Hey readers. I would like to formally apologize for how short my chapters
are. I'm afraid that what goes into a chapter is basically whatever I
write in one sitting (one sitting is usually several hours). I would make
my chapters longer, but then updates would be farther in between, and I
would also probably get really sick of rereading my chapters. I have
enough trouble betaing other people's work, and I only have to read their
stuff twice. Editing my own work involves me rereading it twenty times,
sending it to my beta, making the changes she suggests, and then reading it
another three times. And so, if my chapters were longer, I would probably
just give up in despair and stop writing this story, and you wouldn't want
that to happen, would you?
Fortunately, this chapter is way long. Like, major long. For me, anyways.
Please read my one-shot, "Bystander."
X X X
The last weeks of the term passed and soon Severus found himself marking the final exams for the nine Potions classes that were not taking either N.E.W.T.s or O.W.L.s. His quill scratched deftly across the exam parchments, punishing errors with a neat but contemptuous 'X' and not making any mark at all for correct answers. It was easy to tell at a glance, judging by the quantity of emerald green ink on the parchment, how the student had scored.
A polite but assertive knock interrupted his marking. Before he could tell the visitor to enter Dumbledore had already opened the door and moved to stand before Severus. He had a complacent smile on his aged face and his eyes twinkled in a satisfied sort of way.
"Severus," he greeted.
Severus was trying hard to overcome his hostile feelings of having had his personal area invaded. The Headmaster usually summoned him to his office when he wanted a word; he seemed imposingly out of place in Severus's small dungeon office.
"Headmaster," Severus said.
Dumbledore continued to twinkle a moment longer as he glanced around Severus's dim office.
"Severus," he said at last. "Another year finished." His tone was tranquilly satisfied. Severus was beginning to lose his patience.
"Yes, well, some of still have work to do," Severus replied.
Dumbledore ignored Severus's tone and continued. "You will be returning home for the summer?"
Severus narrowed his eyes but nodded.
"Your mother will be pleased to have you for the summer, I am certain." Dumbledore paused again.
"Headmaster, is there something in specific you wished to tell me or did you merely come down here for one of your routine chats?"
Again Dumbledore ignored Severus's tone, but his cheerful countenance became subdued.
"Severus, I received a letter by owl this morning from my good friend Esther Landon. You knew her through your brief internship at St. Mungo's, I believe?"
Severus replied in the affirmative, his attention grudgingly snared.
"She was requesting my expertise as a member of the Wizemgamot. Apparently she has an infant under her care, a pretty little girl, whose family seems to be putting some very questionable traditions into practice." Dumbledore paused. "Esther was inquiring whether betrothals between infants was still legal under Magical Law. I regret to say, they still are so long as they as there is no official documentation for them. The bill that was passed several years ago had a loophole in it, allowing for informal betrothals, unrecognized in the eye of the law, to exist."
Severus was growing impatient with Dumbledore's rambling, wondering where it was going. He knew the protocol of betrothal and arranged marriage. He had been through it first hand. A cold, sneaking suspicion was taking root, but he decided to ignore until he knew for certain that it was justified.
"Esther went on in her letter to express her concern at the mother's treatment by her parents. She seemed worried that the mother's wishes regarding her child were not being respected. She was also perplexed at the father's lack of involvement in the betrothal arrangements. My friend says she cannot be certain, but she suspects that the father has little or no knowledge of what is transpiring."
Severus sat very still, unsure how he was meant to interpret what Dumbledore had said. His natural inclination was to give credit to his suspicions of a moment ago, but he held back, waiting for a more explicit hint from Dumbledore.
"Considering the circumstances, Severus, if you wish to leave the school as soon as you are finished your marking, as opposed to waiting until the term is officially over, you may do so. I am certain that Remus Lupin will be more than willing to fill in for you again." Dumbledore stood. "I must return to my office now and write a letter to Esther, assuring her that the child's father will take care of the situation." With that, Dumbledore glided out of the office, leaving behind a perturbed Potions Master with his marking.
X X X
The next morning saw Severus in a terrible mood. He sent a letter to his mother, who had recently returned from a visit to her home village in Italy, explaining that he would be arriving home early and to expect him that afternoon. He hurriedly packed his books, potions equipment, and personal effects and left the trunks in his office for the Hogwarts house elves to deliver to his manor. All of this taken care of, he wrapped himself in a thick black cloak, despite the oppressive heat of the June morning, and walked to the gates of the grounds to Disapparate.
He arrived on the steps of the Nostrum manor, knowing it to be poor form to Apparate unannounced into the sitting room, no matter how furious he was. He pounded the doorknocker against its brass plate and waited for one of the house elves to arrive.
Quickly, but not soon enough for Severus, a familiar-looking elf answered the door.
"Tibby takes Master Snape to—"
Severus pushed past the nervous elf and strode into the foyer.
"Master Snape, sir, please let Tibby talks to his master—"
"Where is Nostrum?" Severus said in a quiet but icy voice.
"He is not here."
Severus started at the sound of a woman's voice. He looked up. Standing at the top of the stairs was Celeste. The sight of her perched on the landing reminded him of their last meeting.
"Madam," Severus said, inclining his head somewhat.
If Celeste was thrown off by the formality of the address she did not show it.
"What can I do for you?" she said.
"I would like to have a word with you father."
"I am afraid that he is visiting a friend, Fiscus Weir. My mother too," she said.
"Then," Severus said, "perhaps I could have a word with you?" He strode across the hall and opened the double doors to the drawing room, gesturing for her to lead the way through. Celeste hesitated a moment before slowly descending, trailing the banister with one hand. Severus noted with detached approval that she had more color in her face than the last time they had met. Landon was doing her job.
Celeste led the way into the drawing room and took a seat. Severus remained standing.
"My employer received a rather interesting letter from his friend Esther Landon yesterday."
Celeste's face gave nothing away. Her cool gaze met his unflinchingly.
"Tell me, Fiscus Weir and his wife have a small son, do they not? Two, three years old?"
Celeste bowed her head, nodding. Her defiant attitude of a moment ago was now replaced with a defeated air.
"What exactly is the basis of the friendship between your parents and the Weirs, madam?" Severus asked.
Celeste let out a stifled sigh and let her forehead rest in one hand.
"Well?" Severus snapped.
"My father wishes to betroth Speranza to Mr. Weir's son."
"And why was my opinion on the matter not sought out?" Severus said.
"Obviously, husband, my father did not wish for you to know of his plans until they were fully carried out," Celeste's voice was sarcastic and hard. "My father would not have resorted to betrothing her like this if it hadn't been for your threats to cut us off, let me assure you."
Severus could feel his blood begin to boil. "So that is why he is doing this? He plans to use her the same way he used you?"
Celeste looked up at her husband venomously. "Did you want to be the one to pick out her husband for her?"
Severus stared in disbelief at his wife. "So that I could ensure her unending happiness for the rest of her life, you mean?" he retorted.
Celeste did not reply. Severus took a seat opposite of her.
"Where is she now?"
"In her nursery. She's sleeping."
The space between them was silent as they considered each other, calculatingly, distrustfully. The bell clock on the mantle ticked loudly.
Suddenly a house elf set a tray of tea on the table, seemingly appearing from nowhere. He vanished just as quickly.
"May I offer you some tea?" Celeste's voice was terse with forced politeness.
"Yes," Severus said.
Celeste lifted the teapot to pour and, as she did so, her sleeve fell back to reveal a mottled purple bruise on the underside of her forearm where she could not see that it was showing. The bruise webbed out on one side, indicating it had been made by a hand. Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose with exasperation.
"What is it?" Celeste asked.
"When will your parents be home?"
"Within the hour," she said.
"Go upstairs and pack your things."
"Pardon?"
Severus looked at her levelly for a moment, before reaching out and taking hold of her wrist. He pushed back her sleeve and indicated her bruise. "I'm not leaving my daughter in this sort of arrangement. You can pack your things and come with me and Speranza, or you can stay here."
Celeste stared at Severus in surprise; surprise then turned into angry defensiveness. "You think you can take her away from me like that, or that you can order me around like your servant?"
Severus rose from his chair. "You have a choice, Celeste, between taking my orders or your father's orders." He stared down at Celeste, challengingly. When she made no motion to do his bidding, he walked to the door and said, "Very well. Let your father know that I dropped by."
Celeste caught up with him on the stairs. "I'll pack my things," she said. She led him to her room where she began pulling things out of drawers and tossing them on her bed. She summoned a house elf with the snapping of her fingers. "Tibby, fetch me my trunks from the attic." Severus watched on as she haphazardly deposited her robes and belongings into an odd assortment of luggage.
"We are in no rush," he said.
Celeste glanced at him. "But they could be back any minute."
"It does not matter. They can't stop me from taking my family with me," he said.
She did not slacken her pace, however. "Put my books in that trunk there. It has a permanent featherlight charm on it." Severus complied, but at a much more leisurely pace than Celeste. He allowed himself to stop every now and then to peruse a book's contents. He was surprised to find that they were all rather interesting, not the vapid novels he knew her mother and many other of the women he despised read. She even had a set of books on magical illnesses that he thought he would not mind reading.
It did not take long for Celeste and Severus to fill three trunks with her things, the third trunk containing the books having a bottomless charm on it in addition to the featherlight charm.
"Do you not want to take any of the furniture with you?" Severus asked.
"You do have furniture in your house, I presume," she replied a little sarcastically.
"Very well." With a wave of his wand he cast a hovering charm on the trunks and moved them into the hall. He then hovered an empty suitcase over to the nursery adjacent to Celeste's room.
The nursery was papered a subdued shade of cream, the afternoon sunlight trickling in past the lace curtains making it seem golden. The cradle was against one wall, draped in rich swathes of white lace. Severus groaned inwardly at the Nostrum women's seeming fixation with white lace. He hoped Celeste would not try to bring that decorating style to his house. Celeste was bent over the cradle murmuring gently to the baby. In one deft move Speranza was in Celeste's arms without having been woken up. Celeste adjusted her wrapper and placed her in a basket resting on a small nightstand.
"Her clothing and diapers are in the top drawer over there," she said. "Her baby things are in the second drawer. Can you put them in the suitcase?"
Severus complied. Within minutes everything was packed and they were ready to leave. Celeste carried the basket and suitcase down the curving staircase as Severus hovered the three trunks in front of her. As they reached the foyer they heard the sound of the Floo flaring up in the next room. Celeste froze. Imperarus Nostrum strode into the foyer, closely followed by his wife.
"He says only ten thousand Galleons, but I think—"Nostrum stopped short at the sight before him. "Severus," he said. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I am claiming my wife and child," Severus said coolly.
"Nonsense, you miserable little—Celeste, get back to your room this instant!" Nostrum's face was turning an ugly puce color. Celeste quailed visibly. For all her boldness in dealing with her husband she was a coward to her father's anger.
Severus stepped in front of Celeste, more to prevent her from moving towards the stairs than to defend her from her father. "She and the baby will be staying with me and my mother. You may not come to visit. Celeste," he said over his shoulder, "after you." He held the door open for Celeste and guided her through with his free hand. He then lifted the trunks into the air once more with a wave of his wand and left his infuriated in-laws gaping after them.
X X X
Again, please read my one-shot, "Bystander."
...and review, of course. Or I won't update. Ever.
PS Thank you, Huskerinexile, for reviewing. Everyone else, you got your thank you's in email form.
Fortunately, this chapter is way long. Like, major long. For me, anyways.
Please read my one-shot, "Bystander."
X X X
The last weeks of the term passed and soon Severus found himself marking the final exams for the nine Potions classes that were not taking either N.E.W.T.s or O.W.L.s. His quill scratched deftly across the exam parchments, punishing errors with a neat but contemptuous 'X' and not making any mark at all for correct answers. It was easy to tell at a glance, judging by the quantity of emerald green ink on the parchment, how the student had scored.
A polite but assertive knock interrupted his marking. Before he could tell the visitor to enter Dumbledore had already opened the door and moved to stand before Severus. He had a complacent smile on his aged face and his eyes twinkled in a satisfied sort of way.
"Severus," he greeted.
Severus was trying hard to overcome his hostile feelings of having had his personal area invaded. The Headmaster usually summoned him to his office when he wanted a word; he seemed imposingly out of place in Severus's small dungeon office.
"Headmaster," Severus said.
Dumbledore continued to twinkle a moment longer as he glanced around Severus's dim office.
"Severus," he said at last. "Another year finished." His tone was tranquilly satisfied. Severus was beginning to lose his patience.
"Yes, well, some of still have work to do," Severus replied.
Dumbledore ignored Severus's tone and continued. "You will be returning home for the summer?"
Severus narrowed his eyes but nodded.
"Your mother will be pleased to have you for the summer, I am certain." Dumbledore paused again.
"Headmaster, is there something in specific you wished to tell me or did you merely come down here for one of your routine chats?"
Again Dumbledore ignored Severus's tone, but his cheerful countenance became subdued.
"Severus, I received a letter by owl this morning from my good friend Esther Landon. You knew her through your brief internship at St. Mungo's, I believe?"
Severus replied in the affirmative, his attention grudgingly snared.
"She was requesting my expertise as a member of the Wizemgamot. Apparently she has an infant under her care, a pretty little girl, whose family seems to be putting some very questionable traditions into practice." Dumbledore paused. "Esther was inquiring whether betrothals between infants was still legal under Magical Law. I regret to say, they still are so long as they as there is no official documentation for them. The bill that was passed several years ago had a loophole in it, allowing for informal betrothals, unrecognized in the eye of the law, to exist."
Severus was growing impatient with Dumbledore's rambling, wondering where it was going. He knew the protocol of betrothal and arranged marriage. He had been through it first hand. A cold, sneaking suspicion was taking root, but he decided to ignore until he knew for certain that it was justified.
"Esther went on in her letter to express her concern at the mother's treatment by her parents. She seemed worried that the mother's wishes regarding her child were not being respected. She was also perplexed at the father's lack of involvement in the betrothal arrangements. My friend says she cannot be certain, but she suspects that the father has little or no knowledge of what is transpiring."
Severus sat very still, unsure how he was meant to interpret what Dumbledore had said. His natural inclination was to give credit to his suspicions of a moment ago, but he held back, waiting for a more explicit hint from Dumbledore.
"Considering the circumstances, Severus, if you wish to leave the school as soon as you are finished your marking, as opposed to waiting until the term is officially over, you may do so. I am certain that Remus Lupin will be more than willing to fill in for you again." Dumbledore stood. "I must return to my office now and write a letter to Esther, assuring her that the child's father will take care of the situation." With that, Dumbledore glided out of the office, leaving behind a perturbed Potions Master with his marking.
X X X
The next morning saw Severus in a terrible mood. He sent a letter to his mother, who had recently returned from a visit to her home village in Italy, explaining that he would be arriving home early and to expect him that afternoon. He hurriedly packed his books, potions equipment, and personal effects and left the trunks in his office for the Hogwarts house elves to deliver to his manor. All of this taken care of, he wrapped himself in a thick black cloak, despite the oppressive heat of the June morning, and walked to the gates of the grounds to Disapparate.
He arrived on the steps of the Nostrum manor, knowing it to be poor form to Apparate unannounced into the sitting room, no matter how furious he was. He pounded the doorknocker against its brass plate and waited for one of the house elves to arrive.
Quickly, but not soon enough for Severus, a familiar-looking elf answered the door.
"Tibby takes Master Snape to—"
Severus pushed past the nervous elf and strode into the foyer.
"Master Snape, sir, please let Tibby talks to his master—"
"Where is Nostrum?" Severus said in a quiet but icy voice.
"He is not here."
Severus started at the sound of a woman's voice. He looked up. Standing at the top of the stairs was Celeste. The sight of her perched on the landing reminded him of their last meeting.
"Madam," Severus said, inclining his head somewhat.
If Celeste was thrown off by the formality of the address she did not show it.
"What can I do for you?" she said.
"I would like to have a word with you father."
"I am afraid that he is visiting a friend, Fiscus Weir. My mother too," she said.
"Then," Severus said, "perhaps I could have a word with you?" He strode across the hall and opened the double doors to the drawing room, gesturing for her to lead the way through. Celeste hesitated a moment before slowly descending, trailing the banister with one hand. Severus noted with detached approval that she had more color in her face than the last time they had met. Landon was doing her job.
Celeste led the way into the drawing room and took a seat. Severus remained standing.
"My employer received a rather interesting letter from his friend Esther Landon yesterday."
Celeste's face gave nothing away. Her cool gaze met his unflinchingly.
"Tell me, Fiscus Weir and his wife have a small son, do they not? Two, three years old?"
Celeste bowed her head, nodding. Her defiant attitude of a moment ago was now replaced with a defeated air.
"What exactly is the basis of the friendship between your parents and the Weirs, madam?" Severus asked.
Celeste let out a stifled sigh and let her forehead rest in one hand.
"Well?" Severus snapped.
"My father wishes to betroth Speranza to Mr. Weir's son."
"And why was my opinion on the matter not sought out?" Severus said.
"Obviously, husband, my father did not wish for you to know of his plans until they were fully carried out," Celeste's voice was sarcastic and hard. "My father would not have resorted to betrothing her like this if it hadn't been for your threats to cut us off, let me assure you."
Severus could feel his blood begin to boil. "So that is why he is doing this? He plans to use her the same way he used you?"
Celeste looked up at her husband venomously. "Did you want to be the one to pick out her husband for her?"
Severus stared in disbelief at his wife. "So that I could ensure her unending happiness for the rest of her life, you mean?" he retorted.
Celeste did not reply. Severus took a seat opposite of her.
"Where is she now?"
"In her nursery. She's sleeping."
The space between them was silent as they considered each other, calculatingly, distrustfully. The bell clock on the mantle ticked loudly.
Suddenly a house elf set a tray of tea on the table, seemingly appearing from nowhere. He vanished just as quickly.
"May I offer you some tea?" Celeste's voice was terse with forced politeness.
"Yes," Severus said.
Celeste lifted the teapot to pour and, as she did so, her sleeve fell back to reveal a mottled purple bruise on the underside of her forearm where she could not see that it was showing. The bruise webbed out on one side, indicating it had been made by a hand. Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose with exasperation.
"What is it?" Celeste asked.
"When will your parents be home?"
"Within the hour," she said.
"Go upstairs and pack your things."
"Pardon?"
Severus looked at her levelly for a moment, before reaching out and taking hold of her wrist. He pushed back her sleeve and indicated her bruise. "I'm not leaving my daughter in this sort of arrangement. You can pack your things and come with me and Speranza, or you can stay here."
Celeste stared at Severus in surprise; surprise then turned into angry defensiveness. "You think you can take her away from me like that, or that you can order me around like your servant?"
Severus rose from his chair. "You have a choice, Celeste, between taking my orders or your father's orders." He stared down at Celeste, challengingly. When she made no motion to do his bidding, he walked to the door and said, "Very well. Let your father know that I dropped by."
Celeste caught up with him on the stairs. "I'll pack my things," she said. She led him to her room where she began pulling things out of drawers and tossing them on her bed. She summoned a house elf with the snapping of her fingers. "Tibby, fetch me my trunks from the attic." Severus watched on as she haphazardly deposited her robes and belongings into an odd assortment of luggage.
"We are in no rush," he said.
Celeste glanced at him. "But they could be back any minute."
"It does not matter. They can't stop me from taking my family with me," he said.
She did not slacken her pace, however. "Put my books in that trunk there. It has a permanent featherlight charm on it." Severus complied, but at a much more leisurely pace than Celeste. He allowed himself to stop every now and then to peruse a book's contents. He was surprised to find that they were all rather interesting, not the vapid novels he knew her mother and many other of the women he despised read. She even had a set of books on magical illnesses that he thought he would not mind reading.
It did not take long for Celeste and Severus to fill three trunks with her things, the third trunk containing the books having a bottomless charm on it in addition to the featherlight charm.
"Do you not want to take any of the furniture with you?" Severus asked.
"You do have furniture in your house, I presume," she replied a little sarcastically.
"Very well." With a wave of his wand he cast a hovering charm on the trunks and moved them into the hall. He then hovered an empty suitcase over to the nursery adjacent to Celeste's room.
The nursery was papered a subdued shade of cream, the afternoon sunlight trickling in past the lace curtains making it seem golden. The cradle was against one wall, draped in rich swathes of white lace. Severus groaned inwardly at the Nostrum women's seeming fixation with white lace. He hoped Celeste would not try to bring that decorating style to his house. Celeste was bent over the cradle murmuring gently to the baby. In one deft move Speranza was in Celeste's arms without having been woken up. Celeste adjusted her wrapper and placed her in a basket resting on a small nightstand.
"Her clothing and diapers are in the top drawer over there," she said. "Her baby things are in the second drawer. Can you put them in the suitcase?"
Severus complied. Within minutes everything was packed and they were ready to leave. Celeste carried the basket and suitcase down the curving staircase as Severus hovered the three trunks in front of her. As they reached the foyer they heard the sound of the Floo flaring up in the next room. Celeste froze. Imperarus Nostrum strode into the foyer, closely followed by his wife.
"He says only ten thousand Galleons, but I think—"Nostrum stopped short at the sight before him. "Severus," he said. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I am claiming my wife and child," Severus said coolly.
"Nonsense, you miserable little—Celeste, get back to your room this instant!" Nostrum's face was turning an ugly puce color. Celeste quailed visibly. For all her boldness in dealing with her husband she was a coward to her father's anger.
Severus stepped in front of Celeste, more to prevent her from moving towards the stairs than to defend her from her father. "She and the baby will be staying with me and my mother. You may not come to visit. Celeste," he said over his shoulder, "after you." He held the door open for Celeste and guided her through with his free hand. He then lifted the trunks into the air once more with a wave of his wand and left his infuriated in-laws gaping after them.
X X X
Again, please read my one-shot, "Bystander."
...and review, of course. Or I won't update. Ever.
PS Thank you, Huskerinexile, for reviewing. Everyone else, you got your thank you's in email form.