Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, and ideas (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings. All Elf-related topics, the Elvish language, references to staff magic, and any other Lord of the Rings nouns belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and the Elvish dictionary at Nevrast. The titles of the chapters were inspired by "Once Upon a December" from the cartoon movie Anastasia. Professor Heryn O'Sheen and Nigel von Rueman are mine.
Chapter 4: Glowing dim as an ember.
"Before we begin the meal, I would like you all to welcome our guest, Moira. She is an expert in Middle Earth history and will be staying with us for a while," Albus introduced.
The students nodded respectfully and everyone took their seats as the meal began. Severus ate, looking at everyone except the Elvish woman Albus had placed next to him. She knew that the current situation bothered the Potions Master and shared a similar wish not to have sat by him at the meal. Minerva watched the two with concern, hoping that the situation of the past could be quickly resolved so as not to interfere with the situation of the present.
After dinner, Severus turned to his left. "I will show you to your rooms now," he said dryly. Slowly nodding, she stood and followed him. She took note of how quiet he was as they walked through several halls and corridors on the first floor. He stopped in front of a wall and she looked at him curiously, as though his skin had turned blue.
"What are you doing?" she questioned.
He did not answer, but instead used his wand and a door materialized. Then he lifted a chain out from underneath his robes and around his neck. The chain seemed worn, as if it was something he never removed. Then she spotted a shiny silver key at the end of it that he fingered affectionately. The lock clicked as the key turned and then he whispered the password, "Q lindele."
The dark oak door opened to reveal a living room and as they proceeded further, a bedroom. Little trinkets, Elvish wall hangings, and books seemed to decorate the rooms. She also noticed photographs of a young Elvish girl. "Professor Snape, were these my old rooms?" she asked tentatively.
Severus fingered a framed picture and laid it face-down where he had found it. Then he looked back at her and actually smiled sadly. "Yes, these were your rooms. After we had thought that you had died, I was given the duty of seeing to the removal of your personal affects," he paused and fingered a carved figurine of an Eagle.
She glanced at a few more photographs, of an Irishman and an Elvish lady. All at once the realization struck her. "Oh Merlin! I should contact my family and let them know that I'm alive when all this is over."
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea."
Suddenly she stopped looking at the photos and faced him. "If you were supposed to clean out my rooms, why didn't you?" she asked him quietly.
His eyes focused on the bookcase. "I couldn't do it; I just couldn't erase your presence here. So I simply erased the door and no one ever suspected," he explained.
She studied the carved leaf designs on her mantel. "I suppose I ought to thank you for keeping them, but it all sounds so very odd. Why would you keep an old professor's rooms?"
Instead of answering, he headed toward the door. "I should be going."
Spotting something she had not expected, she grabbed his elbow before he could leave. "Professor Snape, why do I have a piano?"
He turned and walked over to the oak piano and pulled the cover back. Then he began to play an old classical melody a piece by an eighteenth century composer from the magic world, Nigel von Rueman. The haunting, melancholy tune filled the room and she watched him intently. His fingers danced across the keys as if the two were part of each other. She noticed a transformation from the cool, distant expression to one of near serenity. He seemed at peace playing the instrument.
When he stopped, his eyes met hers. "You taught me that. Playing the piano was a favourite activity of yours. You used to be quite good, actually."
After he had moved so she could sit on the bench, he watched her curiously as she simply stared at the keys. She placed her hands on them and tried out a few notes, but then drew back. She stood to inspect the bench and found complicated piano music by both muggle and magical composers. He noticed as her expression darkened. She pulled out a piece to attempt playing it, but suddenly realized to her horror that she did not recall any knowledge regarding the wonderful instrument before her. She returned the piece to the bench and closed her eyes. Tears began to slide down her cheeks.
"I don't remember how to play," she said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Placing one hand on her shoulder, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears away with the other hand, though both felt the awkwardness of the action. "Perhaps I could help you if you would like."
A small smile formed on her lips. "I think I would like that. I don't think I used to be this emotional."
Clearing his throat and leaving the handkerchief with her, he chose his words carefully, remarking, "No, you didn't. But finding out about a past you don't remember is probably overwhelming."
For a moment she was at a loss for words. How can he seem so cold one moment, and then compassionate in the next? I can't understand this man. "Thank you for showing me to my rooms," she said without facing him.
He backed away and headed toward the door. When he spoke his tone held its frigidness again. "I really do need to be going. Good evening, Heryn-I mean Moira."
His abrupt departure left her wondering about what she was forgetting. She moved toward the bedroom and looked at a few more pictures. Then she came across one that struck her as particularly poignant: she and Severus kissing under the mistletoe. She sat down on the white bedspread, noting the familiarity of it. As she looked over at her pillow, she half-expected to find a few strands of her hair. She did, but that was not what had captured her attention. She also lifted up a strand of obsidian-black hair. She knew instantly what it meant. He missed me so much that he must have spent the night here a few times, she assessed.
Disgusted with himself and his inability to move beyond the past he and the Elvish woman had once shared, Severus stormed through the halls on his way to the dungeons. He rounded a corner and plowed directly into Minerva. He caught her by the waist just before she would have fallen to the ground.
"Dare I ask where you were off to in such a hurry?" she inquired as he helped her steady herself.
"I am truly sorry and I hope you're alright. I suppose I was distracted," he admitted without his usual sarcasm.
"Why don't we have a spot of tea and discuss what's on your mind?" she offered.
He sighed heavily. "Minerva, I really do not wish to discuss what occurred. The fact that you did not bloody tell me before letting me see her again makes me reluctant to discuss this with you," he grumbled.
Though he had seemed immovable, he led her to his quarters and made a pot of orange spice tea. He handed her a cup and they sat in his two wingback chairs. "I'm surprised that you changed your mind," Minerva remarked casually.
"It was the only way to end your pestering," he answered sardonically.
Raising an eyebrow and watching him over the top of her glasses, she sighed and took a sip of tea. "I was only trying to see if you were alright. If you prefer that I stay out of your business-"
"By bringing her back, you have interfered with my business more than you could ever know!" he interrupted.
She stood and stepped over to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about that. We thought it would be best that way. Would you have come if we had told you?"
He glared at her. "You never gave me that option, but that's not the point! You have no idea what I lost when I lost her. I had every right to know things before they were dumped in my lap!"
Minerva met his gaze with sympathy. "Severus, I'm sorry. We never meant to hurt you. Because you had been so close to her, Albus figured that you would be the best person to work with her," Minerva conveyed.
"You do not understand. Seeing her but knowing that she doesn't remember anything is like having someone's identical twin visit! And as long as we're on the subject, do you even know what we are dealing with and how long we have until the school is under attack?" he questioned sharply.
Minerva ran her fingers through her hair, catching a few loose strands to secure into the bun at the top of her head. One quick glance at her lively green eyes told him that he was about to be lectured. "Severus Snape, I never thought that I would be telling this to you of all people, but it is vital that you put personal feelings aside and find whatever solutions you and our former potions mistress can in order to save the school! I can hardly believe myself that the world could be turned upside down again in a matter of hours, but here we are. The only thing being asked of you is that you work with her to help the school! I know you are angry and it's partly Albus' and my fault, but these are not light times we live in."
Tea being finished, Severus cleaned up the cups and turned back to Minerva as she headed toward the door. He called her just before she could open it. "Minerva, I am sorry, and I am well aware that these are tense times we find ourselves living it. I can also see that you and I are both rather taxed these days. I just wish that they had sent anyone else at this point, because I'm not even certain whom I am speaking to when I am with her," he admitted.
The Transfiguration professor nodded. "I know. She and I shared many interesting conversations all those years ago. You were her favourite topic of conversation, of course. This is difficult for you, but it's also difficult for her, not remembering her life here."
"Every time I see her, I keep hoping that it will be Heryn, but so far it has been someone else, Moira," he relayed quietly.
She sighed sadly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Goodnight, Severus."
"Goodnight, Minerva," he stated before she walked out into the hall.
As she meandered toward her quarters, she noticed a familiar long-bearded wizard ahead of her. "Albus, what are you doing walking about so late?"
He turned and smiled warmly. "My dear, I was just checking for any inside gaps in the magic that protects the castle. However, I think I shall rally your question back to you."
"Severus and I bumped into each other, quite literally, and we discussed the situation between himself and our guest," she replied.
Albus offered her his arm. "I've almost finished. May I walk you to your rooms, my dear?"
Minerva smiled and linked her arm with his. "Thank you, I'd like that."
Her mind began to wander as they strolled along in companionable silence for a while. I feel so peaceful when he's near me like this. I only wish that I could be certain he felt the same. "Albus, do you think we'll ever have a year without something to worry about?"
He could sense that she needed reassurance and gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "I wish I could promise you one. We can try to be positive that the situation will be resolved and make the best with what we have."
"And that would be?" she asked softly as they stopped in front of her door.
For a moment their eyes locked and she held her breath, waiting for him to say something. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it. Lifting his hand, he gently caressed her cheek. He bent down and brushed his lips lightly with hers. She blushed and smiled. "That we shall always have each other to lean on," he added.
"Goodnight, Albus," she stated, giving him a hug.
He returned the hug and said, "Sleep well my dear," before leaving. She went to sleep that night, comforted by Albus, but still worried about the Potions Master.
Severus woke sitting straight up in his bed four hours later, having had the nightmare again. Mentally kicking himself for not taking the dreamless sleep potion, Severus threw his bathrobe over his pajamas and made himself a cup of tea. As he drank it, he thought about how well the Elvish woman might have been sleeping. I wonder if she still sleepwalks. She used to make herself a special dreamless sleep potion to prevent herself from doing so. He finished the tea and returned to his bed, his mind still on her.
(music is Q lindele; my thanks to Always Hopeful, excessivelyperky, Quill of Minerva, S.S.S.570, and Lady Jolly for reviewing :D)