Roderick wouldn’t have gone so far as to say he was enjoying himself, things weren’t quite safe enough for enjoyment yet, but there was certainly a frisson of pleasure as he stepped out of the headmaster’s office to view the progress being made on the restoration. The school was alive with activity, from the top of the slowly ascending astronomy tower to the depths of the Potions classroom. Shouts of warning as charmed stones were lifted into place followed curses as tapestries snagged on exposed banisters. It was a thrilling industrial cacophony and he was in his element. Voldemort had given carte blanche on what he referred to as his Project for the Education of Noble Wizards and Lawful Purebloods, or P.E.N.W.A.L.Ps as it was being referred to on all the stationery. Roderick privately felt that any acronym requiring seven letters was the sign of feeble mind, but he wasn’t about to tell Voldemort that, not when the Dark Lord was allowing Roderick to just crack on with everything.
There was a wizard on every corner engaged in some form of work, and he had to side-step rapidly as a charm destined for a broken stained-glass window almost turned his face into that of a particularly grump-looking saint.
–Jolly good,†he said, nodding to the craftsman in charge of this particular aspect of the restoration. –Excellent work on the robes. Lovely shade of red.â€
He didn’t wait for a response as he swept on his way, nodding to the chief architect, who was scratching his ear with a pencil and trying to work out how the moving staircases had actually worked. The initial attempts were moving in all the wrong directions and refusing to connect at all so it was a case of back to the magical drawing board. Without them no students could move around the school so the top man from the Ministry’s Magical Buildings and Miscellaneous Structures department was feeling the pressure of an imminent deadline.
–Headmaster!â€
Roderick sighed in frustration. Although he couldn’t really manage without Professor McGonagall, he couldn’t really live that well with her either and so had spent the previous few days avoiding his Transfiguration teacher. She seemed to think she was his second in command, although given the recent appointment of the Carrows she had probably been disabused of that notion by now. The position of Deputy Head was the only one that Voldemort had insisted upon filling himself, presumably so he had someone to keep an eye on Roderick.
–Headmaster, do you have a moment?†She was hurrying towards him along the corridor, her face set in a grim expression.
–Not really, Professor, can’t it wait.†He carried on walking, his long stride covering the ground rapidly. –Things to do; a school to fix, students to teach.â€
–Mr Rampton!â€
There was no getting away from it. She would stalk him down the corridors like a deranged cat if he didn’t face into her now. –What is it, Professor?â€
As she drew level he could see how much the last few weeks had wearied her. Lines sat a little heavier across her forehead, her shoulders were down and her head a little less proud. It was a shame that it had come to this; the current regime would be challenging every moral fibre she posessed.
–I really must protest at the latest appointments that have been made regarding the deputy headship of the school. As you may be aware, the position of deputy carries with it a great many responsibilities and ones that should not be left in the hands of inexperienced and, dare I venture, cruel individuals. Alecto and Amycus Carrow have a vicious streak as long as your wand and I would hate to see them in control of our students.â€
–Your concerns have been registered,†he said, privately agreeing with her. He’d once caught Alecto practicing the Cruciatus curse on a litter of kittens in front of the Muggle owner’s distressed child. It had been the look of intense pleasure on her face that had most alarmed him, as if this was merely an aperitif to more cruelty to come. Extricating the poor animals from the situation had required some subterfuge on his part.
–I’d like them more than registered,†she protested. –Registered suggests they will be filed away in a cupboard and forgotten about. I should like them acted upon.â€
–Minerva,†he said, using her first name to indicate that he meant business, –this is not a democracy. We are not voting in a personality contest. This is a revolution, and in revolutions things just are, depending in how the victor is feeling when he gets out of the bed in the morning. Today I am the headmaster and Alecto and Amycus are deputies. Tomorrow, who can say? For now you are the Transfiguration teacher. Alecto is teaching Muggles studies, Gods help them, and Amycus is teaching the Defence Against the Dark Arts...â€
–Surely you just mean Dark Arts,†she snapped. –Surely, Mr Rampton, there will be no defence.â€
–Take care, Professor, that your thoughts do not turn into accusations for who knows where that will lead.†He leaned closer to her, making her step back. Crooking his finger to bring her back to him, he leant forward and spoke softly. –The school needs you. The students will need someone they can respect, someone that can protect them from the worst of what will come. Stay your mouth and be there for them. We all need to play our part. Do you understand?â€
He broke away from her and stepped back, repeating his last three words in a rather louder voice so that any loitering craftswizards could hear the note of displeasure he now allowed into his tone.
–I understand perfectly, Headmaster.†She watched his face carefully for any further sign that he was not all he appeared to be but found nothing other than his usual irreverent look and a raised eyebrow.
–Excellent. Will there be anything else?â€
–The students are restless sleeping in the Great Hall and of being unable to move around the castle. When can I inform them that the castle is once again fully open?†She slipped back into her usual role, the disquiet that she had been feeling eased somewhat by his whispered words.
–When that fool from the ministry figures out how the moving staircases operate. Perhaps you could go and harangue him for an hour or so. Might make him get a move on. Or perhaps find a descendant of Rowena Ravenclaw. I believe she invented the dratted things.†And with that he made his escape and headed for the main doors.
October was progressing well, the nights darkening and a chill creeping into the valley. In the few days that he had been here he was already seeing autumn pull her cloak tighter in anticipation of winter’s arrival. He hoped that the walls of the Shrieking Shack were keeping the warmth in and any unwelcome intruders out. It was still too early to pay it a visit without drawing suspicion or being found to be questionably absent from his rooms, but he found himself missing Maeve madly and hoping that she was all right. No one here allowed him to be quite so flirtatious or light of heart, frowning heavily on any charm offensive he deployed. The Death Eaters guarding the castle were obsequious fools who couldn’t catch a joke if it fell into their hands, and the new professors that had been appointed were like a month of bleak Sundays in the Slytherin common room. He needed some decent wine and lively company or he was going to become had dull as his companions.
He supposed a visit to Hogsmeade would be something, a minor distraction at best, and doubtless he could find a few cronies to swap a story or two with. Yet it didn’t feel quite right, not enough somehow. His feet took him, seemingly of their own accord, towards the lake and its glassy surface. The sky and water seemed as one, broken only by a thin seam of land on the horizon and untouched by the recent events. The supernatural could reduce stone to sand, yet it had a harder time disturbing nature’s handiwork. An eagle swept up from the gap in the mountains and whirled high for a moment, perhaps searching out prey, and then performed a graceful sweep across the water. Roderick couldn’t help thinking it made for a melancholy scene, all grey and muted green and gloom. In the distance a murder of crows cawed at each other, providing a suitable music for the moment.
The pleasure he had felt earlier was gone, leaving him with a feeling he was struggling to identify; emptiness, perhaps, an awareness of being alone when being alone wouldn’t have given him trouble in the past. He supposed that’s what allowing people to befriend you did, made you vulnerable, almost weak. When all around you was darkness, it was most certainly the light that seemed most appealing.
Berating himself for such indulgent feelings, he resolved to get himself into Hogsmeade at the earliest opportunity. Perhaps a set of new robes more befitting his current position, something more extravagant with spangles, or the kid leather fringing that was all the rage at the moment. While he was there he could pick up a bottle of decent Firewhiskey to see him through the long winter evenings. If memory served there was also a candle shop in Hogsmeade that sold the scented variety; a nice Black Oud one would be just the ticket, aromatic and woody. And with a shopping trip as a distraction, he made his way back to the castle with a restored disposition.
Several days later and the last thing on Severus’ mind was shopping, unless sure-fire methods of killing ferocious serpents were available off the peg. Percy was in his office, happily drawing up the new regulations for the Inquisitorial Squad. The name for this new Ministry arm, so Percy informed him, was to be the Department for Eradication of Blood-Taint in Wizarding Society, a title that Percy was rather proud of and echoed the new wordy name for Hogwarts. Severus left him to it, taking the view that the less he knew about it, the less he could be blamed for afterwards, although he was sure Maeve would find him responsible regardless of how little he knew. He’d managed to get some activity back on the map, just in case Voldemort paid him another unexpected visit. A few old military installations had been destroyed, with no loss of life, as well as something called, unfathomably, Spaghetti Junction, located in a Midlands sprawl known to the Muggles as Birmingham. It wasn’t enough. There would need to be deaths soon or questions would be asked, doubts raised by kill-starved Death Eaters. For now, though, he had some time while Voldemort played with his new toy, his Ministry. Jenny was making herself scarce, although from the memos dropping by his desk, she was making herself very visible in other areas, tweaking and amending remits. His main issue was the temptation to take a trip to Hogwarts on some trumped up excuse. He was managing to fight it, but only with a great deal of self-control as he was unsure of Draco’s mental state and what he could do to Maeve if he deteriorated, or vice versa.
A noise from the atrium drew his attention. Watching from his lofty position several stories up he could see a small kerfuffle playing out and he opened his window to allow the sound to float upwards. A battered old wizard was being hauled across the floor on his stomach by two new recruits to the Department for Enforcement of Laws, protesting wildly all the way.
–Me mam was a witch,†the prostrate man cried. –A pure blood. You can trace it back through the parish records, all the way back to…†But where you could trace him back to was lost as a boot connected with his face. Even in the highest office Severus could hear the crumple of bone. He closed the window with a dull thud, turning his back on the wizard and the new Magic is Might statue that watched over the commotion. This was another of Voldemort’s playthings and had been erected almost as soon as the Ministry had fallen. Black and magnificently brooding, it portrayed a witch and wizard atop a slab of granite that crushed the carved Muggles beneath it. Quite apart from the serious crime against good taste, it was a rather stark reminder who they were waging war against. Severus thought it was hideous, loathing it on sight.
His mind returned to the problem at hand. He could send out his Patronus, just the once, very briefly, just to let her know he was thinking about her. His wand was suddenly in his hand, his fingers flexed.
–Severus, do you have a moment?†Jenny Fitzwilliam glided into his office and paused by the desk, looking pointedly at the map.
–Of course,†he replied, following her gaze, managing not to remark on the lack of serious activity.
–Do you need me?†Percy also materialised in the room. –Perhaps I can take notes?â€
–Leave us, Mr Weasley,†Severus instructed, scowling at Percy’s crestfallen face. –Go and write some decrees.â€
Jenny tried to hide a smile and failed as Percy hurried away. –You are such a people person,†she remarked.
–I have no idea what that even means,†he replied, without a trace of irony. –How can I help?â€
–There has been a rumour that your friend Remus Lupin has been sighted with that awful Metamorphmagus girl somewhere near Skegness. I think perhaps we need someone to investigate, officially, to shut down the rumour. I assume you do not want him found?â€
For one confused moment he thought that she meant Remus and Maeve until he realised that it was likely the Order had sent Nymphadora Tonks to help him; she had always had soft spot for the werewolf.
–Do you have any suggestions?â€
–I thought you could take a field trip. Your office is clearly in good order. Your assistant appears to be supremely efficient. You know the first point on his list of requirements for his Pure-Blood Squad is to make everyone undergo scrutiny, including myself, and you of course.†She smiled a slow Cheshire-cat grin. –Bet you’re glad old Kentigern’s not your real father now.â€
–I don’t need an over-zealous underling to make me glad of that.†Severus felt heavy-hearted at the prospect of the pure-blood scramble that was to come. There would doubtless be a stampede for forged family trees. It wouldn’t just be the Blacks blasting undesirables from tapestries and parchments, there would be positive frenzy of it. And deep inside he was glad of the fact that Maeve was pure, and immediately despised himself for feeling glad. It made things simpler should the resistance fail and this life needed to become permanent. Voldemort would take a huge amount of convincing, but Voldemort was happier than he had ever been secure in his position believing Potter to be out of the way. The Dark Lord was looking forward to inflicting his immortality on the world so Maeve would surely be a minor sticking point to be explained away.
–You need to work harder on your poker face,†she said. –Someone just walked across your grave.â€
–Perhaps,†he said, not wanting to own his sudden vision of the future, not really wanting to believe in the possibility that they would fail. –So, you want me to do what? Take a trip to Skegness and say they aren’t there and never were? Are they actually there?â€
–They are. It’s entirely up to you what you do, but make it plausible and get them out of there.†She glanced around quickly, as if to make sure Percy had closed the door.
–The office is charmed. No one hears my conversations, be it you or the Dark Lord’s spies.â€
–Surely you are the Dark Lord’s spy.†She always enjoyed this verbal sparring with her cousin; it was so much more preferable to the fawning of people seeking favours.
–Spying is infinite,†he replied. –Very well. I shall leave Percy in charge for now. He is much occupied with drawing up rules so should cause no trouble. I have given instructions to key Death Eaters. There will be enough destruction happening in my absence.â€
–You know there will have to more death soon, don’t you,†Jenny disliked this element of being Minister, sanctioning violence, but past Ministers had been doing it for decades so she reassured herself with this precedent and got on with things.
Severus glowered at having his earlier thoughts verbalised. –You think I do not know this.â€
–I think you’re reluctant to actually do it. Why don’t you select a few prisons, no one would mind a few deaths there, surely.â€
–I think you misunderstand the nature of prisons, Jenny.†He found he always had to resist the urge to call her Jennifer; Jenny was far too informal for his tastes. –I believe they are there to reform, not exterminate.â€
–You are being deliberately obtuse. If you have to pick a target, pick a weak and expendable one that will deliver maximum head count. Think of it as a quota; with a few strikes you will hit your quota for the month.â€
–This conversation is intolerable.†He turned away. –I shall leave as soon as I have arranged a few things. If you receive any further information regarding Lupin then please let me know.â€
–Naturally.†She made a move to leave and then turned. –Voldemort has also expressed a desire that the defences at Hogwarts be shored up. He intends to rather proud of his new institution, moulding young minds etcetera. While you are making your rounds of the east coast then I do not think going further north and dropping into the school to hear Roderick’s concerns would go amiss.â€
–Is that all? Perhaps you’d like me to map the entire country while I am it.â€
–I am giving you the opportunity to pay a visit, Severus. Don’t be so ungrateful. She’s nearby, isn’t she?â€
He blinked away irritation. –Thank you.â€
–Don’t mention it. Why don’t you find some nice little cottage up there in the wilds and set everyone up in a little menagerie of fugitives. Plenty of charms and a few ex-Aurors would surely keep them safe, and at least you’re not trying to keep an eye on all of them in separate locations. It must be rather like herding cats at the moment, keeping tabs on them all.â€
–I shall consider it. Voldemort has been teaching me a few tricks so the journey should not take longâ€
–Excellent. See you in a few days then.†She almost fell over Percy as she left the room, but if he was abashed at being caught trying, and failing, to eavesdrop then he didn’t show it.
–You’re in charge, Weasley,– Severus said as he gathered his thoughts and followed in Jenny’s general direction. –Do not touch the Death Eaters or anything in my office. Answer any communications in a vague manner and owl me immediately if the Dark Lord wants anything.â€
–Absolutely, Mr Snape. Where shall I say you are going?â€
–Avoid telling anyone anything unless absolutely necessary, but if they insist, I am going to Hogwarts to see what I can do to help the new Headmaster defend the castle following recent events.â€
Percy nodded and stepped aside to allow Severus to pass. His job seemed to get better by the day.
Severus arrived on a long secluded stretch of beach just after noon to be faced with steady drizzle and a sullen sea being pushed about by a steady breeze. He pulled a small object from his pocket and watched as the needle flew due north. With a sigh of regret at the damage the sand would inflict upon his shoes, he started walking, hoping that the Grainger girl has not disposed of her own Companion Compass or he could end up walking all the way to Hogwarts without finding them.
There wasn’t a soul to be seen in any direction. Given the time of year and the weather it was unsurprising; not even dog walkers were braving the outdoors today. This suited his purposes well and he walked several miles unobserved until he topped a dune and saw what he had been looking for. The tent was a typical business-like Muggle affair and large enough to fit at least eight people inside. There was an awning jutting outwards and sitting beneath it he could easily discern a huddled figure gazing out across the North Sea. He approached, cursing the shifting sands beneath his feet, and watched Lupin raise his weary head towards him. A startled expression crossed the other man’s face, and he stood, braced for bad news.
–No need for alarm,†Severus said, raising his voice slightly above the wind. –Get inside so we can talk. I assume everyone is here?â€
Remus nodded as Severus reached the tent. –What’s happened?†he asked, ignoring Severus request to go inside.
–You,†was Severus’ short response as he pointed his wand at the door, thought better of it, and unzipped it by hand. –Inside.â€
Harry was sleeping, being watched over by an anxious Hermione. Severus was gratified to see the small golden compass in her hand and almost managed to curl his mouth up at the corners as she looked up from its elegant face to see the man she had been tracking along the beach. Neville was reading in the corner, his wand propped by his sleeping back as a backlight. Nymphadora was absent, making Severus wonder if that particular piece of intelligence had been incorrect after all.
–All present and correct,†Remus said. –Is there news?â€
–Ron?†Hermione asked.
–Not yet,†Severus acknowledged. –I was hoping the Order would have found him by now.†He didn’t need to add that the longer Ron was missing, the less likelihood there was of finding him alive.
–We’ve heard little from the Order,†Remus admitted. –Tonks found us. She’s keeping us in limited touch with the outside world but there’s no word on Ron. She has gone to fetch food. The children are starving.â€
–Hardly children any more, Lupin.†Severus surveyed the young adults that were littered around them. Harry had woken and was struggling out from his sleeping arrangements.
–Ron?†His voice was sluggish with sleep.
Severus shook his head once more. –I think we need to leave that to his family, Harry. We have other things to discuss for now.â€
–Have you found the remaining Horcrux?†Harry was single-minded on this score.
–I haven’t been looking,†Severus replied. –Things are moving at pace within the Ministry and I suggest, Lupin and Grainger, that you steer well clear of London for the foreseeable future. Things are not going in the right direction were half-bloods are concerned.†Harry looked about to protest at this, until Severus raised his hand and prevented him. –I do not use the term lightly, however we are in the midst of a new reality, for now, and we must adapt. Voldemort is setting up a variety of departments all with one aim, promoting pure-blood status and diminishing all else. We must find the other Horcrux, that is not in dispute, but for now I need to stabilise the Death Eaters and work to minimise any damage. Roderick Rampton is currently, one hopes, trying to achieve the same at Hogwarts.â€
–Voldemort isn’t that clever,†Neville said, his book set aside.
–How do you mean, Neville?†Remus asked.
–Well, his main man at Hogwarts isn’t working for him, and nor is Professor Snape. They are both in really important jobs and they are trying to bring him down. Massive hole in his plan that.â€
–He was clever enough to bring down my parents,†Harry said.
–Mr Longbottom is correct.†Severus turned to Neville. –True madness is often born of genius, the inability to contain all that cleverness within one mind, but true madness blinds, it makes rash decisions, it is capable of being lied to precisely because it knows it is too clever to be lied to. No one would dare.â€
–You have dared,†Neville pointed out.
–I have had to.†A shadow passed over them. –For now we need you to keep moving. You cannot rely on the order or their information. Indeed, I think it would be better if the Order did not know your location.â€
–Tonks knows,†Remus pointed out, realising what Severus’ words would mean for her. He had enjoyed having her around, sharing the burden and easing the fact that he missed Felicia greatly.
–Tonks can stay as long as she does not communicate with the others. Has she told the others that Harry is alive?â€
–No, absolutely not.†Remus was insistent.
–See that she keeps it that way and do not let her leave on her own again. Trust no-one. You need to stay close to the coast and head for a place called Beverley. It is a fair distance on foot but manageable in a couple of days. Make sure you use the bridge to cross the river; going round would take too long. I am going to Hogwarts now to see Rampton. After that I will come meet you at the appointed place and will tell you were to go next. Avoid using magic unless it is for concealment charms.â€
–How will we know the appointed location?†Harry asked, sick of being pointed in a direction and told to go.
–Miss Grainger will know, ah, Miss Tonks.â€
Tonks breezed into the tent and then stopped short in shock as she recognised Severus. Remus had re-assured her that he should be trusted but now that he was in front of her she struggled for a moment.
–Severus,†she managed after a few moments. –You have news?â€
–Not to speak of. I’ll let Lupin enlighten you. For now I must go. Take care of Harry and Neville. Let them come to no harm.â€
Hermione raised an eyebrow. Either she wasn’t that important or she was being recognised as one of the adults.
–Of course.†Remus moved to stand by Tonks. –You take care also, Severus. It seems you have become rather more important to us than we might have thought.â€
–Don’t flatter me, Lupin. Oh, and one other thing. The serpent Nagini is not dead as we thought. Pettigrew revived her somehow and she is back at Voldemort’s side. We shall have to try harder next time.†And with that he stepped from the tent.
Remus was swift to follow him outside, anxious not to let him go before he had given him his own piece of news.
–Severus, do you not wish to know about the jewel and the sword.â€
–I assume that you still have it.â€
Remus sighed. –Not exactly. I have the jewel. Harry tried to hold it and it caused him intense pain so I took it back.â€
–This not unexpected,†Severus said. –And the sword?â€
–Gone.â€
There was a moment’s silence. –It went of its own accord?â€
–How did you know?â€
–The sword goes where it is required. Perhaps it is not necessary for the destruction of the jewel or it would have remained. This could be good news. Keep the jewel on you at all times until I can understand more about its nature. Keep them all safe, Remus. These are the most dangerous of times. I can see it all unfold and it makes me deeply uneasy.â€
Remus was surprised by this rare moment of candour and nodded. –I shall do my best.â€
Severus hoped his best would be good enough as he struck for the sky and headed, once again, north.
Roderick was in much better spirits now that the staircases were fixed. He could move about his new domain quite freely, peering into classrooms and disrupting Argus Filch’s latest schemes. Classes were once again operating, taught by a mixture of old and new teachers. There were resentments, of that there could be no doubt; those appointed by Roderick considered themselves above any kind of rule, whilst the incumbent teachers clearly knew they were the better teachers and not there merely to inflict punishments. That aside, the buildings were once again sound, although there was much cosmetic work still being done to return the castle to its former glory. The Great Hall once again had a ceiling, although no one had yet been able to enchant it, but lit candles floated about the students as they dined once more.
He had acquired a new robe, red, naturally. In the end he had forgone both fringing and spangles and settled on a rather fine plain silk. Perhaps, he thought, as he checked his reflection in the mirror, he was simply getting on a bit and ready for something a bit more sober. His drinks cabinet had been stocked with the finest Firewhiskey Hogsmeade had to offer and tonight he planned to risk a visit to the Shrieking Shack. He’d had brief note from Maeve via Felicia Forfex, who was now cutting hair in Hogsmeade, and making rather a good job of it if his current style was anything to go by. It had been the briefest message.
–All well. Found the missing student and he is with me. D being almost human. Lonely.â€
It was the solitary word lonely that had prompted him to act. He would have been driven wild with just Ron Weasley and a befuddled Draco Malfoy for company. Small wonder she was lonely, shut up in that shack. He considered risking an owl to Severus and decided that would be madness. The Black Gloom would have to come to them.
It was late afternoon when he left his office wearing his best winter cloak and a wide grin. Students were pouring out of classes and if he closed his eyes he could almost pretend it was the same as it used to be. Could almost imagine them being carefree and eager to learn or play Quidditch. As it was they were a subdued bunch, concentrating only on getting their dinner inside them and back to their common rooms without inciting one of the new professors to violence. To his horror, there already seemed to be a division amongst them, the pure-bloods faring better than those of different heritage and so like began to cling to like. Such was the nature of conflict, he supposed, but he was damned if he was going to succumb to it. He made sure he mixed with everyone, teacher and student, pure-bloods or not. It was exhausting, having to be so unrelentingly entertaining, yet it was necessary for his sanity.
–Headmaster.†It was Amycus, standing by the corner watching the students trickle away like a killer hawk.
–Good afternoon, Professor Carrow. How are lessons?â€
–Oh, you know, dark.†He grinned, a gut twisting thing of sublime malevolence. –Some of them need a lot of encouragement, if you know what I mean.â€
–I can imagine,†Roderick replied. –Don’t kill anyone, Carrow, and I mean anyone.â€
–You know as well as I do, Headmaster, that accident happen.â€
–Not in my school they don’t.†Roderick was level with him now and looking at him with disdain. –Remember who is the master and who is the deputy, Carrow, both here and in the Dark Lord’s mind. Do not harm students in my school, no matter how great the temptation.â€
–Course not.†He smirked, as if to say he would do what he chose whenever and wherever he chose to do it.
–Accidents don’t just happen to students,†Roderick said, his eyes cold and full of the notion that accidents could happen to whoever he made them to happen to. He walked away, feeling an undercurrent of fury at the wilful evil that surrounded them.
The encounter almost put him out of sorts again as he left the castle and headed towards the re-built school gates. He had sealed up the Whomping Willow’s passages, so the only way of getting to the Shack now was to walk. He hadn’t quite made it to the gates when a current of black shot past him and landed feet first on the path in front of him. Not much surprised Roderick any more, but the sigh of Severus Snape arriving in such a manner, not Apparating or on a broom but seemingly flying rendered him speechless.
–Not all of the Dark Lord’s spells are based upon causing something’s demise,†Severus remarked, pleased to see the pomposity in front of him struck dumb. The flying spell was an extraordinary piece of magic and one that Voldemort had shown only to him thus far. It required a skilled wizard and a great deal of concentration to pull it off. Given his dislike of broomsticks, Severus had been doubtful at first and dreaded Voldemort making him use his new skill at every opportunity, but from the first moment he had shot skyward he had found himself completely enamoured with the freedom of it. No wands or brooms, no charms to get in your way; complete freedom. He understood now some of what Maeve felt when she took to the air, though he was fully aware of his surroundings. –Cat got your tongue, Rampton?†he asked, smoothing down his robes.
–You could say so. What on earth was that?â€
–Flying. You should try it sometime. Where you going somewhere?â€
–Hogsmeade. Nice to get away from the students once in a while, the blighters are everywhere. Fancied a drink at the Hog’s Head. Rosmerta’s a tonic.†He nodded towards the gates. –Join me, or are you here to see someone else?â€
–I’m here to see you regarding your current defences. I believe you had asked for more so the Minister suggested I come to see for myself what it was you might require. It is not something for discussion over a pint in a public house, however as it is late and I am thirsty I will accompany you. We can discuss defences tomorrow in the castle.â€
–Excellent.†Though he couldn’t remember asking for extra defences of anyone. He had enough on keeping an eye on the Death Eaters he already had without more of them turning up. He sensed a ruse, and where there was a ruse there was most certainly a Fitzwilliam.
The walk to Hogsmeade was uneventful in the gathering dusk. It wasn’t so cold as to be uncomfortable and their cloaks kept off any chill. It was difficult to have any kind of conversation with the prospect of stray ears listening in so they kept the chat to a minimum and spoke mainly of the repairs to Hogwarts and the curriculum for the coming year. It was a dull conversation by both their standards and difficult for either man to maintain. Severus was surprised when Roderick stopped at the fork that led to the Shrieking Shack and cast a quick charm to detect any nearby life. Satisfied that there was no one about, he still exercised a certain amount of caution.
–I think we could have one short discussion about further defences before visiting Hogsmeade. I believe this place has always been something of a weak spot.†Roderick gestured towards the building. –What say we make sure there’s nothing festering in there? Between the two of us we should be able to take care of anything that’s wormed its way in.â€
Severus looked doubtful, the shack full of nothing but sour memories. He was about to decline the offer but Roderick had set off at speed across the grass and he had no choice but to follow him. The ground was rough and the building forbidding; he was already regretting the delayed drink in a warm pub. There was no obvious point of entry into the shack, no windows or doors presented themselves, but Roderick approached a section of wall and muttered the charm that drew forth a small door. With Severus making sure they were not observed, Roderick opened the door gently and stepped inside, Severus right behind him, wand at the ready.
They walked into an empty room, although it looked considerably more homely than the last time Severus had been there. There were distinct signs of a woman’s touch in the vase of flowers and the scenic prints on the walls. Something had been cooked recently, red wine smells mingling with beef.
–Hello,†Roderick called, knowing Maeve would have retreated with the two boys once she heard the charm being used on the door. –Come out, come out where...–
He didn’t finish the sentence. There was a squeal of delight as Maeve shot out from behind the sofa, delighted to hear his voice. She was halfway to him when she registered that he was not alone. This time her squeal was more of a moan as she threw herself into Severus’ arms and held onto him as if letting go would never be an option again. He clutched her to him, resting his face in her hair and breathed in deeply, snatching every scrap of her scent.
Draco appeared at the top of the stairs and took in the scene below him. There was a twinge of something in his heart, something he didn’t recognise, as he watched his former teachers embrace. Ron was the next to put in an appearance. He took one look at Maeve and Severus, uttered a quick ‘blimey’ and retreated back to his makeshift room. There were things he didn’t really need to see.
–I have missed you,†Severus whispered into her hair, stray strands clinging to his lips.
–Not as much as I have missed you,†she replied, raising her face to touch his lips with hers briefly, tenderly.
–It’s not a competition,†he admonished, but there was a smile in his eyes.
–No, but if it were I would win.â€
–You would always win.†And this time the kiss was deep and fierce and lasted quite some time.
The Severed Souls by Magical Maeve
Chapter Notes: Hogwarts is rising once more, but not perhaps in the way it's former headmaster would have liked, and Severus goes north.