« My dear friend,
I do hope this letter finds you well. It has been so long. Lately, I heard you were still alive ! I was absolutely flabbergasted ! Everyone had all lost hope, I’m afraid. But here you are, and myself, Minerva, Sybil, Poppy, Pomona, Filius, Rubeus, we are all so very delighted ! I heard mister Potter fell off his seat from the shock, when he learned. You know, he had a portrait of you hung in the director’s office, after the war. He insisted so much, Minerva had to give in… »
At this point, Severus had to look up from the letter, and sigh. What a fool that boy was. Embarrassing. He read on :
« Had to give in. It will remain there, of course, unless you really mind. After all, you did replace our much regretted late Albus in your time. So, it makes sense.
Now, I must say : I heard you’ve been in good shape for months, even got a new job, and you didn’t think about warning anyone ! Minerva is as thrilled about the good news, as she’s livid. You will never hear the end of it ! You have to make it up. We miss you, you rascal ! You can’t stay hidden from us forever !
Well… I’ve got the perfect occasion for you ! You can’t say no. I’ve planned a little social gathering, next friday night. You know the place. You have to come. I do remember you tend to avoid these types of events, but you won’t escape us, this time. Socialising is like a muscle, don’t you think? You do need to train to get better at it. Everyone is looking forward to see you there. The spy who defied You-Know-Who ! You forged yourself quite a reputation ! You won’t have a moment for yourself, just saying. You risk to be assailed with questions.
Incidentally, I believe we all have a young lady to thank for your survival. I should very much like to meet her. You know I do enjoy surrounding myself with brilliant young people, and they say she is brilliant. She does have a terrible name to carry, not mentioning the rumors… But she’s also been forging herself a reputation, in Saint Mungo’s. They say she’s an earnest young lady, quite intense in her studies, always about work, work, work. I heard you two were getting along quite well. I’m sure she will make many other friends, when she decides to. But you have been a bad influence, haven’t you? You need to bring her along. This will just not do.
My friend, your welcoming committee is on the ready. You’ll get an earful from Minerva. But not only. I ordered some red elf made wine, for the occasion. Your favorite. Mister Potter, who keeps dodging my invitations, will even honour us with his presence. Would you believe it?
Answer this note, will you? I’ll be waiting. We’re looking forward to be seeing you.
Your friend, Horace. »
Severus sighed. This was embarrassing. He had kept more or less to himself for quite some time, indeed. He had been worried about his fellow former death eaters, of course. He had felt safer hidden. But he had also just let time pass by, busy with his new life. And to tell the truth, the last thing he had wanted to do was come back to Hogwarts. Too many bad memories. For years, back then, he had wanted to leave that damned school, as a matter of facts. But he had nothing against his former colleagues, of course. Minerva had been fun to tease and gossip with. Rubeus had been clumsy, but always well meaning. Pomona brewed to nicest wand made beer. But Hogwarts would always be haunted by the shadow of Albus Dumbledore, to him. And with the shadow of the old man lingered the shadow of the Dark Lord. He’d been stuck between the devil and the blue sea, chained by his promises, chained by guilt and fear for years. No. He was not exactly nostalgic. But he would have to answer, wouldn’t he?
« Dear Horace,… »
What was he going to answer now? I like you all, but i’d rather not, regards? It would be difficult to avoid this awkward situation, after all this time… He didn’t want to come across as cold. He had rather liked his collegues. They hadn’t been too bad. He would come, of course. And he would be expected to bring along Suneko. She’s going to love being stuck in an unknown place full of unknown people, Severus thought with an ironic smile. Ha. At least, he wouldn’t suffer alone. He gave it a thought… Let’s see if i can drag someone else into my misery, shall we? The more, the sorrier. Let’s do this. He took back his quill.
« Dear Horace,
I hope everyone is alright, back at the old castle. Your letter sounds like your usual self. Must i conclude you managed to keep your sanity intact, despite having your space daily invaded by hordes of children? At least, your little slytherins must be somewhat civilized, unlike Minerva’s little gryffindor savages. Tell me : i dare hope our house did win the cup, these last few years. After all, no Potter has been around to be annoying to the detriment of our seeker’s focus!
Talking about which : our former seeker came to visit me, the other day. Draco Malfoy is a fine young man. Did you know he intended to run a rejuvenating balneum? Luxurious, of course. You know the Malfoys. He’d love my friend Sune… »
He crossed Suneko’s birth name to avoid creating confusion.
« My friend Aethelind to participate in his business or even to provide potions, but his project doesn’t seem to be healing oriented enough for her. For now. You know the boy is persistent. She might end up changing her mind. Aethelind’s a bit shy. She will be happy to see a boy she already knows at your little social gathering, I’m sure. I’ll carry her to Hogwarts like a sack of potatoes if I have to, of course.
See you all there, old friend.
Severus. »
Oh, dear. The whole Malfoy clan had turned up into the house right after Draco had received his invitation. Of course, they had made a huge fuss about the whole thing, and had flooded Suneko and Severus with advice. They had dragged them into ridiculously expensive shops, claiming it would be rather suitable if Severus were presentable, for once. Thankfully, they had also judged Suneko to be below their fashion standards. And frankly, Severus thought, sharing his annoyance had been helpful. It would be a long, long, tiring night.
There were few windows alit in the old castle. The grey stones seemed to be asleep in the twilight. Understandibly so : the students were supposed to be in their common rooms, at this time of night. Severus, Suneko and Draco were standing in front of the heavy door. They were all nervous for different reasons. Severus because of disagreeable old memories difficult to shake even after all this time. Draco because, though this gathering was not the club, exactly, it was the next best thing. He did hope to somehow mend his family’s reputation. Suneko because she wasn’t fond of crowds.
« You’re shiny. » noticed Severus, looking at Suneko.
-You’re very equipped, jewelry wise, aren’t you? Nice necklace. »
-Are you looking at my breasts? »
-What breasts? » Suneko pinched him. Severus smiled.
The great door opened.
« This is it, my friends. » Draco said. Severus patted him on the back.
-This is not a final oral exam. »
The boy was wearing his special worried proud pout.
The common hall was huge. Bigger than he remembered. That was because the thousands of students had not been invited to the party. It had been rearranged to welcome a smaller crowd. Tables had been gathered in the corners with canapes, and drinks were being served on platters by elves. Severus knew many of these people. It felt strange. Severus was at least grateful to notice that nobody was throwing themselves in his arms. Instead, people were keeping a kind of polite safe distance.
Severus soon came to understand that they were looking at Suneko with a cautious side eye, and at Draco with a little glint of contempt. That made Severus angry. How dare they? Most of these people had taken no side. They had been carefully bidding their time to see who was winning. They had even been ostensibly licking the boy father’s boots if it brought them privilege. They were in no position to judge anyone, now. But there were whispers :
« What’s he doing here? »
-That’s Malfoy, isn’t it? »
-He’s got some nerves. »
-And with Snape, too. I thought Snape had been on Dumbledore’s side during the war. Why would he show up with a Malfoy, now? »
-Who knows what side he’s ever been on, this one. »
-The bloody war hero. Please. »
-It sure doesn’t give him a good image. »
-Snape was paid, perhaps. »
-You know what they say. The Malfoys always land on their feet, like cats. »
-And is that the Snake Girl? »
-She’s small. Not very pretty. »
-They say she’s a maledictus. »
-If that’s the case, she’s dangerous. They should lock her up, I think. »
Suneko was starting to hiss. Draco was ivory white. Severus was wearing his blank face. He wasn’t very good at showing emotions. Even pretense. Right now, it was a gift. How dare they? How rude of them. Had they come all this way to deal with all these side eyes and whispers? What had been the point of even bothering? He didn’t care about any of these people, as a matter of fact, and he felt like throwing a couple of jinxes here and there for good measure. But he wouldn’t.
« Were those your friends? » Suneko commented.
-No, hardly. I’ve been acquainted to some of them. Some of them were working with Draco’s father, back in the day, I believe. »
-It’s rude to whisper behind someone’s back in their presence. »
-Oh, but they’re so agreeable. Aren’t you socially demanding. »
…
« I mean : his father has been in Askhaban. Like : since when did Hogwarts welcome litteral criminals? » whispered someone.
-And litteraly no one cares about your opinion. » snapped Draco to the person in question.
-Selwyn, is it? What was that you were saying, again? » Severus added.
-Please, enlighten us. » the person began to stutter. Suneko was staring hard at them.
-Speak louder, or don’t speak at all. You see : Severus and I believe in second chances, especially for people who happened to show good will. We also tend to believe it would be wrong to blame an offspring for the mistakes of their elders. Don’t you think? »
A heavy silence was starting to fall on the room. The quiet, icy voice of the Niece had shushed the whispers. She certainly had reasons to wish for her family’s past to be forgotten.
« Otherwise, it would be fair to look into everyone’s family tree. How’s yours, Selwyn? » the greying man had turned pale. And mute.
-Everyone has a past, I’m sure. » Severus commented appeasingly, grabbing a drink.
Draco was passably upset, and Suneko was throwing severe glances around the great room. But not everyone’s blood had frozen in their veins, a pleasant background music was hanging in the air. The candles were flickering softly in the moonlight. And you could perceive a faint scent of the delicious canapes. Severus took Suneko and Draco by the shoulders and moved forward. Perhaps, the evening could be saved.
« Let’s move on to the tables. » he suggested.
For a time, no one came to them.
« You do have a face. » Severus teased Suneko.
-I thought you were hair on legs. »
Suneko’s hair had been pulled back in an intricate ornate bread, and her usual bangs had been pushed away. It gave a whole new shape to her delicate face. She looked at him sideways, and stuck her tongue. That made Draco smile, a little.
They had a drink, and dived into the canapés. The food was delicious. The wine was sweet with a touch of bitterness and an undertone of nuts. Severus had relaxed a bit, away from disagreeable prying eyes, in the corner. Draco, Suneko and him were silently wondering if they would be left to themselves, when they heard a familiar voice :
« Draco. It’s been too long, my friend. »
-Good to see you, Blaise. »
-Professor Snape. »
-I’m not a professor, anymore. » muttered Severus.
-They say you’ve been a hero. » said Zabini with a mocking edge to his voice.
-Hardly. » Severus was embarrassed.
-More like : twice a fool, really. »
-He has. » Draco felt smart enough to say. Severus was starting to blush. No, he hadn’t. And anyway, it was a conversation he clearly did not want to have. Zabini smirked. He turned to Draco, and changed subjects.
-How have you been? » he asked throwing a little side glance at Suneko.
-Quite well. I’ve obtained an Excellence Award from the Gold Keeping departement as well as a certificate from the Healing Institute last year. I’m working on a certificate from the Wizarding Citizen Recovery and Basic Survival Regulations departement, these days. I wish to open my own establishment, you see, and I need all the proper authorizations. »
-You mean to open a hospital? »
-No. I plan to invest in a rejuvenating balneum. You wouldn’t believe the preciseness of the norms attached to this kind of activity. But sorry. I’m being rude. May I introduce you to my good friend Aethelind Gaunt? Aethelind, please meet Blaise Zabini. We were together at school. »
-Nice to meet you. » Suneko drew out her hand, and smiled pleasantly. Zabini shook it.
-The famous snake girl. I’ve heard so much about you. »
-She would love to bite you to be true to her reputation, but she’s quite busy with these canapes, at the moment. » Severus said. Zabini did not seem traumatized by the joke.
-They say you’re also in the healing business. »
From there ensued a long and tedious conversation about the different types of potions, and poultrices, and powders, and otherwise healing related products, and source material quality, and commercial scale in which Suneko ended up convinced that she did actually need to delegate the distribution to a specialized professional (namely, possibly mister Blaise Zabini himself). Severus’s attention was on the brink of drifting off, when he heard :
« And do you make any love potions? »
-Love potions hardly have anything to do with the healing business at all… » frowned Suneko.
-Nevertheless, yes we do. » counter argued Severus. Suneko and the two young men looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
-What? Just because I’ve been a professor doesn’t mean I’ve never had a life, you know… »
And thus, he was dragged against his better judgement into a very long, and detailed, and somewhat embarrassing conversation about the ethics of love potions, and the different possibilities available, suitable for different ages, and the limits imposed by the wizarding law for which beverage, and it was a nightmare.
« Your own recipes? »
-I’m a creative man, mister Zabini. Incidentally, I’m sure our friend Aethelind, here, would be able to put together appropriate antidots, wouldn’t she? That would be your domain of expertise? » Suneko nodded with a little pout seeming to mean : challenge accepted.
-I’m looking forward to discussing this further. As for the the prices… »
-They should really be thought through together in a formal meeting with miss Gaunt’s financial councellors. » purred Draco with a predatory smile. The self confident and determined set of his jaw was hiding the subtle worried glint in his eye. Zabini patted him on the back.
-If I knew their name, I wouldn’t be surprised. »
Oh, Merlin please spare us the conversation about the state of the market… thought Severus with a big internal sigh.
« Financial councellors, huh. » Suneko just commented when Zabini had left.
Unfortunately, this conversation also had to take ages. Luckily for Suneko, Lucius Malfoy had taken a step back from the ministry since the war. He’d chosen to work independently, and anyway the new financial team of the ministry had been way too incompetent…
« Politics is tedious. » agreed Suneko compassionately.
Draco was just about to convince her that beauty potions were actually all about health (she was getting tired), when a young man approached them :
« How do you do? May introduce myself : my name is Felix Rosier… »
The air was getting a little thick around Severus and his two young friends. Little by little, new comers were timidly approaching to shake hands with the attraction of the evening. Severus noticed that somebody’s spying in times of war had much less appeal to the curious than the mysterious foreigner and the impressive amount of gold lying in her coffers. He was amused at his own tiny pang of proud disappointment, and laid back, quietly observing the scene.
Since the growing little group was mostly made up of boys and men, the conversation drifted towards quidditch, which Suneko dared calling a boring game. This caused an instant uproar in the party. Severus had to precise :
« She can’t fly. »
-Yes, I can! »
-She bumps into trees. »
-I mean, they generally take so much space! »
-Then, you should learn. I could teach you. » offered Draco.
-I’m pretty good, you know. »
-You always lost. » said a familiar, annoying voice.
-Potter. » growled Draco. And Severus was glad to see that some things didn’t change.
-I’ve heard that you were fast enough, but that Draco was technically better than you. But they say you had a strategy where you would annoy him so much he lost concentration. » Suneko commented innocently.
-That’s what they say, is it? I wonder who said it? »
-Someone objective, I’m sure. » Severus smiled.
-Good to know that at least, you didn’t lose your bad faith. » a stern voice had been resonating from a distance.
-Minerva. »
-He survived and told no one, and now, he hides behind the canapes. »
-The food is pretty good. »
-Move along. You’re expected. »
Severus patted Suneko on the back, and followed his former collegue. In the distance, he could hear the conversation resume :
-Quidditch is not this boy club they want to make you think it is, you know. » Ginny Weasley was saying.
-She’s not bad. I’m pretty sure she could give you flying lessons. » Potter was trying to have the last word.
-You mean she s better than you? »
-I like her. »
As Severus was dragged along, the conversation was drowned by the background noises of the party.
…
Ages later, Severus managed to escape the ambush of his former collegues. His head was throbbing. They had pressed him about the last few years, of course. They had wondered whether or not he would ever come back to Hogwarts. He wouldn’t even have to teach potions. Finding a decent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had been quite difficult, lately. Not many people had the right qualifications. Severus was quite done with living in a boarding school. He did like children much better with his own private space, and at a reasonable distance. Never in a thousand years… He had thought without saying. Instead, he had mentioned his current job, and his project to work independently as a shop keeper and as a consultant.
His former collegues also had asked him questions about the new heir of Slytherin. Suneko was obviously making everyone curious. They had all been impressed when he had told them that she was really a maledictus. Only Hagrid had been disappointed when Severus had said he had actually never seen her turn.
Horace had asked quite a lot of questions about her character and their ambitions. He was going to talk to her soon enough, and she would doubtless have her seat in the club. The good news was that Horace had connections. The ministry would probably allow them to acquire Spinners End soon. They would meet the best Defense Against the Dark Arts and healing masters to hone their skills.
« They’re not easy people to deal with. » Horace had warned.
-They will not spare you. » Severus had schrugged.
-She’s as stubborn as she’s ambitious. And you know I’ve met worse. »
Their project was getting concrete. Severus would have been excited, if he hadn’t still been skeptical about it. If life had taught him anything, it was that nothing was certain.
Severus looked around the common room. The crowd was getting quite dense… They had cast a music spell. Draco was not difficult to find. He was surrounded by quite a number of courtiers. Persuasion had been a Malfoy ability for generations. Right now, he looked like his father in the old days. Severus pondered about how easy it was to make friends, and lose them, and find them back, as soon as a the wind turned. Suneko was nowhere to be seen. Severus was wondering where she was, when Draco caught his eye, smiled, and waved in some direction. Severus’s gaze followed, and found her dancing in a corner of the room, with George Weasley. His heart sank a little, and he felt a little ridiculous. Likely digestion, anyway, he reasoned himself.
She shoved her way back towards him, all flushed, and giggling. George Weasley followed :
« Hi there, Severus. Your friend is a terrible dancer. »
-No, I’m not ! »
-You kept stomping on my feet. »
-That’s because your feet were in the way. »
-The point is to avoid them, though. »
-I’m not scared of feet . »
-That’s why you attack them. »
-None sense! I have killer dancing skills! »
-Do you mean : feet killing? »
There was a muffled sound and a foul smell. Someone nearby had just thrown a dungbomb at her.
-WEASLEY! » Suneko yelled.
Fred Weasley looked immensely proud of himself. And somehow, the world seemed to be back on its feet.
That’s when Severus realized her eyes were starting to have a purple glint. She must be tired. He thought. I’m not the only one who doesn’t like crowds, much. She needed some space. He had to take her away.
« Come along. » he said, gently taking her by the shoulder.
-You don’t know Hogwarts, do you? Let me give you a tour of the place. »
Instead, he just apparated them near the lake.
« That was a short tour. » she noticed.
« Why did you bring me here? «
-Because you’re a fragile little woman, of course. You clearly needed space and quiet, away from the Weasleys. » she smiled.
-You mean : you. » And as a matter of facts, he had needed a little break from the crowd too.
-Do you want to go back? »
-I don’t mind being here. »
-I thought you wouldn’t. »
He materialized a table cloth that he lay on the grass for them to sit on. The night air was sweet for the season. The moonlight was dancing on the ripples of the lake, far into the distance. He cast a few bluebell flames for a little extra light which he placed around, right above them, as they were sitting. It was strange, sitting here in silence under the gentle breeze. It was different from home, where they were always so busy, book reading, notes taking, potion making. Severus realized that she probably knew him better than he did her, and that was a little disturbing.
« You’re worried. » he just mumbled to the water.
-You’ve been worried since the day I met you. I can’t know for certain. You’re so secretive. But I think… You didn’t end up in England by chance. I think you’ve been running from something. That’s why you left Li. »
She just sighed, looking at the water.
« And I’m guessing… You hope they won’t find you. Whatever they are. Whatever it is. I wonder what you did. »
There was a heavy silence. Severus felt stupid for even tackling the subject.
« You don’t have to tell me. »
Without a word, Suneko made a vague gesture with her hand, and an image appeared. The woman pictured was an intriguing exotic beauty. Lean, a lost aloof expression on her fine features, almond eyes, sun kissed. She was wearing a very tight, leatherly dark blue dress with snake skin patterns. Severus wondered why Suneko had projected her, who she could be. Until he understood.
« Nagini. » Suneko nodded.
-Did you know she had been taken away from her home and used as an attraction in a circus? When she fell in love, the man who had gotten her pregnant abandoned her to follow some dark wizard. She ran to Li, and had to abandon her own daughter herself when she felt she would no longer be able to stay human. » Suneko waved her hand, and the picture disappeared. Another took her place. The next woman had similar features, with a slightly paler skin. Her eyes were a vibrant lilac. She was wearing a dark red dress, and her silky hair were adorned by golden pins. Her expression was grim.
-Your mother. »
-Her name was Hydra. She would have been called Barebones, the bloodline says, if my grand mother’s lover hadn’t been a coward. My progenitor made her lose her place as a high ranking courtesan, and of course, he left her when she got pregnant. She lead a miserable life, until I had to end her. » Suneko didn’t need to project the next picture.
-And you. » he could see her now, pale in the moonlight, the features, the cheekbones, the posture. A subtle aroma of jasmine was floating in the air, mixed with her natural scent.
-I had a few good years, after my father took me in. But then, some day, when i was plucking some plants for the shop, I was abducted and sold to the palace. I worked there for a time as a servant. » she sighed.
-Until I caught someone’s eye. My least worst option was to run away, again. That’s what I did. Sometimes, you just have to be, for things to happen. »
-Did they hurt you? » Suneko shook her head.
-Forcing women is not his kind of game. He’s a powerful man. He likes to use his natural charm and his subtle legilimens skills to have his way with women. He can generally do anything he wants with them. »
-It didn’t work on you. »
-I was tempted, for a time. Wanted to believe he was sincere. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Until I investigated. »
-What did you find? »
-A man is what he does, not what he says. »
-You could have just said no, and stayed. »
-Powerful men don’t know the meaning of the word. They live for the chase. Anyway, he’s not the kind of man you want to upset. »
-He moved on to someone else now, I’m sure. You’re a free woman. » she laughed. A joyless, bitter laugh.
-Not in my world, no. There is no such thing as a free woman. I’m a Li citizen anyway, and technically, I belong to the palace. They’ll find me, some day. Probably. »
-What if you just stopped? »
-Being a woman? »
-Being a Li citizen? »
-How would I do this? »
-Your heritage already gave you an official recognition and a new name. You could change names, again. Become English. »
-How do you just become English? »
-I don’t know, marriage? » she let out an exasperated sigh.
-With which husband? »
-What a puzzle, isn’t it? There is litteraly no available man in you vicinity. What about me? »
-You would marry me. » Her skepticism was vexing.
-For your enormous fortune, of course. » He sighed.
-Forget it. »
-You mean : I would be free from Li, and you would be rich… » She mused.
-Listen : that was just a silly idea. I’m sure you could find a suitable betrothed any second, right there in the great hall, if you set your mind to it. Or you can dwell in your anxious misery, if you wish. Your choice. » She stayed quiet and thoughtful for a while. Then, she said in a husky voice :
-What if I wouldn’t… Or… Or couldn’t… »
-Oh, come on! » Severus had to cut her briskly.
-I thought about something purely administrative. I would cheat on you, of course. You could divorce soon after. You wouldn’t have to do anything. But if the idea disturbs you maybe, go out there, and find someone more suitable for you. And thank you, by the way. I feel so desirable. » Severus was flushed and tense, now. Vexing was way too soft a word for this Conversation. Why had he gotten into this? That’s what I get for letting my mouth work independently from my brain, he thought bitterly.
-My coffers would be yours, your land would be mine. » She had this annoying playful clever tone.
-The ruin and the vampires. All of it. » She gasped.
-You accepted it, didn’t you? Hope the price isn’t too high… We’ll have to visit. If the land is fertile, it might well be worth my hand. »
-Are you a healer, or a herbologist ? »
-You’d cheat on me. »
-Yes. »
-They’d survive. » The tone was dry.
-That’s good news. I wouldn’t have to change too often. » Had she just sounded jealous? That made Severus feel a little better.
-You would have to promise me not to spend all my heritage away, though. »
-With all the ladies I would have to impress? » She pinched him. That made him smile.
-Jerk… We’re really doing this, aren’t we? »
-Your apothecary is on the right track. You’ve already have business partners. Everyone knows about it. »
-And your shop. »
-Of course. »
-I mean : it’s going to work. It’s happening. »
-Hope so. Surely. » Severus knew he would put in the work, if she really financed him. Of his potential success he wasn’t quite as certain.
-It’s getting real, isn’t it? »
Severus clicked, and a dish full of Suneko’s favorite spicy noodle soup appeared out of thin air, and landed on the table cloth. She beamed :
« How did you know I was hungry? »
-You’re always hungry. » She leaned towards him close in such a way that he thought the noodles would go to waste, and teased :
-I wouldn’t mind a new citizenship. » He blinked.
-Did you just boop me? »
Les pattes de mouche de la puce polichinelle 