Severus' Daughter: Year One
Chapter 20: Meeting with Bones
Severus was making his way, slowly, towards Hogsmeade. He was meeting Amelia Bones in The Three Broomsticks to discuss the articles and stories about Rosalie. And perhaps some of the other things he had learned, too. He wasn't quite sure about that, yet.
He should talk about it. He knew that. But he didn't know how. He didn't know if he was ready. He didn't know if he would be able to get the words out.
"Sev," he heard a familiar voice call in front of him, and he glanced up to find Regulus waiting at the entrance to the village for him, a smile on his lips.
"You made it," Severus said, relieved, as he moved closer to the man, smiling slightly himself.
"Of course. Our Little Snake needs protecting," Regulus said, beaming now as he stepped towards Severus and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, "And you need me, of course I'm going to be here,"
"I'm fine," Severus huffed, though he was immensely grateful that Regulus had managed to get off work early enough to join him.
"I know," Regulus said with understanding.
Regulus grabbed his hand gently, intertwining their fingers and squeezing slightly in a way that comforted Severus more than he cared to admit. And they walked together towards the pub, in silence, Severus relishing in the warmth of the man next to him, in the love and care he could feel emanating from him and his magic, through their joined hands.
They entered the pub and spotted Amelia sitting at a table in the corner, a file in front of her on the table, and a drink, too. They walked over to her, she smiled when she noticed them and stood to greet them.
"Madam Bones," Severus said politely as they came to a stop in front of her, inclining his head.
"Master Snape," she said with a smile and nod of her own, "Master Black. It was good to hear from you," she gestured to the booth and she and Severus took their seats whilst Regulus went to the bar to get the two of them some drinks.
"I must say, I was rather concerned when I heard what had happened. That you had been forced to forget your daughter, and not given your memories back at the proper time," Amelia said gently, her eyes looking at him with concern, "I am glad that she is back with you now, though. And if you want help pressing charges then I am more than willing to help you with that. As well as with anything else you might need,"
"Thank you," Severus said, unsure of what else to do.
Regulus came back over to them, two drinks in hand, and he sat down next to Severus, placing their butterbeers in front of them. And he wished it were something stronger, though now probably wasn't the time.
"That looks like a rather thick file," Regulus said, a slight growl in his voice, before taking a sip of his drink, Severus also gulped down some of his, needing something to do.
"Indeed," Amelia said grimly, opening the file, "From what I have been able to find there have been at least two children's books printed each year, since James and Lily died, about Rosalie Evans, all of them also using her supposed likeness, although how the people involved in publishing them knew what she looked like, or would look like, I do not know,"
She pulled out a piece of parchment with a list of children's books on it, which he and Regulus glanced over, neither of them familiar with the titles listed, or the authors.
"Some of them are part of series, and are sold individually and together, some are just stand alone stories. All of them put Rosalie in dangerous situations and have her save the day, even as a child. The first one came out in time for Christmas of nineteen eighty-one. Some of them are sold internationally, others are only sold in the UK. There had been talks of some of them potentially being sold to muggles, too, as fantasy books, however that idea was nipped in the bud very quickly. I'm assuming that has something to do with her being in the muggle world at the time, but I am not completely sure," she said before taking out a pile of articles, all of which had his daughter's name on them, and some of them even had actual pictures of her. Pictures he had never seen before, at ages he had never had the opportunity to see her at.
He swallowed thickly as he looked at them. Pictures of her at her primary school, pictures of her in supermarkets, at the local park.
"How did they get these pictures?" Severus growled, pain and anger clashing within him.
"I don't know. I also don't know who took them. The articles are all written anonymously also, and were paid for. The Daily Prophet took money to publish them without sharing who they are from, and I have spoken to them, there seems to be either a contract or vow in the works. They can't tell me anything. However, given what happened with you I am thinking it all has something to do with Dumbledore. So, if we are able to gather enough evidence against him to get him in a trial then we may be able to work on finding some answers soon. I also have Kingsley working on this with me, and the goblins will be of great help, too, I think. If there is anything else you know, then that would be handy, too," Amelia said.
Severus and Regulus shared a look. Regulus seemed to be imploring him to tell her, but he wasn't sure he could get the words out of his mouth. Not yet. Not in public. Not here.
He swallowed thickly, turning back to Amelia.
"I… There's a lot… Will my memories suffice?" he said, his voice cracking slightly, and he hated it.
"For now, yes. I may need more later," Amelia said softly, intrigued, and very concerned.
She took a vial out of her pocket and handed it to Severus, who removed his wand from his holster and placed it against his temple. He sucked in a deep breath as he let himself re-live everything he knew about the Headmaster, and he tugged copies of them out, part of him wishing he could just remove them altogether.
By the time the memories were safely stored and in Amelia's hand there was a tear leaking down Severus' cheek, though he was grateful that no one brought it up. Regulus' hand did make its way back into his though, and that helped to calm him.
"Thank you. I shall give these a watch when I get back to my office," she said, her eyes still very concerned, "Is it okay for Kingsley to watch them also?"
"If he is working on the case with us, then yes," Severus whispered.
"Okay, I shall be in touch with you both shortly about how we are proceeding, but what is your ideal solution to this?" she said, gesturing to the articles and list of books.
"I would like the books to no longer be sold, and any books that have been sold to be returned. The articles, especially the ones with the photographs, need to be recalled, and if anyone is keeping any of them then they need to return them. Preferably all of them will be burnt. Reparations would be great, too, directly into Rosalie's trust fund. And a contract of some kind making sure no one can print her name or image in any way or form without prior permission from me until she is of age, and from herself when she is of age. We would have to check what people want to print, of course, when they ask for permission," Severus said sharply.
"Of course," Amelia said with a nod, "It was nice seeing you both. I shall be in touch as soon as possible,"
They said their goodbyes, then Amelia was gone. And Severus took a shaky breath, downing the rest of his butterbeer, again wishing it was something stronger.
"Firewhisky?" Regulus said, squeezing Severus' hand.
"Merlin, yes," Severus sighed.
Regulus squeezed his hand one more time and left to go to the bar again, and Severus tried to gain control of himself again, breathing deeply, shakily, running long fingers through his hair. And as soon as the firewhisky was in front of him he chugged it down, relishing in the burn, the warmth, and the steadiness it brought him. Regulus sitting abc down next to him and reclaiming his hand helped him even more.
"It's okay, Sev," Regulus said, moving closer to him, enveloping him in magic, and warmth, and love, "We're okay. He'll be gone soon. We'll be safe. Rosalie will be safe. I promise,"
"It's going to take a long time to get him anywhere near prison, or death. He's Albus Fucking Dumbledore. He's got too much support," Severus said with a slight growl as he looked at Regulus.
"I know. But we're making progress, and that is something. One day, he will be out of our hair. And hey, he is an old man now, his mind isn't as functional as it used to be. It is only a matter of time before he slips and does something he shouldn't, then his popularity will be dust," Regulus smirked, "We could always help aid that along. Make him go batshit crazy. Although I suppose all of us ignoring him is probably already aiding in that. We are already definitely ruining his reputation within the school,"
Severus' lips tugged upwards slightly at the corners, his eyebrow raised, "We could,"
"We could," Regulus agreed with a nod, "I'm sure my brother and the wolf would be delighted to help us, too. He'll be gone soon. We're okay. You're okay," he kissed Severus ever so gently again, and Severus smiled.
"I hope so," Severus whispered, "I love you,"
"I love you, too. Always," Regulus said with a bright smile.
"Always," Severus said, also with a smile.
"Are you ready to go home?" Regulus said.
Severus hummed, nodding his head, and soon they were making their way, slowly, back to the Castle, hand in hand.
It will be over. One day. All of it.
The man would be gone.
They would be safe.
Hopefully.
Hiya, how are you all today?
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