Suneko’s father had fallen asleep on the living room floor. What a strange day indeed. The confused foreigner who had landed in his living room had just been nodding without a word when Severus had explained the situation. He had been uncanningly quiet. Severus had put the kettle on the stove, a quick dinner had appeared, and they had dined in silence.

Now, Severus had climbed up to his room. Of course, he couldn’t sleep. He was worried about her. He wanted to hope that she was safe, hope that she would be home soon, turned back to human. So, he was listening to the darkness. And waiting.

He jumped when he saw a deeper shadow on the doorstep. She hadn’t made a sound. And he gasped, when he launched a lumos spell: she was human indeed… If one could call her filthy, soaking wet, naked shape on the doorstep human. She was trembling with cold. He launched a drying spell on her, and accioed a cover, which he put around her shoulders.

« Why are you in that state? »

-Father’s sleeping. »

-Why are you so filthy? »

-I might have bumped into one of your cellar’s walls, and dug a gallery out to get a bit of fresh air. Then, I found a lake when I was out there. I felt like bathing. »

-I did wonder what else you would need to break. » she looked up at him :

-You stayed. » she crossed her arms, frowning.

-That was stupid. » he schrugged.

-What am I going to do with you, Severus, if you keep putting yourself in life threatening situations? »

-Your prince came to us all by himself. »

-But you stayed, and I was turning. You have no survival instinct. » she sighed.

-So… Our partnership is no longer in order, is it? » Severus frowned.

-Why would you let me down? »

-I won’t. You will. »

-What makes you think so? »

-I can smell your fear. »

-Oh, yes. You’re terrifying. » she threw him a puzzled glance. She had expected denial.

-You admit it. »

-Why would I lie? I’m not stupid. I’ve got eyes. You’re a bloody giant snake. Have you seen your own size? And what was even that, pouring out of your wand? Where did that obscurus come from? »

-Mine. »

-Oh, come on! »

-It broke when i fled from the Sunset Palace. That’s when I met my father. He severed the bond, helped me out. » Severus was impressed. Thought : She should not have survived that.

-He’s good. »

-The best. »

-Any other curses I should be aware of? »

-Two is enough. »

-At least, yours are interesting. »

-Interesting is not what people tend to call them. »

-Well, rumor has it I’m a bit strange. »

An awkward silence floated on the room like a lonely snowflake.

« Your Defense Against the Dark Arts shop. Do you have a name? »

-Lily’s DADA articles. » Severus replied automatically.

-From that dead woman you love? » Severus nodded.

-You never recovered, did you. » He schrugged. Why didn’t it hurt quite as much? He guessed he had other preoccupations.

-And your brand’s? »

-The Winning Pawn. »

-Why? »

-My mother was obsessed with go. She was a genius, unconcerned with people. That made her successful. Then she met my progenitor, and had me. So, she lost all value, and had to overwork herself. She never really looked at me. I had caused her downfall, after all. When she got sick, she shut down from everyone, and spent her days focused on her board game. On my last visit, she told me I had to win. It’s the last thing she ever said to me. I think she felt like a pawn herself. » Severus’s throat was tight for a moment.

-Turns out you’ve got a better game. And aren’t we together in this mess. »

-You’re a good friend. And you bring snacks. Thoughtful. » She smiled.

-Too bad this marriage is out of the question, now. »

-You didn’t even want to marry me in the first place! What are you talking about? »

-Ha! You’d be in trouble if i had said yes! »

-You’re not interested! »

-Oh, am I not? » She was in a cheeky mood.

-Will you marry me, mister Snape? »

-Miss Gaunt, i’ll take your hand. »

-I dare you. »

-Try me. »

Severus didn’t hear himself cast the spell or even think it. The knife just flew right into his hand as if it had decided to. And he hardly felt himself draw it to his own hand, and cut lightly into the skin. There seemed to be no pain throbbing, when the blood started to drip. It was as if his body was working on its own. As if it knew what it was doing. And Severus wasn’t even slightly surprised, concerned, or worried when his hand extended, and presented the knife to Suneko. Deep down, somewhere, underneath this feeling of quiet inner surety, Severus knew that it was probably not a good idea to offer to make a blood oath in the circumstances. But even deeper, he also knew he trusted her. The woman behind the monster. He didn’t know why. But he did. The certainty was unshakable. She frowned, then stared. Her eyes were huge, in the dim light of the room. About a hundred years old, and deadly serious. Intense. The world stopped turning for a few seconds.

« I’ve seen passion, and I’ve seen marriage. Both are equally stupid. » she said.

-I know. »

-But we’re friends. Aren’t we? »

-Absolutely. You’re a very rich friend. Therefore a sensible match for me. »

-I wouldn’t have to give up on my job. And you own a very interesting land. »

Severus felt her hand in his. It was warm. Sticky. He wasn’t sure whose blood was whose.

-Does it hurt? » he asked. She shifted. She was clearly taken aback by the question.

-What? »

-The turning. » She thought about it for a while.

-Feels like a stretching, I think. A stretching gone wrong. And then, you have to concentrate to schrink back into your own body. »

-Is it hard? »

-Generally isn’t. »

-But it was, today. » That wasn’t a question.

-Your eyes… So, they… » She nodded.

-Don’t know how it works. »

-But you’re still… You… In there… »

-I do my best. »

-You’re pretty good at handling… This. »

-I’m not a curse. » she interrupted him dryly. There was a purple glint in her eyes.

-I’m a gojin. This word people use, maledictus, it’s derogatory. It’s insulting. I just turn to a snake. There’s nothing wrong with being a snake, really. »

-No, there isn’t. But I kind of also like you as a human. »

-How come you’re not hurt? » she frowned.

-They’ve stabbed you. I’ve seen it. » Severus remembered. He just didn’t have any logical explanation to give.

-How did you bring father home? » He didn’t answer.

The temperature gained a few degrees, as they stared at each other in silence. Their blood was mingling. Nothing seemed to need to be said. Nothing was.

The chains of light were scorching hot, now. And Severus knew their invisible trace would be permanent, engraved in him, like the Mark, like a burn. When the chains cooled down, they were a schimmering silver. When they were detangled, Severus observed the little vial, at their end.

« You keep it. » she said. He locked the chain with the little vial around his neck.

It had been a long day. Severus just wanted to be through with it.

« And now, go wash and go to bed. You’re filthy. »

She didn’t go. Just stared.

« Go, now. » He repeated, losing patience.

But she didn’t.

« OUT! » He was quite irritated.

She did move. But not in the right direction. There was some sort of… Accident. There was not any other way to describe this. Their faces accidentally bumped into each other, resulting in a case of moist confusion. And the world softened for a few minutes, while they both melted.

« This was just a scientific experiment… » she mumbled.

-… Obviously. »

-… Good night. »

-… You’re so very dedicated. »

-Oh, shut up. »

A little more than a week had passed since the party. When they had gone back from their social break, they had been flooded in company. Severus knew they would never be popular, exactly, but money could make you very interesting indeed. And after Fred Weasley’s pranks on her, the Snake Girl had seemed much less intimidating.

Severus and Suneko had not mentioned their private conversation again. Very few things had changed. Severus figured that meant she had decided to forget the embarrassing parts of it. It was probably for the best. He had given her food for thought, perhaps. She would go on a quest for a husband when she would be ready. Someone she would really like, obviously. Severus was still feeling quite upset about the rejection, but then whatever that conversation had been, it had been uncalled for, in the first place, unplanned, and clumsy. She didn’t seem to be ill at ease with him, though. He was grateful for this much. Instead, she had had comments to make about everyone they had met. Being friends with a legilimens could be practical for gossip. And she seemed to feel like teasing him a little, these days, booping him every so often. Annoying, but better than side eyes and awkward silences, he guessed.

They would soon have a lot of work to do. She had obtained a permit to buy Spinner’s End from the ministry. Enough of her fortune was safe to allow her to acquire it, and they would have to clean the place, once the ministry had performed the suitable protection spells. The werewolves had shown interest. It was empty, available, and close to a wolf bane provider. They had threatened to squat it. Apparently, when you were struck with lycantropy, it became difficult to find a place to rent. Technically, Suneko would be the landlady, but she had decided it would be up to Severus to handle them. Just the thought of having to make the place safe in this context was already giving Severus a headache. She would share the factory with him, he knew. He could hardly believe it, but he would have to leave Weasley’s pretty soon, to set up his own Defence Against the Dark Arts shop. He really would be his own boss. It was really happening.

And Suneko expected to see his land, now. Obsessively so. This visit had been pretty much the only thing she had had in mind, lately. When Severus had drawn his card out of his pocket to open a portal to the place, she had been trampling with impatience. And here they were. The place felt next to abandonned, almost wild and foreign. There was no vampire to be seen. Just dried herbs all around, stones, and the shadow of some broken old castle in the distance. Birds were chirping happily in the countryside silence. The climb among the bushes to the top of the hill was steep. Every once in a while, Suneko reached down to touch the soil, make some of it roll in between her fingers, and smell it. It was odd. She was hopping to and fro, sniffing the air, observing the surroundings.

« Look ! Honeysuckle, over here ! » she pointed.

-Camomille ! Wild oxalis ! A lot of interesting herbs are growing here naturally. I’ll only need to get proper seed, and I’m sure it would all grow easily. I figure greenhouses would be in order, for more exotic species, though. But I could really get to work ! »

The butterflies were flying off at her approach. She had the widest smile, and her eyes were glimmering like saphires. They had to stop, panting, when they reached the top of the hill. Dried herbs had been growing all around and in between the remains of ancient stairs, which slippery stones had been eroded by time. The view from the wall before the main entrance was breathtaking : the greenery spread all the way to the horizon, fields and fields of it, surrounded by rustic little forests. And beyond, the mountains.

« And the land is all yours? » she mused, visibly impressed.

-Technically. » he replied.

-The contract says I own those deserted fields, over here, before the mountains. So, I’ve been told. I own the space. And the dried herbs and the crumbling old stones. » She gave him a rough nudge.

-Ouch! » he protested.

-Respect the land! » Then, she let her hand slide from one side of his hips to the other, so as to give him a side hug. His heart stopped. He breathed in and out, as he tried to control his… Reaction.

-This is it. This is where I get my raw material. » she chuckled in glee.

-My husband! » she teased. He rolled his eyes. If she was going to take it like this.

-If you think you can make anything out of this place. » He put his hand around her shoulders, and they strolled in.

The towers were more of less intact. Apart from this, only one side of the building seemed to be graced with a roof. They entered. Stone and dirt and weeds was all that was left from whatever had been a room. There seemed to be the remains of a staircase on a corner. That must have led to a cellar.

Severus thought about the vampires. They were still nowhere to be seen. No trace of anything dead or living. This place was clearly impracticable. His dead uncle had probably agonized somewhere else, he figured.

All of a sudden, he realized she was staring at him.

« What? » he snapped, a little uneasy.

-You’re not perfect, you know. » she started.

-You’re grumpy all the time, short tempered, and you can be petty, sometimes even mean, and… And you can neglect yourself when I don’t pay attention. That’s annoying. » Severus scoffed.

-Because you think YOU are? You’re messy, bossy, work obsessive… »

-At least, we share that ! »

-Not mentioning downright invasive, when you’re ‘friends’ are around. »

-They like you! »

-They steal from my plate at dinner! »

-It’s called sharing! »

-Without my consent? Rude! »

-Well, you always close the shutters, and it’s dark in your place. »

-You always hang from the ceilings and startle me at night. »

-Why, excuse me for keeping you company! »

-Excuse me for protecting us from sunburns! »

-You can’t be this fragile! »

-You’re a wildling! » She hissed in between her teeth.

-Oh, don’t be vulgar! » she burst out laughing. A warm, raspy, guttural sound.

-What are you laughing at? »

-I don’t know. I’m just happy. I think. » she had this strange, intense little smile.

-It’s quiet, here. The soil is fertile, and you’ll let me work here, won’t you. » Severus schrugged.

-Perfect people are the worst anyway. » She pinched his cheek lightly.

-You never demand anything. That’s something I like about you. »

That was certainly a strange conversation.

All of a sudden, a long series of whoosh aparating sounds could be heard from the courtyard. Severus frowned. That was a lot of people suddenly appearing in that isolated place. He looked at Suneko :

« Were we expecting visitors? »

She looked worried. She shook her head. He reached for his pocket. In half a second, his wand was in his hand. They could hear feet stomping on the grass, going their direction. They obviously had been tracked, followed. Why?

« Suneko, I think your lover found us. »

A man entered, followed by a dozen others. All colour had left Suneko’s face. So, he had come for her. He was stunning. His face was finely lined, he was tall and lean, and muscular. He was wearing a dazzling dark blue and golden armor. He looked powerful, determined, self confident. He looked like a prince, come straight from a woman’s vivid imagination. But his eyes were dangerous. They were almond shaped, amethyst colored, fixed and keen like a cat’s. And the men behind him were also wearing an armor. And two of these soldiers moved forward. They were surrounding a third man. He looked older and slightly distraught, wearing a tunic and messy white hair.

They started talking in Li. Severus cast a lingua spell upon himself to understand.

« Father… » Suneko gasped. The prince’s smile was angry, and his voice was cold when he replied :

-We had to pay him a visit to collect personal belongings of yours for the tracking spell. I do hope his presence reminds you that you have loved ones in Li. » Suneko looked left and right for a solution, for an escape.

-Darling, you wouldn’t dare running away from me, again? »

-I don’t believe we’ve ever had the pleasure. » Severus said. One of the guards, the tallest, barked at him :

-You’re in the presence of his Highness the noble brother of His Majesty the Light of the Realm of Li. You will bow down and speak when spoken to. »

-Will I? » The guard drew his sword. The prince vaguely waved his hands, in a condescending appeasing gesture.

-There, there, Cuan. No need to kill this poor man. After all, his heart will soon be broken. »

-Broken by whom? » Suneko said.

-Broken by you. He should be warned. That’s what you do. »

-What I do. » There was steel in her eyes.

-Yes he needs to know we are betrothed, for one. » Betrothed. Severus didn’t know why it hurt this bad. He might as well have been struck.

-I never gave you my hand. » The prince decided to utterly ignore the observation. Instead, he turned to Severus, and looked at him up and down.

-My, my… He doesn’t look like much. I hope he doesn’t think he has any chance… »

-I don’t. » Severus confirmed. The prince made a disgusted pout, as if a cockroach had just spoken.

-Look at who you’ve been reduced to spend time with, after the palace. » the prince scoffed.

-After having served the queen consort! After having been invited to MY table! » He was so furious.

-You must have lost your mind, to run from the palace and end up wasting your time in the company of some… Repulsive little clerc! » he waved disdainfully in Severus’s direction.

-Who could turn down such an enviable position? » Severus mumbled. The guard growled. The prince threw him a sharp look :

-Indeed. And now good sir, I would advise you to be quiet. For your own protection. » Severus didn’t know if he would manage.

-Do you realize how far I had to go, to get your attention? What I had to do to get through you? You have been so cold. I don’t understand you. » the handsome prince went on pleading to Suneko.

A lover scorned, then. Severus wasn’t sure he liked the sudden change of tone. It sounded manipulative. And indeed, she didn’t seem to be moved at all.

« Oh, but I’m sure I’m not that important, your Highness. There are more than enough toys to keep you busy, around the palace. »

-What are you talking about? Why this jealousy, my dear? You know I have responsabilities at the inner court. Then, you know why I’ve been working with hundreds of women for years. I can hardly remember everyone. You’re the only one I have eyes for. »

-Is that what you generally tell them, your Highness? Is this what you told to Lady Choko, Lady Etsuko, Lady Fuyoko, Lady Jun… »

-Is this a way to answer my grievances? By giving me a list of names? What is the meaning of this? »

-You don’t remember them, do you? »

-There, there, my love. What a vivid imagination. I’ve never had any… Toys, if that was your worry. I’ve only had eyes for you, since I met you. I swear it. I gave you my heart, Suneko chan! I don’t understand! I offered you my hand! I lay my life at your feet! Why did you get away from me? » She rolled her eyes. But he pressed on.

-Can’t you see? I’ve been looking for you everywhere in Li! Everywhere beyond the seas! You’ve been on my mind every second! For three years, you were away! For three years, I could hardly sleep! You should have told me, you were jealous. I would have told you there was no reason! Instead, you just left and broke my heart. Why are you so distrustful? Why won’t you understand that I cannot live without you? »

The prince did look utterly distressed and lost. But then, it was easy for some people to play pretend. Not mentionning the little detail of Suneko’s father being held hostage. His attitude didn’t match his words, and if Severus had learned anything throughout the years he’d spent with the Dark Lord, it was that all in all, words never really mattered. I hope she doesn’t fall for his acting skills… He thought. But she didn’t seem to be impressed.

« What have you even done away from me for three long years? » This time, Severus couldn’t help himself.

-Let’s see… She received a heritage that made her immensely rich, she earned an official diploma from the Healing Institute, she saved a couple of lives, and she now intends to run an apothecary factory. So, yes. She has been busy. »

The prince frowned, and the guard growled.

-Oh, I see, then. You were jealous, and ashamed of your lower status. So, you left to try and be worthy of me. Suneko chan, these years without you have been torture. Why did you stay away, so long? You did not need that heritage. I do not care for it! My love is so much deeper than this ! I need you by my side! Come back to Li! Come back to the palace! »

-You need me by your side. » she answered flatly.

-But did you ever wonder about my needs? Never, I suppose. I’ve always been but a servant. »

-My dear love. You know you’re more than just a servant to me. And you know I would do anything to make you happy. You would just have to ask me… »

-I could not work, though, could I? That would breech the protocol. I would be forced to abandon my job, to carry your babies. »

-Suneko chan… » the prince’s voice was weak. Hurt.

-You would be a wonderful mother, I’m sure of it. The queen consort loves you dearly. She would be so happy for you. Would it be so bad, to have my babies? »

-It would kill me to give up on my job. By now, you should know it’s my reason to live. »

-But I’m sure the queen consort would have no other counsel for her children but yours. And your skills would be really needed for your job as a mother. I’m sure you would find sense in this life, if only… » He was interrupted by her bitter chuckle.

-Of course. You did not come here to ask, but to demand. »

-That’s not what it is! What are you imagining? » the prince now seemed to be close to tears. I mean : her father being held hostage might be a little clue, Severus thought.

-Did you know Lady Choko took time forgetting you? Her father was insightful when he married her off. She is happy now, I hear. And Lady Etsuko lost all joy when she had to abort your baby. Lady Fuyoko’s father was too proud to forgive her disgrace. She was disinherited. Last time I checked, she was working at a brothel. And I believe Lady Jun killed herself. » There was a cold, heavy silence. There was a bitter edge in her sullen voice.

-I know what love is worth. All my life, I’ve seen my sisters deal with men like you. I know that passion has a price. Of course, you wouldn’t care. You never had to pay it. Only your toys had to. »

-You’re not a toy! I never treated you as one! Why are you so cruel? I… I want to marry you… I… I don’t want to hurt you… »

-You don’t, but you would forget my name all the same. You will end up marrying someone worthy of your status, one day, when you’re wiser. I would just be a spare wife, trapped in the palace, deprived of my job, deprived of my beauty, deprived of your attention. I would end up miserable and unsafe. So, but for your respect, I’m just trying to protect myself, your Highness. »

-Suneko chan… »

-Hyo sama! I will not come back to Li, and I will not marry you. I think you want me because I declined. You must see me as a difficult chase. Such was not my intention. I’m sorry if it causes you displeasure. And, I know I did you wrong as a servant and as a citizen. So, I will pay for the years of servitude I owe you, if you will let me. I’m afraid that’s the only honorable solution. »

The handsome prince’s warm worried expression turned into a cold smile in less than half a second. Here it is. His true face. thought Severus.

« You are right about one thing, my dear. » he purred.

-You did me wrong indeed, running away. I am offended. And you are a Li citizen. I dare hope you don’t think you would redeem yourself by throwing me gold, do you? That would not be a suitable payment. »

-If you wish to take my life, I suggest you do it now, your Highness. » Severus had put his hands in his pocket again, and he was gripping his wand. The prince shook his head.

-I could never lay a hand on you, my dearest. »

-You did try to choke me, once. » Severus could not believe his ears. Oh, dear. A regular gentleman. He was holding his wand so tight it hurt.

-And yet, you will come back to the palace. » Suneko hissed.

-Your repeating yourself is not going to change her mind, princeling. » Severus growled. The prince threw him a brief, murderous look, and looked back at Suneko :

-My love, I did not come all this way to come back empty handed. I’m losing my patience. You’ll get used to your new life, of course. I will have you. I will burn the world if i need to. »

The prince looked sideways at the captain of his guard, and made a series of gestures, which as Severus came to find out a couple of seconds later, had meant : seize her, kill them. Suneko screamed.

Severus didn’t have time to react. The muscular brute that had been glaring at him the whole time threw himself at him, and the world turned red. The shifting of the air. The bite of the steel. The pain.

The pain. Was the only thing. That existed.

And the pulse of his heart. P-dum. P-dum. P-dum.

The ringing in his ears. Hiiiiiii…

The music.

Saturated guitars. Light drums. Heavy drums. Heavy bases. Growl. Home made sound. Severus opened his eyes, as if waking up from a fevered dream.

The scene was frozen. One of the guards that were holding Suneko’s father hostage was coming for his throat. The blade was suspended, about to plunge in. The prince had crossed his arms in an authoritative fashion while he was observing his soldiers follow his orders. He had a hard, but quiet expression. He made Severus think about someone he had known years ago, cold, collected, and proud.

Bad idea. He could hardly recognize Suneko’s face, as it was altered by fear, and hatred. Her eyes were a deep purple turning magenta on the sides. « If my eyes turn red, run. » she had said. Severus knew that she would be lost if her father died.

Severus pushed the captain of the guard that had stabbed him, and winced while pulling the bloody sword from his chest. It was bad. He would probably die from his wound at some point. But he wanted to hold on just a little to see if he could salvage anything from this situation. Her father needs to live, he thought. He has to.

He advanced towards the old man, stumbling at first, wincing in pain, and then walking, and wondering why the pain wasn’t getting any worse, why the bleeding was stopping, why the dizziness was receding, why it no longer really hurt. Why he was just healing. But he knew he didn’t have time to be puzzled. So, he cleared Suneko’s father free from his guards, and drew his card out of his pocket, held it firmly, and waved it. The sensation was overwhelming. The portal sucked them out of the ruin, and right back into Spinners End.

Back home, even though Severus was in his musical magic state, time was its natural self. Severus realized this when the old man blinked, and looked wildly around. Severus knew he had to come back to Suneko quickly, if he wanted to take her out of this situation. His magical time freezing clock was ticking. So, he pat the bewildered old man on the back right before crossing the portal the other way :

« I have to go back to your daughter. Welcome to England. I hope you’re enjoying your stay. »

He set foot in the room, by her side. By the look in her eyes, she would massacre all these men, he knew. He hoped he would have time to talk to her, to tell her that her father was safe, or something, anything that might help her stay human. But time kicked back in.

She had drawn her wand out of her pocket. This is not good, Severus thought. Worse still, his throat was so dry that no sound could get out. He had never seen her like this. Monstrous. Powerful. Huge. Like a nightmarish dark witch. He realized he was terrified. And he felt useless. She whispered a name.

« Moretsu. »

There was a faint sound, like a sigh, when the shadow slid out and started to fill the room. Severus was shaking. So, that’s why she rarely used her wand. It was holding an obscurus. Where had she found it? How had she trapped it? It could not be hers, surely. Obscurus magic was tricky. Should you improperly separate a child from their shadow, they would die. Should you let the shadow in, they would die. Should you kill it, you would eventually kill the child with it. And the thing was huge… She could not have survived it.

The shadow moved, and swept the room, and disappeard back into the wand. The guards of the prince had fallen almost instantaneously, face torn, skin cracked, gone. The prince was alone, wildly looking at his dead protectors. A cold, cold voice seeping like a hiss filled the silence :

« You were saying? »

It was the prince’s turn, now, to look for an escape. He tried to apparate, but Severus partially stupefied him. It was a reflex. He was so angry. You’ve just found your betrothed, he thought. Why were you leaving? You brought us into this mess. Now, deal with it.

« You are… Very strong… My darling. You need not lose your temper. » the prince pleaded.

-I understand you fear to lose your autonomy. I would never deprive you of your freedom. You know me. I just thought you could do so much better than work as a mere healer, becoming the empress of Li. You would become the most respected queen consort that has ever lived. Imagine!… You know, I’m merely third in line. That would be a possibility… »

-You had my friend stabbed. » she hissed.

-Of course not! It was… A mere… Misunderstanding. I would never dare hurting you, my love… Or your loved ones… »

-Where is my father? »

Severus was frozen, speechless. He knew he ought to say something. But he couldn’t.

« Where… Is my… FATHER?! »

She hissed, and Severus gulped, and the even the air ceased moving down his throat. Time was suspended by the wave of terror sweeping through, as no one could answer her.

« WHERE IS HE?!! » she screamed.

To Severus’s horror the handsome prince rigidified in front of his very eyes. He was turning to stone. Litterally. Instantly, Severus knew what was happening. And he knew what she was. A basilisk. Quite the maledictus, indeed. He thought to himself : If she eats his flesh, she will never turn back to human. He was losing his friend. There was nothing he could do about it.

But the handsome prince was soon turned to smithereens by a blasting curse. The room was filled by a grave, sharp silence.

She stood there, in shock, frozen. She was shaking violently. Severus didn’t know what to do. He somehow instinctively felt that no word would help, no attempt would quiet down the storm that was coming. She was just about to explode, he knew. I should tell her, he thought. Why can’t I say anything? Why can’t I say it? Say it! SAY IT! She had been tempted to fall for that man, hadn’t she? Before she’d known who he really was? How difficult it must have been. Severus knew love could break you. Yet, she had kept level headed. She had resisted. She had left to avoid being mistreated. And most importantly, she had left to avoid having to kill him. How brave she had been to leave. How right, too.

Severus thought about his own mother, decades ago, who hadn’t had the strength. He remembered his father’s sorry eyes, when he had told him about « the accident ». Severus had known what that meant. The old man had killed her. Now, he had thought, back then. Now, I will become a death eater. I will show him. I will show them all. He remembered that day when he, himself, had broken. And now, it was her turn. Severus cast a bullesco spell, and waited. The silence was dark and deafening. Then, she screamed. And it hardly sounded human.

The thick walls exploded all around them. In his magical protective bubble, Severus observed, as the stones were reduced to dust, one explosion at a time. He shook and stood his ground, in the middle of a world suddenly turned to chaos. He was terrified, of course. But he couldn’t leave her. Because he remembered how it felt when you were breaking. When you had no one else to turn to. So, however much his survival instincts were screaming at him to run, he refused to. He would not leave her to break alone. Not knowing what he had been through.

After long minutes of terrifying rampage, a different kind of silence floated in the room. The air was significantly colder, now, because there was no room left for anything to float in. And no walls left to shield Severus and her. A mournful wind was moaning in each and every direction, now. Beyond the disorderly piles of broken stones spread in the distance, lay the wild, unkempt garden, all filled with weeds, and thorns, high prickly grass, and twisted bushes and trees. The ruins, now fully exposed to the wilderness, were looming over the hill. It was a sorry sight to behold. Severus just thought : She must be exhausted. At that point, he heard himself unwisely blurt out :

« How kind of you to help redecorate the place. »

She did not turn around or look up. Severus heard a rumble as stones were being moved. He decided to keep his bullesco on, as he didn’t know if she was going to throw them at him, or not. He soon realized such had not been her intention. She had meant to clear a way to the underground stairs. Oh, I still do have the undergrounds, he thought to himself. At least, he did have dusty caves under his impracticable gardens. He had to follow her, of course. Let’s see what else she will need to break.

The lower floor was surprisingly big. Thick pillars were holding the huge, arched ceilings, and a massive stone basin was fixed in the middle. She stopped by, and leaned on it. She was breathing heavily. Panting. She’s going to turn, he realized. She was obviously fighting it. From where he was, he could have a glimpse of the colour of her eyes. They were a purplish magenta. If my eyes turn red, she had said, if my eyes turn red, run. Magenta. Was not. A good colour.

« Your father is safe. » he finally managed to blurt out. She must have been so worried. In her place, he would have.

« He’s in Spinner’s End. He’s alright. I brought him there without you seeing. »

She let out a hiss. Cold sweat ran down his spine. She would be a big snake, he knew. This hiss sounded nothing like Nagini’s. Obviously : had she not just killed her ex lover with her eyes?

« I should have told… »

-He would have had you both killed. » She winced.

« You should leave this insssstant. » she managed in between her teeth. But her eyes were a darker purple, now. The colour was less concerning. The information must have reassured her, a bit.

He cursed his stubborn self, as he stayed. He was taking a stupid risk, he knew, but he was not going to leave her in this state. How do you comfort a big snake? he thought.

Water, perhaps, for a start. He started filling the basin. The aguamenti spell took ages.

« You should leave, now. » she insisted.

« I’m dangeroussss. »

Oh, but he wouldn’t. Her breathing was getting ever heavier. Another gut rigidifying hiss filled the room like a cold wave of sound. Severus found this thick spot, in his mind, that spot that put life at a distance, turned everything into neutral information, and prevented the panick from spilling. Think rationally, he thought. Think. What else would be needed? Food, perhaps. Food could be helpful, with wild beasts. It would just be some big snake, he expected. It would not need to attack, just yet, if it managed to be fed. There was one tiny problem : How in the hell would he get food, at this point, in this god forsaken place?

The question almost answered itself. Her elves. Were they anywhere close? Had they fled? Could they answer his call? Could they help?

He apparated upstairs, among the piles of broken stones, and called :

« Elves! Your mistress needs you! » he informed the cold, silent void.

« She’s turning! She will need to be fed! Answer, now! Show yourselves! »

He had never seen her elves. They had been serving the Dark Lord, once, he knew. They were terrified. They were keeping to themselves, invisible, and quiet. A few excruciatingly long seconds of stillness scraped on his thin stretched nerves. Then, he heard a stone rumble in a corner. He hoped to the gods it was them.

« I think a roasted guinea fowl would do… Make it two… « 

A third monstrous hiss slithered up from the dark undergrounds.

« Make it six! Ten! Don’t you hear? She will be a big, big snake! She will need to eat very soon! Get the ginea to cook now! NOW! MOVE! »

He sighed with relief, when he saw the meat appear out of nowhere, and quietly roast in front of his very eyes, suspended in the chill air.

« Thank you. » he barked dryly.

« I’ll get them there. »

He did not leave the roasted birds time to drop. He made them levitate down the dusty, broken stairs, and followed. A terrible fourth hiss came out of the little figure in the distance.

Oh, no.

The rustling intensified. There was a dizziying blur of shimmering dark teal, and white, and silver. Faster and faster it moved, the world was made of scales, floating on a long, endless hissing sound. Severus had quickly dropped his gaze. He felt not only horror-struck, but also shameful and wretched, as though he had caught the young woman in a most inappropriate, intimate moment. Then, the noise receided.

The beast, lying in a cinnamon roll, was filling the great hall of the lower floor with glistening, rusteling, white and teal scales. It had silver horns. It was beautiful and terrifying. Severus Snape gulped, and clung on his wand. Thankfully, the slit pupils of the huge purple eye seemed to avoid slipping his way. The beast was clearly aware of his presence. It was ostensibly ignoring him, Severus realized. It was deliberate.

Good news, he thought. She’s still herself.

He heard himself whistle in awe.

« No wonder you tend to eat this much. » he noticed.

« I thought you might be in the mood for dinner. »

He sent the ten roasted guinea fowls her way, near her eyes, somewhere. They disappeared in about half a second. He tried to approach her. But he hesitated. He didn’t want to talk about the very recent death of her ex lover, just yet. She had had to kill him just minutes ago. She was probably not ready to tackle the subject. He wanted to sound reassuring. Friendly.

« I think you were right to leave, for what it’s worth. » was the very first thing that slipped out of his throat.

Oops, he thought. Let’s dive straight into the difficult subjects, and get killed now, I suppose.

« Perhaps, he was in love, in his own way. But… What happened to those other ladies… And his tone with you… I think you deserve better… And when you’re ready, you’ll surely find someone who won’t strangle and threaten you to appease their frustration. » He sighed.

« Love should be effortless. Just : why is it never? »

She hissed something back, but of course, he couldn’t understand.

« Oh, and that too. » he pretended.

« That special someone should obviously have very sturdy furniture. »

Half a second after having said that, he heard a splash, and found himself covered in cold water. He levitated just to make sure. And as he thought, from up here, that giant snake looked extremely smug. A knot untied itself in his guts. He gently floated back down, and patted her on whatever part of her tail that was :

« Take your time. I’m leaving the card by the fountain. I’m going back to Spinner’s. »

They were having a quiet breakfast, when someone knocked at the door. Severus put down his fork, and reached for his wand. He opened the door from his place, and answered :

« You may come in. It’s open. » while dicreetly keeping his wand in hand. He had no idea who wanted to bother them this early in the morning.

The door was pushed. A familiar shape went through the entrance.

« Draco. » The boy was a man, now. It seemed to have been ages.

-Uncle Severus. How have you been? »

-He’s been fine. » answered Suneko with her morning voice.

-He’s been in a coma for two years, you know, after having been bitten by my grand-mother. Then, he’s been through one year of rehabilitation. And he’s back on his feet, thank you very much. » Draco Malfoy’s jaw dropped. Severus coughed :

-Draco, I give you Aethelind Gaunt, whom you may also call Suneko… »

-The name I’ve been raised with. You had guessed he wasn’t dead. You took your time paying him a visit. » she remarked throwing a sharp look at Draco.

-He was worried about you, Severus. No, they’re not mad at you for betraying my uncle. His mother and him understand. His father’s just… Confused. And, hum… Draco Malfoy, is it? Yes, he really was your friend, all along. He was just mad at my uncle. And… »

-Are you done reading people’s minds, Suneko?! » Severus growled, while shielding.

-I haven’t had my morning coffee, yet. Can’t help it. » Draco was very red. Severus pointed at her with a very annoyed gesture of his hand, and explained :

-Every day. » She looked at her watch, took one last gigantic bite at a sausage :

-I have to get ready, or I’ll be late. » before whooshing to the bathroom. Severus looked at a bewildered Draco :

-She is less intrusive when she’s had her coffee. I promise you. Do sit. »

Severus had re tranfigured the pouffes back into sofas for practical reasons. With those and the little table, the living room looked practically normal. Draco sat down, and took the coffee he was served gingerly.

-Oh, Merlin. That was pretty annoying. »

-What is left to say, right? Haven’t we already been told everything. »

-I’m glad to see you’re well. So, you’re really living with the Niece. » Severus sipped his coffee.

-She seems to enjoy not having to pay a rent. »

-How is she like? »

-As you’ve seen. Strange. Well meaning. » Draco gulped.

-They say she’s like… »

-She’s a maledictus, like her grand mother, yes. But I’ve never seen her turn. That means she has her curse under control. We intend to go around the world for her apprenticeship. We’ll find a way to keep it that way, I hope. »

-Do you care about life? At all? »

-Enough to be glad she saved mine. »

-HE LOOKS UP TO YOU, SEVERUS! » screamed a voice from the bathroom. They both laughed.

-YOU’LL BE LATE! » answered Severus.

-TAKE YOUR COFFEE TO GO, AND SHOO! » He shook his head :

-Unbelievable. »

A few minutes later, she was back from the bathroom, with her usual two buns and two braids hairstyle, and a bag on her shoulders.

« See you tonight. Warn me if you’re going to be late. And eat properly, today. »

And she apparated away.

« I understand why you didn’t give any news. » commented a smug looking Draco.

-You were busy. »

-Obviously, draco. Rich young ladies do tend to be irresistibly attracted by middle class men twice their age. We’re just friends, of course. Don’t get any ideas »

-A very concerned friend indeed… »

-You mean : very bossy. »

-Hum… I’ve heard you had quite a number of lady friends, back in the day. » Draco smiled while grabing a scone.

-It wouldn’t be illogical. Still would make more sense of your betraying the Dark Lord than the reason the rumors say… I heard you betrayed us in the name of some mudblood. » Severus sighed. So, they were going to have that conversation. Weren’t they?

-Well, Draco… You did meet the Dark Lord, after all. Was he not everyone’s best friend? He surely showed us all the recognition and esteem that we deserved for our faithfulness? He had the most respectable families in England swear him fealty. He had promised them greatness. He did deliver, now, surely? And it’s not like most of your uncles and aunts had to die in his name? Did they? And it’s not like some of you had to lose their impeccable reputation? And it’s not like he would have destroyed all of those fine people solely for his own personal gain? Would he? » He exhaled again, and regained his composure. He’d been all heated up, inside. Tense :

-I really lost faith in the Dark Lord when your uncle Regulus died. How could anyone still believe in him after his death, I will never know. Did you notice? None of the wars the Dark Lord ever launched us into has served any cause. I think he just enjoyed seing all of your great families lose all prestige in his name. I reckon he needed to punish you for being purer than himself. Spending time with the likes of Greyback? Ending up in Askhaban? Draco, we were all held hostage. You pure bloods were just too proud to acknowledge that. The last straw was when he threatened to kill my childhood friend. I’ve hated every second I’ve worked as a spy. But there was no other way out of the Dark Lord’s grip. Not that that cold blooded hypocrite Dumbledore gave me, or anyone anything in return either, for the record. » A deep silence fell on the room. Draco was looking down, all confused.

-Your… Childhood friend. The mudblood? »

-Herself. »

-But my parents were… »

-Yes, yes. Your parents were my friends too, of course. They were very helpful, back in the common room. They did show me around, and they did give me advice about how to deal with my bullies. You can have several friends, you know. You do get to choose. I lost that one when I joined, of course. »

Your parents told me to stand up for myself. Severus thought quietly. Which i did. Lily Evans stood up for me. Of course, it did have a price : i was expected to hide behind her skirts, like the poor little victim i was supposed to be. Poor little sulking Severus, with his sad story. This way, she got to be my savior. How charitable… It wasn’t what I wanted to be for myself. For her. I wish she’d fought with me, not for me. But either way, she’s the only one who ever drew out her wand on my behalf, against those four little shits. So, i had to fight in her name, too. She deserved it.

« So, she wasn’t your friend when you joined Dumbledore. Did you join because Potter… »

-Oh, come on, now! Don’t talk to me about Potter! Everyone in their right mind hates him! » Severus interrupted. Draco had to work on his insecurities. Anyway, it was complicated. The boy was frowning, trying to make sense of the whole story.

-You thought the Dark Lord was going to come for you, next. »

-That was my point, earlier. He did end up coming for everybody. » Severus felt like changing subjects.

-Since we’re mentionning death threats and other unpleasantries, how are our former friends? Has anyone talked about murdering me, lately? »

-I’m not sure about everyone, but father helped arrest quite a number of them, after the battle of Hogwarts. That’s why we have been pardonned. Aunt Bella and Scabior were killed. Vincent… Was burned. » Draco had to stop talking. He winced.

-I’m sorry. »

-His father is in Askhaban. So is Gregory’s. I… I don’t speak with Gregory, anymore. » Draco sniffed.

-What happened? »

-After the battle, well… Pansy and him, they… »

-Merlin, she’s stupider than I thought. »

-You don’t say. Anyway. The Carrows had managed to escape, but they were found. Uncle Rodolphus and uncle Rabastan… Well everyone is either dead or in Askhaban, except… Antony Dolohov is elusive. He didn’t even come back to us once. I think he’d understood father would betray our former companions early on. Augustus Rookwood was pretty enraged the last time we saw him. He threatened to kill us for what we did. He decided to come for you, first. We weren’t sure you were alive, then. That was almost right after the battle of Hogwarts. He’d disappeared for a time, and then, he was found dead, about a year and a half ago. We immediately thought about you, of course. Who else? Gave us hope. Apart from Dolohov, Greyback is the only one on the loose, that we know of. » Amazing what you can do when you’re in a comatose state, thought Severus. Rookwood dead… He feared there was another explanation. Just a hunch.

-What was Rookwood’s cause of death, again? » Draco frowned.

-Poison. » Now, Severus was certain.

-Any traces of teeth on the body? » he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

-No. The body looked remarkably intact, I heard. Apart from its dead quality. » Severus exhaled. She hadn’t been eating human flesh. There was still a chance to help. He was grateful for that much, at least. Draco gasped :

-You wouldn’t think… »

-It’s not too bad. »

-No one was eaten. »

-You really want to save her… »

-How would you feel about a new Nagini? »

-You’re living with the potential new Nagini. »

-Or perhaps, I’m living with a friend who happens to own seven coffers at Gringotts. »

-Cursed coffers. »

-Working on it. »

-You’re a madman, uncle Severus. You’ll need professor Slughorn to get the help you want to seek. Has he invited you to the Club, yet? »

-No news. »

-He will. » Draco got up, and patted Severus on the shoulder, before heading for the door. He turned back to him before going through the threshold.

-You send him our regards, for me. »

---

There weren’t many magical places around London where a former death eater might be hiding. Thankfully, not many of his former friends were left to threaten him. But whoever was still on the lose would have to be dealt with. And soon. Of the two specimen of human waste there was left on his heels, only one person had had the means and will to keep poisonning the Longbottoms for decades. Dolohov, of course. He would be the first Suneko would want to chase. And Severus knew he had to find him before her, for safety’s sake. It was time to take a stroll down Knockturn Alley.

The streets were narrower than Diagon’s. The familiar smell of gutter and sulfer was lingering. The buildings needed a facelift. The cracked pavement was sprinkled with muddy puddles and littered with broken vials of obscure potions. The place rieked of dark magic. The dirty kind. The inelegant kind. The kind that no Malfoy and no Black should have had to deal with. Severus put his hand in his pockets, and reached for his wand. Around this turning point, he knew, an unsavory crowd was lurking. The night was falling. Black hooded figures would soon be completing a whole set of illegal transactions, hidden in the corners. Predators, that could smell a stranger a mile away. But he was no stranger, was he? They knew who he was. Dolohov would be warned soon enough. He had to stay alert. Things would get out of hand. Quickly.

« Severus Snape. Welcome back. My friend. » sussurated a disagreeably familiar velvety voice. Deep, dark eyes, high cheekbones. He had hardly lost any of his beauty. That made him even more irritating.

-I’m sure you missed me. »

-Obviously, I did. Of all the sociopaths I was forced to spend time with, you’ve always been my favorite. » Dolohov chuckled.

-A charmer. You’ve always been. Pleasant surprise, I must say. I thought you were dead. »

-Many did. »

-Hadn’t you been bitten by Nagini? » Severus showed his neck :

-Hardly a kiss. »

-Hum. That’s a pretty scar, you’ve got there. Too bad she didn’t finish the work. »

-Ladies are my weakness. »

-Aren’t they? I did hear the rumors. You came back for more, I see. Need a little help dying? »

-Your fangs aren’t big enough, for me. » Dolohov drew out his wand, and grinned :

-I do hope it’s a challenge. I like it, when people defy me. »

It was a narrow and dark street. Not ideal for fighting. The ill famed crowd had deserted the door frames, and had gathered at the windows, instead, for a safe view of the show. Severus could hear faint laughter and cheers. Some of them were probably betting. The odds did not seem to be in Severus’s favour, for now. Dolohov’s attacks were relentless and agressive. Light was flashing, doors were bursting, and Severus had to move backwards for an efficient counter offensive. That was enough. Severus was not going to let Dolohov corner him on his territory.

« What did those walls ever do to you? » he asked, dodging yet another blow. Let’s see how he handles me on the roofs, he thought before levitating.

A few of the roof tiles gave way and slipped down, as he landed. He listened to them falling on to the messy pavement. Comfortable was not exactly the word to describe the situation. But it would do. For now.

« What are you running from, now, loverboy? I thought my fangs weren’t big enough. »

-If I killed you, right now, where would be the fun? »

-You’re like you were with the ladies, aren’t you? All words, and no action. » Severus dodged yet another killing curse, and reciprocated.

-Missed. Just like I said. Quick enough, i guess, but bound to be a disappointment. »

-The ladies never complained. What are you mentionning my love life for? Are you interested? » Dolohov lashed out at him again. Severus jumped from tile to tile. The man was fast. And strong. But mad. Playing the long game was not his forte. At some point, he would tire. That’s when it would be time to strike.

A cold wind was blowing underneath the waning moon. Severus had just reached a platform. He was more steady, now. He didn’t risk to get cornered, nor did he risk to slip and fall down.

Perfect, thought Severus. Well, my friend. This is where you die.

He stood, wary, and focused on the power assembling into his palms. There was a tingling sensation down his fingertips. He had never felt this ready to kill someone.

« I never understood what the Dark Lord was seeing in you, half blood. You were unworthy of his attention. »

-And yet, he trusted me more then you. Funny old world. Jealous? »

-Jealous of what? Of your obsession about some uninterested mudblood? How did it feel like, hiding under Albus Dumbledore’s robes? In her name? And never getting her, anyway? »

-Like being on the winning side, my friend. »

-Look at you : what a mouth you have. Yet, all you do is run. Well, try running, now. »

A long series of whooshing sounds joined the chorus of the wind. And suddenly, a dozen black hooded figures were standing all around.

Shit. Severus wanted to be desesperate. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to be terrified. The reptilian part of his brain wanted to take over, but not now. He needed all his wits about him, all his magic, if he wanted to survive. Because he knew for a fact that he was not going die. He felt the power in his stomach, like a wave, a tide that was rising, rising, rising. Of course, Dolohov was not going to play fair, now. Was he?

« You see, halfblood, I’m not the only one you annoyed over the last few years. » sussurated Dolohov with a content little expression.

-The death of the Dark Lord has been… Slowing down business, here, in Knockturn alley. I’m not sure it was wise, ratting out on your friends to old Dumbledore. »

-What friends do you mean? Were we friends? Your current companions seem to suit you well. Seems to me Knockturn alley is the rightful place for you. Though, of course, Askhaban would be even better. Again, I mean. »

Dolohov’s lazy little smile started to dwindle. Purple light reached the tip his wand, as the hooded figures started to advance towards Severus.

« Do you know, your mudblood won’t be waiting for you in the after life? You won’t be loved. Ever. And you’ll be gone. For good, this time. » There was a general snigger from the menacing shapes closing in.

Severus’s power felt dense, solid, tight like lungs needing to exhale. He had no precise spell in mind, so he just focused on the sensation. This was different. Normally, he would have been overthinking, feeling sorry for himself. He would have tried to contain the inner monologue and the panic rising. Contain. Enclose. Hold. Not this time. His usual mechanisms seemed to have shut down. His magic was going to do its own thing. What do I have to lose? he thought. In my position, I might as well decide to trust it. So, he closed his eyes, and breathed in.

That’s when he heard it. The music. Or rather, surely, he knew for a fact that it was playing in his mind. It could not possibly have been otherwise. Firstly, because the air wasn’t vibrating madly all around. And secondly, because that was muggle music. Electricity with a voice. He hadn’t heard it in a while. Living with Suneko had meant having no magic free space. Having no magic free space had meant no possibility to use his old muggle device. But the rumbling felt real enough. The metalic scritches. And the growls. When he’d been alone at Spinner’s end, when he’s played his music, the tension had just mellowed. It had been home, made sound. His mind had cleared. Just like it was clearing now.

No one has cursed me, yet, he noticed with a sort of curious detachment. Strange.

He raised his head, and nodded : Oh, that’s the explanation.

The world had next to frozen. Not quite the world, but those people, out there, around him, on this roof. Dolohov, the black hooded figures, and the light of the curses spilling out their wands, too. Pretty much everything in his vicinity was aggressively trying to reach him… In slow motion.

At this pace, the fight was easy. If one could call it a fight. He hummed and nodded rythmically, as he lazily deflected the curses glued to the frozen air with the tip of his wand.

My turn, now. The curse to launch was obvious. Simple. Efficient. And popular, a life time ago. You couldn’t go wrong with classics, after all.

Sectum sempra…

The red light flared at normal speed, and hit the hooded figures, one by one. None of them fell, yet. But they would, Severus knew. Any time.

…

And the weight of true seconds came crushing down, brutal like a bubble burst. Silence hitting. Men falling. Blood spreading. Gut spilling. What an ugly sight to behold. Severus’s emotions came rushing back, too. Heart thumping, hands sweating. Shock. Horror. Disgust. And relief. Almost. He was still standing. It would soon be over. There was only one enemy left to strike : Dolohov…

But he had disapeared.

Shit. WHERE was he?

Dolohov was still here, obviously. He had probably used some invisibility spell as soon as his collegues had fallen. And now, he was going try and hit him by surprise. Which might well be effective. Severus looked wildly around, wary of any spell that could come his way. His nerves were stretched thin. He wasn’t sure whether his magic would ever be able to do whatever it had done a few seconds ago. He wasn’t sure how he had done it. It had just happened. And what use could it have been anyway? By now, the one person he really needed out of his way had vanished from his vision. Vexing, really. And dangerous.

That’s when he heard a scream, followed by a horrible gurgling sound. He turned around, and recoiled at the sight of this unsavory madman, agonizing in a puddle of gore. Next to him, knelt the vampire. Dobri.

« You look awful. Were you stalking me? »

-Vhe vhould razher you stayed alive, mister Snape. You’re zher only healzy heir vhe found, for now. And our master just died. »

-You just had blood. How come you look starved? » Severus wondered aloud.

-Some people’s blood is like food, to us. Ozher people’s blood is more like alcohol. In zher present case, bad vhine. » he spat disdainfully, looking at the gruesome corpse. Severus sighed, and drew a vial from his pocket.

-I suppose I owe you one, now. »

Then, he pricked his index with a little knife, held it above the vial, and watched, as blood spilled into it. The vampire looked at him, with eager eyes. Severus avoided his gaze. He didn’t like it. The hypnotized fascination of the vampire really made him feel like prey. He was prey, somehow. He just had decided to comply. For now.

The vampire drew a dozen of other vials from his pockets, and held them to Severus with a trembling hand :

« Zhis vhould be for my friends. If you vhould be so kind. »

-There’s twelve of you, then, is there. »

-Thirteen of us. At zher domain. »

-Fine. » Severus took the vials.

By the time Severus was done filling them, the vampire wasn’t trembling, anymore. And he looked more… Alive. Olive skin, high cheekbones, hazel eyes, he actually looked way better. Miraculously rejuvenated. It was impressive to behold. Severus wondered how his blood could possibly have such an effect. The vampire made a scroll appear out of thin air, and projected a drop of Severus’s blood on it :

« It vhould appear you just signed our contract, master. » it bowed with a wicked smile.

-I’m so very pleased to see you had a change of hearts. My friends vhill be thrilled. »

-I didn’t sign anything. » Severus was so annoyed. He had somehow been tricked.

-Your contract says ozhervhise. Plus, you vhillingly paid us an advance. Vhe vhill collect payment every new moon. » The vampire threw him a map.

-You may visit anytime. Vhe vhill give you zher keys vhen zher first payment is complete. »

-You tricked me. » the vampire shook his head.

-I’m just lucky you vhere attacked. And of decent character. »

-I should have left you to rot. »

-Too late, master. »

-Why the title anyway? I’m nobody’s master, am I? »

-People’s egos tend to like titles. »

-Mine rather you didn’t call me that. » The vampire named Dobri patted him on the back.

-Vhell, boy, zher good news is : vhe’re yours. Zher bad news is : you’re ours. »

And disappeared into the night.

Severus sniffed, looking at the bodies laying at his feet. Dolohov’s, in particular. He would dream about those dead for a long time too, he knew. There was only one good news. He was still standing, and Suneko hadn’t eaten anyone.

One down.

---

Almost killed again, and still breathing. Severus arrived home, and pushed the door. He was welcomed by a very grumpy Suneko :

« You’re late. And no warning. How rude. It’s becoming a habit. » She sniffed.

-And you reek of blood. Dolohov’s. Is it? » Severus didn’t have to say anything. She’d guessed it.

-You didn’t want me to take care of it. » And eat human flesh? No, he didn’t.

-You know, he’s the one who had paid Blazen to poison my patients. » She was seething.

-He’s dead, now. »

-How many death eaters is there left on your heels? That boy, Malfoy something, he told you, the other day, didn’t he? »

-Only one. »

-Who is it? »

-The werewolf. »

-Good. » She crossed her arms, and doned a tough little pout.

-No need for you to do anything. I don’t even intend to kill him myself. »

-What do you intend to do, then? »

-As you know, his personal little excitement was turning children. He’s the vicious kind. I’m not sure he ended up having only friends, at all. And children grow up. So, if I could just find his enemies, and lead them on his trail… »

-At full moon, I suppose. »

-You guessed it. »

-So, wolfbane. We’ll have to start gathering ingredients, and brewing as soon as possible. How many did he turn? »

Severus didn’t know if it was due to the euphoria after a brush with death, or if he had forbidden himself to even see it before, but she was quite lovely, tonight, all pouty, and doll like, and terrible in the evening light. A ridiculous lightness built up inside his chest. He didn’t even think for a second, before he leaned in, and kissed her forehead. She stood there, gawping in shock, flushed, and embarrassed. Then, she brushed a strand of his hair to the side, and she dismissed him with a frantic wave of her hand, grumbling :

« We make plans first thing tomorrow, then. You stink. Go wash. »

---

Fenrir Greyback would die. It would be so easy to get him out of his lair. Severus would just need to show himself as bait. The old devil had grown confident. And restless. It was funny, how people like him tended to think they were immortal. And how they really thought their actions could never have consequences.

The difficult part, of course, would be finding his offspring. There were so many. Most of them were terrified, and hiding. Some of them, were rageful enough to kill. Greyback had managed to gather a few of these, in a cult like little wolf gang. He’d trained them to track muggle children for his perverted little pleasure. The rest of the tough ones had been bidding their time, and surviving dicreetly in small packs : being a werewolf was not exactly making your life easy. They had two choices : either to hide their condition to work in a legal environment, or to choose crime, for a living. The angry ones chose crime, in general. Ending up being rejected all the time was just too humiliating.

Severus and Suneko had found an unexpected ally in their quest for Greyback’s ennemies. The old devil had bitten miss Lavender Brown, during the battle of Hogwarts. Big mistake. Who would have thought she would survive it? She’d proven stronger than she’d looked. And she was eager to help. She’d brought them the leader of the biggest clan she knew.

« So, that’s Snape. » said the broad, grubby looking boy, raising his eye brow skeptically and ostensibly ignoring Severus while talking to miss Brown.

-Good to know I’m in the room. »

-He wants us to unite the clans. » said Lavender Brown.

-Get rid of Greyback. I think he’s right. »

-You’re the spy, aren’t you? Doesn’t the old man want your head? »

-Yes, I am. And no, You’re right. He’s not exactly a friend. »

-You’re not a friend of ours, either. Why would we stick our necks out for you? »

-Because he keeps biting kids. » answered Lavender, trampling with impatience.

-Under the radar, of course. He brought his clan to muggle land to avoid being chased by the ministry. »

-You sure about this? »

-Yes, I am. The girls and I have taken some of the new pups under our wing. He bites more and more people everyday. Very few survive it. » The boy’s grim face hardened.

-The sick fuck. »

-We have to stop him. We rip his throat apart, and submit his clan. »

-His people are nut jobs. »

-They see him as a god. They’ll kneel when he’s down. »

-And what’s your plan, big girl? We corner them at full moon, is it? »

-Why not? » the boy laughed bitterly.

-Because you know what you’re doing, on full moons, stupid? We wake up the next day, we don’t even know who we killed. »

-That’s where I come in. » Severus answered. The boy turned to him, angrily.

-What? You’ll un-wolf us? »

-He’s a potion master. » said Suneko, who hadn’t uttered a word.

-And I’m a healer. That’s exactly what we can do, yes. »

-We can’t do anything about the turning. But we can make it so you keep your head. If you trust us. You need to make up your mind quickly, though. We have a potion to brew. We’ll need to know how many people we’ll be brewing for. »

-Does it really work? How can I be sure? »

-If you need a testimony, you’ll have to ask mister Remus Lupin. I brewed for him at Hogwarts. He worked there as a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for a whole year, a boarding school, without getting caught or harming children. » the boy whistled.

-What happened to him, next? » Severus schrugged.

-The day he forgot to take his bane, I forgot I had to keep quiet about his condition. »

-Just like that? »

-Just like that. » the boy growled.

-Why should we trust you, then? » Suneko sipped her tea, and looked at the boy, straight in the eye:

-Because we need each other. We need you to get rid of Greyback, for our safety. And you need us, because we could make your life a whole lot easier. »

-You’d brew wolf bane regularly? »

-We could. »

-How do I know this one wouldn’t tell us off? »

-How do I know this one won’t be attacking children? » Severus answered showing the boy. The boy growled a little lower. Lavender Brown rested a calming hand on his shoulder.

-We could create a place for them to turn. » Suneko suggested.

-They would be given the bane, and it would all be organized for their turning. Floor levels, easy to open entries, perhaps a garden or a forest to run, and available water and meat. It would be isolated. It would give them space. It would be safe. »

– All this for one kill? Fancy stuff. There’s a number of people who would suck your dick just for the potion, man. » Smirked the boy with a skeptical face, looking at Severus. Suneko crossed her arms, and frowned. She did not seem amused.

-I figured your lady wouldn’t like the idea. »

-You’re just not my type, boy, but who am I to forbid someone to dream? » the boy chuckled.

-She’s an apothecary, not a charity fund. Fancy service, fancy price. You’re cute, and all, but you would have to pay. she’s certainly not going to lose all her fortune for you, lads. »

-The place isn’t found, yet. And for now, it’s just an idea. But we’re working on the potion. The first batch would be for free, of course, since we need your protection. » The boy thought about it for a while. Then frowned :

-Why doesn’t the Snake Girl do the kill? She could take Greyback on. Easy. »

-Wouldn’t we all want to see her eat human flesh? » Severus mumbled.

-Having him might kill me as a human. » Suneko explained quietly. Lavender Brown looked down. The boy nodded.

-Oh. »

-Losing your human self. That’s the scariest part. Always. Isn’t it? »

-You can’t say no, Kel. We have to do it. » Lavender Brown pleaded.

-We won’t set the little ones against the old man. They’ll still need their free bane. Everyone gets their due, in my clan. Get it? »

-Obviously. »

-You’d better get to work, then. The rumor will spread. Quickly. » The boy bowed to them mockingly :

-Teacher. Princess. » and vanished.

Lavender Brown gave them a thumbs up, before following.

« I’m not a princess. » said Suneko, still pouting.

-He’s never heard you snore. Honest mistake. »

He didn’t have time to see the pillow fly straight to his face.

---

The alpha was lurking and watching, somewhere on a hidden corner of tower bridge. It was getting late, the good moon was coming, and unsuspecting muggle tourists were walking in little groups along the fresh grass, facing the water. One of them would lag behind, he knew. There was always one.

Huh. Muggles. They basically died, of course. Almost all of them. How frustrating. The chase had never been about getting weaklings under your teeth. It had been about finding potential. Strength. Talent. It had been about creating and leading the best pack. Many of them kids had turned out to be a disappointment. Most of the survivors had not been strong enough to follow his lead. But those muggles, they were useless. They just died on you. What a waste of flesh. How boring. And the taste wasn’t the same.

Still, a wolf had to hunt. Even his pups were looking for fresh meat.

Suddenly, the alpha straightened up. A familiar smell had reached his nostrils. He could hardly believe his senses. or his luck. That was a valuable prey. Finally. Some excitement, after these years on the hide. The traitor. That one would struggle. He must have been a fighter to survive until now. Keep, or kill? Friend or foe, he could be turned into someone a little interesting. Or he could just make a good trophy. Decisions, right?

The tourists were starting to be scarce, and the good moon was rising. The alpha scuttled off from under the bridge, and hid behind a tree. The traitor was literally alone on the road in the twilight. Someone was begging to have problems. Begging to be bitten.

I wish I’d met him when he was young, thought the alpha. I could have made something out of him, back then. But you couldn’t forgive disloyalty. Rotten was rotten. Come to think about it, a traitor did not deserve the Gift.

The alpha started to make his move. He walked stealthily and silently on the concrete path between the two patches of grass. He would leap, he knew, and take the traitor by surprise. He would have just enough time to enjoy the shock, the horror, the struggle. And then, the good moon would rise…

He was just about to strike, when the traitor stopped. And turned. And whistled.

Sounds of shapes apparating, shapes landing on the concrete floor, shapes scuttling from under the bridge invaded his ears. His nostrils quivered. Smells, of course. His sense of smell was getting sensitive. He knew that smell. There was a hint of human. A hint of wolf. Male and female. Fear, and bloodlust, and rage. All around. There were hundreds of them. His children.

The alpha recognized their determination, and noticed he was outnumbered. Then, he smelled some of the blood of the most faithful of his pups, and realized he was alone. And that human. He was looking at him from the first raw of the circle. Looking impassive. The alpha did not allow himself to be nervous. An alpha never was. That’s how you recognized the real ones. He had to show them they were his. He had made them. He could turn them around.

« My boys… » he said with a smile.

-So you’re finally done running away, and you grow balls to follow the lead of this… Human? What did he promise you, exactly? Respectability? Acceptance? And you believe a pathetic weakling who betrayed his own leader, do you? You’re wolf, children. You’ve got the Gift. They will never accept you. You have no place left to go. You have only me. »

There was a fleeting moment of silence. Doubt, the alpha hoped. They were doubting. They were coming back to their senses, and joining his ranks.

« How has life been, away from me? Hiding your true nature, and getting rejected anyway? Or crawling in the city’s underground and living off scraps, like cockroaches? I gave you strength. A power they could not imagine. Me! You could do much better. Under my lead… »

-You really think we’re that stupid, don’t you? » said a little voice. Who was that young girl, already? He didn’t quite recall her. He probably had bitten her alright, but he couldn’t quite remember…

-Who are you, again? »

-My name’s Lavender Brown. You bit me at the battle of Hogwarts. So we’re losing our memory, are we, now, grandpa Grey-Grey? » to his shock and horror, the alpha heard a couple of sniggers from the crowd, at the sound of the stupid surname.

-I’ll show you if I’m a grandpa! » the alpha snarled.

-I mean : she’s got a point. You’re old enough, Grey-Grey. » said a clever lad just to rub it in.

-What are you doing out there, this late, Grey-Grey? » added someone else.

-You want to lead us, do you even know where? »

The lads were clearly laughing, now. His authority was being undermined. The alpha would have to kill someone. To set an example. He really had not expected to be challenged by some blonde little bitch. Brave girl, doubtless. The others would be sobered up by her death. He growled low, and the sniggers reduced, to his satisfaction.

« The good moon is rising, little girl. » the alpha said, showing his teeth.

-Do you want to know who’s wolf is bigger? »

-I don’t know about big. » the girl replied taking a little vial out of her pocket.

-But my wolf will be clever. »

She drank from the vial. The alpha’s heart stopped when he witnessed the young wolves all around him take their own vials out, and drink the potion. It could only mean one thing.

« What’s wrong, grandpa? » said one of the boys.

-You smell of fear. »

Severus Snape was finally back home. It was awfully late, or rather, it was starting to be early. He was exhausted.

« You look awful. » said a quiet, raspy voice. Severus was startled. After half a second of blank, he just answered :

-Oh, thank you for your insight. It’s the perfect conclusion to this long day I’ve just had. »

-Long day AND night. It’s two in the morning, Severus. What took you so long? »

-Oh, right. You mean : the safe inspection of your deadly coffers at Gringotts was supposed to take, what? Five minutes? I’m not through a fourth of the first one, so expect it to take ages. When to think about how parsimonious your uncle was… Like he was collecting coins for the shiny quality. You’re welcome, by the way. It’s ridiculous, being this rich. Oh, that, and I was pursued by vampires. »

-They scared you. I’ll kill them. »

-Vampires are dead, already. That’s why they’re called ‘undead’. » Severus was actually generally preoccupied. He was back, out and about, and now the news would be spreading quickly. He wondered whom it would be spreading to. Was he safe? He wasn’t quite sure.

-Well, I’ll kill them. Again. » Severus smiled.

-Just their luck. Keep your fangs at rest, girl. They were irritating. Not hostile. »

-What did they want with you? » Severus sighed. He could already hear his friend’s enthousiasm.

-They came from a… Distant uncle who’s dying. They were looking for an heir. »

-Coffers? »

-No. Just some ruin, Merlin knows where. » The girl was quick. She gasped :

-Land? »

-Apparently. »

-That’s GREAT! »

-Of course, except they’re linked to the land, which would make me their new « master », which would mean I would have to feed them, regularly. » Suneko sobered up :

-Take the land, stab the vampires. Problem solved. »

-Magical contract. I’m not sure they’re that easy to deal with. »

-Hum. That is a drawback. »

-Isn’t it? »

-Would it have to be your blood? »

-Would you give yours? »

-I did share some of mine, when you were dying, a few years back. » Severus didn’t know what to say. She had never told him that.

-No idea of the quantity needed, and every month is a bit much. »

-We should still visit. »

-Perhaps. »

All the while during this conversation, Severus had been distracted : he couldn’t help but noticing a few decoration changes. In fact, he could hardly recognize his living room. Plants had been placed all around the bookshelves. The sofa had been replaced by crawling, twisted tree branches, and by a couple of pouffes casually displayed. There was a sort of mini stone grotto, in a corner. It was awfully warm. And there was, of course, the little detail of the dozen snakes, crawling around. Suneko noticed his gaze, and simply commented :

« I brought a few friends. Do you mind? »

-I mean : thank you for asking me now. »

-You were away. And I was bored, and worried sick, by the way. »

-Hence the snake party. Who doesn’t need a boa to tea? » Severus wasn’t fond of snakes (understandibly). But she was around, and he knew he was pretty safe. Still.

-Don’t just stay there standing. Sit. »

-Oh thank you for your hospitality in my own home. That’s so sweet. » He was glad he was home, though. Even with the swarming mess on the floor. So, he did.

Severus froze and looked down, as he felt one of her « friends » slowly curl around his leg.

« Pedro wants a better view. » Trays with snacks and drinks appeared on their knees.

-Now, he wants some of your duck. » she translated, while feeding a couple of her other « friends » by hand. Severus was starving, but he didn’t want to displease the heavy venomous mass of fangs and scales perching on his shoulder, so he decided a bit of his dinner was a worthy sacrifice. He heard a happy hiss;

-He likes you. He said : this is cosy. »

-‘Cosy’ must be the snake word for ‘chaos’. »

-Oh, shut up. »

At that point, Severus saw the whole scene from outside himself, and felt the uncanniness of it. The change of decoration out of the blue, the reversed hospitality behaviour, the carpet of snakes all over the floor, climbing up his legs « for a view ». The Dark Lord had turned his snake friend Nagini, into an extension of himself. She had turned the whole place up side down to make them feel at ease. She had never done that before, he mused. It’s almost like she was the one who were starting to feel comfortable with me. The idea made him feel fuzzy and warm, inside. On the other hand, his feelings were mixed. It didn’t exactly feel cosy to see all of these snakes crawling around his feet. He still had bad dreams about Nagini.

« Do you want to see something fun? » she said playfully.

-Why not? » what did she have in store exactly?

She let out the softest hiss he had ever heard, and a tiny whitish snake slid from her sleeve.

« This is Noodle. Most of my other friends are wild. They come and go. But this one is a clinger, so she’ll be likely to be hiding up my sleeve like a living bracelet everywhere I go. »

-I’ve never seen her. »

-Of course. She hides, mostly. »

-What type of snake is she? »

-A flat head. Pretty, isn’t she? »

-Irresistible. »

-Well… She is more than just a lovely face. She’s also an incredible actress. Do you want to see? »

-The suspense is killing me. »

She looked at the little reptile, and hissed what seemed to be instructions. The reptile in question was intently listening to her, in a fixed, attentive position. Pedro and the other snakes had finished their dinner, and were back on the floor. Some had found their way to the little grotto, and were ready to doze off. His tray was taken away, and hers was emptied of all of its content.

Suneko let Noodle slide on the now empty platter, and stretched out her hand. A paper knife lended in it.

Then, she cleared her throat, and recited emphathetically :

« Begone, foul children eating monster! For I am the great hero Harry Potter, come to save the world! I shall cut thy infamous head, and make a necklace out of your teeth! Fear me, evil beast! »

To which Noodle answered with furious hissing, and twisting, and fake biting. Suneko lifted a little finger, and a paper bird appeared out of nowhere, and brushed the little serpent’s head. Noodle was now obviously twisting in fake agonizing pain. Finally, Suneko brandished her paper knife vehemently to the ceiling :

« And now, die, secret horror of the deep! The world is safe, at last! I demand it! »

After which she touched her little friend with the paper knife lightly. Noodle let out a pathetic last hiss to express her fake suffering, and let herself fall on the tray in a dramatic dying scene.

« Impressive. » Severus had to admit.

He’d been chuckling all along. A wicked idea had just crossed his mind, actually :

« The children would like it. » he grinned

-What children? »

-Weasley’s of course. We could make an exceptionnal event or two at the shop. I’m sure they would appreciate the show. The bravest of them could even take part in it. Some would definately want to play Harry Potter with a real living snake. Gryffindors or future gryffindors, likely. »

-I’m not sure. That would be a lot of people. »

-Oh, come on. You work in a hospital. If she’s always with you, she must be used to people. »

Suneko was quiet, intently looking at him.

« What? » he snapped, feeling under scrutiny.

-Why do you insist? »

-I think it would be a good idea. For the kids. »

-Why do you even care about the kids? I thought you hated them. » She noticed with a witty smile.

-Will you stop it, now? »

-Never mind. It’s late. We should go to bed, anyway. Whatever you did with it. And, hum… Suneko? »

-Yes? » He hardly dared asking the question.

-Your… Eye colour was starting to change, when you were angry, back in Saint Mango’s. » About to choke that woman to death, he omitted to say.

-Oh, that? That’s nothing. »

-You were just turning, I guess. Nothing to worry about. » She sighed with an expression of sad resignation, and explained :

-I only risk to turn when I’m threatened. It’s not too bad if my eyes just turn purple, anyway. I’ve seen it on my mother. It’s just… If my eyes turn red… Run. »

-And sweet dreams to you too… » She hissed something under her breath, and shook her shoulders, looking down :

-He’s scared of me, like all the others. » His heart thumped. He lifted her chin :

-I want my Defense Against the Dark Arts shop. And I want you to settle your apothecary shop too. I want us to meet the best specialists to get proper aprenticeship, and earn ourselves quite a reputation. So yes, I want you to keep your snake under control, because you couldn’t heal anyone without hands. I’m sure we’ll find ways. And I’ll make do with… » he vaguely showed his new living room decoration.

-This mess. »

---

The morning light had been starting to seep through the window. Severus Snape hadn’t exactly been sleeping well. His conscience had turned on and off, in between bad dreams populated by Nagini, and other objects of his worries. Now, he was grateful for the day to come, and its various distractions. He was about to get up, when his face was attacked by a braid, coming from the ceiling. He screamed in surprise.

« What’s wrong? » said a worried, sleepy voice. He had to breathe in and out, before answering :

-Suneko, what… Are you doing… In my room, on the ceiling? » Up there, she had installed a bar, where she was casually hanging.

-You were screaming, last night. I came to make sure you were alright. It was just a nightmare, and I didn’t want to wake you up. So, I just decided to stretch, for a bit, and then be on my way… I must have fallen asleep. »

-Upside down. On the ceiling. »

-As you can see. Breakfast? »

That horrible facade was supposed to look humorous. One had to admit they had managed to make their shop visible. A huge, monstrous version of the red headed twins was putting its hat on and off with a terrible grin.

And this is supposed to be a place for children…  he tought with a shrug.

I wonder how come none of them is crying.

He smirked, then went in. The place was like the brats he had known at Hogwarts. Colorful. Messy, but nonetheless full of interesting things. They hadn’t been fairing too bad, actually.

« Welcome to Weasley’s. » said a familiar voice.

« What can I do for y…? »

George, the one with the scarred ear. The boy, of course, had just recognized him.

« I need a job. » He just said bluntly.

« Nice shop. » He added to sound a little more diplomatic.

George Weasley threw an amused smile:

« I’m glad you noticed. Though if you need a job, i would expect at least a superlative. »

-With a little help, it would surely end up deserving one. But it’s alright, of course. » He mused looking around interested.

-Oh, really?!  »

-Nice to see you doing well, by the way. Good morning. »

Severus held his hand. The boy shook it. Even now, it was still strange to see him all grown up. He couldn’t help remembering the reckless teenager who had driven every Hogwarts professor crazy.

« And you came here to save my business. »

-Would I have bothered to come in, if it had needed saving? Its got a proper reputation, of course. Though I heard there was room for improvement. »

-How so? » The boy, still smiling, looked at him up and down.

-I heard your love potions were pretty terrible. »

-They’re part of our best sellers. » The boy crossed his arms.

-I’ve heard from people who know better than your clients. »

The boy’s smile froze. His eyes rolled, and then, he schrugged.

« I bet you’re interested in our Defense Against the Dark Arts section. Over here. »

He led him to the back of the shop, where more sober looking shelves had been set. He tapped on the shoulder of one of the employees. Tall, lean, red haired, that figure looked quite familiar.

« Blimey! If it isn’t Snape! » Gasped Ron Weasley.

-And good morning to you too, mister Weasley. »

-You might as well be a ghost. We weren’t sure you had even survived. You had disappeared. »

-Oh, did you need me for something? I had… You know… Lost the track of time, recovering from this. » he snapped in frustration, showing his scar. The boy’s eyes widened.

-That’s the trace of Nagini’s bite? » He was right to be impressed. The scar was ugly.

-Does it look like a hickey? »

-Oh, I can see you didn’t lose your bubbly personality. What can I do for you? »

-I… Was hoping to get a job, actually. »

-Because Hogwarts didn’t want you? »

-Because I decided to apply here. » Severus avoided saying that he would not spend another decade in that school, in a million years.

-You’re interested in our Defense Against the Dark Arts section, of course. »

-What brilliant deduction skills. » The boy let out an annoying little chuckle.

-We’ll see what my brother says. Given he didn’t kick you out, already, we might try you. You’re on inventory duty tonight, if we do. Go on,and tidy that shelf, over there, now, will you? » The boy patted him on the back. Then, he leaned casually on the wall, and mused :

« Merlin’s bloody balls, Severus bloody Snape… I’ll have to tell Harry, that’s for sure. »

Severus really wanted to hex him. He didn’t like receiving orders from one of those gryffindor brats. But he would have to swallow his pride. For now.

…

« You’re taking ages. »

-I’m familiarizing myself with the products. I am new, here, after all. »

-Just make quick notes about what you see on the shelves. You don’t need to write a novel about everything. » Severus sighed, and just kept going.

-No need to go through those shelves, they’re done, already. » the boy went on some time later.

-I’m familiarizing myself with the products, as I said. »

-We’re never going to get out of the shop, now, are we? » Severus retorted with an ironic little bow.

-Suit yourself, mister Weasley. »

-Not a chance, Snape. No way am I going to let you alone in the shop on your first day. »

-Then we’ll all need to have a little patience, now, won’t we? »

Severus grabbed a box of puking pastilles, and opened it to observe one of the candy shaped atrocities. He had just decided to work even wore slowly.

« Oh, come ON! » growled Ron Wealsey in despair, which made Severus smile. He did have a point to make, and he intended to make it. So, he was going to make sure there was the exact right number of pastilles in that box, right now.

A good while later, Ron Weasley had finally decided to throw up his hands, and prepare himself some tea. There was about a good dozen minutes of blessed silence, with just the noise of objects being moved around, and quill running on paper. It was sweet. It felt like those moments, back then, when he had a child in detention. Severus had hated children in a group. In classes, in corridors. They were bold, and cheeky, and scattered brained. One at a time, in his office, he had liked them a little better. Embarassed silence was the best, he reflected. But Ron Weasley was Ron Weasley.

« She’s the one who healed you, isn’t she? » he said conversationally. Severus stopped for a second.

-Who? »

-The Niece. Everything went so fast, that night. I didn’t see any of it. But they say she’s the one who helped Remus and Tonks. Lucky she turned up, isn’t it? And… I mean… We almost lost Fred, so. » Ron sniffed. He looked haunted.

-They say she works at Saint Mungo’s, now. No one knows where she lives. »

-At my house. »

-You live with the Niece? »

-She needed a place without a rent. She saved my life. She’s lovely. »

-Did you know she’s the heir of… »

-Oh, thanks for informing me! »

-I mean : you haven’t seen her bloodline, apparently. »

-Let me guess : she’s the heir of Salazar Slytherin. What a surprise. Mindblowing. »

-I mean : she’s the grand daughter of Nagini. » Severus’s heart skipped a beat.

-Oh. »

-Yes, oh. I’m guessing you’ve never seen her turn, or anything. You should be careful, though. She might be like… Like her grandmother. »

-Maybe. »

-That’s all you have to say? Maybe? You should at least tell her to find another place to live, or move out yourself, for your safety! »

-I don’t think so. » Severus knew he would need more than a disturbing piece of information to break his loyalty.

-Do you not like life? At all? »

-I don’t know. You’re the one who went after a basilisk with your best friend when you were twelve. You tell me. »

…

A good while later, the door burst open to a frowning George Weasley :

« What’s taking you so long? »

-Ask Snape. »

-I’m not sure he’s done counting the puking pastilles, yet. »

-I was… »

-Familiarizing himself with the products, he says. »

-Do you need to stay the night? Should I get you a mattress? And what’s this thing about the pastilles? What’s so fascinating about them? » Severus sighed, and answered with an unapologetic half smile.

-Your brother was annoying me, so I was taking my time. »

-He was writing a novel, too. Over here. » Ronald pointed to a little black notebook floating with a quill, in a corner. Severus wanted to accio it for safety, but George Weasley intercepted it first. It annoyed Severus greatly.

-Taking some notes aside the inventory book, are we? » George said as he caught it. He started going through the thin lines of Severus’s caracteristically tight writing.

-That’s interesting. » he mumbled.

He walked towards Severus and stopped next to him. Severus expected some unpleasant joke or some otherwise disagreeable comment, and he was pouting accordingly, but the boy just looked at him very seriously, and pointed at some of the random ideas on his untidy little list.

« That’s filthy. But I like this idea, here. Do you think it could be done? »

-I don’t know. I was just… Noting random ideas. I would need to think things through more carefully, if I wanted to find… Ways to reach that result safely. »

-I like your way of thinking. This stuff could be useful. You should come to the Burrow with your notebook, some time. I’m sure Fred would like to see it… It’s all Defense Against the Dark Art stuff, isn’t it? »

-Obviously. It’s my domain of expertise. »

-One more creative mind won’t be too much. Trust me. This is a joke shop, though. But I bet you’ll get the spirit. » The boy patted him on the back. The gesture was a bit too familiar, but Severus was pleasantly surprised by his reaction. Apparently, he would be allowed to make suggestions.

-Are you done, now? »

-Quite so, mister Weasley. »

-It’s George. Please. It’s a family business. »

And to think the twins managed to build all of this without having completed their education… Severus thought. It had been so annoying to see them leave Hogwarts. What a waste of potential. And he was so annoyed that they hadn’t been in slytherin. He dared hope that at least, Granger had ended up showing a bit of ambition.

---

It was night time already. Severus walked thoughtfully down the main lane of his good old neighbourhood, thinking about his impressions on his first day. And about quite a heavy piece of information he had received. Merlin knew he was stubbornly principled about his loyalties, but he was potentially living with a maledictus, and what could he make of this?

First, he would have to make sure she had not been born with the curse. He did hope the boys were wrong, but apparently, she was the grand daughter of the terrible snake woman he had come to know in her monstrous shape, and dread. And unfortunately, he also knew this malediction was passed on from mother to daughter. But he could hope, perhaps… Or perhaps, he was just fooling himself. The idea was most unpleasant, of course, and he was not exactly in a hurry to reach home and bring it up. And what if she was stricken? What could he do? Thoughts turned and turned in his brain, as he tried to imagine the conversation. He would have to be diplomatic, and avoid over reacting, of course. Perhaps, he would have to find a way to be safe. But how? Showing the door to the young woman who had saved his life for no valid reason was obviously out of the question. And leaving his own home felt a little… So, what? Or perhaps, those considerations could wait. He hadn’t noticed anything suspicious, after all. Whatever he dared hope she did not have, she seemed to have it together.

His mind had been racing so fast, he was almost surprised to stumble upon his own doorstep. Well. He would have to see her, now. He would have to stay calm. His heart was bumping a little too loud. Not a good start. He leaned on the door, and took a few deep breaths, before crossing the threashold.

A hissing wildling of a girl stood before him with eyes grown huge with worry :

« Where have you been? Are you alright? Did anything happen? »

-No. I’m alright. I was on inventory duty at Weasley’s » Severus replied quickly. She sighed with relief.

-I’m glad they hired you. But I was worried sick. You should have warned me. »

-Sorry about that. How was your day? Sit down. Let’s have some tea. »

She nodded, and sat down. Severus was about to accio a kettle, and make the water boil, when, much to his surprise, it appeared all by itself, along with two cups, and dessert plates filled with scones.

« I signed the papers, today. For the coffers. Now, I’m officially supposed to go by that stupid name, Aethelind Gaunt. And, hum… This. Things have been appearing, since this morning. »

-Some elf, or elves, I’m guessing. If they belonged to your uncle, they must be terrified. Which would explain their being invisible. You could order them to show themselves, if it makes you feel more comfortable. »

-If they’re so shy, I’d rather they didn’t. » she bit into a scone.

-Practical. » Severus observed. He hesitated.

-So… How does it feel to bear your real name? » he inquired

-My real name is Suneko. It’s the only name I want to go by. It was given to me by Madam, and by my real father, the one who taught me everything I know. »

-Have you ever met your… Father by blood? »

-No. And I couldn’t care less about my progenitor. » She had never told him anything about her past. Suneko was a woman of a few words. Severus had never asked.

-So, you were brought up in an orphanage. »

-In a brothel. » Severus almost spilled his tea.

-And your… Mother? » The young woman dropped her gaze.

-Needless to say, she was one of the courtesans. She’s dead, now. »

-And, you… »

-Madam wanted to me to. I ran at eight years old. That’s when my father took me in, and taught me everything he knew. » »

-I see… How… Did your mother die, if you don’t mind me asking? » She threw him a dark, sharp look :

-So, you know, don’t you? » It was time to rip the band aid off, since she had guessed :

-Are you…? » His heart sank when she sighed, and nodded. He took a deep breath, and simply let out :

-Fair enough. »

Oh, Merlin… And now, what to do? Don’t insist, he thought to himself. Don’t over react. She obviously doesn’t want anyone’s dread, let alone anyone’s pity. Keep neutral. Keep neutral. He reflected that perhaps, changing subjects would be helpful, at the moment.

« Well… Good thing you signed the papers. With your permission, I’ll soon have to peek into those coffers. And… How was work? » Her lowered gaze and tired, closed face said it all.

-I see. Looks like you had the best day ever. »

-Yeah… Just my luck. »

-What happened? »

-Remember the book I got you? »

-Junksher’s? Yes, of course. It was the best read, thank you. »

-Well… I did it again. I borrowed books specialized in my craft, of course… »

-Did you get caught? »

-My… Collegue, Regina Blazen, noticed the title of one of the books I was reading at break time. There was the ministry’s seal on it. And so, she threatened to tell me off. » Suneko let out an exasperated sigh.

-She… What? » Severus was shocked to hear that anyone had dared threaten her.

-She told me that she would inform the ministry, that they would destroy my wand, and that they would send me back to Li. I guess I wasn’t careful enough. »

-Oh, did she, now? » Severus’s anger was building up inside him.

-Hum, hum. » the young healer nodded.

-What business is it of hers, the books you read? »

-My readings are very interesting, apparently. »

-And how did you respond to this? » Suneko rolled her eyes.

-What do you want me to do? I’m the Snake Girl, the Niece, and whatever other name they give me. People are already hushing when I enter a room, taking a step back when they meet me in the corridors. The usual stuff. And I didn’t hurt anyone, mind you. I would never hear the end of it, if I ever dared lifting a finger. » She shook her shoulders in an attempt for indifference, but she sounded hurt. Severus had had his set of agreeable little surnames himself, and knew all too well how it felt to be unpopular. And that ignited his anger. Was it the reason why she had left Li, in the first place? She had never told him.

-You’re right, of course. Let me hex her for you. »

-I’m not my uncle, you know. And you’re not my hitman. »

-First of all, I was a spy. Not a mere hitman. And second of all, let me rephrase my offer : hexing that murtlap scum would be my pleasure. »

He was finally getting some freedom of movement, now. He hadn’t managed to move much without a strengh potion for months. It had been infuriating and humiliating, at times, to not have full control over his own body. He had needed her help, even with the potion, in the beginning. The first few weeks, he had cried his heart out, all day, everyday, from the moment she had been out for work until her return. He had cried for everything. His current state. The people he’d lost. His past. Had he ever taken the time to mourn, before almost dying? Unlikely. Then of course, he had dried his tears, whenever he had heard the door open, and she had pretended not to notice his red eyes. It had been helpful, he’d found. The way she had done her job relentlessly, and unemotionally. And progress had shown. At last.

After weeks of frustration and despair, he had ceased weeping and started reading. His mind had needed distraction, refreshing. Now, he clung on the project he’d made to make his healer’s coffers safe. He clung on the hope to be useful to her when he would be ready. And of course, he found motivation in the insane challenge : he would have to outsmart the Dark Lord himself, to go through of all his little traps, and survive them. He would have to be really skilled for that. So, he re-read all of his defense against the dark arts books, and all of his old notebooks, with all of his tricks, and his private spells, conceived out of spite, out of anger, out of fear, when he’d been alone and idle. And he took notes. And he remembered. It was keeping him buisy.

When she was back from work, he observed her. He had to remind himself that she was nothing like her uncle. He clung on the little details : the gap between her teeth, the scars on her delicate hands. He hadn’t asked questions. People generally liked to talk about themselves, if you listened hard enough. She didn’t. But it was informative to see her cook (often overly spicy noodle soups), and care about his progress. It was enough to see her always crushing herbs, and having potions on the stove. Her actions showed how hard she was trying. He had, of course, comments to make about her potions, and she would swear in parselmouth under her breath when she would get annoyed. And she was eating all the time. As tiny as she was. She didn’t like being made fun of, but he couldn’t help it. It did help to observe. To get to know her. It did help to notice how she didn’t seem too egotistical or intimidating. For all that was worth.

He heard the click of the door, and straightened up.

« Good evening. How was your day? »

« Long. It’s beginning to be dragon pox season. »

And of course, she was right. It was late. He just hadn’t noticed the time.

She laid her coat on a chair, and casually threw a large and thick black book on his knees. Severus brushed the dusty cover with his thumb. The title was : Diving into the shadows by Karta Junksher himself. He gasped. It was an ancient dark arts classic. It was rare.

« So you don’t get too bored. You seem to like this sort of thing. »

-Where did you get it? »

-I borrowed it from the archives of the ministry. They shouldn’t notice, if I put it back in a few days. »

-How did you get in? » No one was allowed into the archives of the ministry without authorization, in the first place.

-Do I want to know? »

-And you’re welcome. »

After dinner, they walked by the river. The air was soft on the skin. There was a faint smell of dust and mould, in this part of town, but the breeze was fresh enough, once you got used to it. The grass looked pityful on the little alley. But it was quiet. And it was home. It had always been.

« So, you’re stealing from the archives of the ministry, now? »

-I didn’t steal. I borrowed. Serves them right for not providing a student proper ressources. »

-You mean : the Healing Institute of London for Dedicated Academics does not have a library? »

-As a matter of fact, it does. A poor excuse of a library it is. I read all there is to read there. I needed more in depth material. It was frustrating. »

-How did you not get caught, though? » he was genuinely interested. She dismissed him with an embarrassed, vague gesture, unwilling to talk about it.

-Do you want me to bring that book back, now, then. »

-No, no. By all means. I’ve been wanting to look into that book for ages. I’m not the one who took the risks. And what if I don’t want to hand it back at all? » She shoved him gently.

-I don’t think so. You’re not doing this to me. »

He was walking with a cane, now. She was hardly helping. No potion, either. He was pleased with the progress he’d made. Soon, he would be able to work again. It wasn’t like he rejoiced having to look for a job, after years of convalescence, but he was frustrated with his life at the moment. And he was getting restless. It was not exactly funny to be stuck in Spinner’s End. He wasn’t a social person, much. He was not a fan of crowds, or noise, or bright lights, or the outer world in general. But he did feel that he needed to put himself in motion. He was not going to spend the rest of his days in idleness and isolation.

« You’re doing well. You’ll be back to work in no time. » It was like she had been reading his mind. He checked his inner defenses. She had, possibly.

-Yes, I will. » Though, what work, he had no idea.

-Do you miss Hogwarts? »

Not really, he realized. He had been teaching for decades, and he hadn’t been that fond of the job, to be honest : the agreeable moments when he had felt useful had been scarce. Most of his career had been about worrying for the boldest daredevils, getting frustrated about the overall immature laziness, getting annoyed at the insolent ones. Sleepless nights running after whoever was in the mood for mischief. And running errands for Dumbledore, once in a while. And reading miles and miles of boring scrolls full of basic mistakes, and grammatical errors. And the constant hubbub. No. The last thing he wanted, at this point, was to be surrounded by children. Let alone live with them. But then, what could he do, now?

« You don’t. » that wasn’t a question.

-So, you won’t be teaching anymore? »

-I might apply down Diagon Alley. »

-They might be hiring there. »

-As a former potion master, I’m sure you could find a place at Slug and Jiggers Apothecary. Or perhaps, at that joke shop, the Weasley Wizards Weezes. »

-Why would I work in a joke shop? » Not in a million years.

-I hear they have a Defense Against the Dark Arts section. They might appreciate your expertise. »

-In a joke shop? Why would they sell Defense Against the Dark Arts devices in a joke shop? That makes no sense! » He was intrigued by the information.

-And who would they sell their devices to? Children? I dare hope not! »

-Probably to aurors. »

-Aurors would get their working tools from a joke shop. »

-Apparently. »

-Is this even real? »

-The rumor has it. »

This must have been one of their jokes. But he would have to come and see. Silence lended on the scarce patch of grass like cotton.

« Do you still intend to go look into those coffers? » she asked tentatively.

-I do. As promised. » He would. There was no doubt about it.

The air felt a little heavier, now that he had to think about the Dark Lord, again. He had to. He would have no choice. He would have to remember. Think like him, even.

« We might get rich, then. »

« Might » was the right word. She surely would be, if he survived the ordeal. There was no guarantee. And even supposing he would manage making her coffers safe, she would certainly end up deciding there was no « we ». He was not hanging on her promise. He wanted to do it because he needed an aim, a challenge. Something to focus on to avoid thinking. So he had decided that he might as well focus on something he had some skill for. It was still better than having no purpose whatsoever. He guessed it was also his little way to posthumously defy the dark Lord.

The sun was looming ever closer to the horizon. He stared at her, while she was looking pensively at the river. Her eyes were a striking midnight indigo blue in the warm, golden sheen of the evening. Her silken hair, bound in two buns and two braids, also had blue reflections. She wore a tattered green kimono. Overall, she looked pretty, like a living doll, petite and fragile, but with a very serious expression that made you look twice, and a sublte, undefinable, wild little something about her. It was her eyes, he thought. She broke the silence.

« I’ve never been rich, you know. »

-Me neither. »

He hadn’t done too badly, though, for one of those « awful boys of Spinners End », though. His job as a professor, had been paid better than what he could have hoped for. Even though, in the end, he had never been granted the « greatness » that had been promised by the Dark Lord. But he had learned to have very simple needs from a very young age. And he had always been more proud than materialistic. And after decades of working as an errand boy for two terrible men, much of that pride had been tamed, anyway.

« What would you do, with the money? »

That made him chuckle. It was a silly question, since he would probably never lay a hand on any of it. It was dream talk, wasn’t it? Dreaming was useless, he found. He had only ever dreamed of a future with Lily Evans, and she had always been out of reach. He had lost her altogether, ultimately. And he had dreamed of recognition and respectability, but it had never really happened. Instead, he had been used by some, and distrusted by most. Dreaming was silly. But why not pretend?

« I would settle a Defense Against the Dark Arts Shop right over here. » he smirked, showing one of the biggest buildings in the distance.

« If those Weasley brats could do it, I could certainly do it too. I would sell the auror department proper attire, maybe even help with their training, working as a consultant. And, hum… Let’s see… I would build a music studio over here, a concert room over there, hum… Oh, that would be an art gallery… »

-Hey, that project is too expensive! » She was looking at him with her arms crossed, and a half smile.

-I would need some of the money! »

-What would you do with it? » She resumed looking dreamily at the lake. Severus listened intently. She would finally say something about herself. Interesting.

-I’m a healer. That’s what I do.  » She smiled.

-You know, back home, in Li, I used to work in my father’s apothecary shop. So, I would just settle my own. I would sell the best potions, and unguents, and powders, and pultrices. And get the best ingredients. Asphodel, belladona, hellebore, mandrake, even my very own bezoars! That would be something! » an extatic smile transfigured her face. She really loved her job. Severus felt his heart pound, a little. She did look sweet, at this moment, under the sunset. She showed the factory.

-That place, over there, would be interesting to get. It’s abandonned, isn’t it? That means I could rebuy it, and reshape it into a proper working place, with spaces for potion making, and ingredient storing, and a shop, and even a bed or two, for patients who would need treatments. That would be perfect. And also, I would need a large patch of cultivable land with good soil. » she added with a determined little nod.

-What for? »

-To grow my plants, of course! Possibly, also to breed a couple of interesting magical creatures. If I’m going to open my own apothecary, I might as well do it right, and make sure I get fresh, healthy ingredients. Do you really think i would rely on external suppliers? I don’t think so! I don’t work like an amateur! » she said this with a disgusted little pout. It was amusing.

-You would do everything yourself? Top to bottom? »

-Obviously! »

-That would be a lot of work. You would need to hire people. And you would have to make people want to go to spinner’s end, if you mean to settle your business here. »

-Probably. It could work. It’s not too far from the city, and it has an eerie kind of beauty…  » she looked thoughtfully at the river.

-You too. For your business, I mean. You would need to attract clients to sell your products and your tutoring. We will need to really work on this place to make people want to walk by it. » We. She seemed serious too, for now. That was sweet.

Good luck with rehabilitating the old place, though, he thought to himself. Instead, he said :

-Guess I’ll need to work through these coffers, first. »

-True. »

Indeed, there was the tiny matter of the Dark lord’s deadly curses on his own gold.

« I’d rather you didn’t get killed, in there. »

« Don’t put yourself too much in danger. I took some time healing you. »

He stroke her hair, and thought : If she knew.

His whole body was acking. That’s how he knew he wasn’t dead. That was unpleasant. He wasn’t relieved. he was worried. Because when death had come, he had been ready; And now, he was alive. And the boy was most certainly gone. And he had failed him. Failed Lily. Failed everything. They’d make him pay, he supposed. They’d make him fit again, just to throw cruciatus curses at his face. They’d know he was a traitor. It was all over. He wouldn’t have to lie anymore at least. And death would claim him. Eventually. Sooner rather than later, if he had any way to fix this. Had the boy fought well? He was dead, wasn t he?

He couldn’t move. He heard himself moan. There was distant footsteps from a nearby room. Oh dear. He hoped it wasn’t Bellatrix. He hoped it wasn’t the dark Lord. His stomach tightened at the thought of him.

« Ah. You’re awake. » said a quiet, raspy voice.

Who was that young lady? Was she a former student? What house was she in? She was quite small. Fresh skin. Pimples. Doll face. An insanely thick, untidy raven mane. Bangs. You could hardly see her eyes, in there. Ageless. Lily’s eyes had been like green sunshine. So warm, and truthful, and refreshing. This one’s were something else. Dark. Deep. She bore them into his, and instinctively, he shielded.

« Hum… The mind doesn’t seem too bad. » she muttered to herself matter-of-factly.

« Quiet, too. That’s polite. Can you speak? »

She didn’t wait for him to respond.

« He needs a strengh potion. » She muttered to herself again.

« I’ll be right back. »

Severus winced. He didn’t like the idea of taking a potion made by such a young witch. The results could be catastrophic. But she wouldn’t give him a choice, now. Would she?

20 minutes later, he was sitting on the bed. Pale, and shaky, and weak, but sitting.

« We’ll get you to walk a bit later. Your muscles need training. Now, maybe, you can speak? »

-The… Boy… » he managed.

-Green eyes, ugly scar, looking like trouble? Yeah, he seemed to be on your mind, alot. I thought you might like this »

She produced a small box from under the bed.

The box was full of news paper articles about The-Boy-Who-lived. Apparently, he had survived. He had become an auror. He had a new girlfriend at least every week, according to miss Skitter.

Severus wanted to laugh and cry. He was flooded with relief. At the same time, he felt empty. He’d been a soldier. A pawn played in a chess board in a game of war. And the players were gone. The dark lord. Dumbledore. Even lily. He no longer had any duty towards any of them. He no longer had anyone to die for. He was back into a life that had been going on without them. How dare it?

« In case you were wondering, you were in a coma for two years. My name is Suneko. You’re in your home, in Spinner’s End. » He hadn’t asked himself the basic questions. He looked at the girl :

« Did you brew this potion yourself? »

-Of course. »

-It’s good. It’s working. » She crossed her arms, and frowned, all outraged :

-Obviously. That’s my job. I’m a healer. I know the basics. »

-Then, why am I not in Saint Mungo’s? » She sighed in frustration :

-Because they would take over as if I were some incompetent dum-dum, and you’re my patient. »

-Let me guess : HILDA student. »

-I’m a licenced healer. I just have to take this exam for administrative purposes. »

-Foreign licence. From where? »

-The country of Li. »

-Why did you come to work in England, then? » She schrugged, and vaguely waved her hand. A tray with a big bowl of soup full of noodles floated right to the bed.

-You need to eat. » she said.

-Then, exercice. You’ll exercice everyday. Gain some muscle. »

That didn’t answer the question.

He heard a faint knocking sound on the window. She opened to an owl, took the message on its paw, and then, sent it off without a word. After which, she depulsoed the message and turned back to him reproachfully :

« Why aren’t you eating? »

-You’re not opening your letter. »

-It’s the ministry, again. I think. They’ve been sending me letters and bothering me on my shift. »

-What does the ministry want with you? »

-It has something to do with the fact that some people heard me speak snake one time, and it’s the end of the world. Apparently. » Severus’s heart skipped a beat.

-You’re a parselmouth. »

-Snakes aren’t so bad, when you get to know them. » She mumbled looking down. He cleared his throat, and put on his non judgemental face :

-So, the ministry is harassing you, because…? »

-I’m supposed to inherit from What’s-his-Name. Inherit is a nice way to put it : what would you call a bunch of deadly, cursed coffers, with unreachable gold, yourself? A heritage? I call that a problem. The ministry’s trying to get rid of it. And I would rather ignore them. »

-So, you don’t want the gold. »

-I have only one life, and it’s more precious than this gold. I’d rather keep it. »

Severus tried the noodles. They were way too spicy.

« Finish your plate, now. You’ll need strengh. I’ll get you to walk a bit, next. »

Well, thought Severus as he was ingesting that strange soup. I think I just found another way to die stupidly. He swallowed another mouthful, and let the fire in his throat quiet down a bit.

« You know, I could help with those coffers. » he offered, even though he knew it was not a good idea. She raised an eyebrow.

-Defense Against The Dark Arts in my domain of expertise, and I worked for the Dark Lord, once. I could find a way around the curses. Maybe. »

-Find a way to get back on your feet, first. Instead of talking nonesense. »

Severus Schrugged. If he was to tackle those coffers, he would have to find a strategy, anyway. It wasn’t as if they were in a hurry. Was it?

She was staring at him, as he was finishing his noodles :

« You really want to look into those coffers, don’t you? »

He didn’t answer. He definately would.

« You want your share, I suppose. » His share. He hadn’t even thought about it.

-You saved my life, though. »

-I did my job. But, you would… »

-Why not? » She crossed her arms and frowned, then threw them with a blank expression.

-I think we’re friends. Let’s make you walk, a little. I live here, by the way. »

Deadland’s King’s cross was dazzling. Real life King’s cross had never been that clean, of course. And the light… It would hurt his eyes, normally. For sure. But he did not need eyes, anymore. And it was not really King’s cross, was it? Why bloody King’s cross, anyway? And what now? Do i go by train? 

“The place represents our first significant trip. It’s metaphorical. It’s supposed to reassure us, I think.” said a voice. 

He turned around. He could not believe his ears. Or his eyes. Or whatever he could call the ghosts of his senses. Here she was. Stunning. Surreal. 

“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” smiled Lily. 

• Well, I’m dead too, you know. You don’t risk to scare me.” 

• You’re in between life and death, Sev.” 

• Oh, not dead, yet? I suppose it’s a matter of hopping in the train.” She threw him a sharp look. 

• You’re ready?” 

• Of course. I’ve been ready for a while, wherever that leads me.” 

There was an awkward silence. The emotional type. He knew he had to say it. 

“Lily, I’m… I’m so sorry. About your son, about everything…” 

• I know, Sev. And I know you did your best. You’ve been forgiven long ago.” 

Ghost tears were falling down his cheek. They felt realer than real. 

“But you were the worst professor in history, though. Snivellus.” interrupted another voice.  

Severus wiped his tears quickly and growled. 

“What is he doing here?” 

• Severus…” 

• No.” 

• Sev…” 

• No. This is my after life. I don’t need the likes of him in my vicinity. I just want to take my bloody train in PEACE.” 

Severus walked away from the couple angrily. 

“It took guts. What you did.” said his bully in the distance. 

Severus stopped and turned around. 

“I didn’t know.” 

• It was in the job description, you stupid.” 

• That with protecting my son, and all…” 

• He has yet to die. Haven’t you talked to Dumbledore, recently? The boy’s survival was never in his great plan.” Severus added bitterly. James Potter was closer, now. 

• My son is not going to die, just yet.” he said serenely. 

• Yeah, hold on to that thought.” 

• Neither are you.” said Lily, as James pushed him.