully straight, no matter how much he wanted to put his head down.
As the students trickled in he suddenly had the sort of thought that makes a person want to thump themselves in the head. Rose Brier Cottage had none of the safeguards Hogwarts boasted. Rose would not be safe there if Voldemort sought to harm her.
"Humby." He said quietly.
The old elf appeared, looking as tired as Severus felt.
"Master?" Humby bowed.
"Bring me parchment, ink and quill. Oh, and one of the preconfigured Alde Craig portkeys. When I have written the message, please deliver it personally to Rose. Then get some rest."
"As Master wills." Humby replied before disappearing.
Severus composed the message in his head while he waited.
Rose,
I do not believe you will be safe staying at the cottage. Hogsmeade was attacked while we were with you. I know you don't like living with Father, but the Castle has almost as much security as Hogwarts. I urge you to accept my invitation to reside there for as long as is necessary. I have sent you an Alde Craig portkey. Take your time, but don't linger. When you are packed and ready hold the portkey and say Alde Craig as if you were Flooing. I will be in touch.
Severus
When he had written that, he wrote another, smaller note for Plovy, the house elf at Alde Craig, ordering his aunt's comforts to be attended to.
*****
Dinner was an odd affair that night. The absence of their still injured classmates left an odd hole in the Great Hall.
When the school was assembled, Dumbledore rose to speak.
"It will no doubt relive you all to know that all of our students are accounted for. No one has been lost. No one has died. All of those in the Hospital Wing are expected to make a full recovery."
The Hall buzzed with a relived murmur. Dumbledore raised a hand for silence.
"All Hogsmeade trips are canceled until further notice." No one spoke, but there were many nods of agreement. "We have no reason to believe that the school is in danger of attack at this time. We are increasing security. I assure you that we are using every precaution to ensure your safety. Visitors should be accompanied at all times. This attack has surprised us, but it has not caught us unprepared. Your heads of house will inform you shortly of any changes in policy or rules. For now, eat your meal without fear for yourselves or your friends."
Dumbledore sat wearily. The food appeared a moment later.
Dinner that night resembled what a bachelor might pull out of his mother's larder on a visit. There was little in the way of cooked foods. There were a great many things resembling leftovers.
Quickly word got around. No, the kitchens weren't on strike. The meal had simply been interrupted completely while the elves helped attend to the injured.
A few minutes after the food arrived, Hermione entered the hall and took the empty place next to Ron.
"You all right, 'Mione?" Ron asked past a mouthful of food.
"Mostly." She smiled and touched her bandage. "I got some blood-clotting cream on it, but otherwise it will have to heal on its own. There were many injuries worse than mine."
"Too right." Ron shuddered. "Let's not talk about that."
"Right. Harry, how was meeting Aunt Rose?" Hermione asked.
"Great, really. She seems like a lot of fun." Harry smiled, but it faded slowly. "She asked me to stay with her over the holidays, but I don't suppose they'll let me with all this going on."
"Harry, why didn't you tell me Professor Snape's mother was Maura Thornton?" Ron asked.
Harry had the grace to look guilty. "I, well, I meant to, but I kept forgetting to bring it up."
Ron shrugged. "Whatever." He waved his hand to cut off further apologies. "You know, Professor Snape really isn't so bad."
"Since when did you use that honorific in private conversation?" Hermione asked, almost amused.
"Since I actually had a civil conversation with the man." Ron replied, reaching for the roasted potatoes. "He's different than I thought, Harry. I didn't quite believe you before."
Harry nodded. "He masks himself well. Once you really start talking to him you start to understand him. Then he does something beastly in class and you want to change your mind back again."
Ron grinned, his mouth full. "I can see that."
"Honestly, Ron, chew and swallow." Hermione said, handing him a napkin. "And use this. There's sauce on your chin."
"Yes, Mum." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"Every once in a while he says something that makes me believe he really loves teaching." Harry continued.
"Of course he must." Hermione said. "Why would he do it otherwise?"
"Um, that whole Death Eater thing for one." Ron said in a hushed voice, glancing furtively around to see that no one was listening in.
Hermione shook her head. "Maybe at first." She conceded. "Now he is an internationally known Potions Master. He could have a job in research almost anywhere if he wanted it. Or He could make complex potions all day long and sell them to a shop or to the Ministry. He stays because he wants to stay." She insisted.
"If you say so." Ron said, still not quite believing.
"Um, guys." Harry said hesitantly. "I'm really sorry about blowing up at you last night."
"No worries, mate." Ron said quickly. "You were right." He grinned. "Hermione and I worked it out last night after you went to bed."
Harry looked past Ron to Hermione.
"That's right. If you hadn't pushed us, it would have taken months more." She slipped her arm around Ron's waist. "He was really brave this afternoon; he broke his arm shielding me from some falling rubble."
"Although I did accidentally shove you onto a jagged piece of glass." Ron shuddered. "I didn't even feel my arm anymore when I saw all that blood."
"I'll be fine now." Hermione assured him. "A bit of a scar, perhaps, but that can't be helped."
"Who is still on the injured list?" Harry asked, peering down the table looking for faces he knew.
"Quite a few of the sixth and seventh years." Hermione said.
Ron listed the names of the students Severus had sent upstairs, swallowing the bitterness the memories brought to him.
"Where is Ginny?" Harry asked, still looking around.
Ron went very white. "Ginny?" He half rose to look for her.
"Sit." Hermione ordered. "I thought you knew." She grimaced. "Madame Pomphrey stabilized her almost first. She was one of the worst curse victims. She is up in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomphrey said she would recover, but it will be slow."
Harry blew out his breath slowly.
Ron sagged against Hermione. "I don't suppose they will let us visit soon?"
"Not likely." Harry said. "The whole school would want to visit someone."
They concentrated glumly on their dinners after that.
*****
A/N – Poor Ginny. She was hurt dreadfully. Ron will be beside himself until she recovers. She doesn't feel a thing at the moment. Don't worry, I'm not about to kill off one of my favorite characters. Grin.
BTW, in case you haven't noticed, Gusha is the insane voice in my head. Persistent and evil. *nods* I am the normal and sane one. All the mistakes are Gusha's fault.
A/N – Well, the tone has changed rather dramatically in the past few chapters hasn't it? I suppose a few months of not writing will do that to a story.
I still hope to be finished fairly soon. Although every time I finish an – admittedly short – chapter, there seems to be just as much still to write.
sadilou keeps bugging me about that. Sigh. (Gusha gripes that she was forced to beta this time, because sadilou was at work.) *sadilou retorts that Gusha should wait until she gets home, and she'll be happy to beta for her. Of course, the internet went down before Gusha could post, just so that sadilou could beta(giggle)*
(Ignore Gusha. I would like to note that she is delusional. Neither her grammar nor her spelling are up to editing standards.)
*****
Severus sagged against the wall, breathing slowly and carefully. His gaze rested on his young assistant.
Weasley had done surprisingly well. After practicing the disrobing spell on his own arm half a dozen times, he had even been able to do it gently.
The row of minor broken bones had been cursed whole without difficulty. Madam Pomphrey had then sent them to evaluate the more serious breaks - the ones where limbs had been crushed or where the shards broke the skin.
Severus had healed as many as were within his abilities. The others were sent up to the Hospital Wing with one of the house elves. Not before being doused with enough Dreamless Sleep Potion to keep them knocked out for two days.
They had just sent their last healed patient into the Great Hall to wait for dinner.
The strain of fatigue, exertion and recent injury were evident in Weasley's young face.
"That last one was really dreadful." The boy said, wincing. He placed his wand carefully in his pocket.
"You did well." Severus said softly. "Ten points to Gryffindor, if that still matters." The correct change was reflected in the row of hourglasses. "Ah, I see it does. For now at least."
Weasley jumped as if startled. Then his mouth dropped open in a most unbecoming manner.
"Let's see the arm again, Weasley." Severus' mouth twisted.
Severus waved his wand and the sleeve of the burgundy jumper revealed the injured arm once again. Where the break had been, the arm was bruised to the bone in an odd encircling band.
Severus winced, remembering similar injuries. "That looks awful already. I know another spell. Do you want me to…?"
Weasley flinched, he began to pull his arm away and then seemed to change his mind. He held his forearm out. "Go ahead. Will this one hurt?" He asked, more wearily than fearfully.
"No this one doesn't hurt." Severus assured him solemnly.
"All right then."
Severus murmured the spell and watched the dark stain of internal blood fade.
The boy sighed. Severus used the spell to pull his sleeve back down.
"So." Severus said with an odd look. "That spell to move cloth? I won't tell you never to use it on your girl." Weasley's eyes widened. "Giving you ideas, am I? Just see that you have her permission before you try it. You can get in a great deal of trouble otherwise."
Weasley nodded, a slightly incredulous look on his face.
Severus put his wand away. "And especially don't tell anyone who you learned it from." He shuddered. "That goes double for your mother."
Weasley nodded. "That goes without saying, sir."
"Let's go in to dinner." Severus surveyed the entry hall without stirring from his place on the wall.
A few scattered students were performing scouring spells on the bloodied stone steps. Dobby the House Elf was levitating the last slumbering serious injury out of the hall. Severus squinted to make out the features. Was that Draco Malfoy? Should Dobby really be trusted with his safe transport?
Severus started to call out. Then he saw the loving look Dobby gave his former master's son. Severus relaxed. Malfoy could be in no better hands than those of a house elf who still subconsciously saw him as Family.
"Dinner. Right." Weasley said, grimacing. "I'm not sure I'll be able to keep anything down after that last."
Severus' own stomach roiled as he recalled all he had seen that day. "I don't think I'll be eating meat for about a week." He bared his teeth in grim mirth. "However, be sure to eat anything you can stomach. You will recover better with a good meal and plenty of rest."
Weasley nodded.
Severus pushed away from the wall. "I'll tell you about my mother some time, if you're interested." Severus was surprised with himself.
"Your mother?" Weasley asked, clearly confused.
"Didn't Harry tell you?" Severus stopped and looked at his son's friend.
"Tell me what?"
Severus shook his head. "Mother was Maura Thornton." The boy gasped. "I thought he would have told you, as much as you know about her work."
"No, he didn't tell me. I think I'm too tired to be upset about it." Weasley looked away. "We haven't spent as much time together recently. At least, not outside class. He is always rushing off to see you these days."
"I'm sorry." Severus said. "I don't think I had realized this touched more than the two of us. I should have included you and Miss Granger more."
"It's not your fault. Besides," Weasley grinned. "It has given me time alone with Hermione, which would be almost pleasant if I could get her to stop studying."
"The two of you have worked that out then? No," Severus continued quickly, holding up his hand. "I don't want to know the details. The offer to discuss mother still stands."
Weasley, whose shoulders had tensed, relaxed. "I'd like that."
They had reached the large doors of the great hall.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Weasley." Severus said.
"Thank you for giving me something constructive to do." Weasley countered.
Weasley took a seat at the Gryffindor table and Severus continued up to the staff table.
Then Severus was finally sitting. His posture was carefully straight, no matter how much he wanted to put his head down.
As the students trickled in he suddenly had the sort of thought that makes a person want to thump themselves in the head. Rose Brier Cottage had none of the safeguards Hogwarts boasted. Rose would not be safe there if Voldemort sought to harm her.
"Humby." He said quietly.
The old elf appeared, looking as tired as Severus felt.
"Master?" Humby bowed.
"Bring me parchment, ink and quill. Oh, and one of the preconfigured Alde Craig portkeys. When I have written the message, please deliver it personally to Rose. Then get some rest."
"As Master wills." Humby replied before disappearing.
Severus composed the message in his head while he waited.
Rose,
I do not believe you will be safe staying at the cottage. Hogsmeade was attacked while we were with you. I know you don't like living with Father, but the Castle has almost as much security as Hogwarts. I urge you to accept my invitation to reside there for as long as is necessary. I have sent you an Alde Craig portkey. Take your time, but don't linger. When you are packed and ready hold the portkey and say Alde Craig as if you were Flooing. I will be in touch.
Severus
When he had written that, he wrote another, smaller note for Plovy, the house elf at Alde Craig, ordering his aunt's comforts to be attended to.
*****
Dinner was an odd affair that night. The absence of their still injured classmates left an odd hole in the Great Hall.
When the school was assembled, Dumbledore rose to speak.
"It will no doubt relive you all to know that all of our students are accounted for. No one has been lost. No one has died. All of those in the Hospital Wing are expected to make a full recovery."
The Hall buzzed with a relived murmur. Dumbledore raised a hand for silence.
"All Hogsmeade trips are canceled until further notice." No one spoke, but there were many nods of agreement. "We have no reason to believe that the school is in danger of attack at this time. We are increasing security. I assure you that we are using every precaution to ensure your safety. Visitors should be accompanied at all times. This attack has surprised us, but it has not caught us unprepared. Your heads of house will inform you shortly of any changes in policy or rules. For now, eat your meal without fear for yourselves or your friends."
Dumbledore sat wearily. The food appeared a moment later.
Dinner that night resembled what a bachelor might pull out of his mother's larder on a visit. There was little in the way of cooked foods. There were a great many things resembling leftovers.
Quickly word got around. No, the kitchens weren't on strike. The meal had simply been interrupted completely while the elves helped attend to the injured.
A few minutes after the food arrived, Hermione entered the hall and took the empty place next to Ron.
"You all right, 'Mione?" Ron asked past a mouthful of food.
"Mostly." She smiled and touched her bandage. "I got some blood-clotting cream on it, but otherwise it will have to heal on its own. There were many injuries worse than mine."
"Too right." Ron shuddered. "Let's not talk about that."
"Right. Harry, how was meeting Aunt Rose?" Hermione asked.
"Great, really. She seems like a lot of fun." Harry smiled, but it faded slowly. "She asked me to stay with her over the holidays, but I don't suppose they'll let me with all this going on."
"Harry, why didn't you tell me Professor Snape's mother was Maura Thornton?" Ron asked.
Harry had the grace to look guilty. "I, well, I meant to, but I kept forgetting to bring it up."
Ron shrugged. "Whatever." He waved his hand to cut off further apologies. "You know, Professor Snape really isn't so bad."
"Since when did you use that honorific in private conversation?" Hermione asked, almost amused.
"Since I actually had a civil conversation with the man." Ron replied, reaching for the roasted potatoes. "He's different than I thought, Harry. I didn't quite believe you before."
Harry nodded. "He masks himself well. Once you really start talking to him you start to understand him. Then he does something beastly in class and you want to change your mind back again."
Ron grinned, his mouth full. "I can see that."
"Honestly, Ron, chew and swallow." Hermione said, handing him a napkin. "And use this. There's sauce on your chin."
"Yes, Mum." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"Every once in a while he says something that makes me believe he really loves teaching." Harry continued.
"Of course he must." Hermione said. "Why would he do it otherwise?"
"Um, that whole Death Eater thing for one." Ron said in a hushed voice, glancing furtively around to see that no one was listening in.
Hermione shook her head. "Maybe at first." She conceded. "Now he is an internationally known Potions Master. He could have a job in research almost anywhere if he wanted it. Or He could make complex potions all day long and sell them to a shop or to the Ministry. He stays because he wants to stay." She insisted.
"If you say so." Ron said, still not quite believing.
"Um, guys." Harry said hesitantly. "I'm really sorry about blowing up at you last night."
"No worries, mate." Ron said quickly. "You were right." He grinned. "Hermione and I worked it out last night after you went to bed."
Harry looked past Ron to Hermione.
"That's right. If you hadn't pushed us, it would have taken months more." She slipped her arm around Ron's waist. "He was really brave this afternoon; he broke his arm shielding me from some falling rubble."
"Although I did accidentally shove you onto a jagged piece of glass." Ron shuddered. "I didn't even feel my arm anymore when I saw all that blood."
"I'll be fine now." Hermione assured him. "A bit of a scar, perhaps, but that can't be helped."
"Who is still on the injured list?" Harry asked, peering down the table looking for faces he knew.
"Quite a few of the sixth and seventh years." Hermione said.
Ron listed the names of the students Severus had sent upstairs, swallowing the bitterness the memories brought to him.
"Where is Ginny?" Harry asked, still looking around.
Ron went very white. "Ginny?" He half rose to look for her.
"Sit." Hermione ordered. "I thought you knew." She grimaced. "Madame Pomphrey stabilized her almost first. She was one of the worst curse victims. She is up in the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomphrey said she would recover, but it will be slow."
Harry blew out his breath slowly.
Ron sagged against Hermione. "I don't suppose they will let us visit soon?"
"Not likely." Harry said. "The whole school would want to visit someone."
They concentrated glumly on their dinners after that.
*****
A/N – Poor Ginny. She was hurt dreadfully. Ron will be beside himself until she recovers. She doesn't feel a thing at the moment. Don't worry, I'm not about to kill off one of my favorite characters. Grin.
BTW, in case you haven't noticed, Gusha is the insane voice in my head. Persistent and evil. *nods* I am the normal and sane one. All the mistakes are Gusha's fault.