A/N # 1 – Mpreg. Angst and unhappiness abounds. Not my characters that I'm abusing.
A/N # 2 – This story took a left turn a while back and Minerva's role developed in a way I wasn't expecting.
A/N # 3 – Thanks to Linz, EP and MM for their help.
"On the scale," ordered the witch. Severus did so, but gave Oxana a disapproving scowl when she leaned over to read the numbers.
"I can read the numbers to you," he sniped.
"I know, but I hate feeling superfluous. Now, I understand that this makes you very uncomfortable, but will you put this in your mouth?" was her next command, only slightly camouflaged as a polite request.
She held an ebony-colored rod in her hand, and an apprehensive Severus instinctively swallowed.
"It's a choice of three evils, you know. Either I give you a physical exam, scan you with my wand or use Dr. Dexter Deville's Diagnostic Dowel. Considering the not insignificant fact that you nearly murdered Sasha during a Reiki session, I'd personally feel safer if you used the dowel. We're in uncharted territory with you, and Sasha wants daily monitoring."
Severus took the dowel from her and he gingerly placed it on his mouth, unsuccessful in repressing painful memories.
Albus smiling down at him, his hands were rough as he pried apart Severus' clenched jaws.
"In it goes," the faux Albus whispered. Then deliberately, in order to complete Severus' degradation, he dramatically let loose a loud gasp of obscene pleasure. "For being such a sarcastic git, you have a surprisingly soft mouth."
No, the Headmaster wasn't a screamer. The real Headmaster's voice had been soft and tender… even… even…
"Adrik…" her tone was apologetic; Severus welcomed her interruption as he was able to break away from his dark, obsessive thoughts.
He nodded his head to acknowledge her regret and he began to suck on the rod, counting down from 180.
180….I know… 179…. It wasn't you, Headmaster. 178…. It was never you … 177… you never hit me… 176… you promised that you cared for me….175… lies, sweet sounding lies.
After far too long, Oxana nodded, which meant he could remove it. She took the wand and tapped it against a blank parchment where the readings began to appear.
"Your sugar level is good, as are your renal, pulmonary, and hepatic functions," the witch approvingly stated. "But your blood pressure is high and you've lost weight. Plus, it says that you didn't get a sufficient amount of sleep last night. Nightmares?"
"I had some rather unusual dreams which made it difficult for me to sleep." Severus was willing to admit that and no more.
Unusual?
Try down right bizarre!
A bloody and battered Albus Dumbledore had been nursing a full grown goat with a baby's bottle and Minerva and Horace had been busy breaking Minerva's bed slats. Those strange dreams had been mixed with his usual nightmares over how he had spent his winter holidays entertaining the troops plus there had been a new dark addition. The merry, bloodstained trio of Damyan, Toma and Rada had been having a spot of tea in Damyan's parlor while they excitedly relived the Dieppe Raid of 1942. Dieppe; when the legendary, rumored to be undefeatable French Magische Liga van Defensie had gone down with barely a whimper to the troika.
I have to remember who and what Damyan truly is.
Yes, he claims innocence in the death of his wife and child, but there are too many other incidents that he does not bother to deny. Gellert's modus operandi was simple, to promote the discord between the Allied and the Axis Muggle Powers so that they'd completely annihilate each other. His supporters would watch the Muggles battle and then carefully sabotage the best laid plans just to increase the carnage.
When the Japanese Emperor surrendered, there was a failed military coup d'état that attempted to overthrow the government to prevent it. While Kenji Hatanaka is seen by the Muggles as the leader of that failed rebellion, I know that one of Gellert's Japanese mages stirred up that doomed insurrection just to prolong the war. Was that mage Byakko?
Can I trust Damyan, truly? Am I not the perfect distraction for the Headmaster, the blasted Ministry and the Dark Lord? How do I know that he's not responsible for the Polyjuiced clones of me that are running amuck? Sooner or later there will be a time when the Dark Lord and the Order meet, and will they not annihilate themselves? The weakened remains would be easy pickings for Gellert's followers.
"Time for breakfast," Oxana informed Severus. "Sasha's created quite the nutritional plan for you. Your body is merrily consuming itself to support the child, so you need to eat a bit more."
Eating a bit more found Severus inhaling a meal that Hagrid would have been unable to finish. With no trouble, Severus finished a mountain of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, black and white pudding plus spanachena banitsa which was some sort of tasty Bulgarian pastry with cheese and spinach.
"Full?" Oxana questioned after she watched Severus tuck away enough food for a dozen hungry Quidditch players.
"I don't think I'll be able to eat for a week," Severus admitted. Then slowly, damning his pride for making it so difficult to accept help, he thanked her for mollycoddling him. "Thank you for cutting my food."
While he loathed the necessity of having Oxana cut his food, his left arm was still quite uncooperative. He could wiggle his fingers slightly and scratch his nose, but silverware was quite beyond him.
"You'll be starving by elvenses," predicted Oxana. "But let's talk about your salary."
Oxana Kameneva haggled like a fish monger, charging him for food, board, medical care, clothing and… Merlin help him… there was a whole category for 'miscellaneous incidental expenses' which didn't include the 'Pendant, protection; magical, jade' which was now nestled against his skin. The expenses were split between his two paychecks so he was collecting a pittance in both currencies.
Two paychecks. He was being paid in both Muggle and Magical currencies. He wasn't sure how the knut-pinching Oxana had managed to ensure that he was paid as his mind was reeling from her creative accounting.
Debits, credits, expenditures and accruals? What the bloody hell was she talking about?
He would be a bloody stockboy, stocking shelves in Serendipity with assorted new age cack for gullible Muggles. Once he learned the floor plan and if he could prove to them that he could handle the strange Muggle currency, they'd put him on the cash register. For that onerous chore, he'd earn the bare minimum plus room and board. But in his spare time, he would be Aleksandar Zoravkov's apprentice. Depending on his ability to assist Sasha in his potion making, he'd be compensated accordingly.
He was reduced to being a bloody Apprentice. Scrubbing out cauldrons, cutting up roots. Perhaps if he could manage it one-armed, he could sweep the floor?
Sweeping the floors was not the biggest insult to Severus' pride.
The fact that Sasha was a bloody Ministry of Magic Certified Potions Master who sold to Slug & Jiggers Apothecary was. One had to jump through hoops to become a Ministry Certified Potions Master and Sasha had effortlessly passed on his first attempt.
Yes, a mass murdering Dark Wizard responsible for the death of thousands had gotten certified by the pinheads at the Ministry. That stuck in his gullet, sideways, providing hours of mental indigestion as Severus had been repeatedly deemed unsuitable for such certification due to his past. Out of a perverse, stubborn need to persevere, Severus had unrelentingly resubmit the required parchments until one day the Ministry had capitulated due to the Headmaster's obscene need to meddle. He had never bothered to thank Dumbledore for his assistance in the matter as he wasn't supposed to know of Albus' involvement.
Even now, Sasha was entertaining some unbelievably obtuse Ministry Official who was measuring the thickness of his cauldrons in order to recertify his shop.
The bitter fact remained that he owed Sasha and Oxana a great deal of money even after the witch's inventive accounting. For all the money he was earning, he'd be as good as pissing the money in the wind for the next century to pay off the debt as Oxana had tacked on compound interest.
Yes, the dangerous duo had saved his life when he collapsed half-dead in the alleyway. He couldn't begrudge them wanting payment. After all, Sasha had managed to convince his stump of a left arm to bud. But treatment by Sasha with copious assistance from Oxana was so ruddy expensive. Damn shame Sasha wasn't part of the National Health System, so Severus could just give the Healer his National Health Number that he possessed courtesy of his bastard of a Muggle father.
Ah, but it would be hard to explain the male pregnancy and reappearance of a missing arm.
It wasn't as though it was a virgin birth!
His life, simply put, wasn't worth the price they were charging, but Ari… Ari was worth every knut and more…including the overpriced jade pendant. The Headmaster could have easily paid Severus' bill by emptying one of his many vaults at Gringotts.
A reason why Severus should have stayed at Hogwarts; yet another motive why Severus most assuredly couldn't have stayed in his gilded prison.
Albus would easily buy Ari's love and affection, leaving Severus completely bereft. Naturally, he couldn't blame Ari for being fickle, as Albus could easily give her everything a little girl would want… he'd be able to buy her a unicorn if she so desired one.
That's what little girls wanted, right?
Cute and fuzzy things, like crup puppies and unicorns, perhaps a soft, cuddly demiguise cub of their very own…. Little girls didn't want to learn the best way to ground scarab beetles or dig for roots. That was all for which Severus was good for besides being her incubator. Certainly, he'd never be able to complete with Dumbledore for Ari's affection, so it was best for Severus that he'd be long dead before the purple-hued unicorn arrived.
Yes, he had vowed to escape from Dumbledore, but he knew better. Albus would move heaven and earth to find his daughter, and Severus owed Sasha and Oxana several Life Debts if not more. He would need to protect them from Albus. They had taken in him, sheltered him and healed him. It would be the height of rudeness to die and leave them dealing with an enraged Dumbledore. He needed to figure out a plan… but his mind… it was racing in circles.
"I'll never be able to pay you back," Severus finally admitted after a soft cough from Oxana interrupted his dark thoughts.
"Ah, but that's where the bonus system comes in," chirped Oxana. "Keep wiggling your fingers, Adrik."
Severus industriously wiggled his fingers just to prove to Oxana that they were working.
"Yes, the bonus system. I'm sure that I can earn a tidy windfall by neatly arranging all of Sasha's shelves," stated Severus. "Let us not forget the monetary potential in dusting."
"Don't be daft," Oxana sniped, sounding so much like Minerva that Severus unexpectedly found himself longing for the witch. "You've got an education that's far more current than ours. You'll teach me the newest charms and show Sasha the latest potions. He's quite excited about having you here as he can chat about potions. You can be useful around here and we plan on working you hard. We'll reward you quite generously for anything you might be able to teach us. Not just potions, mind you, but if you can actually teach us how to fly, well, you'll be halfway to paying off your debt."
"Only halfway? I think learning to fly is worth far more than merely half of my expenses," Severus protested. He kept his tone even, not wanting to share the hope that their conversation had given him.
Oxana believes that I can be useful around here. I can teach them what I know, what I've learned and what I've discovered. Sasha is some forty years behind the times, he's not current on the latest in potions. He voraciously reads, but I have hands on experience with the latest ingredients… I can earn a salary… I can buy things for Ari, nice things…so even after I'm gone, she'll have something from me. It won't be a purple unicorn, but it will be something.
She'll know that I loved her. Minerva, my dear, sweet, Minerva will be economical with the truth, so perhaps, Ari would not be horrified by my role in her existence.
"Too bad you're the patient so you have no say," she reminded him. "Let's show you the shop and then introduce you to the wards."
"I'm sure you noticed the over abundance of dragons sculptures?" questioned Oxana as they began the tour of the house. Like all magical houses, it was far bigger on the inside than it appeared on the outside. "It's a rather strange affection for someone who is trying to remain undiscovered, don't you agree?"
There were dragons sprinkled throughout the house, or the little that Severus had seen of it. His universe, until now, had consisted of his bedroom, the loo, the kitchen and the hallway in-between. But now that Oxana had mentioned it, there was a snoozing Chinese dragon with five toes in his bedroom that sat on the nightstand, a bashful dragon in the loo and a rather jolly, roly poly dragon in the kitchen.
"I had noticed it," he admitted, as he touched his jade dragon pendant.
"They are Sasha's wards. If there's any trouble, put your hand on one and say, 'Mühe' and someone will show up, wand ablastin', questions to be asked later if anything survives the carnage. Yes, Mühe is German, because they were a gift from Gellert," Oxana explained. "After our company is gone, we'll show the safe room. If all hell breaks lose or the Dragon wakes, retreat back there. It's specially constructed to withstand Sasha's temper tantrums."
"One day, you must tell me the sordid story on how a Russian Auror ended up in Manchester," Severus said.
"Short version? I was sent out alone as my superiors believed he was alive. I located him, and we played cat and mouse for five years. Sasha was such a daft prat. He would buy me drinks, send me flowers for my birthday and one year, he even bought me Grisha for a Michaelmas gift. He thought I truly needed someone to watch my back." Oxana growled in annoyance. "That really angered me, but I kept Grisha as trained Archangel cats are rare and quite dear."
"Got jumped in a dark alleyway by a group of dark wizard wannabes who thought I'd be the perfect blood sacrifice to start their coven. I'm quite talented, but one against thirteen? Not so good. Stabbed with a cursed blade in the back. Next thing I know, I'm lying facedown in Sasha's bed and he was doctoring me. It appears that once Grisha knew I needed help, he found the closest wizard able to help me, which was… Sasha. The Dragon woke as I was his personal Russian Auror and he kindly slaughtered the six wizards that I had left for him."
Oxana shook her head.
"They're not even sure how many people attacked me, as the coven wannabes were reduced to little itty bitty pieces. I was Fundamentally Bonded to him while I was Healed, so I can't leave him even if I have the desire to do so.
"Fundamentally Bonded?" Severus repeated. Fundamentally Bonds were a modified Compulsion. Oxana couldn't leave Sasha, couldn't reveal his location and she was required to have daily contact with him in order to live. Merlin's beard, was he Bonded? He wouldn't be able to return back to Hogwarts if he decided to do so.
No, he had made the decision not to return. He shouldn't even contemplate otherwise, but damn it. If Albus got Ari, would he be content to leave Sasha and Oxana alone? Or would he take revenge on them for sheltering Severus?
Yes, Albus would. Behind that doddering, barmy mage façade lurked a proud man who did not appreciate being scorned. Oxana was continuing her story, so he decided to focus on that, rather than the thought of an enraged Dumbledore.
"When I found out that I was stuck with him for the remainder of my life, I delightedly made his life utter hell for a decade or so. When I got bored with that, I decided to seduce him, but to do so leisurely in order to drive him barmy. Russian Aurors are trained to use everything in the battle against evil," the witch candidly explained. She shook her head and sighed at her stupidity. "As you're well aware, throwing sex into a relationship can cause unforeseen complications."
"Plus weight gain," Severus added. His dry quip gave Oxana great amusement.
"That's the sad, sordid story of how a Russian Auror was seduced to the Dark Side. Sometimes, I wonder how much the old Ekaterina would despise the current Ekaterina, but the very thought of Sasha unfettered? Makes my blood run cold."
"Am I Bonded also?" Severus questioned.
"No, you're too weak and Fundamental Bonds are contraindicated in pregnant witches as it adversely affects the foetus. However if you do escape, you won't be able to reveal anything about your time here to Dumbledore or the Aurors. Come on, the shop awaits, and Sasha is hoping that you'll have a favorable analysis of his Potions Lab. He's combined Muggle Technology with Magic to make it a lab unlike anything in the known world. Potions Masters Digest desires to do a feature on it," Oxana proudly stated.
He followed her through the winding maze of the house. On the outside, it appeared to be merely a ground floor and basement shop premises with two bed accommodations above. Inside the ground floor, or should he say outside, there was a herb garden, a vegetable patch, a plot full of Muggles roses and a garden full of exotic magical flora that Severus knew that Pomona Sprout would be sobbing into her tea for having missed.
Grisha met the two of them at the door to the shop. He chirped and chattered at them before offering a "Pgrowl?"
"Thank you," Oxana said. "I'll give you a treat later. Translated, Grisha just informed me that Sasha still has a guest, but he should be leaving soon. Ministry official, but he'll never identify you. Your own mother wouldn't recognize you."
"My mother wouldn't notice Merlin if he stripped naked and tweaked her nose," he spat. Then in a calmer tone, Severus explained, "She's in a persistent vegetative state after an accidental fall."
Yes, an accidental push down a flight of steps by my drunken sot of a father… Don't you worry, Ari, you'll never meet either of them. I'd never subject you to my family.
"You must be so worried about her," the witch empathized.
How could he possibly be worried about a woman that couldn't have made any less of an effort for her son? Severus had done more than right by her as he had gave her the best hospice care he could afford. If the roles had been reversed, Eileen would have let him lie facedown in the gutter until the rats gnawed at his bones.
"No, I'm not particularly worried as her prognosis is poor. There's nothing that can be done for her, so it is not necessary for me to worry about her condition getting worse," Severus stated. "I have another, more pressing concern. You understand, do you not? She is everything to me."
He put his right hand over his still somewhat flat belly.
I will do whatever is necessary for you to survive.
"Yes, I understand. Come, Sasha's potions lab awaits," the witch announced.
The ginger haired Ministry official, Mercy Weasley… no.., Percy… congratulated the Dark Wizard on having a well run lab. After so many decades of licensing renewals, the names of the examiners all blurred into one, but he had to admit that this Weasley chap was quite thorough. Plus the examiner was quite impressed with the Muggle modifications Sasha had enacted in his lab, and had asked proper questions that showed he was truly interested in hearing Sasha's answers.
Sasha was quite vain regarding his lab, and for someone to express an interest, well, he'd be delighted to talk off their ear.
"If it wasn't for that one cracked vial, your renewal evaluation would have been perfect," Percy exclaimed. "Your cauldrons are all the proper thickness, which is amazing. Not enough Potions Masters care about that!"
"I knew someone that had a cauldron explode because it was worn away. Terrible, terrible loss," exclaimed Sasha in suitably mournful tones. "Exploded and the solution ate away his face. Shame as he was a handsome chap. Well, before the explosion."
As expected, Weasley agreed with him.
"It is a shame that I didn't notice that small crack, as I have yet to perfect the Ministry's exacting standards," admitted Sasha. Actually, he had deliberately cracked the vial earlier that morning. It was his modus operandi, to always make the examiner have to work, but not too hard, to find a minor imperfection. That way the examiner would be quite happy to leave his shop and go spend significantly less effort haranguing someone else.
Sasha was a tad knackered after an impromptu spell casting session with Byakko and he mourned the loss of his youthful energy. His brother mage had spent the night adding additional Warding to the shop and house deliberately attuned to the magic of the mixbreed Filius Fitwick. If the diminutive mage attempted to locate Severus using his goblin-tinted magic, he and his agents would be so gently repelled off the shields that he'd hopefully never realize that he was five hundred kilometers in the wrong direction.
The Pièce de résistance of the entire night of spellcasting?
A jade dragon pendant which would allow Severus to exit from the shop without being escorted by either Oxana or himself.
The boy was his apprentice, which meant that Sasha would make him work and work hard. Severus couldn't be confined to the shop for the fear of St. Albus and his cronies locating him as he had important duties. Obtaining orange currant scones and crumpets with lemon curd for his afternoon tea for Sasha's afternoon tea was a vital function to keep the shop running at utmost efficiency.
"I understood that you have taken on an apprentice?" Weasley questioned. He scribbled down something on his pad.
"He's actually not a true apprentice. Adrik's my grand-nephew and he was in a bad accident. Just helping him get back on his feet again, but it will be awhile before he is capable of running his own lab. When that happens, we'll ensure that he's licensed through the Ministry. He has his certification from Durmstrang. Do you wish to examine it?" Sasha questioned.
He handed over the faux certificate to Weasley, who as Sasha expected, carefully examined it, even though the document was in the Old Tongue, Faroese.
"There's a reciprocity agreement," Percy reminded Sasha as he handed back the certificate. "If everything is in order, he need not go through the entire examination."
"I know, but when I first obtain my license, I took the full exams rather than the easy way out so I expect Adrik to also," assured Sasha. "There's a significant difference in policies and since I'm now here, and not there, I must follow the current standards completely. Potions are an exact science, Mr. Weasley. With that hard won credential, I can assure my customers that I'm as first-rate as any Hogwarts trained Potions Master."
"I think you and my former Potions instructor would get along famously," admitted Percy. "Though he's bit of a purist. I'm not sure how he'd react to your Muggle adaptations."
"Air filtration systems are helpful. I don't want to be stricken with either Potions Pleurisy or Cauldron Cough," Sasha said. "Potions brewing can be a nasty business, and the occupational hazards are many."
Out of the corner of his eyes, Sasha saw that Severus and Oxana had entered the lab. A slight narrowing of the boy's eyes when he saw who was in the lab but otherwise, Severus seemed unaffected.
Ah, yes, he had taught Percy.
"Mr. Weasley, may I have the pleasure of introducing my grand-nephew, Adrik? Adrik, this is Percy Weasley from the Ministry. He was just completing the recertification of our lab, and I believe that he was about to assure me that we had passed inspection?"
The two men awkwardly shook using their right hands.
"Yes, you have passed inspection. It's been a pleasure examining your shop," Percy assured him. "It's a shame that you're retiring. The loss of your great uncle's potions skills will be felt for some time, Adrik."
"I need to move someplace where it is warm. My old bones can't take the dampness," Sasha explained.
They exchanged their goodbyes, and then Weasley left the shop. Sasha crossed his arm and looked Severus up and down, and then sideways.
"You're late," Sasha growled. "I expected you thirty minutes ago. I will not tolerate tardiness. Your tools are over there, so set up your work station and be quick about it. You have to get off your lazy arse and start earning your keep. What did Deville's Dowell decide?"
Oxana and Sasha discussed the results of his exam but Severus decided not to listen. Sasha had chided him for being late.
LATE.
Thirty minutes late? He was told ten thirty was his starting time and Severus had gotten there at ten thirty three. If Weasley hadn't been there, bloody blocking the door, he would have been on time. Should he have barreled in and knocked Weasley to the ground?
Damn it, Sasha reminded Severus of nothing more than himself as he would have taken House points for tardiness.
"Your tools are in the wooden box," Sasha growled. "Come now, time is fleeting and I'm getting older with every second that passes. I have a project for you and your lackadaisical manner does not impress me in the slightest. I thought you were a Potions Master, not a lazy school boy."
Severus schooled his features and he nodded his head in acknowledgement. He put his right hand on the wooden chest and his heart skipped a beat when he recognized the material. It was a rune-carved mahogany chest. Not just a cheap pine box, but mahogany with chiseledsigils of protection against the various potential mishaps of a Potions Master's trade. The box had been recently polished as it was burnished reddish brown, but he could tell… this was a family heirloom.
"Well, are you just planning on gawking at it? Oxana, I expect you to properly dock his salary for all the time he's spent staring at the bloody box. Hasn't even opened it yet!"
Carefully, he opened the unexpectedly light box to find the various appurtenances of his trade. It had been bespelled, so it was far larger on the inside than it was on the outside. Three silver knives… bloody Faberge silver knives, measuring cups of brass, silver, gold and platinum, loupes of various magnitudes, mortars and pestles of various materials, assorted scissors to cut roots, a mincer… It was a Master's set of the highest quality, and he never would have been able to afford it on his Hogwarts Salary.
But that wasn't it. No, not at all.
Oh Merlin, there were dragon hide gloves, a dragon hide apron… and… sweet mother of Merlin, a bespelled surcoat of dragon hide which opened in the back. He'd need help putting it on, but it would protect his belly from burns and cauldron explosions.
Yes, it was another debt to be added to his tally but such a compilation of tools.
"I am overwhelmed…" Severus whispered. "I do not know how to properly thank you. I fear that I will never be able to repay you for this."
"The set's yours as its previous owner is no longer in need of it. Since it was just sitting around, unused, taking up valuable counter space I thought you might utilize it. It's not being added to your reckoning as it's an heirloom with no family left," growled Sasha. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not getting soft… I plan on working you hard and I don't want to worry about you nicking my equipment."
Oxana softly snorted her derision over Sasha's caustic protestations.
"Well, no one's using the set, and he needs his own ruddy tools!"
The Dark Wizard grumbled and growled before he stormed off to the root cellar. Oxana gave a confused Severus a secretive wink but the witch carefully schooled her features into a respectable mien before Sasha returned.
"Ready to work off your debt?" Oxana questioned.
"Yes," Severus assured her. His right hand was stroking the smooth mahogany and he realized that he was quite keen to start brewing. Perhaps the first order of business might be a healing draught to help Sasha in his business?
Yes. Sasha had commented on a rheumatic Muggle that stopped in frequently for an infusion to help him with his joint pain. He was a regular customer and due again tomorrow. Perhaps, he could suggest a modification? Lost in thought on how to improve Sasha's infusion, he didn't notice Sasha had returned and he was carrying a basketful of green plants. The Bulgarian dropped the basket in front of Severus, and the two Archangel cats jumped onto Severus' table to supervise.
A disappointed Severus recognized what exactly was in the basket.
Catnip? He had to mince catnip for the fuzzy familiars? How could it get worse?
"Mince this. Nadya and Grisha both prefer it fine," instructed Sasha. "If you can satisfy them, you'll be moved onto other projects that are backlogged due to you."
"Nadya's a bit more particular," offered Oxana. "Females usually are."
"I just don't let anyone make catnip for Grisha and Nadya," thundered Sasha. "Now get to work! Then, when you're done and I'm happy, you're to go to the bakery down the street and pick up my scones for my afternoon tea."
Whatever anger he might have felt over being made Sasha's Scone Boy was negated by the fact that his belly decided at that moment to growl loudly. Ariana was a Harsh Mistress and she desired to be fed.
"Bloody hell," Sasha growled. He rummaged in his pockets and threw a handful of Muggle currency at Severus. "Oxana, take my hungry apprentice to the bakery and get him fed. I don't want him fainting from hunger. I'm already spending more money on him and he hasn't made me any money yet!"
Oxana began laughing in earnest and Severus just shook his head. Sasha and Oxana was bloody barmy and he'd never understand them.
And so began Severus' apprenticeship with Aleksandar Zoravkov. The two men argued, fought and decried the other's lack of potion skills with great vigor. Still, Severus managed to pull the protesting hidebound Sasha into the current era of potion making while Severus was forced to develop a profound respect for Muggle herbal remedies.
A/N # 4 – Ellie.
Aberforth wasn't made Godfather yet.
He was made guardian in a fit of whimsy by Albus after Poppy, Severus and Minerva attempted to outmaneuver Albus in the infirmary. Severus obsessed on the idea a wee bit much as he's a might stressed. Yes, Toma, Byakko and Rada were a wee bit boring in the previous chapter, but I had to introduce them, else you'd wonder who the big blonde guy was when he started slaughtering people. As for their attitudes, I thought the Brotherhood should be 180 degrees from the Death Eaters who always seemed to be too stupid to fight their way out a paper bag.
A/N # 5 - Yes, there's a reason why Percy was introduced.