Price of Peace
Chapter Twelve
Meeting Between Brothers
Hogshead Pub
Albus had not been to his brother's bar since he promised both Aberforth and Severus he would remain sober. He had not kept that promise, however he had stayed away in hopes that they would believe he had. Severus, as it turned out, was well aware of the fact that Albus had returned to drinking but he held out hope his brother was unaware. A hope that died the moment he walked in the door judging by Aberforth's expression.
"I won't help you damage your life further, there's another establishment down the street if you want to throw it all away." Aberforth sneered as he cleaned a spotty glass with a dusty looking cloth.
"I am not here for a drink, I just wanted to talk to you." Albus said sadly.
"Well, I am busy running a business here. Looks like you're going to be disappointed either way."
"Severus Snape resigned." Albus said quietly as he sat down at the bar, ignoring his brother's snort. "Then he disappeared."
"He didn't switch sides on you if that's what you worry about. I've spoken to him recently and was always a better judge of character." Aberforth turned away long enough to grab a bottle of water to hand his brother.
"He's being hunted by his former associates. Another person, one of their high ranking people's wives, also disappeared and they believe he has her with him." Albus opened the water but didn't drink just yet.
"If they think he would kidnap some woman they didn't know him very well at all did they?"
"I believe the theory is she left willingly, though she is with him. They want her back, or rather her son. You said that you have been in contact with him. It would be wise to warn him."
"He already knows, why do you think he sold his house and got rid of most of his things? He has no intention of returning. Though he has been here for a visit a few times." The bar owner said as he picked up another glass, the first no cleaner than when he started. "You know that though, you came here fishing for answers. It really bothers you that people are beyond your reach doesn't it?"
"You make it sound like I want to hurt someone." The Headmaster frowned as he waved a wand to clean the glasses his brother had finished. "I only want him to be safe, and to prevent the rise of Voldemort's power."
"Don't see how him keeping other people safe is any of your business, since he already quit the school anyway." He said with a glare at the now clean glasses. "Don't help me, these are props to run off anyone I don't want in here. It's a lot of effort to make clean glasses look neglected you know."
"That does not seem like a good business practice." Albus shrugged though he put away his wand. "It is my concern because he has been given knowledge not available to the majority of the Order, let alone anyone else."
"You gave him the rope and he hung you, now you're scrambling for damage control and are hoping I know how to get to him. Its not happening. We agreed back when you recruited me, that I was allowed to avoid direct involvement."
"Things change."
"Not my stance on it. I will not bend to you Albus. How long ago was your last drink this time?"
"I told you I gave up drinking."
"Cept you ran off a coupla weeks ago to Los Vegas and it wasn't the first time. I've heard about your weekend benders across Europe." His brother frowned at him, disappointed in his recent behavior. "You really think that he would have wanted you to behave like this? Drinking yourself into ruin. I won't sell you a drop and I am recommending that anyone who worked with us before refrain from selling to you either."
"I have not ignored my duties or the needs of my people." Albus said, bristling. "I am allowed time to mourn."
"Certainly. How long will you though? It's been years now, Albus. Nearing a decade at this point." He frowned, concern evident in his tone. A rarity that Albus failed to notice. "It is time to move on with your life."
"Eight years, about, since I received word." Albus nodded sadly. "I knew him far longer than that Aberforth. He has been part of my life since a was a young man-"
"You were barely an adult-"
"Surely it is understandable that I have difficulty forgetting him." Albus continued as if he hadn't been interrupted despite the glare that indicated he had heard his brother.
"You were nothing but a pastime to him, surely you know that?"
"You wouldn't know. You weren't there. I was completely alone, left to mourn. My entire family gone, world crumbled. He saved me, gave me direction. Made me who I am, largely."
"All the worst parts of you come from other men. Stop allowing others to dictate who you are, or you will always be alone." His brother said, sounding sad again, before turning back to the shelves behind the bar to reach for a bottle of butterbeer. "This is the strongest thing you'll get here. Ignore my advice, as I'm sure you will. I've offered it enough times over the years."
"For a moment it sounded almost as if you cared." Albus said with a small smile. He wished more than nearly anything that he could regain his brother. The last piece of his broken and lost family. He knew it was a fool's hope, any chance they may have had was buried in Godric's Hallow next to their mother and father.
"For a moment, I did. Then I remembered who I was talking to and how you have never listened anyway. I have a business to run. You shouldn't be seen in a bar this early on a week day. Unless you want someone to realize you're an alcoholic." Aberforth walked away then without bothering to wait for a response. He knew h was being cold to a man who was clearly still hurting, but the man was still his brother. A brother who had, as far as he was concerned, left him behind alone with very little fight to remain when he was needed.
Malfoy Manor
Lucius refused to believe his son dead. Not without proof. Narcissa had betrayed him completely, however he could not imagine she would harm their child. He could, however, imagine she would find a way to hide him. The question then was how it had been done. It was impossible to believe that she and the boy had given up magic completely, therefore she had somehow managed to find a way to sever the Trace. Originally, he had been told the child must be hidden somewhere, he clung to that theory even if others were abandoning it.
With this in mind Lucius had invited a couple of Unspeakables, who were loyal to the Death Eaters, over to ask how it would be possible. He knew the pair by face but not by name; he refused introduction for the sake of them all. The taller, a dark skinned man in his early thirties, was frowning as Lucius explained the situation he had discovered. Slowly the shorter, a portly man with pale features and white hair, shook his head before Lucius had even finished explaining.
"Malfoy, the Trace can not be broken early, at least not easily or in a way that would fail to alert someone in the Ministry. No such alarm was logged into the case I can assure you, therefore she must be around somewhere close. They made threats I cannot simply ignore." Lucius frowned down into his cup.
"Would it register, should he have died?" Lucius asked the question without wanting the answer.
"Generally, yes. However, not necessarily." The taller one replied calmly. "If, for example, he was already masked when it occurred then it would fail to register. There is also a small chance, one that I know of, that should enough magic was used in the death of one near him then it could possibly register as a loss and he could be well. Neither of those are likely though. The second one is the only one that I know of, and even then that it simply a theory the department is working on. One of many."
"The Potter boy?"
"Yes, the Potter boy. We are still uncertain as to how he disappeared yet lives. Perhaps, one of the higher Unspeakables knows more but there is no record of anything but theory. Nothing outside of the Department of Mysteries at all."
"Eventually, he will resurface. Those people who are protecting him, I assume those idiots who resisted the Dark Lord are among them, they will want him trained." Lucius said. "We won't have long now will we? Another couple of years. He's the same age as my boy."
"Then you need to get your boy back to give us the advantage, don't you? Well I suppose there are other children we can assign to befriend him."
"I have yet to give up on the return of my son." Lucius said coldly.
"I would expect nothing less. Others, however, need to be realistic here Malfoy." He said calmly, already expecting to be asked to leave in response he was already halfway to the door before Malfoy ordered him out.
Xerxes Academy
Headmaster's Office
Severus had arrived on time for the meeting, unsurprised that Remus Lupin and Mei Chang-Elric were waiting for him as well as Alphonse Elric. As Heads of their departments it was to be expected, though Severus did have some reservations about working under Remus not as many as he would have had a few years ago. What was ore distracting was Edward Elric was already in the meeting as well as a tall blond man Severus had seen around but didn't know by name. He vaguely remembered seeing the man years ago in Reseembool after the bombing in Ishbal…or no, it was before that, when Severus has visited their desert base perhaps.
"This is Russell Tringham." Alphonse introduced as if understanding Severus' momentary confusion and knowing the brothers he had at least guessed. "He is the Head of the Alchemy Department now that I am no longer an option. I do not recall if you have ever met in person."
"In passing only, sir." Tringham said politely in the way all that were familiar with Alphonse's case tended to answer. The was sorrow in his tone but not pity. None seemed to pity the man. He turned his attention to Severus, "We are unlikely to have any direct contact unless we have a problem child, since your department is separate. I still felt it was best we were acquainted. The more we support each other, the smoother things run for the students."
"I agree." Severus nodded, turning to Remus. "I assume I will report directly to you more often than not?"
"Yes, though we have monthly meetings for everyone on staff to compare notes." Alphonse replied before anyone else could. "As you can imagine, I feel it is very important ot keep your notes up to date, and your reports filed on time. Now for this year and next, you will me on a modified short week schedule, after we can evaluate the situation and you can become a full member of the staff or be let go. Do not worry your first review is still months away."
"Thank you sir, I would also like to address another concern when the meeting is over." Severus said with a small flicker as he worried about the family he had grown close to over the years. He was also concerned for his godson Draco. He had learned through a contact that Draco was believed dead by the Ministry. This meant that Severus wanted everyone to be extra careful over the next few weeks to watch out for outsiders. It was unlikely that anyone had crossed the boundary, though they all agreed better prepared and nothing a happened than to assume all was well and be caught unprepared.
"Yes, I will need to speak with you and Alphonse as well after the meeting." Edward said with a small frown that always concerned Severus though no one else seemed concerned.
Shortly afterward the meeting broke up and the others filed out leaving Severus with the Elrics. He quickly explained that it was believed that Draco had died, which worked in their favor in some ways but on the other hand it also put Xerxes at bigger risk should anyone learn Draco was enrolled here or Severus was one of their teachers and Lucius Malfoy managed the impossible to reach the school.
Edward was quick to remind him that should that happen, Yuery was likely to be a bigger distraction. Alphonse then assured both men that the school was safe and nothing changed in their plans aside from additional security the next few weeks.
With neither brother concerned Severus relaxed slightly then. They understood the protections around the school better than he had since it was a mix of magic, alchemy, and technology of Edward's creation since he liked to remain busy. They still had months before Draco began school as well, which put them in a better position to prepare and plan for such a risk.