Return to the Glen
Three days later:
"Not another reporter!" groaned Arista Snape, ducking into the Slytherin common room through the portrait hole. "Quick, Neville, get in here before they see us!" she yanked Neville Longbottom through. "Why can't they leave us alone? I don't want to do another stupid interview." She threw herself down onto the black leather couch.
"Me neither," Neville agreed, glancing curiously around the room at the elegant furnishings. He had never seen the inside of the Slytherin common room before. "If one more reporter asks me how it feels to have my parents back again, I'm going to hex their camera and break it."
"They'd just buy a new one," Arista sighed, gesturing him to a seat. He sat down gingerly on the end of the couch, looking up at the huge portrait of Salazar Slytherin that hung over the fireplace.
The ancient wizard glowered down at him disapprovingly. "A Gryffindor, in my common room! What is this school coming to?"
"Stuff it, Salazar," Arista ordered. "My father's Head of Slytherin House now and I invited him here, so just shut your mouth, okay?"
"Well, I never!" huffed the black-robed Founder of Slytherin. Then he turned his back on them, muttering about children these days having no respect for their elders. "You all should be beaten!"
"Oh, get over yourself!" Arista snorted. "Before I cover you with the curtain again." She indicated the heavy green velvet drape rolled up above the portrait. "Sometimes that's the only way to shut him up, the conceited old bigot."
Neville burst out laughing. That was too much for Salazar, and he left his portrait in a huff.
"Stupid portrait. Him and the stupid reporters are going to drive me insane. I wish there was a place we could go to, somewhere far far away, where nobody would ever find us."
"Actually, there is such a place," declared Professor Snape, coming into the room through the portrait hole followed by Jenna and Colin. "I was just discussing it with Colin and Jenna."
Neville stared at Snape in amazement. For his professor was no longer wearing his usual black teaching ensemble. Instead he was dressed in regular clothes, black pants and a silvery gray shirt with black sneakers. He shot a half-amused, half-irritated glance at the boy. "Now what are you gaping at me like that for, Longbottom? Believe it or not, I do own other clothes besides wizard robes."
Neville blushed and looked at his feet.
Snape ignored him, moving to stand in front of the fireplace. "Anyway, as I was saying, I think it would be a good idea to relocate for awhile, now that all this business with Nightshade is over with."
"Amen to that!" Arista said eagerly. "Where to?"
"We could move back to my house in London," Snape announced. "The reporters won't hound us so much over there. Except for you, Longbottom, you'll be staying with your parents, of course. Have they been released from the hospital yet?"
"Yes, sir. Just yesterday. We're going to move into my gran's house for now, just until my mother gets our old place settled." Neville said happily. Then he gave the professor an uneasy glance. "Uh, does this mean that I don't have to take my Potions final, sir?"
"What ever gave you that idea?" Snape barked. "You'll take it tomorrow at ten o'clock. I trust you've studied for it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Then you shouldn't have any trouble passing it this time."
Neville gulped. "No, sir."
Arista nudged him in the ribs. "I'll quiz you after lunch. After I finish packing."
Neville gave her a relieved look, then relaxed as he saw that Snape's attention was no longer focused on him. He was looking at Jenna Flynn, who was saying animatedly, "Colin and I discussed it last night, and we both agreed we deserve a little vacation after this case. So we wanted to stay a few extra days, help Arista get settled in, if
that's okay with you, Severus?"
"Fine with me. But I'm going to warn you now, my house isn't very big. In fact, I'm going to have to add on another room for Arista."
"I can help you with that," Colin volunteered.
Snape nodded. "I'd appreciate it. We can leave tomorrow afternoon, I should have finished grading Longbottom's exam by then."
Neville paled. "I'd almost rather deal with another interview," he muttered under his breath.
Snape shot him an exasperated glance. "It's an exam not a torture session, boy. You won't curl up and die over it. You ought to know the material backwards and forwards by now, since this is the second time you're repeating the course. Now, why don't you and Arista go and do something constructive with your time? Like finishing that homework essay I gave you yesterday?"
"Right away, sir. Sorry, sir, I forgot about it . . ." Neville babbled hastily, jumping to his feet.
"Never mind the excuses. Just turn it in to me sometime today, before I take points off of your average. Now go on, get out of here, both of you."
Neville didn't need to be told twice, he was through the portrait hole before Snape had finished his sentence.
Arista shot her father a reproving look. "That was mean, Dad."
"If I'm the worst thing he's got to be afraid of, he's lucky." He waved a hand at her in dismissal.
Arista went, peering around the corner for reporters before stepping out of the portrait hole.
* * * * * *
Two days later, Severus, Arista, and Colin surveyed the new room that had been added to the little house on Spinner's End. It was a decent size, built over the kitchen, with a set of stairs leading up to it. It had one medium-sized window to the west that overlooked the small garden and the backyard, which had a large box hedge planted
around it to keep it separate from the neighbors.
"Well?" Severus asked, looking at his daughter.
"It's great. I really love it," Arista said, walking about the room. "I can't believe how fast you did this."
"It helps when you've got two wizards casting the enlarging and construction spells," Colin said.
"Indeed," Severus agreed. "Now all this room needs is some furniture and a carpet and whatever else you teenage girls decorate your rooms with. I think Jenna should be able to assist you with that, because I doubt I'll be any good in that department."
"Uh, Dad? There's only one small problem."
"What's that?"
"I don't have any money."
"Oh. Right. Come with me." He led the way back down the stairs to the small alcove in the den where he had his desk. He muttered an unlocking charm and slid open a small drawer. "Here," he handed Arista a brass key engraved with the words Severus Snape No. 356. "Take whatever you need out of my account. Buy yourself furniture,
blankets, pillows, whatever else you want. I suppose you need new school outfits as well. Oh, and here's your list of school supplies, might as well get them too as long as you're out." He handed her a list of parchment. "Don't forget the wand. As long as you attend Hogwarts, you'll need to use one."
"Sure. I won't forget." She beamed at him. "I can't believe you're actually letting me go shopping! You're the best, Dad!" she stood up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. Then she raced off through the kitchen and out the back door, yelling, "Hey, Jenna! Let's go
shopping!"
Colin stared at Severus in utter disbelief. "Tell me you didn't just do that, Severus."
"Do what?"
"You just gave your bank key carte blanche to a thirteen-year-old girl and my wife and told them to go shopping."
"So? Would you rather have gone instead?"
Colin shuddered. "Not on your life! But you'll be lucky to have two Knuts to rub together by the time they're done, Snape."
"I have plenty of money, Flynn. There's thirteen years of my teaching salary plus bonus pay in that vault. All those years I had no one to spend it on. Now I do. Besides, I missed all those Christmases and birthdays with her, so maybe this will make up for it." Severus admitted with a small smile.
"You're crazy, Severus. But, hey, it's your money. Far be it for me to tell you how to let your daughter spend it." Colin shrugged and shook his head. "I'll send you the rest of her things when we get back home. It's a good thing you put in an expanding closet, because she's inherited all of Amelia's shoe collection."
"Good. Then she won't need shoes for the next millennium. Why don't we go into the den and relax? We should have time for a nap before they get back, at least."
"Sounds good to me." The blond-haired wizard said, pouring himself a glass of honey wine on the way there.
Four-and-a-half-hours later, Jenna and Arista returned, laden down with what seemed like the entire contents of Diagon Alley. Colin took one look at all the boxes and packages and started laughing. "All right, how much did you spend?" he asked once he'd regained control over himself.
"None of your business," Jenna returned. "It's Severus' account, not yours."
"Do I have anything left in it?" Snape asked softly, gazing about at all the packages in dismay.
"Of course," Jenna said indignantly. "I'm a bargain shopper, I'll have you know. I never pay retail for anything. There's over half of your money left, and we got everything we needed too." She placed the bank key in Severus's outstretched hand.
"Better count it, my friend." Colin advised. "You have no idea the kind of damage my wife can do."
"Shut up, Flynn. Before I deck you one," his wife threatened, shaking a fist under her husband's nose. Then she turned to Arista. "Okay, hon, let's get all of this upstairs and put away." She pointed a finger at all the various boxes, bags, and pieces of furniture that were scattered about the entryway and on the front lawn. "Everything line
up! Now move out!"
All the packages started to fly up the stairs, one after the other, in an orderly line.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "What do you call that spell?"
Jenna smiled. "Moving Day. It's one of the most often used spells in a Hunter's arsenal." Then she followed after the last floating box. "See you in a bit, gentlemen."
An hour later, the two women had managed to transform the bare room into a teenage girl's bedroom. Arista had a pale blue carpet on the floor with a print of various animals walking about the border. Her bed was on the right, a soft blue comforter with cat pawprints on it was spread on the bed along with two of the softest griffin-down pillows. She had a large desk under the window, a bookshelf crammed full of books was next to it. An armoire and a vanity were across from them, on either side of the closet, where Arista stored all her extra clothes, school items, books and other odds and ends.
On the wall were several posters, one of an adorable looking puppy, another of the anatomy of a dragon, a human, and a cat. Another was a picture of an ocean view, so realistic you could hear waves hushing against the shore. The last one displayed a bottle of some kind of golden potion bubbling on a black background. The caption underneath the picture read Have You Hugged Your Potions Master Today? "Your father's gonna love that one," Jenna laughed.
"I couldn't resist," Arista said, grinning impishly. Then she turned to the last item she had yet to unpack, a large wicker basket. Jenna smiled and went down the stairs to tell the men that they were all done with the remodeling and could they please have
something to eat? Severus obliged by making them all roast beef sandwiches and salad, that being the quickest thing he had on hand.
He tapped on Arista's door some ten minutes later. She opened it with a flourish. "Well? What do you think?"
He stepped into the room and looked about. "Very nice. You've got a good eye for furniture and placement." He took in the desk, the bookshelf, and the bed with the plush kitten sitting on it. That almost looks real. Then his eyes narrowed. "What is that?" he demanded sharply, pointing at the kitten, who was now licking her fur and
purring.
"It's a cat."
"Obviously. But what is it doing here?"
"Umm . . .you did say I could get anything I wanted. And I've always wanted a cat." Arista pointed out.
Damn! Next time you have to watch what you say, he scolded himself. "I meant anything you wanted for your room, not an animal," he clarified.
"She was free to a good home, and I just had to take her," Arista went and picked up the kitten, who was purring madly. "Look at her, Dad. Isn't she sweet?" She thrust the kitten out at him, and he caught the little ball of fluff reflexively.
The kitten stared up at him with huge green eyes. It was a grayish blue color and its
fur was tinged with lavender. He stroked the little head and the kitten snuggled in the crook of his arm and began to purr loudly.
"This kitten has some fairy cat ancestry, you can tell by her fur," he remarked.
"I know. The girl who was giving her away said her mother was part lavender fairy cat, which means she'll have some small magical powers, like the ability to soothe and comfort with her purr , be invisible,and to walk through walls when she wants. Can I keep her, Dad? Please? I promise I'll take care of her myself. You won't have to do anything. Please?" she gave him a beseeching look.
The kitten purred louder, calming his irritated nerves. "I'll think about it."
"I've named her Comfrey."
"You gave her a name?" he groaned.
"Well, yeah. I mean, I couldn't just go around calling her "Kitty", that's lame. And Comfrey's a wonderful healing herb and it fits her, don't you think?"
"I think you should have asked me first." He stroked the kitten under the chin.
"You're right. I'm sorry. Can I keep her?"
"Arista!" he frowned at her. "I said, we'll see." He set the kitten back on the bed, where she curled up into a ball and fell asleep. "Now come down to dinner. We'll discuss this more tomorrow."
He turned to leave. "Teenagers! Give them an inch and they walk all over you," he grumbled under his breath. I ought to just say no and that's the end of it. Then he heard Amelia's voice, Oh, let her keep the cat, Sev. You like it too, even if you won't admit it. He shook his head. You stay out of this! He ordered. I'm not raising a spoiled
brat here.
Except he knew the girl was no spoiled brat, nor would he ever permit her to be one. He sighed. It would seem he now had a cat as well as a daughter. It could be worse, he reminded himself. She could have brought home a unicorn. Or a dragon.
The next morning he told her he would let her keep the kitten a week, as a trial period, to see how serious she was about assuming responsibility for her own pet.
"If I don't think you're capable of taking care of the cat properly, you're taking it back, am I clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"And don't ever go behind my back like that again, young lady. Is that understood?" He fixed her with his sternest glare.
"Yes, sir." She hung her head.
The kitten wound its little body about his legs, meowing. "Now feed your cat, Arista. The little scamp is starving." He knelt to scratch the kitten under the chin while Arista got the cat food. "Comfrey, huh?" was all he said. The little cat winked at him lazily.
Three days later Colin and Jenna returned to America. There was
much hugging and tears at their departure, and Arista promised to write
and they promised the same. "Come and visit sometime. Don't be a
stranger!" Jenna invited.
"During the summer, we will," Severus agreed. "Next year."
By the end of the week the kitten was still in the house. "You know, your mother pulled the same stunt on me once," he said after dinner Friday night. He was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire with Comfrey curled up in his lap, kneading her little paws in and out.
Arista looked up from the book she'd been reading, sprawled on the sofa. "She brought home a cat too?"
"No, that time it was a dog. We rescued the big beast from some little delinquents who were tormenting it and trying to set it on fire. I only wanted to nurse it back to health, but she convinced me to keep the clumsy thing. I named him Maverick." His expression softened as he recalled the happy-go-lucky dog. "That dog caused more trouble than three two-year-olds. I can't count the things he broke, chewed, or
ate. I wanted to get rid of him a dozen times over."
"But you never did."
"No. He was your mother's last gift to me. I really loved that dog, even when I wanted to strangle him. He chewed up Professor Dumbledore's griffin-hide boots once."
"He didn't!" Arista gasped.
"Stupid mutt. Cost me Fifty Galleons, even though Albus swore I didn't have to repay him. I still haven't lived that one down."
"Did he die?"
"Last year. In his sleep. He was old, fourteen or thereabouts. I buried him up in the glen, the one your mother and I met in."
"Can we go there? I'd like to see it."
"Tomorrow. Provided you clean your room. It's a disgrace."
"Deal." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him gently rubbing Comfrey's belly. She grinned to herself. The kitten was a maniac for petting, she adored anyone who would stroke her, and would lie for hours on your lap like a ragdoll, purring endlessly. Best of all, the little cat's fur rarely shed and it smelled fresh and clean, with a faint
lavender aroma. Nobody could resist Comfrey when she wanted attention, not even Severus Snape.
* * * * * *
They hiked the last five miles up the trail, as he'd always done. Arista did it easily, scrambling up the switchbacks like a mountain goat. To his chagrin, he found he was more winded than usual when they finally reached the entrance to the glen. Too many hours behind a desk, he thought ruefully. He hitched his rucksack higher on his back
and parted the gorse with a wave of his wand.
The glen was the same as it had been when he'd left it last year, save for the gentle mound of earth with the stone marker beneath the beech tree. That tree had been Maverick's favorite spot to lie down. On the marker were the words Maverick: Loyal Companion and Faithful Friend, Sleep Well. A small oval picture of the dog had been
etched into the stone just above his name.
"It's beautiful." Arista's voice was low with awe. She gazed about at the quiet place with huge eyes. "It's so . . .peaceful and serene here. I've never felt anything quite like it."
"Neither have I. That's why I keep returning here." He indicated two large flat-topped boulders. "That was where I first saw your mother. She was sitting right there, on that boulder to the right."
Arista walked over to the boulder and touched it. Then she sat upon it. "Like this?"
"Yes, but her knees were tucked up a bit more. And we used to have picnics on the grass. Fireflash used to join us sometimes. I think we amused him greatly."
He walked over to Maverick's tombstone and laid his hand upon the white granite slab.
Arista slid off the rock and followed, reading the words on the marker silently. "What a beautiful memorial. I really like the picture of him. The artist was incredible."
"Thank you. I tried to make it as life-like as possible, since I never took any pictures of him."
She gaped at him. "You carved this? By yourself?"
He nodded. "That's the only way it would be done right. I used a spell to engrave the image and the words on the stone, but the original drawing is my own and so is the inscription." He chuckled at her expression. "Why so surprised, Arista? Did you think all I knew how to do was make potions?"
"Well, no, but . . .I didn't know you could do this."
"This wasn't as hard as your mother's locket."
"You made Mom's locket too?"
"Yes, didn't I ever tell you that? It was a birthday present for her twenty-second birthday. I made it especially for her, there is no other in the world like it. Just like both its owners."
Arista examined the locket in wonder. "I always knew it was special, it protected me when I was growing up. But I never thought . . .I knew it was custom engraved and all, but not that you actually made it. That's so awesome!"
"So was your mother." He sniffed once loudly, blinking away tears.
"So are you," his daughter said, and hugged him.
"Because I give you kittens and the key to my bank account?" he teased gently.
"Nope. Because you're my dad," she answered.
He hugged her so hard she gasped. "I love you, my Arista."
"Even if I just crashed your broomstick into a tree?"
"You what?"
"Only kidding." She burst out laughing at the expression on his face.
"Why, you incorrigible brat!"
"You should have seen your face!"
"Little minx! I ought to give you a good swat."
"Hey, I thought you loved me."
"Even when I want to beat you," he sighed. "And heaven help you if you ever do crash my broomstick."
"How about my own? Does that count?" she inquired saucily, then ducked his gentle cuff.
"You crash anybody's broomstick and I'll ground you until you're sixteen. Does that answer your question, Miss Snape?" he pretended to glower at her.
"Uh-huh. Can I have one of those honey bars now? I'm starving."
"Spoken like a typical teenager." He opened his rucksack and pulled out three honey bars, some spring water, and two ham and cheese sandwiches.
They ate cross-legged on the grass, sitting and listening to the stream burbling and letting the peaceful aura of the glen fill their souls.
A/N: Well, what did you think of Arista's new cat? Next up, school starts and Arista will meet friends and enemies as she attends Hogwarts as a fourth year.