Aftermaths, Part 62

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.
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Halloween fell on the following day, and the students made their usual trip to Hogsmeade. They were accompanied by Hagrid, McGonagall, and Flitwick; Snape and Lupin chose to stay back at the school this time, taking advantage of the opportunity to spend some uninterrupted time alone.

Hermione and Dylan went off to Madam Puddifoot's, somewhat to the disgruntlement of their respective Gryffindor and Slytherin friends. For a moment, Harry was tempted to ask Ginny if she'd like to go to Puddifoot's with him, but chickened out, remembering how disastrously his date with Cho there had gone in fifth year. It had been bad enough being compared to Roger Davies, and Harry figured he would only suffer even more in comparison to the smooth and charming Dylan Rosier. Besides, Ginny was no longer the little girl who had a crush on "famous" Harry Potter; what if she laughed in his face when he asked her on a date? Well, actually Ginny wasn't the type to do something that mean, but what if she took it as a joke, or worse, turned him down pityingly?

Feeling rather cowardly--why was asking a girl out harder than fighting the Death Eaters?--Harry said casually to Ron and Ginny, "How about grabbing a butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks?"

"Sure," Ginny said.

"Sounds good," said Ron. "Then maybe we can stop by Honeydukes and Zonko's."

They ended up at a table next to Draco, Serafina, Crabbe, Goyle, Theodore, and Blaise. Harry noticed that there was a new waitress assisting Madam Rosmerta, a woman in her late thirties or early forties with limp, stringy hair that was not quite blonde and not quite brown, who looked familiar although Harry couldn't seem to place her name or face.

She stopped by Draco's table first, and asked cheerfully, "Well, what will you be having today?"

"Mrs. Avery?!" Draco exclaimed, his jaw dropping as he stared at her in shock.

"Hi, Mum," Serafina said calmly.

"Hello, dear," Delia Avery replied, still smiling. "It's nice to see you again, Draco--and you too, Vincent, Gregory, Theodore, and...Blaise, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am," Blaise said politely; the other boys were in too much shock to respond. "Are you working here now?"

"Yes," Delia replied, "I just started last week."

"How's the job going?" Serafina asked.

"Pretty well," her mother said. "Madam Rosmerta's been very kind. I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm afraid I have to get back to work." The room was rapidly filling up with students. "Are you ready to order?"

Draco was still staring at Delia with his mouth hanging open, and Serafina poked him in the side. He blinked, then said weakly, "Ah...butterbeer all around?"

The others nodded, and Delia said cheerfully, "All right then, six butterbeers coming up!"

She stopped by the next table, and her eyes widened when she saw Harry. Smiling nervously, she asked, "And what would you like?"

"Um...three butterbeers," Harry said.

"Coming right up," Delia said, and went off to get their drinks.

"I can't believe there's a Death Eater working here!" Ron exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Ginny kicked him in the leg under the table and hissed, "Shhh! Serafina's sitting right at the next table!"

"Why is she working here?" Harry whispered. He knew that Delia Avery and Narcissa Malfoy had been pardoned because they'd turned against their fellow Death Eaters in the final battle, but seeing a former Death Eater working at one of his favorite hangouts made him a little uneasy.

Ginny shrugged, but at the next table, Draco was asking Serafina the same thing. "What is your mother doing here?!"

"Working," Serafina replied, in a tone that stated that should be obvious.

"But why?" Crabbe asked. "Did the Ministry take all your money?"

"My father wasn't as wealthy as he liked to pretend," Serafina explained, looking unperturbed. "The fines that the Ministry imposed drained most of the money from our Gringotts account. So Mum put the house up for sale, and the Headmaster helped her get this job. She's moved into an apartment here in town, too."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Draco demanded.

"It all just happened recently," Serafina said with a shrug, her voice and face as indifferent and emotionless as always. "She finally found a buyer for the house, so she had to move out right away, and the Headmaster found her an apartment here in Hogsmeade. Then he talked to Madam Rosmerta, and she said she could use some extra help since business has picked up a lot since the war ended."

"Does that mean you're poor now?" Goyle blurted out. "Like the Weasleys?" Ron glowered at him from the next table.

"I guess so," Serafina said, not looking at all upset about it. "Except that the Weasleys aren't poor anymore."

"Oh, right," Goyle said.

"It's terrible," Draco said, looking horrified, "that your mother should have to work in such a demeaning job!"

Serafina shrugged. "Mum doesn't have much work experience, and not many places will hire a former Death Eater, anyway. But Madam Rosmerta owed Dumbledore a favor, so she agreed to hire my mother. Besides, I don't think serving butterbeer is all that demeaning, and it's nice to have Mum close by so I can visit her on our Hogsmeade days." Draco still looked stunned and horrified, and Serafina smiled just a little. "You're such a snob, Draco."

Delia returned with a tray of mugs, and began passing them out. From a nearby table, Jack Sloper called out, "How about some service over here?"

"I'll be right there," Delia called back as the Slytherins frowned.

Jack was sharing a table with Andrew Kirke, Dean Thomas, Susan Bones, Stewart Ackerley, and Isabelle Laroque. "I don't want to be waited on by a Death Eater," Stewart said in a loud voice, and suddenly silence fell over the room. Isabelle frowned and whispered something into his ear, and across the room, McGonagall and Flitwick rose from their seats in the booth they were sharing; Flitwick looked anxious, and McGonagall angry.

Delia slowly turned around and said in an even voice, "Then you may go to the bar and ask Madam Rosmerta to serve you." Meanwhile, the Slytherins were glaring at Stewart, and the normally emotionless Serafina was looking especially murderous. Her hand drifted towards the pocket where she kept her wand, and Theodore leaned across the table to grab her wrist, whispering urgently to her, obviously trying to keep her from hexing Stewart.

Madam Rosmerta came out from behind the bar and walked over to Stewart's table. "If you don't care to be served by my staff, you can take your business elsewhere," she said in a cold voice.

"Fine!" Stewart snapped, then got up from his seat, deliberately bumping into Delia on his way out, and she dropped her tray, spilling the remaining mugs of butterbeer, which splashed all over the floor and her skirt.

McGonagall and Flitwick were marching over, and the Slytherins were jumping to their feet, but it was Harry who reached Stewart first. Before he knew what he was doing, he had jumped up and stepped in front of the Ravenclaw boy.

"Get out of the way, Potter," Stewart snarled.

Harry didn't know if he believed that Delia Avery had really reformed, but he did know that he despised bullies. "You should apologize to Mrs. Avery and pay for the spilled drinks," he said firmly.

"She should apologize to me for being so clumsy," Stewart sneered.

"You bumped into her on purpose!" Harry said hotly.

"I did not!" Stewart retorted. "And anyway, it's none of your business! You may be the savior of the wizarding world, but you have no right to boss me around! You're not a teacher or a prefect!"

"No, but I am," McGonagall said in a steely voice. "Apologize to Mrs. Avery at once, Ackerley!"

"I will not!"

"You're in enough trouble as it is, Mr. Ackerley," Flitwick said quietly. "I already intend to take ten points from Ravenclaw and give you detention. Don't make it any worse."

"You can expel me for all I care!" Stewart shouted. "But I will not apologize to one of the people who murdered my father!" He pushed his way past Harry and ran out of the inn.

"I'd better go after him," Flitwick said, still looking worried. "I think it would be best if I took him back to the school now, if that's all right with you, Minerva."

"Of course, Filius," McGonagall replied. "Go ahead; Hagrid and I can manage alone. I don't expect that there will be any more problems today." She swept the room with a stern, steely gaze to emphasize her point.

Flitwick hurried after Stewart, and after hesitating for a moment, Stewart's friends got up and left, too. Isabelle paused; her features looked drawn and tight, as if she were trying to keep herself under control, but Harry could see the anger smoldering in her eyes. It suddenly reminded him of the way he used fight to keep his temper under control when Snape was being particularly nasty. "I apologize for my friend," Isabelle said to Delia in a stiff voice, then left without waiting for a reply.

Harry knelt down to pick up the dropped mugs, and Ginny and Ron got up to help him. Theodore and Blaise came over as well, and cast a spell to clean up the spilled butterbeer. Meanwhile, Serafina and Draco were asking Delia if she was all right.

Delia said she was fine, but she looked pale and shaken. "I'm so sorry, Rosmerta," she said. "You've been so good to me, and then I cause all this trouble for you..."

"It's not your fault, dear," Rosmerta said firmly.

"It's that git Ackerley who should be apologizing!" Draco said indignantly.

"But you can't afford to lose customers because of me," Delia told Rosmerta. "I should have realized something like this would happen; that boy was right--no one will want to be waited on by a former Death Eater. I should quit before you lose more business--"

"No one tells me what I can or can't do," Rosmerta said firmly. "Or who I can or can't hire."

"But--" Delia protested.

"Oh, don't worry, Delia," Rosmerta said. "I won't go out of business. The only other place in town that people can go to for a drink is The Hog's Head." She sniffed disdainfully. "And I highly doubt that my customers will be able to stomach that swill they serve. I suppose if they don't mind watered-down tea, they could go to Madam Puddifoot's..." Delia smiled weakly, and the Slytherins laughed, although it sounded a little forced. "Why don't you go take a break and get cleaned up, Delia?"

Delia left with only a token protest, still looking a little shaken, and Madam Rosmerta returned with three mugs of butterbeer to replace the ones that had been spilled. Harry reached for his wallet, but Rosmerta shook her head. "It's on the house, dear," she said with a wink. She leaned forward--incidentally giving Ron and Harry a clear view of her ample bosom, which was nearly spilling out of her low-cut blouse--and whispered, "I liked the way you stood up for Delia."

Ron and Harry both turned scarlet, and Ginny gave them a disgusted look. "Um...I...I...just don't like bullies, that's all," Harry stammered.

"Nor do I," Rosmerta said with a smile, then went to serve some other customers.

Serafina came over and said gravely, "Thank you, Harry."

"It was nothing," Harry said, feeling rather uncomfortable, because he wasn't sure how he felt about Delia being pardoned. He had spent some time with Draco's mother over the summer, when she and Draco came to Grimmauld Place to visit Sirius, and he was now able to think of her as a person, not just a Death Eater. She was Sirius's cousin, and Blackmore was fond of her, and she was actually kind of nice when she dropped her snooty attitude. But he didn't know anything about Delia, although he had been told that, like Narcissa, she had turned against the Death Eaters when they threatened her child.

"It is something," Serafina insisted. "You stood up for my mother, and I won't forget that. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything, really," Harry protested.

"I won't forget," Serafina repeated, then returned to her own table. The other Slytherins at the table gave Harry thoughtful looks and slightly grudging nods of approval.

"You're all right, Potter," Goyle said in an almost friendly voice, and Theodore lifted his tankard silently in salute with a faint, slightly ironic smile.

"Sometimes you're not so bad for a Gryffindor," Draco drawled in that lazy, arrogant tone of voice he liked to use, although for once there seemed to be a hint of genuine respect beneath the sarcasm.

After they finished their drinks, they all headed to Honeydukes, where they ran into Dylan and Hermione. "That's awful," Hermione said when she heard what had happened.

"It is, but it's to be expected," Dylan said. "People have been giving me a hard time about being a Death Eater's son all my life."

Lisa Turpin happened to be in the shop at the time, and joined in the conversation, looking troubled. "What Stewart did is wrong, but...he's been through a lot lately. His father died during the final battle, and...well..."

"He hates the Death Eaters," Dylan finished quietly. "I guess I can't really blame him. I hated the Aurors for a long time, for killing my father."

"I don't blame Stewart for hating the Death Eaters, but I won't let anyone treat my mother badly!" Serafina said in a fiercely protective voice, her violet eyes shining with rare intensity. "And she never wanted to be a Death Eater, anyway; my father forced her to join."

Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke walked into the store, and spotted the Slytherins. Jack scowled, and Andrew picked up a bag of sugar skulls and tossed it at Dylan, saying, "Here, Rosier--perfect treats for a Death Eater!"

As Draco and the other Slytherins glared at Andrew, Dylan neatly reached up and plucked the bag of candy out of the air. Damien walked in right at that moment, accompanied by Parvati, Lavender, and Seamus. Not having heard Andrew's earlier remark, he said cheerfully, "Hey, nice catch, Dylan! Hope you do as well at our Quidditch match!"

Dylan smiled pleasantly at Andrew. "Thanks, I think I will get some of these. They're kind of cute, don't you think, Hermione? I promised to bring some treats back for Gabrielle and Allegra."

"They're great for Halloween," Hermione agreed with a bright smile. "How about getting some of those licorice bats, too?"

They sauntered off, picking out candies and blithely ignoring Jack and Andrew, who were turning red and fuming.

"Hey, Sloper," Draco said, smirking, "why don't you get some of those Ice Mice for your brother? I hear he's fond of rats."

"Why, you--" Jack said, reaching for his wand. But just then, McGonagall passed by, and stopped to look in the window at a display of candy. Andrew elbowed Jack in the side, and the two of them turned and and left abruptly.

Harry was relieved that a fight had been averted, but that incident, and the one at The Three Broomsticks, left a bad taste in his mouth. He had thought that when Voldemort was defeated and the war was over, that everything would be all right, like a fairy tale that ended with "and they lived happily ever after," but now he realized how silly and naive that notion was. There was no real happy ending for those who had lost loved ones in the war, like Stewart. And even though Theodore seemed relieved that his father was dead, and was happy to be Snape's son now, Harry still remembered how he had woken up screaming in the middle of the night during the summer at Grimmauld Place.

Harry was quiet and distracted for the rest of the day. Ginny and Ron had to repeat themselves two or three times to get his attention when they asked him something, and eventually they just let him be, and the three of them wandered around Hogsmeade together, munching on their Honeydukes candies in silence. Had he been right to confront Stewart Ackerley in The Three Broomsticks? Didn't Stewart have a right to be angry at the Death Eaters, as even Dylan had admitted? How much of the Death Eaters' activities had Delia Avery participated in? Had she merely been a reluctant bystander, or had she killed people, and if so, did she deserve to be pardoned? Harry also wondered how deeply Narcissa Malfoy had been involved with the Death Eaters, and what Professor Snape had done to keep his cover with them when he was working as a spy.

Harry felt like he needed to talk to someone--not one of his friends, but an adult who might actually have some answers to his questions. Sirius wasn't here, and this wasn't the kind of thing he wanted to put in a letter, and besides, Sirius wasn't that familiar with the inner workings of the Death Eaters. Then Harry realized that the person he wanted to talk to was Lupin, who was a little more objective than Sirius, and had some familiarity with the Death Eaters through his relationship with Snape--but that presented a problem because Lupin was probably in the dungeon with Snape right now since it wasn't a school day.

After much inner debate, Harry decided to brave the Potions Master's wrath, and after the students returned to Hogwarts, he headed down to the dungeon. He timidly knocked on the door, got no response, then knocked a little louder.

"Yes?" Snape called out.

"Er...it's Harry Potter, sir. Sorry to disturb you, but is Professor Lupin in?"

"Just a minute, Harry," Lupin said cheerfully; Harry thought he heard Snape mutter an unintelligible curse under his breath. After a few minutes, Lupin opened the door, looking a little disheveled: his hair was messy, as if he'd just gotten up from bed and neglected to comb it, and his robe was hanging open, revealing that the top few buttons of his shirt had been left undone. There were several prominent bruises circling his neck, and Harry felt his face turn red. Lupin noticed his flush, and the direction of his gaze, and hastily buttoned up his shirt although he was grinning, not looking the least bit abashed. One small thing to be grateful for was that Snape was nowhere in sight; the door on the far side of the room--presumably leading to the bedroom--was closed. Snape was probably in there trying to avoid Harry--or he was getting dressed, a thought that Harry quickly tried to banish from his head with a shudder. That was definitely not a mental image that he cared to contemplate!

"Come on in, Harry," Lupin said. "I'll fix some tea for us."

"Um...are you sure it's okay?" Harry asked, cautiously stepping into the room. "Are you sure Professor Snape won't mind?"

"It's fine," Lupin said carelessly. "Have a seat."

The room was large and spacious, and Harry idly wondered if all the teachers' quarters were this large, or if the Potions Master rated special privileges. He took a seat on the couch, looking around curiously as Lupin heated up a pot of tea with his wand. The couch, armchair, and the rug beside the hearth were all Slytherin green. There was a chess set laid out on the coffee table near the couch, and there was a wooden carving of a coiled snake displayed on the mantle.

"Here you go, Harry," Lupin said, handing him a cup of tea.

"Thank you, Professor."

"So what's on your mind, Harry?" Lupin asked, and Harry explained what had happened at Hogsmeade.

"I see," Lupin said, a wrinkle creasing his forehead as he frowned, and his blue eyes were filled with concern.

"How did Stewart's father die?" Harry asked. "I know he was an Auror, and that he died in the final battle, but I don't know exactly how. Did...did Mrs. Avery...?"

"Delia had no direct involvement with Mr. Ackerley's death," Lupin replied. "He was killed when a giant hit him with an uprooted tree."

"Oh," Harry said, feeling a small sense of relief that at least Delia Avery hadn't actually killed Stewart's father. "But...she was a Death Eater."

"Yes, she was," Lupin said, still frowning. "But she renounced them, and fought on our side when Andreas threatened to kill Serafina."

Harry shuddered again, this time with genuine fear and revulsion. That brought the count of Death Eaters who had tried to kill their own children during the battle up to three: Andreas Avery, Thaddeus Nott, and Lucius Malfoy. "I guess I'm having trouble understanding how she could have joined the Death Eaters if she wasn't a bad person. I mean, Serafina said that Mr. Avery forced her to, but..."

"Sometimes good people make mistakes, Harry," Lupin said quietly, and Harry wondered if he was thinking of Snape. "In Delia's case, she was a pureblood girl who had been raised to obey her husband, and on top of that, Andreas..." Lupin hesitated. "He was a very cruel man, and I have no doubt that he would have hurt or killed Delia if she disobeyed him."

"But...that doesn't make it okay," Harry argued. "If she helped the Death Eaters to hurt or kill people...just how involved with them was she, anyway?"

The bedroom door suddenly opened, and Snape glided out, his black robes billowing around him. "That is none of your business, Mr. Potter," he said sternly.

"But it is my business, sir," Harry said quietly, trying to sound firm but not defiant. He hadn't counted on Snape intruding on his talk with Lupin; maybe he should have asked Lupin if they could speak privately in his office. "My parents died because of Voldemort and the Death Eaters."

"Then you feel that Mrs. Avery owes you an accounting of her actions?" Snape asked coldly. "Or that I do?"

"I don't think that's what he's saying, Severus," Lupin said, getting up to place a hand on Snape's arm, as if to calm him, or perhaps restrain him.

"No, sir," Harry said, shaking his head and trying to remain calm. "I guess I'm confused. I think Stewart was wrong to act that way, but on the other hand, doesn't he have a right to be angry that his father was killed?"

"I think what you are asking, Potter, is whether Mrs. Avery deserves to be forgiven for her crimes," Snape said. His voice was taut and angry, but his eyes looked troubled, and a little guilty.

"Maybe I should go," Harry mumbled. "I shouldn't have disturbed you; I can talk to Professor Lupin later."

"No," Lupin said, "stay. Besides, I think Severus is better qualified to answer your questions than I am." Harry gave Lupin a dismayed look, and Snape glared at his lover, who stroked his arm soothingly. "He has a right to know, Severus," Lupin said softly, "after everything he's been through. And I think he's trying to understand things better, not throw accusations around."

Snape slowly sat down on the opposite end of the couch, as if trying to stay as far away from Harry as possible, and Lupin sat beside him, still hanging on to Snape's arm.

"If it makes you feel any better, Potter," Snape said, his eyes still filled with that mixture of anger and guilt, "Delia Avery was only a token member of the Death Eaters; she joined at her husband's insistence, but for the most part she simply observed passively at the meetings and ceremonies. She didn't go out Muggle or Auror-hunting, if only because she is a poor combative mage. Her main crime was that she was too afraid to oppose the Death Eaters, and merely stood by and watched as they killed people--a crime committed by countless others in the wizarding world, including the former Minister of Magic."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, remembering how Cornelius Fudge had refused to believe that Voldemort had returned during the Triwizard Tournament, even with all the evidence in front of him, including Cedric's body, Harry's own testimony, and the Mark on Snape's arm.

"Your friend Mr. Ackerley--" Snape began.

"He's not my friend," Harry protested. "I barely know him."

Snape glared at the interruption. "As I was saying, if Mr. Ackerley wishes to blame someone for his father's death, he might also blame the Ministry, including most of his father's coworkers, who ignored Dumbledore's warnings and refused to believe that the Dark Lord had returned until the Death Eaters finally showed up on their doorstep." In a contemptuous voice, Snape said, "They knew. I think Fudge knew from the time of the Triwizard Tournament, even though he denied it, and the Aurors must have realized the truth when the Dementors left Azkaban, but they pretended not to because they didn't want to believe it. The Death Eaters escaped and people died so that they could preserve the illusion that everything was fine a little longer. And incidentally, Mr. Ackerley senior was one of those who participated in the cover-up."

"That may be true," Lupin murmured, "but I don't think that telling Stewart that his father was partially responsible for his own death is going to help matters any."

"I didn't say that he should tell Ackerley that," Snape said in a testy voice. "I was just explaining things to Potter as you asked me to."

"Sorry, Severus," Lupin said apologetically, gently stroking Snape's arm. Harry felt extremely uncomfortable watching Lupin touch Snape in a way that seemed very intimate, even if it wasn't exactly sexual; he felt as if he were intruding on a private moment. Then Lupin turned to Harry and said, "I won't say that Delia is blameless, but she did find the strength to fight against the Death Eaters in the end, and that is more than most people can say. Very few people gave their support to Dumbledore and the Order even after Voldemort's return was finally made public. As for whether Delia deserves forgiveness...well, that's not really up to me to say. But she cannot atone for her crimes if she's dead or locked up in a prison cell. Free, she has a chance to do some good in the world, starting by being a good parent to Serafina, who has committed no crime, and who would suffer if her mother was taken away from her."

Harry nodded; when Lupin phrased it that way, it made sense. But on the other hand, after the first war, some of the Death Eaters had been pardoned because they claimed to be repentant, saying that Voldemort had forced them to join and controlled them with an Imperius Curse...

"For my part," Lupin said quietly, as if reading his mind, "I believe that Delia is truly repentant, and I bear her no grudge. I don't believe that she will ever again make the mistake of allowing herself to be ruled by fear and intimidation, nor will she ever allow Serafina to be put in such danger again. But as for Stewart and the others who bear grudges against the Death Eaters..." Lupin sighed sadly. "Nothing that you or I can say will make them change their minds. And Stewart probably doesn't realize it, but even if Delia and everyone else linked to the Death Eaters were put in prison or even executed, it would not bring him peace of mind, because nothing can bring his father back. He will have to heal in his own way and time. Having patient and understanding friends might help..."

"Like I told Professor Snape, I don't really know him," Harry said uncomfortably. "I'll try to be nice to him from now on, but I don't think we really got off on the right foot, considering what happened in Hogsmeade...he probably won't want to be friends with me."

"And I doubt that he'll accept any overtures from me, considering the company I keep," Lupin said with a rueful smile as he looked at Snape, softening his words by stroking Snape's arm gently. Snape just gave him a small, sardonic smile in response. "I'll speak to Professor Flitwick," Lupin continued. "As Stewart's Head of House, he'll know best how to help him. Do you know who his friends are, Harry?"

"Not really," Harry replied, "but he was hanging out with Dean, Susan, Jack, and Andrew today at The Three Broomsticks. Oh, and Isabelle Laroque; he seems to be spending a lot of time with her lately, or at least I've heard some of the girls in Gryffindor gossiping about it. Well, the guys too, actually." The French girl was quite popular among the boys, and some of them had been bemoaning the fact that she seemed to be taken, while others were still hoping that they had a shot with her.

"She lost relatives to the Death Eaters as well," Snape told Lupin, who looked worried.

"But she got mad at Stewart when he was rude to Mrs. Avery," Harry told them. "And she apologized to Mrs. Avery for Stewart's behavior."

Snape frowned, looking puzzled. "Well, that's somewhat unexpected."

"The Prewett brothers died before Isabelle was born," Lupin said. "Perhaps that's why she's able to remain more objective about it, since she never really knew her uncles. She's polite and intelligent, but a little reserved. I haven't gotten to know her as well as some of my other students."

"Well, we'll keep an eye on Mr. Ackerley and his friends," Snape said, "though I don't think it will go beyond the usual name-calling. But perhaps I should think of some particularly vile detention tasks, just in case they step out of line..."

"I'm not sure that will help matters, Severus..."

Lupin and Snape seemed to be getting wrapped up in their discussion, almost as if they had forgotten Harry was here, and he rose to his feet, figuring that now would be a good time to leave.

"Oh, sorry, Harry," Lupin said, glancing up and looking a little startled. "We didn't mean to ignore you--"

"Speak for yourself, Lupin," Snape muttered.

"It's okay, Professor," Harry reassured Lupin. "Thank you for talking to me; I feel a little better now."

"I'm glad, Harry," Lupin said, smiling warmly at him. "Please feel free to stop by anytime you want to talk."

Snape looked a little irked by that offer, and Harry hastened to say, "And thank you, Professor, for explaining things to me." Snape stared at him in shock, and whatever insult or complaint he was about utter died on his lips. "The next time I want to talk to Professor Lupin, I'll try to go to his office," Harry added, and quickly left the room before Snape had a chance to recover.
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By the time Snape recovered his composure, Potter was gone, and he found himself glaring at the door that had just closed behind the boy. Damn that boy for causing trouble even when he didn't intend to! Potter's queries about forgiveness had awakened old and familiar feelings of guilt, because Snape still hadn't entirely forgiven himself for the things he had done--or not done--as a Death Eater. He would never forget the people he had seen tortured and killed while he had stood by and watched, unable to intervene without risking his cover and his life, and he would always regret not being able to save Evan and Lyall, no matter how much Lupin and Dumbledore assured him that it wasn't his fault. It helped a little that Dylan didn't blame him, but only a little. He sighed and leaned back against the couch, saying wearily, "So it's starting again."

"I thought things would be different after the war," Lupin said, looking distressed.

Snape shook his head. "You Gryffindors are too naive. The hostility between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and to a lesser extent, the other Houses, has existed for hundreds of years. I told you before, you can't change that overnight."

"But it's not just the usual House rivalry, Severus," Lupin objected. "It's causing internal conflict within the other Houses, or at least in Gryffindor. Seamus and Dean have broken up a friendship that's lasted for nearly seven years just because Seamus wants to date a girl who's friendly with the Slytherins. And there's the way Jarrett and Kenneth picked on Portia..."

"It's not like there haven't been bullies in Gryffindor before," Snape pointed out with a slightly bitter smile. "It's just that they usually bully people in other Houses." Lupin's eyes filled with guilt, which in turn made Snape feel even more guilty. He put his arm around Lupin and pulled him close, stroking his cheek in apology. Lupin laid his head on Snape's chest and sighed, a sound that managed to be both sad and contented at the same time. Suddenly Snape was curious about something. "Sorry for dredging up the past, Remus, but I was just wondering...did people in Gryffindor ever harass Black or Rafe for being from Slytherin families?"

Lupin thought about it. "Maybe a few people at first, but it didn't last long. Sirius and James bonded on the train when they stopped some older boys from picking on Peter. Maybe under different circumstances James might have been a little suspicious of Sirius, but that incident convinced him that Sirius was definitely all right, and James had absolute faith in the House system: if someone was a Gryffindor, they must by definition be brave and loyal." Lupin grimaced. "Although, obviously Peter eventually proved that wasn't true. Most of the other Gryffindors thought the same way James did, though--that the members of your House are your family, and you stick by them no matter what. And Sirius and Rafe were both charming and charismatic boys who were quickly able to win over any doubters. It helped that they both excelled at Quidditch, and were star players for the team."

Snape felt a little envious. "In Slytherin, we banded together outwardly against the other Houses, but at the same time, internally there was always a lot of infighting and scheming and power struggles going on."

"Your Slytherins have changed for the better," Lupin told him, "but I'm not sure that the Gryffindors have. Maybe we should call a staff meeting to discuss the situation--"

"Didn't you just tell Potter that you won't change the minds of people like Ackerley just by talking to them?" Snape pointed out. "You said that they have to work things out on their own."

"You're right, Severus," Lupin agreed reluctantly. "But I hate to see the students at odds with each other like this."

"It's not really anything new, Lupin," Snape said philosophically. "People have hated, or at least distrusted, the Slytherins since Salazar left Hogwarts."

Lupin sighed again, then suddenly looked more cheerful and said hopefully, "But at least Harry and Ron have matured a great deal, and Allegra is the first Gryffindor since Rafe Dietrich to openly have friends in all four Houses, including Slytherin. She's been popular among most of the Gryffindors ever since the Rat-Hex incident, even though a few of them still snub her. That's a positive sign, don't you think, Sev?"

"Yes, Lupin," Snape agreed, mostly to make his lover feel better, but then he thought that maybe Lupin was right after all. There was still some tension and hostility, but the amount of inter-House mingling that was currently going on was unprecedented. He supposed it was a good sign, even if all the Gryffindor-Slytherin chumminess was rather annoying. And the war was over and the Dark Lord was dead; that thought made Snape feel much better, and he wrapped his arms around Lupin and kissed him. Lupin kissed him back, and Snape could feel the werewolf relaxing in his embrace. Yes, things weren't really so bad, after all, Snape decided. His students were all safe, and while he might have to worry about them getting into verbal arguments and maybe even hexing each other, he didn't think that he really had to worry about them killing each other...

 

Part 63