Of Squibs and Wizards

Chapter Five

Severus Snape paced the comfortable confines of his chambers, cursing silently to himself.

The presence of one Mia Marvolo bothered him more than he would dare let on to anyone, but he had the feeling, no, the certain knowledge that Albus Dumbledore knew this already. And was playing it for all it was worth. How the old codger found out about that summer was beyond him, so he chalked it up to the "Legend of Dumbledore."

The bastard seemed to know everything about everyone within his immediate hemisphere and beyond.

Of course he would have been the one to travel all the way to America to break the news to the Marvolo's that their only son, the last of the Pure Blooded line was dead at the age of nineteen. Of course he would form a friendship, indeed an apparently close relationship with that family. Mia wouldn't have told him about their relationship, he was certain and Antony was long dead. Antony Senior was unaware of the fact that his youngest daughter had given her virginity to him, or so it was agreed between the three of them on that awful day so long ago.

The fact that he was still walking the face of the Earth was testament to the fact that that particular secret was still just that.

So how did the old man know, exactly?

"And when did she grow up so?" he asked himself as he passed in front of the fireplace for the umpteenth time that morning.

The entire week had been a trial for him. In between her arrival and the constant company of the Granger pest, his apprentice, his nerves were quite raw. This was of course unacceptable.

Voldemort may be dead but there were still Death Eaters roaming the country, and they were probably looking for him.

"Did you have to be so rude to Miss Marvolo?" Albus asked.

Turning to the fireplace, Severus was unsurprised to see the head of Albus Dumbledore surrounded by green flames. He sighed rather melodramatically.

"May I come through?" Albus asked as he stepped into the room. This was par for the course with the old man. Severus didn't even bother to give his usual sarcastic remark. He wasn't in the mood.

Albus, with an air of complete serenity, settled himself into the chair he always occupied when calling on his Potions master. Severus, like he always did took a seat in the chair next to his and sighed again.

"Albus," he said. "Make your point and be gone. Miss Granger is due in a half an hour and I really would prefer the quiet before she assaults me with her incessant questions and perky Griffindor perkiness."

Albus chuckled. He was truly fond of Severus, the closest thing to a son he had. His attitude this morning only confirmed the theory he had been toying with since the night Mia had arrived.

"I'd hardly call Miss Granger perky, Severus," he replied. "And I wouldn't allow her to hear you say that either. She'd hex you."

"It would be her last act on the planet, Albus."

"Perhaps, Severus. Perhaps. I haven't come to talk about Miss Granger, however. But I do want to speak to you about Mia."

Of course. Mia. The recent bane of his existence. Though to be fair he hadn't laid eyes on the girl, no woman, other than at meals for the last week. He promptly disregarded that last thought. Severus Snape wasn't fair.

"Then get it out of your system old man and be gone!" he said harshly.

"You may be wondering why she is here," Albus said, ignoring his favorite's tone." It is not because I really needed a Muggle Studies Professor. She will make a fine one of course, but it is for her protection."

Well this was unexpected information. Severus felt reluctantly curious, and so against his better judgment he asked, "How is that?"

"When I heard from her father that she was planning on visiting the area, I had planned on inviting her to stay here for the summer," he answered. "Then Kingsley Shacklebolt relayed to me certain information that caused me great concern. You see Mia is traveling under her own name. Not that this is unusual, but given the distant relation to Tom Riddle, it caused talk amongst the ranks of suspected former Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy in particular."

Snape gazed at the fire, crackling merrily in the fireplace as the meaning of Albus' words sink in.

"But she is a Squib," he said after a moment.

"The Marvolo blood still flows through her veins, Severus. Her being a Squib is merely a genetic defect; the blood is in essence still pure."

Oh.

The full import of Albus' fears sunk into Severus' brain leaving him stunned, then dumbfounded and then finally, angry. Would this ever end?

"Fucking Pure Blood's and their prejudices!" Severus hissed. 'Why didn't you just send her home for Merlin's sake, Albus!"

Albus looked fondly at his erstwhile son. For such a genius he could be quite dense at times. This was one of them.

"Severus," he said softly. "You know her as well as anyone, don't deny it, it's pointless and now is not the time for obsfuacation. Do you honestly think that the Mia Marvolo we both know would listen to either one of us, much less her father, should I order her home?"

Well he had a point there. Mia was the most stubborn person Severus knew, except for himself.

"Her father is aware of the situation?"

"Yes. They do keep up with what goes on over here, you know. One of the first notes of congratulations was from Antony Marvolo after Tom was defeated." Albus paused for a moment, and pondered whether or not he should go on. "He asked about you as well, Severus."

Well, perhaps asked wasn't quite the proper word for the scathing remarks he had had about Severus.

"I'm sure he did," came the sarcastic reply. "Tell me Albus, did he demand my head?"

Albus smiled, "No. But I shan't go into the details of his comments as regards you, Severus. I would not recommend that you visit the family any time soon though."

Severus shook his head as if to clear it. "We are getting off topic, Albus."

"So we are. Miss Marvolo has left the grounds. Miss Granger said that she overheard Mia saying something about a place called Taco Bell? Do you know what she is talking about?"

"Yes, it's a Muggle restaurant, if you could really call it that. The stuff they serve passes for food. You'd probably like it," he answered in a weary tone. "I suppose you want me to go and get her? Well she won't come if I show up."

Albus stood. "I will rely on your well developed powers of persuasion, Severus," he said smoothly. He walked to the fireplace and tossed in a handful of Floo powder. "Be nice, Severus."

And he was gone.

There was nothing like a crunchy taco with everything on it to settle a hung over stomach. Mia had traveled the world and done her share of partying, but she had never discovered a more suitable after party food.

Mia bit into her third taco with the same enthusiasm as she had the first and thanked God, once again, for the industrious Rosemerta.

"How's your food luv?" she asked taking a seat beside Mia.

Mia chewed quickly and smiled, "Wonderful Rosemerta. Thank you so much for going to all the trouble!"

"No trouble at all," she answered with a wave of her hand. "It's not often that I get a chance to see Muggle London. Now, " she continued "Tell me again, why don't you want Professor Snape's hangover relief?"

Mia chewed on her taco for a moment and swallowed. "He's a bastard."

Madam Rosemerta smiled, "Well that's not news around here! But his potions are rather good."

"Yes. I know they are good. He's a Potions master. It's more of a case of self pride, Rosemerta."

Rosemerta took a sip of her coffee and looked at the woman beside her with a practiced eye. 'Yes, most certainly a past there,' she thought. Aloud she asked " So do those taco things cure headaches as well as they cure a rolling stomach?"

"No, but I will run by the Apothecary when it opens." She finished off her last taco with a flourish and rose from her chair. "Thanks for opening for me Rosemerta and again for the tacos. I owe you one."

"As I said, my pleasure Miss Mia," she returned as she rose from her seat and walked her guest to the door.

Now that the nausea was taken care of, Mia felt more civil and the morning air was nice, so she settled on taking a slow stroll through the village to kill time.

Severus decided to fly to Hogsmeade. His first thought of apparating to London was quickly nixed when he realized that she couldn't apparate herself and a broom was out of the question. No. She would be in Hogsmeade seeking relief from her apparently painful hangover. Which would lead her to the Apothecary.

He allowed himself a rare smile. Be nice indeed. The spoiled little chit needed to be spanked. He had spent the prior week quietly observing her comings and goings. She had grown up, of course, in the ensuing two decades since that last summer. She now carried herself with a confidence that she hadn't had the last time he had seen her. She almost swaggered with confidence. Hermione Granger's gushing over Mia's, what did she call it, oh yes, "Rock Star" status did nothing to improve his opinion of her. Especially when he heard that she had actually been a member of a vampire band. The Vampire Lestat. Indeed.

He was no longer the bigot he once thought himself to be, but comporting with vampires was beyond the pale. They roamed the planet, killing innocent creatures to survive. He considered them to be as bad as Voldemort, and even he discouraged association with that particular group of creatures.

According to Miss Granger, however, this Lestat creature was a different sort of vampire. Sometimes Miss Granger could be very stupid, and this was apparently one of those times. Not that Mia appeared to be ashamed of her association. Quite the contrary, she downplayed it after Miss Grangers first questions, answering them enough to satisfy her and then subtly dropping the subject. It had been enough, however, to raise the ire of the Potions master.

He shivered despite the heat of the early morning and walked through the gates of the school toward the village of Hogsmeade.

Then she dressed the way she dressed, he thought. The Muggle clothing was not so out of place in this day and age, but she wore these pants that rode her hips and tops that allowed her belly to peek through if she moved in certain ways. And her hips and belly were rather nice to look at, he thought reluctantly. She was thirty-seven years old, for Merlins sake! Shouldn't she be wearing more, well modest clothing?

He landed in the main square of the village. Stalking past the various shops, ignoring the "good mornings" and "good days" of the shopkeepers along the way, he made for the Apothecary. He wanted to get the little chit, fling her over his shoulder and return to the school before Malfoy or one of his cronies spotted her and caused trouble.

He spotted her, as he expected, outside of the Apothecary, chatting with Master Adamsby as if she hadn't a care in the world. She was in those damn jeans again, all tight and clinging to her form, cupping her firm looking derriere. Master Adamsby was apparently taken with the black shirt she wore, for his eyes, Severus noticed, kept drifting from her eyes to her chest.

"Miss Marvolo!" Severus hissed.

She turned, startled at his voice. He took a moment to capture her startled expression in his memory for later enjoyment before his eyes were drawn to her chest as Master Adamsby's had been. Across her small, yet inviting looking chest were emblazoned in bright red the words "Remove Before Flight".