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Not Myself by Saerry Snape

Chapter 154 – Goodbye Elves, Hello World

Severus stalked away from the great hall, anger in ever line. He had not missed Sirius' comment and, despite their old rivalry, he felt a sense of loss. It had never been his fault for the anger instilled in the other man – his cousin – who had been a thoughtless boy filled with anger. That, matched with Severus' street-tempered mind and soul had done nothing for their relationship.

And yet it all was the fault of one man. Septimius Snape, Severus' father and the man who had robbed him of a mother he'd barely known and Sirius of an aunt he'd adored.

An eleven-year-old Sirius, unable to reach the true culprit of his aunt's disappearance, had turned upon his cousin – who had fought back with every slur and curse he'd learned in the depths of Knockturn Alley and London.

What fools they had been…

Severus cursed and stopped, panting as though he'd run every floor of Hogwarts twice. He then turned and slammed his fist into the unyielding wall, bruising knuckles and leaving scarlet blood spattered upon the gray stones. Cursing again, he scowled at the wounds before lifting the hurt hand to his lips. He sucked the welled up blood away before pulling a handkerchief from his robes and wrapping it tightly about the hand to forestall any more bleeding.

"Da?"

Severus turned and saw Harry behind him, a frown on his young features. He stared at him for a moment, contemplating him. For all their differences, they were alike in so many other ways – many of which Severus would rather not have had.

Harry had his scowl, his sneer, his look of righteous contempt, his height – yet his mother's gangly body and the broad shoulders that came from her side as no one of the Snape or Hart families had ever been broad-shouldered. His temper was that a mixing of the Snape and Evans, both families that were run thick with Irish blood. And yet there was a kindness in him, a gentleness that Severus had beheld firsthand in his mother's sweet embrace.

But most disastrously there was that largest connection between them. Both of them, father and son, had been raised as street rats. And at eleven years had been brought from those streets – Severus by the father who hated him and Harry by the gentle Molly Weasley.

Now Harry had found love in his best friend, something that Severus himself had found in his own.

Would he lose that love as his father had?

No, thought Severus sternly. Niamh, for all her temper, was as loyal as anyone could ask. She would never turn her back on Harry.

But would he turn his on her? Voldemort was coming closer – they all knew it. First the sending of Tyls and then the Gauntlet, both fair warnings of what he wanted. Harry dead – or worse, in his ranks as a loyal Death Eater – and the world upon a golden platter at his feet.

Severus wouldn't see that happen. He would not seen the Mark he himself bore on his son's arm nor the boy he loved with all his heart and soul dead. Voldemort would find himself hard-pressed to kill Harry with Severus against him. Tethdaìr warrior he was not but he was an ex-Auror and an ex-Death Eater (no matter how he disliked the latter). He'd done things he'd regretted as both – most recently the slaughter during Amadeus' rescue – but to defend the child he and Lily had created? Ah, to defend that he'd use the darkest of magicks and not hate himself for it.

It was a long tradition that Snape sons followed their father's. Severus had been forced to follow his.

He would not force nor see his son forced to follow in his footsteps.

Never.

"Da?" said Harry again, his frown deepening.

Severus shook himself from his thoughts and forced a smile towards the teenager.

"I'm quite alright, Harry. Stop frowning so. You'll earn lines on your face before you're old enough to have actually earned them."

The frown lessened but didn't fade. Worry flickered in emerald eyes only matched by those of Sheen and Severus winced.

He knew what was worrying his son.

The night they'd returned from their rescue mission. He wished to know why there had been blood on his father's person that night. Severus knew it without having Niamh's help to unravel the maze that was his son's mind. For when Harry was worried about those he cared for, he let it show. Even more especially when one of them had been injured.

"You want to know…" Severus began.

"About that night," finished Harry with a nod. He tilted his head slightly and asked, "What did you do?"

Severus winced, remembering. He then sighed and threw it all onto the proverbial table. All the blatant truth of the blood he'd spilled that night when the darkest part of his soul had been roused from the grave he'd put it in and had gone on a rampage.

"I broke Lucius' wand, back, and a few ribs. I buried several Death Eater's by caving in the roof of a corridor. I used the harshest curses I know to murder several Death Eater's – a few who they shall have to match the heads up for if they care to identify them. There. There lies every bit of blood spilled."

Severus looked into those emerald eyes, thinking he'd see disgust. Oh, how little he knew his own son…

"Oh," said Harry. "That's all?"

"'That's all?'" repeated Severus.

"Yeh."

Severus stared then burst out laughing in the next instant. Harry snorted at him and shook his head, a smile at the corner of his lips.

"'That's all?'" said Severus again, still laughing. "Ah, Harry, you are a blessing. The times when you should surely be disgusted with me and turn your back on me, you give me an answer like that."

Harry's smile faded and he gave his father a look full of seriousness.

"I'd never turn my back on you, Da."

"Even if I went willingly to Voldemort?"

"He'd kill you for a traitor. Hence you'd never go."

"Quite right," said Severus. "I notice that your accent is fading again. Much quicker than before."

Harry shrugged. He'd noticed the fade as well.

"It only came back 'cause of the coma."

"True," said Severus, frowning as he remembered the months he'd spent without the young man before him in his life. And without him there…it just wasn't as exciting.

Coughing, the Potion's Master said, "Well, since we won't be leaving until tomorrow, why don't we visit the library? I know there are a few texts on the Tethdaìr lying about…"

"Any on our family?"

"History books upon the dozens. There's a chart in the back of the library on the wall that traces the family tree."

Harry grinned and asked, "Well, then what are we waiting for?"

"I haven't the foggiest but when it finally comes we won't be here for it to find."

Harry laughed and Severus slung his arm across his son's shoulder as they headed off in the direction of the library.

"Now, promise me you shall all be careful. Especially you, cousins."

"Always," purred Severus, bowing in a courtly manner to Sheen and kissing her hand. Harry rolled his eyes at his father's behavior as Sirius scoffed behind them. He then smiled as Sheen turned towards him and grabbed his hands.

"Promise, Harry," she said, staring into his eyes with a determined look.

He smiled and said, "Can't promise anything with Voldemort after me. But I'll try."

"Do. And remember our talks."

"I will."

Sheen smiled then turned to Sirius, who blinked in surprise.

"And you," she said, "cousin by marriage. Yet cousin nonetheless. I hope those wounds you carry heal."

Sirius flushed darkly and ducked his head, muttering, "M'lady." It was the first time Harry had seen his godfather speechless.

"And to you brave, brave wolf's." Sheen grabbed one of Remus' hands and one of Mika's tightly. "You I hold as dearly to my heart as my bold cousins. Thank you both."

Remus ran his other hand through his hair as Mika ducked his head, white hair falling over his eyes. Amadeus grinned at the two and nodded his thanks as well.

"Timeframe, m'lady," said Edrin in his soft voice. He appeared suddenly behind the Elf Queen, more regal looking in his gilt clothing than Sheen in her simple cloth dress. But no one could mistake him for anything but a counselor and Sheen for anything but a queen.

"Yes, yes, Edrin. Yes. Oh I shall miss you all. The halls of this old place shall be empty without your faces!"

"You know we dare not stay," said Severus softly.

Sheen smiled sadly, nodding. "Yes, dear Severus, I know. Now go – go! And take care! Take care, my brave, brave men!"

Severus and Harry stepped through the portal Edrin had opened moments before, followed by Sirius. Mika paused and looked back, his white hair moving back to reveal a scarlet orb in place of his ruined eye. Then he turned at a touch by Remus on his shoulder and the two werewolf's stepped through the portal.

Edrin snapped his fingers and the portal closed, leaving the three of them in a great hall that was suddenly silent.

"I shall miss them," said Sheen sadly.

Amadeus frowned and took her into his arms, holding her close.

"My and I both, my love. You and I both."

"Where are they?" exclaimed Ginny, pacing in front of the fire in Arx Serpens. Niamh, who was sprawled on the floor nearby, didn't even lift her head. Her eyes were closed and moving slightly underneath the lids. As though she was searching for something…

THEIR BACK!

Ginny yelped as Jardin's voice echoed loudly in their heads then jumped as Niamh shot up, eyes flying open as she shrieked, "Harry!"

A moment later the girl was gone, rushing out into the corridor. Ginny blinked then yelled, "Hey, wait for me!" She shot off after the other girl, almost losing her in the halls.

The redhead paused in the entrance hall as Niamh dragged one of the main doors open and leapt down the stairs two at a time. She jumped the last five in one leap and stumbled, recovering herself to run across the dark grounds towards four tall shadows coming out of the forest, a smaller shadowing bounding along beside them.

One of the shadows stepped ahead of the others and the small shadow that Niamh had become leapt onto it with a shriek that echoed across the grounds.

"Ah," said a voice from behind Ginny, "such happiness…"

"Headmaster?"

Dumbledore smiled down at her, eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses.

"Good evening, Virginia. I see you too know of the escapades of tonight – last night I should say as it is just past midnight."

"Ni told me," explained Ginny. "Though she didn't know what exactly they were doing."

"A rescue. Severus!"

"Albus!" came the shout back from the dark.

Dumbledore pulled the other door open and the light in the entrance hall pooled out onto the steps. Severus appeared, wearing dark green robes instead of his normal black. Sirius appeared next, bounding past Ginny in his Animagus form. Then came Remus, who was dressed in clothes that looked much neater than those he was usually in. After him was Harry, clad in clothing that wouldn't have looked out of place in medieval times, Niamh clinging to his side and marveling at the black knee boots he was sporting. And lastly – Mika.

Ginny gasped as she saw him and dashed forward.

"Your eye…"

"A gift," explained Mika, catching her hand as it drifted towards the scarlet orb that had taken the place of his wounded eye.

"Gift? From who?"

"That," said Harry, overhearing them, "is something best explained in someplace beside the entrance hall. C'mon, we've got some serious stories to tell!"

"Like where you got those clothes," gasped Niamh.

"That's only a little part of it, Ni…"

Two and a half hours later, every tale had been told – with the exception of Severus' brutality and Harry's conversations with Sheen about the Tethdaìr. Those were things that were best kept in private.

"So, we are cousins!" exclaimed Mika as Harry told him, Niamh, and Ginny about the Elven family tree in the library.

"Yeh. Really distantly but we are."

"How distantly?"

"About as distantly as me, Da, and Sheen."

"She called you 'cousin'," said Mika in confusion.

Harry nodded slowly.

"But she was born centuries ago. Before the Elves left our plane."

"Oh…well, that does make a difference."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Well," said Dumbledore suddenly, "it is good to have you all back safe and sound. I trust nothing…untoward…happened." He looked at Sirius and Severus as he said this, both of who scowled.

"Now, Albus…" began Severus.

"Surely you don't think that we…" interrupted Sirius.

The two stopped, looked at each other in startlement that quickly turned into glares. Harry sighed and shook his head.

"You two are hopeless."

Niamh yawned suddenly, prompting Ginny and Harry himself to do the same. Mika followed swiftly and even Severus was caught up.

"To bed," he ordered, frowning at the four of them.

Four "Yes, sir"s were mumbled in sleepy voices and the teenagers stumbled out. Niamh leaned against Harry as Ginny clung to Mika's side. The two boys slung their arms about each other shoulder and all four of them leaning together, they staggered down to Arx Serpens.

Jardin made an appearance as they tumbled into the deserted common room. He fluffed up his feathers and sat on the fireplace mantle, watching them with bright eyes. A small bundle of black feathers topped with gray appeared suddenly, tumbling on unsteady wings to land in a tumble at his feet. Yellow eyes blinked open and the little bird righted itself, revealing a dark body fluffy with feathers and a sprinkling of gray feathers about its head. It chirped then hopped to its father's side, cuddling up against the warm body with a soft coo.

Spoiled brat… grumbled Jardin good-naturedly. He then looked back at the four teenagers and found them asleep.

Mika had collapsed in front of the fire, lying on his stomach, face towards the merry flames. Ginny curled up against him, using his back as a pillow.

Harry and Niamh hadn't even made it inside the door without collapsing. The young wizard's legs were partially in the outside corridor, leaving the door open. He lay on his back with Niamh lying across his chest, her head pillowed neatly on his shoulder.

Shaking his head, Jardin spread a wing and flapped it slightly. A glow surrounded the two dark-haired teenagers and they skidded across the floor a few feet, letting the door swing closed. Just before it did, a gray blur leapt through, padding its way across the floor.

The cat Niamh had given Severus the Christmas of the year before walked across the floor, tail flicking slightly at the end. Yellow eyes flicked up to Jardin before the creature – simply called Gray – curled up against Harry's side and closed her eyes.

Jardin fluffed his feathers again and watched the sleeping teenagers for a moment before he took fell asleep, the little dark chick snuggled against his side.