They Didn't Know We Were Seeds
Demitri comes home with them after a healer's assistant pops into Mum's room and declares visiting hours are over just as the clock's big hand passes over the six. He claims a room just down the hallway from Severus's own bedroom. It irks him a little to have the old man so near, but Severus sees the value of the placement as well. It will make visiting him after everyone's gone to bed without notice from the Montagues or Topper far easier.
However, when they all begin to retire to their bedrooms after a solemn supper, Sage grabs his wrist and makes Severus look at him.
"Do you want to sleep in my room tonight? I can get Topper to bring us some sweets and we can make a sleepover out of it." He smiles. "And you could open my present to you."
Severus almosts says no. He wants to get over telling his grandfather the rest of his history and answering any question he might have. But, then, he thinks of the hours spent at St. Mungo's. Of Sage curled in a chair near the back of the room reading a large novel. Of him glancing at Severus now and again with concern when something his grandfather said was a bit barbed or Aunt Vesta got a bit weepy and feely. Severus smirks back. "Sure, you can open my present to you too," he replies. He can sneak out later to go and visit with his grandfather. Sage deserves to have his Christmas end on a happy note.
-O-
Four hours later, a spread of biscuits, gummies, and shredded Christmas wrapping filling the space of Sage's bed not occupied by them, Severus begins to ease himself out from beneath his brother. Pulling out his half-asleep arm from beneath Sage's head, he lets out a breath he hardly knew he was holding and slowly sits up. Staring down at the sleeping face of Sage, a fondness pulls at his heart. Every passing day makes him realize it's only going to be a matter of time before his brother is just shy of a doppelganger to Boyd. He gives a bit of Sage's over-long fringe a small twist. Perhaps he'll be able to talk him out of slicking back his hair all the time as Boyd does. Somehow, Severus just can't see it suiting Sage the same way it does his brother.
Perhaps it's because Sage isn't even half as suspect as Boyd.
Pulling away entirely from the boy Severus slides out of bed, then his brother's bedroom. When he knocks on his grandfather's door, hardly a second passes before it swings open and reveals his scowling grandfather. Severus feels his good mood fade immediately.
"What took you so long?" Demitri demands.
Severus crosses his arms and glares back at the old man. "Sage wanted to have a bit of party for Christmas." He quirks an eyebrow. "Wouldn't you agree he deserves one after a whole day in hospital? Especially since if a certain someone hadn't poisoned Mum, he would have had a nice Christmas here at his home."
Demitri's glower only darkens as he waves Severus inside.
In he goes.
The old man closes the door behind Severus. He then goes to the armchair and ottoman situated near his dimly glowing fireplace. He takes the pin-striped wingback (of course), leaving Severus to place himself on the slightly shorter red ottoman. It makes him feel far more like a child than he cares for, to sit on it and have to look up at the old man. If he didn't know that Demitiri would only take joy in it, Severus would have scowled at his grandfather. Instead, Severus tries to compose himself into a more adult-position. He straightens out his spine as if someone spelled a slug down the back of his shirt and crosses his legs in a business-like way.
"Where shall I start my story?" asks Severus.
His grandfather stares at him for a moment. "From the beginning," he finally answers. Then, as if he realizes just how easily Severus can misunderstand what he means by 'beginning', Demitiri corrects, "Of your first life."
Since the Unbreakable Vow Lily officiated for them strictly forbids his grandfather from breathing another word to anyone but Lily or Severus about their previous lives and time travel, he begins to tell his life-story with only a little discomfort to the old man. By the time Severus finishes sharing his long, intricate, history with his grandfather, the sun is just starting to warm Demitri's bedroom. For a time, all there is the quiet tick-tock of the grandfather clock to their right.
Finally, Demitri says, "I don't know how you managed it. Most men would have gotten themselves killed or killed themselves."
Severus feels a sluggish shrug is the only viable response. "There was the greater good to keep in mind. When things were unbearable, I reminded myself the witch or wizard who would take my place as Dumbledore's spy should I kill myself or be careless enough to get killed, may not be as good as I. Without me, the world may end." Then, softer, he adds, "I also couldn't let Lily's son die. I let her down already, I wasn't about to let her child die too because of my mistakes."
"You love her very much, don't you?"
He frowns. "Of course. She's my greatest and oldest friend."
Demitri eyes him. "You love her as more than just a friend."
He shakes his head in denial. They are not pursuing a relationship at this time and maybe they never will. Acknowledging that his love her transcends friendship only serves to pain him. Remind Severus yet again he can never have what he wants most in the world. Firmly, he tells his grandfather, "It doesn't matter how I love her. All that did and does is that I do. Love is what saved Harry. Love is what shall hopefully save the world this time too."
His grandfather only seems amused by his words. "I think you ought to head back to bed now, lad. Sage will be waking up soon and wondering where you got to."
Severus stands, knees cracking as he does. Yawning into the crook of his arm, he remarks, "No questions? You know what? Disregard my last statement. I'd rather catch an hour or two of sleep before Aunt Vesta barges into Sage's room and yell at us to get dressed so we can spend boxing day with Mum at St. Mungo's."
"I will," he assures. "In a day or two I should have a parchment sheet worth." The old man smirks slightly. "Also, speaking of your mother, I'll look into getting my hands on a Pensieve so we can start on manipulating that memory of yours. We need it in a week's time to place in your mother's head after she wakes."
-o-O-o-
Much to Severus's surprise, when he wakes up on boxing day for breakfast, his grandfather is gone. When he asks Aunt Vesta where he's disappeared to, she tells him some important business came up and he had to leave to take care of it. Aunt Vesta's lips curl nastily as she snarks, "But don't worry! He says he'll be back in time for Boyd's wedding! As if I care if he comes at this point! Eileen is just in a coma at St. Mungo's right now. But yes, business and a wedding rank above a sick daughter. It's no wonder your poor mother has her priorities all mixed up!"
Wisely, Severus keeps his mouth shut and asks no more questions. At this point, he assumes from what little was said after he finished telling his grandfather his past last night that the man's getting a head start on finding a Pensieve. While not a rare item for others to buy, it is not common either. To get his hands on one in such short notice Demitri may even have to make it himself.
The next two days are spent mostly at St. Mungo's and when he's at the manor, Severus keeps an eye on the mail. There is a letter from Lily, another from Sirius, and two-handmade condolence cards that are definitely from the Jones girls (who told the Jones about his mother? Aunt Vesta?), but nothing from his grandfather. Severus shrugs it off. The old man told Aunt Vesta he would be back in time for Boyd's wedding and Severus thinks he can trust him at least that much.
To his relief, the next morning proves his grandfather honest. After being woken half-past dawn by Aunt Vesta and bullied into their dress robes, they come down to the kitchen to find his grandfather sipping at a cup of tea.
"Hello," Sage says politely.
The old man dips his head. "Lads," he returns.
"Topper!" Aunt Vesta calls, "the boys need their porridge!" She then whirls around on them and wags her finger in their faces. "So help me if you two get porridge on your dress robes!"
Severus rolls his eyes as Sage placates her with, "Yes, Mum."
As they sit down to eat, the Montague woman flits around the kitchen a bit before saying, "I should give Boyd and Violet a quick call. Make sure there isn't anything they need help with last minute."
Severus, Sage, and Demitiri share a disbelieving look with one another, but do not stop Aunt Vesta. Instead, they sit quietly and watch with interest as she makes the fire call. Violet answers it and tries to say she has everything well in hand when Boyd pops into view.
He tells Aunt Vesta, "I'll be over to get the boys in a bit, I've got a small task for them."
"Of course!" Aunt Vesta croons as Severus and Sage relax in their seats.
Quietly, Sage mutters, "Thank Merlin."
Severus nods his head in agreement. Perhaps Boyd will be kind enough to keep them until the wedding so they don't have to deal with the overly excited Montague woman all morning. He smirks at his grandfather, who frowns at him. It'll be up to him to try and reign in Aunt Vesta today.
Not even ten minutes later Boyd shows up and spirits them away to his flat. Big hands heavy on their shoulders, he leads them into the drawing room where he insists they take a seat on the sofa. Grinning, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out two small gift-wrapped boxes. Handing them off to Sage and Severus, he says, "This is a thank you for all of your help."
Sage opens his to find a pocket watch. Quickly, his brother explains, "I know it's traditional for fathers to give their sons watches, but Dad's… Well, you deserve one, Sage. Being my usher is no small feat and you've stepped up to the task like a real man."
The teenager throws himself at his brother for a clumsy hug. "Thanks, Boyd," he mumbles into his brother's shoulder.
"You're welcome," Boyd replies. He looks expectantly at Severus. "Well? Are you going to open your present?"
Severus stares down at the blue box. Undoing the purple bow he pulls off the paper and opens it to reveal a bronze-hued ring. He takes it out and curiously turns it over in his hands. It has a stamp that appears to be meant for sealing the wax on letters. "Thank you," says Severus. "It's quite handsome."
"The crest on it is the Montague's. We don't much use it or show it off in our family anymore, but it was Dad's and I want you to know you're as good as family to me too. A brother," Boyd tells him, arm still wrapped around Sage's shoulder.
A small lump starts in Severus's throat. "Thanks," he croaks as he slips it on his finger. As he admires the ring, Severus wonders what Boyd will think of him (and Mum) when he learns how close his wedding came to ruin before Demitri poisoned his mother.
-o-O-o-
Hours later while blandly looking over the many guests at Boyd and Violet's wedding reception, Severus manages to spy Clara among the cliques. He bends over close to Sage and half-shouts into his cousin's ear over the din of the amplified quartet of self-playing string instruments, "I see Clara across the room! I'm going to see if she would care to join us over here."
Sages nods and waves him off while shouting, "Take her a glass of champagne to be polite!"
Severus rolls his eyes, but takes two glasses from one of the many platters a small platoon of house elves are being forced to carry around the room. Sometimes, he has to wonder if his brother realizes just how much like his mother he can sound like. Severus is certain he doesn't. And if he dares to point it out, it's highly possible Sage will be absolutely mortified.
Approaching he can't help but admire Clara in her bridesmaid gown. The lace bodice of her lavender gown hugs her endowed bosom attractively and the slightly deeper purple of her chiffon skirt and sleeves flow freely off her in a way that makes her look like an elfin princess from a Muggle storybook. Severus still thinks a woman with long, thick red hair and an athletic build is the epitome of beauty, but there's no denying Clara looks a vision this evening.
Reaching her, he offers the glass with a small upturn of his lips.
The Parkinson girl grins back with her teeth as she takes the glass. "Thank you," she says.
He only nods as he falls into the space beside her. Together, they watch those dancing come to a pause as the quartet's latest song ends. When the next song is in full swing and the dancers are in the midst of twirling and passing the women along to the nearest male to their right, Severus turns his head to look at Clara. "Have you given any thought to what you're going to do once you graduate Hogwarts?" Severus asks. While to anyone listening in, it will sound as if he's just asking a general, polite question commonly asked by one acquaintance to another, Clara knows the true meaning of the question.
She stares down at the rosy champagne in her glass. "Some. Before Benjy, I fancied Gideon Prewett for the longest time, but he never noticed me like that. I tried to talk to him a few times, but Gideon didn't seem to think very much of me. Perhaps he even thought poorly of me. Not that I'd blame him, Adam was a bit of a bully to the Gryffindors while he was in school and I'm sure that colored his view of me and Parkinsons in general." She circles a manicured finger around the rim of her glass and sighs. "Since our date, I've tried looking at other boys. Ones Father would approve of especially, but…" Clara bites her lip.
"Can't shake him, can you?" Severus replies quietly.
She gives a shake of her head, causing a delicately curled lock of hair to fall from the loose bun her hair is pulled in. "No," whispers Clara. "He has stars in his eyes when he looks at me." A pale pink colors her cheek. "…He makes me feel like a queen."
Severus raises his half-full flute of champagne in the air. "I wish you two all the luck, then."
Clara glances at him and smiles. It trembles as her eyes start to shimmer with unshed tears. Turning her gaze back to the dance-floor where you can just barely spy Violet in her sweeping silver-white gown dancing with Boyd through the crowds of other waltzing witches and wizards, she tells Severus, "I'm so happy I got to be here today. Who could ask for a lovelier last memory of your sister than one of her dancing with her husband on her wedding day? She looks so beautiful." The Parkinson woman discreetly swipes her thumb over the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to miss Violet most of all. She's been more than just my sister, but my best friend as well."
Severus nods and turns his gaze to the happy couple as well. He sympathizes so very deeply with Clara, the situation she's found herself in is just dreadful, but he has no words to offer that won't come off as shallow platitudes. Instead, Severus dares to grab her free-hand for all of a second and give it a strong squeeze. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus sees the Parkinson woman still. Then, Clara's chin quivers briefly before her jaw goes taut and all emotion flees her face leaving behind a blank, if pleasant-to-look-at mask.
The last scene was actually really sad to write, but it's also my favorite. What about you guys? What part did you enjoy best?
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