"Alright you lot, line up!" Alastor barked at the assembled group of teens. Ron glanced nervously at Harry, both of them still slightly awkward after Mrs Weasely's refusal to apologise and subsequent letter to Ron asking him to carefully consider the friendship.
As they all scrambled into position, Severus noticed with amusement that Harry, Hermione, Susan and Draco had their wands already in their hands, their eyes tracking the unpredictable auror suspiciously. A suspicion that turned out to be completely rational as the man landed a stinging jinx on Fred making the boy yelp.
"What the hell!"
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Moody roared, making them all jump. "Those four already have their wands out. They're prepared for me to attack! Unlike you who'd be dead." As if to prove his point he sent a stinging hex at Susan, who blocked it.
"Right," Fred muttered, pulling his wand from his pocket, the others quickly following suit.
Moody nodded. "Right, let's see what you've got. Disarming first I think. Winners take on each other. We'll have Malfoy with Granger-Snape, Nott with Potter, Bones with whatever twin you are." he pointed to George. "Longbottom with the younger male Weasley and the unprepared twin with his sister. Now go."
Moody walked around them all, while Severus watched. Most of them were rusty although he was pleased to see Hermione's lessons over the summer had done her the world of good. She no longer hesitated and had Draco's wand in her hand before he could blink. Harry beat Theo, Susan beat George, Neville surprisingly beat Ron and Ginny beat Fred, much to his disgust.
"Right, Longbottom you're with the female Weasley. Potter with Bones, let's see how you are against one another and Granger-Snape, you're with me." Hermione's wide eyes met his briefly before she squared her shoulders and marched towards Moody. "Change of plan. First to land a stinging jinx wins."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'm beginning to take this personally, you know." She muttered, Moody just grinned.
Severus watched as Hermione dodged and weaved, she was never going to win this but she put up a good fight given that Alastor was an auror and she was thirteen. By the time she lost, Neville had hit Ginny and Harry had hit Susan and they were all watching her. She yelped as a hex finally made contact.
"See what she did there?" Moody asked the assembled group. "She moved rather than standing still. It's much harder to hit a moving opponent and far less taxing on your magic if you doge rather than constantly deflect. We'll practise that in a minute, but first, Longbottom, Potter, you're up. Disarming or stinging jinx, either wins. Go!"
It was a closer call than Severus had expected, perhaps all Longbottom had needed all along was a wand of his own. Harry beat him, just, managing to disarm him while Neville dodged his last jinx.
"Interesting." Moody muttered. "Right. Nott you're with Granger-Snape. Lets see if you can manage to hex your girlfriend. Potter you're with Malfoy, Bones with the twin you weren't with before. Longbottom with the other one. Youngest Weasleys together. Keep going until I shout switch. Disarming or stinging jinx only. I want to see movement! Go!"
It was utter fucking chaos. Longbottom tripped over Ron trying to dodge making them both fall, Ginny hesitated unsure if it was unsporting to hit someone already down, Fred and George kept trading places when they thought no one was looking, Theo refused to send stinging jinxes at Hermione who used that to her full advantage, far too amused Harry and Draco had stopped to watch as Theo almost danced as he dogged her rapid fire wandwork.
"ENOUGH!" Moody bellowed, "Bloody hell. What was that? You!" he pointed to Ginny, "If your opponent's down, use it to your advantage. You two….unorthodox but not a bad tactic to switch places. Uses too much energy moving if you're evenly matched with your opponent though. You!" he pointed at Neville, "Watch your space! If this had been real you'd be dead becuase you fucking tripped! You two!" Harry and Draco had the sense to look contrite. "Is battle funny? Do you think your opponent would just let you stand and have a good giggle at another's fight?" they shook their heads, "NO! You shouldn't have been aware of what they were doing beyond checking if the one on your side needed help. Which he did. For fucks sake Nott, your girlfriend is not a delicate little flower. She anhialtaed you because you were too much of a gentleman to fucking hex the witch! You can be gentlemanly out of my training sessions. Here, you do as I say and bloody hit her back!"
"Yes, Sir." Theo mumbled.
Moody looked at Hermione. "Good girl." Severus snorted. Ruthless little witch. He'd never been prouder. "Right, Granger-Snape with Potter. I at least know he won't go easy on you. Malfoy with…..pick a twin. Nott, take the other, Longbottom with the female Weasley, Bones with the last male one. Go!"
All of them concentrated harder this time. Susuan was dominating Ron, which did not overly surprise him given her additional training with Amelia. Ginny was surprisingly nimble. He wondered if it came from having to navigate so many brothers, she appeared to be giving Longbottom a bit of a workout if nothing else, the boy's wandwork was superior but she was definitely quicker. Theo and Fred were evenly matched as were Draco and George. It was interesting to see, the twins, like their sister were nimble, where the Slytherins had years extra training thanks to Pureblood tutors making their wandwork sharper, the Twins were better at dodging. Probably thanks to years of dodging teachers and their mother after one of their pranks, Severus mused. Harry and Hermione were also almost even. Harry was quicker with his wand, although Hermione was better than she had been before the summer, closing the gap slightly, and they both dodged well, clearly having learned from his training.
"TIME!" Moody roared, all of them stopping instantly, breathing heavily. "Better. Weasley's, we'll start working on your wandwork next week, the others are better. Malfoy, Nott, Longbottom, all of you need to work on stamina and movement. Granger-Snape, Bones, you need to work on putting more power behind your spells and casting quicker. Potter you're going to help me teach."
Harry's eyes widened, "What?"
"Teach! You move, you cast quickly and there's nothing I can correct with these two spells. Don't get complacent, we'll move onto harder things soon."
"I…ah, are you sure?"
"Questioning my judgement, boy?"
"No, Sir."
"Good." Moody nodded satisfied. "Homework. I want all of you to start some form of exercise. Professor Snape, Granger-Snape and Potter run. I'm sure you could join them."
Severus shot a venomous glare at Moody. No. No he wasn't starting a fucking running club. The man could piss off.
"Or….we could start a football club!" Draco exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
"What the hell is football?" Alastor asked.
"It involves running after a ball….." Draco explained vaguely, "And training involves weaving, quick movements and building stamina."
"Aye. Very good." Moody nodded approvingly. "Do that. I expect to see it in action next week before we get started."
Theo groaned, having vivid flashbacks to being shoved in between two jumpers before Harry took great delight in kicking a ball at him. Repeatedly. The thought of adding in the Weasley twins to that made him want to shudder. Severus smirked, correctly imagining what the boy was thinking. It would be amusing if nothing else.
He left them planning the logistics of football training, with Harry, Draco and Hermione trying their best to explain the point of it to everyone else, and headed to the Manor. Lucius was pacing when he arrived, his face pale.
"Second thoughts?" he smirked, moving to pour himself a drink.
As he whirled round to look at him, Severus realised how unhinged Lucius looked. "No! No second thoughts but….you didn't have to listen to you scream."
"Ah. Well this time I'll get to listen to you scream." he offered
"Not helping, arsehole!" Lucius growled.
Narcissa led Saul into the room moments later, preventing Severus from speaking further.
"Right, ready for this?" Saul asked, his face usually serious.
"No." Lucius groused.
Saul snorted, "No I imagine not. Bill and Violet will be here shortly but before they are, any questions?"
"Will it be the same as Severus'?"
"No. Yours has a different intent. Most of it will be the same but the anchor is different. We won't know how it'll react until we get there."
"How wonderfully reassuring." Lucius snarked.
"Blame the bastard that branded you, Malfoy, not the one removing it. Now. On the bed. I'll go and meet the others and get changed then we'll strap you down." Saul responded cheerfully.
"He is far too cheerful for this." Lucius muttered.
"Be quiet and do as you're told. Why I needed to be here I have no idea." Severus groused.
"Because I had to witness yours, it seemed only fair to return the favour."
Severus rolled his eyes, allowing the silence to fall as they waited on the others arriving. Twenty minutes later, all of them entered in Unspeakable garb. He watched with interest as one of them quickly coated the straps in…..something before tying them around Lucius' limbs, ensuring they touched bare skin. Sneaky fucking arseholes! That's how they'd dosed him! The indecipherable diagnostic was back in the air, and the wards were up. Narcissa gripped his hand tightly as they watched one of the team point their wand at Lucius' exposed mark. The screaming began instantly and Narcissa's grip tightened to the point of pain. They had let his children witness this! What the fuck were they thinking? It was beyond fucking horrific. Every instinct in him wanted to dispel the wards and stop what was clearly fucking torture. He used Narcissa to anchor him. Neither of them speaking as their eyes remained trained on Lucius.
The first difference appeared to be the lack of smoke. Something oily, tar-like appeared to seeping from Lucius' arm, his nose, his mouth and horrifyingly, his eyes. Narcissa whimpered and tightened her grip. The removal team moved in quick, jerky motions, their wands almost a blur as they cast. Severus was beyond grateful he had no idea what they were saying. Finally, the screaming stopped, Lucius going limp, the teams movements becoming quicker as green fog began to cover them.
"What's happening?" Narcissa asked, frantically. "Yours was nothing like that! Lucius showed me so I would be prepared!"
"Saul said the reactions would be different due to us having different anchors." Severus attempted to soothe, his voice shaking. They couldn't see anything now, the inside of the warded bubble was nothing more than a writhing mass of green smoke. They waited, for what felt like days, neither of them daring to voice the fears that were slowly taking over. Finally, the smoke began to clear revealing a still limp Lucius and three visibly exhausted people in unspeakable robes. It had taken four hours. Saul dispelled the wards with an exhausted wave of his hand.
"Is he alright?" It struck Severus then how hard this had been for Cissa, she would never have allowed her emotions to show so plainly otherwise.
"He is stable. I imagine he'll sleep for a while. It was successful though."
She let out something nearing a sob as she moved to fling herself on Lucius, her head pressed to his chest as if reassuring herself that he was indeed still breathing.
"Thank you for today." Saul murmured as Violet and Bill removed their hoods.
They nodded tiredly, "We're going to head. I feel like I could sleep for a week." Bill murmured.
Saul sunk down onto the sofa beside Severus, waving them away.
"Well that one was gruesome. Easier to remove than yours, it definitely fought less but I'll be having nightmares about that black goo for fucking weeks. It kept trying to connect with our skin. I've never been so fucking grateful for our robes. We've kept some though," he grinned. "I want to see what happens if it was to hit skin."
"You are insane." Severus replied, horrified.
"Quite possibly." Saul agreed, "Keeps things interesting though, doesn't it?"
Severus groaned, dropping his head into his hands "Arse." he muttered.
The castle was reassuringly quiet as he walked, as satisfying as catching students out of bed was, he had to admit that the peace was nice. Lucius had taken two days to wake up, the relief he felt when he finally got Cissa's owl informing him highlighted how stressed he had been while he waited. It didn't help that he had had to endure Theodore fucking Nott almost surgically attached to Hermione's side. It might have been the cretins birthday but that didn't mean he had to like it. All he really wanted tonight was a book and a whiskey and quiet.
"We really need to get you back to your tower." He paused at the sound of the whisper, hearing nothing before wincing at the clear sound of kissing. Fuck. He should have known he'd catch someone. Although tower implied Gryffindor. And he loved removing points from them. He remained still, trying to pinpoint the direction of the noise.
"Ugh, fine. Quietly though." There was a pause and a kiss. "Happy birthday." Fuck. Oh fucking fuck no! He knew that fucking voice. And now he wanted to vomit. Or break something…..bones perhaps. Did the entire world fucking hate him?
"One of the better ones." Someone chuckled. "Come on Princess, back to the tower with you. If your Father catches us he'll murder me."
"Indeed he will, Mr Nott." Severus ground out quietly, his voice dangerous as he attempted to figure out how to deal with this. Both teens startled, their eyes going wide as they jumped apart. "Fifty points from Slytherin for being out after curfew and a month's detention, with me." The little cretin still wasn't moving. "GO!" he barked.
In a move which made Severus question how the fuck the boy wasnt a Gryffindor, Theo turned to Hermione. "Goodnight Princess." He pressed a kiss to her lips before moving, a chaste kiss. But still a fucking kiss. On his daughter. His daughter who was glaring at him. "Six weeks detention, Mr Nott!" Severus snarled at the boys retreating back. "And you!" Hermione arched a brow. "I'll apologise for being out after curfew, we lost track of time but I won't apologise for kissing him."
Severus spluttered, he really, really didn't want to know what had made them lose track of time. "Go to bed!" He roared, finally, "I'll deal with you in the morning when I can resist the urge to shake you! And fifty points from Gryffindor!"
Hermione levelled a look at him that under any other circumstances he'd have been fucking proud of, now though, he needed her to be less like him and more…actally he wasnt sure. More something…less something? Less stubborn? More…..obedient? No that wasn't right. Not really. Fuck. His bloody walk was ruined. And he hadn't even enjoyed removing those fucking points. He needed to speak to someone. An actual fucking adult. An actual fucking adult who would be on his side. Jean and Amelia were likely out. Richard would hardly temper his anger…..Saul? No. He'd take Hermione's side. Lucius? No the arsehole would laugh at him. Cissa? She'd probably take Hermione's side too unless he reminded her of courting traditions….although she and Lucius hadn't stuck to them, regardless of what she taught the children. Minerva? Maybe….she'd say the six weeks detention were excessive though and make him take some time back. And he really, really didn't want to. Six weeks meant he had six weeks to relax. Six weeks where he didn't have to worry about finding the little arsehole defiling his daughter in abandoned hallways. The….wolf? Hmmmm It was an interesting idea. An unsettling one. Was the wolf an adult? What the fuck was this odd fucking relationship they had? The man was his greatest fear….once a month. The rest of the time he was wore fucking cardigans for fucks sake. He couldn't be scared of a man who wore fucking cardigans surely? And he had admitted the wolf didn't like Theo touching Hermione. Which meant he'd be on his side, surely?
Making a snap decision he finished his rounds with purpose and strode to the wolf's door.
"Severus?" Remus asked, peering at him from the doorway. "Is everything alright?"
"I caught Theodore Nott with Hermione in an empty corridor." he blurted.
Remus looked slightly confused "Oh?"
"He was fucking kissing her and she refused to apologise. The little fucker had the audacity to kiss her goodnight right in front of me before he left!"
Remus growled before collecting himself looking torn between wanting to murder Theo and laughing. It was a confusing mix. "Come in." Severus perched himself on the sofa as he took in the wolf's den. It was….redder than his rooms. It made Severus feel like he'd stepped inside a fire. The sofa was comfy though, which was something. "What did you do?"
"I ah…took fifty points each and gave Theodore a month's detention before increasing it to six weeks after he kissed her again."
"No detention for Hermione?"
"I told her I'd deal with her in the morning. Hopefully the urge to shake her will have passed by then."
Remus snorted. "Moony wholeheartedly approves. However…."
"For fucks sake! You too!"
Remus held up his hands placatingly. "Look, this relationship is….odd. A good odd, don't get me wrong, I expected much more hostility but….as someone who doesn't particularly want to rock the boat, I'm sure you can imagine how novel it is to eat three times a day with my condition." Severus paused, having admittedly not given much thought to how a known werewolf survived in a world that really didn't fucking want them. "All I was going to say was, Hermione is almost fourteen, this week, yes?" He nodded reluctantly. "And Theo was fourteen today….it was…just kissing. If you keep acting like she's a child rather than a teenager she's going to kick back. It is clear to anyone who sees you that that girl absolutely adores you, don't give her a reason for that to change because you can't accept she's growing up."
For fucks sake why did eveyone keep saying the same fucking thing? Didint they know he'd just got her and now that little fucker was trying to take her away? He froze at that thought, prodding it slightly. Was that it? He was worried about losing her to Theodore fucking Nott?
Remus watched him with a slight smile. "I don't think I've seen the mask off for so long since you were a first year." he commented lightly.
"Yes well when your emotions are used against you it is usually wise to keep them hidden." he replied wryly.
Remus stilled. "I….I meant to apologise when I got here, you know. I know I apologised for…well for the stunt in fifth year but I never apologised for allowing them to target you like that. Its….no excuse but, I never thought I'd get to come here. To get to learn magic like normal people was so beyond outlandish a thought that I never even dreamt of it. And then when I had friends….actual real friends, who when they found out about the lycanthropy, still wanted me….well I'd have done absolutely anything to keep them. I'm sorry that I didn't see how wrong that was, that I allowed my fear of rejection to keep me from stopping them. We made your life hell and sorry isn't really adequate."
"No." Severus replied slowly, attempting to untangle how he felt about his. "No it isn't."
"I don't have any other words, I'm…trying to be less of an arse." Remus continued, looking unsure. Severus snorted. "I don't want to be that person and you've been surprisingly unhostile. I'd really like not to fuck that up. I….don't actually have many friends anymore. I don't trust myself to make decent judgement calls." Severus' eyebrows rose to his hairline. Was the wolf asking to be his friend? Fuck. Could he? Did he want to? Did he not have enough interfering arseholes in his life? But….he had come here, hadn't he? He had chose to do that, albeit because he wanted someone to tell him he was right in the handling of Theo. Not that he had. He'd fucking told him he was wrong.
"I'm not altogether sure what to say." he replied slowly. "I…accept your apology. I don't know if I'll ever be ready to be….friends but I can manage…friendly? Fuck that didnt even make sense."
Remus huffed out a laugh. "I'll take friendly. What do you intend to do about Hermione?"
"I dont know." Severus replied softly, "I feel like I've just got her and already everyone keeps telling me I need to let her go."
Remus' face softened. "Letting her grow up isnt letting her go, it's normal. Your situation is unusual and I imagine it's difficult given how much time you were deprived of, but if you think for one minute that girl is going to move out, get married, whatever she chooses to do, and then never see you again, you've not been paying attention. I've only been here five minutes and I already know you're going to be the Grandfather who hosts the whole damn family, the one she brings the kids to so you can teach them potions and if rumour is to be believed, run about the garden having water fights, the one she bounces work ideas off of. She might grow up, but she won't be going far."
Severus gaped at him for a moment. "Who the fuck told you about the water fights?"
Remus laughed, properly. "I know Kingsley Shacklebolt reasonably well from my repeated handing in of various, utterly pointless, job applications at the Ministry. He mentioned it."
"Fucking wonderful." Severus muttered, allowing the conversation to fall into….not small talk but less specific topics. It was more pleasant than he had anticipated.
"Sit down." he spoke softly, marshalling his thoughts. She was glaring at him still. "I….I will not apologise for being annoyed at finding you out after curfew." he began. "I….Jesus Hermione I don't know how to do this." She stopped glaring at him in her surprise.
"Do what?"
"I had a conversation with Professor Lupin."
"Pardon?"
"I….he pointed out that you were growing up. And it made me think….And. Oh for fucks sake." he ran a hand agitatedly down his face. Why the fuck was this so difficult? "I feel like I missed out on so much. I've not even had you a year and Thoros is on at me to sign something that allows his son to take you away, everyone keeps telling me you're growing up and I have to let you. And….and I really don't want to because I've only just got you and all I really want is to freeze time so I can keep you a bit longer."
"Oh Father." she sighed, her eyes suspiciously glassy. "You're a bloody idiot sometimes, you know?" Hadn't Harry said exactly the same thing not that long ago. Cheeky little shits. "You've got me forever," she murmured into his buttons, her arms tight around him. "I'll always be here, I'm not just going to disappear because I leave school or get married or have children. I love you"
"I love you too my girl." He mumbled. He couldn't fucking cry. What the hell was going on. Why did these people keep making him teary, it wasn't fair. This wasn't him. He was emotionally repressed, remember? The bastard bat of the dungeons. Bastards didn't cry!...Did bats?
"Father? You know you can't keep Theo in detention for six weeks for kissing me, right?"
He sighed, adjusting her slightly, away from the buttons, just in case. "I can't take it back, it'll make me look weak!"
He was sure she rolled her eyes, "It takes great strength to admit one's faults and apologise." she replied primly.
"I….I can't apologise!"
"You can." she snorted.
"But I don't want to." he replied petulantly.
"Father. For heaven's sake! Who is the adult?"
"Minerva." he replied decisively, making her laugh.
"You're ridiculous."
"I have it on good authority that you love me regardless, my girl."
She sighed, "Apparently. But, Father? If Theo is still in detention on my birthday I'm going to be displeased."
"But….if he's in detention then I won't find him with you doing unspeakable things!"
"You're so dramatic. It was a kiss. And I want children someday, you're going to have to stop this ridiculous stance you have."
"You can adopt!"
"And maybe I will but I'd like biological ones too."
"Then we'll find a way to make it happen without kissing."
"I'm pretty sure it can already happen without kissing," she mused almost idly, much to his horror.
"What?" he yelped, "No! No kissing, no contact. None. You can hold his hand. That's it."
She was laughing properly now. "I'm not joking!"
"I know, that's why it's funny."
He sighed, "Please don't make me a Grandfather anytime soon. I'm far too young."
She arched a brow at him, "You do realise that that's your own fault right? You had me at nineteen! I've never thought about it before but really, don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to be lecturing me about a kiss?"
His jaw dropped. For fucks sake. "But if you have a child at nineteen I'll only be thirty-eight! Hermione, you wouldn't do that to me would you? It's only four years away. You can't be considering children in four years!"
She snorted, "Of course I'm not. I intend to leave here with a Potions Mastery and whatever an apprenticeship with Saul gets me, what is the qualification by the way? Do you know?" not waiting for an answer, she continued, "And then, I think I'd like a Mastery in charms and maybe arithmancy, they go well with potions. And of course after that I need to establish a career. So children are going to have to wait until I'm at least thirty."
Severus gaped at her for a moment before he let out a loud, and relieved laugh. In all his panicking he'd forgotten it was his daughter he was dealing with. His daughter with a passion for academics that quite honestly rivalled anyone he'd ever encountered and an intelligence that set her apart from the bloody idiots he usually had to teach. He thanked all the gods listening, grateful beyond measure that he wasn't going to be a grandfather anytime soon and that she had a bloody plan that didn't actually revolve around Theodore bloody Nott. He wondered briefly if the boy realised before deciding he didn't actually care.
"I have no idea what an apprenticeship with Saul ends in, other than quite probably a job and a lifelong commitment to hooded robes and secrets." he admitted once he'd stopped laughing. "I suggest writing and asking. Has he sent you a project?"
"He sent me this." Hermione pulled a cube out of her robes with a disgruntled look. "I think he's trying to be funny."
Severus snorted, taking in the completed rubik's cube in his daughter's hand. "Ah. I have no idea. The man had never seen a water gun before."
Hermione looked horrified. "You mean you think he was serious?"
"Again I have no idea, I suggest asking." he replied amused.
"No but seriously, Father! Tell me he doesn't think it's actually a challenge?"
"To be fair, to many it is."
"Oh my God." she muttered. "I feel incredibly let down by him all of a sudden."
Severus patted her shoulder consolingly, hiding his grin.
"Mr Nott, please remain behind." Severus grit his teeth. He was going to have to do this wasn't he? He really, really didn't want to. He'd rather be doing just about anything….filing Albus' toenails, cleaning Hooch's ears….washing Pomona's back…cleaning Minerva's litter tray. Did Minerva have a litter tray? Was he brave enough to ask? Probably not right now….. It was a small comfort that Theo looked absolutely petrified. Apparently he had used up all his Gryfindorish bravado earlier in the week. Good that might make this nightmare easier.
"Is everything alright, Sir?" Theo ventured once the classroom emptied, his thoughts unbearably loud as he considered that Hermione handnt looked concerned so presumably he wasn't about to be murdered and turned into potions ingredients. Not today anyway.
Severus sighed, blocking him out before he seriously considered whether he could get away with harvesting the boy as indigents "It was pointed out to me that I should apologise."
"To me?" Theo squeaked. If he hadn't been feeling so bloody awkward, Severus would have laughed at the sound.
"Yes."
"You're apologising to me?"
"No. it was merely pointed out that I should." he replied bitingly. Fuck. He'd tell Hermione that wouldn't he? And she'd be annoyed. For fucking fucks sake! "However, I was perhaps….harsher than required the night of your birthday. I will reduce your detention to the ones served. However if I ever catch you out of bed after curfew and with my daughter I will ban you from every Hogsmede trip from now to Christmas, am I clear?"
Theo startled, looking at him warily as if he wasn't sure who he was. "Ah…yes, Sir."
"Go then Mr Nott." he barked.
Jumping, Theo all but bolted from the room. Severus let out a long breath. Thank fuck that was over. Two more classes and he could lose himself in a book and a whiskey and pretend today had never fucking happened.