Chapter Two: Birthday Wishes
As the week wore on, Harry found that muscle memory seemed to help him remember much of the material he hadn't thought about over the last few weeks. In some down time, he found himself asking Snape more and more about his time as an apprentice. Harry knew that his time with his first master was traumatic, and generally stayed away from that time, taking to asking about Saldor as a master.
"What was your apprenticeship like, Master?"
Snape snorted. "After nearly losing my life to my first Master?" Harry nodded sheepishly. "Unusual, actually. I'm sure the gossip around the Order will spill eventually. As you may have noticed, there is a certain amount of… reverence that follows Masters Saldor, Silverwood, and myself around Headquarters. Surely you noticed at the testing?"
Harry thought back to last year's testing. He had noticed, of course, that the other apprentices respected his own master, of course, but he had also noticed that the respect was also extended to Terran and Ferraldin. "Well, yes. The other apprentices are more interested in you than my scar, for once. And the other apprentices expected Ferral, Terran, and myself to be friends."
Snape nodded. "There's several reasons for that. First, our mastery lineage is quite rich. Master Silverwood and myself were apprenticed to Master Saldor, who in turn, was apprenticed to Master Sterling. That lineage, so to speak, is well-respected. Like family ancestry, the line of your mastery holds a certain amount of respect.
"Second, our apprenticeship was unusual. As you know, a master only ever has one apprentice, because any more would mean that the singular attention that is required would be cut in half. However, after the traumatic events of my first year, the Board felt that I needed to have a proper Apprentice-Master relationship demonstrated. I had become particularly disrespectful and was extremely close to losing my place in the Order, but because they felt responsible for the abuse I had undergone, they believed the only way to make things right was to give me a second chance with the best Master that was supervising apprentices at the time, even though he already had an apprentice in my year.
"They pulled Saldor from the field for the remaining two years, and with him came his Apprentice, then, Apprentice Silverwood. They sent me to be the first Apprentice serving side-by-side with another."
"And they created for me the most stressful two years of my life," a voice interrupted from behind. "Master Silverwood was less than pleased with your intrusion, initially, if I remember correctly. Hello Severus, Apprentice Aeternus."
Harry and Severus turned. They had been walking through Hogsmeade, having needed to come pick up ingredients for the Potions Stores. "Master Saldor," Harry bowed swiftly, as Ferraldin did the same greeting Harry's master. Harry idly noted that Ferral did not bow as deep as he did when greeting another master. Did depth of a greeting matter to masters? Harry wasn't sure.
"Master Silverwood did not appreciate your company, milord?" Harry pressed for more details. "Why not?"
Saldor was the one that answered though. "He felt that Sev, here, was taking up some of his limelight. Both were strong wizards in their own right, and both have always been natural leaders. Both of them received some very intense punishments in those first days as their infighting drove me crazy. It was not a good look. Severus was not quick to submit himself to my rules initially, and Reg did not appreciate the upheaval to his life and training. For my part, I did not appreciate being pulled from my professional gig to supervise two teenage boys full-time."
A snort. "I acted like a five-year-old," Snape muttered. "I even tried to run away, at one point. I really deserved to be kicked out."
"Ah, but that, was the real punishment. You wanted to leave, so in some ways, it was more meaningful that you were not able to leave. And now look what you have to show for it? You've turned out rather well for yourself. A rather cushy life, as far as life in the Order goes- well-respected and heavily rewarded for your work. And master of the Boy-Who-Lived himself!"
Harry scowled, muttering about the moniker's hideousness as Snape scowled. "Cushy life? Ha! I don't know any masters that have a cushy life." They lapsed into silence for a moment, as the two apprentices greeted one another.
"So how did you decide to continue your training instead of leaving as a master of lower rank, Sir?" Harry asked, intrigued by hearing his own master's stories. "If you were so keen on leaving, wouldn't that have been easier? And, has anybody actually been kicked out of the mastery?"
Saldor laughed at Harry's keen questions. "Severus, would you be inclined to join us for lunch? We were planning to eat before heading up to the castle via foot. We can continue catching up over sandwiches." Snape agreed and the four set off to The Dragon's Lair for a quiet lunch.
Harry continued his line of questioning over lunch, grateful for the patience of the two masters as they explained in more detail what he could expect from the years to come. He was sure he could get a relatively decent job in the mastery, if he continued to work hard.
For his own part, Harry was unaware of the expectations that these masters had for him, or that his performance at the last testing had marked him as the apprentice to expect great things from.
For the next four weeks, Harry was extremely careful to obey his master, work hard in training, and to be the model of a perfect apprentice. Happily, Harry threw floo powder into the fire and yelled "The Burrow!" He was expelled from the fireplace at his friend's house, and was quickly greeted by Molly Weasley's infamous bone-crushing hugs.
"Harry! Happy birthday! Hello, Severus," Molly greeted the master as she released Harry from the hug. "Severus, Reginald and Dominic have already arrived. They are out on the back patio now. Terran and Ferraldin are with the kids down by the garden, Harry."
Harry grinned. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. Sir? May I be excused?" Snape waved the boy off as he followed Mrs. Weasley out to the patio. Harry hurried out the front door down toward the garden. Once he cleared the front door, he sprinted to the others.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ginny both greeted and hugged him. Ron, along with the twins and Terran and Ferral were lying on the ground underneath the tree.
"Hermione, Ginny! Hey Ron, Fred, George, Terran, Ferral." Harry hugged each of the girls back. "How's your summer going? Hermione, how long are you at the Burrow for?"
"I'm staying with the Weasleys for the rest of the summer. We got back from Italy last week. I learned so much, but we left before I could finish revising my summer assignments, so I'll have to finish that this coming week. Have you finished your work, Harry?"
Harry laughed. "Never change, Hermione. Yes, I've finished my assignments. What about the rest of you?"
"What're you, Hermione?"
"Ron, he was asking about your summer," Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's been pretty quiet here. Mum and Dad meet with Dumbledore several times a month. I think it has to do with the news. There's something big going on. The Death Eaters are making noise. It's unnerving. But otherwise, we spend a lot of time flying."
"Speaking of, did you guys bring your brooms?"
Harry laughed. "Yes, Ron."
"Let's play Quidditch!"
Ron spearheaded a pick-up quidditch game, convincing several of the adults to play opposite the adolescents. On the first team, Harry reprised his role as seeker, with Ron playing keeper; Ginny, Ferraldin, and Terran made an excellent team of chasers; Fred and George as beaters. Opposing them, Harry was surprised to find that Silverwood, Sirius, and Snape made an excellent team of chasers; Saldor and Bill as beaters; Charlie lived up to his legend as a seeker; and Saldor was a spectacular keeper.
"So, Master Shadowman," Harry wiped his face with his sleeve as they disembarked from their brooms. "When were you going to tell me that you're a fantastic chaser?"
Snape laughed. "Does it surprise you that us old guys are still pretty good at quidditch?"
Ferraldin landed nearby, "Yes. I never would have guessed any of you could play, except for maybe Bill and Charlie over there."
"Come on, Harry! Mum said dinner's about ready." Harry laughed as he ran after Ron.
At dinner, Harry laughed at Ron and Hermione's bickering. "You'd think they'd been married thirty years, eh?" Ginny laughed. Harry glanced at her, turning away immediately as she made eye contact.
"Gin, I've missed seeing you this summer."
"And I, you. How was Terran's? And your first few weeks back at Hogwarts?"
Harry smiled. "Terran's was wonderful. His grandparents were kind and welcoming. I had a lot of fun. It was good spending the summer with Terran, who knows all the things I've been through this past year. Hogwarts is as magical as ever. I'm enjoying being back." Harry glanced over to make sure none of the masters were listening. "I mean, my master is a great teacher. But, I miss having others. It's a bit lonely sometimes, you know?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I imagine it is. But it must be nice to have Ferral at Hogwarts with you now?"
"It is. And, to be honest, Master Shadowman isn't terrible company. When I'm doing what I should, he seems almost content with my company. And Ferraldin is great. But I miss you, and Ron, and Hermione. I miss sleeping in the dormitory and relaxing by the fireplace. Alas, it's just not in the cards."
Harry noticed that when Ginny smiled, it reached the edges of her eyes. "Harry, even if we don't get to spend as much time together, you are always welcome in the Common Room."
"Thanks, Gin. Now, what kind of cake do you think your mum made for me?"
"What makes you think Mum made your cake?" Ginny laughed. "I made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting."
"My favorite!"
After dinner was cleared, Mrs. Weasley insisted they move outside for Harry to open his gifts. Harry was overwhelmed when he stepped into the living room, because the coffee table was filled with a stack of gifts, not just from those that were present that afternoon.
Harry was surprised to open a box of cookies and a memoir about one of the earliest members of the Mastery from Terran's grandparents. Neville had sent a few Zonko's jokes. Hagrid sent one of his rock cakes and some treats for Hedwig. Dean and Seamus each sent Harry a quidditch poster. McGonagall and Flitwick sent Harry similar books: Rare Transfigurations for Combat and Rare Charms for Combat, both written by the same author. Dumbledore sent Harry a pair of woolen socks, causing Harry to laugh.
Finally, Mrs. Weasley directed Harry to the stack of gifts from those present. Ron had given Harry several different Honeydukes' candies. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had given Harry his own hand on the Weasley family clock, something that made his eyes prickle. From Fred and George there were several test Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes products. Hermione had given Harry an encyclopedia of famous wizards in the mastery.
Sirius had been declared innocent over the previous spring, and had presented Harry with papers that indicated he was the lawful guardian of Harry when he was not under the care of the masters, signed by his master and the minister themselves. Sirius smiled, "I know it's only 4 weeks out of the year, Harry, but…"
"It's perfect!" Harry cried, hugging Sirius. "Thank you! And thank you, Sir," Harry looked at Snape, who just nodded. When Sirius released Harry, Remus handed Harry a small box.
"This was your father's, he was a seeker, but loved playing with this- Sirius and I found it recently." Harry unwrapped the toy snitch that rested in the box and smiled.
"Thank you, Padfoot, Moony," Harry smiled.
"Professor Snape helped me with that," Ginny smiled as Harry unwrapped the dragonhide wand holster.
"It's beautiful, Gin," Harry smiled. "Thank you."
There were two remaining boxes on the table. Opening the first, a medium-sized square box, Harry peered inside at the throwing knives. "Those are both from us, representing the Board of Masters," Saldor announced, indicating both boxes. "You are, of course, forbidden from using either of those until you've learned to use them appropriately."
Harry nodded, unwrapping the long, narrow box. Harry gasped at the silver sword that glinted in the sunlight. Up until now, Harry had only learned with fencing foils. At the testing, he had seen the second and third years with other weapons, including knives, swords, and axes.
"You think," Harry asked quietly, "I'm ready to learn these?"
"That's the sword that I learned with," Snape nodded. "I think you've proven your worth."
