Chapter 7 Her Familiar
Three weeks later Sever found himself walking into the dance club Ella had introduced him to. He takes a seat at the bar and orders a drink. Jaden walks up behind him and takes the seat next to him.
"Actually, you'd better make that two firewhiskeys." Jaden requests, changing Snape's order. A moment later Severus watches in confusion as two bottles of firewhiskey were placed in front of him.
"This is a wizarding establishment?" Severus questions, determined to figure out just who Jaden was and how he knew so much about them.
"Hardly," Jaden answers, "Why don't you tell me what's upset you enough to bring you back here. I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
Severus takes one of the bottles and replies, "She's gone," before taking a long drink, letting the hot liquid slide down his throat, leaving a burning sensation behind.
"Ella?" Jaden prods.
"Yes"
"I know," Jaden sighs.
"How do you know so much about her?" Severus demands.
"When a familiar takes on a human form in order to protect his charge, he still retains his magical abilities." Jaden answers simply.
"You're her familiar?" Severus asks in surprise.
"I rather miss my wolf form, but this is the only way I could still see her after Dumbledore erased her memory. He created everything you see here and placed an enchantment over the building to give my business a boost, drawing muggles into the building. I became human because she's not allowed to have pets. This way I can still communicate with her…now it's your turn to answers my questions." He finishes.
"What sort of information could I possibly give you?" Severus objects bitterly, "I haven't been back to the Wizarding World in years."
"Obviously more information than you realize…" Jaden counters, "Did you love her?"
"Ah," Severus mutters, "I ought to have known that this would come up."
"Well?" Jaden pushes.
Severus studies him for a moment before answering, "I'm not permitted to."
"What do you mean you're not permitted to?" Jaden demands, a hint of anger in his tone of voice.
"You don't know what I am?" Severus questions in surprise, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Dumbledore has kept me fairly informed." Jaden replies simply.
"Then you know what I've done?" Severus continues, spelling it out for him.
"I know you made a mistake, and that that mistake has nothing to do with my charge." Jaden snaps.
Severus rolls his eyes, "Due to the authorities in this situation, I am not permitted to feel anything for her other than a mild respect. What sort of a familiar would want a man like me falling in love with his charge?"
"Since when does anything have authority over love?" Jaden throws back, "And, in case you haven't noticed, you yourself are proof that love doesn't exactly take situations into consideration."
Severus sighs. The familiar wasn't going to drop this. "Jaden, Ella and I are from two different worlds. I have to serve Paul for four more years and after that I won't hesitate to return to the wizarding world, a place that she no longer has any memory of. Even if she were able to follow, she's had enough experience with deatheaters to know that I don't deserve a chance with her. Either way…I am not permitted."
"My charge will get her memory back!" Jaden snarls.
"And when she does, she will hate me and my kind." Severus counters.
"Not you!" Jaden objects loudly, standing up.
He pauses as others in the dance club turn to stare. He remained silent until the crowd returned to minding its own business, then continued in a softer tone of voice. "I know Ella. What she feels for you will not fade once you help her escape this world and return to her own."
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Severus points out, "There is no anti Obliviate charm."
"No, but the charm will eventually weaken, and when it does, you will be there to help her break it and return her to her own world."