JKR's world, extrapolating for myself.
The next morning before we left I gave Ptitsa instructions on how to reach me. She packed the things we were taking into a small trunk from my room. She brought the three of us breakfast before Viktor flooed back to London. Sev took the elf aside and talked to her for several minutes. She nodded her head in response to whatever he had been telling her. She looked to me and smiled. When we were at last ready to leave, she cried until I told her I would come back to check on her regularly. She answered me promptly.
"Mistress Thera is not to worry about Ptitsa; Professor husband says wards have been made stronger. No one will hurt house or Ptitsa. Ptitsa likes Professor husband very much."
I kissed the top of her little head before we left. She was waving happily as we stepped into the green flames.
Sev held my hand as we were whisked through the floo network. When we stepped out into the living room of the Chelsea flat, he immediately went to the bar and poured us each a glass of mead.
"You need this, Thera. I made sure Ptitsa was safe and had a way to contact any of the three of us. She is a funny little elf. She dotes on you. What does her name mean?"
"Little bird. I think she must have had another name originally, but when she came to us, my brothers thought she looked like a little bird and started calling her Ptitsa. I called her that also as a child. When Sergei died in a Quidditch accident, my father saw it as a sign that things would not go as smoothly as he had planned. It was rumoured that the Quidditch 'accident' had been set up by the Dark Lord's followers as revenge on our father. The next year when Alexei and Dmitri died together on a trip to London, he knew that it was retribution. He refused to let me out of his sight after that. I was seven or eight. He had Ptitsa guard me all the time. She became a second mother to me. She was nursery maid, best friend, and bodyguard all in one. You never saw my brothers, did you? Sergei was eight years older than me; Alexei and Dmitri were seven years older."
"I met them once, Thera. They were all wonderful boys excited about their new sister, you. You were five months old the first time I saw you; dark, curly hair, big hazel eyes and a smile that would melt the heart of a statue. I was terrified when Igor handed you to me. Sergei showed me how to hold you and I looked up to find Igor studying me with a strange expression on his face. I seriously think that he was forming the plan that I should marry you at that time. He was always looking to the future. He was very proud of his sons but you were the light of his life. He must have felt it very keenly when the boys all died so close together."
"It was why he trained Viktor so closely and made him into the Quidditch champion he has become. Viktor became the son of his heart, not of his body. It is why Viktor and I are so close. He was always both brother and cousin to me. I first heard Hermione's name after Viktor came back from the Triwizard Tournament. He had fallen seriously for her. He wants to marry her, Sev. He is the kind of man who will love only once, like my father. Like you too, I think. I know you loved someone once. But it was not a man's love; only a boy's. You did not truly know what love was then, did you? You did not know what love was until we married. I also did not know until I came here. I fell in love with you before the wedding. I knew when I had to bring you back to the castle, when you were so damaged. I knew then that my heart was given to you freely. Papa knew me well enough to know I would find your mind and your manner appealing. He wanted me safe and happy. He wanted me to find friends as well. Viktor must have talked to him of his growing interest in Hermione and of the camaraderie of the students at Hogwarts. Papa must have sent word to Mama before he fled."
"He left while I was attending to other matters. I was with Dumbledore when the fake Moody took Harry from the Maze and into the Castle. We followed immediately and found the younger Crouch gloating. Dumbledore disarmed him and stupefied him before freeing the real Moody. Minerva and I were assigned to do other errands but we all met back up in Dumbledore's office a little later. I had to shake hands with Sirius Black and promise to work with him. Then it was suggested I return to the side of the Dark Lord. I obeyed immediately and your father was gone when I returned. He left me a letter, which made no sense at the time. It said only to remember old times. I had long forgotten the oath I took about you. I did not think I would long survive after failing to appear at the Dark Lord's side that night but the information I took to the Dark Lord and my supposed reasons for being late were readily accepted. I was restored to favour which lasted until I tried to circumvent his plans for you. My protest earned me the punishment you had to heal. It further strengthened my resolve to keep you away from him by fulfilling the oath to your father at the Yule Ball. I was already half enchanted by you as it was. I felt like Merlin dealing with Niniane, an old man tempted by a vision of loveliness. Only in this case, you were not after my magic but my heart. That heart is yours, my darling, until it fails to beat again. I cannot promise you love beyond death since I do not know if it exists but, if it does, then I shall love you beyond even death, Thera. I need to tell you about the woman I loved. She was Lily Evans. She became Lily Evans Potter, Harry's mother. We had been friends since we were children. Since the age of eight, she was my only friend. I loved her as only a child can love. She was the sunshine in my life. She accepted me totally, with no reservations. It was a novel experience for me. All I had ever known was unrest. My parents loathed each other. I became their weapon of choice against each other, and finally the victim of both. Lily seemed a being from another world. She was sweet, smart, uncomplicated, and so transparently good that it almost hurt to look at her. By the time I met her, my outlook on life was simply how to survive to the next hour. I was already steeped in the Dark Arts because they were the way I survived. I knew more Dark Magic when I arrived at Hogwarts that most of the seventh years did. It had kept me safe from the first moment my magic manifested itself. Lily thought James Potter was a prat for our first few years at school. In our fifth year, she stepped in to try to stop Potter, Black and Pettigrew from tormenting me. I lashed out at her in embarrassment and we had a whacking great row about it later. That row effectively ended our friendship. I still had feelings for her, though. I convinced myself that there would never be anyone else I could care for, ever. After I left school and joined the ranks of the Death Eaters the Dark Lord sent me to spy on Dumbledore. I was to ask for a teaching job. I happened to be in the Hog's Head the night Trelawney made her prophecy. I only heard part of it because I got caught by Aberforth listening at the door. I took that partial prophecy back to the Dark Lord. He extrapolated what I repeated into a reason to hunt the only two boys born at the end of July that year, Harry and Neville. When I realised what he meant to do, I went to Albus and groveled, asking for protection for her, for Lily. Albus sneered at me. He finally offered me the chance to do something, anything to keep Lily and her family safe. I became the mole in the camp of the Dark Lord. When the protections failed and Lily and James were killed, I was in agonies of guilt, I begged Albus to let me do anything to assuage my grief and guilt. He set me as a guardian for Harry. I was not pleased but accepted the duty as penance for my part in the deaths of his parents, as I had accepted the job at school to spy on each of my two masters for the other. I hoped against hope that when Harry arrived at Hogwarts, he would not be like his father; but he arrived looking exactly like my old nemesis, but with Lily's eyes. He and I have been on the outs since his first days. He hates me and I am not overly fond of him, either. There you have it, Thera. I have been a bitter, lonely man since Samhain of 1981. I never sought the softer emotions. I hardened my heart to everything until you appeared. You swept into Hogwarts like a whirlwind. I saw so much of your father in you; his passion for life, for his family, for his friends. You were the baby I had held in my arms all grown up, beautiful and defiant as a Greek goddess. You nearly took my breath away that first day. Minerva looked at me very strangely after you left the lounge that day. I am afraid that she sensed what I was feeling. Albus saw my feelings growing and warned me very early on that you could be very dangerous for our plans. When your training came to light, he saw it as an advantage we could use. I used his interest as a way to bring you into the Order."
"It is no wonder that he was so furious with you the night you were hurt. You had defied not only the Dark Lord, but him as well. You chose to protect me from both of them. You were not going to let Dumbledore use me as a spy nor were you going to let the Dark Lord harm me. When did you decide that, I wonder?"
"The night I realised that you were a grown woman and highly desirable, the same night Sirius Black aroused my jealousy by flirting with you. I hadn't felt that surge of possessiveness ever before. The sight of him kissing your hand enraged me. I tried my best to shrug it off but Albus saw how my eyes would follow you in the Great Hall. He never teased me about it, though. When I brought him the letter from your father, he said it was probably for the best. At least, if we married, I could get my brains out of my y-fronts, hopefully. His words not mine, Thera. After we married, I understood so much that had seemed so bizarre to me before. I understood why Lily had sacrificed herself for her son. I knew instinctively that Albus was correct, that love would ultimately be the downfall of the Dark Lord. It is the one thing he has no knowledge of and no desire to learn about. It will ultimately destroy him and his followers. The whole concept was almost beyond my ken, too, Thera. Until you appeared in my life, love was a word synonymous with pain and loss for me. Now it is the light at the end of the tunnel."
"You are scaring me, Sev. Why are you so intent on telling me all this?"
"Because, at some point this year, I will be back in close proximity to the Dark Lord and all his minions. When that happens, I want you to stay safe. Do not try to follow me. I will need you safely away from me to act as go-between for your cousin and me. It is the only way I will not worry about you, please."
"Please, my love, do not ask that of me. I will gladly act as go-between but do not go totally away from me. I could not bear it."
"We will deal with that when the time comes, Thera. I have asked Dumbledore to switch out the Potions classroom and office with the Defence classroom and office. I will retain the rooms in the dungeons. Slughorn never liked the dungeons anyway. He will be more than happy to have rooms away from the dankness. I want to work very hard on preparing you for your NEWTs. I want you to take top honours this year. I want your scores to beat out the other schools by a sizable margin. That may very well be my only legacy, Thera. We will need to work on your Defence harder this term because last year was a total wash out. No one learned a thing from that idiot woman. I know Harry was teaching the members of Dumbledore's Army great things but I don't think that will qualify for a lot on your NEWTs. Your other skills are far beyond your grade and age level. Igor would be very proud of his daughter."
We began the year constantly keeping tabs on Dumbledore's health. He let us fuss over him for it gave Sev comfort. The week of my eighteenth birthday Dumbledore called me to his office where I found Lupin, Moody, Sev and Viktor waiting for me. Viktor came to me and took my hand; Sev took the other one.
Sev spoke very quietly, "Thera, your mother has been found. She is alive but damaged…"
Viktor broke in, "She is in Scotland, cousin. The Muggles think she is crazy. She saw it all. She was tortured also. He and his followers left her for dead. She is very confused and grieving for your father. Do you want to come with us to bring her to St. Mungo's?"
"Yes. Sev, will you come with me? We could go tonight? It is the start of the weekend. Is that all right, Headmaster?"
"Exactly what I suggested just before you arrived. Lupin and Moody will go along to modify any memories that need modifying. Then we will all meet here In the Room of Requirement on Sunday evening. You can go back to your classes now, Thera."
I returned to my transfiguration class in a daze. Professor McGonagall knew what had happened and requested I stay after class to talk. I was free the next period, so I stayed.
"Thera, child, you may have to become the parent now. If she is unable to return to herself…."
"I am aware of that. I have a hope that if I take her the photographic albums, they may bring her back to herself. But there is the chance that she could break down further. What should I do?"
"Consult with your head of house, dear. Severus will know."
She removed the muffling spell as I left her office. Malfoy was lurking outside the door, obviously trying to eavesdrop.
I nodded to him as I passed. He sneered and slunk off. At seven that night Lupin appeared at the door to the dormitory to escort me to the disapparition point outside the grounds. His look said that Sev would be already at St. Mungo's. Moody joined us outside the school. He said Viktor and Sev had gone on ahead to consult with the healers at St. Mungo's and bring her some of her own things from the flat.
"You just keep that pecker up, missy. She will come round, you'll see. One thing about Snape is that he can heal most anything with those potions of his. He knows enough counter curses to help bring some healing to even the worst cases. You should have seen what the Longbottoms were like before he started working on them several years ago. At least Alice now can recognise her son and speak to him even if she is not fully awake on all suits yet." Moody was surprising in his praise of Sev.
Lupin added a further comment. "I expect he will look in on them while he is there, Alastor. He always has new ideas about cures. You are helping him on some aren't you, Thera?"
"Yes, one especially urgent one is the Wolfsbane nullification potion. He has notes on that going back years. It is almost a quest for him. Apparently, he has a friend who transforms rather painfully and needs the potion."
"Thera, I am that friend. I wonder he did not tell you. He has made the potion for me for three years now."
"Lupin, his notes go back to his last year here at school. He was already concerned for someone. Could it have been you?"
"Erm, probably not, he and I were not friends then. I was part of the Marauders who regularly tormented him. James Potter was the leader of the group. James and Lily…."
"I know about Lily Evans Potter, Lupin. He told me. I think it was you he was concerned about, though. He had jotted the initials RJL next to the formula. Are those your initials?"
"We will discuss this when we get to London. It is time to go."
The three of us arrived in the foyer of St. Mungo's moments later. Moody went to the front desk and asked where my mother was. Lupin stood at my side looking towards the lifts. One stopped at the lobby and Sev got off. He came forward to get me. He, Lupin, and Moody crowded into the lift with me. We went up to the Spell Damage floor.
"She is in the same ward as the Longbottoms, Thera. I think counter curses are the first thing we should try, then start her on potions to calm and reorient her. The healers here agree with me. We have had some success with mixing certain potions with the counter curse sessions. If she knows you, that is a good sign. Alice Longbottom didn't recognise anyone for almost ten years. Let's go see if she knows you. Smile. If you are smiling, it will seem more normal to her." Sev said as he kissed my cheek and led me forward to her bedside.
"Hello, Mother. I'm so glad you are here." I tried to keep my voice light and happy. Her appearance was a shock, though. Her hair had gone gray and she was as thin as a waif. I was horribly dismayed, but I could not show her. I was just so very happy she was alive.
"Ther… Thera? Where is Papa? Where am I?" Her voice was a thready whisper. But obviously, her mind had blocked out my father's death.
"Hush, Mama. I am here. Papa is …." I looked to Sev who mouthed the words to me. " In Petersburg. He is in Petersburg. But Viktor is here. He wants to see you. Aunt Pasitheia has been worried about you."
Viktor came forward to kiss her cheek and hold her hands. He kept up a flow of light happy chatter while I had a quick conference with Sev.
"A very good sign, Thera. She knows you and Viktor. I will give the healers here the counter curses to try first and they already have all the current potions. There is a high probability she will recover enough to go home. But I cannot fix a time frame for that, the healers must use their own discretion. I am going to try to talk to her and see if she remembers we have married. You need to stay close in case she gets agitated."
Viktor had moved back to stand beside Lupin while Sev sat in the chair by the bed.
"Persephone, do you remember the Yule Ball at the school? Do you remember Thera and I were married?"
"Severus, Thera looked so beautiful that night. Her father and I left early. I don't remember where we were going? Is he coming soon?"
"No, Persephone, he cannot come to you right now. You need to rest and regain your strength. Thera and I will be back to check on you soon. Sleep now. Here is your sleep potion. Take it and we will see you in the morning."
I was amazed, she took the potion from him and drank it down immediately. Then she smiled at all of us before lying down and closing her eyes.
I sagged in relief. Lupin put out a hand to steady me and earned a scowl from Sev for doing so. He blushed and went out the door. Moody called to him to wait. Sev and Viktor both put their arms around me. I looked up at my husband and told him he should apologise to Lupin.
He nodded before going out the door after Lupin. Whatever he said I could not hear but I felt his discomfort as he made some sort of apology to Lupin. I did, however hear when he asked Lupin to bring Dora Tonks with him to dinner at the flat tomorrow night. I heard Lupin's gracious acceptance, too. Viktor was making noises about going back to his band of quasi-Cossack guerrillas, but Sev asked him to stay also.
"We will need you here for at least another day or so, Viktor. Please, it would make Thera happier if you were here."
"I will stay, Severus. My Aunt Persephone is very dear to me. My own mother would have my head if I did not stand by my sister-cousin. If you are having dinner guests tomorrow night, I can take myself away for the evening."
"No, you could go to Hogwarts to see if Hermione wants to come here for dinner. She would be very happy to see you."
"I would be delighted to see her, also. I will floo there in the morning. I am going back to the flat now. I am going to bring dinner in. Is Greek food acceptable?"
"Whatever, Viktor, I am going to stay here for a time to check on the Longbottoms and have another talk with the Healers. Take Thera with you, this has been difficult for her. She needs family around her right now." Sev kissed my cheek before he turned back to the Spell Damage Ward.
Viktor took my arm and ushered me outside. We made our way to his favorite Greek restaurant in Soho where we ordered pastitso, spanakopita, dolmades and baclava to go. I asked for a village salad also. By the time we disapparated from the alley behind the restaurant Sev had arrived at home. He had opened a bottle of Greek wine to go with the food. We at last knew my mother was alive and relatively safe. Sev and Viktor both refused to talk about the plans I knew they were hatching. I could see in their eyes that they were planning something. But now was not the time to pursue that line of thought. Viktor poured the wine before proposing a toast.
"To the joy this day has brought us." Viktor said. He looked to me to continue.
"To my darling Severus, for his quick action and knowledge of curse reversal and potions." Then I looked back to Viktor for him to give the third toast as Russian tradition would have it.
"To the love that has sustained my aunt; and will sustain the two of you in the coming days."
Once we all had finished eating, Sev asked why the three successive toasts and what did they mean.
Viktor answered him. "Russian tradition says you must make the first toast to the occasion. The second toast is always to the host or hostess. The third toast is always to love. The toast we shared in the Petersburg house to Uncle Igor was not in the tradition. It was to honour a fallen friend. That was why we threw the glasses, so that we could not defile them with lesser toasts later on. I was always luckier than most other boys. I had wonderful cousins as a child, and my aunt and uncle were as a second set of parents to me. When Sergei, Alexei and Dmitri all died so suddenly, I vowed to help protect little Thera. She became my blood sister as well as my cousin. In Petersburg that blood oath encompassed you as well, Severus. I have another blood oath to take before too very long, maybe."
I knew immediately what he was referring to, "Hermione, Viktor. You are going to ask her…."
"She is now seventeen. I am hoping she has missed me enough to consider my offer seriously. I will find out tomorrow night, won't I?" He laughed at himself before going off to his bedroom.
Sev looked at me as if he wanted to say something then shook his head. He waved a hand at the CD player which began to play a CD I did not realise we had. The Moody Blues' haunting melody 'I know you're out there somewhere.' He pulled me into his arms and began to dance. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Viktor watching us from the door to his room, smiling. We let the CD play to the end then went into our room.
"Thera…..I will have to flee at some point this school year. I shall tell the Dark Lord that we have separated, that your father's death at his hands drove you away from me, that the marriage is all but finished. It will keep you safer, I hope. I will only come to you when I am sure of secrecy. Bellatrix and Pettigrew are both looking to advance in the Dark Lord's favour and will use any hint of disloyalty on my part to their advantage. Know that I love you, that you are my world, and that I will return to you as often as is possible." He drew me into his arms again, holding me tightly against him.
"You do not have to go yet, my love. Show me how much you love me, Sev. Come to bed and make sweet, exquisite love to me."