Chapter 51
"Are you ready then," Mira called down to them.
Filius nodded, then realized that the elf couldn't see him from where he was...way down in Albus's grave. Squeezing his eyes closed, the charms master took a deep steadying breath. "Can you take my hand, Albus," he asked, reaching downward, and hoping he didn't accidentally touch the coffin and set off another round of his own screaming. After a moment of what was likely Albus fumbling about in the darkness and mid air, Filius felt a firm grip on his hand. "We're ready," Filius called up to Mira. With a pop the two were on the floor of the library of WestCraven manor.
"I filled in the grave, Apparating the dirt back in place as we left," Mira told Filius. Then with a frown she added, "What was all the screaming about? I had to put up a barrier of silence charm so the entire school wouldn't come running."
Filius doubted the entire school would've heard his screams from all the way outside, but perhaps Hagrid may have or one of the ghosts, and one person knowing what had just happened was one too many. Sighing he nodded. "Thank you, Mira. I have a fear of graves and I must have gotten a little set off."
Severus, who had rushed to embrace Albus and ask if he was alright turned to Filius with an incredulous look and highly raised brows. "Graves?"
Filius shuddered. "Don't judge me."
"I wasn't judging," Severus said.
"Well don't question a man's fears," Filius snapped. "Are fears ever rational?"
"Sometimes." It was Raislen who had spoken from across the room where he stood beside a corner book shelf. "Welcome to our home, Headmaster. It's good to see you again...alive especially," he added to Dumbledore.
Albus gave a faint smile as he allowed Severus to help him into the nearest chair. "Thank you, Raislen. It's nice to see you again."
"The hospitality of our home is yours. You will stay for as long as you need, or Severus will lose his mind," Raislen said with a boyish grin.
"I don't want to put your family to any trouble," Albus said.
"We need you for this fight. Consider this us doing our part," Raislen insisted.
"Then thank you very much," Albus said. "I'm certain no one will look for me here."
"You've not eaten in three days so you need to do that," Severus said. "Mira, can you bring him something?"
The elf nodded and vanished with a crack.
"I've also slept for three days, but I'm sure I shall feel hungry soon," Albus said.
"Right now I must admit to still feeling rather drugged."
"I'm just glad it worked," Severus said fervently.
"And that you both are safe," Mag added with a sigh.
"Right now I get to play the role of wanted criminal," Severus told Albus with a frown of displeasure. "Because it played out as it did, everyone believes I murdered you for Voldemort."
"Severus, I am so sorry it came to that," Albus said regretfully.
Severus shrugged. "Hopefully this too shall pass." Most things did after all, eventually.
"Of course I shall clear your name as soon as it is possible. I will reveal myself as alive and well the instant I'm certain it won't ruin all we've set in motion thus far," Albus promised.
Severus nodded, shrugging. "I really don't care what people think aside from getting locked up in Azkaban for a murder I did not commit."
"I promise, that won't happen," Albus said.
Severus frowned. "I'm still more upset about the fact you actually asked me to kill you than what any idiots who never liked me anyway wrongly believe that I did!"
Albus sighed. "Why must we revisit this again? I told you that I don't know what came over me, Severus. I have apologized many times over."
Severus's mouth remained tightly set. "I just don't understand how a wizard like you, of such high moral standing could ask me to do something that you believe would rip my soul."
"I wouldn't have asked you, had I been in my right mind, Severus," Albus said, tone tired and resigned.
"Leave him alone, Severus," Raislen chastised. "He just woke up from a three day long sleep after helping you fake his death. He's alive and safe. Just be grateful for that."
Mira returned with a tray of food and hot tea for Albus before Severus could reply. The tray held a plate of sliced fruit, ham and cheese and a bowl of chicken soup. There was even a slice of chocolate cake for dessert. Of course as soon as Albus took the tray and thanked Mira, he went directly for the chocolate cake. As the headmaster ate, Severus filled him in on what had happened after he injected himself with Severus's draft of fake death.
"You did well," Albus said. "Getting the Death Eaters cleared out of the school before fleeing yourself was admirable." Severus scowled as if given an insult rather than a compliment. "I am sorry that you had to deal with Harry pursuing you, but I couldn't risk telling him of our plan considering his unfortunate connection to Voldemort."
Severus knew that, of course, but the memory of stupid worthless waste of space Harry bloody Potter actually calling him a coward still enraged him. Dealing with Voldemort as he did took more bravery than anything Potter would ever do in his redundant life. "Did you tell anyone," Severus asked. "Other than the residents of this house and Filius, who else knows that you live?"
"I told Minerva, because for many reasons she needed to be aware. I also confided in Poppy Pomfrey in case I happened to need medical attention. I am quite aware that you want me to live, after all."
"Thank you," Severus said, actually making an effort not to sound too grumpy.
"I thought I could return to Hogwarts in a few weeks. The students will be cleared out, and I can lay low while I continue to work on weakening Voldemort so that Harry might easily kill him." Because the worthless prat obviously needed quite literally all the help he could get, Severus thought darkly. "I plan to turn one of the castle's secret passages into comfortable enough living quarters for myself, and no one will find me there. There will surely be a new headmaster and a potions master as well. Will you be remaining here?"
Severus shrugged. "Here or Spinner's End," he said. "I tend to divide my time between both. Will you be needing help with whatever it is you're doing to weaken Voldemort?"
Albus shook his head regretfully. "While your help would admittedly be beneficial, I must utilize other, lesser minds. I can't risk putting you too close to this in case Voldemort happens to notice. You have enough to hide from him and I don't wish to add to your burden."
"Thank you," Mag told him before Severus could object.
Over the next few weeks things were rather low key considering. The WestCravens were generous hosts to Albus, encouraging him to enjoy their library, and in Heather's case, even making treats for him rather than having Mira do it.
"I made him sliced apples dipped in caramel once when he gave me detention for compelling James Potter to drink toilet water," Heather explained when Mag gave the tray of caramel coated sliced apples in Heather's hands a confused look.
They were in the library, and Albus eagerly put down the book he was reading to reach for the tray. "I remember. As I recall, I even let you out of your detention an hour early for that." Turning to Mag he smiled. "Candy apples are usually on a stick. Not all sliced up and your Mum made it so much nicer with the slices entirely covered in caramel and no bothersome apple core to deal with." He redirected his gaze to Heather. Thank you so much, Heather. Just as they did twenty years ago, these look delicious."
"Now we know the key to your heart," Mag said with a chuckle.
"Unfortunately not at all top secret information, I'm afraid," Albus said with a boyish grin.
"It was worth it to show James Potter a thing or two," Heather said darkly. "He puked," she added with a sudden giggle.
"You were a Prefect, and knew better," Albus told her.
"I regret nothing," Heather insisted. "Potter and his cohorts were the worst."
"Truly they were," Mag said fervently. "As Prefect myself, I had access to the old records, and that group got in trouble daily for something. They had more write-ups than anyone else in the history of the school! I don't understand how they didn't get expelled," she concluded, trying unsuccessfully not to shoot Albus an accusing look. Though he knew it was silly, Severus couldn't help but feel warmed by her defense. Reaching out he lightly touched her cheek, and she blushed.
Albus sighed. "Their parents were influential. Black's parents unfortunately no longer cared what he did, but James Potter's certainly did. The amount of infractions doesn't count as much as the level of severity. Nothing they did was bad enough to have them expelled."
"Still," Mag said, refusing to waver on the matter.
"Don't worry about it. They're dead now," Severus said smugly. "Most of the people I hate are dead now. There is only Voldemort, and Lupin who need to go."
"Severus," Albus said, looking aghast. That didn't stop him from taking another slice of caramel apple.
"Well it's true," Severus said, apologetically.
"Remus was always better than the rest, and he had a hard lot in life," Albus said gently. "I honestly think the two of you would've been friends if you'd gotten to know him without the others around." Severus gave a snort of disbelief. "You both had unpleasant childhoods for various reasons," Albus pointed out. "And you both love to learn and study. You're both quiet by nature and both good people."
"The fact he took up with such pillars of the community says much for his character," Mag interjected dryly, causing Severus to smile. Her steadfast loyalty, brains and looks often made him wonder how he'd gotten so fortunate.
/You're a lot alike, that's how,/ Nightshade told him from where he sat on the back of Mag's chair. /She does sing better than you, but I'm prettier than you both./
/Indeed,/ Severus returned dryly.
"It wasn't as if Severus was offering to be his friend," Albus told Mag gently. "Remus had a low self esteem due to his werewolf condition and the fact he had to keep it a secret. It made it difficult to build relationships."
"He nearly killed me," Severus fumed.
"Not his fault," Albus said.
"No. It was the fault of those boys who didn't do anything bad enough to get themselves expelled," Mag said tightly.
Albus sighed. "Had I turned them in for that, I would've also had to turn Remus in. Things would've gone very badly for him because of the unfortunate choices of his friends. He didn't deserve that."
"Depends on who you ask," Severus said peevishly, and Mag nodded.
She still didn't understand Severus's intense attachment to the Headmaster. While kind to Severus, he was equally kind to those so obviously undeserving.