Two Americanos
0o0o0o
Dear Bess,
I hope you and mam and dad are well. I've been here a month now and I like it very much – the staff are friendly – well, all except one lady, but I have to be careful what I put in writing.
How is married life suiting you? Are you still getting used to the new name?
I don't know how easy it will be for me to write in future. If any of my letters are magically sealed when they arrive, the password will be my surname.
With love,
Neasa xxx
Neasa stood in the Owlery on a bright, cold Saturday morning, shielding her eyes from the blinding sunlight streaming in through the glassless windows as she sealed the letter. Straw and animal bones crunched underneath her feet as she made to coax down a brown school owl, which was resolutely ignoring her.
As she tried to catch its attention, the Owlery door opened and a student entered – the owl flew out of Neasa's reach at the sudden noise. She stood back and began searching for another, trying to find one that wasn't eating or sleeping.
"There you are – get down here, I've got a letter for you," said the student – Neasa glanced over as he coaxed down a large snowy-white owl, and she recognised him immediately from his lightning scar – Harry Potter.
"Morning, Miss," he said politely to her as he put the letter in the owl's beak.
"Having a good first week back, Potter?" she asked as she resumed her search for a tame owl.
"I've had better," Harry replied half-heartedly. He took his owl over to the window and whispered something to it, then released it outside. He hovered by the window for a minute longer, staring out over the grounds.
"I heard about your detention with Professor Umbridge," Neasa offered.
Harry rubbed the back of his hand, not making eye contact with Neasa. "Yeah – it was so unfair."
The boy's demeanour changed at the mention of Umbridge. He seemed to be more upset than just about the detention.
"She was completely wrong about Voldemort," Neasa offered. "She's wrong about a lot of things."
Harry looked back up, frowning softly.
"Not many people say his full name, Miss. Dumbledore, among few others. Aren't you afraid?"
"It's just a word, Potter," Neasa replied. "There's not much I'm afraid of. Words certainly aren't on that list."
Harry smiled softly, nodding.
Neasa added, in a gentler tone, "I get the feeling there's more upsetting you than just the detention, Potter. You know you can always talk to the Hogwarts staff for anything you need. We're all on your side."
"It doesn't always feel that way–"
"I know you must be feeling terribly isolated, but… there's strength in numbers. Keep your friends close. There's nothing that you have to face alone."
Harry thanked Neasa for her kind words and made to leave. After finally finding an owl to carry the letter to her sister Bess, Neasa left soon after.
0o0o0o
Neasa drifted from the Owlery to the Great Hall for an early breakfast, where she found only Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout. She made light conversation over cornflakes with them, while sipping morning tea and scanning the newspaper. As she was finishing off the last of her drink, and the Hall was gradually beginning to fill with students and more staff members, Professor Snape hurriedly entered and made his way to the staff table.
"Miss Casey," he said, approaching Neasa. "I know that we agreed to meet in the Three Broomsticks, but I have to apologise – I need to go to Diagon Alley, to the apothecary – there's an ingredient I'm missing for a lesson on Monday."
"Oh – I'll come with you – I wouldn't mind the journey," Neasa replied.
"Alright, well… we can have coffee in Diagon Alley, then?"
After Snape had breakfasted they walked together to leave the Hogwarts grounds, where he held out his arm for Neasa to hold on to to Apparate. The fabric of his coat was soft under her cold hand, and she missed his touch as soon as she let go after their arrival. They landed outside Gringott's and made their way to the apothecary first, which had only three other customers in it: a woman carrying a packet of peppermint leaves, tailing her blond husband who was examining unicorn horns, and another large man in a tweed jacket by the Sopoporous Beans in the corner.
Snape made a beeline for the corner and the last jar of Beans, in the same moment the man in tweed picked it up off the shelf and walked away.
"Excuse me," Snape called after him, and the man turned; they recognised each other immediately.
"Severus!" said the man cheerfully, a wide smile breaking out on his face. He had a gentle, honest voice and trustworthy eyes; and even though he was obviously older than Snape, he was a good deal shorter.
"Horace – what a coincidence," Snape replied. "How long has it been?"
"Oh, a good few years – I last saw you some time after you got your Potions Mastery, didn't I? How is it at Hogwarts?"
"I can't complain," Snape said. Then he motioned in Neasa's direction and added, "Where are my manners – Miss Casey, this is my old Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn. Horace, our newest staff member – Albus's secretary."
At these words the blond man's head turned sharply, but Neasa didn't have a chance to really notice for Slugorn was shaking her hand vigorously.
"Lovely to meet you both – hope all is well with Albus and Minerva and the others–" Slughorn shot a nervous look over Neasa's shoulder at the blond man behind her "–I'd best be off, I'm in an awful hurry – hope to see you again soon, Severus."
Snape followed him: "Horace – I need those Sopoporous Beans for a class on Monday – could we split the jar, perhaps?"
"Take them, take them – I don't really need them – just wanted to stock up," Slughorn said, hastily pushing the jar into Snape's hands, and left without another word.
Snape looked a little confused, but he shook it off and made for the till, in the same moment the blond man tapped his shoulder and said, in a nasally voice, "What are the chances?"
Snape turned – he looked a lot less cheerful at meeting this man than at seeing Slughorn. This man had cold, grey eyes and he and a pale complexion, just like his wife.
"Lucius, Narcissa," Snape said coolly. Finally, Neasa placed them both: the Malfoy family, known even in Ireland for their contempt of anything related to Muggles, and she suddenly became fascinated by the packets of lacewing flies on display, two Galleons each. "How are you both?" asked Snape.
"I wanted to thank you for recommending Draco as Prefect," Narcissa said sincerely. "Is it really true that Dumbledore appointed Ron Weasley as a Gryffindor Prefect?"
"It's hardly a surprise – only two Weasley sons haven't been made Prefects yet," Snape remarked. "Of course, I thought Potter was going to get it."
"That would be a very sad day indeed," Lucius said with a cold laugh.
Neasa could feel the gaze of both Malfoys on her, and out the corner of her eye she saw Lucius looking expectantly at Snape, who took his time in saying, "This is Neasa Casey, Hogwarts' new secretary," as if he didn't want to introduce her to them. Neasa didn't quite want that either, but she smiled politely and shook their hands.
"You're working with Dumbledore, I presume?" Lucius asked, and Neasa only nodded. "How do you find him?"
"He is a dedicated man," she said carefully. "He cares a lot about the students and the school."
"No doubt it would be in better hands were someone like us in charge," Lucius said, motioning to the three Slytherins. "Did you attend?"
"No, I went to Bríd, the Irish school."
"Where is your accent from?" Narcissa asked. "Belfast?"
"Derry."
"And what – ah – background do you have in Ireland?" Lucius asked. Neasa knew he was asking about her blood status, but before she could speak the shopkeeper interrupted:
"We're closing in ten minutes," he said sharply, giving Snape and Neasa an excuse to quickly buy the Sopoporous Beans and leave the shop.
When they were outside Neasa took a deep breath of fresh air, glad to be free of the intimidating presence of the Malfoys. The pair walked another few minutes to a cafe, where they each ordered an Americano and settled into a table by the window, with a view out over the bustling street.
"The Malfoys are not the friendliest of folk," Snape said, "but they have significant wealth and they donate to the school. Draco was absolutely not my first choice for Prefect, but it allows me a chance to keep an eye on him and keeps the Malfoys in our good books. I'm sorry I didn't introduce you sooner – pardon my rudeness – but they have a knack for making life difficult, especially for…"
"Muggleborns?" Neasa offered, and Snape nodded. "I guessed. Their family name is known even in Ireland. They seemed very friendly with you, though, Professor."
Snape avoided her gaze. "I have known them for many years – I used to look up to Lucius when we were in Hogwarts together. We kept the same company for a while."
"In Hogwarts?"
"In Hogwarts, and later… outside of it, too." Snape shook his head and glanced back at Neasa. "Old history. Those kinds of connections die hard."
Neasa didn't pry any further. "What do you make of Professor Umbridge?"
Snape sighed deeply. "It is at times like this that I am grateful for the Defence Against the Dark Arts curse – because it means she will only last one year. I am afraid that one year will be just enough time for her to do severe damage to Hogwarts. I know that I am a strict teacher, but it comes from a place of care. Her methods, however…"
"I spoke to Harry Potter this morning in the owlery," Neasa said. "I got the impression from him that something more happened during his detention than just copying lines in a copybook."
"Potter's always been a dramatic child," Snape said dismissively. He hesitated, sipped his coffee, and added, "But I would keep an eye on the situation nonetheless."
Neasa set down her coffee on the table and pulled out her Daily Prophet from that morning. Snape smiled when he spotted the crossword and pulled out a quill from his pocket.
"Seventeen down – four letter word – exploding magical card game," Neasa said.
"Exploding Snap, obviously," Snape answered, scribbling the answer down. He glanced up at Neasa, his charming smile still tugging on the edge of his lips. "I really do enjoy our crossword puzzles together, Miss Casey."
"As do I, Professor," Neasa replied with a broad smile. "Our friendship–" she caught herself, hesitating. "If you don't mind me using that word... What I mean to say is, our connection-" she grimaced, colour rushing to her cheeks. Snape chuckled softly, breaking the tension between them. "Well, whatever it is, it has made the transition into this new job so much easier," Neasa finished, hastily sipping her coffee to hide her red face. God, Snape's gaze just had a way of cutting through her like a hot knife to butter.
"We are friends, Miss Casey," Snape softly replied, with a reassuring smile.
"They warned me about you, you know," Neasa said, returning her cup to the table. "The other Professors told me that you would be the hardest to understand - they all seemed to think you have your walls very high up."
"And they would be correct in that assessment." Snape nodded, his smile still not dropping. "I don't get close to people, but when people are as intelligent, as charming, as interesting, as beautiful..."
He stopped, looking away with a soft laugh. "Forgive me – I only meant that you are a kind and gentle soul, a quality which is currently lacking in our world."
Neasa felt the heat rise in her cheeks again. "And I hope I am also easy on the eyes, Professor," she replied.
"Witty, too," Snape said. "These are all the qualities which I appreciate in... a friend. Or whatever we are."
0o0o0o
Having returned from Diagon Alley, Severus and Casey walked in silence towards the castle. Severus was entranced by Casey's delicate hair, the way the sun shimmered and danced on it. What did her hair smell like? He caught a whiff of lavender and fresh cotton. Casey smelled like a springtime garden. He could not deny his attraction to her a moment longer. She was nothing short of beautiful, and he could not believe he had let that fact slip over coffee. He could only hope that she didn't notice, or didn't hear over the commotion of the cafe. There was something bewitching about her he could not pin down – it ran in circles around and around his mind, but try as he might, he could not identify it. Being around Casey felt comforting, safe – like coming home after a long day. He had never truly felt the comfort of home as a child – except when he was with Lily.
Guilt swelled within Severus. So preoccupied with enchanting thoughts of Casey, he had not given much thought to Lily as of late. Halloween, the anniversary of her death, was not far away now and he had not made any plan to commemorate it. He no longer held a candle for her in any romantic way – that had long since ceased – but he bitterly regretted her death and that he had not been there to save her. At the time, he had wished that he could have taken her place in death, but time heals all wounds and he had learned how to find joy in life in the face of her death. Despite a string of short-lived relationships and one-night stands, he had never found a woman who made him feel at home. He had not found his happy ending yet.
Did he dare speculate... could Casey be that for him?
"Expelliarmus!"
The shout lifted Severus from his thoughts and stopped both of them in their tracks. Jeering laughter followed, and then Severus spotted the source: a group of Gryffindors were crowded around a dark-haired Slytherin boy, whose wand flew into the hand of the student who disarmed him.
The Slytherin tried to run away but the other one shouted, "Impedimenta!" and he fell to the grass.
"Levicorpus!" a Gryffindor cast, and the Slytherin was suspended upside-down in the air, kicking to try and free himself from the curse.
The Gryffindors continued to mock and bully him, and Severus was about to intervene and break it up, but Casey got there first: she summoned her wand and ran over to the scene, leaving Severus on the stone path.
"Finite Incantatum!" she shouted.
The Slytherin was by now quite a height in the air, and Casey wordlessly broke his fall as well, stopping him a foot above the grass. He landed a moment later with a soft thud, and scrambled to his feet.
Severus made his way over, recognising the Slytherin as Keith Lee from sixth year – a recluse teenager who always had his nose in a book. He reminded Severus of himself when he was young, and what had just happened had so many painful parallels to what James Potter and the Marauders had done to him after his Defence OWL.
Casey lowered her wand and turned to the gang of Gryffindors, whose jeering grins had long faded since they spotted her and Severus.
"Give me his wand," Casey ordered of the ringleader, holding out her palm. He reluctantly gave her Lee's wand, which she returned to the frightened student. Then she glared back at the Gryffindors and sternly said, "I'm sure Professor McGonagall would want to hear about this. Go and wait outside her office – all of you."
The Gryffindors began to leave, and Severus allowed himself a glance at the secretary, whose voice had held nothing but sheer outrage. Her lips were in a thin line, and she put her wand away, then turned to Lee, her eyes softening.
"Mr Lee," said Severus. "How many times has that happened before?"
The student shrugged, scuffing his feet on the grass. "A few."
"Since when?"
"Last year."
"Why didn't you tell an adult?"
Lee muttered something inaudible, so Severus said, "A verbal answer, if you would."
"Adults never do anything!" Lee replied.
Severus's lips pursed, because it was like looking in a mirror. A mirror which displayed his younger self. Timid, lonely... without a home.
Casey gently said, "Someone is always there to listen, Mr Lee."
"No they're not." Lee scuffed the ground with his shoes.
Casey approached him and lowered herself to below his level, catching his eye. She softly placed her hand on his arm.
"Yes, they are." Her words were firm, but earnest. Lee pursed his lips, on the edge of tears, and crumbled into Casey's arms with a sob.
Severus understood Lee's apathy towards adults; Minerva had done little to stop James' torment of him, and Albus had gone and made him Head Boy. But an adult had stepped in and intervened for Lee: Casey, and she had done so without a second thought. She probably didn't even know Lee's name until now. She had made the bullies stop – in a way that Severus had wished so many times an adult would do for him. Her kindness warmed his heart.
If an adult in Severus' childhood had just made him felt heard, he wondered, would his life have gone in a different direction?