Chapter 19

Aphigorial Nectar

Patience sat down in the little white chair by the fireplace and turned her gaze back towards her husband, who was standing beside a large leather wing chair and looking at her intently. After a few moments without either of them speaking, Patience shivered from the cold and pulled her pink wrap closer round. Almost immediately, she felt a blazing fire spring up next to her as Snape began to speak.

"You know that your brother came to see me today."

"Yes."

She watched him watching her as he continued, "We discussed the possibility of him doing some work for me. I know that he is not happy with his current position, since he has no time or access to materials for his research."

Patience nodded her head warily, waiting for whatever was coming.

"However, I did not explain to Luther exactly what sort of position I have in mind. I needed to know if he was available, but I won't talk with him again until I have discussed this with you."

Patience had a sudden feeling that she was going to hate whatever this was that Snape was about to tell her. He had the look of breaking difficult news similar to earlier that morning when he had told her about Govan.

"There are several reasons why I feel that Luther is the best choice to serve as your bodyguard and tutor. However, I will not force this on you. I promised to protect you from your family and I still intend to keep that promise."

"Please don't bring Luther here."

Snape nodded curtly and walked over to a closed cupboard, which he opened with his wand and pulled down a pair of small silver goblets and two bottles before turning and replying, "As I have said, the choice will ultimately remain with you. However, I need to place someone here who I can trust with your life and who I can rely upon not to betray me. Although I do not like your brother, I know that he is willing to take the Vow not to betray me or my family and Luther is more than capable of teaching you what I think you need to know."

"Why would he be willing to do that? What would he gain?"

Patience saw Snape smile slightly as he answered, "An excellent question. He does not wish to remain at your family's home because he is at odds with your parents. Additionally, I can provide him access to several sources that he wants badly for his research."

Patience stood and walked over to where Snape was standing with an open bottle in his hand. "I still don't understand: why Luther? Why not one of Eva's brothers? They are nice and very trustworthy. Or even Sarah's brother, Nolan? Luther does not like me, Severus. He will not be kind."

Patience kept her gaze trained on Snape's face, silently imploring him to answer her honestly. After a moment, Snape said, "I might trust Miss Rosser's brothers with your life; however I do not trust them. Perhaps you can imagine how it would look to allow a young, unmarried man to live with my wife whilst I am away, Patience."

Patience had not considered this point of view, but she could not disagree. It would not do her reputation any more good than it would his. "Is it really necessary to have someone staying here with me? Couldn't they come during the day to tutor me?"

Snape shook his head. "I have quite a number of enemies, Patience. This is why I do not like you to go out alone. Not everyone has heard of my marriage. Since I have chosen to leave you here instead of take you with me, then most people will make the error of assuming that you are of little consequence to me and therefore not worth the risk. However, the ones that will understand that your safety is of paramount importance to me are the wizards about whom I am most worried." Snape picked up the smaller of the two bottles and began to pour some of the contents into one of the ancient looking goblets. "These will be the most brutal wizards, who would be willing to do anything to achieve their goal, in fact much like myself. Because I know that hurting you is the first thing I would do in their place, I know that you are in danger. Since I know Luther is just as ruthless as I am, I feel he would be able to protect you like you will need." Snape set the oddly shaped bottle on an incidental table and held the goblet out towards Patience.

With only a moment of hesitation, Patience took the proffered goblet and looked inside. It was filled with a frothy, golden yellow liquid. "You think that someone would try to kill me?"

Snape nodded, "I know they would if they thought that there was little risk to themselves. That is why I want to improve your security. I would never have considered Govan, yet Luther is intelligent enough to know that it is in his interests to protect you for me, so he would. However, I need to know if you are willing to have him here."

Patience sat back down, holding her goblet, and tried to consider what it would be like living with her brother. "It is hard to imagine Luther being protective, since he allowed Govan to torment me."

"I understand that. I remember both your brothers quite well, Patience. They were in my house, if you remember, so I received quite a number of complaints about Govan. Luther has always been very attached to his twin, even though Govan has never shown much affection in return. The only other thing for which Luther has ever cared is his research, Patience. With Govan gone, as he soon will be, Luther will be vulnerable, which will be useful for us. Go ahead and drink, Patience. I think you will like it."

Patience took a small sip and then eagerly took another. She could not have described the taste other than that it was sweet and made her think of flowers, but it was the loveliest tasting drink she had ever had. "I do like it! What is it?"

"Aphigorial nectar. Do not get too used to it, since it costs at minimum 300 Galleons per bottle. We have a few more in the cellar from my great-grandmother's time."

"I've never heard of it. It is wonderful."

"You may have more if you wish."

Patience finished her goblet and handed it back to Snape who refilled it for her. She was conscious of a floating feeling of intense relaxation and began to wonder if her drink had anything in it. "Is the drink a potion?"

The corner of Snape's mouth lifted slightly as he said, "Not a potion, it is a tincture. It comes from one flower. Potions are prepared from two or more ingredients."

"What I meant was does it do something to me when I drink it?"

"Just gives you a pleasant feeling of contentment, nothing more. I am not drugging you into compliance, if that is what you are asking. I merely thought you would like the treat."

Patience accepted the refilled goblet with a smile. "Yes, thank you. If I said yes and Luther came, but he was horrid to me could I tell him to leave?"

"Yes. I will explain to him that he is working for you and therefore must follow your instructions. However, there will be certain guidelines that I will set out that the both of you must obey."

Patience smiled suddenly and asked, "Luther would have to listen to me?"

"Yes."

Patience laughed lightly and said, "Then I will do it. What would he be teaching me?"

Snape turned round to set his own goblet back on the ledge of the cupboard and poured out another jigger of Bloodwhisky for himself. "Simple charms that you ought to know for defence and household management. I understand that Wicket does most things for you, which is perfectly fine; however, Wicket will not always be available. For example I have noticed that you do not properly light the lamps—your spell causes a waste of fuel."

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment Patience murmured, "I'm sorry. I didn't know that I did it wrong."

"You will find your life easier if you can manage simple things for yourself. I also want you to be able to perform spells like a simple Banishing Charm."

Patience nodded and replied, "I wish I knew those spells, too. I have tried."

"You shall try again and with Luther working with you individually you may have more success. I will owl him tomorrow then and discuss the terms of the position with him. I would like to have him installed here before I leave for Hogwarts."

"When do you leave?"

Snape leant back into his chair and pulled something out of his pocket as he said, "In just over a week. I have to return two days before the students to prepare."

"Will you be here during that time or do you have more trips to take?"

Snape shook his head and took a long drink from his goblet. "I am not travelling; however I shall be gone much of the time during the day."

Patience set her empty goblet down on the delicate ebony table by her chair and fleetingly hoped that Biter was not eating any more of her shoes. She saw Snape place a small glass bottle on his reading table and then look over at her.

"I have something else for you."

Patience recognised the bottle in Snape's hand, since she had an identical one sitting downstairs in her room where Eva had placed it.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Yes."

She could see that he was surprised and perhaps slightly relieved.

"Good. Then you will understand why I am giving it to you. I would imagine that you did not learn the Contraceptive Charms?"

"No, they won't teach those to you if you haven't at least an OWL in Charms."

"This is equally effective if you remember to take it within one moon rise. Do you know how to take it?"

Patience was flushed a deep crimson red and avoided his eyes as she answered, "Yes, Eva told me."

"Ah. I am not telling you to take it, Patience. You make your own decision. However, I am giving you the choice either way."

"Oh." Did one say thank you? She supposed she should be grateful that he was not trying to impose his own view. It was odd how apathetic she felt one way or the other and even odder that he had used the same words as Eva had that morning.

Patience looked up and saw him swish his wand at her goblet to refill it for her. He was being uncommonly agreeable. He had allowed her to make the choice about Luther and he had been unusually patient about explaining it all to her.

As Patience drained her goblet of Aphigorial nectar, she wondered why he had taken the trouble to be almost nice to her. He was a terribly complex wizard. Did anyone actually like him? Did he have friends?

Patience lifted her hand to her neck and ran one finger along the necklace. Eva had begged to be allowed to try it on when she had seen it. The size of the ruby alone had excited her friend. However, Patience had remembered in time that he had told her that it would harm another witch.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

Patience tried to readjust herself in the seat, but the chair seemed abnormally small. "Would it really be bad for Eva to try on the necklace?"

"Extremely. Do not let anyone else put it on, Patience."

Quite uncharacteristically, Patience suddenly decided to take off her shoes and curl up her legs in the chair. "What would happen?"

"It would put them under a sleeping curse. It would be very messy to undo, so do not let your friends play with your necklace. I have warned you about that."

Patience heard his voice taking on its more usual tenor of exasperation and sighed. The nicer Severus Snape could not have lasted for long. "I'm awfully sleepy."

Patience saw him get up and walk across to where she was sitting. He put out his hand and helped her to stand. "Come then."

A petite, heavily freckled young woman with vibrant, flaming red hair leant across the table and said conspiratorially, "Well, I want something really gooey and chocolaty. Don't you, Sarah?"

The slightly plump blonde girl to whom she had been talking nodded her head seriously, "Double chocolate and fudgy. What about you Eva?"

Eva Rosser tossed her shiny black head and said decidedly, "Well if Patience is going to get her usual nutty, sticky mess, and you two are getting chocolate, why don't I get the lemon cake and we can share it all?"

The red-headed girl exclaimed, "No, no, get the apple cake, I hate lemon."

Eva replied hastily, "Sorry, Elspeth, I had forgotten. That is fine. You do want your walnut cake, right Patty?"

Patience, who had been digging in her bag as the other girls had talked, looked up and said with a laugh, "Yes, of course. When have I ordered anything else? Place the order for me? I will be back in a few minutes."

Sarah slid her chair so that Patience could get by and then turned round to face Eva with a thrilled look on her face. "Quick, whilst Patty is in the loo, you have to finish telling us about it."

Elspeth almost choked on the glass of frothing green liquid that she was sipping as she hurried to add, "Yes, because I don't believe a word of it."

Eva nodded her head. "I didn't either at first, but you know what I mean. He had that look that Freddie gets every time he sees you walk into the room, Sarah."

"What look? What do you mean?"

Elspeth spoke with some asperity, "I've told you before. Freddie Boyne looks as if someone lit him up like a Christmas tree every time he sees you, Sarah." Elspeth looked at Eva and grinned, "If there was anyone more oblivious than our Sarah, I don't know who."

Eva continued with asperity, "You know perfectly well what we mean, Sarah. Frederick Boyne worships you. Anyway, when Patty and I walked in that musty old, formal drawing room and he saw her, Professor Snape just looked like Christmas had come early with extra presents. Yet it was a fleeting moment, ever so brief, so I told myself that I had been mistaken. That's why I watched him all through that farcical tea."

Elspeth said seriously, "I can't imagine sitting to tea with Professor Snape. I think I would be afraid I'd spill my tea over the cloth and put an elbow in the jam."

Eva nodded, "It was unnerving, but both Professor Snape and his cousin were perfectly civil, if painfully formal. However, I suppose nothing worse than eating with your family, Elspeth. Anyway, whilst Patience was busy trying to be polite to Professor Snape's tedious cousin, I was able to watch Snape himself. I am quite serious, girls, he is in love with Patience."

Both Elspeth and Sarah exclaimed, "No!"

Eva nodded her head and leant in closer to whisper, "I didn't tell Patty because I'm not sure she should know yet. It might be too much for her to take in, don't you think? She's still upset about Luther and Govan."

Sarah asked, "Is she really? I'd have thought she'd be rather pleased to be rid of Govan. Whoever his sap supplier was should get a 'Services to the Wizarding Community' award for preventing future nastiness, really."

Elspeth laughed lightly and Eva smiled before saying, "Govan is a horror. The sooner he succumbs, the better. Patty feels guilty for not being sad, I think. Yet I can't believe that Professor Snape is bringing Luther into the house."

Elspeth said softly, "I know. He's been a beast to her forever and now he's going to be her tutor."

Sarah added thoughtfully, "It is a pity, you know? Luther is one of the nicest looking wizards we know. So many of those really rotten Slytherins are, too. Remember Icarus Burke?"

Eva shrugged, "Yes, of course, but I haven't forgotten Flint or Bole either, so I don't think that Slytherins tend to be better looking."

Sarah flushed pink with embarrassment and hurried to explain, "I didn't mean that, Eva. I just meant that so often the worst of the Slytherins manage to be rather good looking and it's such a waste."

Elspeth sighed softly, "I had a crush on one in first-year, but as soon as you find out how evil they are inside all the attractiveness disappears. I couldn't even look at half the Ravenclaws. They're so conceited. 'We're all so clever. We are the smartest house.' You know."

Sarah smiled gratefully at Elspeth and said, "That's true, but Euan was an exception."

Elspeth smiled brightly, "Yes, he is, and he's all Ravenclaw. Too bright for that job as all-round dogsbody they've given him in International Cooperation."

Eva smiled. "I like Euan. He will do very well at the Ministry, Ella. Don't worry. They will see his potential soon. But I'm worried about Patty with Luther coming to live there."

Sarah pushed back her curly blond hair from her face and said, "Yes. He is just going to bully her into a depression. She's only just starting to come back to herself. I'm afraid she'll be ill again."

Eva nodded and looked behind Sarah's head towards the lavatory doors. "I wonder what is taking her so long. Perhaps I had better go find her."