Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!
Another chapter up. Sorry if Snape was a bit pathetic in the last one but very few drunks come across as strong upstanding people – at least in my experience. He'll get straightened here I hope. Phaelan may not end up happy though.
Thanks to my reviewer old and new – I love your comments and I get all giggly when I see a new review posted.
And there off – Go get him Dumbledore!
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Phaelan awoke to the sound of a tinkling bell. Squinting into the dimness of the dungeon chamber, she tried to make out the luminous dial of the charmed clock against the far wall. Shit, seven o'clock.
"Shut up." She called out to the room to silence the alarm. Severus had charmed the clock to recognize her voice. It was a Friday and she had a first period class. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the tousled head of her bed mate who currently had his arm wrapped around her waist cuddling her close to him while he buried his face in her neck.
Using her elbow she nudged him, "Severus, time to get up. Come on, I've got an early class." He responded by muttering something unintelligible and tightening his hold around her. When she heard him smacking his lips together, Phaelan had an awful vision of her hair being matted with drool overnight. "Severus," she raised her voice, "I've got to get up. Let me go." She began pushing him off of her.
"Leave me alone!" he moaned loudly, before turning away from her, taking all the covers with him.
"S'all right, I didn't need those any more." She muttered as she rose and pulled on her robe. Hearing a familiar pop, Phaelan turned and saw Dobby peering over the edge of the bed at the sleeping wizard. "Why are you here Dobby?" she asked.
Dobby approached her, his head down and his hands wringing together with worry, "Master Dumbledore sent Dobby to check on Master Snape. He said Master Snape may have the morning after sickness."
Phaelan snorted, "Morning after, yeah well. What happens now? Do you fetch the hangover cure?"
Dobby waved his hands in front of him, "No, no, Miss. Master Snape is immune to that potion." He edged closer to her and beckoned her to bend, "Master Dumbledore told Dobby that Master Snape had used it too often when he was younger and had spoiled himself for it."
Phaelan nodded, "I see, so what do we do?" she asked.
"You do nothing Miss McKenzie." A familiar voice told her from behind.
Spinning, Phaelan saw the headmaster standing in the bedroom door.
"Sir, I..." she sputtered.
"Please," he asked, holding his hand up, "I must apologize for intruding. I don't make a habit of calling unannounced upon my partnered colleagues. It's just bad form for a start. However, I believe I can deal with your courtier in a more forthright way than you in this instance." He indicated with a tilt of his head the now snoring Severus.
"This isn't the first time he's gotten shit faced on a school night?" Phaelan asked in surprise.
Dumbledore shook his head, "Alas no. Unfortunately, one can take Dreamless sleep potion only so often and other remedies are too weak to provide the necessary balm to a troubled soul. Alcohol was often his only companion on an evening where nightmares crowded his sleep. He has never missed teaching a class due to his indulgence, however. He would never accept that." The old man smiled at her, "He told me the nightmares lessened when you were with him. Now, let an old friend help Severus in the time honoured fashion and you take yourself off to your chambers and get ready for the day." He patted her shoulder as he gently edged her to the door.
Phaelan paused and looked at the slumbering lump of hangover sprawled on the bed. He was drooling. Unconsciously, she passed her hand down the back of her head and found her hair was matted. She sighed and left to floo to her chambers where Polly could help tend her abused tresses.
"Alright Dobby, you know how to begin." Instructed Dumbledore.
The elf approached the bed with extreme trepidation. He had been too close on previous occasions and wanted to be out of harms way when his task was done. With a snap of his fingers, a basin of water appeared over Snape's head. With a second snap, the basin tilted and dowsed the sleeping wizard with the chilling contents. Dobby had immediately moved to stand behind Dumbledore where he watched the now wildly awake wizard sputter and curse as he lashed out at an invisible assailant.
"Fucking Hell! Is that you Dumbledore? I swear, I'll get you're..." he threatened but was interrupted by a charm cast by the old man.
"Incarcerous." He said, pointing his wand at the angry man tying his arms to his side. Another flick of Dumbledore's wand and "Mobilicorpus," had Snape floating towards his bathroom.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU INSUFFERABLE OLD..." Snape shouted before the stream of the shower on his head cut him off just as the shower door shut and locked behind him. His bonds disappeared when the water hit them.
Dumbledore pointed to the bath tub, "Dobby, the usual if you please then bring the coffee and my special medicine bag."
The elf filled the tub using various herbs that scented the air with a hint of eucalyptus. He then disappeared returning a few moments later with a tray bearing a carafe of coffee and a scarlet sac and set it on the vanity.
"Thank you Dobby you may make up the bed and then go." The Headmaster released his free elf. Dumbledore settled himself for the short wait and watched as the tepid water did its work on his young colleague's constitution.
"Have you settled down, son?" Dumbledore asked from his seat on the stool beside the vanity.
Nodding mutely, Severus indicated his compliance.
"Come then, your bath is ready." With a wordless flick of his wand, Dumbledore turned off the shower and opened the door.
Severus padded meekly over to the tub and slid in, sighing at the fragrant warmth. Dumbledore opened the sac and took out a small blue box and a green bottle. He busied himself mixing something while Severus lay silently in the water.
"Here, drink this." Dumbledore handed a glass of fizzing liquid to the immersed man.
"What is it?" Snape asked, "The usual?"
"Alka Seltzer dissolved in Perrier Water. Drink up." He ordered.
Severus did as he was told, "It's fucking embarrassing for a Potions Master to be taking a Muggle remedy."
"It's your own fault you stupid sot. If you hadn't been so profligate in your drinking habits as a youth, you'd never have built up the tolerance to Hangover potion." Albus retorted without sympathy.
Severus leaned his head back on the edge of the tub. "You should have been there at dinner, Albus. It was a fiasco. They could barely tolerate my being in the same room. They hate me."
Albus shook his head, "They don't even know you outside of a classroom. It won't happen overnight, but they'll come to see that you ca..."
"NO!" Severus shouted, "All they see is the man who let their father die. The man who is in league with the murderers, rapists and kidnappers who left them orphans. I can't blame them for hating me."
"Perhaps if you were to stop hating yourself. Perhaps if you were to simply admit the thought of being responsible for the wellbeing of two others scares you, you would be better equipped to handle the girl's emotions." Dumbledore suggested none too gently.
"Don't analyze me, old man. I'm well past it." Snape replied.
"No son, you're not nearly past it, I should say you've just begun." The old man snapped back. "I find this sudden penchant for self pity and denigration to be tiresome. If this is what having a lover entails then be rid of her. I'll not have my best operative flounder at this stage because of a paramour. "
Snape sat up in the bath and glared at his senior, "How dare you? You who encouraged me to court her. You who thought she would bend to our will if she was emotionally engaged. You did everything but throw her in my bed to push us together." He wiped his face, "Then, when at appears I might actually have found a soul mate, you want me to cast her off like soiled linen to be washed and reused."
Severus pushed himself up and out of the bath, pulling a towel about his hips and walked towards Dumbledore. "I have two words; 'Bugger Off'. Phaelan McKenzie is my lady and I shall not let her go. Through her eyes, I see a tomorrow. By her touch, I know I am wanted. She has made me see that I am worthy to live not merely exist. I love her. Do you hear that old man? The Greasy Git of the dungeons has a heart and he can share his feelings with another." He finished, standing in front of his superior, glaring at him in his most Snape-ishly threatening manner.
Dumbledore stood and faced him, "Now that we've established the fact you are capable of feeling something other than disdain for another, get your act together and show those young ladies in the other wing that version of Severus Snape. Not the whinging, pitiable alcoholic we were witness to last night. They would never treat you that way as a teacher, don't accept it as their surrogate parent. Now, get your pathetic backside dressed, it's a working day."
Dumbledore rose and walked to the door turning back with a smile. "I'll see you in the Great Hall. The Alka Seltzer is on the vanity if you need more later. Finish the water and coffee. Don't eat any children on the way to breakfast." Dumbledore waved and left Snape to dress and think in silence.
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Phaelan was passing out marked essays to the upper sixth. She reached the row where Padma Patil and Justin Finch Fletchley sat and found them head to head in conversation not realizing she was behind them.
Leaning down close to their ears she said in a stage whisper. "The tower is booked tonight; try the alcove behind the armour on the fourth floor."
The couple jumped and bumped heads much to the class's amusement. Phaelan smiled and carried on down the row.
"Right. Well, we are actually ahead of schedule in our classes. You will have another test based on the ministry book next class so memorize as much of chapters four through six as you can." She turned and sat behind her desk.
She smiled, "Since you've all been such good little boys and girls, I'm going to let you choose what you would like to do for the last two weeks before Christmas holidays. Break into groups and come up with some ideas. Twenty minutes then we'll discuss and vote."
Phaelan busied her self writing on the board for the third period and pulling her notes together before turning back to the class. They were all sitting looking at her with smirks on their faces. A conspiracy if she ever saw one.
"Okay, so, have we reached a compromise? I didn't hear the declaration of the Armistice for house rivalry. Did I miss something" she asked.
Padma Patil stood up and cleared her throat. She was clearly their spokesperson, "Professor, we've talked about it off and on between ourselves for a while and we've come to a consensus. The upper sixth would like to take a class excursion outside the school."
"I see," Phaelan responded, "Any suggestions as to where this excursion should take us? Longbottom?"
"Somewhere really Muggle so we can experience what it's like." He replied.
Phaelan frowned, "People are people, they interact pretty much the same way you do here at the school."
"There's one thing I always wanted to do, in fact most of us," Pansy offered, "We've always wondered what the cinema was like."
"Yeah, you always see these posters for Motion Pictures in the railway station when we get the Hogwarts Express and there are always dead gorgeous women on them." Goyle added, "Except, they don't move."
Phaelan sighed, under any other circumstances at any other school, a trip to the movies was an easy thing to organize. In this case, Hogwarts was not any school and the circumstances of their situation made the trip anything but easy.
"I'm not sure we can..." she started but stopped when the level of noise grew.
"We could hire a Knight bus to take us all since not every one can apparate yet." Suggested Parvati.
"The cinema's give special rates for student groups." Justin noted.
"Could we go to a Muggle restaurant for dinner?" Crabbe asked.
"Come on Professor, if anyone can convince Dumbledore it's you." Ron piped in.
"Okay, okay." Phaelan called over the general din. "First we have to get permission and then see how much it will cost and who will pay."
"But the fund raising..." Pansy began before fading.
"That was for general school use." Phaelan pointed out, but when she saw a few disconsolate faces, she softened her stand. A few of the kids had been left high and dry by their parents making for a miserable year. "We would need to see where this could fit into the budget. The first hurdle is to get permission for the trip and that might prove difficult."
"But you're going to try aren't you professor?" asked Neville.
Phaelan surrendered and nodded, "Yeah, I'll try." She told them to general cheering and applause. "But you'd better ace your exams after this." She called over the bell ending class.
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Voldemort moved through the dank darkness of his home. His frustration over his plans being thwarted twice in less than six months had not lessened with time. A lesson to Muggleborn and Muggle lovers alike had been torn asunder, with the arrest by Muggle authorities of the Irish buffoons who made a hash of a simple task. Then to rub salt into an open wound; his plan of plans had gone up in smoke, literally.
Since his time at Hogwarts, Tom Riddle had planned the development of the Uberwasp, the name he had coined for his Bee-billywig hybrid. A weapon to be unleashed on the unwary at large and sold to unwitting buyers, wizards taking advantage of the situations in third world dictatorships. It was to be his edge and a source of cash but thanks to ill fates and inept stupidity, he had lost an advantage to his cause and a means of income. He was torn. Fewer and fewer young recruits were joining and many senior servants were retreating from the U.K. What now, he wondered, what now...
"Peter," he called, summoning Pettigrew.
"Yes Master, I am here. What is your command?" he asked.
"Peter, let's make a list. Christmas is coming and I must do as the Muggle Santa Claus does and decide who is naughty or nice."
Peter was confused and a little scared at what his Lord had said. "Master?" he inquired.
Voldemort chuckled; a most chilling sound, "Fear not my little rat, your master has not lost his wits. I must take stock of who is still with me wholeheartedly, who is weakening and who has blasphemed against my creed."
"Of course master, a brilliant idea." Peter told him as he shuffled around to get the implements required and settled at the antique escritoire nestled in the corner. He squirmed slightly at a passing fanciful thought and gave voice to it, "Master, if I may beg a small boon?"
Voldemort waved his hand magnanimously, "Speak it Peter, I am in a charitable mood."
"Oh most generous master," he gushed in joy, "If I may most humbly ask...may I put my name first on the list of the most loyal?" he begged.
The megalomaniac pondered on the request then nodded, "You may place your name second, Peter, right beneath Nagini." He looked at the disconsolate face of his servant, "After all, it wouldn't do to have a Rat superseding a Serpent, would it now."
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Severus Snape was on the upper floors of the school during daylight hours. It was almost unheard of. The Greasy Git was supposed to remain at ground level or lower until sundown. The unwritten student's code had declared it so. So it was that when he glided down the hall to the Muggle Studies room before noon, he frightened the poor third years leaving the class room to head to study hall for half an hour.
Glaring at the last young girl exiting he took a moment and made sure no one else was left in the class but Phaelan. Her back was to the door while she cleaned off the board. Severus stood and watched her moving, a lithe muscular dance of shoulders and hips. He leaned on the doorframe, loath to interrupt his entertainment. When finally she had finished and was dusting off her hands he spoke.
"I don't know how you can teach in this room. It's far too bright and cheery to allow anyone to concentrate." He observed.
Phaelan started slightly when he spoke, she hadn't realized anyone was there, "Better than teaching in a tomb. How anyone can learn in a classroom that's as dark, dank and depressing as a dungeon is beyond me." She leaned back against her desk and crossed her arms. "I hardly think you came all the way up here in the middle of the day to compare teaching methodology and environments. " She cocked her head to the side and waited for him to tell her why he had come to see her.
Severus sighed and looked back at the hallway making sure no one was around then closed and warded the door. He turned back and looked at her still leaning on her desk looking incredibly Muggle.
"I came to apologize for being an utter cad last night. I said things that you should not have heard and I acted abominably. There was no excuse for my behaviour other than I was a coward in facing up to the reality that is my life now. You have my word; there shall be no repeat performance." He watched for her reaction.
"You drool in your sleep when you're drunk." She told him then stood and walked to get her teachers robes.
Snape frowned; of any imagined response she might have made, that wasn't close. "Pardon?"
"Drool, in your sleep; did you know?" she asked as she walked towards him.
"Ehm, no...No I didn't know that is." He replied.
"Took Polly all of five minutes to get the knot you left out of my hair."
"I suppose I must apologize for complicating your morning toilet too." He told her as she stopped in front of him.
"I meant what I said last night." She told him. "Do you remember?"
"Regrettably, I remember my own pathetic blubbering and little else." He admitted shamefacedly.
"I promised I would help you with the girls. What ever you need me to do, I will do."
He blew out the breath he had been holding without realizing. "Good because I plan to have dinner with them again tonight and I would like you there."
"It didn't help much last night." She averred.
"I plan on one major difference tonight. Molly Weasley will have dinner at home with Arthur. It will only be the girls and us." He told her.
Phaelan nodded, "Okay. Perhaps we should stick to finger food and keep all the sharp objects out of sight."
Severus rolled his eyes as he opened the door pulling her along as he left, "Come, let's have lunch, we may not feel like eating dinner when we meet our tablemates."
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Molly bustled around the living room waving her wand about putting the odds and ends into their proper places. She was not happy about leaving the girls and Severus alone. The enmity fairly sparked between Rebecca and Snape like the static electricity, or so Arthur had compared it. She hadn't told the girls she wouldn't be with them nor had she said anything about Severus coming back tonight.
Sighing she looked at the clock – the normal clock that told the time. It was five to six. Severus and Phaelan were due on the hour. The table was set and the elves had been told to bring dinner just after they arrived. Molly looked in the mirror and pushed her hair off her face. Then, the knock at the door came and was answered by their elf. Severus and Phaelan came into the living room and looked around.
"Where are they?" ask Snape as Molly greeted them.
"In their room doing some homework." She replied, "Filius worked with them for a while today and left some reading and essays to work on."
"Good, they should be occupied." He nodded, "Better than brooding." He walked to the window and looked out.
Phaelan felt the silence grow, "So," she began, "you and Arthur can have a nice peaceful dinner tonight." She smiled.
Molly looked at her and pursed her lips, "Since Ginny started school, that's all we usually have." She looked over that the back of the Potions Master. "Professor Snape...Severus can I give you a suggestion?"
He turned and looked at her, "What?"
"Get rid of your over robes. This is their home for now. You need to be...yourself." she told him.
Holding his arms wide, Severus looked at his billowing black teacher's robe that was also his protection in the potions class. It felt like a second skin. "This is me, Molly."
"Come on Severus," Phaelan added, "you don't keep them on in your chambers at night."
With a sigh, Severus shrugged off the black fabric leaving his frock coat. Phaelan walked over and undid the top two buttons to show the white neck cloth he wore. "Are you finished undressing me in public madam." He snapped as he grabbed her hands.
"There," Phaelan stood back and smiled, "Very dashing in a Byronic sort of way."
"Thank you!" he told her and turned to Molly, "If you please, before things go any further, have the girls join us for dinner."
Molly hurried away leaving them alone. Severus rubbed his palms together nervously.
"It'll work out love, give yourself a chance." Phaelan whispered as she put a hand on his arm.
He quirked his brow but softened his look, "I wish I had your confidence in me."
Any further conversation was cut off as the girls entered with Molly. "Well, I'll just be flooing home then. I'll be back by nine. I expect you both dressed for bed by then girls, no argument."
The girls muttered their assent and let Molly kiss them on the cheek before she left sharing one last look at Snape before stepping through the green flames.
Rebecca glanced momentarily at Severus, "We don't need child minders, professor. I can look after Genevieve."
"I don't recall offering my services in that capacity, Miss Faubert. It is dinner time and I have come to sup with you. Please, join me at the table."
He gestured then took Phaelan's elbow and led the way into the dining room. He assisted Phaelan with her chair, then stood and waited for the girls. They were still standing in the living room. He watched their stony faces. Genevieve glanced at her older sister waiting for instruction.
"Ladies, it is extremely rude to make ones dinner partners wait for service by deliberately delaying your arrival at the table. I insist you take your places so that your elf may begin." He waited for their next reaction not sure what he would do if they still didn't come but finally Rebecca relented and led her sister to the table.
Rebecca watched, surprised when Severus pulled her chair out for her to sit and followed suit for Genevieve before seating himself.
"Good manners should be observed, especially when you are with family, Miss Faubert. You will be of age in a few months and you should begin to learn the etiquette of the Wizarding World before you make your debut as an adult."
Conversation halted as the elf served French onion soup. Severus and Phaelan picked up their spoons to start and Genevieve made a motion towards the cutlery but stopped when Rebecca sat with her hands on her lap.
Phaelan sighed and put her own spoon down, "Is the soup not to your liking? Was there something you would prefer?" she asked.
Rebecca looked at the Muggle teacher, her bright brown eyes filled with anger, "French onion soup is one of my favourites, Miss. I find I have no appetite. In fact, I feel quite full. If I may be excused?"
"You may not." Severus told her in a quiet voice. "Now, I insist you stop your childish huff and eat dinner. If you have any thought to the welfare of your sister, you will stop acting foolishly and give her a mature example to follow instead of a petted, sulking child.
Rebecca jumped to her feet suddenly causing her soup to spill over the table and her cutlery to clatter to the floor. Genevieve began to quietly cry.
"How dare you speak to me like that! I'm not in your classroom or in the school hallway. Thanks to you and your kind, this is our home. You have no right to speak to me or my sister in that way or to tell us what to do. We don't need you; we don't want you or your pathetic charity. Take your guilt somewhere else to be relieved Snape; you won't get it from us."
Snape now stood and stared at her, "I told you I had taken a Wizards oath sworn on my wand before your father to be your guardian. It has been legally witnessed. I not only have the right, I have the legal responsibility to see to your welfare. No hot headed adolescent is going to dictate my duty..."
"STOP!" Cried Genevieve, "Please stop. I can't bear it any more." She sobbed, "I wwwish I was still in a..a cccoma. At least I wouldn't have to feel this hurt. I wouldn't have to listen to my sister say such horrible things. I wouldn't be without mum and dad. I wish I was dead so I could be with them." With a final anguished sob, she turned and fled the room.
Phaelan stood and threw her napkin into the remains of the soup. "Okay; I am going to try and comfort that girl as best I can. Now, you two," She pointed at both Severus and Rebecca, "sort something out before that child becomes the next casualty in this disaster." She looked at Snape, "Remember what I suggested. It might hurt for the moment but in the long run it could make things better." Turning, Phaelan left in search of the distraught girl leaving the protagonists alone.
Severus turned away from Rebecca to get control of his thoughts. Rebecca righted her chair and sat. "Why did it have to be you?" she said to herself as much as him.
"He loved you very much. He was so proud of you; it was evident in every word he uttered when he spoke about you." He told her quietly.
Rebecca looked at him, "He told you about us?"
"Yes."
"What kind of things?" she wondered.
Severus smiled knowing she wouldn't see, "About the first time you showed magic when the stuffed animals danced in your nursery. About receiving your letters. About your sister loosing a tooth in a pillow fight."
"Why?"
"I told you, we became comrades. There was no one else." He moved and returned to his seat. "At first I promised I would find a good home, a kind family to look after you. This was not what he wanted. He asked me for a wand oath. I was the least I could do after what I...what we had asked him to do."
"We?"
"We, who fight against He Who Cannot Be Named."
"How?" she asked cryptically but Severus understood.
"I gave him fast acting poison. He ensured the destruction of a terrible menace he had been forced to create and then ended his life."
Now Rebecca stood and walked to the window to look into the darkened courtyard. "They made me watch. One of them said to give Nevvy the potion 'cause she was young but they made me watch." She leaned on the window sill and looked at the sky. "They beat him so badly while mum watched then they grabbed her. One of them, a tall one with long blond hair said dad should help and cast the Imperio on him." She began to cry, "They made him hold down her arms while they raped her one after the other and did other...things."
Severus closed his eyes for a moment and stood to approach her. "If you were to see a pensieve memory of what your father said, would you be able to accept me as your guardian?"
Rebecca thought for a moment, "I don't know, maybe." She turned and looked at him, "Is it hard?"
Severus shook his head, "It's only a memory, it can't be changed and it can't hurt you."
"Alright, I'll look at the memory." She decided.
Severus nodded, "Very well, I shall make arrangements with the Headmaster in the morning..."
"NO!" she cried, "Tonight, I don't want to put it off. I need to know now. I can't keep on not knowing. Please." She pleaded.
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The married quarters of Hogwarts was looking decidedly crowded. Severus had firecalled the headmaster for a pensieve and brought about a small convention in the rooms. Looking around, Phaelan took stock. Dumbledore and Snape stood together in deep conversation. Madame's Pomfrey and Curador were hovering over the girls closely followed by Molly. Filius Flitwick and Minerva sat by the fire with Arthur Weasley. To one side on a small table, sat the pensieve Dumbledore had brought with him.
At long last, Severus and Dumbledore approached the pensieve. Severus pulled his wand and stood in concentration for a moment before holding the wand to his forehead. He began to pull a swirling silver strand of thought from his mind and deposited it in the bowl. He took a deep breath and stood back. Rebecca looked at him, fear showing on her face for the first time. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Madam Curador's kind face smiling down at her.
"Remember, Becky, it's only a memory. Nothing you will see is real anymore. More importantly, a memory cannot hurt you but neither can you change what you see. Think of it as a Muggle video; a moment in time caught as it happened. I hope it will help you find peace child." She squeezed Rebecca's shoulder and stepped back.
Dumbledore smile at Rebecca and held out his hand. "You a are a very brave young woman, Miss Faubert. Now, you are about to enter the memory that Professor Snape has of his time with your father. It will be difficult for you, my dear. If you wish, you may choose someone along with Severus to share the memory with you; he has given permission."
Rebecca looked around the room, her emotions in turmoil. Everyone had been kind. Everyone had wanted to help the girls put it behind them. Why then did she want someone who had no emotional baggage she wondered?
"Professor McKenzie, would you come with me?" she asked.
Phaelan was shocked. She had thought the girl would ask Flitwick or Molly.
"Ah...sure...if you want. Are you sure?" Phaelan asked.
"Yes Miss," Rebecca gave a small smile, "and I think Professor Snape would prefer you."
Severus held out his hand. Rebecca took it then reached for Phaelan. Together, the threesome entered the memory.
'They were in the lab at the farm. Phaelan recognized it from the time she was there.
Faubert was sitting on a chair sipping broth Snape had brought while the wizard set up his equipment.
"I didn't think you'd come back to spend any time." Faubert told Snape.
"I don't get to choose my timetable. I'm just sorry your conditions had deteriorated to this extent." Snape paused, "Faubert," He began, "I very much doubt that I shall be able to secure your freedom. This place is warded and if you are taken from it or attempt to escape, it will send off alarms to all involved."
"DADDY, I'M HERE…IT'S BECKY" she shouted…."He cannot hear you Rebecca, this is only a memory….watch and listen" Snape told her quietly…"DADDY, I LOVE YOU…" she sobbed and leaned against Severus who put his arm around her shoulder
Faubert laughed, "I was dead from the moment they broke into my house Snape. I might be a Muggle but I'm no fool." Now crying, "I'll miss seeing my daughters growing up. That is the only regret I have. After this…" he gestured around. "I'm not sure I want to live." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve, "There's just one thing I did want to ask you. When this is over; what ever this is, will you look after my children?"
"What?" asked Severus.
"My wife and I were only children. Our parents are all dead. No one in our extended family knows about the girls abilities. By now we're listed as missing." Said Faubert.
"Why?" asked Severus.
Faubert shrugged, "I told you once you were decent. I still think you are. If anyone can help the girls recover it's going to be you, I know that."
"All right, I give you my word to see that they are properly cared for. I'll find a decent home for them." Snape replied.
"No!" Faubert shook his head, "I mean I want you to look after them yourself. That will be your job since you are the one who will allow me to die here."
"ME!" Severus cried.
Rebecca looked at the shock on the face of the memory Snape then looked at the real one and saw a sad frown form before he looked away from the scene and into her face. She turned back to the memory.
"Promise me. Give me your wizard's oath on your wand like I've seen others do. Now." He demanded. "Do that and I'll follow any plan you have that will include my death."
Snape pulled his wand and held it before him. "On my honour as a Wizard, I promise to provide succour and care for your daughters as though they were my own, should you meet with your demise in our venture." He gestured and a light came from the end of his wand to surround them both.
Faubert sat back, "Good, now tell me your plan." He said just as the memory faded.
"DADDY……DADDY….PLEEEASE. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE." She cried, "Please...')
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Phaelan, Severus and Rebecca returned to the living room. They each stood motionless for a moment before Rebecca turned and looked at Severus.
"I miss him, he was my hero." She blinked back overwhelming tears. "He really is a hero, isn't he?"
Severus nodded. "His courage is the stuff of sagas. I know no man who was braver, more loving and honourable than your father."
The young girl frowned, tears streamed down her cheeks freely. "I didn't know. I wish...I won't ever stop wanting them here. We had plans..." she sobbed.
Severus nodded, "I know. You didn't see it here but...he told me. I can let you see that memo..."
"No!" she gasped, "No, I can't now."
Severus stood and waited, his hands barely touching hers. "I made an oath and I will keep it."
"I know that now." She looked up at him, "I'm sorry. I just...I'm sorry..." she leaned on him and wrapped her arms around his waist and began to cry in earnest.
Severus wrapped his arm about her shoulders and petted her head. "It will be well, Miss Faubert. I will protect you; care for you and your sister. I need no wizard's oath to hold me to my promise." He looked up and saw her younger sister sitting on the sofa. He thought for a moment and held out his arm inviting Genevieve into the embrace. The younger girl launched herself into the welcoming hug and latched on to her new family.
Looking around, Phaelan saw there were few dry eyes in the room. Molly and Minerva were out and out sobbing. The men all seemed to find a corner of the room to be the most interesting place to stare. As for herself, she wasn't sure. Phaelan looked on with mixed emotion. She had been the focus of his attention for many weeks. As much as she wanted these young girls to have a renewed chance at happiness, she wondered at her place in the new order. Jealousy was an emotion unfamiliar to Phaelan. It was uncomfortable but it was there. Now she had to learn how to deal with it.