Chapter Fifty Eight: Awakenings
Shortly after Estella had been petrified, things had began to spiral out of control at Hogwarts. Lucius Malfoy had began exerting his pressure on the School's Board of Governors to remove Dumbledore from his position as Headmaster, stating "If he couldn't even protect a pureblood from harm, then he was clearly incompetent". Worse still, was his conviction to see the half giant – then a student - framed of the Chamber's opening fifty years previously held accountable for the attacks this time round. By the time Spring had started to roll to a close, he succeeded, and Dumbledore was asked to leave the school and Hagrid was sent to Azkaban.
Pandemonium ensured. All Dumbledore's removal had done was cause the staff to become even more fearful for the safety of the students. Those that knew unequivocally of Lucius Malfoy's true allegiances realised with stark clarity that the vehement blood purist would seize the opportunity to rid the school of muggleborns and halfbloods.
In an effort to protect her patients, Madame Pomfrey had quarantined the Infirmary, barring admittance of all who were not a patient or a family member. Much to Madame Pomfrey's dismay, Lucius Malfoy did not hesitate to exploit this loophole in securing Draco the right to visit his 'cousin'; even visiting himself to gloat in his victory against Dumbledore and the bumbling half-giant he had been secretly terrified of when he was but a vertically challenged first year.
"Severus, my friend." Lucius drawled as he prowled into the Infirmary and leant languidly against a stone pillar to leer down at the dishevelled man before him. "You look like absolute trash, Severus. 'Scourigify'"
Severus shot out of his chair as though bitten, the unwelcome sensation of hundreds of brushes scrubbing him clean, airing his clothes and washing his hair sending him into a tirade. "Merlin, Lucius! You could have at least used a gentler cleaning charm!" Severus growled. "One that is actually tailored for human use!"
"Oh you know me, Severus." Lucius shrugged nonchalantly. "Defence was always much more my subject."
'Offence, more likely' Severus sneered inwardly, referring to his Slytherin classmate's distinct choice in extra-curricular activities while at school.
"What are you doing here, Lucius?" Severus said warily, running a hand through his hair. "I thought Pomfrey had closed the infirmary to guests that are not family."
"Ah, but by virtue of marriage I am family." Lucius drawled, smiling. "I was ever so sure to stress that point with the old witch at the door."
"I'm touched." Severus quipped.
"Draco tells me you haven't taught a class since it happened?" Lucius asked pointedly, fishing for information… specifically Severus' weaknesses.
"My niece was attacked on my watch, Lucius. I couldn't very well leave my heir unattended after that with an old fool like Dumbledore in charge." He sneered, covering for the fact that he stayed with her because he cared. "I would have taken her and left if it didn't come at the cost of my position at this School."
Lucius nodded, apparently satisfied with Severus' answer. "Unfortunate accident." He tutted, peering at Estella's stilled body. "Looks like she put up a bit of a fight. You should be proud."
"They say it was the shield she'd put up between her and the snake that saved her life." Severus said quietly. "Had she waited until she could see her attacker she wouldn't be here now."
"Clever girl." Lucius acknowledged. "Then again, she is a Ravenclaw after all."
"Indeed." Severus replied half heartedly.
"When will the remedy be ready?" Lucius asked. "Narcissa sends her fondest regards and would love to have you both visit over the Summer."
"The Mandrakes will be mature enough for harvesting by next week. Theoretically the remedy will be administered and students healed by the end of the month." Severus said. "If you could pass on my gratitude to Narcissa and submit our apologies, I'm afraid I already have plans for Estella over the break." He paused. "She has a lot of work to catch up on, and I have yet to get to the bottom of the little incident that occurred over Christmas."
"Yes, yes, of course." Lucius nodded. "I will break the news to Narcissa gently, though I daresay she is surely used to such declinations by now."
Severus averted his eyes, silently willing the imposing Malfoy to leave.
As though he was taking the hint, Lucius continued. "I'd best be on my way. I only stopped by on my way to accompanying the Minister in his duty to remove Dumbledore from office and have that abominable giant arrested…" he sneered, his eyes glinting. "… and I thought you might like to know."
With that, Lucius Malfoy shifted his weight back to his feet and pushed off from the pillar he was leaning against. Crossing the room with out so much as a backwards glance or uttered word, he was gone almost as soon as he came, leaving a bewildered Severus Snape in his wake.
Sure enough, a week later the Mandrake remedy was ready for consumption and the children were revived in the order they were petrified. Incidentally, Potter of all people had also found the Chamber and sleighed the Basilisk, giving the Ministry no more cause to keep Dumbledore from the school or Hagrid in Azkaban.
The feast that followed this series of events was an affair Severus had not seen in all his days – both as a student and a teacher – as the students celebrated in the Great Hall dressed only in their pyjamas, the party lasting until the small hours.
Estella had 'woken' from her petrified state as though she had been splashed with a cold glass of water. Unlike Severus, her body was neither stiff or sore from months of inaction, and she took a few moments to find her bearings. Her conscious mind could not register the passing of time between the night she was petrified and the moment she was recovered, as it was her subconscious that had silently kept her Uncle company all those days of her convalescence and listened as her classmates talked.
Although this meant she didn't specifically remember any particular event she had witnessed whilst in her petrified state, her mind was filled with an innate sense of wellbeing and calm. The insecurities that had once plagued her were inexplicably gone, and she felt so much closer to her Uncle. When quizzed, she even found she knew the answers to questions she had yet to physically study – her subconscious supplying the answers like it was knowledge she already knew. Every now and then, a snippet of recollection of the time she spent trapped in her subconscious would come to her in her dreams and she would awaken remembering a few more pieces of the puzzle; but at the end of the day she was just happy to be back and have things return to normal.
The summer break arrived before she knew it and it was time to say goodbye to the friends she felt she had hardly enough time to get to know. Her Uncle, as it had turned out, had bought her a majestic black owl all of her own as her Christmas present, but he had been unable to give it to her after what had happened. Naming it Aquila, after the Eagle constellation, Estella was ecstatic that she had an independent way to keep in contact with her new school friends (and family of course).
Travelling on the Hogwarts Express once more with all her classmates as they departed the school for another year and her shiny new Owl cage by her side, Estella couldn't be happier. She was finally going to get to see her Godfather for the first time since the fire-call on her Birthday and she couldn't wait to see him. Her Uncle Sev had even promised to come visit and stay with them a few days "To make sure you're being adequately cared for" the man had maintained, but Estella just knew it was because something in her Uncle had changed while she was petrified and that he was coming to honour some sort of promise he'd made to himself.
"Moony!" She shrieked as she saw the familiar form of her Godfather amongst the parents waiting for their children on Platform 9¾, dropping her bag and running towards him eagerly in a scene reminiscent of many times past.
"Estella!" Remus called out, rushing towards her urgently, no longer needing to fall to his knees when he took her into his arms anymore. "I was so worried about you!"
"Ugh, Remus, stop it! People are staring!" Estella pushed her Godfather away playfully as he smothered her in kisses.
Growling playfully, Remus nuzzled Estella's neck and pouted. "But I haven't given you a kiss for everyday we've been apart yet?"
"Uncle Remus, your lips are going to drop off from overuse!" Estella rolled her eyes, falling back into their old familiar routine. "Besides, I'm getting too old for it now."
Remus sighed dramatically, but, ever a marauder at heart, he soon had Estella in a fireman's carry. "Aha but you're not too old for this!" He exclaimed, spinning her around much to her embarrassment. Around them, students whispered and conspired, those that who didn't know her family history assuming Remus to be some Muggle relative, whilst the more outlandishly imaginative supposed it was the potions master himself in disguise.
"Estella?" A excited girl's voice squeaked.
Remus flipped Estella over and settled her on her feet, keeping his hands on her shoulders until she found her balance.
"Elsie?" She asked dizzily, shaking the double vision from her spinning head. "Victoria, Ophelia… hey guys, this is the Godfather I told you about!"
"Only Godfather," Remus corrected, shaking their hands each in turn. "Remus Lupin. Nice to meet you Elsie… Victoria… Ophelia."
The girls, predictably, gushed and swooned under the enigmatic werewolf's attentive gaze, their hearts aflutter.
"You're different from the photo Estella showed us." Elsie said, sighing. "Better…"
The other girls giggled nervously as Elsie blushed and averted her eyes, her ears burning with the realisation of what she had let slip.
Estella rolled her eyes and nudged her Godfather. "I think it's love at first sight!" She whispered in his ear.
Remus had the decency to blush uncomfortably, congenially indulging the threesome in small conversation before reluctantly excusing himself and Estella to take their leave.
"You have very interesting friends." Remus said as they walked the short few blocks back to the house. "Do they always giggle so much?"
"Only when in the presence of illusive older men they find 'staggeringly' handsome!" Estella quipped as they crossed the threshold into the familiar cozy house.
Blushing again, Remus managed a pout. "Alas, it seems the light of my life does not find me staggeringly handsome." He mocked.
"Yeah, but you're my Godfather!" Estella said, mortified, though she was blushing awkwardly.
"I bet I can still make you giggle." He said slyly, with a glint in his eye as he started to chase Estella around the house. Cornering her behind the desk in the study, he tackled her to the floor and soon had her in a fit of giggles, begging for mercy.
"Admit it!" He growled, tickling her ribs as she squirmed on the floor unable to get away "I'm staggeringly handsome."
"N-n-n-never!" Estella refused stubbornly.
The tickling ensued.
"What's that book?" Estella asked suddenly, quelling her movements and staring past Remus to a point above her. "No, really! What is it!"
Puzzled, Remus hesitated in his mischievous ministrations and loosened his grip on Estella to look behind him. It was all Estella needed to leap out of his grip and shot off, leaving him sprawled and bewildered on the study floor.
"Mwha mwha ha ha!" Estella did the 'evil' laugh, grinning gleefully as she dodged her Godfather's half-hearted grab and leapt over the back of the lounge to stand next to the television – the designated 'safe' zone in such games. "I win!" She cried triumphantly, jumping up and down.
Her opponent, however, did not appear to be listening to her as he crossed the imaginary line separating the game zones and continuing his approach.
"Remus! What are you doing?" Estella asked warily, tapping the top of the television for emphasis. "I'm safe here!"
"Yes, Estella, you are." Remus said softly with a unreadable look on his face. "Now c'mere!" He pulled Estella into a strong embrace. "Merlin, I missed you!"
Estella pulled back with a indignant look on her face. "How can you miss a guy who died thousands of years before you were born?" She asked, screwing her face up. "You're…you're not that way inclined are you? Elsie would be devastated!"
Seeing the evil glint return in her Godfather's eye, Estella bolted – safe zone or not – her laughter filling the house. The chase was on.