Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (Harry Potter nouns) belong to J.K. Rowlings. Olivia McGonagall, Ferris Longbottom, and Eudora are mine.
Chapter 9: What remains to be seen.
Any hope for less trouble during the next school term proved to be false. Something sinister had petrified the first-year reporter. Minerva sighed heavily as she sank down into her chair, holding her teacup. "Severus, what are we going to do? How can we protect the students against something we can't see?"
He sat across from her, taking a sip of his tea. "We'll just have to do our best. I wish I had more insight to offer you on who might be the heir of Slytherin."
"If we don't find a way to stop this mess, we'll have to shut down the school before someone gets killed again!" she exclaimed.
He eyed her strangely. "What do you mean 'again?'"
She finished her tea and set the cup down on the coffee table. "You remember Moaning Myrtle? She was a casualty of that thing the last time this happened."
He turned and glanced at the clock. "We should patrol the castle soon. I just hope your Gryffindors can stay out of trouble and ignore their curiosity to follow strange things," he added snidely.
"I have no doubt that we could very well find them wandering about. I wish Albus hadn't been suspended. In times like these we need every spare wand we can find," she stated as she rose.
"With the exception of that numbskull Guilderoy Lockhart. That man couldn't stop a broom in midair, let alone actually defend the school," he commented sardonically.
She chuckled. "I know, but he's what we have for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at the moment."
When Severus bristled, Minerva remembered that he had wanted the job. "I'm sorry Albus never gave you the position, but we've got more things to worry about now than a few occupational disappointments," she pointed out.
He nodded. "Alright. Let's go then."
A few days later Harry, Ron, and Hermione sneaked down the hall as Harry tried to follow the raspy voice. He stopped abruptly and someone crashed into them. They all wheeled around to find Livie standing up from where she had fallen. Hermione walked over to her.
"You shouldn't be here. What if your mum finds you?" the older girl pointed out.
"I have very good hearing and I'm not afraid of anything because the three of you have your wands," she replied rationally.
They all looked at each other. "You put too much confidence in us. We honestly can't guarantee your safety," Ron tried to explain.
Livie crossed her arms and took on an expression that the other three attributed to her mother. "The longer we stand here talking about this, the more susceptible we are to trouble. Let us keep moving."
They nodded and continued their search. When they rounded a corner another message was written on the wall, a warning. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were looking at the message, but Livie had noticed what they had failed to: the person lying on the ground next to the message.
Minerva lay face down on the castle floor, stretched out a few feet from the wall. Livie clasped her mouth with both hands, attempting to muffle her scream. Hearing her, the other three turned around. "What's the matter with-" Ron began until he saw the body.
He and Harry bent down to inspect the professor while Hermione tried to comfort Livie. "She's not dead, just petrified," Harry reassured them.
Hermione sighed with relief, but Livie began to sob. "What does that mean? She looks dead!"
"It's like she's asleep, or scared stiff. We just don't know how to revive her," Harry relayed.
Livie was about to comment when she heard footsteps. Moving away from Hermione, she turned to see Severus and ran toward him. He had been doing his usual duty patrolling the halls and almost expected to see the other three, but he had not expected Livie. Stiff as his knees were, he got down to her level when she reached him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Poppet, what are you doing here? You've been told not to sneak out like this. You'll most likely be grounded again," he explained frankly.
She sobbed into his robes. "I know, and I'm sorry, but we've got a bigger problem right now. Something's very wrong with mum."
Severus looked past her to the form on the ground. He gasped and grabbed Livie's hand as he sauntered toward the body. On the inside he felt as if his intestines were slowly being yanked out. I can't lose control in front of them, he thought. "Minerva, what have you gotten yourself into?" he asked in a whisper.
He bent down and upon inspecting her condition, he noticed that she held a broken compact in one hand; the glass from the mirror it held was scattered on the floor. Then he noticed something protruding from her pocket. He removed a note and read it. Swearing under his breath, he shoved it into his pocket and turned back to the others. "You three will escort Livie to the Gryffindor Common Room and I shall retrieve her later. I will take Min-Professor McGonagall to the infirmary myself."
His tone had left no room for argument. He levitated Minerva to the infirmary and explained what had happened to Poppy. "This is curable, Severus," the medwitch told him as she left him alone with Minerva. Stroking her hair, he sighed heavily as he recalled the note:
"Dear Severus,
As you know, Albus has left us temporarily. Should anything unfortunate happen to me, I want you to take charge of the school. Livie should behave herself, she respects you greatly after all. You will also be in charge of my classes and my house. I do not expect to actually pass these duties onto you, but I do have to take precautions in the case that the worst should befall me.
Love,
Minerva"
"Why on earth did you put me in charge? And why did you let yourself get petrified? We need you now more than ever!" he complained. But then his mood softened and he kissed her forehead. "You never did have good timing. I promise you I will do my best. And there are so many things I should tell you."
The following weeks were misery for both Severus and Livie. Having to manage the school, Potions classes, Transfiguration classes, and see that Livie was cared for, he was frightfully cranky except when spending time with Livie. The girl shut herself off from everyone and buried her nose in books, not knowing how to cope with the sudden absence of her mother.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione noticed the shift in Livie's personality as she sat in the Gryffindor Common Room reading a book. Hermione walked over to the girl. "Livie, are you alright?"
Her eyes met Hermione's and the older girl realized that asking the question had been a mistake. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine!" she said with sarcasm. "Just go and leave me in peace!"
Hermione did the only thing she could think of and gave Livie a hug. "I know things aren't easy for you, but that's not a reason to be angry with your friends."
Livie nodded and sighed heavily. "You're right and I'm sorry. I just don't know what to do."
"You wait, you wait and you keep reading," Hermione told her.
They felt sympathetic toward Livie and worried about her uncharacteristic behaviour, not understanding its origins. The following day in Potions class gave Hermione the answer. Severus was in a particularly dark mood when she asked him a question after class. He glared at her.
"Can't you see that I am busy! Miss Granger, just go and leave me in peace! I have far too many problems to sit here and answer silly questions!" he barked.
As she walked away, Hermione found Ron and Harry to speak with. "I think they're related somehow."
"Whom?" Ron asked.
"I think Snape and Livie are related. She gets mad the same way he does. She even looks like him somewhat," Hermione pointed out.
"I think that's loopy. She probably picked up on his behaviour because he's her godfather. Do you realize that there is no way Snape and McGonagall are related?" Ron commented.
"She didn't say that those two were related; she said Livie was related to Snape," Harry told him.
"But she looks like McGonagall! What are you suggesting, 'Mione?" Ron asked.
The girl sighed. "I suppose I'm suggesting that… maybe she does have a father. Maybe… maybe Snape helped raise her is because he is her father."
"'Mione, you've gone loopy! That's disgusting! Why doesn't she know then?" Ron expressed.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's not that bad. I think it's terribly romantic and mysterious." Ron shuddered.
"Perhaps it's a secret that not even Snape knows," Harry surmised.
"It is possible, especially if magic was involved," Hermione added.
Ron shook his head. "Maybe Livie doesn't want to know. If Snape turned out to be my father, I certainly wouldn't want to know." The three laughed heartily and headed off to their rooms to study.
Hermione was the next person to be petrified, but the clues of the mirror and the page from the library book gave Harry and Ron the clues they needed. After Harry had defeated the basilisk and the mandrake potions were ready, Poppy called Livie into the infirmary as those that had been petrified were awakened. Livie sat next to Minerva and waited. Soon her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. Her daughter smiled brightly and hugged her. I wonder where Severus is, Minerva thought. "I missed you, Mum. Uncle Sevrus missed you too. He's been teaching your classes and his."
Minerva nodded, now knowing the reason that Severus had not accompanied Livie. After learning from the girl what had become of the basilisk, she spoke. "This evening after the meal in the Great Hall, I need to visit my classroom and sort through some material. I want you to go back home after dinner and wait." Livie nodded, wondering what Severus' reaction would be when her mum walked into the Great Hall.
He picked at his food with his fork as Rubeus Hagrid was welcomed back and Hermione returned to her friends. Then Albus stood up and made one last announcement. "I would like to add that Professor McGonagall has also been restored to health."
On that statement Severus' head jerked up and he almost dropped his fork, watching as she walked to the head table. She quietly took her seat and everybody continued eating. After the meal, his eyes never left her as he watched her walk out of the door. He stood and decided to follow her.
He needed to reach her more than he needed to be anywhere else. She had gone directly to her classroom, has he had expected her to. She's always taking care of her lessons, he thought to himself. He followed her inside and she jumped when he closed the door.
"Severus, I wasn't expecting you to follow me," she stammered.
He reached out and cupped her face with one hand. "I was so worried about you. Having to look after the school, I have a whole new appreciation for your job. But there are a few other things I should have told you a long time ago. I-"
She placed her thumb over his mouth, feeling that if he revealed what was not said, she would feel compelled to tell him about his daughter. I just can't tell him now. It's too dangerous, she reasoned. "I know."
His other arm drifted to her back. "You know? If you know all that," he paused and leaned toward her, "then you know how much I need to do this." He kissed her passionately.
She was pressed up against the chalkboard ad the intensity of the kiss grew. Abruptly there was a knock at the door and they pulled away from each other slightly. "I should go and finish a few lessons for my classes," he remarked.
Smiling, she brushed chalk dust from his sleeve. "Will you drop by later for tea?"
He brushed his lips against hers. "Of course I will."
Standing off to the side as Minerva opened the door, he slid out when her guest entered. "Minerva, it's so nice to find you up and about again. I just wanted to tell you that the whole staff missed you, and that you have lots of mail," she explained, dropping a two-foot high bag on the floor.
"Thank you," Minerva stated. Eudora started to leave, but then stared at Minerva oddly.
"I see you have chalk dust on your back. Apparently someone else was glad to see you too." As she walked out the door she noticed Minerva blushing and added, "And I'll bet it was a certain Potions Master."
Minerva sighed and shook her head, grabbing the bag of letters and her teaching materials. She then headed for her rooms. Livie threw her arms around Minerva as she walked through the door. Severus was already there and handed her a cup of tea. The three sat together on the couch, Livie in between the two adults. They spent the remainder of the evening watching muggle movies. After Livie was sent to bed, Minerva and Severus stood at her door.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You gave me a great deal to do in your absence. I only hope I haven't made too much of a mess of things."
She smiled. "No, I wouldn't have given you the responsibility if I did not think you could handle things. You did your best and that's all anyone could ever ask."
He nodded. "Goodnight, Minerva."
"Goodnight, Severus," she replied. He cupped her chin with his other hand and kissed her soundly.
"One of these days I won't be able to leave," he mentioned wryly when he left.
She sighed and watched him go. One of these days I won't be able to let you leave, she realized before turning in for the evening.
(my thanks to MoroTheWolfGod, yote, TartanLioness, Quill of Minerva, Clove, Motet, and excessivelyperky for reviewing )
