Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Backstory 01 : All Through the Night

Chapter Two : Life is But a Lovely Token

5 December 2003, continued

The owl landed on the table just as Severus arrived late to dinner. Hiding his gnawing worry, he broke the scroll's seal and scowled at the unfamiliar writing tersely telling him that 'Mr. Potter' was unavoidably detained at St. John's. Banishing the note with an irritated wave of his hand, he met Dumbledore's concerned gaze with a raised brow. Albus nodded, the message received--nothing much out of the ordinary. He quickly finished his meal, silently enduring one of McGonagall's endless harangues about some questionable deed one of his Slytherins purportedly committed. Ignoring her protests, he excused himself before she finished.

Once in the hallway, he swiftly decided he needed a distraction from his growing apprehension and was soon ensconced in his private study, grumpily marking the latest assignment penned by his Sixth Years. Though in years past he'd despaired at ever finding anyone with promise, this class had actually produced a few students bordering on brilliance, while the remainder (like the effort currently under his quill) were abysmal. He sighed. Given the amount of red ink covering the foolscap, his lone Slytherin in the class would not be studying Seventh Year Potions.

Which was most unfortunate. His house would benefit from a wider diversity and fewer of his Slytherins studied the more elegant magical arts, concentrating instead on the darker side of--

Shock--Guilt--Despair--Regret--Depression--Weariness--Fear! The bond resonated sharply through him. Harry!

Bolting from his chair, senses straining, he tried to reach his husband but couldn't bridge the distance. Where was he? Was he still at St. John's? Or had something happened on the way back to Hogwarts? Was that why he could feel Harry's roiling emotions so strongly? There was only one way to find out. His heart pounding, he called, "Reperio Aperio, Harry!" The mental picture formed rapidly--a hospital room, unfamiliar but with sufficient references for him to Apparate.

Impelled to action, the bond's message was clear; Harry needed him--now. He threw on his winter cloak as he rushed from their quarters, taking the nearby stairs leading outside two and three at once. The first harsh bite of the night's arctic wind stole his breath, but the adrenaline fuelling his pumping legs compensated as he tore through the light snow. Once past the school's wards, he halted long enough to verify Harry's location and, wand in hand, shouted the spell to take him there.

Although he didn't hear the 'crack' of his arrival, the occupants of the small room certainly did. He'd only a second to glimpse two unknowns frozen in surprise by the door when Moody whirled to face him, his wand held ready. Immediately, Severus dodged to the side, barely escaping the expected binding spell. Huffing with annoyance, Moody dropped his arm as he recognized his old comrade.

Ignoring the strangers behind him, Severus caught his breath, scanning the room for his husband. The bond's frantic impetus subsided when he finally found him, standing alone to the side. Alarmed at his pallor and obvious exhaustion, Severus' eyes widened as he noted the glint of gold winking from behind his left hand, held tight to his chest. Had Harry already used the pendant he'd given him as a wedding gift?

Responding to the silent plea in Harry's eyes, he moved to stand close, his body instinctively shielding them from the strangers' view. He ran a gentle hand down his lover's arm, taking the icy hand in his own. Through their bond, no longer muffled by distance, he sensed in full Harry's turmoil. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly, his concern colouring every word.

Gripping Severus' hand, Harry murmured, "I'm better--now. Without your pendant--"

Severus understood and slid his one hand under the completely drained pendant, refusing to dwell on what Harry must have felt before he'd used it. Holding the gold disc he whispered, "Replere", feeling a pleasant tug as his magic refilled it. Harry's lips parted, but Severus stopped whatever he'd been about to utter, pressing the soft lips with his own in a chaste kiss. As he deepened it, Moody suddenly shifted to their sides, his light touch on their shoulders breaking their rapport.

Dazed, Severus pulled back, clicking his tongue in annoyance, but soon realised Moody was right--definitely not appropriate right now. He looked beyond the former Auror and spied a bed he'd not noticed in his haste to get to Harry. He sucked in a breath when he saw the shrouded figure--so this was the cause of Harry's agitation. Severus asked, "What happened?" Moody glanced at Harry and raised his hand to his waist making a minute cutting motion with it, his normal eye sliding to the two strangers in the room. Severus nodded and turned his attention back to Harry, his spine stiffening when the unknown man cleared his throat.

"I'm William Edwards, Wizarding/Muggle Liaison for St. John's Hospital. And you are--?"

Harry let go of his hand regretfully, murmuring, "Bill's all right, Severus."

His presence imposing as he turned, Severus faced the portly physician, silently measuring him from his scuffed loafers to his balding head. With a small, stiff bow, he answered, "My apologies. I am Severus Snape, Potions Professor at Hogwarts."

Edwards smiled winningly. "Ah. Pleasure to finally meet you, Professor, although the circumstances could be better. You wanted to know what happened?" When Severus cautiously nodded, the physician answered, "Mr. Moody found this woman on the streets--" he stretched his hand out towards the bed "--and was forced to bring her here. He summoned Harry, who unfortunately was unable to help her." His kindly face wrinkled. "I deeply regret we didn't think to inform Harry of the patient's identity before he started; Mrs. Mendino's death seems to have upset him greatly."

Stunned, Severus gathered his wits, ignoring Edwards' curiosity for the moment. Harry's reaction and the bond's frantic call were now quite understandable. Merlin, Perrin's mother. Harry might get upset at losing any patient, but this? This was personal. He addressed Moody, "We should move her as soon as possible--"

"As Mrs. Mendino was Muggle, we are obligated to inform the proper authorities so the next-of-kin can be notified," Edwards interrupted smoothly.

His clipped baritone precise, Severus replied, "Mrs. Mendino is--was--well known to us. Her husband is a wizard, her son a First Year at Hogwarts. As she has no other 'next-of-kin', it is the responsibility of the Headmaster to inform her son, and that of the Ministry of Magic to--"

The 'crack' of another Apparation startled them when Albus Dumbledore suddenly appeared, almost as if summoned. "I'm sorry I'm late; I had to alert Professor McGonagall of my impending absence." Taking in the room with a sweeping glance, he added, "Ah, I see you've all met. Thank you, Severus, for responding so quickly in my stead." He moved slowly over to the bed and lifted the sheet, looking at the woman for a long moment. Replacing it gently, he sighed, his eyes sliding to Harry. "Such a tragedy for her son."

Albus returned to Edwards. "We must transfer Mrs. Mendino as quickly as your authorities will allow us." He gave a meaningful glance to Edwards over his spectacles. "Bill, I'm certain we can rely on your assistance--perhaps there's a shortcut?"

Edwards chuckled, an odd sound in the serious atmosphere. Shaking his head, he said, "For you, Albus? Always. If you'll vouch for the transfer and complete the necessary forms (at your earliest convenience, of course), you can move her immediately."

"Splendid! Always a pleasure to work with you, Bill. Just send everything through the normal channels and I'll personally see to it." He turned his regard to the nurse, who Severus had forgot in the exchange. "My apologies for leaving so precipitously, but I'm certain you understand the necessity of speed and discretion in this case."

"Indeed, Headmaster," she said briskly.

Dumbledore stared at the two Muggles through his spectacles and, with an odd lilt in his voice, slowly said, "Then might I suggest you have pressing business elsewhere--now?"

Severus started; the Legilimency compulsion Albus had just used was barely legal, although he supposed it was kinder than an Imperius. With fatuous nods and hurried goodbyes, both Muggles left the room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Albus warded it and took Moody off to the side, ostensibly to prepare Priscilla for transport.

Finally Severus could obey the bond's imperative and folded Harry tight in his arms, warming him, the close contact soothing his own inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I tried--I don't know if I--." He burrowed his head deeper in Severus' cloak, shuddering. "What a mess."

Laying his cheek on top of Harry's head, his hand stroking his hair, Severus whispered, "Hush. It will be all right, love. We'll be all right. We'll weather this, just like everything else, together."

Harry sighed. "We're all Perrin has now, aren't we?" he asked, lifting his head, his eyes haunted. Severus kissed his forehead. "Gods, it's too soon; I thought we would have more time--for him to get to know us--to trust us." He shook his head. "Now he's going to think I killed his mother."

Severus held him fast. "Perhaps, but we have time on our side. It will be rough at first, but we mustn't forget we're not in this alone." He kissed Harry tenderly. "You're not alone." As the bond flowed serenely between them, he felt Harry relax, his body pliant against him. "Vobis qui nos amant insumus," Severus whispered. "Remember? We are a part of those who love us. There are others who will also help the boy."

Albus approached them. "I'm sorry," he said, "but we need to move Priscilla." When Harry and Severus reluctantly separated, he nodded with sympathy. "Since there are four of us, I believe a Portus will be the simplest method of moving her."

Severus nodded, feeling Harry tense beside him. Harry hated making the 'gates' with their Schema manipulation of Wizarding space. He'd learned the difficult technique from Albus in his seventh year, employing it frequently afterwards during the war when they'd needed to rapidly move the wounded; the effort usually left him drained.

"Harry?" Dumbledore asked gently. "Are you ready?"

Harry nodded and moved away to stand in the middle of the room; drawing his wand, he waited. When Moody had her levitated and ready for transport, Harry stretched out his arm, inscribing a circle in the air before him as he said, "Porta, St. John's Holding Room." The air within the circle sparked faintly at the edges and distorted in the centre as if hot. Drawing his wand towards him, Harry controlled the circle's dilation until the hazy image of an empty room appeared within it.

When it snapped into place, Severus ducked his head and stepped over the hovering edge near the floor, waiting patiently on the other side. Moody floated Priscilla through the gate head first; wand out, Severus 'caught' her, moving her to a gurney off to the side. Quickly, Moody and Dumbledore followed. Albus immediately touched his wand to the upper edge of the gate, transferring control of it from Harry to him.

"I have it, Harry," Dumbledore said shakily, his forehead beading with sweat.

Harry had barely cleared the edge when the gate snapped unexpectedly shut behind him. Severus and Moody reached out to steady Albus, who was grey and gasping. Harry, his own face pale from the exertion, rummaged in the headmaster's sleeve, pulling out a sealed tin. Flipping the lid, the healer extricated a single pill and popped it into Dumbledore's mouth. Within moments, Albus looked better, his breathing easy. Harry's hands calmly framed his face as he 'read' him. "You'll be all right," Harry said quietly, his thumbs lightly brushing Albus' cheeks, "but this is your last Portus." With a sigh of regret, he dropped his hands, adding, "I'm sorry."

"As am I, my boy, but there's no helping it," Albus replied, resigned. "We've no time to discuss it, though. We should be getting back to Hogwarts for a good night's sleep, and in the morning, break the news to Perrin. I'll arrange for the Dissolutioners to collect Priscilla tomorrow."

Mindful of the old man's infirmity, Harry said gently, "No, Albus, the tradition of exclusion stops here. Perrin needs to come to St. John's--tonight--to see his mother where she died. Otherwise he'll have difficulty accepting the reality of his loss. He should also be included in the 'arrangements'. Helping us decide his mother's interment will begin closure--and a healthier cycle of grief--for him."

Thoughtful, Albus asked, "Are you absolutely certain?"

Harry looked to his husband, silently asking his opinion. Severus obliged, saying, "Nothing's absolute, but I concur. As a Muggleborn, Perrin has no knowledge of Wizarding inhumation practices. His participation in the few choices open to us will, hopefully, make it more real for him. Otherwise, the Dissolutionment will be--impossible--for him to accept, especially if he doesn't see her beforehand."

Albus acquiesced gracefully. "Very well. You are his guardians now. I'll ask Minerva and Pomona to bring him."

Before Severus could thank him, Dumbledore turned to leave. Following him, Moody gave Harry an affectionate clap on the shoulder and Severus an approving nod before accompanying the headmaster out of the room, his work finally done. Severus almost envied him; the time of their own return seemed far away.

Once they were alone, Harry approached the gurney, his shoulders sagging. "Bringing Perrin here may be the right thing to do, but we should lessen the shock of it, if possible," Harry mused. "It's too cold, too sterile; he's going to be scared enough without all--this," he added with a sweep of his hand.

Severus murmured his agreement, his face thoughtful. With a flick of his wand, the gurney transfigured into a simple bed complete with quilts and pillows. A series of spells mended Priscilla's clothing, shod her bare feet, and added some colour to her bleached skin. A final incantation untangled and cleaned her hair, the golden waves spilling across the pillow. "Better?" Severus asked, putting his arm around Harry's shoulders.

Harry answered him by reaching up and pulling his face down for the serious kiss he'd been craving all evening, melting into the loved body that offered such unlimited comfort. Severus returned it with a sweet fervour, holding his love close, needing the beating of Harry's heart against him as much as Harry needed his. The bond wrapped around them, fortifying them with the strength and unity they would need in the days and weeks ahead. Later, hands clasped, they quietly talked about the future, for this was no longer just about them anymore; a young boy, who'd lost everything dear, was about to enter their lives, perhaps changing them forever.

When the door snicked open, Severus closed his eyes against the desolate sound of a gasp and a low whimper, opening them in time to see Perrin, falling stricken to his knees, at the side of the bed, desperately crying out, "Mum!"

And so it began.

TBC