Aftermaths, Part 61

by Geri ([email protected])

Rating: Mostly PG-13, but NC-17 for overall story

Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise

Warning: AU; events that occurred at the end of Order of the Phoenix were significantly altered from the book.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, and Phoenix Rising.

Summary: The various characters deal with the aftermath of the war, and Snape and Lupin try to build a family together with Theodore and Dylan. However, some people are unable to let go of the past...

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Hob, who belongs to William Mayne; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Snape and Selima slept straight through the afternoon into the night, although Lupin woke up in the evening and joined the boys for a light supper in the kitchen. Vorcher was still in a melancholy mood, and was more verbose than usual; without Selima or Snape there to stop him, he recounted tales of Lord Severin's glory days, when he had still had worked at the Ministry and there were many gala parties thrown at Snape Manor or the London townhouse.

"Everyone who was anyone came to the parties," Vorcher said with a wistful, nostalgic air. "All the important people in the wizarding world, even the Minister of Magic himself! The house was always empty and quiet when the Master lived alone, but that changed after Master married the Mistress. Then there were lots of dinners and parties, and people laughing and talking." Vorcher sighed. "The Mistress was so beautiful and elegant and charming; everyone said Master was lucky to have Mistress as a wife. Master often said he chose well when he married Mistress."

Vorcher continued, talking about how Severin had steadily risen in rank at the Ministry, and of how the Snapes' wealth and influence had increased after Severin's marriage to Selima. Lupin and the boys were also a little surprised to learn that Severin had been a scholar whose hobby was collecting and reading old spellbooks, and had enjoyed experimenting with and re-creating long-forgotten spells and potions in his free time--of which he'd had too little when he was working at the Ministry, and then too much when he was forced to retire.

"So, Severus shared at least one thing with his father...a love of knowledge," Lupin murmured thoughtfully.

"Then he should have been proud of the Professor when he became a Potions Master and teacher," Dylan said, sounding confused and a little offended.

Theodore shook his head. "No, among the pureblood elite, power is everything. If Lord Severin set aside his love of knowledge to pursue a political career, he would expect his son to do the same. A pureblood heir is always supposed to do what is necessary to strengthen his family's influence and advance their position in society."

"Duty over love," Lupin said sadly.

"Always," Theodore said solemnly.

"Not anymore," Lupin said firmly. "Not in this family."

"What's the point of being powerful if you're miserable?" Dylan wanted to know. "What's the point of having an important Ministry job if you'd rather be doing something else, or of marrying someone you dislike when there's someone else that you really love?"

"Most of the Death Eaters loved power more than they loved any person," Theodore said.

Vorcher frowned disapprovingly. "Upholding the family honor is more important than anything else!" he declared.

"I will do my best to be a good son to my father," Theodore said placatingly, which was not quite the same thing as promising to uphold the family honor, but Vorcher seemed mollified.

The next morning, as Lupin predicted, Snape woke up with a hangover. "I haven't felt this bad since Evan and Lyall spiked the punch at the Halloween feast back in fourth year!" he groaned as he stumbled down to breakfast, looking more pale and sallow than usual.

Lady Selima seemed to be suffering just as much, although she did it more quietly. She was immaculately dressed, as always, and her hair neatly combed, while Snape was looking a bit more rumpled than usual. The only signs of discomfort she showed were a slight paleness in her face, and the way she winced and rubbed her temples when Snape complained loudly. "Will you please lower your voice, Severus?" she asked irritably.

Dylan smiled and offered them the hangover potion, and both mother and son thanked him and gratefully drank it down.

"Remind me to give ten points to Slytherin when we get back to school," Snape muttered, the pained expression on his face easing slightly.

"Twenty," Selima sighed in relief, leaning back in her chair and sipping cautiously at a cup of weak tea, and Lupin ducked his head to hide his grin.

The hangover potion was not a complete cure-all, so Selima and Snape spent most of the day resting, while Dylan and Theo got caught up on their homework. Lupin watched over them, sipping a cup of tea and smiling contentedly. He felt a little bad for feeling so happy when Severin had just died, but he loved these little moments of time spent with his family, playing cards with the boys or watching them study. Most people would probably find them ordinary and mundane, but that was precisely why Lupin loved them so much--because he had never expected to have the sort of ordinary life most people took for granted. Then he chuckled a little, realizing that most people would hardly consider his family "ordinary"!

By teatime, Selima and Snape were feeling better, and came down to get something to eat, although they were both still rather subdued. They passed the rest of the day quietly, helping Selima write thank-you cards to all the people who had come to the funeral and/or sent them sympathy cards and flowers.

"I don't see why we have to thank people like Priscilla Parkinson for coming to sneer at and insult us," Snape grumbled.

"Because it's the polite thing to do, Severus," Selima snapped. "And because people will talk if we don't."

Snape snorted derisively. "Politeness is highly overrated, Mother. Don't you ever get tired of it?"

"You could at least write thank-you cards to the Hogwarts staff and students," Lupin interrupted, before an argument could get started between son and mother. "Their condolences were sincere, at least, and you should thank them personally, since they came or sent flowers for your sake."

"Fine," Snape sighed, picking up a quill. It was, as he had once pointed out to Dylan and Theodore, usually easier to give in to the werewolf than waste time arguing with him.

They ate dinner at Snape Manor that evening, then prepared to return to the school. "Will you be all right?" Lupin asked Selima anxiously.

"I'll be fine, Professor," Selima said in a cool voice, but she flushed a little, looking embarrassed at his concern. "I don't need anyone to baby-sit me."

Lupin discreetly kicked Snape in the shin, and Snape winced and said, "Contact us if you need anything, Mother."

"Thank you, Severus, but I'll be fine." Selima hesitated for a moment, then added, "But perhaps you'd like to come for tea this weekend? I should go over some of the family finances with you and Theodore now that your father is dead. You are the Snape Lord now, Severus, and you should take an interest in your responsibilities."

"Yes, Mother," Snape said in a resigned voice, and Lupin, who had been about to kick him a second time, placed his foot back on the floor and smiled.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

They were welcomed back warmly by most of the other staff members, and Snape had to endure another round of condolences. Dumbledore just patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's good to have you back."

Lukas stopped by their quarters, carrying a wire cage containing Lupin's pet rat, and Lupin thanked him for looking after Kiseki.

"I think your little friend must be happy to see you," Lukas told him. "He doesn't like me very much; he probably senses that I'm a predator." He grinned down at the rat, his lips pulling back to expose his sharp canine teeth, and Kiseki let out an agitated, high-pitched squeak as he ran in frantic circles around his cage. "Of course, a little thing like this would only be a mouthful for me..."

Lupin snatched the cage from him and cradled it against his chest protectively. "Really, Lukas!" he said indignantly. "There's no need to frighten a harmless animal!"

Lukas and Snape both laughed. "But Lupin's a predator, too," Snape pointed out.

Lukas snorted. "Lupin's about as dangerous as a bunny rabbit."

"Hey!" Lupin protested indignantly.

"Providing that nothing is threatening his mate or cubs," Lukas clarified.

Snape grinned. "It figures that even a rat can tell that you're a soft touch, Lupin!"

"Hmmph!" Lupin said, lifting the rat out of the cage and stroking it. "And who was it that told Dylan and Theo that it's easier to just give in when the werewolf has his mind set on something?" Snape's face turned red as Lukas snickered, and Lupin added, "And I seem to recall a certain someone enjoying being scratched behind the ears during the full moon last month..." Lukas turned red as well, and the three of them stood there glaring at each other until Lupin suddenly burst into laughter. Snape and Lukas scowled at him a moment longer, then they began laughing, too.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Life returned to normal as Snape resumed his classes on Tuesday; he was so glad to escape Snape Manor that he was almost happy to see even his Gryffindor students. In an attempt to ward off any more expressions of sympathy, he greeted all of his classes with a sharp, "Well, I hope you all enjoyed your little vacation, and I hope that you used some of the time to study, because you're about to be tested! Take out your quills and put away your books." There were a few groans, but no more so than usual, and a few students who had not attended the funeral still had enough nerve to cautiously approach him after class to offer their condolences, including both Mr. and Miss Zabini, Miss Patil, Miss Brown, and--somewhat to his surprise--Luna Lovegood. She solemnly told him that she was sorry about his father, with that ever-present dreamy, faraway look in her eyes, then added in an almost conversational tone, "But you'll see him again someday, I'm sure. The dead are never truly gone; I heard their voices behind the Veil, you know."

"Uh...right," Snape said. "Thank you, Miss Lovegood, you may go now." She obediently trotted off and Snape shook his head. He had long suspected that the girl was not playing with a full deck, so to speak, and had been reluctant to accept her into his Advanced Potions class even though she got a high grade on her O.W.L. Yet despite her dreamy manner, she managed to mix her potions adequately, and had never caused any Longbottom-style accidents in class. Most of his Slytherins snickered about "Loony Lovegood," but although Snape tried to summon up a sense of disdain, he felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled her casual remark about hearing voices being the Veil. Maybe she wasn't so crazy after all--or maybe she was crazy precisely because she had been touched by death as a child, having witnessed her mother's accidental death when she was nine. Sometimes such people could actually see into the world of the dead...

Snape shuddered for a moment, then laughed at himself. Yes, the girl believed that she could hear the dead, but she had also believed that the fugitive Sirius Black had really been Stubby Boardman, the lead singer of some music group called The Hobgoblins. What an idiot he was for getting all worked up over some silly girl's fantasies! It must be the stress of the funeral. Fortunately, Lovegood was a Ravenclaw, and therefore not his problem outside of Potions class, and Snape prepared for his next class, feeling much more cheerful.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Saturday, Snape and his family went to Snape Manor for tea. Snape and his mother managed to be civil to each other, although their conversation was stilted and a little awkward. Selima seemed more at ease with Theodore, who listened attentively as Selima went over the rather complicated details of the Snape financial holdings.

Snape watched his mother, frowning thoughtfully. There was something different about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Then Theodore smiled as she praised him for asking a particularly insightful question, and Snape realized what it was: her icy demeanor had thawed just a little, and she seemed to be treating Theodore as her real grandson and heir, and not just some barely adequate substitute. Perhaps it was because Lady Selima had finally accepted the inevitable; his mother was more practical and slightly less stubborn than his father, and had usually been willing to make the best of a bad situation once she realized that she couldn't change it. Or perhaps it was because Theodore was showing an interest in Selima's area of expertise, which had always bored Snape as a child, much to his mother's disapproval.

Snape felt a little odd watching Theodore smile at Selima and converse with her pleasantly. Part of him was grateful that she was treating Theodore well, and part of him was a little suspicious. He knew that Theodore wasn't used to being praised--he had never once heard Thaddeus utter a kind word to or about the boy--which was probably what was making him respond so favorably to Selima. Lupin looked pleased to see everyone getting along so well, but Snape felt a pang of sorrow and guilt: sorrow that Theodore's childhood had been so miserable that a few words of praise would make him so happy, and guilt that he had not done anything to help Theodore sooner. And then he worried about Theodore getting too close to Selima, because he was afraid that she might hurt him somehow, on purpose or even just accidentally, with a careless cutting word or cold look of disapproval if Theodore eventually did something that failed to fit her image of a "proper" heir.

Like taking a male lover, for example, although Snape had only Lupin's word for it that Theodore and Blaise were an item. He almost hoped that Lupin was wrong, because it was going to cause a great deal of trouble in the future when Selima found out. Snape hadn't cared before, when Theodore didn't care about Selima's opinion, but now...Snape swore that he would kill his mother if she did anything to hurt his son.

But everyone else seemed to be at ease; Lupin was still smiling, and Selima had sent only a couple of token, halfhearted insults his way. The conversation shifted away from the Snape finances when Dylan asked about Ali's flying carpet business.

Selima sighed and took a sip of her tea. "That's Ali's pet peeve; he just will not let it go, no matter how many times the Ministry turns him down. He has a number of other successful business ventures, and his carpet business does quite well in other countries that don't have a ban, but it's become a matter of pride with him. He considers the ban to be irrational, and he's resolved to make the Ministry revoke it. A good merchant knows when to quit."

"He says that the broomstick manufacturers are backing the ban because they're afraid of losing sales," Dylan said.

"Oh, please!" groaned Selima. "Don't get him started on his conspiracy theories!"

Dylan laughed. "But if flying carpets became legal, we could ride the one in the library!" He sighed wistfully. "That would be so much fun."

"Your father tried to take it on a joyride once, you know," Selima said with a small smile.

"Really?" Dylan said. "You never told us that, Professor!"

"It's difficult to keep track of all of Evan's escapades," Snape said dryly. "But yes, I do remember that one now."

"He and his mother came over for tea," Selima explained. "This was a couple of years before he and Severus entered Hogwarts. He'd heard about our carpet, and under the guise of going to the bathroom, snuck up to the library."

"Did you go along on this little joyride, Severus?" Lupin asked, his eyes twinkling.

"I wasn't stupid enough to get involved with Evan's pranks," Snape said, then recalled the Swelling Solution chocolates they had sent to James Potter in third year, and added, "well, not often, anyway."

"No, Evan did it on his own," Selima continued. "But he didn't know how to control the carpet, and fell off it and tumbled down the stairs; he was lucky he didn't break his neck. Severin had to chase the carpet around the mansion, and he was very annoyed. Elin scolded Evan, but at the same time kept fussing over him and asking him if he was all right, and took exception to Severin's comment that the boy deserved a good thrashing." The corners of her mouth twitched a little, then curved into a smile almost against her will. "He was a little terror; his parents spoiled him rotten...but he was a very charming boy. Every time he got into trouble, he would apologize most eloquently and contritely, flattering you shamelessly, and all the while there was this devilish little gleam in his eyes that said he would do it again as soon as your back was turned. I must admit that even I was charmed a little by him, but--" She gave Snape an ironic smile. "--believe it or not, I used to thank my lucky stars that my son was an obedient child, and not a rapscallion like Evan!"

Dylan, Theodore, and Lupin laughed, and after a moment, Selima joined in. It was the first time in a long time that Snape had heard her laugh without any sarcasm or bitterness, and as she indulgently told Dylan a few more stories about his father, he realized that he had forgotten how charming she could be when she wished to exert herself--probably because she never bothered to use her charm on him, only on the Ministry officials and important pureblood families who could help or hinder her efforts to advance the Snape family's position in society.

But there was little Dylan could do to aid in those efforts, at least right now, although he was the newly-confirmed Lord Rosier, as well as the heir to Mathias Donner's estate. Was his mother perhaps looking to the future, when Dylan might grow in power and influence or...could Lupin be right? Was his mother really making an effort to change and to accept his surrogate family?

"You're so quiet, Severus," Lupin said with a smile, leaning over to place a hand on his arm.

"I was thinking, Lupin," Snape replied, then to cover his discomfort, added in a snotty tone, "Although I realize that's something most Gryffindors are unfamiliar with..."

Lupin just laughed, and Snape tried to set aside his worries, at least for the moment. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful, and they returned to Hogwarts, with Selima promising to come to Slytherin's Quidditch match against Gryffindor the following week.

"I'm quite looking forward to it, actually," Selima said with a pleasant smile, but there was a certain spark in her eyes, an odd combination of eagerness and calculation that immediately made Snape wary. It was the same look she always used to wear when she was about to make an important power play or engineer an especially devious bit of manipulation. Selima had always gone about doing her duty coldly and efficiently, or at least that was how it had seemed to Snape when he was a child, but he was struck by the sudden realization that she actually relished the politicking and social maneuvering. Her renewed enthusiasm--perhaps enhanced by the fact that she had been out of the game for so long--made her look more alive and beautiful than he had ever seen her, and he felt as if he were seeing her for the first time. He was surprised to find that he felt a little relieved to see that her spirits had lifted after making the shocking discovery that his mother had been crying in the study on the day of the funeral--in Lupin's presence, no less! But at the same time, neither did he want himself or Theodore to be drawn into her plotting and scheming.

"I hadn't realized that you were such a Quidditch fan, Mother," Snape said coolly.

"Well, I admit that I'm not much of a fan," Selima replied innocently, "but of course I want to see my grandson play."

Now Snape was really worried; Selima was a great many things, but "innocent" was not one of them. "Of course," Snape echoed dubiously.

"We'll see you next Saturday!" Lupin called out cheerfully as they left.

When they were back at school and alone in their quarters, Snape confided his concerns to Lupin.

"Hmm," Lupin said thoughtfully. "It's true that Theo is warming up to your mother a bit, but I think he's embracing his role as the Snape heir so enthusiastically because he wants to please you, Severus, not her. But I think it's a good thing that they seem to be getting along. It's the first step in becoming a real family."

"I don't want him getting too close to her, Remus. I don't want her to hurt him."

"I understand your concerns, Severus," Lupin said quietly, "and they're valid ones, but...are you sure that you aren't a little jealous? That Theodore might be growing close to Selima, or that Selima is treating Theodore more kindly than she did you?"

"Ouch," Snape said with a shaky laugh. "I usually only expect that kind of bluntness from Branwen." His former Professor rarely minced words and had a habit of telling people the unadulterated truth, which was usually what they least wanted to hear. Lupin smiled apologetically and stroked his arm in comforting manner, as if to soften his words. "I...I don't know, Lupin," he said after a long pause. "Maybe. You know that I'm not good at sharing the people I care about."

Lupin leaned against his chest, and Snape put his arms around him. "The wolf loves your possessiveness, Severus," he murmured. "But I do think it would be good for Theo and Selima to build a closer relationship."

Snape thought it over. "I don't know if I can forgive my mother, but that's between her and me. I can live with the past, even though I don't like it. And in a way, I can understand why she gets along with Theodore better than she did me. He was raised to be an obedient, compliant pureblood heir, and he's nowhere near as difficult or rebellious as I was." Snape grimaced, looking worried. "I overlooked him for so many years; he seemed as cold and hard as you would expect any future Death Eater to be. But underneath all that sullenness, he's the most vulnerable of all my Slytherins. He's so eager to please, so grateful for a little praise or affection...if my mother can treat Theodore well, and truly accept him as part of the family, I'll be grateful for it, and try to set aside my own grudges, but I'm afraid that she'll hurt him, sooner or later."

"I think that Selima is trying to accept him, Severus," Lupin said.

"I think so, too," Snape agreed, a little reluctantly, recalling the way Selima had praised Theodore for behaving like a "proper Snape heir" at the funeral. "But I'm afraid of what will happen if he disappoints her by failing to do his duty--as I did, by taking an inappropriate lover."

"Oh," Lupin said, comprehension dawning on his face.

"I know we laughed it off earlier, even gloated about how we'd outsmarted Lady Selima, but that was before..."

"Before they'd begun to see each other as family," Lupin finished. "When Selima was nothing more than an unpleasant stranger to Theo." Lupin sighed. "Well, I'm not sure what we can do, Severus, except to hope that, having lost her husband, Selima won't be so quick to cast away what little family she has left."

"My mother is not motivated by sentiment, Lupin."

"Your mother is not a monster, Severus," Lupin said, his eyes solemn and a little sad. "She's a woman who made some bad choices for what she believed were the right reasons at the time. And...I think your father's death has begun to change her a little."

"Maybe, but will that be enough?" Snape asked skeptically.

"Maybe not now," Lupin replied, "but over time...perhaps. Time enough for you and she and Theodore to truly become a family. And you are the head of the Snape family now, Severus; she cannot disown him, and she is a Snape, no longer a Bashir, and she will not just walk away from this family." In a very soft voice, Lupin added, "Because she has nowhere else to go."

"So many maybes, Lupin," Snape sighed wearily. "Even if she doesn't walk away, that doesn't mean that she won't do her best to make our lives miserable."

"We won't let her abuse him, Severus," Lupin said firmly. "Not even verbally. We'll make it clear that she'll lose her heir if she does; I would like to see you reconcile with your mother, but not at Theodore's expense. If she turns on him, then we will keep him away from Snape Manor, and we will smother him with love and reassure him that he hasn't done anything wrong. Besides, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren't we? Theo is only seventeen; it'll be a few more years before we'll have to explain why we won't let her arrange a marriage for him. Perhaps by that time she'll have grown attached enough to him that she won't be able to just write him off."

"Your Gryffindor optimism never ceases to amaze me," Snape said, still feeling skeptical.

Lupin kissed him. "We already have more than enough on our plate, Sev. Let's deal with the present today, and deal with the future as it comes." Snape thought that was a bit shortsighted, but not having any better ideas, reluctantly acquiesced and let Lupin lead him to the bed to comfort him in the usual manner.

 

Part 62