The next day, Severus was sitting at dinner, talking to Alice and Mary about their Potions essay, when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat from behind him.
"Mr. Snape, the headmaster, would like to see you," she stated. "Please head up to his office immediately after dinner."
Severus nodded. He didn't know why Arcturus wanted to see him. As far as he knew, he didn't do anything wrong. When he had finished his dinner, he headed towards the office he had been to many times before.
"Good evening, Severus," Arcturus said when Severus walked in. "Please take a seat." Severus noticed immediately that Lucretia was there as well, looking concerned. He wondered what she was concerned about.
"What's going on?" Severus asked.
Arcturus started to speak first. "Severus, I heard some rather… disturbing news from Sirius. He has informed me that your mother taught you Occlumency before you started first year, and that she taught you by forcefully invading your mind repeatedly without teaching you any techniques to keep her out. Is this correct?"
Severus didn't think it was a big deal, so he didn't know why Sirius had shared this information with Arcturus. "Yes, that's correct," Severus confirmed. "But why did Sirius tell you this? I don't see what was wrong with the way she taught me. Sure, it was painful, but I learned it."
Lucretia spoke next. "Severus, I don't know Occlumency myself, but when I was informed about this, even I knew that the way you were taught is wrong." She held up a hand when Severus was about to protest. "Listen, Severus. My brother," Severus shuddered at the thought of Orion, "Learned Occlumency when he was your age, and I might have gotten my hands on his Occlumency books. I always wanted to know everything there was to know about any subject. What I got out of the books was that the teacher is supposed to teach techniques before invading the student's mind, or there is a chance of injuring their brain."
Arcturus nodded in confirmation. "Lucretia, if you really wanted to learn Occlumency, you could have just asked," he said with amusement. "But yes, it is true that the brain can be damaged if the teacher does not teach properly."
Severus gulped. "D-do you mean, that Mother didn't teach me properly?" he asked, the thought of his brain possibly being damaged scaring him more than he would ever admit.
"Yes," Arcturus answered. "That is why we are going to the hospital wing to let Madam Pomfrey check for any brain damage."
Severus was horrified. He didn't want to go to the hospital wing. "But my brain isn't damaged," he snapped.
"We don't know for sure, Severus," Arcturus explained. "So we need to get it checked, just in case."
"We will go with you, Severus," Lucretia said, trying to reassure her ward.
"I don't need to go to the hospital wing. I'm fine," Severus said angrily. Lucretia was about to say something else, but Arcturus shook his head. He knew that the Prince temper was coming back, not unlike the Black temper.
"Severus, I understand that you don't want to go to the hospital wing," Arcturus said calmly. "But if you do have brain damage, then it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, especially because it's been over a year. I could technically check myself, but I would have to look into your mind, which could hurt, especially if there is any damage. I don't want to hurt you. Therefore, I would prefer Madam Pomfrey do a brain test, which would be painless."
Severus still didn't want to go to the hospital wing. He would take the painful route if it meant not going to the hospital wing. After all, he didn't trust mediwitches or healers, and he would only go to Madam Pomfrey as a last resort. He trusted Lucretia and Arcturus.
"Just look into my mind and find out," Severus said. "I'm not going to the hospital wing."
Lucretia looked worried. "Severus, are you sure? It might hurt."
"Yes, I'm sure," Severus said, determined.
Lucretia looked hesitant, and looked to her father to see what he thought. Arcturus sighed.
"Severus, do understand that if we take this route, it could hurt," he reminded him. "And, if I do find something wrong, then you will have to go to the hospital wing, because I am no healer. I cannot fix brain damage. I can fix simple injuries, but I cannot fix anything major."
"If you find anything, then I'll go to the hospital wing, but if you don't, then I'm not going," Severus said stubbornly. Both adults realized that Severus must be very comfortable with them now if he was speaking out this strongly. Only last year, he would have been apologizing repeatedly if he had said even just one thing harshly.
Arcturus looked to Lucretia. After all, she was Severus' guardian, so she had the last say.
Lucretia sighed. "I don't like it, but I will allow it," she finally decided.
Arcturus gave Severus a stern look. "We will do it this way, but I need you to alert me if you feel any pain. Is that understood?" Arcturus asked sternly.
"I understand," Severus confirmed.
"Very well," Arcturus said with a sigh. "Please take down your shields." Severus obeyed, slowly taking down all of his Occlumency shields one by one. He never let his shields down, but he would do it, just this once.
"I'm ready," Severus finally said, looking straight at Arcturus. Lucretia walked over to Severus, squeezing his shoulder.
Without another word, Arcturus entered Severus' mind gently. Severus saw memories flashing by quicker than he could even register them. The memories stopped. Severus realized it was because Arcturus wasn't there to look for memories, he was there to see if there was any damage.
Just when Severus thought that everything was fine, he felt a burst of pain. Arcturus abruptly left his mind.
"Severus, I didn't find any actual damage, but the pain you felt is an irritated spot, most likely where your mother pushed the hardest," Arcturus explained. "We are lucky that she didn't push any harder than she already did. Otherwise, we would be dealing with a much worse problem."
Severus and Lucretia sighed in relief. "Will he have to go to the hospital wing?" Lucretia asked.
Arcturus sighed. "I will talk to Madam Pomfrey and tell her what I already told the two of you. We will see what she says. I do not know if a trip to the hospital wing will be necessary or not, but if so, then I will be with you, Severus."
Severus felt some relief. There was a chance he still wouldn't have to go to the hospital wing, but if he did, he wouldn't be alone. He left the headmaster's office feeling encouraged.
The next day, he sat in the library with the other Marauders. Capella was now included as well, recently being asked if she wanted to join the Marauders.
"Then, Rita decided to interrupt Professor McGonagall five times in one class period," Capella was saying. "That girl is getting on my nerves!"
"But Dolores is worse," Regulus grumbled. "She questions everyone's teaching methods, and she has probably gotten six detentions already for her annoying behavior."
"It'll probably be fifty by the end of the term," Sirius half-joked.
"No, a hundred," James corrected him.
"She needs to learn respect," Severus stated. "She's not going to be respected by the Wizarding World if she keeps this up."
There were suddenly footsteps behind them, coming closer. The Marauders turned to see Madam Pomfrey heading towards them.
"Hi, Madam Pomfrey," Mary greeted her.
"Hello, Miss McDonald," Madam Pomfrey greeted her. She then turned to look at Severus. "Mr. Snape, I just had a word with the headmaster."
Severus didn't like her tone. It couldn't be good news. "And?" he asked, dreading the answer.
"I would like to use a few healing spells and give you a few potions aimed at healing the irritated spot the headmaster was talking about," Madam Pomfrey informed him.
Severus groaned. "I don't want to go to the hospital wing," he snapped.
"Mr. Snape, this is not up for debate," Madam Pomfrey said sternly. "The headmaster is waiting for you in the hospital wing."
Severus knew he had no choice but to go. He was, however, comforted to know that Arcturus had kept his promise to be there with him if he did have to go. Little did he know, Arcturus had a surprise for him.
Sirius, Regulus, and Capella stood, surrounding Severus. "Come on, Severus," Sirius said, throwing an arm around him. "Blacks stick together." With that, Severus, Sirius, Regulus, and Capella followed Madam Pomfrey out of the library and towards the hospital wing.
When they arrived, Severus was shocked to see that Arcturus was not the only one there. Melania, Lucretia, Ignatius, Narcissa, and even more surprisingly, Andromeda.
"Wha…" Severus started. He found himself speechless, which was unlike him.
"Blacks always stick together, Severus," Arcturus said with a smile. He then looked over at Ignatius. "And Prewetts are included."
Severus was shocked. Arcturus had gotten all the people to come, to support him. He even got Andromeda to come, which was a surprise in itself. She was a healer intern at St. Mungo's. Ignatius and Lucretia, he was not surprised about. After all, they were his guardians. He also wasn't surprised about Sirius, Regulus, and Capella. He then stared at Narcissa.
"Don't you have prefect duties?" he asked. Narcissa, now in her sixth year, had been made a prefect, and often had prefect duties in the afternoons.
Narcissa smiled. "I got the day off," she informed him. "Blacks stick together. Blacks support each other. No prefect duties was going to stop that." Narcissa's loyalty to the Black family was clear. She would drop everything she was doing to support her family.
Andromeda nodded from beside her sister. "Before you ask me, I also have the day off," she explained. "As an intern at St. Mungo's, my schedule is flexible."
Lastly, Severus looked at Melania. "Don't you have office hours?" he asked.
Melania smiled. "My office hours are scheduled for tonight," she told him.
"Mr. Snape," Madam Pomfrey cut in. "Now that your family is all here, let's get started. Please lay down."
Severus hesitated. After receiving nods of encouragement from around the room, he finally complied. He laid down on one of the beds.
Ignatius and Lucretia came and stood on his left side, for Lucretia taking his hand and squeezing it gently. Arcturus came to stand on the other side, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You didn't have to have all the people come," Severus said quietly.
Arcturus smiled. "When a member of the family needs support, they get more than just one person. They get several members of the family behind them."
"You got everyone together, just because of me?" Severus asked, hardly believing anyone would do this for him. After all, he had" grown up in a not very kind environment.
"Whether it's you, Sirius, Regulus, or anyone else in our family, if anyone needs support, I will do everything I can to make sure that need is met," Arcturus said.
Before Severus could say anything in response, Madam Pomfrey started her work. Severus stiffened as she cast healing spells. Andromeda, however, explained everything that Madam Pomfrey was doing, which eased the tension. Each person was watching Madam Pomfrey's every move. Blacks were always on guard. Finally, Severus was handed the healing potions he had to take.
Severus hesitated. Arcturus noticed, and quietly stated, "You can use your Prince Heirship ring to find out what the ingredients are, if that helps." Severus looked to Madam Pomfrey for her permission. She nodded.
Severus held the Heirship ring to the vials, processing each ingredient. When he was satisfied with the contents of the potions, he drank them.
Sirius almost grinned. Severus Snape was even more stubborn than he was as an adult, but Sirius understood why. Severus didn't have the best upbringing, and he knew that feeling too well.
Finally, Madam Pomfrey told Arcturus to look into Severus' mind again, to see if everything was healed properly. Severus once again took down his shields.
This time, when Arcturus probed, there was no pain, none at all. When he withdrew from his mind, both were smiling. Ignatius and Lucretia looked relieved while the others cheered.
Severus looked at the person that he had gotten to know almost as well as Ignatius and Lucretia. He and Arcturus had been getting closer lately, partially because of the Saturday morning gatherings. But now, they were even closer, and it was because Severus had put his trust in him.
"Thank you for everything… Grandfather," Severus stated hesitantly. There was a gasp from around the room. For a moment, Severus thought maybe he made a mistake, but as he looked around at everyone's faces, everyone was wearing a smile.
Arcturus, especially, was happy. He had been very patient, waiting to see if Severus would ever start calling him Grandfather. He had not expected it to be this soon, however. He wanted Severus to know that he was not in trouble, so he gave him a brief hug, well aware that Severus Snape didn't like hugs too much. They were still working on changing that.
Sirius couldn't wait to tell the rest of the Marauders. They had a bet on how soon Severus would start considering Arcturus as a grandfather. It seemed that he and Lily had won the bet.
Everyone started leaving the hospital wing with smiles on their faces. Even Severus, who had come to the hospital wing in a sour mood, was now smiling. It was a good day for everyone.