Chapter Four
Three days later the "Eltanins" flooed to Albus Dumbledore's office for the funerals of Harry Potter and Severus Snape. The three were dressed in matching black suits with dark green and blue ties. The all had their hair fixed perfectly and were looking as sharp and wealthy as Eltanins were expected to be.
Albus greeted them in his office with a happy grin. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to appear utterly depressed when the people you are supposed to be mourning are alive and well? How are you doing, Korbin, Steven, Ash?"
Steven laughed quietly. "No, and I hope I never go through that. We are fine and I would like to go by Cassius."
Ash nodded. "Me too, the whole 'never go through that' thing."
Cassius Eltanin looked carefully at Albus. "So, what is the excuse of a bunch of Eltanins being at the funeral of Harry Potter?"
Albus smiled. "That is simple. You will say, Cassius, that you went to school with Severus Snape. You came to say your good-byes and could not leave your sons home alone. I will also make sure to mention around you and a group of people about the job opening."
Severus nodded. "That sounds find to me."
Ash looked at Severus. "So...dad, what house do you think that we will be placed in?"
Severus looked at him. "You, unfortunately, are a natural-born Gryffindor, but...it has already been decided that you will be a Slytherin."
Ash scowled. "Is there something wrong with Gryffindors?"
Severus snorted. "Most of them, yes."
Ash looked ready to kill when Harry broke in at the perfect time. "Dad, do you think I am a Gryffindor too?" It was weird, even though he KNEW that Severus wasn't his father it was VERY easy to refer to him as such.
Severus smiled. "No...you have few Gryffindor traits. I think you are meant to be in Slytherin."
Ash looked at Steven in a disgusted way and Steven sneered at him. "Shut up, Ash."
Albus then stood. "I think it is time that we go down to the great hall for the funeral."
The three Eltanins followed him out of his office and into the Great Hall. When they entered, all three jaws dropped. Everything was decked out in black. It looked like someone had spray painted everything black. Steven, Ash, and Cassius followed Albus to a group of redheaded people. The Weasleys.
Steven looked at Albus angrily. He wasn't prepared for this. He wasn't ready to speak to the family he loved and the traitor he used to love like a brother. There he was. The traitor. Ron was pale and leaning on Fred with a twin on each side. His eyes were red and puffy and he looked like he was miserable. But the Eltanins saw the twinkle in his eye. The twinkle he had when he was happy as he would ever be. He was...glowing with happiness. Steven heard Ash growl beside him and he grabbed his brother's arm.
"This is not the time or the place." He hissed into his brother's ear. Ash nodded and lost his threatening look.
Albus smiled solemnly at the crying Molly Weasley. "Hello, Molly."
Molly cried out and hugged Albus to her, then she saw Cassius, Ash, and Steven and pulled away, embarrassed. "Oh...I...I am sorry Albus. I...did these people know Severus?"
Albus sighed and motioned for the trio to step forward. Steven noticed Ron and the twins looking at him strangely. Cassius stepped forward and stuck out his hand to Molly. Albus smiled slightly. "Molly, this is Korbin Eltanin, but he goes by his middle name, Cassius, and his two sons. Cassius went to the same university with Severus and came to say his good-byes. He brought his children along."
Severus nodded. "My apologies, madam, I take it you were rather close to Mr. Potter?"
Molly nodded. "Yes, I am Molly Weasley. My son was best friends with Harry." At this, Ron started to shake slightly and look away to look sad. Steven had to stop HIMSELF from growling. Molly looked at Ron sympathetically.
Severus nodded. "As the headmaster said, I am Cassius Eltanin and these are my twin sons, Ash and Steven." Molly looked at him suspiciously when he said Eltanin and the twins and Ron looked a little suspicious. Steven stepped towards the three boys and stuck out his hand. "Steven Eltanin. My condolences to you, I am sure he will be missed." Ron nodded his head shakily and shook Steven's hand.
"Ronald Weasley." He then pulled his hand away and stepped back.
Ash stepped forward. "Hello, my name is Ash Eltanin. I am sorry for your loss." Ron just nodded and sniffed loudly.
Apparently, Albus wouldn't have to bring up the new teaching position; Molly would do it for him. "Albus, do you know who will be taking up the new potion's position?"
Albus shook his head. "No, no one has applied yet. But...I was hoping to get Cassius to apply, he was a potion's major himself."
Cassius looked at Albus in mock-surprise. "Well, I think we can discuss that later. I think the service is about to start."
Albus nodded. "Please, Cassius, sit with me in the second row? You were very close to Severus." Cassius nodded and ushered his sons along, leaving the distraught Weasleys and Ron behind.
Steven followed Albus to the second row and saw only three people sitting in it. Hermione and her parents. Hermione had tears running down her cheeks and he wanted nothing more to go tell her that it was him, Harry. But he resisted. He got into the pew before his father so that he could sit next to her.
Steven sat down next to Hermione and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before looking straight ahead again. Steven looked at her. "Hello, I am Steven Eltanin. You must have been rather close to Mr. Potter to be sitting this close up."
Hermione looked at him and glared. "Yes, he was my best friend. He never mentioned YOU though. Why don't you move back? A funeral is not a place to pick up girls."
Steven sighed. "Miss, I assure you that I am NOT here to pick you up. If I am correct this is the memorial service for more than one person. My father was friends with Severus Snape."
Hermione looked at him apologetically. "I...I am so sorry, I didn't know. I mean, I...I'm sorry."
Steven smiled lightly at her. "It is nothing to worry over. It was nice to meet you anyway, miss."
"Oh...uhm, my name is Hermione Granger." She said quietly.
"Ah...Severus spoke of you before. He said you were the brightest in your year. He never thought he challenged you enough."
Hermione looked at him. "He wasn't the easiest man to get along with but he was easy to respect. He was a good man, I offer my condolences."
Steven nodded. "And the same to you."
"Thank you." She said, she then wiped her face with a worn out tissue as Minerva McGonnagal got up to speak on behalf of the Gryffindors for Harry and co-worker of Severus.
Steven pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. "Use this, I think your tissue has had enough. It is clean."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you." She reached out and grabbed the handkerchief and smiled at him lightly.
"Not a problem, Ms. Granger."
Harry then tuned in to what McGonnagal was saying. "...Were always at each other's throats. But...if they really needed each other for something the other would have been there. Harry was brave, bold, and the model Gryffindor. If we could be more like Harry then the world would be a much better place. Severus was always hard to get closed to. I think he...he feared losing people he came to love so he never put himself in that position. They were both wonderful people and have touched the lives, in one way or another, of those around them."
Next Albus stood. "I would now like someone who knew Severus personally to come speak for him. His friend, Cassius Eltanin, is here but not much of a public speaker so I would like to invite his son, Steven, to come speak about him." Hermione looked at Steven and he gulped.
Harry stood up and made his way to the podium set where the head table usually was. He cleared his throat and allows Albus to cast "Sonorus" on him. He then began to speak, never breaking eye contact with Severus.
"Severus Snape was my father's friend for as long as I remember. He came and visited us during the summer. I...I never got along with him perfectly, he was a hard man to get along with. But...anyone, if they really looked, could see that he was a good man. He never really showed people when he cared about them, for fear of them being hurt because of it. He may have looked like he never cared about anyone or anything, but...that is one of the biggest lies a person could tell. Severus Snape was always a little snarky...or rude, but...he wasn't a bad man because of it. In fact, if you really knew him you would know he was one of the easiest people to respect. He earned all the respect he received and SO much more that wasn't given to him, by myself included. He looked for everyone's best interested BEFORE himself. This made him a good, no, GREAT man. Where it counts, care, trust, service, and even love, Severus Snape was first class. Where it counts, he was almost like a father to me- and where it really counts- he will always be a father to me- his friend's son." Harry then stepped off the podium and walked back towards his seat. When he walked by Cassius, his father grabbed his arm and pulled him to him with tears in his eyes. "Thanks, Steven."
Harry nodded and said, "I told the truth." He then pulled away and smiled at his father and sat in his seat next to Hermione.
Hermione smiled at him and then looked at the podium where Albus was again standing. He was looking at Steven with the brightest twinkle Steven had ever seen. "Now, we would like our volunteer speaker, Ronald Weasley, to come speak on behalf of Harry Potter." Harry felt the air rush out of his lungs as Ron made a spectacle of standing up, shakily. He watched the carrot top walked to the podium and have the "Sonorus" charm put on him.
"Hello..." Ron said with a quiver. "I-I am not sure I am very prepared for this. Uhm...okay. Harry Potter was one of my best friends. He...He was always...caring about others before himself." Steven felt his father grab his hand and squeeze lightly, Steven nodded in response.
"He...Harry Potter was a celebrity. But...he never wanted any of it. He didn't want the fame, the glory, the riches, anything, only his friends and family. He always blamed himself for the deaths of those around him, his parents, godfather, Cedric...he hated himself for it all. And I...I am just proud to say I was his friend. He was SO strong and SO brave; you have NO idea, really. He always looked out for Hermione and me whenever something was wrong. Before himself. A sad thing about it all is...for all the care he gave he only had a few REAL friends. When it came to our year's students...I think Hermione and me were his only REAL friends, the ones who truly cared- not even caring about his fame. I like to think that we made his life a little better by simply being there for him, loving him, being loyal to him." Steven snorted loudly and was almost ready do launch himself at Ron. Hermione apparently heard him because she looked at him strangely.
"I...everyone in this room has an opinion of Harry. Whether it be good or bad, it doesn't matter. All I am going to say is...some of you are VERY, VERY wrong with your assumptions. Goodbye, Harry. We will certainly miss you." Ron then wiped his eyes with his hands, looking for the best part-a lost puppy. He then walked slowly to his seat.
With that Albus walked back up. "I...I would like to thank you for coming to the memorial service of Severus Snape and Harry Potter, two great men. The lived bravely and died the same way, they will be missed." Albus was looking at Ron in what appeared to be sympathy but Steven saw that the twinkle wasn't there. Albus seemed like he was mentally cursing Ron. Severus squeezed his hand again and Steven smiled lightly. Everyone started to leave their seats and the Eltanins stood up. Albus walked over to him, anger was evident. "Let's go to my office and discuss that job, Cassius." He nodded and followed Albus out of the room, followed by Ash and Steven.
Hermione stood back and when Ron walked up she sighed. "There is something weird about that boy." She said lightly.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Steven Eltanin. The boy who spoke for Severus."
"Oh...him. Well, the Eltanins are a well-known dark family- he is probably in the family business." Ron said. On the inside he was giddy. Steven had apparently rubbed Hermione wrong, but...he could be an asset to Ron's master.
Hermione then broke down into tears and latched on to Ron. "I miss him, SO much." She cried.
Ron rubbed her back. On the inside he was smiling. "I might have to hug a mudblood, but...at least the little ass is gone for good." He thought to himself, evilly.
Out loud he choked slightly, as if trying to hold back tears. "I know...I miss him too."
Author's Note: Next, a meeting in Diagon Alley and possibly a sleep over. Read and Review!
Three days later the "Eltanins" flooed to Albus Dumbledore's office for the funerals of Harry Potter and Severus Snape. The three were dressed in matching black suits with dark green and blue ties. The all had their hair fixed perfectly and were looking as sharp and wealthy as Eltanins were expected to be.
Albus greeted them in his office with a happy grin. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to appear utterly depressed when the people you are supposed to be mourning are alive and well? How are you doing, Korbin, Steven, Ash?"
Steven laughed quietly. "No, and I hope I never go through that. We are fine and I would like to go by Cassius."
Ash nodded. "Me too, the whole 'never go through that' thing."
Cassius Eltanin looked carefully at Albus. "So, what is the excuse of a bunch of Eltanins being at the funeral of Harry Potter?"
Albus smiled. "That is simple. You will say, Cassius, that you went to school with Severus Snape. You came to say your good-byes and could not leave your sons home alone. I will also make sure to mention around you and a group of people about the job opening."
Severus nodded. "That sounds find to me."
Ash looked at Severus. "So...dad, what house do you think that we will be placed in?"
Severus looked at him. "You, unfortunately, are a natural-born Gryffindor, but...it has already been decided that you will be a Slytherin."
Ash scowled. "Is there something wrong with Gryffindors?"
Severus snorted. "Most of them, yes."
Ash looked ready to kill when Harry broke in at the perfect time. "Dad, do you think I am a Gryffindor too?" It was weird, even though he KNEW that Severus wasn't his father it was VERY easy to refer to him as such.
Severus smiled. "No...you have few Gryffindor traits. I think you are meant to be in Slytherin."
Ash looked at Steven in a disgusted way and Steven sneered at him. "Shut up, Ash."
Albus then stood. "I think it is time that we go down to the great hall for the funeral."
The three Eltanins followed him out of his office and into the Great Hall. When they entered, all three jaws dropped. Everything was decked out in black. It looked like someone had spray painted everything black. Steven, Ash, and Cassius followed Albus to a group of redheaded people. The Weasleys.
Steven looked at Albus angrily. He wasn't prepared for this. He wasn't ready to speak to the family he loved and the traitor he used to love like a brother. There he was. The traitor. Ron was pale and leaning on Fred with a twin on each side. His eyes were red and puffy and he looked like he was miserable. But the Eltanins saw the twinkle in his eye. The twinkle he had when he was happy as he would ever be. He was...glowing with happiness. Steven heard Ash growl beside him and he grabbed his brother's arm.
"This is not the time or the place." He hissed into his brother's ear. Ash nodded and lost his threatening look.
Albus smiled solemnly at the crying Molly Weasley. "Hello, Molly."
Molly cried out and hugged Albus to her, then she saw Cassius, Ash, and Steven and pulled away, embarrassed. "Oh...I...I am sorry Albus. I...did these people know Severus?"
Albus sighed and motioned for the trio to step forward. Steven noticed Ron and the twins looking at him strangely. Cassius stepped forward and stuck out his hand to Molly. Albus smiled slightly. "Molly, this is Korbin Eltanin, but he goes by his middle name, Cassius, and his two sons. Cassius went to the same university with Severus and came to say his good-byes. He brought his children along."
Severus nodded. "My apologies, madam, I take it you were rather close to Mr. Potter?"
Molly nodded. "Yes, I am Molly Weasley. My son was best friends with Harry." At this, Ron started to shake slightly and look away to look sad. Steven had to stop HIMSELF from growling. Molly looked at Ron sympathetically.
Severus nodded. "As the headmaster said, I am Cassius Eltanin and these are my twin sons, Ash and Steven." Molly looked at him suspiciously when he said Eltanin and the twins and Ron looked a little suspicious. Steven stepped towards the three boys and stuck out his hand. "Steven Eltanin. My condolences to you, I am sure he will be missed." Ron nodded his head shakily and shook Steven's hand.
"Ronald Weasley." He then pulled his hand away and stepped back.
Ash stepped forward. "Hello, my name is Ash Eltanin. I am sorry for your loss." Ron just nodded and sniffed loudly.
Apparently, Albus wouldn't have to bring up the new teaching position; Molly would do it for him. "Albus, do you know who will be taking up the new potion's position?"
Albus shook his head. "No, no one has applied yet. But...I was hoping to get Cassius to apply, he was a potion's major himself."
Cassius looked at Albus in mock-surprise. "Well, I think we can discuss that later. I think the service is about to start."
Albus nodded. "Please, Cassius, sit with me in the second row? You were very close to Severus." Cassius nodded and ushered his sons along, leaving the distraught Weasleys and Ron behind.
Steven followed Albus to the second row and saw only three people sitting in it. Hermione and her parents. Hermione had tears running down her cheeks and he wanted nothing more to go tell her that it was him, Harry. But he resisted. He got into the pew before his father so that he could sit next to her.
Steven sat down next to Hermione and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before looking straight ahead again. Steven looked at her. "Hello, I am Steven Eltanin. You must have been rather close to Mr. Potter to be sitting this close up."
Hermione looked at him and glared. "Yes, he was my best friend. He never mentioned YOU though. Why don't you move back? A funeral is not a place to pick up girls."
Steven sighed. "Miss, I assure you that I am NOT here to pick you up. If I am correct this is the memorial service for more than one person. My father was friends with Severus Snape."
Hermione looked at him apologetically. "I...I am so sorry, I didn't know. I mean, I...I'm sorry."
Steven smiled lightly at her. "It is nothing to worry over. It was nice to meet you anyway, miss."
"Oh...uhm, my name is Hermione Granger." She said quietly.
"Ah...Severus spoke of you before. He said you were the brightest in your year. He never thought he challenged you enough."
Hermione looked at him. "He wasn't the easiest man to get along with but he was easy to respect. He was a good man, I offer my condolences."
Steven nodded. "And the same to you."
"Thank you." She said, she then wiped her face with a worn out tissue as Minerva McGonnagal got up to speak on behalf of the Gryffindors for Harry and co-worker of Severus.
Steven pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. "Use this, I think your tissue has had enough. It is clean."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you." She reached out and grabbed the handkerchief and smiled at him lightly.
"Not a problem, Ms. Granger."
Harry then tuned in to what McGonnagal was saying. "...Were always at each other's throats. But...if they really needed each other for something the other would have been there. Harry was brave, bold, and the model Gryffindor. If we could be more like Harry then the world would be a much better place. Severus was always hard to get closed to. I think he...he feared losing people he came to love so he never put himself in that position. They were both wonderful people and have touched the lives, in one way or another, of those around them."
Next Albus stood. "I would now like someone who knew Severus personally to come speak for him. His friend, Cassius Eltanin, is here but not much of a public speaker so I would like to invite his son, Steven, to come speak about him." Hermione looked at Steven and he gulped.
Harry stood up and made his way to the podium set where the head table usually was. He cleared his throat and allows Albus to cast "Sonorus" on him. He then began to speak, never breaking eye contact with Severus.
"Severus Snape was my father's friend for as long as I remember. He came and visited us during the summer. I...I never got along with him perfectly, he was a hard man to get along with. But...anyone, if they really looked, could see that he was a good man. He never really showed people when he cared about them, for fear of them being hurt because of it. He may have looked like he never cared about anyone or anything, but...that is one of the biggest lies a person could tell. Severus Snape was always a little snarky...or rude, but...he wasn't a bad man because of it. In fact, if you really knew him you would know he was one of the easiest people to respect. He earned all the respect he received and SO much more that wasn't given to him, by myself included. He looked for everyone's best interested BEFORE himself. This made him a good, no, GREAT man. Where it counts, care, trust, service, and even love, Severus Snape was first class. Where it counts, he was almost like a father to me- and where it really counts- he will always be a father to me- his friend's son." Harry then stepped off the podium and walked back towards his seat. When he walked by Cassius, his father grabbed his arm and pulled him to him with tears in his eyes. "Thanks, Steven."
Harry nodded and said, "I told the truth." He then pulled away and smiled at his father and sat in his seat next to Hermione.
Hermione smiled at him and then looked at the podium where Albus was again standing. He was looking at Steven with the brightest twinkle Steven had ever seen. "Now, we would like our volunteer speaker, Ronald Weasley, to come speak on behalf of Harry Potter." Harry felt the air rush out of his lungs as Ron made a spectacle of standing up, shakily. He watched the carrot top walked to the podium and have the "Sonorus" charm put on him.
"Hello..." Ron said with a quiver. "I-I am not sure I am very prepared for this. Uhm...okay. Harry Potter was one of my best friends. He...He was always...caring about others before himself." Steven felt his father grab his hand and squeeze lightly, Steven nodded in response.
"He...Harry Potter was a celebrity. But...he never wanted any of it. He didn't want the fame, the glory, the riches, anything, only his friends and family. He always blamed himself for the deaths of those around him, his parents, godfather, Cedric...he hated himself for it all. And I...I am just proud to say I was his friend. He was SO strong and SO brave; you have NO idea, really. He always looked out for Hermione and me whenever something was wrong. Before himself. A sad thing about it all is...for all the care he gave he only had a few REAL friends. When it came to our year's students...I think Hermione and me were his only REAL friends, the ones who truly cared- not even caring about his fame. I like to think that we made his life a little better by simply being there for him, loving him, being loyal to him." Steven snorted loudly and was almost ready do launch himself at Ron. Hermione apparently heard him because she looked at him strangely.
"I...everyone in this room has an opinion of Harry. Whether it be good or bad, it doesn't matter. All I am going to say is...some of you are VERY, VERY wrong with your assumptions. Goodbye, Harry. We will certainly miss you." Ron then wiped his eyes with his hands, looking for the best part-a lost puppy. He then walked slowly to his seat.
With that Albus walked back up. "I...I would like to thank you for coming to the memorial service of Severus Snape and Harry Potter, two great men. The lived bravely and died the same way, they will be missed." Albus was looking at Ron in what appeared to be sympathy but Steven saw that the twinkle wasn't there. Albus seemed like he was mentally cursing Ron. Severus squeezed his hand again and Steven smiled lightly. Everyone started to leave their seats and the Eltanins stood up. Albus walked over to him, anger was evident. "Let's go to my office and discuss that job, Cassius." He nodded and followed Albus out of the room, followed by Ash and Steven.
Hermione stood back and when Ron walked up she sighed. "There is something weird about that boy." She said lightly.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Steven Eltanin. The boy who spoke for Severus."
"Oh...him. Well, the Eltanins are a well-known dark family- he is probably in the family business." Ron said. On the inside he was giddy. Steven had apparently rubbed Hermione wrong, but...he could be an asset to Ron's master.
Hermione then broke down into tears and latched on to Ron. "I miss him, SO much." She cried.
Ron rubbed her back. On the inside he was smiling. "I might have to hug a mudblood, but...at least the little ass is gone for good." He thought to himself, evilly.
Out loud he choked slightly, as if trying to hold back tears. "I know...I miss him too."
Author's Note: Next, a meeting in Diagon Alley and possibly a sleep over. Read and Review!