Francesco's Wish
The dimmed lights illuminated the dining room enough to have a decent meal. The interior created a familiar, almost romantic, atmosphere. A strange feeling of stepping into the unknown stretched through Severus body. He glanced round the guests, holding the wand tight under the cloaks, concentrating on magical activity. The stick of ebony wood rippled slightly, pointing into the direction of the service hatch with delicious smelling dinner plates. The usage of the protective unspoken magic after so long time worked, still new, but not forgotten and reliable detecting a threat. Severus studied a while to separate Leonor's magic from others. Now he could control it. He got the hang of it during observing Leonor's lessons. Furthermore, the work with the spare magic wand from the bedroom improved. The wand located Leonor when Severus apparated from the shack exactly and now she was kind of 'unrecognisable'. They were the only witch and wizard, except the lady cook hitting energetically on a bell. The bar keeper looked up, glanced over to the kitchen and noticed the new arrivals. He beamed without a moment hesitation. Francesco set the poured soft drinks to an already full tray and pelted towards them.
"Mamma Mia! Here you are! I serve those meals quickly and then I'm right with you." Francesco embraced Leonor and Severus as if they were just one large person. Severus felt how the woman's soft body moved closer and her arms firmer around his waist avoiding toppling over by the forceful welcoming. His heartbeat increased, and the flowery scent of silky dark hair flowed into his nose.
"Let's sit at the bar for a moment," said Severus as if it could calm the excitement. He watched his date privately while Leonor climbed the bar stool and obviously greeted some acquaintances from the distance with a small wave. Severus grudgingly sympathized with the boys preferring more and more muggle clothes — touchable skin, visible curves. Francesco returned and shook Severus hands as if he would like to rip them off. The heartiness of the literally stranger was touching and made Severus unable to produce a scowl or sneer in response. He couldn't recall when he had been warmly welcomed, never maybe. Severus collected reasons to disdain himself — useless in shallow party talk, feared for his biting tongue and sharp mind, despised for past and present by his peers. Apparently, none of it mattered to the muggle.
"Follow me! I reserved the best table near the fireplace." Francesco led them through the restaurant to a table for two, set with a white tablecloth and shining crystal glasses. "I'll bring the menus right away," said Francesco, pressed the wine list into Severus' hands to hurry away again.
Severus felt awkward. He'd never eaten in a muggle restaurant nor had an idea of choosing a wine without making himself a fool. He once saved money to invite Lily, but never could ask her out. Potter saw to that after their O.W.L.'s. Now, old and new banknotes lay carefully folded in a purse, and he was dressed like a muggle and needed to behave like one. Severus exhaled strained, still staring at the Italian wines. The writing became indistinct and long-buried memories flashed fast into sight — the bakery selling to Spinner's End reluctantly and turning each penny twice, the corner shop accusing the stringy dark-haired boy of theft, the restaurant at Lily's place serving only the middle-class families with the polished appearances. His family had not been welcomed in the muggle world, a heritage of his father's behaviour and his mother's weakness. Distant voices echoed into Severus' ears, and he fought fervently to force the childhood back into the depth of his brain. It didn't work. It never worked well if he was together with Leonor. He barely listened to Francesco's recommendations and nodded absentmindedly when Leonor agreed to it. Severus fumed inwardly about all the lost chances. His life followed a constant path of being at the wrong time in the wrong place. Unwelcome by his father, a burden to his mother, trapped in the Dark Lord's ranks by his knowledge and the stupid adolescent wish to belong somewhere. And now? He created hope of friendship and love in the only person trusting and smiling at him. He risked her misfortune with his own foolish behaviour to belong to that woman in one or another way. His happiness created only pain.
"Severus?" A warm hand touched his. It felt still unfamiliar, but strong enough to stop the musing and pull him back into the present.
"Severus, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"You look livid."
"It's nothing."
There was a pause, Francesco served the wine. Severus was asked to taste it. The red wine smelled light and juicy, refreshing in a dry throat. Severus accepted, still stern and thoughtful.
"Are you fine with my choice?" asked Leonor insecurely. "You turned pale. I didn't want to discuss it with Francesco listening."
"I said it's nothing!" Severus scowled and even Leonor knew by now to stop asking.
"Cheers!" she shrugged with a light sore undertone. Her retreat gave no satisfaction.
XXX
Some muggles stopped by the table. They all knew Leonor from waiting at the restaurant. Of course, everybody regretted her absence from London. Scotland was too far away to drop in frequently. They shared some gossip, best wishes, and goodbyes.
"Who's next?" asked Severus stiffly after shaking more hands of strangers.
"Can't know, can I?" Leonor narrowed her eyes.
Severus didn't reply. His mood was an open book to her anyway. He lost the Hide-and-Seek game again and strangely it was calming. He could neither hide Leonor from every contact nor the past. Both weren't worth to spoil the night.
"Where did you learn so much about the muggle wine?" It was a sheepish question and Severus' fingers entwined Leonor's hand like an apology.
"Southern France, a wizarding hotspot disguised as a winery somewhere between mountains, gorges, and blue-green torrents. Beautiful area."
Francesco returned once more with the starters and refilled the glasses. Wine and warmth near the fireplace tinted Leonor's cheeks rosy; she looked great in the dark green evening dress.
"You met Madam Maxime?"
"Beauxbatons is very close. I applied at the school initially, but didn't fit in." Leonor tossed the dark hair with a smile. "Nevertheless, I could stay a week as a guest and then Maxime recommended the winery."
"Would you return there, just in case it is necessary?"
"For holiday," Leonor grinned. "—or I would go to Romania. The landscape in France is wild, thrilling. You've got to go to the top of the hills to see the narrow gorges with the splashing waters. Some wild rivers end in large blue lakes, quiet and refreshing in the summer's heat. In comparison, Romania is mild, more balanced despite cold winters. I lived in a kind of garden house in the Dragon's Research Institute. It's in the middle of a huge forest with mainly light oak woods. It's not even dark in winter. There are pools with deep clear water, low hanging trees, lovely birds. Sometimes there's no noise, the perfect silence. It's as if your existence stopped and you listen to your own breath as the only source of life." Leonor continued eating and Severus watched her slightly dreamy expression.
"I can show you one day," added Leonor quietly and glanced into the stormy grey eyes opposite.
"You are kidding," answered Severus wavering between a boyish grimace and sad realization.
Leonor shrugged again. "I think I'll go somewhere in summer, at least for a couple of days."
The bloke with the curly hair and the face of the Ex-Ravenclaw working at St. Mungo's flooded his mind. They wouldn't hesitate to travel with a beautiful woman. The indistinct answer provoked protectiveness: both countries might be safer than England. Severus had not seen much and never left Britain because of the circumstances. Hogwarts was home, the only place he'd been after a bleak residence in Cokeworth. Where would he be after the Dark Lords return? The tournament was still in progress and the Death Eater conjuring the Dark Mark at the world cup not yet detected. Luckily Leonor didn't elaborate. They ate in silence for a while; glad the woman didn't fill each second with talking, thankful to be free of frivolous permanent entertainment.
"Severus, I'm searching for something." The statement pulled Severus out of his thoughts. Leonor's expression showed the same concentration as working on the Crutiatus potion — the vibrant bright look, the lips pressed tightly together. "I'm looking for a cottage at the sea!"
"You want to buy another house?" answered Severus incredulously.
"My grandmother told me of a cottage called 'Above the Cliffs'. From my memory, I believe it's located on the English Channel, Cornwall likely. I haven't found it yet."
The main course arrived. The Italian food was delicious, fresh, tasty and light. Severus enjoyed the change from the typical variety of Hogwarts food.
"You search a house with unknown location? You've got no other information than your memory?" sneered Severus. The tone hardly suppressed that he considered the quest as unsuccessful madness, but Leonor was too ambitious to give up easily. Or was it learned uncomplaining patience instead?
"Can't stop thinking of it. Charity explained about South England's magic places. Nothing. I searched all coasts with cliffs in the area. Nothing. The land register of the Ministry of Magic didn't return anything either."
"You are sure it was in England and not in the Argentine wilds?" scowled Severus.
"My grandmother was no nutter. It wasn't just a tale."
"It's ages ago. You've been a child. You went through a couple of things—" Severus bit his lips when the last word left his mouth. Leonor blanched and for once he was glad when she snapped back regaining some composure.
"I didn't ask for street and town if it's that what you mean."
Severus grunted a little while piercing Leonor's agitated look. "What have you done to find it?"
"I apparated to the coast, I've done most of the South by now. I found bad smelling sheep barns, ruins under historical protection, but no wizarding cottage. I haven't even met a witch or wizard."
"Somebody else could use it now or put it under an undetectable charm. It could be level to earth or completely refurbished and unrecognizable."
"Even if my grandmother or her spouse put it under the Fidelius Charm it must be broken. They are both dead."
"True, but wizards find wizarding homes, easy enough for abandoned houses."
"Is there anything else that could hide the house from view?"
"Not so many things," answered Severus wisely.
"I'm eager to find it. My grandmother described a fantastic view across cliffs, down to an endless sandy beach. She apparently liked the stormy cool weather most. I like the sea too." Leonor's eyes shone again in a vivid gloss. Severus couldn't share the enthusiasm yet.
"And then she emigrated to Argentina?"
"Strange, isn't it? I don't know my grandfather. He died short after my mother's birth. What should I do in your opinion?"
Severus sighed. "Get more information, continue to search other coasts if you have time. Don't be disappointed in case you never find it. It can be everywhere or non-existent. Maybe it's not even near cliffs. Some beaches have changed over the past fifty years and more."
"Could it be that there are undetectable charms which don't break with the dying witch or wizard?" asked Leonor curiously.
"Some curses and jinxes survive. Some dark magic is created to force the pain to the posterity and the heirs," answered Severus thinking hard which would work for a cottage.
"Like Cathy's empathic curse—"
"Yes, but it wouldn't vanish a cottage. Curses for posterity are there to attract people. The enchanter wants to impose the ban on somebody, but not hide it from view." Severus refilled the glasses and emptied the bottle. He intended to invite Leonor soon for an elf wine. Lucius' bottle after Christmas tasted rather cheap. Likely Severus and Leonor were not worthy of the best quality.
"If the weather is warmer, I'll continue, perhaps I should search Cornwell's coast again. Magic is recognizable, isn't it? I noticed nowhere interference, no space-time-waves or anything."
"In case it exists, then you haven't even been close," said Severus matter-of-factly.
"Your comment cheers me up, really!" answered Leonor snarky.
It was Severus turn to give a shrug. "Ask around in the wizarding population, if you believe it's wise to attract attention."
"It's not, or why do you think I'm telling you?"
"Fine. I can see what I can do if you tell me more about your grandmother. It's no promise," snorted Severus. He couldn't deny Leonor's wish; the idea to discover old hidden magic nourished a small flame of ambition. Walking along an endless beach with the wind in the face was freedom, a powerful reason to randomly apparate to the sea, leaving all the daily mess of teaching and the constraints of dark interrelations behind.
"Her name was Eleanor Smith, née Shafiq. She married Bennet Smith short after graduation from Hogwarts and left England with him. The house where she was born was sold to strangers after the death of her parents. The sale was processed by an agency after her departure to Argentina. My grandmother never spoke about siblings or other relatives, and she never returned to England. I'm not aware of any active contacts to her first home."
"Shafiq — the family belongs to the 'Sacred Twenty-Eight', but I don't recall having ever met a living member. Bennet Smith was a wizard?"
"Yes."
"All the twenty-eight families have been pure-blood in the nineteen thirties. Your grandmother might have been the last of the Shafiq's," sighed Severus.
"Is that good?"
"—if it's important to be a pure-blood. If the political situation changes you can gain benefit from it but be careful. It will also attract the wrong people."
"My grandmother mentioned that I'm a pure-blood and that with the marriage of my mother and father the status was secured, even if my father was a foreigner. I never understood what she meant with it."
"Interesting," said Severus. "I'll see what I can find out. Lucius may know something. You can ask Fawley."
"What are you?" asked Leonor calmly and Severus shifted uneasily in his chair. A haunted look studied Leonor's face before answering.
"Half-Blood, son of a muggle and a witch. My mother's maiden name was Prince. The family is not on the sacred list of pure-bloods, likely some generations broke the tradition. My mother was proud to tell that she had a wizarding ancestry. Maybe the violent drunk at home made her worship the past. It wasn't important to me. I never asked for details. She mentioned some relatives now and then, but it was never concrete, just a few memories of happier times. I never met anybody nor I'm aware she did. Either they were all dead, my mother's imagination or nobody cared about her."
"Sad, isn't it?"
Severus nodded and added. "Blood-status isn't important, neither for the Slytherins nor the Dark Lord. It's used as a phrase to gain political might, to justify violence and injustice, to find followers. The Dark Lord recruited muggle-born if they were useful to him. He'll do the same with half-breeds if he returns."
"What was the house of your mother?"
"Slytherin."
"She didn't care to marry a muggle. Maybe she just told you about her ancestry to make you work hard, to have more luck in the wizarding world than she had with a muggle."
"She always told me that I had a lot of magic, that I would become a great wizard. She was wrong with many things" Severus' voice was quiet, almost inaudible and sorry.
"Does Dumbledore know about your childhood?"
Severus shrugged. "He never asked about it. We've agreed to safe Harry Potter." Severus face contorted like tortured, but he regained control quickly and added. "Dumbledore doesn't speak about private matters. I'm not aware he does with other staff members. He doesn't even want to hear about Potter or how to train him best. He just waits, but will the skill and wisdom come to the boy from nowhere?" The last words resonated with anger and resentment.
"I know what you mean. You could help Harry if somebody would make him listen."
"You wouldn't stand a chance against the Dark Lord with your Occlumency skills, that's why we train. Your skills are much above Potter's. I know you've headaches because of it," pressed Severus through gritted teeth. "But how should Potter be able to fight a wizard with an immense power, almost as those of Dumbledore?"
"I don't know. He's still a boy, he will learn. Dumbledore plays on time, he's strengthening Harry's friends — teamwork, maybe there's more what nobody knows except Albus. Look, Dumbledore knew You-Know-Who would return, while everybody believed him dead. He employed a spy — you — for later use." Leonor sighed. "You are unsure if he trusts you to save Harry, aren't you?"
"The headmaster doesn't share my ideas about what's necessary for Potter. He doesn't even listen; my ideas are petty in his eyes." Severus's pale face remained sad and haunted, but he relaxed and touched Leonor's hand again. She just smiled returning the gesture.
"Would you like to stay?" asked Severus. Leonor only shook her head.
The restaurant had emptied over the last half hour. A few guests still enjoyed conversations or another drink. Francesco invited Severus and Leonor to the bar. After having a nightcap on the house, the barkeeper became silent and stern.
"Leonor, you've told me to contact my family in Italy, just in case—" Francesco glanced nervously between the witch and wizard. "Maria and I leave London as soon as the wizard without a name returns. Richard knows about it too, the mayhem at the world cup and Potter's name in the wizarding tournament. He convinced Maria that it's the best. She doesn't like my muggle family, but we are not helpful for the fight and only a target."
Leonor patted Francesco's arm and smiled a sad smile. "Wise decision."
"—but we cannot take Matteo with us. He wants to stay with his girlfriend. Could he ask you for help?" Francesco glanced sheepishly at Leonor.
"I'll do what I can; I'll see him at the hospital. I don't mind a wilful young man," said Leonor with a small smile and an encouraging voice.
"—and if you get some information from Dumbledore—," he glanced at Severus pleadingly.
"I'll send an owl, anonymous," answered Severus matter-of-factly, convinced that other sources than Dumbledore's organization were required to warn a half-blood in time.
"Great thanks!" Francesco seized Severus hands first and pressed a wet smack to Leonor's cheek. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to make Maria see you, she's stubborn like a mule."
"Don't mind! Have a good night!" Leonor slid from the barstool and the men shook hands once more, all three concerned about the foreboded horror to come.
XXX
A cool wintery breeze blew into the classroom. It was already cleared up and Leonor turned carefully to check for any forgotten items. Everything looked neat and tidy. She took a deep breath inhaling the fresh air before closing the window. Ms Granger approached her again after class, asking questions about potions and spells. It was far too detailed to explain in a rush, the girl was indeed avid for learning. The class of younger students on Wednesday's improved slowly. All faces became familiar and the childish behaviour with giggles and laughs vanished step by step. The class mastered the little healing spell eventually and Leonor was proud to have completed it alone. Severus didn't turn up after visiting Francesco's; he had not even eaten dinner at the usual time and Igor used it to gloss her jaded appearance. She frowned but was thankful for Severus' help in the first two weeks of term. A memory of practising the spell with the youngsters crept through her mind. It took an awful lot of time in the first lesson and without the potions master's straight-forward method to explain the incantation, it would have been a disaster. Leonor adapted the expectations of the first, second and third-year students to a more realistic picture and it worked out today. She closed the classroom door quietly returning hesitantly to Hogsmeade.
The waxing moon sent long shadows along the path into the silent village. The air smelled like snow. Her thoughts wandered to Severus. Dumbledore congratulated at dinner for her birthday and the listening faculty continued to wish her well. It had been an unexpected gesture and Leonor was really pleased but missed the dark-clad friend with his billowing cloak and the severe look. She became used to the long joint evening activities in the dungeons; even though she got up sleep-deprived in the mornings. Severus' cynical and bitter behaviour softened. It was not even existent when brewing potions. By way of contrast, Occlumency often resulted in angry remarks and hot temper. Severus didn't stand if Leonor failed to block her brain completely. He broke the defences if she was distracted and had a talent in side-tracking her on purpose. She hated herself for it and was ambitious to master the lack of willpower soon. Leonor climbed the stairs of the apothecary lost in thoughts when a male voice called from the opposite side of the street.
"Scott!" Leonor turned to see the door of the scruffy pub. The faint light inside illuminated just the door sill, street and landlord still hidden in the darkness.
"What's the matter?" called Leonor indifferently; her defences up quickly.
"A drink on good neighbourliness—," shouted the landlord morosely back.
"Why not?" Leonor shrugged and was suddenly glad to be pulled out of the thoughts and to give in to curiosity, even though her inner preferences were somewhere different from the grubby tavern.