Title: Hotel California
Chapter: Five
Main character(s): Severus Snape
References: 'Hotel California' by the Eagles
Rating: Restricted, for use of language, theme, suggestions of consensual
intercourse and adult theme.
Disclaimer: Sophie & Tara Snape were created by the author, and may not be
used without the authors permission. Severus Snape, James Potter, Lily
Potter and other mentioned Harry Potter characters were created by JK
Rowling and are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988, infringement of copyright acknowledged. No money is being made from
this story.
Chapter Five
A framed photograph of Sophie sat on a table by the door to the church; little candles stood guard and the book of remembrance lay open. The funeral was over and the guests were walking soberly out of the chapel. Severus turned to look up at the smoke rising from the incinerator; tears stung the corner of his eyes.
"She always said she wanted to fly." He murmured to no one in particular.
"It wasn't your fault." A soft voice to his side said.
"If it wasn't for me, Albus, she'd still be here." He turned to look at the kindly face of Albus Dumbledore. He looked somewhat strange dressed in a black suit. Someone as colourful as Albus Dumbledore should never be confined to dull colours.
"Now, you don't know that." Dumbledore placed an arm round his shoulder. "Don't concentrate on what if's, concentrate on her." Snape followed his gaze over to where Tara was holding Lily's hand. "She needs you more than ever, Severus."
"She hates me."
"She won't hate you forever. You're all she's got left."
Severus knew he was right, Dumbledore was always right.
"Your right. I shouldn't keep blaming myself, but I can't help it, Albus."
"Look, I can't offer you much, but I can offer you a position assisting Professor Cartwright. Not much money, but it's enough."
"How can you offer me a job at a funeral!" Snape snapped
Albus looked at him gently, "at least think about it." He walked off towards Professor McGonagall.
It had touched Severus that so many people had come to say good-bye and offer their condolences.
Back at his home the wake was in progress. The McKenzie's had provided the catering, they had all been very civil to him, even Sophie's mother. Every time someone gave their condolences and looked at him with sorry eyes Severus felt guilty. It was his fault that Sophie was dead. If he hadn't slept with that woman then she would have never left him.
He stared at his glass of wine.
"How are you holding up?"
"Not too bad." He replied.
"Any time you need to talk, just owl me, okay?"
"Thank you, Remus." Severus turned to face Remus Lupin. Lupin had always been civil to him, even during the times that James and Sirius had been at their worst; Severus on the other hand had never been entirely civil to Remus.
Remus touched his arm briefly "chin up." He left the kitchen.
Tara navigated her way through the mass of legs. She didn't really understand what was going on - where was her mummy? Both her daddy and Auntie Lily had promised that mummy was coming back, and then they said she wasn't. Mummy's didn't just disappear.
"Hello there, wee one." A woman said picking her up.
"Mummy." Tara whimpered looking around the room.
"Oh dearie mummy isn't here." Minerva McGonagall hugged Tara tightly. It was so cruel that this child's mother had been taken away from her. She had watched Severus fall head over heels in love with the third year Ravenclaw; she could not have been more delighted when they announced that they were getting married.
"Where is mummy?"
"I'll take her."
Minerva handed Tara over to Severus. "Are you holding out?"
"Just about." It was evident that he had been crying. "If you see Albus, would you tell him I'm sorry and that I'll think about the offer?"
"I will."
Severus carried Tara out into the garden. "Do you remember when you and mummy planted the flowers?" Tara nodded, "and then you picked them and put them in water?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember how good mummy was at gardening? How the flowers used to bloom and look so beautiful? Well, you see, God doesn't have much luck with his flowers. He saw the flowers that mummy had grown and asked her if she would come and tend his garden."
"When will she be coming back?"
"She can't; God's garden is a complete mess and will take years and years to make beautiful."
"But what about my birthday?"
Severus' eyes filled with tears, "she'll send you something every birthday, and every Christmas."
"Don't cry, daddy." She hugged him hard.
He managed to steady himself, "whenever you miss mummy just come out here. She's watching you all the time and is always going to listen to you."
"She can see me now?"
"Yes."
Tara looked up at the sky, "hello mummy." She looked back at her dad, "can I see her?"
"If you close your eyes tight." Tara did so, "can you see her?"
"Yes."
"What's so wearing?"
"A pretty white dress. She's holding a basket of flowers and is smiling." She opened her eyes. "I love you, dad."
"I love you too." He put her down, "let's go find Uncle Albus shall we?"
"Yeah!" Tara ran off into the house.
"That was very moving."
"What? Oh... you gave me a fright."
"I do apologise." Lucius Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and extinguished his cigarette. "I didn't mean to intrude, but I came out here to smoke."
"No, it's alright."
Lucius held out his cigarette packed and Severus took one. "Narcissa and I have talked about children." He gave a soft smile, "I would most certainly have to give up these." Severus didn't say anything as Malfoy offered him a light.
"I am very sorry for your loss." He said finally.
"Thank you."
Malfoy looked at his shoes. "This probably isn't the time to ask, but you're going to need to help... financially."
"I have enough." Snape replied curtly.
"Enough to fund your studies, to provide for your daughter?" Severus knew that he didn't have that much. "I've offered you this before, but you turned me down. I am offering you a position as a potions researcher, I will pay you a salary, fund your studies, pay for Tara's schooling, your rent, whatever you need. It's stead and hard work. You'll have an opportunity to give Tara a wonderful future."
Severus didn't reply, and Malfoy turned to leave the garden.
"How much?" Severus said softly.
"Starting pay is four thousand galleons a month."
"And what would my hours be?"
"Whatever you want. You would work from home, occasionally attending meetings and the such."
"You'd be my employer?"
"In a manner of speaking."
Severus looked at him sceptically, "what does that mean?"
"Yes you will be working for me, but there is someone who will be overseeing your work and giving you assignments, and the such."
Severus considered for a moment, "can I sleep on it?"
"Of course." Malfoy smiled softly at him, "don't let an opportunity like this slip by, Severus." He turned and slowly left the garden. Severus walked slowly over to a bench and sat down.
Yes Malfoy had offered him the same position before, when he left school. He had been reluctant to take it as he wasn't too keen on the Malfoy's. He remembered how he had been Lucius Malfoy's slave at school, but... he thought of the times when Malfoy had stood up for him, protected him against attacks. Four thousand galleons a month was a lot of money, particularly for someone who hadn't qualified yet. He could carry on with his studies get his Potions Master diploma. Now he thought more about it, it seemed better and better.
Lily entered the garden.
"Here you are."
"I couldn't face them. All those sorry faces." He admitted.
"What did Lucius want?"
"He wanted to offer me a job."
"Offer you a job?"
"Yes. Four thousand galleons a month, flexible hours, working from home. He's even offered to be my sponsor."
"Really."
Severus looked up at her, "I know you don't like him, Lily, but it's a good offer. Albus offered me work assisting Professor Cartwright."
"I'd take that, Severus. Rather than work for a creep like Malfoy, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into." No you really don't Lily thought. Severus doesn't know that Lucius Malfoy is involved with the Death Eaters.
"And what's that supposed to mean? Look, Albus can't offer me any more than two thousand galleons a month. That's half what Lucius is offering me. Plus If I worked for Albus I wouldn't be able to see Tara as much."
"Well, it's your decision."
"I don't want to make a decision on my own, Lily."
Lily hugged him, she couldn't tell him what she knew about the Malfoy's. She also had to admit that what Lucius was offering was Severus seemed a pretty good deal, and it could be extremely innocent. "Alright, yes what Lucius Malfoy is offering you is a better deal. Just be careful alright?"
"Of course."
Chapter Five
A framed photograph of Sophie sat on a table by the door to the church; little candles stood guard and the book of remembrance lay open. The funeral was over and the guests were walking soberly out of the chapel. Severus turned to look up at the smoke rising from the incinerator; tears stung the corner of his eyes.
"She always said she wanted to fly." He murmured to no one in particular.
"It wasn't your fault." A soft voice to his side said.
"If it wasn't for me, Albus, she'd still be here." He turned to look at the kindly face of Albus Dumbledore. He looked somewhat strange dressed in a black suit. Someone as colourful as Albus Dumbledore should never be confined to dull colours.
"Now, you don't know that." Dumbledore placed an arm round his shoulder. "Don't concentrate on what if's, concentrate on her." Snape followed his gaze over to where Tara was holding Lily's hand. "She needs you more than ever, Severus."
"She hates me."
"She won't hate you forever. You're all she's got left."
Severus knew he was right, Dumbledore was always right.
"Your right. I shouldn't keep blaming myself, but I can't help it, Albus."
"Look, I can't offer you much, but I can offer you a position assisting Professor Cartwright. Not much money, but it's enough."
"How can you offer me a job at a funeral!" Snape snapped
Albus looked at him gently, "at least think about it." He walked off towards Professor McGonagall.
It had touched Severus that so many people had come to say good-bye and offer their condolences.
Back at his home the wake was in progress. The McKenzie's had provided the catering, they had all been very civil to him, even Sophie's mother. Every time someone gave their condolences and looked at him with sorry eyes Severus felt guilty. It was his fault that Sophie was dead. If he hadn't slept with that woman then she would have never left him.
He stared at his glass of wine.
"How are you holding up?"
"Not too bad." He replied.
"Any time you need to talk, just owl me, okay?"
"Thank you, Remus." Severus turned to face Remus Lupin. Lupin had always been civil to him, even during the times that James and Sirius had been at their worst; Severus on the other hand had never been entirely civil to Remus.
Remus touched his arm briefly "chin up." He left the kitchen.
Tara navigated her way through the mass of legs. She didn't really understand what was going on - where was her mummy? Both her daddy and Auntie Lily had promised that mummy was coming back, and then they said she wasn't. Mummy's didn't just disappear.
"Hello there, wee one." A woman said picking her up.
"Mummy." Tara whimpered looking around the room.
"Oh dearie mummy isn't here." Minerva McGonagall hugged Tara tightly. It was so cruel that this child's mother had been taken away from her. She had watched Severus fall head over heels in love with the third year Ravenclaw; she could not have been more delighted when they announced that they were getting married.
"Where is mummy?"
"I'll take her."
Minerva handed Tara over to Severus. "Are you holding out?"
"Just about." It was evident that he had been crying. "If you see Albus, would you tell him I'm sorry and that I'll think about the offer?"
"I will."
Severus carried Tara out into the garden. "Do you remember when you and mummy planted the flowers?" Tara nodded, "and then you picked them and put them in water?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember how good mummy was at gardening? How the flowers used to bloom and look so beautiful? Well, you see, God doesn't have much luck with his flowers. He saw the flowers that mummy had grown and asked her if she would come and tend his garden."
"When will she be coming back?"
"She can't; God's garden is a complete mess and will take years and years to make beautiful."
"But what about my birthday?"
Severus' eyes filled with tears, "she'll send you something every birthday, and every Christmas."
"Don't cry, daddy." She hugged him hard.
He managed to steady himself, "whenever you miss mummy just come out here. She's watching you all the time and is always going to listen to you."
"She can see me now?"
"Yes."
Tara looked up at the sky, "hello mummy." She looked back at her dad, "can I see her?"
"If you close your eyes tight." Tara did so, "can you see her?"
"Yes."
"What's so wearing?"
"A pretty white dress. She's holding a basket of flowers and is smiling." She opened her eyes. "I love you, dad."
"I love you too." He put her down, "let's go find Uncle Albus shall we?"
"Yeah!" Tara ran off into the house.
"That was very moving."
"What? Oh... you gave me a fright."
"I do apologise." Lucius Malfoy stepped out of the shadows and extinguished his cigarette. "I didn't mean to intrude, but I came out here to smoke."
"No, it's alright."
Lucius held out his cigarette packed and Severus took one. "Narcissa and I have talked about children." He gave a soft smile, "I would most certainly have to give up these." Severus didn't say anything as Malfoy offered him a light.
"I am very sorry for your loss." He said finally.
"Thank you."
Malfoy looked at his shoes. "This probably isn't the time to ask, but you're going to need to help... financially."
"I have enough." Snape replied curtly.
"Enough to fund your studies, to provide for your daughter?" Severus knew that he didn't have that much. "I've offered you this before, but you turned me down. I am offering you a position as a potions researcher, I will pay you a salary, fund your studies, pay for Tara's schooling, your rent, whatever you need. It's stead and hard work. You'll have an opportunity to give Tara a wonderful future."
Severus didn't reply, and Malfoy turned to leave the garden.
"How much?" Severus said softly.
"Starting pay is four thousand galleons a month."
"And what would my hours be?"
"Whatever you want. You would work from home, occasionally attending meetings and the such."
"You'd be my employer?"
"In a manner of speaking."
Severus looked at him sceptically, "what does that mean?"
"Yes you will be working for me, but there is someone who will be overseeing your work and giving you assignments, and the such."
Severus considered for a moment, "can I sleep on it?"
"Of course." Malfoy smiled softly at him, "don't let an opportunity like this slip by, Severus." He turned and slowly left the garden. Severus walked slowly over to a bench and sat down.
Yes Malfoy had offered him the same position before, when he left school. He had been reluctant to take it as he wasn't too keen on the Malfoy's. He remembered how he had been Lucius Malfoy's slave at school, but... he thought of the times when Malfoy had stood up for him, protected him against attacks. Four thousand galleons a month was a lot of money, particularly for someone who hadn't qualified yet. He could carry on with his studies get his Potions Master diploma. Now he thought more about it, it seemed better and better.
Lily entered the garden.
"Here you are."
"I couldn't face them. All those sorry faces." He admitted.
"What did Lucius want?"
"He wanted to offer me a job."
"Offer you a job?"
"Yes. Four thousand galleons a month, flexible hours, working from home. He's even offered to be my sponsor."
"Really."
Severus looked up at her, "I know you don't like him, Lily, but it's a good offer. Albus offered me work assisting Professor Cartwright."
"I'd take that, Severus. Rather than work for a creep like Malfoy, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into." No you really don't Lily thought. Severus doesn't know that Lucius Malfoy is involved with the Death Eaters.
"And what's that supposed to mean? Look, Albus can't offer me any more than two thousand galleons a month. That's half what Lucius is offering me. Plus If I worked for Albus I wouldn't be able to see Tara as much."
"Well, it's your decision."
"I don't want to make a decision on my own, Lily."
Lily hugged him, she couldn't tell him what she knew about the Malfoy's. She also had to admit that what Lucius was offering was Severus seemed a pretty good deal, and it could be extremely innocent. "Alright, yes what Lucius Malfoy is offering you is a better deal. Just be careful alright?"
"Of course."