by Geri ([email protected])

My homepage: http://www.geocities.com/geri_chans_fics/index.html

Rating: NC-17 overall

Pairings: Snape/Lupin, Ash/Tsubasa; also a little Theodore/Blaise, Dylan/Hermione, and Aric/Takeshi

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts; [] indicates song lyrics.

Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; song lyrics are from "Scars" by Papa Roach. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Warning: AU. This story contains a character from Half-Blood Prince, but does not follow the HBP storyline.

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

Summary: Snape, Lupin, and Selima plan strategy against the rival heir; Tsubasa receives a surprise visitor, which leads to a misunderstanding with Ash.
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Selima was pacing back and forth in the drawing room when Snape and Lupin arrived at the manor, while a worried-looking Vorcher huddled in a corner, wringing his hands. Snape noticed, with a touch of wry amusement, that the house-elf had chosen a corner on the far side of the room that was obscured by shadows, and he thought to himself that maybe Vorcher was smarter than he looked, because it was definitely wise to avoid attracting Lady Snape's attention when she was in a rage. He only wished that he was able to hide in a corner, too.

"This is a disaster, Severus!" Selima shouted at him as soon as she became of aware of his presence. She waved a copy of the Ministry notification papers accusingly in his face.

"Calm down, Mother," Snape said, trying to project an air of composure and unconcern, hoping that it would rub off on her. "If this is some pretender hoping to extort a little money from us, he will be exposed soon enough. Unless you have reason to believe that there is some validity to his claim?"

"I don't know whether it's valid or not!" Selima snapped, her eyes still filled with fury--and a touch of fear. "But when I was a girl, I heard stories of how the Delauney family lost their fortune. The daughter became a courtesan at a brothel that catered to the pureblood elite, and it's possible, even likely, that Lord Stefan frequented the place."

"Then this Sebastien really might be a Snape?" Lupin asked, startled.

"I don't know!" Selima repeated, her voice sharpening with frustration. "It doesn't really matter whether he has Snape blood or not. What matters is whether he can convince the Wizengamot that he does and that he is a more fit heir than Severus!"

"Even if his father was Lord Stefan's son, doesn't a legitimate heir have legal precedence?" Lupin asked.

"Normally, yes," Selima replied, glaring at Snape. "However, since Severus has publicly made it clear that he will never take a wife and sire a child of his own blood, the court might rule in the challenger's favor. Theodore is related to the Snapes only indirectly, through one of the daughters, who normally don't inherit the title unless there are no male heirs available. It was acceptable for Severus to adopt him because there was no one else with a stronger blood tie, but Sebastien Delauney can make the case that he has more precedence than Theodore because he is directly descended from a Snape Lord only two generations back. The laws of inheritance tend to favor direct descendants, and while Severus is the legitimate son of the previous Lord, Theodore is not his biological child. Also, thanks to that fiasco at the Yule Ball last year, most people are aware that Theodore has a male lover and is also unlikely to sire a child in the future. Providing that he can convince them that he really is Stefan's grandson, most purebloods would award the title to Sebastien if he pledges to marry and sire an heir."

"If he can convince them," Snape said pointedly. "That's a pretty big 'if'."

"Do you want to take that risk?" Selima demanded. "Delauney has nothing to lose, but we stand to lose everything--the title, all the monies and properties, the entire estate--if he wins his case! You know, this could all have been averted if you had done your duty as a proper heir!" She stopped mid-rant and frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then said, "You know, it's still not too late..."

"I told you that I won't take a wife!" Snape told his mother firmly. "Not even to keep the title out of Delauney's hands!"

"I know that, Severus," Selima replied impatiently. "But if you had a direct heir, even an illegitimate one, it would preserve the succession, and there would be no excuse for the Ministry to award the title to Sebastien. The Delauneys aren't the only pureblood family to have fallen on hard times, and it might be possible to make an arrangement with a woman from one of those families--"

"No!" Snape interrupted.

"You wouldn't have to marry her," Selima persisted. "It would strictly be a business proposition, and we would make that clear to the woman and her family from the start--an heir in return for financial compensation and a comfortable life."

"What about Theodore?" Snape shouted angrily. "Am I just supposed to cast him aside and tell him that I don't need him anymore?"

"Of course not!" Selima retorted. "He will still be your son, if not the heir to the title, and as long as you remain the Snape Lord, you can still provide an inheritance for him. But if you lose the title and the estate, there will be nothing left for him to inherit!"

"No," Snape said stubbornly. "I won't do it."

"Don't be so selfish, Severus!" Selima screamed shrilly. "Maybe you don't care about the estate, but think of Theodore! He's already given up his claim to the Nott estate, so he will have nothing if you lose the title! I will--"

She abruptly fell silent, pressing her lips together, but Snape realized what she had meant to say: "I will have nothing." Snape could get along fine without the title and the estate; he had been determined to support himself and live independently after his father had disinherited him, and although he would like to give Theodore an inheritance, he knew that his son would be able to survive without it. However, without the estate, Selima would be left with nothing, not even a place to live. If worse came to worst, Snape would provide for his mother, of course, but a Professor's salary could stretch only so far. She would have to move out of the mansion into a much smaller cottage or flat, and more importantly, she would lose all the power and influence that she possessed as the dowager Lady Snape. She would be ostracized and belittled by her former friends and allies, and for her, that would be worse than living in poverty. Moreover, she had no profession to keep her occupied if she should lose her status as Lady Snape. Ever since she had married Severin Snape at age eighteen, her entire life had revolved around running the affairs of the Snape family. No wonder she was so upset--losing the estate would mean losing her entire way of life.

Her old flame, Prospero Zabini, would gladly marry her and make her Lady Zabini if she wished, but she would still lose most of her power and influence, and besides, she was too proud to accept an offer of marriage under those circumstances. She was also too proud to beg her son for help, so she had phrased her arguments as concern over Theodore's welfare--and she probably was genuinely concerned about her grandson, but also equally concerned about her own welfare.

Snape smiled wryly, his anger dissipating. Even if she was only a Snape by marriage, not blood, Selima was the epitome of a true Snape: steadfastly stubborn and proud. No wonder his father had chosen her as his bride.

"Mother, let's not panic just yet," Snape placatingly, in a much less hostile voice. "If it becomes public knowledge that I am rushing around frantically trying to sire an heir, it would be seen as an admission that Delauney's claims are valid, thereby strengthening his case."

"You are correct," Selima reluctantly conceded, obviously fighting to control her temper and examine the situation rationally. In a way, Snape had to admire her ability to set aside her emotions and approach every problem with cold practicality--even one such as this, that affected her life so personally. "But neither can we risk losing the estate by doing nothing."

"It seems to me," Lupin said mildly, "that the first thing to do would be to determine just how valid this person's claim is. Severus mentioned once that the Snape family portraits are kept in the attic, and I assume there is one of Lord Stefan. Perhaps it could confirm whether Sebastien's father was really his son, or at least whether or not Philomela Delauney was actually his lover?"

"A good suggestion, Professor Lupin," Selima said in an approving, if slightly startled voice.

"You needn't sound so surprised, Mother," Snape said dryly. "The werewolf is able to come up with good ideas from time to time--despite the fact that he's a Gryffindor." Lupin just laughed, not taking offense at either Selima's implied insult or Snape's direct one.

They all trooped upstairs to the attic, where the Snape family portraits were confined. Snape and his father had not seen eye to eye on many things, but one thing they'd had in common was a low tolerance for outspoken, meddling portraits of dead relatives. Severin had locked them all up in the attic after hearing one too many pieces of unwanted advice.

Sheets and drapes covered the various portraits, and the faint, rumbling sound of snoring could be heard beneath them. Selima pulled the drapes back from one of the portraits, revealing the likeness of a slumbering Stefan Snape, a man with iron-gray hair and the large, hooked nose that was the distinguishing feature of the Snape family. "Lord Stefan," she said softly, and when he continued to snore, she repeated a little louder, "Lord Stefan!"

"Eh, what?" the portrait asked, blinking and looking around disorientedly as he woke. After a few moments, his eyes focused on Selima, and he said vaguely, "You're the Bashir girl, aren't you? Severin's bride?"

"Yes, Lord Stefan," Selima replied, curtseying politely to the portrait. "I am Selima, formerly of the Bashir clan, Severin's wife."

"And no longer a girl, I see," Stefan said, his eyes growing more alert as he examined Selima more closely, then turned his gaze to Snape and Lupin. "Hair too dark to be Severin's...I assume this is my grandson?"

"Yes, your grandson Severus," Selima confirmed, and Snape nodded curtly at the portrait.

"And the other?" Stefan asked. "He doesn't have the look of a Snape about him."

Selima hesitated for a moment, then replied, "This is Professor Lupin, Severus's colleague and friend."

"Colleague?" Stefan asked, looking confused.

"Yes, Severus and I are both teachers at Hogwarts," Lupin explained cheerfully.

"Hmph!" Stefan snorted, frowning at Snape disapprovingly. "You weren't able to obtain a Ministry position, then?"

"Let us say that I was not cut out for a life in politics, Grandfather," Snape said with a touch of sarcastic humor.

"Hmph!" Stefan snorted again, then turned back to Selima. "What do you want from me? I assume that you didn't wake me after years of being locked up in the attic just to chat about the weather. And where is my son? If he wants a favor from me, Severin could at least have the courtesy to talk to me face to face."

There was a brief, awkward silence, and it was Lupin who gently told the portrait, "I'm very sorry to have to tell you that Lord Severin passed away last year, after a long illness."

"Oh," Stefan said, looking somewhat shaken, if not exactly grief-stricken, and his gaze turned back to Snape. "Then you are..."

"I am now the Lord of the Snape family," Snape said.

"For now," Selima pointedly added, then explained about Sebastien Delauney's lawsuit.

"Oh my," Stefan said, looking shocked. "Philomela's grandson?"

"Then Philomela Delauney really was your mistress," Selima said with uncharacteristic bluntness, but Snape could tell that she had nearly reached her limit on patience.

"I was one of Philomela's clients," Stefan admitted, looking a bit nostalgic. "She was a lovely girl with golden hair, and quite talented, too..."

"I'm sure she was," Selima said in an acid voice.

"I meant in music," Stefan clarified. "She had a voice like a nightingale. Although she was also talented in the, ah, womanly arts."

"I don't care about that!" Selima snapped. "All I want to know is whether or not she bore you a bastard son!"

"Not to my knowledge," Stefan replied defensively. "As I said, I was one of her clients, but the women at the brothel were all supposed to be using birth control charms. I had no reason to think otherwise, and Philomela never mentioned anything about being pregnant, and never asked me to acknowledge a child, either officially or unofficially." He frowned. "Although I heard that there was some sort of scandal, after I fell ill and had not visited the brothel for a few weeks--something about Philomela running off to France with the Parkinson boy. He was infatuated with her, you know, and jealous of all her other clients. Perhaps the child was his."

"We'll look into it," Selima said, sounding a little relieved that they had a possible defense against Delauney's claims. "Contact Morrigan De Lacy, Severus, and have her investigate."

"Yes, Mother."

"Still, this is bad," Selima said, giving the portrait an accusing look. "Since you were one of Philomela's clients, there's a possibility that you could have been the father of her child, at least in the eyes of the Ministry. We'll need the names of her other clients, the more the better, so that we can prove that one of them is the father, or at least insinuate that there was no way that Philomela could possibly have known whom the real father of her baby was."

"I don't understand why you're so concerned," Stefan protested. "Of course a scandal like this causes problems for the Snape family, but even if this Sebastien is my grandson, there is no reason for the Ministry to award the title to a bastard over the legitimate heir." He gave Snape a suspicious look. "Is there?"

"Severus is unable to sire an heir of his body," Selima said, shooting a quick glare Snape's way that plainly said he had better not contradict her story. "So he adopted an orphaned boy from the Nott family, one of his students at Hogwarts. Theodore can claim a Snape woman as his ancestress a few generations back, and he is an intelligent and capable young wizard of good breeding--a very fine heir. However, Sebastien Delauney will claim that his right to the title is greater than that of Severus's chosen heir because of the closer blood connection."

"Unable to sire an heir?" Stefan asked suspiciously. "Are you sure? Is it something that the Healers at St. Mungo's have confirmed, or do you only assume it because his wife has borne him no children? Breaking a marriage alliance is never something to be taken lightly, but the future of the clan is more important, and a barren wife may lawfully be set aside. By the way, who is Severus's wife?"

There was a brief silence as Selima, Snape, and Lupin all looked at each other, not sure how to reply. Selima recovered first and hastily answered, "Severus isn't married at the moment. He was...tragically widowed several years ago. His late wife was a girl from the Black family. And yes, we have confirmed that Severus is unable to sire a child."

Snape had to admire his mother's ability to lie through her teeth without batting an eyelash, but Stefan must have picked up on that brief moment of hesitation, or perhaps Selima's reply sounded a little too pat to him. But either way, he frowned and his eyes narrowed shrewdly as they suddenly focused on Lupin. 

"Why is the Professor here?" he demanded. "It is not fitting for an outsider, even one who is a friend of the Lord, to be involved in such a personal affair of the Snape family." 

Even Selima couldn't think fast enough to come up with a good excuse for that question, although from the look of concentration on her face and a hint of franticness in her eyes, she was trying very hard to think of something. Meanwhile, Lupin gave Snape an apologetic and slightly amused smile, and although he didn't say a word, it was enough to cause Stefan to shout accusingly, "Is this man the reason why you have no wife, Severus? Is he the reason why you are 'unable' to sire a proper heir?"

"It doesn't matter," Snape said curtly, moving a step closer to Lupin. "What matters is stopping this pretender from taking over the Snape estate--providing that you want the Snape line to continue, that is. Personally, it doesn't really matter all that much to me."

"Severus!" his mother cried reprovingly.

"Well, maybe I would rather hand the inheritance over to a bastard grandson than to a lover of men!" Stefan shouted.

"And maybe I am not particularly interested in the opinion of a piece of enchanted canvas," Snape retorted coolly.

Stefan's face turned red with fury, and he began shouting about how Snape was a disgrace to the family, his insults growing increasingly vitriolic and incoherent until Selima finally cast a spell that sent the portrait back to sleep.

"Well, your grandfather is--or was--a very sharp man," Lupin told Snape in an almost admiring voice. "He was pretty quick to pick up on the relationship between us."

"Did you have to provoke him like that?" Selima scolded her son. "Now we won't be able to get any useful information out of him!"

"It wasn't like I told him about myself and Lupin," Snape protested. "He guessed it on his own."

"Well, you could have denied it," Selima said crossly. When Snape opened his mouth to defend himself, she sighed irritably and said, "Oh, never mind! There's no point in crying over spilt milk. Go contact Morrigan and formally retain her services so that we can start planning our defense. Have her investigate this Sebastien Delauney, and I will use my own contacts to see if I can learn more about Philomela and her clients." 

"Yes, Mother," Snape replied meekly, and gratefully fled the attic. He used the communication mirror in the study to contact Morrigan, who had already heard about the lawsuit, because she seemed to be expecting his call, and told him to Floo over to her office.

As he and Lupin stepped out of the fireplace, he was a little surprised to see Hermione Granger in Morrigan's office, filing some paperwork. Her main apprenticeship was with the Apothecary, Mr. Jigger, but it seemed that she was also holding to her resolution to work a second apprenticeship with Morrigan so that she could someday fight for house-elf rights as a lawyer.

"Hello, Professors," she said, an earnest and concerned look on her face. "It's terrible about the lawsuit, but I'm sure that Ms. De Lacy will win the case for you."

"Miss Granger has great faith in my abilities," Morrigan said with a smile. She was an elegantly beautiful young woman with reddish-blonde hair twisted up in a neat knot at the back of her head, and she was dressed in expensive but conservatively cut wine-colored robes. Her beauty sometimes caused her opponents to underestimate her, but as her former Head of House, Snape knew that she was as ruthless and predatory as any Slytherin. He was just glad that she was on his side, because he wouldn't want her for an enemy.

"I have great faith in your record," Granger said firmly. "You've won more cases than anyone else in the firm."

"Then we've come to the right person," Lupin chuckled, and then Snape went over the details of the case with Morrigan while Granger listened with avid interest.

"In the Muggle world, a D.N.A. test could prove whether this man really is a Snape," Granger said.

"A what?" Snape asked irritably. The girl tried to explain, but it all sounded like gibberish to him. Then again, a spell incantation would probably sound like gibberish to a Muggle. "Never mind," he interrupted, with an impatient wave of his hand. "Even if this test is accurate, the Ministry would never allow it as evidence."

"Most wizards, especially the purebloods, regard Muggle science and technology with suspicion and skepticism," Morrigan explained.

"Well, is there some sort of magical test that does the same thing?" Granger asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Morrigan said regretfully. "It certainly would simplify matters a great deal if there were."

"But then how will the court decide whether or not Sebastien Delauney's claim is legitimate or not?" Granger asked.

"Witness testimony," Morrigan replied. "A physical resemblance to his alleged grandfather would help." She smiled cynically. "It would also depend on how many Ministry officials he can afford to bribe, and how many of those officials dislike Severus and would like to see him humiliated."

"That's terrible!" Granger said indignantly.

"Surely by now, Miss Granger, you must have figured out how the Ministry works," Snape said impatiently. "It has less to do with concepts such as 'fairness' and 'justice' than with self-interest and political expediency."

"I know," Granger sighed, "but I thought that Mr. Weasley was trying to root out the corruption."

"He is, but it is not a task that can be accomplished overnight," Morrigan replied solemnly. "In the meantime, we must take that corruption into consideration if we wish to win our case. To be idealistic is a fine thing, Hermione, as long as you are also realistic."

"I suppose you're right," Granger reluctantly acknowledged. "So what's our strategy?"

"'Our' strategy?" Snape asked pointedly, and Lupin chuckled again.

"Miss Granger is proving to be a most able assistant, Severus," Morrigan said, with a faint glint of laughter in her green eyes, and Snape sighed in resignation.

"Well, the first step of 'our' strategy," Snape said sarcastically, "must be to gather information. We simply don't have enough information about this Delauney to know if his claim is legitimate, or what his motives might be. From the conversation with my grandfather's portrait, it seems that there's at least a small chance that he could be a Snape, but it's equally likely that any of Philomela's clients could have been his grandfather."

"I'll send messages to my contacts in France and try to find out more about him and his motives," Morrigan said, frowning. "It's a long shot for a whore's grandson to try to supplant a legitimate Lord, even one as controversial as you, Severus. He may simply be hoping for you to buy him off with a bribe, or one of your enemies could be manipulating him. He's hired a lawyer from Warrington and Bole, one of our firm's rivals, and they don't come cheap. It makes me wonder if he can afford the fee on his own, or if someone is bankrolling him."

"I hadn't stopped to consider that," Snape said, feeling rather chagrined, although he'd had little time to think since receiving the letter from the Ministry. "And the timing is rather convenient, with the lawsuit being filed while we're still dealing with that whole mess about the alleged werewolf murders. If Delauney has a legitimate claim, why hasn't he filed it before now? For that matter, why did his father never try to enter a claim for the Snape title? I was disowned for many years, and my father might have been willing to adopt a bastard brother or nephew as his heir, out of sheer desperation."

"Perhaps the war kept them away?" Lupin guessed. "They might have thought that it was not safe to travel to England while Voldemort and the Death Eaters were at large."

"But the war has been over for more than a year," Snape said, frowning. "So why wait that long?"

"Probably because he now has the financial, and possibly the political backing of a wealthy patron," Morrigan replied. "If the latter is true, his backer will eventually show his hand, but in the meantime, I will do my best to discover his identity."

"Maybe the murders have nothing to do with Ash Randolf, after all!" Granger exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe it's an indirect way to discredit the Professor! Everyone knows that he has a werewolf lover, and if people become convinced that werewolves are dangerous monsters, the Ministry will be more likely to award the title to Delauney!"

"It's possible," Morrigan agreed. "Although if that were the case, I would have expected the victims to be enemies of Remus."

"Lupin is so good-natured that he has no enemies," Snape said disgustedly, and they all laughed in spite of their worries.

"Everyone has enemies," Morrigan said. "Or at least, there are probably people who regard Remus as an enemy, even if he bears no ill will against them. Mr. Dawlish, for example, although I imagine that a housewife is easier to murder than an Auror. But we should take Hermione's suggestion seriously. Regardless of whether or not Remus was the intended target, Severus is bound to be distracted by a threat against werewolves in general, and less able to focus on the lawsuit. That could well be the murderer's intention."

"Or more likely, the intention of the person manipulating the murderer," Snape said. "I doubt that Delauney's patron is the type to get his own hands dirty, and besides, he's not likely to be a werewolf. But I see your point, Morrigan."

"I think that you will have to leave the investigation of the murders up to the Aurors, since most of your time will be taken up with preparing for the trial," Morrigan said. "But at least Shacklebolt and Tonks seem competent and motivated to find the real killer. I will share our theory with them, and keep them informed of any pertinent information that we learn--with your permission, of course, Severus."

"Yes, of course," Snape said, nodding in agreement. "You're representing Randolf as well, aren't you?"

"Yes, although he hasn't been formally charged with the murders, so I haven't needed to do much," Morrigan replied. "But Lukas thought that having a lawyer on retainer might keep Dawlish from being overzealous in his investigation." She smiled. "In a way, it would be convenient if the two cases were related, because then I could resolve both of them at once."

"Do you have any idea who might be behind this, Professor?" Granger asked Snape.

"I have more enemies than I can count," Snape replied wearily. "The Death Eaters and their families, of course, regard me as a traitor. And also their sympathizers, such as the Parkinsons, who supported the Death Eaters and now find their fortunes declining along with that of their allies. There was some recent unpleasantness with Warren Macnair; I ran into him a few weeks ago, and we exchanged a few harsh words. He and his sister were under surveillance by the Aurors--a fact for which they apparently blame me. But they, along with the other Death Eater and sympathizer families, seem to be lying low, waiting for the scandal to die down with time. Of course, one of them could be acting as Delauney's secret backer behind the scenes, and I've no doubt that they would like to see me humiliated by having the title stripped from me. And as an added bonus, the new Snape Lord would be indebted to them. However, the chances of getting the grandson of a prostitute appointed head of a pureblood family are rather slim, and I'm not sure that they would go to this much effort for such a longshot. They certainly wouldn't commit murder for it, not unless they have some kind of definite proof that Delauney is really a Snape.

"And of course the opposite side hates me as well," Snape continued with a cynical smile. "They think that I turned spy only to save my own skin. And I'm sure that Ian Williamson and Amos Diggory have friends at the Ministry who think that I ought to be in Azkaban right now instead of them."

"This does sound similar to the kinds of the things that Williamson and the R.A. were doing," Granger said thoughtfully. "Attacking you and the werewolves indirectly through suspicion and manipulation instead of confronting you directly. That's pretty cowardly, in my opinion."

"Cowardly, perhaps, but clever," Snape said sourly. "There's less chance for the culprit to be discovered that way. That, along with the murders, has me leaning towards the likelihood that my unnamed enemy is connected to the Death Eaters."

"Williamson was capable of murder, or at least attempted murder," Lupin reminded him.

"Yes, but it's one thing to kill a werewolf, a creature that many wizards regard as less than human," Snape replied. "It's quite another to kill an innocent housewife in cold blood just to throw suspicion on your enemy. Some of the Aurors have a reputation for ruthlessness, but I'm not sure that even Williamson's cronies would go that far. Of course, that's assuming that my inheritance problems really are connected to the murders, which they might not be."

"Still, we have to act as though they are, until we learn otherwise," Morrigan insisted. "It would be dangerous to be complacent."

"That's true," Snape agreed. "By the way, Morrigan, if allies of the werewolves are being targeted, for whatever reason, you do realize that puts you and Miss Granger at risk as well?"

"I'm not afraid of the Death Eaters or Williamson's cronies!" Granger said defiantly, a look of stubborn determination flaring in her eyes. 

"A certain amount of fear is not a bad thing, Miss Granger," Snape said sardonically. "It is a self-defense mechanism, after all--although it doesn't seem to function properly in Gryffindors."

"Well, of course I'm aware of the danger," Granger replied, still looking stubborn and defiant. "But I'm not going to let fear keep me from doing my job or helping my friends. And I won't let anyone--either Death Eater or Auror--bully me and dictate my actions."

"Well said, Hermione," Morrigan said approvingly, then turned to Snape. "She speaks for both of us, Severus."

Snape had expected as much, but he had thought it only fair to warn them. He was a little embarrassed by Granger's declaration, though. He hoped that by "friends" she meant Lupin and the werewolves, but he was afraid to ask for fear that she might confirm that he was included in that statement. {Dylan could have had any girl at Hogwarts, but no, he had to choose a know-it-all Gryffindor wench,} he grumbled to himself. Still, he supposed a know-it-all was better than one of those empty-headed girls like Parvati Patil or Yvonne Deveraux, who seemed to think of nothing but clothes and boys. And Miss Granger at least had a little more common sense than most Gryffindors, although that wasn't necessarily saying much.

Morrigan's friendship was easier to accept, because although it was genuine, it was also tempered with a bit of Slytherin self-interest. She wouldn't take the side of his enemies, but she wasn't the type to do pro bono work, either, and she expected to be handsomely compensated for her services as his lawyer. Snape didn't mind; she was well worth her substantial fee, and as the Snape Lord, he could easily afford it. Besides, pure altruism made him nervous, and he was much more comfortable with the concept of a mutually beneficial alliance.

One corner of Snape's mouth quirked up in an ironic smile. Actually, he was the one who had willingly joined the Order as a spy--the type of thing a Gryffindor would do. In spite of her hatred for the Death Eaters, Morrigan would never have done something so foolish and self-sacrificing.

"Does something amuse you, Severus?" Lupin asked, giving him a knowing smile, as if he could guess what Snape was thinking. Sometimes he thought that the damned werewolf was a Legilimens, for all that Lupin denied it.

"Not at all, Lupin," Snape replied coolly, but he noticed that his lover kept smiling at him. "It is hardly an amusing situation, after all."

"Oh, of course not," Lupin said, an expression of innocent concern on his face. Snape gave him an annoyed look, and Granger stifled a giggle. Morrigan had better control, and kept her face politely neutral, although he suspected that she was probably laughing silently. Still, as long as she wasn't doing it outwardly, he could at least ignore it and salvage his pride.

"Please conduct your investigation, Morrigan, and keep me informed," Snape said, his voice still cool and impassive. "And of course I shall let you know what my mother learns about Philomela's clients."

Morrigan said with a smile, "I have no doubt that Lady Selima's investigation shall prove fruitful," which was an understatement, as Snape knew from experience. His mother could give interrogation tips to the Aurors, and in the unlikely event that intimidation did not work, she was equally adept at worming information out of people by more subtle means, such as guile and flattery--or by enlisting the aid of ally. Selima had despised Lupin when they had first met, but that hadn't stopped her from recruiting him as an ally in her quest to convince Snape to return home and resume his duties as heir.

"No doubt," Snape agreed in a dry voice, and he and Lupin returned to Hogwarts. There was nothing for them to do now but wait, which was extremely unsatisfying, but one thing that his many years of working as a spy had taught him was patience.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ash had not returned to Hogwarts since Tsubasa had told to him to leave and not come back, and he wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed that the werewolf had obeyed him. 

And his quarrel with Ash had strained his relationship with Lukas--an especially awkward situation, since they shared duties for the Physical Defense classes and were required to work closely with each other. Apparently Ash was miserable, moody, and drinking too much, and although he refused to say why, Lukas correctly guessed that Tsubasa was the reason behind it. 

"This is between Ash and myself," Tsubasa politely but firmly told the werewolf leader. Lukas just growled in response, sounding angry and frustrated. Intellectually, he probably knew that Ash was partly to blame for whatever trouble lay between them, but his wolf instincts were telling him to protect the man that he regarded not only as a friend and a packmate, but as his "cub". 

Tsubasa, of all people, could understand animal instinct, so he relented and said, "It's not that I don't care about Ash, Lukas. But I don't think that he's ready to be in a relationship right now. He can't make up his mind whether he wants me to be a friend, a casual lover, or a lifemate--and I'm not capable of being all three to him. He has to choose." Although Tsubasa didn't mention it to Lukas, "casual lover" was not going to be a viable option. He thought he could, with a great deal of effort, manage a platonic friendship, but he didn't think that he would be able to keep things "casual" if he continued sleeping with Ash.

Lukas sighed, the anger in his face draining away to be replaced by a look of concern. "Please be patient with him. He's had a very difficult life."

"I know," Tsubasa replied. "He told me about his childhood."

"It's a sign that he trusts you," Lukas said hopefully. "He's never spoken to an outsider about it before, and not even to any of the pack except for me."

"I understand what a great gift of trust it is," Tsubasa said quietly. "And I'm trying to be patient. It's just..." He sighed. "It's difficult." Especially when both parties had inconvenient animal instincts that overrode their common sense.

"If it's any comfort to you," Lukas said with a wry smile, "Narcissa and I nearly killed each other before we got together."

It wasn't much comfort, but their talk did ease the strain between them somewhat, although Lukas continued to worry about Ash. He was also nervous about the upcoming birth of his baby, and concerned about how the political fallout from the murders would affect the rest of his pack, so it wasn't really surprising that the werewolf leader was a bit short-tempered.

Actually, there was an air of tension hanging over the entire school, and Lukas wasn't the only one who was short-tempered these days. Everyone was worried about the murders, of course, and Professor Snape was being sued by a man who claimed to be the rightful Snape heir. The Potions Master was more snappish than usual with his fellow teachers, but it was the students who bore the brunt of his temper--he had given out a record number of detentions in the past few days, or so Dumbledore claimed.

Tsubasa felt a little sorry for Snape, and even sorrier for the students, but he didn't have much spare time or energy to worry about other people's problems, because he was afraid that another murder would occur on the next full moon, which was only a week away. That would fit the pattern, if the murderer was trying to rouse fear and suspicion of the werewolves in general or Ash in particular. 

The tengu never went anywhere unarmed, and Tsubasa had gotten into the habit of doing the same. However, England was currently at peace, and in any case, the British wizards rarely carried any weapon other than a wand. So in order to fit in better in his new home, he had stopped wearing his swords after coming to Hogwarts, but now the whole situation had him so on edge that he had started wearing them again. It wasn't as if he was expecting to be attacked while at school, or even on his occasional trips to Hogsmeade and London, but somehow it made him feel better to be armed, even though his main problem--namely, his relationship with Ash--could not be solved with a sword.

All of this was why he felt restless and irritable on a Saturday morning, without any classes to keep him occupied. He graded papers for awhile, but had trouble concentrating, and gave it up after about an hour. Out of all his fellow teachers, he was friendliest with Lukas and Remus, but Lukas didn't live at the school and was currently at home, no doubt fussing over his pregnant wife; he was exceedingly proud and nervous about becoming a father. 

Under normal circumstances, Tsubasa might have sought out Remus for a game of chess or a chat over tea, but he had gone with Snape to confer with their lawyer about the upcoming trial, and besides, he was probably too worried and distracted to be interested in such trivial pastimes right now.

He couldn't go to London and visit the werewolves because he might run into Ash, and he couldn't visit his aunt and uncle at the Sakura, because they would probably ask him about Ash. For the same reason, he couldn't visit Takeshi and Aric, although a sparring match with Aric would have worked off some of his irritability.

He heaved a sigh, feeling rather disgruntled and more than a little sorry for himself, and he vacillated, trying to decide whether to stay in his room and brood, or try to distract himself by going out for a solitary walk. Or perhaps he should go to the Muggle part of London and catch a movie instead...

A timid knock on the door, barely more than a tap, startled him out of his self-pity and he called out, "Come in," without bothering to ask who it was. At this point, any distraction would be welcome.

The door opened and a house-elf--easily recognizable by his clothing as Dobby--peered into the room and said, "Please excuse Dobby for interrupting, but the Headmaster wishes to see Professor Tsubasa in his office. The Headmaster's office, that is, not Professor Tsubasa's."

"Thank you, Dobby," Tsubasa said politely, and headed to Dumbledore's office, his curiosity piqued. For security reasons--or at least he assumed that was the reason--the Headmaster's office was not normally connected to the Floo Network, and required a password to enter. The staff members had all been given the current password, but Remus had told Tsubasa that the Headmaster had the power to change it at any time to lock out intruders, such as the time that the Ministry's lackey, Umbridge, had taken over the school.

"Peppermint Humbug," he said, feeling a little silly, and the gargoyle statue that guarded the entrance leapt aside, and the wall split open to reveal a spiral staircase. As soon as he stepped on it, the staircase began to move, carrying him up to the office like an escalator. It moved rather slowly, though, giving him time to wonder why the Headmaster wanted to see him.

The staircase deposited him in front of the office, and Tsubasa paused for a moment outside the door. He could hear the murmur of voices, but could not make out the actual words though the thick oak door, so he shrugged and rapped the brass Griffin-shaped knocker to announce his presence.

"Come in," Dumbledore said, so Tsubasa entered the office. Sitting in a chair in front of the Headmaster's desk was a Japanese woman clad in casual Muggle clothing: sweater, jeans, and leather jacket. From a distance, she could have passed for one of the students, or at least a recent graduate, but upon closer inspection, one could see that there were faint lines visible at the corners of her eyes and mouth, and a few strands of gray were threaded through her shoulder-length black hair. She lacked the supernatural grace and beauty of the crane folk, but Tsubasa thought that she was quite pretty, with a warm and ready smile. However, he was hardly a biased observer, because he had adored her ever since he was five years old.

"Hi, sweetie!" his stepmother exclaimed cheerfully as she jumped up from her seat to give him a hug and a kiss.

"M-Mom?" Tsubasa stuttered in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"Now is that any way to greet your mother?" Reiko asked, frowning at him with a look of mock-reproach. "I've come to visit my favorite son, of course."

"I'm your only son," Tsubasa reminded her. His father and stepmother had been unable to have children of their own, which was not really surprising. The crane folk were a long-lived race, and their birth rate was correspondingly low; pureblooded crane couples rarely had more than one child, although the part-human crossbreeds were a little more prolific. But Reiko had never complained or shown any sign of disappointment that Tsubasa could see, and she had never treated him as anything less than her own flesh and blood. "You are the only son I need," she had tenderly reassured him, when as a child he had asked if she was sad that she couldn't have a baby of her own, and it was one more reason why he loved her so much.

"All the more reason for you to be my favorite, then," Reiko replied blithely, and the Headmaster chuckled. An almost conspiratorial look seemed to pass between them, and Tsubasa suddenly began to worry about what they had been discussing before he had walked in--himself, no doubt, which worried him all the more.

"It's a weekend, so why don't you take your mother out and show her the sights?" Dumbledore suggested. "Take a walk to Hogsmeade, perhaps, or if you like, you can borrow one of the school carriages and fly to London."

"Oh, let's take a walk," Reiko said. "I could use the exercise, and I would very much like to see Hogsmeade. From your letters, it sounds like quite an intriguing place." She smiled impishly. "I especially want to see Honeydukes and Zonko's."

"You're not going to buy any Dungbombs to throw at Lord Kazuhiko, are you?" Tsubasa asked wryly.

His stepmother giggled wickedly, in a way that boded ill for the stuffy crane elder, and then she smoothed her features into a look of cool dignity. "Why, of course not, dear," she replied indignantly. "That would be highly inappropriate and disrespectful."

"I cannot imagine Madam Reiko as being anything but respectful," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"That's because you never spoke with any of her teachers at Salem," Tsubasa muttered under his breath, but fell silent when his stepmother elbowed him in the side. Many of his teachers at Salem had been there long enough to remember Reiko as a bright but mischievous young student who had earned more than a few detentions for being involved with some prank, or for being a little too outspoken--in other words, disrespectful--with her teachers. If she had gone to Hogwarts, she would probably have been a Gryffindor, Tsubasa thought to himself with a little smile of amusement.

"Well, come along, dear," Reiko said briskly, taking him by the arm.

"Yes, Mom," Tsubasa replied meekly, and the Headmaster cheerily said, "Have a good time!" as they left the office.

It was a nice day for a walk; the air was cool but not too cold, and the sky was slightly overcast, but at least it wasn't raining, so they didn't have to slosh through muddy puddles.

"It's nice to wear Muggle clothing for a change," Reiko sighed happily as they walked arm-in-arm down the path to Hogsmeade. "Not that I don't love the kimonos that your father weaves for me, but there's just something comfortable about wearing jeans. You don't have to worry about walking daintily or getting the silk dirty."

"Speaking of Dad, did he come with you?" Tsubasa asked apprehensively.

"Oh no, he's in Tokyo attending a Wizards' Council meeting," Reiko replied casually. "So I thought I'd come visit you instead of sitting around at home being bored."

"I see," Tsubasa said, trying not to sound too relieved. He loved his father, of course, but dealing with one concerned parent was going to be hard enough and he suspected that boredom wasn't the only reason why his stepmother had come to visit him.

But for the moment, Reiko seemed content to play tourist, allowing Tsubasa to point out the lake and the train station on their way to the village, and then browsing in the shops when they got to Hogsmeade.

"I can see why the students love this place," Reiko said, looking impressed as she gazed at the candy displays in Honeydukes, and then proceeded to buy enough candy to fill a large shopping bag. 

Tsubasa groaned, pretending to have to strain to lift the bag as they left the shop. "You'll be as round as a tanuki if you eat all this, Mom," he teased.

"It's not all for me, silly," Reiko said, playfully swatting him on the arm. "I'm buying souvenirs to take back home. Although I do intend to save some of the fudge for myself."

She bought more "souvenirs" in Zonko's--no Dungbombs, but some Hiccup Sweets and Frog Spawn Soap. "For the children," she said sweetly.

"Of course," Tsubasa agreed, a bit skeptically, having visions of frogs hopping all over an outraged Kazuhiko's bathroom. He decided that he'd better keep her away from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes if they ever went to Diagon Alley, although the thought of Kazuhiko turning into a giant canary was extremely amusing.

"Ooh, look at that!" Reiko exclaimed, tugging on his arm as she hurried down the street. They paused in front of the display window of Gladrags Wizardwear, and Reiko sighed dreamily as she gazed at a woman's formal dress robe made of midnight-blue velvet, so dark that it was almost black, embroidered all over with hundreds of tiny clear crystals that shimmered in the light of the small lanterns that had been strategically placed in the window.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Reiko sighed.

"It is," Tsubasa replied honestly. The robe looked like it had been sewn out of a piece of the night sky, and both the cloth and the workmanship appeared to be of good quality. Two young women in the shop--apprentices by the look of them--looked towards them with hopeful smiles when they saw a potential customer gazing at the display.

"Why don't you try it on?" Tsubasa suggested. "If you like it, I'll buy it for you as a souvenir of your trip to Britain."

"Oh, that's all right, sweetie," his stepmother laughed. "It's lovely, but it looks hideously expensive, and there aren't many occasions where I'd have a chance to wear it. I'm expected to wear a kimono to formal clan gatherings, and all joking aside, I don't want to offend the elders too much."

"Are you sure?" Tsubasa asked. "It's all right to indulge in a frivolous luxury once in awhile."

"You're very sweet, but I think I can manage to live without a new robe," Reiko said, kissing him on the cheek. "Why don't you buy me a cup of tea instead? Is there someplace quiet where we could sit down and have a nice chat?"

This was the moment he'd been dreading, but there was no point in trying to escape it; his stepmother was a stubborn woman, and any attempts to put her off or evade her would only make her even more determined. "The Three Broomsticks is a little noisy," Tsubasa said, resigning himself to a mother-son chat about his personal life. "How about Madam Puddifoot's? It should be quiet around this time of morning." He had been told that the teashop was a popular meeting spot for trysting couples, and that it was busiest during Hogsmeade days. The students were all in school right now, and while some romantically inclined young adults did frequent the shop, it was a little too early for most couples to be out on a lunch date.

"That sounds delightful," Reiko said cheerfully, and Tsubasa gave the disappointed apprentice girls an apologetic smile before turning away and leading his stepmother to Puddifoot's. He resolved to go back later and buy the robe for Reiko, even if it was expensive and impractical. Despite her protests, she'd been sighing over it like a starry-eyed schoolgirl, and surely she deserved a few luxuries, after everything she'd done for him and his father, and besides, Christmas was only a few months away. Maybe she could wear it to the Yule Ball, if the Headmaster decided to have one. If not, then he'd throw a party himself if necessary, just so she'd have someplace to wear the robe to.

As he'd predicted, the teashop was empty. The decorations--all frills and bows--were a bit on the tacky side, but Tsubasa supposed that it must appeal to teenage girls. "It's very...quaint," Reiko said dubiously.

"Quaint, but quiet," Tsubasa said with a smile, and Madam Puddifoot herself appeared to take their order. He ordered a pot of tea and a plate of assorted pastries, which turned out to be surprisingly good--he had been afraid that they would taste the way that the decorations looked, all sickly saccharine-sweet.

They made small talk for a few minutes, sipping their tea and munching on their pastries, and finally Reiko asked, a little too casually, "And how is your wolf friend?"

"Ash is just fine, Mother dear," Tsubasa replied, careful to keep his tone of voice light and unconcerned.

He needn't have bothered. "Oh?" Reiko said, raising her eyebrows. "You have an odd definition of 'fine,' Tsubasa. Personally, I wouldn't call being the prime suspect in two murders 'fine'. Especially if one of the murder victims happened to be my friend's mother."

"Aunt Haruko told you about the murders," Tsubasa said accusingly. "Or was it Takeshi?"

"It was neither one," Reiko replied impatiently. "Did you know that there's a specialty bookstore in Tokyo where you can order a subscription to any wizarding newspaper in the world? When you took the job at Hogwarts, I bought a subscription to the Daily Prophet so that I could keep up with the British wizarding news." She gave her stepson a stern look. "When you very assiduously avoided any mention of the murders in your letters, I decided to come in person to see for myself what was wrong."

"Nothing's wrong, Mom!" Tsubasa protested. "I just didn't want to worry you and Dad. I'm sure that the Aurors will catch the killer soon."

"If you really believed that, you wouldn't be wearing your swords for a quick stroll to the tea shop," Reiko retorted, staring pointedly at his weapons.

"It's just habit, Mom," Tsubasa protested unconvincingly. "Like Kazuhiko always says, I've been living with the tengu too long."

"I don't believe that," Reiko said. "But I'm not here just because of the murders. The tone of your letters bothered me...your father didn't notice, but there was just a little too much forced cheer in them." She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a hard, implacable glare. "Just what is going on between you and this werewolf? And don't give me that 'we're just friends' line!"

Tsubasa caved immediately; even a hardened warrior knew when to admit defeat. Noticing Madam Puddifoot gazing at them curiously from across the room, he switched from English to Japanese and told Reiko everything about himself and Ash and the complications that had resulted from Ash's chance meeting with Laura Madley, and his doubts that Ash wanted him for himself and not just because of his resemblance to Takeshi. He even told her about his recent encounter with Ash in the Physical Defense classroom, although he glossed over the more explicit details. But he confessed his overwhelming desire for the werewolf, and his confusion about whether it was lust or love.

"Only you can decide that, sweetie," Reiko said, reaching across the table to clasp his hand comfortingly. "But it sounds to me like you care a lot about Ash, if you've been worrying about him this much."

"I don't know if I can love him," Tsubasa said despairingly. "And even if I can, I don't know if he's capable of loving me. I'm not sure if he's capable of loving anyone."

"It sounds like your friend comes with a lot of baggage," Reiko said gently. "But everyone does, to some extent. When I graduated from Salem, I certainly didn't intend to fall in love with an older widower who already had a young son. There were times when I wasn't sure if Yokuto would ever be able to get over his grief for your mother enough to love someone else. But I have never regretted marrying him, not even for a moment."

"You have a generous spirit, Mom," Tsubasa said, managing a faint but genuine smile. "You're willing to share Dad with the memory of my mother. I'm a little more selfish. If Ash is going to be my mate, I don't want to share him with anyone."

"That's your crane blood speaking," his stepmother said, smiling at him fondly. "But seriously, Tsubasa, no one person ever belongs solely to another, in spite of all the romantic crane notions about lifemates and two souls becoming one. Yes, it's true that cranes mate for life, but a part of your father will always belong to the crane clan, for all that he rebels against them, just as a part of me will always belong to my family in America, no matter how much I love your father. If you are going to love Ash, you must accept that you will have to share him with his pack, and perhaps with the memory of Takeshi as his first love--if he did, in fact, love Takeshi, which I'm not so sure of as you are. I think it might be that relationship that was the infatuation, not this one. But regardless, no matter whom you choose as your mate, that person will come with ties of love and obligation to other people. If you love Ash, you must accept him as he is--which doesn't mean that you need to let him treat you like a doormat, or offer him sex with no strings attached."

Tsubasa felt his face turn bright red, and he was grateful that they were still speaking Japanese and that Puddifoot couldn't follow their conversation. But still, he couldn't believe that he was having a conversation about sex with his mother in the middle of a public teashop!

"But it does mean that you have to decide whether you want to commit to him and help him work through his 'baggage,'" Reiko continued. "And it means that you have to run the risk of being hurt if things don't work out."

"But how do I know if I really love him or not?" Tsubasa demanded in frustration. "If he is the one who is meant to be my mate, shouldn't I know it by now?"

Reiko shook her head and sighed. "You cranes think that this mating for life business makes everything easy, as if true love will walk right up to you, hit you on the head, and say, 'Here I am!' And I'll admit, that's often the way it seems to work. But not always. Sometimes love sneaks up on you gradually, as it did for your father and me, and for Takeshi and Aric."

"I want him, I care for him, but..." Tsubasa shrugged helplessly. "I don't know if that's love."

"I don't think that someone else can tell you if you're in love, Tsubasa," Reiko said quietly. "I think that's something you have to decide for yourself. But if you're asking me to describe what love is, then I guess I would say that it's when the other person's absence causes an almost physical pain, when there's a sense of joy and completeness when you're together. It's when that person's happiness matters more to you than your own, when you feel as though you'd sacrifice anything to keep them safe."

Tsubasa missed Ash when he wasn't around, but sometimes being with him hurt just as much as being without him did. Did that count as love? How much would he sacrifice to make Ash happy? "I don't know," Tsubasa murmured. "I don't know if I feel that way about Ash."

"You don't have to rush into anything, dear," Reiko said, patting his hand gently. "You're probably right when you say that Ash isn't ready to be in a relationship just yet. I think that you and he both need some time to work out your feelings for each other."

Tsubasa nodded reluctantly. "I guess you're right. I feel as if he can't be with me until he resolves things with his family, and he won't be able to do that until the murders are solved."

"Then I hope you're right, and that the Aurors catch the killer quickly," Reiko said.

Tsubasa hoped so too, but he rather doubted it. Nothing had been resolved, and he still wasn't sure how he felt about Ash, but strangely, he felt better for having shared his problems, as if a burden had been lifted from him. "Talking about all this makes me feel a lot better," he admitted. 

"Well, of course, sweetie," Reiko said matter-of-factly, and leaned across the table to give him a motherly hug. "That's what I'm here for."

"Thanks, Mom," Tsubasa laughed. "Um...by the way, you haven't shown those newspaper articles to Dad, have you?"

"Not yet," Reiko replied. "Your father would be tearing his hair out if he knew there was a killer loose in England. But still, I'm not sure that it's fair to keep it from him. You are his son, and he understood that you were choosing a life with a certain amount of risk in it when you chose to live with the tengu and become a warrior. He has a right to know if you're in danger."

"Ash may be in danger of being falsely arrested, but I'm not in any danger myself," Tsubasa argued.

"I'm not so sure of that," Reiko said gravely. "The Daily Prophet said that the second victim may have been targeted because her daughter works at the Sakura--a business with ties to the werewolf pack."

"Mom, you can't believe everything you read in the Daily Prophet!" Tsubasa protested.

"That's true, but it's still a logical assumption," Reiko replied. "And if the killer has a grudge against Ash or his pack, then you might well become a target if people know that you're Ash's lover."

"I'm not his lover!" Tsubasa shouted. "And anyway, nobody knows about us! Well, except for the pack." He paused for a moment, then added sheepishly, "And maybe Remus Lupin..."

"Sweetie, I've never even met Ash, and I suspected that he was your lover, or at least a potential lover," Reiko said impatiently. "I'm sure that anyone who has seen the two of you together can figure out that there's something going on between you." Tsubasa felt his face turn red again. "And anyway, even if you're just friends, that might still be motive enough for the killer to target you."

Tsubasa sighed and said, "I'll be careful. But don't tell Dad just yet. If the killer isn't caught within the next couple of weeks, I'll tell him myself, I promise. I just don't want him rushing over here in a panic to protect me when I'm quite capable of defending myself." He smiled wryly. "Actually, I'm more worried about him trying to play matchmaker than I am about him playing overprotective father."

Reiko giggled. "Oh yes, I can just see him playing go-between, speaking to Ash's pack leader about setting up a marriage meeting--a formal dinner, with family from both sides trying to decide whether their children are compatible, and then if that goes well, perhaps a betrothal ceremony..."

"Mom!" Tsubasa wailed. "You can't let him do that!"

Reiko burst into laughter at the look of horror on his face, causing Madam Puddifoot to stare at them with open curiosity. "All right, all right," she gasped between fits of laughter. "I'll keep your father under control. We wouldn't want to scare off your wolf, after all. Taming a wild beast is a delicate matter..."

"MOM!"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, back at Gladrags Wizardwear, the two apprentices were giggling and gossiping about the new Professor--whom they had recognized from his previous visits to Hogsmeade--and his mysterious female companion.

"Megan, Parvati, stop gossiping for a moment," the shopkeeper said impatiently. "We have several rush orders to finish, so we'll have to work through our lunch hour. One of you order some food to be sent in."

"Yes, ma'am," Parvati said obediently. "What would you like?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as they deliver," the shopkeeper replied in a distracted manner, handing Parvati a handful of coins.

"That Japanese place in London delivers," Megan Jones suggested. Like Parvati, she was a recent Hogwarts graduate, and they had started their apprenticeships at the same time. They hadn't known each other well in school, as Megan was a Hufflepuff and Parvati was a Gryffindor, but they had discovered that they both shared a love of clothing and fashion, and quickly became fast friends. Megan was pretty, with fair hair and skin in contrast to Parvati's darker complexion, and much to their delight, people often told them that they made a striking pair.

"Yes, that's fine," the shopkeeper said.

"And they have a cute delivery boy," Parvati whispered, winking at Megan, who giggled. 

"Damien will be jealous," Megan whispered back.

"There's no harm in looking, as long as I'm not actually going out with someone else," Parvati replied with a casual shrug. "I know that he still notices pretty girls, although he's a little more discreet about it than he used to be. Besides, what he doesn't know won't hurt him." Her boyfriend Damien Pierce was a year younger than her, which meant that he was still attending Hogwarts, and therefore unlikely to know whether or not she was admiring a handsome delivery boy--or a handsome Professor on a weekend trip to Hogsmeade, for that matter.

About half an hour later, the handsome blond werewolf Kai arrived with their order from the Sakura restaurant, while Parvati and Megan were still gossiping about Professor Tsubasa as they worked.

"Here's your order, ladies," Kai said cheerfully, unloading their food from the magical carrying case that kept the food hot and the dishes from tipping over and spilling in transit.

"Thank you," Megan said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

Parvati automatically gave the werewolf a flirtatious smile as she paid him for the food, but her mind was still on the Professor and his companion. "Do you think he'll be back?" she wondered out loud.

"Will who be back?" a puzzled Kai asked.

"Oh, honestly, girls!" the shopkeeper said in exasperation. "Are you going to gossip about that Professor all day?"

"But he might come back and buy that robe his girlfriend was admiring," Parvati pointed out. "So you see, it's work related, ma'am."

"Professor?" Kai asked.

"Professor Tsubasa, the new teacher from Japan," Parvati explained.

"The pretty one, with the beautiful hair," Megan giggled. "He's got hair any girl would envy!"

"Ah yes, I know him," Kai said. "He's the nephew of the owners of the Sakura. But did you say something about a girlfriend? I think you must be mistaken, because I know he doesn't have one."

"Well, I don't know for sure," Parvati said coyly, "but he certainly seemed very cozy with this woman. A very pretty Japanese woman." She giggled and added, "But not as pretty as he is!"

"She was hanging on his arm," Megan chimed in, "and calling him 'sweetie'. So we assumed she must be his girlfriend. And I heard them say that they were going to Madam Puddifoot's--and the only people who ever go there are couples in love!"

"Maybe she's an old flame of his from Japan," Parvati said thoughtfully. "She was admiring that robe in the window, and he offered to buy it for her as a souvenir of her trip to Britain." Then she noticed that Kai had turned pale, and she asked in concern, "Is something wrong? Are you feeling all right?"

"Ah, no," Kai said hastily. "I mean, I'm fine, thank you. Please enjoy the food, ladies, and call on us again in the future." Then he bowed and quickly left the shop.

"Oh my," Megan said. "What was that all about?"

"Maybe he has a crush on Professor Tsubasa," Parvati giggled. It wasn't a thought that would have occurred to her before Professors Lupin and Snape publicly became a couple, but now it didn't seem so unusual that a man might be attracted to another man.

"Girls!" Their employer called impatiently and they sighed and went back to work, forgetting about the Professor and his girlfriend for the moment.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kai rushed into the London townhouse, where he found Ash in the living room playing video games with the children, but without his usual enthusiasm--he was punching the buttons on the controller dispiritedly, and moreover, five-year-old Max was winning.

"Ash!" Kai shouted.

"What are you doing here?" Ash asked listlessly, without looking up from the television screen. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"I'm between deliveries, but never mind that!" Kai said impatiently. "I just made a delivery to Gladrags in Hogsmeade, and the girls there saw Tsubasa out on a date with a woman!"

"What?!" Ash exclaimed, finally turning to look at Kai.

Kyra, who had walked into the living room when she heard all the commotion, said skeptically, "I thought he was gay."

"They said he was walking arm-in-arm with a pretty woman who was calling him 'sweetie,'" Kai insisted. "And they went to Puddifoot's."

Kyra made a face. "I can't see how anyone over the age of fourteen can stand that place. I would have thought the peacock would have better taste than that."

"It seemed like she might have been visiting from Japan," Kai continued, ignoring the interruption. "Does he have an old girlfriend back home, Ash?"

"How would I know?" Ash snapped. "He never mentioned one before, but we didn't sit around discussing all our ex-lovers. Anyway, it's none of my business."

"None of your business?!" Kai asked incredulously. "I thought that you and he had a thing going on! Are you going to let him two-time you?"

"He isn't two-timing me," Ash replied, with what seemed to Kai to be amazing calm, under the circumstances. "There is no 'thing' between us. He doesn't owe me anything. He can date whoever he likes."

"But you like him, don't you?" Kai demanded. "Are you going to let this girl just steal him away from you? Aren't you going to fight for him?"

"Mind your own business," Ash snarled, throwing down the game controller. He started to leave the room, but then paused and turned back for a  moment. "And I don't want you going after Tsubasa and asking him about this woman," he warned. "This is between him and me, and I don't need you meddling in my lovelife, so just stay out of it!" Then he ran upstairs to his room and slammed the door shut.

Kai stared after him worriedly, and Max asked, sounding confused and a little hurt, "What's wrong with Uncle Ash?"

"Uncle Ash is having boyfriend problems," Kyra said with a wry smile, picking up the abandoned game controller. "But don't worry, Auntie Kyra will play with you."
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Ash lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling blankly, his anger quickly draining away. He had no right to be angry, anyway. He was the one who had blown his chances with Tsubasa.

He didn't really question Kai's statement that Tsubasa might have a girlfriend, even though Aric had given him the impression that Tsubasa was exclusively gay. Aric had only known Tsubasa for a short time and he might be mistaken, and after all, Ash himself had taken both male and female lovers in the past. And he wasn't really surprised that Tsubasa was seeking out a new love interest after that disaster during their last fencing lesson.

He wondered who the mysterious woman was, though...an old flame, perhaps, or a childhood sweetheart rekindling an old romance. Maybe he should feel hurt that Tsubasa had replaced him so quickly, but instead, he felt numb and empty inside, unable to feel either anger or sorrow. He couldn't even summon up enough energy to reach for the bottle of Firewhiskey that was hidden under his bed.

"I want your whole heart," Tsubasa had told him, but Ash's heart had not been whole since...Ash wasn't quite sure when. Since the first time his stepfather had struck him, certainly, or maybe even before that, going back to the time when he had been growing up unloved and unwanted in his Great-Aunt Ernestine's house. Whatever the reason, his heart was as scarred and damaged as the rest of his body, and he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to love Tsubasa the way that he deserved to be loved. 

Tsubasa was probably better off with his new girlfriend. Ash didn't know who this woman was, but if she was someone Tsubasa knew from Japan, she was probably a crane maiden, graceful and elegant--or maybe a fierce and beautiful tengu woman who was his equal on the battlefield. Although Ash had a hard time picturing a warrior woman calling her lover "sweetie". But either way, Tsubasa deserved someone worthy of him, someone who was able to love him wholeheartedly.

Someone who did not turn into a dangerous monster every month. Someone who would not put him in danger by losing control to the monster within even when the moon was not full.

"Aren't you going to fight for him?" Kai had asked. But Ash was tired of fighting, and besides, Tsubasa was better off without him...wasn't he?

Ash tried very hard to convince himself of that as he continued to stare at the ceiling for the next several hours.
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Tsubasa still felt restless after Reiko went back home and he returned to Hogwarts, and he found himself wandering aimlessly around the castle. When the crane folk chose a mate, it was customary for them to weave some sort of garment for their beloved, usually a robe or a cloak made from their own feathers. Ash wasn't his mate, and in any case, Tsubasa was a poor weaver, but he couldn't get the idea out of his mind. 

He sighed to himself and shrugged. Well, maybe weaving would at least distract him and take his mind off his worries. Chizuru had taught Weaving magic during her semester as a guest teacher at Hogwarts, so there must be a loom somewhere in the school.

He could have asked the Headmaster where it was, but then Dumbledore might ask him inconvenient questions about why he was looking for it. Or he might keep his silence, but smile with that knowing little twinkle in his eyes. Instead, Tsubasa tracked down Dobby, who directed him to the Room of Requirement.

He opened the door and found a large loom in the center of the room, along with skeins of thread for weaving, needles and thread for sewing and embroidering, dyes, and anything else that he might conceivably need to weave and sew cloth.

"What on earth am I doing here?" Tsubasa muttered to himself. His late mother and his father were both skilled weavers, but he was as inept at it as Takeshi was, unable to weave more than a few inches of cloth at a time without the thread snarling and knotting, and he didn't even have his cousin's excuse of being part-human. And even if he did somehow manage to weave an entire bolt of cloth, his sewing and embroidery were almost as bad as his weaving.

Besides, he and Ash weren't even on speaking terms, so why was he even thinking of weaving a lover's token for the werewolf? But still, he transformed into his crane form with a sigh, and began plucking feathers from his breast.

Chapter 16

Snape/Lupin Index