Chapter 31. Curiosity
The wooden wand in her hand felt so alien to her, it definitely wasn't like her wand.
"Give it time dear, it will eventually feel more natural," Professor Dumbledore spoke years of wisdom from his desk. Astrid ran her fingers along the wand, mango wood, it was a beautiful colour, and it had a swish and flexibility to it that her long lost wand did not. The handle was a darker wood, antique cherry, it had what looked like vines carved over it. Overall, a stunning wand, it just didn't feel like her wand.
"What was the core again headmaster?" Astrid asked as she twizzled the wand between her fingers.
"Unicorn tail hair," Dumbledore told her behind his half moon spectacles. Everly was laid in the elder wizards' arms, not quite asleep but just about getting there.
"Same as my old wand," Astrid muttered to herself, "Thank you professor, I promise to take care of this one," She smiled, pocketing the wand in her teal blue dress. Everly began to make a fuss, stretching out her arms and gurgling unhappily. Dumbledore motioned to give the infant back, he knew a lot of things, but how to settle an infant was probably one of the few pieces of knowledge he didn't possess.
Astrid took her baby into her arms, hushing and bouncing her softly.
"I don't remember the last time I held an infant; it must have been…. Yes, Harry Potter," Dumbledore mused. Astrid noticed the professor's hand just then, the skin was black, withered, it was how you expected a mummified body to look.
"Headmaster, your hand," Astrid gasped as she rubbed Everly's back lovingly.
"Ah yes, a thrilling tale, but not one I will tell," Dumbledore sighed. A knock caught the headmasters attention.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything headmaster," The monotonous drawl of Severus Snape called as he stepped through the door, his black robes flowing behind him gracefully. "Ah, Miss Moody," Severus greeted her with a curt nod.
"I was just presenting Miss Moody with her new wand," Dumbledore informed his most trusted confidant.
"Ah yes, how do you feel to be reunited with magic?" Severus asked with a cocked brow.
"Strange," Astrid admitted, swapping Everly to the other shoulder, "I was almost getting used to not using it." she said with a humourless chuckle.
"Sorry Severus, what was it you need me for?" Dumbledore asked.
"I simply came to check on… things, headmaster." Snape drawled.
"Everything is fine Severus, oh but I do have something for you actually, one moment," Dumbledore said excitedly, raising from his seat the old man scurried off up the stairs.
"Everly seems to grow a little bit more every time I see her," Snape commented, trying to make conversation in the awkward silence. Astrid stifled a small laugh and nodded to his words.
"Yes, well done Severus, that's what babies do, they grow," She smirked, earning a scoff and an eye roll from the dark clad man.
"When will you be returning to your class?" Severus asked, eyeing her curiously.
"I don't want to set an exact date, but I'm hoping towards the end of the winter term."
"Good… your students seem to have missed you… their grades certainly seem to have suffered in your absence," Snape said in his usual tired voice. "How are you finding it… motherhood, that is?" Astrid hesitated whilst she thought, she eyed Everly briefly before returning her attention to Snape.
"Honestly? A challenge, it's all new to me, and I'm still learning," Astrid sighed, "I'm tired all of the time, exhausted really, I can only imagine things are different when there's two parents," Astrid smiled sadly.
"You know he would be here if he could," Snape sighed, "But since he can't, I will do what I can in his stead, anything you need, call upon me,"
"That's very kind of you Severus, almost… uncharacteristically kind," Astrid smirked, cocking her brow.
"Don't go broadcasting that anywhere… I have a reputation to uphold Miss Moody," Severus said darkly, but a small smile playing in the corner of his lips.
"Of course, professor,"
"Ah here we are Severus," Dumbledore announced his presence as he elegantly descended the stairs, a vial in his hand, "Phoenix tears, just as you asked," Dumbledore handed the vial to the professor, who slotted the vial quickly into his black robes.
"And those are for?" Astrid asked with a puzzled expression, she knew he was no longer the potions master, what would he need phoenix tears for?
"Respectfully that's my business, not yours, Miss Moody," Snape drawled as he pulled his robes over his body, crossing his arms tightly.
"Noted, thank you," Astrid exhaled rolling her eyes, "I'll be taking that as my queue to leave, thank you again for the wand headmaster," Astrid smiled and turned on her heel. She barely got out of Dumbledores office when she heard firm footsteps striding after her.
"Miss Moody, I did not mean to cause… upset," Severus drawled as he caught up with the her, he matched Astrid's pace, walking with her towards her tower, in the exact opposite direction he needed to be heading.
"No upset caused, professor," Astrid smiled politely.
"No? Well then, I'll escort you to your tower and leave you to your night," Severus offered.
"An escort really isn't necessary," Astrid replied, swapping Everly from one shoulder to the other, her arms were still gaining the necessary strength to carry the child for extended periods, currently they ached, if not burned.
"I could hold her, if you so wish, you seem to be… fatigued," Severus offered. Astrid stopped in her tracks, a curious, if not suspicious, look on her face.
"Severus Snape, offering to hold a baby? You don't even like children, what is your game?" Astrid mused, narrowing her eyes on the man, he scoffed at her, and turned to make his way back towards his chambers.
"Severus! I'm sorry," Astrid cringed, "Of course you can… I was just… it was a joke," Severus turned around hesitantly and Astrid handed over her pride and joy, Severus clutched the baby to his shoulder awkwardly, just like the first time.
"No, you need to…" Astrid moved his hand under the babies bottom, supporting her weight, "And this one…" she moved his other hand to the base of Everly's neck gently. "There, that's it," Astrid smiled.
"This is only the second time I've held an infant," Severus commented.
"The first being the other day?" Astrid asked curiously, Severus nodded silently as the two walked up the tower's steps. The autumn wind howled outside, that and their footsteps was the only sound echoing through the large spiral staircase.
"For your information Miss Moody," Severus broke the silence after a moment's reflection, "I don't hate children, teenagers however… I just expect more from those dunderheads,"
"Have you ever thought that treating them your equal might yield better results?" Astrid asked, her classes where reasonably well behaved for a topic that was, to most people, rather dry and boring. She had a mutual respect with her students and it was beneficial to Astrids stress levels, and their work.
"No," Severus said dryly as they reached the top of the stairs.
"Thank you Severus, I-" Astrid reached her arms out to take the babe from his arms, however in that moment something fantastically horrible happened. Everly burped white sick all over Severus' shoulder, it dripped down the back of his robes, leaving him splattered in white.
Astrids eyes opened wide in disbelief at first, she clasped her hand to her mouth as Severus stood frozen to the spot, his eyes closed with dread. Astrid wasn't shocked for very long, seconds later she was bursting with laughter, doubled over with her chuckles, tears streamed down her face as she could barely catch her breath for her laughing.
"I'm so…. Sorry… would you… like… to… come in and…. Clean…. Yourself… up?" Astrid asked through her hysterics, she gripped the wall to keep from falling over with laughter.
"That would be most helpful yes," Severus sighed, opening the door to Astrids chambers and strolling inside. Astrid followed after him, taking deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating with laughter once more. She took Everly from him, and Severus stalked off to the bathroom. Astrid on the other hand cleaned up the infant, wiping her little face with a sage green muslin cloth, she patted the infants back, making sure that she had got it all up, it seemed she had, all over the ex-potions master.
Astrid decided to use the crib gifted by her Lucius, she wondered if it was the one from the nursery he had installed at the manor. She laid Astrid down in the cot with a sigh, stroking the infant's cheek affectionately. She peered down at the baby, who's eyes began to grow heavy. Running her hand along the crib as she watched her child, she noticed how expensive it was, the wood was engraved with beautiful patterns. She thought of him, missed him.
"I can't wait for you to meet him little one," Astrid whispered to her now sleeping daughter. Astrids attention was drawn by the sound of a running tap, padding over to the bathroom she popped her head in, seeing Severus had removed his cloak, and now stood in a black buttoned up jacket, it was longer at the back than the front, it gave very 'professor' vibes. His cloak she spotted, had been run under the tap and thrown over the glass shower screen whilst he tended to his jacket next, wiping at the white stains with a cloth.
"You need to dab, not wipe, you're just spreading it everywhere," Astrid sighed, she gave in and approached the potions master, taking the cloth from his hands. He was reluctant to let her help at first, but eventually relaxed as she dabbed at his shoulder with the cloth.
"I wish I could replay that memory over and over again; I've not laughed like that since…. Well, a very long time," Astrid giggled as her fresh memory flashed back to Snape's exasperated expression when he realised what had happened.
"I'm glad to have brought some cheer at least, even if it was at my expense," Severus drawled.
"Do you think me miserable? In need of cheering up?" Astrids brows raised playfully.
"Not at all… I think you a cheerful young miss, that miserable things happen to," Severus said, not catching on to her jokey tone. She nodded to his words, agreeing with him silently, miserable things did happen to her.
The man avoided eye contact with the stunning blonde, instead he glanced at the mirror, watching her reflection. The way her small delicate hands dabbed at him carefully, the way her neck arched and moved as she inspected his shoulder, He saw the arch of her spine leading to her- no, he glanced away. A sickly guilt brewing inside of him.
"There… do you want to dry your cloak off by the fire for a little bit? You really didn't need to run it under the tap you know," Astrid offered as she discarded the cloth into the wash basket nearby.
"That would be most… kind, thank you," Severus nodded, he fetched his soaked cloak and followed Astrid to the velvet sofa by the fire, he draped his cloak over the arm of the nearest arm chair to the flames and took a seat.
"Wine?" Astrid asked, approaching the small brass bar cart near her bookshelves.
"Yes, thank you, I believe it's required after that… experience," Severus breathed as he eyed the baby in the cot out of the corner of his eye. Astrid poured the man a goblet of wine, handing it to him, she herself had a glass of water.
"I didn't realise I'd be the only one drinking, if my memory serves me well, you're quite fond of a drink Miss Moody." Severus observed as she seated herself at the opposite end of the sofa.
"You're right, I am fond of a drink now and then, but alas, I can't," She sighed as she took a sip of water, her eyes darting to the sleeping baby,
"Ah," Severus realised the reason for her sobriety and tried his hardest not to turn a shade of pink. "I hope the child is well, and not… coming down with something."
"It's normal, don't worry you're not alone, she's done it to me too, all down my hair," Astrid smiled as she tucked her legs up beneath her.
"How unfortunate,"
The silence between them was quite pleasant, as they both nursed their drinks, his wine, hers water, in the light of the fire. Neither said a word, but they also didn't feel like they needed to. When Severus finished his wine he set the goblet down on a side table, and realised the girl had fallen asleep, glass of water still tucked into her hand. Severus exhaled deeply as he shuffled towards young woman, he took the half empty glass from her hand and set it down on the table behind her head. She looked so serene, so at peace.
"Lucius," She barely whispered in her sleep, her full lips parting ever so slightly to say the name. It stung Severus, and he didn't know why, he had no claim to her, she wasn't his. In fact, she was firmly Lucius'… his oldest friend.
But there she was, so beautiful, her sun-kissed skin illuminated by the fire, her little freckles popping on her cheeks in the light. He watched the way her chest raised and fell with each breath. Raising a hand to her face he almost caressed her, almost. He diverted to a blanket that was folded over the back of the sofa, and after unfolding it, he draped it carefully over her sleeping form.
"Goodnight, Astrid," He swallowed as he took his leave.
September quickly turned into October, then came November, and soon Autumn had disappeared altogether and a white blanket of snow-covered Hogwarts. Astrid still hadn't returned to the classroom, exhaustion got the better of her, she couldn't imagine teaching three sometimes four classes a day whilst also completing her duties as a mother, not just yet. She promised Dumbledore to return after the Christmas break, providing she could find somebody trustworthy to watch over her little one. Dumbledore had agreed. But now that Christmas was growing nearer and nearer, Astrid felt apprehensive about her return to teaching.
"Professor, I didn't know you were invited to the Slug Club Christmas party," Hermione Granger confessed as she and Harry arrived to Slughorn's office at the same exact time as the young professor.
"Slug Club? Is that what you guys call yourself?" Astrid asked, her juvenile sense of humour getting the better of her. "Yes, well it seems you make quite the interesting party guest when you've been a captive of you-know-who," Astrid said with false cheerfulness.
"Yes, well he's an interesting fellow Professor Slughorn," Hermione cringed.
"He's a bit barmy, I love him," Harry smirked as he pushed open the door to the party.
Astrid followed in the two Gryffindors and was immediately at awe with the place, Slughorns office had been covered in shimmering golden drapes. Red fringed paper lanterns hung from the ceilings and all the furniture except for a few well placed side tables had been removed to create a mingling space. Astrid was rather impressed, for a Hogwarts party, of course the parties at Beauxbatons were always glamorous and decked out.
Astrid picked up a non-alcoholic punch from a white clothed table and sipped at it by the fire, she was completely and totally engrossed in people watching that she didn't notice the dark figure of Severus Snape glide up beside her.
"Not party crashing I hope Miss Moody?" Severus drawled with a cocked brow.
"Not at all Professor, I was invited," Astrid informed him cockily.
"How unfortunate for you," Professor Snape smirked as he joined Astrid in her people watching.
"Did you not wish to dress for the occasion?" Astrid asked as she eyed his usual garb.
"You presume I own other robes?" Severus mocked, "No, I saw no reason to dress up for…. Whatever this is," he said as he eyed Slughorn curiously, he was very much a strange fellow. "I see you did though," Severus drawled casually as he eyed the professor. "You look beautiful, as always," his bored tone almost cracked.
"Thank you, professor," Astrid remarked, a little surprised. "Just an old thing out of my wardrobe, I'm finally starting to squeeze back into my old clothes." She smoothed down dress over her stomach self consciously and took another sip of her drink.
Her dress was light and airy, knee length and covered in a large dark floral pattern, burgundy and dark dusky pink roses, off-set by beige peonies on a dark background. It had a high neck and transparent poofy lantern sleeves. A little black belt around Astrids waist showed off her post-baby figure, she had almost completely shrunk back to her original size. Her hair wasn't in its normal waves, she had curled it into large Hollywood curls, and pinned back one side with a pearl hair comb.
"Where is the child?" Severus asked curiously, noting the babies absence.
"Minerva kindly agreed to watch over her for the night," Astrid smiled gratefully.
"Professor Moody! Come, come!" Slughorn beckoned her over to meet with whomever he was talking to. Astrid sighed deeply, she could tell it was going to be a long night, why did she agree to come in the first place? Ah yes, the idea of a baby free night appealed to the young mother. Astrid obliged the old man, approaching with a forced warm smile she greeted his acquittances.
After having her ear talked off for a small while she decided to take refuge behind a shimmering gold drape, there she watched the snow falling on the castle grounds through the large windows. She decided to treat herself with a drink from the adults table, just a little cocktail to take the edge off. After many months of not even having a sip of alcohol however, it took a little bit more than the edge off.
"Mind if I hide out here too professor?" Hermione asked, slipping behind the curtain nervously, her arms crossed over herself.
"What make you think I'm hiding? And yes, of course," Astrid smiled taking a sip of her drink. The two almost struck up a conversation when Harry slipped behind the curtain too.
"Hermione!" Harry called in a hushed whisper, "What are you doing? What happened to you? Oh, hey professor," Astrid gave the boy a small wave as she took another drink.
"I was just about to explain to the professor… I just escaped, I mean… left Cormac under the mistle toe," Hermione exasperated as she looked out from the side of the curtain with a worried expression.
"Cormac? That's who you invited?" questioned Harry disappointedly.
"I thought it would annoy Ron the most," She sighed.
"Trouble in paradise?" Astrid asked bemusedly. "Would you like advice from someone a little bit older and wise dear?" She was most definitely on the tipsy side.
"Forgive me professor, but I don't think I'll be taking advice from someone who pro-created with a Malfoy," Hermione whispered honestly. Astrid tilted her head with a nod.
"Fair point, yeah, don't listen to any of my advice, anyway life is about mistakes, Cormac just might be one of yours," Astrid laughed into her glass. Hermione looked through the curtain to keep tabs on the boy she was so carefully avoiding.
"He's got more tentacles than a straffola plant," Hermione said bitterly, just as a waited stuck his head through the curtain, a silver platter in his hands.
"Dragon tartar?" He asked politely.
"No I'm fine thank you," Hermione gulped.
"No thanks," Astrid smiled
"Just as well, they give one a horribly bad breath," The waiter informed them as he was about to pull away, but Hermione quickly took the tray from him, ushering him away.
"On second thoughts… might keep Cormac at bay," She sighed as she stuffed a few of the tartars in her mouth.
"Somehow, I doubt it," Astrid muttered into her cocktail as she took another sip.
"God here he comes," Hermione groaned, shoving the platter into Harry's hands she slipped out of the curtain and away from the approaching teenage boy.
"I think she went to powder her nose," Harry told Cormac, Astrid gave him an impressed nod at his quick thinking.
"Slicker than a minx your friend, nice to work her mouth too, doesn't she?" Cormac commented sleezily as he threw some tartar in his gob.
"Yeah, yeah yeah," Harry nodded awkwardly.
"McLaggen is it any wonder Miss Granger is running from you when you speak about girls in such a way?" Astrid confronted the young man.
"Professor! I didn't see you there," he stuttered as he through another dragon tartar in his mouth to keep from digging himself a hole. His chewing slowed as he looked at the tray Harry was holding.
"What is this meat I'm having?" Cormac asked worriedly.
"Dragon Balls," Harry stated simply, with a blank expression. Severus saw the blurry figures of three people behind the golden drape and thrust the curtains aside abruptly, revealing Potter, Cormac and Miss Moody, he looked at each of them curiously before Cormac doubled over and heaved the contents of his stomach all over Professor Snapes shoes. Harry awkwardly played with the curtains, hoping to become invisible to Snapes wrath. Astrid however… she instantly spat out her drink onto the floor with a snort before erupting into a silent giggle, her hand held to her mouth to stifle the laughter.
"You've just bought yourself a month's detention McLaggen," Severus told the boy firmly, Harry took it as his opportunity to sneak away, however nothing gets passed Severus Snape so easily. "Not so quick, Potter,"
Severus glanced at Astrids giggling form before retreating back through the curtain to make chase after the Potter boy.
"Sir I really think I should re-join the party… my date…" Harry tried to think on his feet as fast as he did with Cormac, but nothing was coming to mind.
"Can surely survive your absence for another minute or two. Besides… I only wish to convey a message," Severus told him told him with a bored expression.
"A message?" Harry asked, perpetually confused.
"From Professor Dumbledore… He asked me to give you his best and he hopes you enjoy your holidays," Severus informed the lad, "He's travelling and he won't return until term resumes,"
"Travelling where?" Harry asked with furrowed brows. Severus regarded him for a moment before abruptly walking off to re-join Astrid who had emerged giggle-free from behind the curtain.
"It's as if someone's placed a vomit curse on you," She smiled as she finished her drink and placed it on a passing tray,
"I don't find it humorous Miss Moody,"
"But I do Severus, I do," She smirked as they people watched once again.
They weren't people watching for very long when Mr Filch pushed his way through the party guests, Draco Malfoy being dragged along in his grip.
"Take your hands off me, filthy squib!" Draco uttered as Filch tugged him towards the host. The music of the party stopped was cut off and everyone's eyes turned to see the commotion.
"Professor Slughorn, sir. I've just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor… he claims to have been invited to your party," Filch said gruffly. Severus and Astrid both stepped forward to look in on the situation. Draco spotted her immediately, he stared at the young woman for a moment and swallowed hard.
"Okay, okay! I was gate crashing," Draco groaned, "Happy?" Severus shot forward at what appeared to be Draco's defense.
"I'll escort him out," Severus told Mr Filch firmly, who responded by unhanding the boy.
"Certainly, professor," Draco spat as he stared down Professor Snape. Astrid watched the exchange curiously, thinking it rather odd how Draco spoke to his fathers' closest friends. Draco's eyes brushed over Astrid briefly as Severus escorted him from the party.
"All right everyone, carry on, carry on!" Slughorn cheered, motioning for the music to start up once again. Astrid decided she'd had enough of the party, and her curiosity got the best of her so she too decided to leave, she hoped to accidentally on purpose catch up with Severus. What was that muggle expression? Curiosity killed the cat?
Astrid tiptoed through the corridors as quickly as she could, a hard feat in heels. Giving up she slipped them off her feet and held them by their heels and made her way down some stairs and along a stretch of corridor. She thought she'd lost them when she heard some hushed whispers ahead. Poking her head around a corner, she saw Snape, his hands grasping either side of Draco's jacket, pushing him up against a wall roughly. Astrid pressed herself against the wall and listened carefully to their exchange.
"I swore to protect you! I made the unbreakable vow," Severus hissed darkly.
"I don't need protection!" Draco whispered back; his words like daggers "I was chosen for this! Out of all of us, me!" Draco said, pushing Snape off of him. "I won't fail him!"
"You're afraid Draco…" Severus sighed, "You hate to consider it, but it's obvious, let me assist you!"
"No!" Draco hissed, "I was chosen! This is my moment!" Draco pushed Snape away, adjusted his black suit jacket and stalked off towards the dungeons. Astrid tried to poke her head around the corner to have another look, but she found one of her shoes slipping from her grip and tumbling to the floor, clattering against the stone floor. She sighed, cursing herself mentally.
"Eavesdropping are we Miss Moody?" Snape asked intensely as he rounded the corner.
"I-" Astrid had no time to make up an excuse, Snape had already pushed her against the stone wall just as he had Draco, his arms positioned either side of her head, he trapped her in. Her other heel clattered against the ground as she raised her hands to Snape's chest, attempting to push him away.
"How much did you hear?" he questioned. Astrid was too stunned to speak. "How much?!"
"S-Something about an unbreakable vow, being chosen, assistance," Astrid admitted.
"So… all of it then? How… unfortunate," Severus sighed as he stared deep into her eyes, it pained him to see fear reflected back at him.
"What are you helping him with?" Astrid asked. Severus simply slammed his fist hard against the stone beside her head, causing her to flinch and look away.
"I do not need to divulge details of my mission to you!" Snape hissed, taking her chin in his throbbing hand turning her head to face him. "Who are you going to tell, about what you just heard?" He asked darkly, slowly leaning in closer.
"Nobody," She whispered.
"Good," Severus exhaled, his lips almost brushing hers for just a moment. He fought the urge to lean in, kiss her full lips, see what she tasted like. Pushing himself away off the wall he stared the girl down… "Now run along… don't you have a baby to go care for?"