Author's Notes: You get to find out what the professor fetched from his
vault at Gringott's, and you get to see my interpretation of Sirius. I
actually kind of see him as roguish. Maybe even a tish bit of a ladies'
man. Okay, the thing with the vault is very symbolic. Not just the one
level of opening a vault and removing something from it, but in a sense
opening up to new possibilities in life. Sometimes life itself can be a
vault. Sometimes, it's akin to opening a Pandora's Box, other times, it's
akin to opening a prison. So, definite symbolism there.
Thanks for reviews! If you read it and you like it, please review it. If not, well review it anyway and let me know what you didn't like.
Disclaimer: Nothing recognizable from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 43: Unlocking the Vault
The village of Hogsmeade and its environs woke to a cold, bleak December morning. It hadn't snowed, but there was a heavy layer of frost on the ground and in the barren trees. The school looked like a fairy castle, glistening with icicles and a layer of sparkling frost on all of the rooftops. Steam rose from the drainage grates in the streets of Hogsmeade Village, and the little stream that ran past the village was partially frozen over.
Mira woke and immediately stoked the fire in her apartment before putting the kettle on for tea. She drew a very hot bath and lingered upstairs until nine o' clock, when Maddie was due to arrive at the shop. She wore one of her nicer winter robes to work that morning. It was soft brown woolen fabric with simple embroidery, and had a little matching cap. She carefully combed her hair out, and wore it loose around her shoulders. Satisfied with her appearance, she carried her nice cloak downstairs, and hung it on a peg in the back room.
Professor Snape woke up and lit the torches in his chambers. He rang for a house-elf to tend the fire in his bedchamber, draw his bath, and lay out one of his nicer suits of clothing. He hid behind the heavy draperies of his bed until the fire and torches took the chill off of the cold stone floor and walls. Bathed and dressed, he retrieved a ribbon with a trio of keys on it from his locked chest, and grabbed his plain wool cloak on the way out the door. He joined the other professors who lived at the school, and the students staying on during the holidays, for breakfast. A few eyebrows were raised over his arrival at the breakfast table, dressed for an important meeting. Nobody dared ask why. An owl soared down from the rafters, depositing a scroll in his lap. He immediately read the message; it was a note from Granger, accepting the tutoring position. He shook his head over her eagerness; she must have been up at dawn to dispatch the owl. He pocketed the scroll and turned his cup right side up on the saucer and uncrossed the fork and knife on his plate, to signal that he desired service. When he finished his breakfast and excused himself from the table, Dumbledore nodded good-bye and bid him a pleasant outing.
He exited the school, wind whipping at his cloak, and made his way quickly to the main gates. He took one step outside of them, and apparated to Diagon Alley. He arrived at the magical barrier wall just outside of the Leaky Cauldron. He straightened his cloak, and headed down the street to Gringott's Bank. After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, he signed in at the register and was directed to another line to wait for a goblin to take him back to his vault. There was some whispering among the goblins at the front desk. Professor Snape had rarely visited the bank in person. He simply arranged for all of his salary as Potions Master at the school, minus a small stipend, to be deposited directly into his vault. After a much shorter wait, he was shown to a little cart and taken to his vault, his family's vault, by one of the senior goblins. He produced the key, and waited for the goblin to open the door. Respectfully, the goblin waited in the cart, while the professor went about his business inside.
It was a large vault, as far as vaults went. In generations past, it held all manner of riches and wealth. But most of it was gone now. Snape had sold off many of the treasures to pay for attorneys who tried in vain to have his family's name cleared in the wizarding courts. And, shortly after his family's death, a few in-laws and distant relatives petitioned the courts for their share of the family fortune. Severus gave it up without a fight. Money didn't matter to him; nothing mattered to him at the time. There were stacks of coins against the back wall, his earnings as Potions Master at Hogwarts. As Albus Dumbledore had taken him in and given him a second chance at life, he didn't feel right spending it. He kept it in the vault, and designated it to go to the school in the event of his demise. There were a few pieces of antique furnishings, and two large chests. One chest contained various fine household items, salvaged from the ruins of his family home, the other contained personal heirlooms passed down from generation to generation as well as various legal documents relating to his family. He swept past the first chest and removed a smaller key from his jacket pocket and opened the second. He removed a small black velvet box, and placed it in his pocket. He also removed a few scrolls before re- locking the chest. On the way out of the vault, he pocketed a small stack of coins from his stack of earnings.
The goblin re-sealed the vault and handed the professor back his key. He tied it onto the ribbon with the chest keys, and tucked them safely away in one of his inner jacket pockets. Business taken care of at Gringott's, he wasted no time in heading to the jewelers, where he dropped off the velvet box and a piece of parchment with instructions on it. That errand finished, he went to the law offices, where he briefly met with an attorney, and handed over the scrolls from his vault. He checked his pocket-watch, and realized that he had a little bit of time to kill before returning to the jeweler's. He spent the next half hour browsing in the apothecary and bookshop before returning to the jeweler's to pick up his order.
All of his errands complete, Snape went to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for Mira.
After helping Maddie take measurements for several special order ball- robes, Mira left the shop to her helper, and fetched her cloak from the back room. She took a second to fluff her hair and adjust her robe before disappearing into the floo network fireplace. She arrived in a back hallway of the Leaky Cauldron, dusted off her cloak, smoothed her hair, and adjusted the tilt of her cap. She took the winter cloak off, and draped it over her arm, and went to the main seating area to look for the professor. She found him sitting near the fireplace, staring off into the fire. He spotted her as she approached the table. He stood up, kissed her cheek, took her cloak, and pushed her chair in for her.
"Sorry I'm a little late, there was a complicated special order this morning, and I couldn't leave until I was certain Maddie could handle another on her own."
"I've just been here a few minutes myself. I had some errands to run this morning and they took slightly longer than I had expected."
A waitress approached their table, and took their order. A simple "pub lunch" consisting of a bowl of soup, a piece of hearty bread, and a pint of spiced cider for both. While waiting for the food to arrive, Snape told Mira about finding her a tutor.
"I have secured a tutor for you. She's an upper level student. Her name is Hermione Granger. She's a little bit overeager at times, as well as a bit of a know-it-all, but she's very bright and she has an extreme level of patience. She's also muggle born and seemed very pleased to take the assignment."
"Granger? Oh yeah. I actually have met her, in the shop. She's a sweet girl, a little shy, but she did seem very bright. Thanks. When do I start?"
"Well, that's entirely between you and Miss Granger. Here's the scroll she sent me with postal owl instructions, as well as instructions on how to reach her through that muggle device, the telephone."
"Thanks, I'll owl her this evening, I'm not sure when I'll have access to a telephone this week."
Snape handed her the scroll, and she pocketed it immediately, as their food had arrived.
In the Millwright's Cabin, Sirius Black had risen earlier in the morning, to start the fires in the fireplace and cook stove. He woke Harry and offered a simple breakfast of oatmeal with applesauce. Morning chores completed, and dressed in their warmest clothes, they traveled by floo network into Diagon Alley. Their first stop was at the stationer's to buy a box of Christmas cards. Following that, they went to Gringott's and stood in line to exchange some of their wizarding money for muggle money. Harry was going to take Sirius to a muggle five and dime store near the Leaky Cauldron, to buy the Christmas ornaments.
Mira and the professor finished their lunch and bundled up in their cloaks for a stroll down the alley. They were walking towards the back door, just as a man and teenage boy were walking in. Mira noticed the two men immediately stiffen and take on a defensive posture. She leaned in a little closer to the professor, uneasy over the two wizard's reactions to each other. After looking each other over with narrowed eyes, they curtly greeted each other with sharp nods.
"Sirius."
"Severus."
The professor took Mira by the arm and started to turn towards the door. The other wizard spoke up: "Aren't you going to introduce your companion, Severus?"
The professor turned back towards the man and boy. He addressed them in a strained but silky voice.
"Forgive me my rudeness. May I introduce Mirabelle DelMare. Mira, this is Sirius Black, a former classmate of mine. And this is his godson, a current student of mine, Harry Potter."
Sirius smiled at Mira as she shook Harry's hand.
"DelMare? That's French, isn't it?"
"Yes, my family originated in the Calais region."
Sirius raised an eyebrow and held out his hand for hers. He curtseyed slightly and gave the back of her hand a lingering kiss.
"Enchante' mon cherie."
She pulled back her hand with a giggle, and felt the professor's body stiffen against her shoulder. Sirius looked back up at her with a very wicked smile.
"Would that be Madame or Mademoiselle DelMare?"
"Mademoiselle."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Mademoiselle DelMare."
Professor Snape grasped Mira tightly by the arm.
"Yes, how very nice to have bumped into the two of you this morning. But I'm afraid we both have places to be, and must cut this thrilling conversation short. Sirius. Harry."
He nodded curtly to them, and pulled Mira to the door. She looked back over her shoulder as she walked out and Sirius winked at her. Blushing, she turned back around to the professor.
"Who was that? And why did just the sight of him upset you so?"
"As you heard, his name is Sirius Black. Let's just say that he and I have an unpleasant history going back to our school days."
"Oh."
Mira decided that she wasn't going to comment on how rakishly handsome the other wizard was, and she definitely wasn't going to tell the professor what he had done between her knuckles with his tongue when he kissed her hand. In the wizarding world, that kind of indiscretion was still considered grounds for a duel. And, the professor being one of the more traditional-minded wizards that Mira had met, she had no doubts in her mind that he would call this Sirius Black out for a duel with no hesitation. So, she decided to let sleeping dogs lie, and put the whole thing out of her mind.
Sirius pulled Harry off to the side and leaned in, an arm around his shoulder.
"Who was that woman Harry?"
"That's Professor Snape's lady-friend. They've been together since before the battles started."
"His lady-friend? Do you mean lady-friend as in single lady he escorts around town, or lady-friend as in his girlfriend?"
"As in his girlfriend. From what I can tell, they're very much in love with each other."
"Damn! So, you don't think I have a chance, eh? Think I could steal her away from the greasy old git?"
"Sirius, don't. You so much as make a move on her and he'll have me serving detention every night until I finish at Hogwarts."
"Do you think she has a sister?"
Harry just shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno, I know she lives and works in the village, in her cousin's tailor shop."
"She lives in Hogsmeade? And works in the tailor shop? Well, it would seem that I need to take my good robe in to be altered soon, shouldn't I?"
"Sirius, please. It's not something to joke about with. Besides, I heard that she's into the dark arts herself. She supposedly cursed the hell out of two Death Eaters before the battles started."
"So, that was the unknown witch mentioned in the Daily Prophet. The one who narrowly escaped the clutches of a group of Death Eaters in an alley by casting a questionably legal curse at them? Well, then she definitely isn't something to mess about with."
"Glad you figured it out Sirius. It'd be bad enough having Snape calling you out for a duel for insulting his woman's honor, imagine having to duel her as well?"
Sirius laughed and clapped the boy on the shoulders, steering him to the front door of the inn.
The cold weather was enough to cool the professor down and get his mind off of their encounter with his old school rival. After a short walk, they returned to the inn and took the floo network back into Hogsmeade, arriving at the tailor shop. He took Mira's cloak and dusted it off for her. She dusted his cloak off and they walked around the corner from the fireplace, into the main showroom of the tailor shop. Maddie was busy attaching fabric swatches to a pair of special order scrolls.
"Hi Maddie! It's just me."
"Oh, hi Mira. Glad you're back. I did everything you told me to do with these orders, but I need help getting them bundled to send to the workshop."
"No problem, I'll help you in a minute."
Mira walked the professor to the front door, and Maddie looked up from her work, eager to get a good look at this supposed dark wizard her sister told her that Mira was involved with. They said their goodbyes, and promised to meet later that week. Snape reached up and twined his fingers through the hair at the back of Mira's neck, and pulled her close for a kiss. He pulled away, and shot a very nasty look over Mira's shoulder at Maddie, who was blatantly staring. With a flourish of his cloak, he spun on his heel and walked out the door. Mira shut the door behind him, and he apparated away to the front gates of the school grounds.
A stunned Maddie walked from behind the counter and took Mira's heavy cloak.
"Is that the guy Mira? The one who used to be in league with you-know- who?"
"You've been listening to your sister again, haven't you?"
"Sorry, I suppose I have. I shouldn't pay attention to gossip."
"No, you shouldn't. Now, let me help you finish with those orders and you can get on out of here, I know you had to work through lunch."
The two women finished assembling the order forms, and the younger one went about her way. Mira suspected that she was going to find Lucy and tell her all about getting a close look at her "dark wizard".
The professor arrived at the school gates, and hurried down the path into the castle. He went straight to his dungeon workshop, to check in on his distillation. Everything had come along nicely in his absence. He extinguished the fire and left the distillate to cool so that he could transfer it to a cask the next morning. He then went to his bedchamber, and spied a scroll on the table. It was from the headmaster, asking him to stop by his office before suppertime.
The professor decided to get it out of the way sooner rather than later, as he had something important to discuss with Dumbledore, and went straight up to the Headmaster's office. He couldn't remember the password, and had to wait until Dumbledore answered the door.
"Do come in professor, I take it that your trip to London went well?"
"Yes, Headmaster, it went very well. I got your message as soon as I returned to the castle. I'm glad you needed to see me, there are a few things I wish to discuss with you and get settled before the start of the new term."
"I see. Well, then please have a seat."
The professor crossed the public sitting area of the headmaster's quarters, and went into the little side office. He stood in front of the headmaster's desk, and waited for the older wizard to be seated before taking his own seat. Dumbledore cleared his throat and crossed his hands on the desktop.
"I'm curious, Severus. What business did you have in Diagon Alley? You rarely venture out into Hogsmeade, and even then no more than absolutely necessary. You said you needed to fetch something from your vault at Gringott's. I do hope you're not opening up old wounds my son. Some things are better left in the past, where they belong. However, if you wish not to discuss it with me, I will respect your privacy and let the matter drop."
The professor sat back in the chair and exhaled deeply."
"It's not that. This isn't about my past, Albus. It's about my future. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually see past today, to a future; and I've found myself ill-prepared to deal with it. There were three things I wanted to do in Diagon Alley this morning. First, I wanted to retrieve a piece of heirloom jewelry, which I intend to present to Mira as a Christmas gift. Secondly, I needed to retrieve some legal documents. Thirdly, I needed to discuss some issues regarding my family's estate with an attorney."
"I see."
"And then there's the matter I wish to discuss with you, Albus. I know that there are no longer any reasons why my forays away from the school grounds need to be approved or even made general notice of. Nonetheless, I have been starting to feel as if my life focuses entirely too much on the school and my position here. My few brief forays into other cultures have made me feel all the more cloistered away. I am not asking you, I am informing you that I intend to spend more time away from the school, and I may even arrange for lodgings away from the school during holidays. I would also like to start taking a weekend each month away from the school."
"As is your right, Severus. You know that you will always have a home here at Hogwarts, but you are not tied to the school beyond your obligations and responsibilities as a teacher and head of house. You are entitled to one weekend off per month, and you are not contractually obligated to remain in residence during holidays except for special circumstances."
"Thank you headmaster, I just wanted to make sure that you had no problem with it."
"None whatsoever. So, might I be so bold as to infer that this sudden desire to spend more time away from the school, combined with the retrieval of the piece of heirloom jewelry from the vault, means that your relationship with Miss DelMare is progressing to a new level?"
"You could infer that. And as usual you would be correct in your inference."
"I am so very glad to hear it. You do know that she is more than welcome to visit you here at the school, don't you?"
"No, headmaster. I was unaware that faculty were allowed to entertain guests on the school grounds."
"During holidays, and on weekends, you are more than welcome to have visitors. The only rule is that any overnight visitors must be housed in separate quarters, as not to give the wrong impression to impressionable young minds. If you catch my meaning?"
"I do. And if possible, I would very much like to arrange for guest quarters on Christmas Eve. Mira's family will be spending Christmas in Calais with Eloise. Mira was quite sad that she had to stay in Hogsmeade and help the new shop-girl with the last minute shopping rush."
"A splendid idea. The more, the merrier I always say. I shall arrange for guest quarters as well as another place at the feast table. Let her know that dinner is served at seven o' clock, but she may arrive any time after five."
"Thank you Albus, you are most gracious to accommodate her on such short notice."
"Think nothing of it my son. She's an utterly delightful woman, and you have more than earned a few special requests with your service to both the school and myself."
"Was there anything else you wanted from me, Headmaster?"
"No, nothing more. I was merely concerned over your trip to Diagon Alley, but after our little chat, I am confident that my fears that you were slipping back into the past were unfounded."
"Then, I must be getting back to my quarters. I need to send an owl into town, letting her know the arrangements for Christmas Eve."
"Very well then, I shall see you at supper."
The younger wizard rose and nodded farewell to the older, then walked quietly out the door and down to his quarters. He changed from the clothes he had worn into London into his regular attire, and dashed off a quick note to Mira, inviting her to the Christmas Eve feast at Hogwarts, and letting her know that guest quarters had been arranged, so that she could stay on through Christmas Day. The scroll finished, and dispatched via a house-elf, he locked the black velvet box away in his personal storage chest.
Thanks for reviews! If you read it and you like it, please review it. If not, well review it anyway and let me know what you didn't like.
Disclaimer: Nothing recognizable from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 43: Unlocking the Vault
The village of Hogsmeade and its environs woke to a cold, bleak December morning. It hadn't snowed, but there was a heavy layer of frost on the ground and in the barren trees. The school looked like a fairy castle, glistening with icicles and a layer of sparkling frost on all of the rooftops. Steam rose from the drainage grates in the streets of Hogsmeade Village, and the little stream that ran past the village was partially frozen over.
Mira woke and immediately stoked the fire in her apartment before putting the kettle on for tea. She drew a very hot bath and lingered upstairs until nine o' clock, when Maddie was due to arrive at the shop. She wore one of her nicer winter robes to work that morning. It was soft brown woolen fabric with simple embroidery, and had a little matching cap. She carefully combed her hair out, and wore it loose around her shoulders. Satisfied with her appearance, she carried her nice cloak downstairs, and hung it on a peg in the back room.
Professor Snape woke up and lit the torches in his chambers. He rang for a house-elf to tend the fire in his bedchamber, draw his bath, and lay out one of his nicer suits of clothing. He hid behind the heavy draperies of his bed until the fire and torches took the chill off of the cold stone floor and walls. Bathed and dressed, he retrieved a ribbon with a trio of keys on it from his locked chest, and grabbed his plain wool cloak on the way out the door. He joined the other professors who lived at the school, and the students staying on during the holidays, for breakfast. A few eyebrows were raised over his arrival at the breakfast table, dressed for an important meeting. Nobody dared ask why. An owl soared down from the rafters, depositing a scroll in his lap. He immediately read the message; it was a note from Granger, accepting the tutoring position. He shook his head over her eagerness; she must have been up at dawn to dispatch the owl. He pocketed the scroll and turned his cup right side up on the saucer and uncrossed the fork and knife on his plate, to signal that he desired service. When he finished his breakfast and excused himself from the table, Dumbledore nodded good-bye and bid him a pleasant outing.
He exited the school, wind whipping at his cloak, and made his way quickly to the main gates. He took one step outside of them, and apparated to Diagon Alley. He arrived at the magical barrier wall just outside of the Leaky Cauldron. He straightened his cloak, and headed down the street to Gringott's Bank. After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity, he signed in at the register and was directed to another line to wait for a goblin to take him back to his vault. There was some whispering among the goblins at the front desk. Professor Snape had rarely visited the bank in person. He simply arranged for all of his salary as Potions Master at the school, minus a small stipend, to be deposited directly into his vault. After a much shorter wait, he was shown to a little cart and taken to his vault, his family's vault, by one of the senior goblins. He produced the key, and waited for the goblin to open the door. Respectfully, the goblin waited in the cart, while the professor went about his business inside.
It was a large vault, as far as vaults went. In generations past, it held all manner of riches and wealth. But most of it was gone now. Snape had sold off many of the treasures to pay for attorneys who tried in vain to have his family's name cleared in the wizarding courts. And, shortly after his family's death, a few in-laws and distant relatives petitioned the courts for their share of the family fortune. Severus gave it up without a fight. Money didn't matter to him; nothing mattered to him at the time. There were stacks of coins against the back wall, his earnings as Potions Master at Hogwarts. As Albus Dumbledore had taken him in and given him a second chance at life, he didn't feel right spending it. He kept it in the vault, and designated it to go to the school in the event of his demise. There were a few pieces of antique furnishings, and two large chests. One chest contained various fine household items, salvaged from the ruins of his family home, the other contained personal heirlooms passed down from generation to generation as well as various legal documents relating to his family. He swept past the first chest and removed a smaller key from his jacket pocket and opened the second. He removed a small black velvet box, and placed it in his pocket. He also removed a few scrolls before re- locking the chest. On the way out of the vault, he pocketed a small stack of coins from his stack of earnings.
The goblin re-sealed the vault and handed the professor back his key. He tied it onto the ribbon with the chest keys, and tucked them safely away in one of his inner jacket pockets. Business taken care of at Gringott's, he wasted no time in heading to the jewelers, where he dropped off the velvet box and a piece of parchment with instructions on it. That errand finished, he went to the law offices, where he briefly met with an attorney, and handed over the scrolls from his vault. He checked his pocket-watch, and realized that he had a little bit of time to kill before returning to the jeweler's. He spent the next half hour browsing in the apothecary and bookshop before returning to the jeweler's to pick up his order.
All of his errands complete, Snape went to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for Mira.
After helping Maddie take measurements for several special order ball- robes, Mira left the shop to her helper, and fetched her cloak from the back room. She took a second to fluff her hair and adjust her robe before disappearing into the floo network fireplace. She arrived in a back hallway of the Leaky Cauldron, dusted off her cloak, smoothed her hair, and adjusted the tilt of her cap. She took the winter cloak off, and draped it over her arm, and went to the main seating area to look for the professor. She found him sitting near the fireplace, staring off into the fire. He spotted her as she approached the table. He stood up, kissed her cheek, took her cloak, and pushed her chair in for her.
"Sorry I'm a little late, there was a complicated special order this morning, and I couldn't leave until I was certain Maddie could handle another on her own."
"I've just been here a few minutes myself. I had some errands to run this morning and they took slightly longer than I had expected."
A waitress approached their table, and took their order. A simple "pub lunch" consisting of a bowl of soup, a piece of hearty bread, and a pint of spiced cider for both. While waiting for the food to arrive, Snape told Mira about finding her a tutor.
"I have secured a tutor for you. She's an upper level student. Her name is Hermione Granger. She's a little bit overeager at times, as well as a bit of a know-it-all, but she's very bright and she has an extreme level of patience. She's also muggle born and seemed very pleased to take the assignment."
"Granger? Oh yeah. I actually have met her, in the shop. She's a sweet girl, a little shy, but she did seem very bright. Thanks. When do I start?"
"Well, that's entirely between you and Miss Granger. Here's the scroll she sent me with postal owl instructions, as well as instructions on how to reach her through that muggle device, the telephone."
"Thanks, I'll owl her this evening, I'm not sure when I'll have access to a telephone this week."
Snape handed her the scroll, and she pocketed it immediately, as their food had arrived.
In the Millwright's Cabin, Sirius Black had risen earlier in the morning, to start the fires in the fireplace and cook stove. He woke Harry and offered a simple breakfast of oatmeal with applesauce. Morning chores completed, and dressed in their warmest clothes, they traveled by floo network into Diagon Alley. Their first stop was at the stationer's to buy a box of Christmas cards. Following that, they went to Gringott's and stood in line to exchange some of their wizarding money for muggle money. Harry was going to take Sirius to a muggle five and dime store near the Leaky Cauldron, to buy the Christmas ornaments.
Mira and the professor finished their lunch and bundled up in their cloaks for a stroll down the alley. They were walking towards the back door, just as a man and teenage boy were walking in. Mira noticed the two men immediately stiffen and take on a defensive posture. She leaned in a little closer to the professor, uneasy over the two wizard's reactions to each other. After looking each other over with narrowed eyes, they curtly greeted each other with sharp nods.
"Sirius."
"Severus."
The professor took Mira by the arm and started to turn towards the door. The other wizard spoke up: "Aren't you going to introduce your companion, Severus?"
The professor turned back towards the man and boy. He addressed them in a strained but silky voice.
"Forgive me my rudeness. May I introduce Mirabelle DelMare. Mira, this is Sirius Black, a former classmate of mine. And this is his godson, a current student of mine, Harry Potter."
Sirius smiled at Mira as she shook Harry's hand.
"DelMare? That's French, isn't it?"
"Yes, my family originated in the Calais region."
Sirius raised an eyebrow and held out his hand for hers. He curtseyed slightly and gave the back of her hand a lingering kiss.
"Enchante' mon cherie."
She pulled back her hand with a giggle, and felt the professor's body stiffen against her shoulder. Sirius looked back up at her with a very wicked smile.
"Would that be Madame or Mademoiselle DelMare?"
"Mademoiselle."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Mademoiselle DelMare."
Professor Snape grasped Mira tightly by the arm.
"Yes, how very nice to have bumped into the two of you this morning. But I'm afraid we both have places to be, and must cut this thrilling conversation short. Sirius. Harry."
He nodded curtly to them, and pulled Mira to the door. She looked back over her shoulder as she walked out and Sirius winked at her. Blushing, she turned back around to the professor.
"Who was that? And why did just the sight of him upset you so?"
"As you heard, his name is Sirius Black. Let's just say that he and I have an unpleasant history going back to our school days."
"Oh."
Mira decided that she wasn't going to comment on how rakishly handsome the other wizard was, and she definitely wasn't going to tell the professor what he had done between her knuckles with his tongue when he kissed her hand. In the wizarding world, that kind of indiscretion was still considered grounds for a duel. And, the professor being one of the more traditional-minded wizards that Mira had met, she had no doubts in her mind that he would call this Sirius Black out for a duel with no hesitation. So, she decided to let sleeping dogs lie, and put the whole thing out of her mind.
Sirius pulled Harry off to the side and leaned in, an arm around his shoulder.
"Who was that woman Harry?"
"That's Professor Snape's lady-friend. They've been together since before the battles started."
"His lady-friend? Do you mean lady-friend as in single lady he escorts around town, or lady-friend as in his girlfriend?"
"As in his girlfriend. From what I can tell, they're very much in love with each other."
"Damn! So, you don't think I have a chance, eh? Think I could steal her away from the greasy old git?"
"Sirius, don't. You so much as make a move on her and he'll have me serving detention every night until I finish at Hogwarts."
"Do you think she has a sister?"
Harry just shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno, I know she lives and works in the village, in her cousin's tailor shop."
"She lives in Hogsmeade? And works in the tailor shop? Well, it would seem that I need to take my good robe in to be altered soon, shouldn't I?"
"Sirius, please. It's not something to joke about with. Besides, I heard that she's into the dark arts herself. She supposedly cursed the hell out of two Death Eaters before the battles started."
"So, that was the unknown witch mentioned in the Daily Prophet. The one who narrowly escaped the clutches of a group of Death Eaters in an alley by casting a questionably legal curse at them? Well, then she definitely isn't something to mess about with."
"Glad you figured it out Sirius. It'd be bad enough having Snape calling you out for a duel for insulting his woman's honor, imagine having to duel her as well?"
Sirius laughed and clapped the boy on the shoulders, steering him to the front door of the inn.
The cold weather was enough to cool the professor down and get his mind off of their encounter with his old school rival. After a short walk, they returned to the inn and took the floo network back into Hogsmeade, arriving at the tailor shop. He took Mira's cloak and dusted it off for her. She dusted his cloak off and they walked around the corner from the fireplace, into the main showroom of the tailor shop. Maddie was busy attaching fabric swatches to a pair of special order scrolls.
"Hi Maddie! It's just me."
"Oh, hi Mira. Glad you're back. I did everything you told me to do with these orders, but I need help getting them bundled to send to the workshop."
"No problem, I'll help you in a minute."
Mira walked the professor to the front door, and Maddie looked up from her work, eager to get a good look at this supposed dark wizard her sister told her that Mira was involved with. They said their goodbyes, and promised to meet later that week. Snape reached up and twined his fingers through the hair at the back of Mira's neck, and pulled her close for a kiss. He pulled away, and shot a very nasty look over Mira's shoulder at Maddie, who was blatantly staring. With a flourish of his cloak, he spun on his heel and walked out the door. Mira shut the door behind him, and he apparated away to the front gates of the school grounds.
A stunned Maddie walked from behind the counter and took Mira's heavy cloak.
"Is that the guy Mira? The one who used to be in league with you-know- who?"
"You've been listening to your sister again, haven't you?"
"Sorry, I suppose I have. I shouldn't pay attention to gossip."
"No, you shouldn't. Now, let me help you finish with those orders and you can get on out of here, I know you had to work through lunch."
The two women finished assembling the order forms, and the younger one went about her way. Mira suspected that she was going to find Lucy and tell her all about getting a close look at her "dark wizard".
The professor arrived at the school gates, and hurried down the path into the castle. He went straight to his dungeon workshop, to check in on his distillation. Everything had come along nicely in his absence. He extinguished the fire and left the distillate to cool so that he could transfer it to a cask the next morning. He then went to his bedchamber, and spied a scroll on the table. It was from the headmaster, asking him to stop by his office before suppertime.
The professor decided to get it out of the way sooner rather than later, as he had something important to discuss with Dumbledore, and went straight up to the Headmaster's office. He couldn't remember the password, and had to wait until Dumbledore answered the door.
"Do come in professor, I take it that your trip to London went well?"
"Yes, Headmaster, it went very well. I got your message as soon as I returned to the castle. I'm glad you needed to see me, there are a few things I wish to discuss with you and get settled before the start of the new term."
"I see. Well, then please have a seat."
The professor crossed the public sitting area of the headmaster's quarters, and went into the little side office. He stood in front of the headmaster's desk, and waited for the older wizard to be seated before taking his own seat. Dumbledore cleared his throat and crossed his hands on the desktop.
"I'm curious, Severus. What business did you have in Diagon Alley? You rarely venture out into Hogsmeade, and even then no more than absolutely necessary. You said you needed to fetch something from your vault at Gringott's. I do hope you're not opening up old wounds my son. Some things are better left in the past, where they belong. However, if you wish not to discuss it with me, I will respect your privacy and let the matter drop."
The professor sat back in the chair and exhaled deeply."
"It's not that. This isn't about my past, Albus. It's about my future. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually see past today, to a future; and I've found myself ill-prepared to deal with it. There were three things I wanted to do in Diagon Alley this morning. First, I wanted to retrieve a piece of heirloom jewelry, which I intend to present to Mira as a Christmas gift. Secondly, I needed to retrieve some legal documents. Thirdly, I needed to discuss some issues regarding my family's estate with an attorney."
"I see."
"And then there's the matter I wish to discuss with you, Albus. I know that there are no longer any reasons why my forays away from the school grounds need to be approved or even made general notice of. Nonetheless, I have been starting to feel as if my life focuses entirely too much on the school and my position here. My few brief forays into other cultures have made me feel all the more cloistered away. I am not asking you, I am informing you that I intend to spend more time away from the school, and I may even arrange for lodgings away from the school during holidays. I would also like to start taking a weekend each month away from the school."
"As is your right, Severus. You know that you will always have a home here at Hogwarts, but you are not tied to the school beyond your obligations and responsibilities as a teacher and head of house. You are entitled to one weekend off per month, and you are not contractually obligated to remain in residence during holidays except for special circumstances."
"Thank you headmaster, I just wanted to make sure that you had no problem with it."
"None whatsoever. So, might I be so bold as to infer that this sudden desire to spend more time away from the school, combined with the retrieval of the piece of heirloom jewelry from the vault, means that your relationship with Miss DelMare is progressing to a new level?"
"You could infer that. And as usual you would be correct in your inference."
"I am so very glad to hear it. You do know that she is more than welcome to visit you here at the school, don't you?"
"No, headmaster. I was unaware that faculty were allowed to entertain guests on the school grounds."
"During holidays, and on weekends, you are more than welcome to have visitors. The only rule is that any overnight visitors must be housed in separate quarters, as not to give the wrong impression to impressionable young minds. If you catch my meaning?"
"I do. And if possible, I would very much like to arrange for guest quarters on Christmas Eve. Mira's family will be spending Christmas in Calais with Eloise. Mira was quite sad that she had to stay in Hogsmeade and help the new shop-girl with the last minute shopping rush."
"A splendid idea. The more, the merrier I always say. I shall arrange for guest quarters as well as another place at the feast table. Let her know that dinner is served at seven o' clock, but she may arrive any time after five."
"Thank you Albus, you are most gracious to accommodate her on such short notice."
"Think nothing of it my son. She's an utterly delightful woman, and you have more than earned a few special requests with your service to both the school and myself."
"Was there anything else you wanted from me, Headmaster?"
"No, nothing more. I was merely concerned over your trip to Diagon Alley, but after our little chat, I am confident that my fears that you were slipping back into the past were unfounded."
"Then, I must be getting back to my quarters. I need to send an owl into town, letting her know the arrangements for Christmas Eve."
"Very well then, I shall see you at supper."
The younger wizard rose and nodded farewell to the older, then walked quietly out the door and down to his quarters. He changed from the clothes he had worn into London into his regular attire, and dashed off a quick note to Mira, inviting her to the Christmas Eve feast at Hogwarts, and letting her know that guest quarters had been arranged, so that she could stay on through Christmas Day. The scroll finished, and dispatched via a house-elf, he locked the black velvet box away in his personal storage chest.