CHAPTER 16

A/N: If you want to know more about my character Marius Rivers, then you can look up his fact sheet on my blog (cf. my profile page for the link). Marius is important for this story. Thank you for all your comments and for visiting my blog :-)
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Severus returned from his walk in the grounds five minutes before Harry arrived at his office. The Potions Master, however, was waiting for him in front of the door.

"Follow me, Potter. We need far more space for duelling," he said curtly, noticing, not for the first time, how astonishingly green the youth's eyes were.

"Yes, sir," the Gryffindor replied obediently. His footsteps were light and soft as a cat's – Severus thought that Harry would do very well in Stealth and Tracking if he planned to undergo Auror training. Provided Voldemort was defeated by then. He led Harry to a large empty classroom. It was cold, and he saw Harry instinctively rub his arms to warm himself. Severus suppressed a biting remark about the spoilt brat taking heating for granted, along with other things. Instead, he scrutinised the youth sharply.

"You are tense and nervous. Have you been practising the exercise I showed you?"

"Before going to sleep, sir."

"How often?"

"I've tried to do it every night."

"Tried?"

"It's a bit difficult to do in a dormitory with four other boys."

"The aim of this exercise, Potter, is to not let yourself get distracted by other people or sounds," Severus said sourly. "In other words, you have neglected to do the exercise."

"No, not exactly-"

"'Not exactly'? My dear Potter, such an expression equals 'not at all'."

"I really tried, sir," Harry defended himself, keeping his voice calm and polite.

"You need to be tense and yet keep a clear and cool head at the same time if you want to duel successfully, and you have not the remotest idea about disciplining your mind," Severus snapped viciously. Harry prudently opted to remain silent in case he incited the man with a reply.

Severus inhaled deeply before he spoke:

"Take out your wand."

Harry obeyed; but before they could begin, there was a sharp cracking sound and a house-elf appeared, announcing in a squeaky voice that the Headmaster needed to see Severus by all means. The elf disappeared, and Severus looked at Harry.

"Lesson cancelled. Go back to Gryffindor Tower," he ordered his student. Harry left quietly. Severus let out a breath as soon as the door closed behind the young man. He was relieved to get rid of the brat; on the other hand, he was not looking forward to finding out what was so urgent. He used the Floo to reach Dumbledore's office as quickly as possible.

"Ah, Severus, I am sorry for interrupting your lesson with Harry," Dumbledore said, rising from his desk.

"I, however, am not at all sorry," Severus remarked.

Dumbledore ignored the remark and asked Severus to take a seat.

"What I can do for you, Albus?"

Dumbledore said gently:

"Marius Rivers is in danger, Severus. I received intelligence from both Mr Rivers and from the Order that the Death Eaters want to take him hostage and use, or rather, abuse his Healing powers. We have therefore all decided that he shall seek asylum at Hogwarts. He is loyal – he was tested at the Ministry under Veritaserum. He was also tested for the ingestion of a Veritaserum-antidote, Polyjuice Potion and so on. He can be trusted."

Severus had become paler than usual. After his expulsion, Marius had followed Healing studies and become one of the most renowned Healers in Britain. Every now and then, Severus would come across a news item mentioning Marius's work. He would also find occasional articles written by Marius for various journals. Every time he encountered Marius's name or saw his picture, he would feel a spark of rage, and the offending item would be flung into the fireplace.

"And you are sending me as his escort?" Severus bit out. When Severus had learnt Legilimency and Occlumency from Dumbledore, the latter had accessed memories of Severus's relationship with Marius.

"I know that this is not easy, Severus, but he knows you-"

"He knew me. Or maybe he never even knew me at all, unless it was in the sexual sense," Severus said bluntly, "and that was years ago."

"I do not mean to bring back the past-"

"Why not delegate this task to someone else? It would be far more agreeable for Rivers himself."

"Everyone else is indisposed. I myself have urgent duties at the Ministry."

Severus stood up.

"Have you got his address?"

"Yes, and here are the necessary Portkeys and a letter. The paperclip-Portkey will enable you to Apparate through Mr Rivers's wards," Dumbledore said, handing Severus a piece of parchment, a letter addressed to Marius and two Portkeys: a paperclip and a ballpoint pen, one to transport him to Marius's current residence and another to allow both of them to travel back to Hogwarts.

"Hogwarts offers him its protection and a means of earning his living – as Professor of Healing," Dumbledore added.

"I have never heard of such a subject or title at Hogwarts before," Severus said icily.

"It will be a new subject if Mr Rivers accepts my proposal; and with an impending war, it is crucial that the students know more about practical Healing."

"You have really thought it all out, haven't you?" Severus said with a bitter smile, "Well, I shall not waste any time; I'm leaving immediately." He strode towards the fireplace; he stopped, however, and looked at Dumbledore probingly.

"Does he know that I will be fetching him?"

"He does not – I simply said that I would send one of my staff to do so. I had to arrange this all at the last moment, I'm afraid. The letter explains why I have sent you, and that he can trust you with his life."

Blue eyes and black eyes met in a gaze which expressed the special bond the two men shared.

Severus finally nodded curtly and grabbed a handful of Floo powder.

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A few minutes later, dressed in his travelling cloak, Severus Apparated in Marius's flat, Portkey and letter in his pocket.

He found himself face to face with a wizard who had just risen from a leather couch.
The years had simply increased Marius's striking looks; his dark-brown neck-length hair was cut smooth and highlighted with streaks of blond, and his steel-grey eyes were narrowed with caution and surprise; he looked as if he had just snatched up his wand although he had obviously been waiting to be picked up, to judge from a trunk and two bags squatting at his feet. He was still taller than Severus, and a flush was spreading over his face as he recognised the one-time lover he had betrayed so coldly. He lowered his wand.
"Severus Snape?" he asked uncertainly. Severus saw the grey eyes sweep over him in an assessing manner. Not much to look at, Severus thought, and his lip curled in his characteristic sneer.
"I am here to escort you to Hogwarts, Rivers," he said tersely.

Marius's flush was replaced by a grim pale look.
"You were once a Death Eater, were you not, Severus? I read about your trial and Dumbledore's defense in the papers," Marius answered, contempt lacing his voice.
Severus's lip curled scornfully again.

"If you read this, then you will be enlightened about my current position and role."

He thrust the letter into Marius's hand. Marius looked at him suspiciously and opened the letter. He read it carefully.

"Albus Dumbledore is offering me a position as a Hogwarts professor?"

"He is extremely generous," Severus answered coldly, implying that Dumbledore was generous even with people who didn't deserve it.

"And you are spying for him?"

"I am indeed. Let us leave before the Death Eaters find us," Severus snarled impatiently, pulling out the ballpoint pen.

The two men appeared at the edge of the Hogwarts grounds. Severus strode ahead of Marius, who uttered a Levitating Charm on his trunk and bags. They glided behind him serenely while Marius took in the scenery.

"It is beautiful," he said.

"This is no time to admire landscapes," Severus commented. Marius said:

"You have changed, Severus."

"I am sure you will get used to it." Severus's voice was dripping with vitriol. "Kindly accelerate your pace. You don't want to keep the Headmaster waiting after all the trouble he has taken for you."

"I appreciate what he is doing for me."

"You can tell him so in a few minutes."

Marius was silent and followed Severus inside the enormous castle, admiring the paintings in the corridors and the architecture. Severus barked out the password at the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.

"Thank you," Marius said.

Severus ignored his thanks and swept away from him. He thought that instructing Harry Potter would have been better than picking up Marius Rivers after all.

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