Disclaimer: I own little to nothing of what it is named/referred to and am making even less from it.
Chapter 30.
"I'll get it!" called Remus over the strains of Elgar's Cello concerto coming from the living room when the doorbell went. Putting a slice of toast in his mouth so that he could carry his coffee and open the door at the same time, he headed down the corridor knowing who it was he was likely to find there. They were expecting Molly and Arthur at some point that morning; after all, it made much more sense to wait together for any news of a verdict to arrive.
"Morning," greeted a rather sedate Arthur as he stepped over the threshold, closely followed by his wife.
"Hello dear," Molly said, leaning up to peck him on the cheek. "I hope that isn't all you've had for breakfast." He smiled around his toast at how little time it had taken the mother to begin to well… mother.
"I'm fine and yes it's lovely to see you too. Why don't you come through to the kitchen? That way we don't have to interrupt Severus." They followed him back down the hall and took seats at the small table as he pulled out more cups and put the cafetiere in front of them.
"Is he being that difficult?" Molly inquired as she poured.
"I can't hear him pacing – that's a start," Arthur pointed out. Remus chuckled a little at this.
"Not even Severus has mastered playing the cello and pacing at the same time," he stated, suspecting that it hadn't dawned on the other man that it wasn't a recording they were listening to. As he had expected he received some strange looks at this. "The orchestra's on a CD but Severus is playing the cello." In true fashion, the music swelled dramatically as the theme was reintroduced.
"One of these days, that man is going to stop surprising me," Molly said with a smile after a moment. "But not in the near future I suspect." Arthur picked up his cup and meandered over towards one of the closed doors into the living room, obviously listening closer.
"That's quite something," he agreed after a moment.
"He's more talented than he likes to admit and he certainly loves to play. I'm certain that if the flat were big enough we'd have 'acquired' a grand piano as well," Remus told them with a wry smile, but after he had finished, he couldn't think of what else to say. Every time he stopped actively thinking about something else his mind was flooded with a series of images from the previous day. The sight of Anna so obviously exhausted, her eyes, surrounded by charcoal smudges and made to look even bigger by her lack of hair, had been startling, and made the effect her time in the hospital had had on her all the more obvious. Even a brief thought about what would happen to her, should they be unsuccessful, left him feeling almost physically ill. He started as Molly placed a hand on his arm.
"How are you holding up?" She asked softly. He tried to smile but it felt hollow and pathetic. She offered him a sympathetic smile in return. If the run up to getting to see Anna again had been bad, this was far worse.
"It's just… knowing that … knowing that they're making the decision…" He tailed off as the door from the living room opened and Severus appeared. He hadn't even noticed that his partner had finished playing.
"Playing the intellectual host as ever Moony?" Severus asked with a gentle smirk, placing a comforting hand on his waist as he came to stand beside him. "I'm assuming there's been no word from the panel?" he continued.
"We shouldn't expect to hear anything until this evening and even then it will be that they're ready to announce first thing tomorrow. They seem to like to drag these things out," Arthur offered apologetically.
"You were sounding quite impressive there," Molly said with a smile.
"Oh…" It seemed as though Severus was quite taken aback at the realisation that anyone had been able to hear him play the melancholy work. "Not really," was the Slytherin's automatic reaction as he rubbed his hands together. "I don't get much chance to practice; cellos and dungeons don't mix particularly well. However I've found as a distraction and channel of sorts it's marginally more productive than smashing things." This comment lightened the mood somewhat and yet the dark cloud remained over them all, which Remus knew was unlikely to shift in the near future. Reaching behind him he took one of Severus' hands in his own interlacing their fingers and giving it a squeeze. The simple gesture seemed to ground him in what felt like a sea of writhing emotions.
"Let's get a comfy seat shall we?" he asked after a moment, breaking the silence, and without waiting for an answer turned and led Severus and the others through into the living room.
The rest of the day passed mostly in silence, punctuated only sporadically by the sound of Arthur sorting his papers, of Severus opening tins of polish as he overhauled his cello, and the rhythmic clickety-clacking of Molly's knitting needles. Remus threw himself into the Gaelic material that Dien Campbell had left for him at the ministry security desk. He found the school textbook style of these books to be far more useful than anything he had been using previously. Throwing himself into his study he almost managed to forget for a time the axe looming above his head. Molly made lunch but none of them appeared to have much of an appetite, and dinner went much the same way. Remus had reached the point where he actually felt physically ill looking at his plate, when a sound of tapping was heard outside the window. Arthur jumped out of his seat and opened the window, letting the official ministry owl in. He stood, but resisted the urge to rip the letter from the other man's hands, knowing that it was ridiculous considering there would be nothing revolutionary held within. He waited; they all waited for what felt like an eternity, watching as Arthur read the parchment thoroughly.
"Right…" he began, rubbing his face and hesitating for a moment.
"Oh for Merlin's sake – is a total lack of eloquence a genetic trait?" Though the comment wasn't exactly out of character for the Slytherin it was unnecessarily harsh given the circumstances. "Sorry." The apology came without anyone's intervention.
"Don't worry dear. You're under a lot of stress right now," Molly said, exchanging his coffee cup for camomile tea for the hundredth time that day.
"Anyway," Arthur continued, "They've reached a decision." Remus sat down heavily without even checking that there was a chair beneath him and suddenly there were three faces in his line of vision.
"That's it then." He said trying to smile again, as someone pressed a glass of water into his hand. Severus was behind him now and had a hand resting on his shoulder but he needed more than that. Standing he turned into Severus' embrace, and rested his head on the other man's shoulder for a moment, revelling in the sense of security that he derived purely from the other man's touch.
Later, when Arthur and Molly had returned home, promising to return first thing in the morning, they decided to turn in early. It was a pointless gesture as hours later they were still lying there, wide awake.
"I can't stop thinking about Anna," he said quietly. He received no audible reply but felt the warm body behind him shift onto its side and pull him closer. "She must be so afraid Severus." For the first time that day he gave in to an overwhelming urge and let a single tear fall from his eye. If he thought the darkness would provide him with cover for those that followed though, he was wrong.
"Don't cry," the soft velvet tones urged. "We've done everything we can to get her out of there as soon as possible."
"But what if it isn't enough!" Remus rolled over to face him, needing desperately to find some reassurance.
"Then we'll have to try again, we'll have to find another way," came the reply. "If all else fails then I'll accidentally mis-brew your next batch of wolfsbane and the wolf and my Death Eater robes can get an airing in Fudge's office." The Gryffindor tried not to laugh, but wasn't entirely successful. He had never met anyone who could change his mood quite as rapidly as Severus could.
"Thank you," he murmured, as he settled his head on the exposed torso next to him.
"My pleasure," came the quiet reply. "My pleasure."
When Remus woke it was still early, and he lay there for a moment just listening to Severus' steady breathing. He suspected that the other man hadn't found sleep until long after he had drifted off, so he slid out of the bed as gently as he could. Pulling on clothes he left the flat, making as little noise as possible, almost bouncing down the steps. If it was true that positive mental attitudes were the key to getting what you wanted, there was no way on this earth that Remus Lupin wasn't going be successful today. It was barely six o'clock but there was a patisserie just around the corner that he knew would be open by the time he got there. Returning he made fresh coffee and orange juice, placed them on a tray with the croissants and took it through to the bedroom. Severus was still fast asleep, his face relaxed and arms flung wide when he pushed open the door with his back, placing the tray down on a bedside table he perched on the bed next to him.
"Wakey wakey sleepy head," he said running a hand through his hair. The reaction he got was not what he had been expecting. Severus started, calling out and trying to withdraw from his touch. Remus wasn't offended by this in any way: he knew that the Slytherin had more than his fair share of hang ups.
"Sorry," the other man said groggily. "You caught me in the middle of a less than pleasant dream."
"No problem," he replied, returning his hand to smooth out his hair. "Anna by any chance?"
"No actually," Severus said, pushing himself upright. "It was about Lucius, and Draco sort of." He took the cup of coffee that Remus held out. "I wonder about him too though. I mean - he's only a child. In some ways I think he's even younger than his classmates… if you know what I mean…"
"I know."
"Some of these places where they put people though…"
"I did some research you know," Remus began after a moment's silence. He wasn't certain what it was that had led him to dig into it, but after the news of Draco's trial had been released he had made a few discrete enquiries. "He's in a good establishment and he was put in there under the auspices of temporary insanity. Hopefully they'll be able to help him and he'll be fit for release at some point. There is hope for him."
"I just hope they'll be able to undo at least some of his father's work," Severus said, obviously still caught up in the past. He took a mouthful of coffee before continuing. "I can't help thinking that I could have done something earlier… If I'd realised what was going on inside his head then none of this would be happening. I'd be in the Great Hall with Minerva sitting next to me at breakfast now, she'd probably be involved in quiet conversation with Albus…"
"There's no point in thinking like that now," he cut in. "Minerva would be here but Anna wouldn't and we wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts with our daughter tonight." For all that yesterday he had been the one needing the support, today it seemed he would get the opportunity to return the favour. "Look at it this way," he continued. "Just imagine what Minerva would say -"
"She'd probably tell us to stop dwelling on things we can't change," Severus conceded, his lips lifting at one corner.
"Ever the practical Scot," he returned. "Now come on and eat up – they're still warm from the baker's oven." Picking up the plate of croissants he offered them the other man before helping himself. Taking a napkin, Severus was about to begin to eat but stopped just before the pastry reached his mouth.
"If you're going to make crumbs Moony, you could at least have the common courtesy to do it on your own side of the bed."
In the back of his mind Remus knew that if their application was rejected he was going to be all the more devastated after his overly buoyant and optimistic mood this morning. On the other hand, however, he also knew that that was a possible future problem, and that more immediately if he were going to be able to keep things together he needed that absolute resolute belief. He was finishing the washing up and Severus was treating him to series of Bach preludes for solo cello when Arthur arrived at about eight.
"It's a good thing that this place is fairly well soundproofed," the other man said as he stepped inside.
"Let's just be grateful that there isn't a piano, otherwise I suspect we'd be getting treated to Toccata and Fugue in D minor," he pointed out lightly. "Severus!" he called, realising that they really ought to be leaving soon. He appeared a few moments later, still pulling on his robe over his usual frockcoat.
"Will I do?" he enquired, entirely deadpan.
"Well I suppose you'll have to," Remus replied, flicking a piece of lint off the black ensemble.
"Ready to go?" Arthur asked, virtually hopping from foot to foot. Nodding they left the flat and began what felt like the longest walk of Remus' life.
However long Remus felt the walk lasted, it took twice as long to get through the crowds of people and reporters once they had reached the Ministry.
"And apparently you're the animal," Severus muttered under his breath as they finally got within sight of the doors into the Court Room.
"Severus! Remus darling!" The voice of Rita Skeeter was unmistakable as she called out over the general hubbub of the mob. Remus could feel Severus tense as she continued to try and get a response out of them.
"What do you say to claims that this is the only way either of you will ever get a woman in your lives?" she called out. Suddenly there was a thump that sounded like someone hitting the floor. He turned searching for the source of the sound only to see the crowd part from a pile of magenta robes and platinum hair.
"Sorry!" called a familiarly grainy Scottish voice. "Automatic reaction to people who are talking…"
"Nice to see you too Alastor," he cut in before the ex-auror said anymore. Mad-Eye Moody was slower now than he had been before the final battle, and it took him some time to close the distance but the rest of the inhabitants of the hallway seemed glad to move out of the way for him.
"I'd better be getting going upstairs." He said gruffly. "But, well, I hope things go your way."
"Thank you," Severus said, with a small nod that seemed to acknowledge much more than was actually said.
"I hope Albus has kept me a seat…" the older man grumbled as he started shuffling away. "He forgets we're not all as sprightly as he is…"
One of the porters appeared and banged his staff on the floor three times signalling that proceedings were about to begin, and it seemed that all three of them had the same thought as seconds later they were all seated behind their table. Glancing across, Remus caught Percy Weasley's eye and received a smug smile for his trouble. Trying to ignore this he turned back around at the sound of the panel filing in once more. His apprehension shot through the roof as he tried to read their faces as they took their seats one after another. He was sure he might have been more successful if he could actually focus on any of them for more than about three seconds. In contrast Severus had turned to look up at the public gallery behind them and was studying the faces there.
"Albus' is here," he said quietly. "Alastor and Molly are with him though." A hush fell over the room and they both turned back around as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement took her seat. The silence was all encompassing and if Remus hadn't known better he would have said that there must have been a dementor in the near vicinity.
"Good morning everybody. First of all I'd like to thank you for your patience but before I announce the verdict of the panel I would very much appreciate the opportunity to voice my concerns about how this situation has been dealt with.
"Certain individuals within the Ministry have acted in a fashion was entirely inappropriate. Masking themselves with rules and regulations they have put both Anna and the others involved in this case through as traumatic an experience as they could conjure. If in the future it turns out that the wrong decision was made here today then I feel confident that these people," she gestured to the rest of the panel, "for the most part, can't be held responsible." She paused again, and Remus acknowledged detachedly that in another circumstances he might have applauded her.
"Well, getting back to the point…" She cleared her throat and rearranged the papers in front of her while one of the porters stepped forward again.
"All rise," he called. There was a scraping of feet and chairs as the masses moved as one. "In my capacity as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement and as the Chair of the panel drawn together for this hearing, I can officially announce that on the 30th of October this year, a verdict was reached by the panel appointed in the case of 246.01 and the application for permanent guardianship made by Severus Snape and Remus J. Lupin. Furthermore, I can establish that the verdict found in favour of the applicants. Congratulations gentlemen."
And then there was noise: a lot of noise. Whether good or bad Remus couldn't decipher as it was as though he was listening to proceedings through several feet of water. Then everything came rushing back into focus as Severus grasped his arm tighter than he thought possible. He turned to look at him, scared to believe what he was quickly realising, must be true. They stood there for a moment just looking at each other, and the werewolf was more than a little surprised to see a genuine smile spread across his partner's face to match his own. A wave of overwhelming emotion engulfed him and he had no idea whether he wanted to laugh or cry. He couldn't be certain who moved first but the next thing he knew he was wrapped in Severus arms, his face buried in his hair. After a moment though, as the cheering from the crowd began to die down they both turned back to face the panel.
"Where is she?" Severus asked over the remnants of the noise.
"On her way from the hospital as we speak," Amelia said, her professional façade barely covering a smile. "There are of course, one or two formalities that we still need to complete but I'm sure Mr Weasley will show you through." She gestured to the side door from which Anna had arrived in the court two days ago. Arthur was picking up his briefcase and as Remus looked over to him his eye was caught by the familiar group in the gallery. Molly was beaming and Alastor winked at him with his good eye but it was the quiet, sedate smile that the Headmaster gave him that capped it all, as he received a gentle prod from the Slytherin to get moving.
By the time they reached her temporary office it seemed that Madam Bones had taken delivery of the precious cargo: their daughter. Remus would have gone to her, taken her from the woman's embrace but for the fact that Severus got there first. He wasn't far behind though, and the knowledge that this was their family now was almost beyond belief. He struggled to remember the most important phrase he had tried to imbed in his mind yesterday.
"Dachaidh." It wasn't exactly eloquent but seemed to get the point across. She twisted in Severus arms to look around at him.
"Daidein agus Moony dachaidh?"
"Agus Anna. Anna's home too," he corrected, pulling them both close again.
"I hate to break up the party but I need one or two signatures before I can let you go," Amelia said quietly. "It's apparently total chaos out there and I'm assuming that you'll want away as soon as you can." Remus detached himself and nodded. Arthur, who had apparently disappeared at some point previously, reappeared at this moment with both Albus and Molly trailing behind him.
"I thought you might like some witnesses," he said with a soft smile.
"Indeed," Amelia verified, sitting behind her desk and motioning that they should all take seats. As they sat themselves down, she glanced over the outstretched roll of parchment before her, then turned it to face them.
"It's quite simple actually gentlemen," she explained. "You'll need to fill in your names and the date just here, and what you want to register the child as, and then sign here," she continued, pointing out each of the blanks in turn. As Severus still had a bundle of Anna in his arms, Remus took the quill and quickly wrote his own name and signed the document.
"Anna Snape-Lupin? Anna Lupin-Snape?" he asked aloud looking for his partner's opinion, genuinely unsure, as they had not even thought to talk of it previously.
"Anna Lupin. Yours is a good blood line and lacks the… unpleasant connotations of my own," he answered back, looking up and straight into his eyes. Remus smiled and blinked back the tears that were once again forming in his eyes. Anna slipped to the ground and tentatively approached Albus as the Slytherin took the quill in order to sign.
"Halò a Albus," she said, the sing-song quality of her accent jarring with her shaven head and hollow cheeks.
"Hello there fuzzy." The old wizard said with a smile, reaching out to tousle what was left of her hair. Remus watched with rapt attention as one of the most powerful magicians of the age used slight of hand to produce a sherbet lemon from behind her ear. He received a smile in return, which seemed to be enough, before Anna turned, as if to check that they were still there. Having established this, she seemed content to continue her exploration.
"Is mise Anna," she said, holding her hand out to Molly.
"Well hello Anna," Molly said, seeming a little taken aback by the child's forwardness. "I have something here for you," she continued, producing a hand knitted woollen jacket in a multitude of colours from her back. Remus was fairly certain that this was what she had been making the previous day. She helped the child put it on and then did the buttons up for her before raising the pointed hood. "There, that ought to keep your head warm until your hair grows backs" she said tearfully before producing her handkerchief.
"Tapadh leibh,"Anna said, peering out from under her hood before promptly retreating back towards the desk . Lifting her up onto his knee, Remus pulled down her hood by the pompom on its tip, and kissed her on the forehead as she snuggled down.
"I've arranged to open the Floo connection in my office," Albus said as Severus handed the document back. "If Amelia will consent to it we could get there directly from here."
"I don't see a problem with that," she agreed, pushing back her chair. As they all stood, Anna's grasp around him tightened and he squeezed her reassuringly in return. Turning to Arthur he struggled to find words in his native language this time.
"Thank you." It seemed so insufficient but he could only hope that the other man could understand even a part of what this meant to him, to them. Severus shook his hand and dipped his head in acknowledgement of his own gratitude.
"Now – go," the father of seven urged them. "No doubt we'll see you all soon," he added with a smile.
"Yes; we want regular updates and don't forget that we're around if you need help or advice," Molly added with another sniff.
The four of them found themselves in Albus's office only a few minutes later and were greeted by a highly-strung Head of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, as well as the school nurse. The latter seemed almost hysterical when she saw the state Anna was in upon her arrival, and proceeded to insist upon giving her a quick check up.
"Well she's alright," came the final announcement. "Exhausted and in need of a good meal but I can't see anything seriously amiss."
"Her hair…" Was all that Georgina managed to say.
"Will grow back," Severus pointed out in a slightly clipped fashion.
"Indeed," Albus cut in. "Now I'm certain that you'd much rather be in your own rooms than tied up here. So off you go now and unless you wish to grace us with your company at meal times I don't expect to see either of you until Monday." And with that he all but pushed them out of the doors. The trip to Severus' quarters was not nearly as quiet as they might have expected it to be though as they met several small groups of students, all of who offered their congratulations, most of which were surprisingly restrained. Upon reaching the door they found a card pinned to it, which read:
Congratulations Professor Snape.Slytherin
It was the postscript that caught their amusement though:
We thought about breaking in and decorating your rooms but thoughtthat might be a fraction Gryffindor.
And to cap it off when Severus opened the door they found themselves surrounded in red and gold confetti and streamers. For all that the Troublesome Trio had seemed foolhardy in their actions, they obviously had some sense as the decorations disappeared within a minute of them opening the door, and Remus was certain that he saw an amused twinkle in Severus's eye.
"I will never stop wondering at the rate at which news spread in this castle," he said shaking his head.
"Schools do harbour notoriously proficient news and gossip mills," RemusRRemus conceded. "Well let's get this one into a bath and then her own clothes shall we?." He continued a moment later as the last of the tinsel vanished miraculously.
An hour later all three of them had been fairly well soaked during the bathing and hair washing process and had all had to change before sitting down to a picnic style lunch. By the time that Severus and Remus had eaten their fill, it had become more than slightly obvious that at least one of their number was almost asleep. Remus removed the half eaten slice of bread and butter from Anna's hand as her head drooped toward her soup bowl.
"I think it's nap time," Severus said, that smile which had become far more familiar over the course of the day playing on his lips.
"Looks like it,." he replied, picking her up. Although she wrapped her legs around his waist he was fairly certain that her eyes remained closed as they made their way back to the bathroom. It was really a token gesture attempt at teeth brushing they made and when Severus handed over her sleep things on their return to her bedroom, it was like dressing a rag doll. For all that she was limp and malleable then however, as soon as they settled her down in her bed and pulled up the covers, kissed her on the forehead and made to move away, she sat up bolt upright. Automatically grabbing Lamblet, she sprang out of bed and firmly attached herself to both of their legs in the space of a split second. Severus leaned down and picked her up, and she clamped one of his arms to her chest, her demeanour anything but sleepy.
"Hey there fuzzy," Remus said, trying to sooth her by stroking her head. "What ever's the matter?" he asked rhetorically.
"I suspect that she wasn't too keen on the idea of being left on her own," Severus suggested. "How about we settle her down in our bed? That way at least we can all lie down."
It seemed that Anna was more than happy with this arrangement, as barely a few minutes after having crawled into the much bigger bed between the two of them she was fast asleep. They lay there in silence, effectively trapped as she had a hold of each of their arms, just watching as she slept. Severus was gently stroking her head with tapered fingers and the care he would use with the finest ingredients if the most delicate potion.
"Slightly scary isn't it?" Remus admitted after quite some time.
"For a Gryffindor, you seem to find quite a lot of things scary," came the predictable reply. He resisted reaching over to whack him in case he woke the child between them.
"I just mean – she's ours. She's our responsibility. What happens if we… if something goes wrong… or…"
"It's not going to be perfect Moony. Nothing is. We're not going to be the perfect parents but neither would Albus Dumbledore or Minerva herself have been. All we can do is our best. We'll be there for her and we'll love her the best we can and that's all that anybody could ask of us." Remus reached over and cupped the other man's face gently.
"We'll certainly do that," he whispered before they slipped easily back into silence, and though he was sure that the road before them wouldn't necessarily be an easy one, he found reassurance in the fact that he would not travel it alone. Shortly, their own exhaustion caught up with them, and they too fell asleep. They rested long and well for the first time in a fortnight, all three of them settled and secure in the presence of the others.
A/N: wow. Well just the epilogue to go.
Much thanks to Rachel for beta-ing.
Dachaidh. - home
Tapadh leibh – Thank you
As always – PLEASE – let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it
xLx
