Chapter Five: Alternative Treatment

Chapter Five: Alternative Treatment

Friday, 28 August 1998

"And Draco?" Severus asked, finally broaching the subject he assumed to be the reason for Malfoy's invitation.

Lucius averted his gaze, looking toward the cabinet that held a Muggle radio.

"He has returned to England with Narcissa, has he not?"

"Yes." Lucius's voice was rough, and he cleared his throat. "Yes, he returned with his mother."

"And I presume that your invitation was in order to speak with me regarding him?"

Lucius nodded. "Thank you for taking care of him, Severus," he said softly. "Narcissa told me that you delivered him to safety after Dumbledore's death...what we all presumed was his death."

"I delivered him to the Headmistress at her behest. It is she whom you should thank...and Dumbledore, as well as those who created their haven in Sweden. I believe that both Andromeda and Nymphadora had a hand in it as well," Severus said. "I merely acted in compliance with the Vow I made to your wife; they, however, acted wholly of their own accord."

Lucius lifted his eyes to look at Severus. "Are you saying that you would not have tried to protect him had it not been for the Vow?"

"No. I would certainly have done at least the little that I did in bringing him to the Headmistress. He is a Slytherin, and was a student under my care. But had I believed that the Headmistress would send him to Azkaban, I would have nonetheless acted as I did, even if it had meant my death from breaking the Vow. And it was not for Draco's sake that I took the Vow, though I was not indifferent to his fate, but because it was in accordance with the Headmaster's wishes that I protect him."

Lucius thought about that a moment. "Nonetheless, I thank you. And I know that I neither hold nor deserve your loyalty. But you are the Head of Slytherin and Deputy Headmaster. Draco will be returning to Hogwarts to complete his studies. The Headmistress would not allow him to apply to take his NEWTs independently. He does not wish to return, but his mother persuaded him to do so. His future is far more dependent upon his NEWTs than it would have been . . . in a different time."

"And you want me to do what?" Severus asked, trying to get the man to come to the point.

"Watch over him. He bears a stigma now. It will be quite different for him in Slytherin than it once was, as it was when he entered Hogwarts."

"He is a Slytherin, but he is also an adult. I will offer him whatever advice or assistance he requests that I can also reasonably give him as Head of Slytherin. It is what I would do for any of my students."

Lucius seemed weary. "Yes, I am sure you would. But perhaps . . . if you could approach him, at least remind him that you are his Head of House and that he can turn to you."

"I speak with each of the students individually during the first few weeks of term," Severus replied. "I will schedule him for one of the first meetings. But you know, Lucius, that your son will not be alone if he finds certain aspects of Hogwarts and Slytherin student social life not to his liking. He himself has been on the other side of things in the past," Severus replied, remembering that he certainly never had been one of the popular ones the way that Draco once had been, never had the status associated with a pureblood name, nor that brought by good looks, athleticism, or charm. He had watched the Potters, Blacks, and Malfoys of the world smile their charming, superior, gleaming smiles, and had seen the world smile back at them. It might be chastening for Draco to experience being on the other end for once, perhaps have his book bag jinxed, lose his Potions project that he'd worked on for three weeks, hear the laughter of those who saw the tears well up in his eyes . . . Snivellus. Severus shook himself internally.

"I will do what I can, Malfoy, and I will speak discreetly with the Headmistress and the other teachers. I will not show any favouritism, however, and I will not insulate Draco entirely, but we will try to ensure that his life is not made too miserable. It is the Headmistress's desire that the school try to heal after the past years of discord and division." Minerva had tried to actively recruit Slytherin staff, but unfortunately, the depredations of the previous few years, and the number of Slytherins who had joined the Dark Lord and who were therefore 'unavailable,' had significantly reduced the candidate pool. Among the new staff, only the new Transfiguration teacher, Olivia Ouellette, daughter of the former Minister for Magic, Oliver Ouellette, was a Slytherin.

"That is all I ask . . . although . . ."

Severus waited.

"If you could perhaps speak to him about his name." Lucius looked uncomfortable. "He does not speak to me any longer, you understand. Narcissa says that it is a phase. Perhaps she is right. But he wishes to change his name. If a son could disown his father, I believe that he would do so. Narcissa has persuaded him to wait for a few months, to be sure it is what he wants to do. Could you speak with him about it?"

Severus felt unaccountably amused. "Why should he not change his name if he wishes? What does he want to change it to?"

"Possibly to Black. I don't know," Lucius said wearily. "But if he does, I will be the last of the Malfoys."

"Lucius," Severus said with a shake of his head, "that is hardly a crisis for the human race...or the wizarding race, if you prefer. And there are probably Malfoys you don't even know about. Probably even some very nice Muggles named Malfoy, and related to you in some way, too."

"You couldn't understand..."

"What I don't understand is why you care." Severus gestured toward him. "You are under house-arrest, or whatever they're calling this, you can't use magic, your own options in life will be quite limited for decades, at least, your health is poor...you're lucky to be alive, as they say. If you can accept all that, or at least deal with it, I don't understand why you should care whether Draco changes his name or not. He'll still be your son, yours and Narcissa's. And unless your health prevents it, you and she may still have other children someday, if your pureblood name means that much to you." Severus didn't keep the derision from his voice when he uttered those final words.

"It isn't just about blood," Lucius said softly. "It is partly that. But he's my son. I understand why he feels like he does, but . . . he is my son."

Severus understood now. It wasn't simply about the Malfoy name and bloodline; it was Draco's personal rejection of his father.

"I will speak to him. But I will only help him to see his options clearly, and the issues involved. I will not try to sway him one way or the other. If you wish to sway him, Lucius, I suggest you begin this very day by trying to become a man he can be proud of."

Lucius gestured at his own wasted body, then laid his hand on the rubber grip of his aluminum cane. "You see me, my circumstances. What you suggest is impossible."

Severus shook his head. "No, not impossible, simply extremely challenging. You have some intelligence, Malfoy. Use it. It would give you something to spend your time on, something other than sitting in your garden dreaming about what might have been. You're right about one thing, of course. It is impossible to change who you were and what you have done. I encounter that same truth on waking each morning and am reminded of it constantly. But show some ambition, Malfoy! Aim for something more than you were, something other."

"Easy for you to say: you chose your sides well."

"Not well: late. And hardly easy." Severus stood. He had nothing more to say to this wreck of a man. Lucius did not yet understand the nature of his choice, that it had meant more than choosing sides and picking the winning one. Until he did, Severus doubted that the other wizard could move beyond what he was and where his previous choices had brought him.

"When did you choose, then?" Lucius asked, suddenly looking up at him sharply.

Severus looked down at him. "Before his first defeat. You have surely learned that from the Prophet. And it is still a choice that I make every day. I must leave now; I have a friend waiting for me in the high street. We have plans for the evening."

"Narcissa will be here soon..."

"Give her my regards..."

"There she is now," Lucius said as the sound of the opening door came to them and, a moment later, Narcissa's voice calling out. He looked more lively than he had since Severus's arrival.

"Lucius, I brought us some take-away..." Narcissa said as she came into the room carrying two white plastic bags. "Oh! Severus! It is good to see you. Lucius said you were calling today."

The aroma of curry reached Severus's nose. He nodded. "Narcissa. You appear well."

Narcissa smiled slightly and inclined her head. "Thank you. You do, as well. I was distressed to learn you had been so ill."

"Severus was just on his way out, darling," Lucius said.

"Can you not stay longer? Did Lucius provide you with refreshment? Would you care for tea or a sherry?" she asked, setting her bags down on a side table.

"I cannot, but thank you. A friend is waiting for me." McGonagall would probably still be pottering about the bookshop, but Severus did not want to remain. This had not been a social visit.

"What a pity," Narcissa said, and Severus read in her face the truth of it: they had no social visitors, and even his company would have been welcome diversion for her. "Perhaps the next time you call..."

"Perhaps," Lucius said, interrupting his wife. "Thank you for stopping by, Severus."

"Good evening, Lucius," Severus said with a nod, "Narcissa."

"Who is your friend?" Narcissa asked as she moved slightly to one side to allow Severus to pass through the doorway behind her. "Anyone we know?"

"Narcissa..." Lucius began.

"I only wish to know whether I should send my greetings, darling. I have been quite busy since our return to England," she continued, turning toward Severus. "I have not perhaps been as diligent in renewing social ties as I ought to be."

"It is Gareth McGonagall. I rather doubt you are acquainted with him. He has lived abroad much of his life and only recently returned. He's the son of Headmistress McGonagall's late brother and his wife, Professor Gertrude Gamp."

Narcissa looked blank, but in Lucius's face, Severus detected distinct surprise.

"Very nice for you, I'm sure," Narcissa said pleasantly, "to have new friends. So many of the old crowd . . . there have been changes." She looked around her, as if to remind herself of the changes in her own life. "Darling, would you take the bags through to the kitchen, and I'll see Severus out."

Lucius brought his cane around and pushed himself up out of his chair. Narcissa followed Severus out of the room.

"If you could place your wand in the basket before you leave," Narcissa said.

Wordlessly, Severus drew his wand and placed it in the basket. After the glow and click, he removed it, and Narcissa opened the door for him then followed him out onto the front steps.

"Thank you for visiting, Severus. I am sure that Lucius appreciated it. Things have been difficult for him. Did he speak with you about Draco?"

"He did."

"Draco won't even speak to Lucius any longer. He even moved out of the room I fixed for him up on the first floor and moved into the downstairs flat. He and I . . . we became closer while we were away. He does not wish to become estranged from me, but he is upset with his father. I counsel patience to Lucius, but he has lost a lot. He does not want to lose his son, too."

"I can only do so much, Narcissa, and your son is an adult. It is up to him...and to Lucius. Now I must go."

"Are you really meeting Professor Gamp's son?"

Severus nodded.

"I'd read that his mother is alive. I had believed for years that she was dead," Narcissa said. "Doesn't he care that you were once a..."

"He does not care that I was once her student," Severus replied with a sneer, "if that was what you were about to ask. As for anything else, he is intelligent and a very astute judge of character. Good evening, Narcissa."

Severus hurried away down the street toward Furculum Way, leaving Narcissa Malfoy to step back into her Muggle house and close its solid door behind him.

Since it wasn't yet even half past five when Severus reentered Furculum Way, he decided to stop into the Dusty Tome. If McGonagall were there, they could leave immediately. If he weren't . . . perhaps he might browse. He normally liked wandering about bookshops, wizarding or Muggle, particularly ones selling used books, but he felt restless and in no mood to look at books or anything else.

He strode quickly down the centre of Furculum Way, looking for the Dusty Tome, side-stepping when a Charmed, elf-driven cart came up behind him and bleated its horn. As the cart turned down a narrow street, Severus saw the shop on the corner, its sign an open book, binding on one side, opened pages on the other.

He pushed against the brass plate above the doorhandle, opening the bright grape-coloured door. A tangle of bells jangled cheerfully above his head, drawing the attention of the two wizards standing at the counter. One of them was McGonagall, the other was a wizard whom Severus recognised as Tarrant McPherson. He'd taught McPherson during the Hufflepuff's last years at Hogwarts, and McPherson had been his reason for establishing the requirement that a student attain an Outstanding in their Potions OWL in order to proceed to the NEWTs level class. McPherson had received an Exceeds Expectations in his OWL, and Severus assumed that was only because the examiners' expectations for the boy had been so low. The Hufflepuff was no Longbottom, but he was at the bottom of his NEWTs class, and it was sheer luck that he'd received an Acceptable on his Potions NEWT.

Gareth grinned at him. "Severus! Glad you found me. D'you know my friend, Tarrant McPherson? He manages the shop."

"Professor Snape," Tarrant said, some surprise showing on his face, but then quickly masked. "Gareth mentioned he was meeting a, um, friend." He shot Gareth a side-long glance.

Severus raised an eyebrow and addressed Gareth. "Yes, your directions were adequate, McGonagall. Mr McPherson," Severus said with a nod. He looked around him. Despite the name of the shop, it was not at all dusty, though it was crowded with used books of various ages and conditions. "I was unaware that you had entered the retail business."

Tarrant flushed slightly. "It's one of my uncle's shops. I've brought it up quite a bit. He's better with curiosities than with books. If you're interested in a specific subject, Professor, I could direct you. It's all well-organised. We carry both wizarding and Muggle publications."

"Look at what I found," Gareth said, pulling a long narrow tube from somewhere behind him. "It's a present for my Uncle Morgan. He's a nut about old wizarding maps showing former boundaries and such."

Severus looked at the large map as Gareth unrolled it. The map depicted Scotland, England, Ireland, and many of the small islands between them. He twitched a slight smile at the quaint depictions of a sea serpent in the Sound of Jura, a Welsh Green spitting flames in the Cambrian Mountains, frolicking clauricorns dancing in the west of Ireland, an ugly buggane scratching its hairy chest and dominating the small island of Man, and a giant and giantess sitting beside a flickering campfire in the remote Scottish Highlands. Ornate gold lettering in the bottom right-hand corner boasted that the map was the result of the "Personal Explorations and Measurements of Hezekiah Ambrosius Drinkwater, Master of Magical Cartography, Anno Domini 1547."

"Very nice," Severus said in true appreciation. The parchment was still in excellent condition, the pictures, still animated, and the colours, still bright. He didn't know McGonagall's Uncle Morgan, but it did seem a splendid present. "He will no doubt be very pleased."

"Did you want to look around a bit, Snape? If we have the time," Gareth said. It seemed to him that Severus looked more tired than he had when they'd left St. Giles.

"On another occasion, I believe," Severus replied.

Gareth took his leave of his friend, and the two stepped out onto the pavement.

"Where to, Snape? The Wand and Staff? Or elsewhere? It's still early yet."

Severus looked down the hill. From that vantage point, the Wand and Staff was no longer visible, too many twists in the road between them and the pub. It felt very far away. He was beginning to get hungry, but had no real appetite. It had not been a good day. He shook his head slightly.

"I don't think so."

"Let's walk a bit," Gareth suggested, touching Severus's elbow briefly.

They headed down the hill, walking slowly and stopping occasionally to glance into a shop window.

"You mentioned the Lucky Goose," Severus said. "Did you need to get anything there, or was it just a whim?"

"I could use another few reams of plain Arithmancy parchment, but it's not essential I buy it now," Gareth said, referring to the precisely measured sheets of parchment preferred by most Arithmancers, sometimes available with specific charms already on it. "How was your visit with Malfoy? Was it Hogwarts business?"

"Partly, I suppose. It was . . . oddly disturbing," Severus replied. "His health is clearly poor, and he is living under some kind of house-arrest. Narcissa returned before I left. She is much the same, though she seems to have a peculiar attitude toward the current state of affairs. She appears to be coping, however."

"If it isn't indiscreet to ask, what did he want?"

"Help with his son. At Hogwarts. And apparently the younger Malfoy is disaffected and will not speak with his father." Severus gave a slight twitch of his shoulder. "There is little I can do about that, nor do I particularly want to. But I said that I would speak to him, though not specifically on Lucius's behalf."

"It must have been a strange meeting," Gareth observed.

Severus didn't reply. The entire day had been odd, and not pleasantly so.

"You know, I have an idea. If you aren't set on eating at the Wand and Staff, that is," Gareth said.

"What is it?"

"Listen, let's stop by Melina's first so that I can check with her about it first. Don't want to do anything that would compromise your health. I can drop my things off with her, too."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "We shouldn't bother her at home."

"She's my cousin, remember? I'm just dropping by. Come on, I'll Apparate us." He took Severus's arm and drew him into the doorway of a shuttered shop. "Hold on."

A moment later, Severus found himself in the large entry hall of a private home. Narrow stained-glass windows flanked the door, there was a telephone on a small telephone table, and to his left, there was a hatrack with a cloak and a raincoat hanging from it.

Severus looked up as a slim elderly gentleman came down the stairs and stopped on the landing.

"Gareth! And Professor Snape, if I'm not mistaken." He came the rest of the way down the stairs and held out his hand to Severus. "Brennan O'Donald, Professor. A pleasure to meet you."

Severus, somewhat bemused, took O'Donald's hand and shook it. The other man still stood ramrod straight and his blue eyes were bright.

"Gareth, I wish you had phoned ahead! I can still set two more places at the table, though. It's Friday, so it's spaghetti night, and there's always plenty," Brennan said.

Melina skipped lightly down the stairs and joined them, dressed as Severus would never have imagined seeing her, wearing a light, sleeveless Muggle summer dress and strappy sandals. She smiled at them as she took her husband's arm.

"I hadn't expected to see you again today, but as Brennan says, you're both welcome to stay for supper. We'll be eating in about a half hour. Since Brennan doesn't let me in the kitchen when he's cooking his sauce, you'll be saddled with my company in the meantime," Melina said brightly.

As Melina squeezed Brennan's arm and looked up at her husband with a smile, Severus had a sudden curious sense of double-vision, as though he saw Brennan as he was at that moment and also as he once was, the years dropping away from him as he looked down at his wife and returned her smile with a warm one of his own. Severus felt the hitching of an unfamiliar emotion in his chest, and he averted his eyes.

"Sorry, Melina, I think we have other plans...unless Severus would like to stay?" Gareth said turning to Severus with his question. At the other wizard's slight shake of his head, Gareth continued. "I just wondered if we could drop a few things here for a while, and I need to speak with you, Melina."

"Of course," Melina replied. "Bren, could you take Severus into the living room...unless you need to stir or correct seasoning or something?"

Severus followed Brennan to the right, into a large, comfortably furnished living room, and sat when the older man invited him to. He saw a glass fish bowl with sparkling Floo powder in it. Brennan followed his gaze.

"We're on the Floo Network. We had to put some strong wards on it during the last couple years of the war as a safety precaution, but now it's just the usual again."

"Don't you have Muggle visitors here?" Severus asked, slightly puzzled.

"Of course. And Melina closes the Floo to visitors and callers when we do...and whenever she leaves the house, as well, just in case I have company whilst she's out...and she redirects it to one of the unused upstairs bedrooms." Brennan chuckled. "She used to redirect it to our bedroom, but she forgot about it one night, and we were quite startled when Minerva flashed into our room in the middle of the night!"

"That must have been disconcerting," Severus remarked.

"Yes, but not as bad as if it had been her dad," Brennan said, still chuckling. "It's always open to family, you see...except during the trouble with that Riddle fellow, of course. Melina was concerned that it was a weak point." He shrugged. "I leave that sort of thing up to her."

"What do your Muggle friends think about the Floo powder?" Severus asked, thinking it would be much more discreet to keep it in an opaque container, even if it wasn't obvious what it was.

"Hmm? I suppose they either don't notice it or they think that it's potpourri or something," the Muggle replied.

Severus wondered where Gareth was and what he was discussing with Melina. "Been here long?" he asked, trying to fill the time.

"Since we were married. We rented at first, then bought it. It's been comfortable, and when I was still working, I could easily cycle in, or even walk."

"You were a chemist?" Severus asked, dredging up what little he had heard about the man.

"That's right. Had my own shop. It became difficult to beat back the big chains, but Quin used to exert a bit of influence, and then Alroy after him, and there wasn't another chemist's within over a quarter mile of my shop for years."

Severus raised his eyebrows.

"I know what you're thinking, and I had some misgivings at first, but Quin said that Boots and the others all had the power of money and exercised it. It wasn't as though they were terribly disadvantaged. And my customers were well-served."

"He interfered with Muggle businesses?" Severus asked frankly.

"He wouldn't have put it that way. He has a lot of Muggle holdings, himself. He didn't use magic, other than a bit of his own personal charm. And when I was ready to retire, my shop got quite a good price. Boots has it now. They expanded, knocked into the shop next door."

"How long have you and Melina been married?"

"Forty-one years last week," Brennan replied.

Severus wanted to ask him if he'd ever regretted it, but that didn't seem the most polite question to ask a man he'd only met ten minutes before. He supposed that forty-one years spoke for themselves. That and the aroma of marinara sauce coming from the kitchen.

Brennan was just inviting him to join him in the kitchen while he gave the sauce a stir when Gareth bounded into the room, followed by Melina.

"Ready, Snape? You might want to use the loo before we go. We got the green light from Healer O'Donald." Gareth was grinning...rather madly, to Severus's eye.

Severus stood.

"It's the second door to the left off the entrance hall," Melina said helpfully. "And I insist you cooperate with Gareth. He has a fine idea. Very good alternative treatment for you! Just tell him if you become tired. I'll arrange to have your Ferron's Elixir sent to Hogwarts. You can pick it up from Poppy in the morning before breakfast and take your first dose then." At Severus's incipient protest, Melina said, her eyes sparkling, "No, you don't want to bring it with you. Trust me on that!"

When Severus emerged from the loo a few minutes later, Gareth was standing in the foyer with Melina, waiting for him.

Melina turned toward him. "Brennan enjoyed meeting you, but he had to go take care of the things on the cooker. He said to tell you to feel free to drop by any time you're in Edinburgh and that you're always welcome for spaghetti night!"

"Ready to go, Snape?" Gareth asked.

"Where are we going?" Severus asked, uncomfortable with the thought of some unplanned outing.

"You'll see! Trust me, Snape! You might want to loosen your tie, though, mate." When Severus didn't make a move to loosen his tie, Gareth shrugged and took his left arm. "It's a bit of a hop, so hold tight!"

Severus grimaced but he raised his right hand and grasped Gareth's arm.

"'Bye, Severus! Enjoy yourselves!"

Melina's words still in his ears, Severus felt Gareth's Side-Along Apparition take him with a jolt and a bang. He blinked, completely disoriented. It was noisy and the smell of fried foods drifted through the air. Bangs, clangs, whistles, shouts, laughter, music . . . Severus looked up at the Ferris wheel going round. He blinked again.

"What the..."

"Time for some fun and some food, Snape!" Gareth said cheerfully. "I thought we'd start with the fun first, unless you're hungry. Some target games are always good, even without magic, maybe go through the funhouse and then...well, I'll save the best for last, and leave it as a surprise for you. It will do you good, though!"

Gareth walked a few feet then turned. "Coming? Hanging about behind the booths isn't nearly as much fun as getting out and seeing what's going on in front of them."

Severus stepped forward. "This is Melina's idea of 'alternative treatment'? We were going to go to dinner. This is . . . this is just foolishness."

"Of course it is! The very best kind of foolishness. Trust me, Snape! And your Healer did tell you to cooperate!" Gareth grinned. "Loosen your tie...or take it off! And put this on!" Gareth tossed him a gold wristband, then turned and set off briskly, walking toward the sound of laughter and loud music.

Severus shook his head, loosened his tie, and followed.

Next

Chapter Six: Race Cars Go "Vroom"

Friday, 28 August 1998

Severus finds his "alternative treatment" peculiar, but enjoys it despite himself.

Characters: Severus Snape, Rubeus Hagrid, Gareth McGonagall, Melina O'Donald, Brennan O'Donald

Note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! It's encouraging. :-)