Chapter Eighteen: A New Man

Chapter Eighteen: A New Man

Saturday, 17 October 1998

Severus returned, feeling hot, dirty, and tired, from his visit to Albus's new playroom, as Minerva called it. When finished, it was to be part laboratory, part library, part study. He had been helping Albus configure the room and begin to move his furniture and books in. Severus felt more like a house-elf than a Potions master by the end of the afternoon. Still, it had been satisfying to see the large room take shape, and to see Albus's enthusiasm mount.

Minerva had given Albus the disused chamber at the very base of the Headmistress's Tower as a private workroom. When they had been away for Minerva's birthday a couple weeks before, Albus had apparently spoken to her at least a little about his sense of loss, and she had offered him the use of a room within the castle as a laboratory, much like the one he apparently had out on their island.

Severus was not entirely sanguine about the prospect of Albus performing experiments in a room at the base of the Headmistress's Tower, but Minerva wasn't bothered by it. There had been no entrance to the room, all of the chambers between the ground floor and the upper levels having been abandoned and closed off many decades before, so he and Albus had created a door out to the side of the castle, where Albus planned on planting a small walled-in garden in the spring. Albus had spoken of vegetables and flowers when he'd discussed his malaise with Severus, but when planning the garden, it seemed he was actually more interested in herbs, with perhaps a few flowers along the borders. Severus was glad that he would not be enlisted into the gardening project. At least he hoped he wouldn't be.

In addition to the exterior exit, Albus had broken through the ceiling of the large chamber, and he planned to have a staircase that would lead all the way up to the second floor, where his Defence classroom and office were. A cold draft had come from the hole, and Severus wondered in what condition they would find the levels between the ground floor and the level containing the Hogwarts Heart. That would be a project for another day, however.

Now Severus wanted to clean up and put on a fresh teaching robe before he met with Draco Malfoy, who had requested an appointment with him after Potions the day before. Draco hadn't said why he wanted the appointment, but Severus presumed it had to do with their discussion early the previous month. As Narcissa and Lucius had requested, Severus had addressed Draco's estrangement with his father and his desire to change his name. Draco had declined to discuss his father at all, except to say that his mother was a noble witch to remain married to her husband despite their circumstances. He did tell his Head of House that he still had made no decision about his name, but that he preferred to do it sooner rather than later. It seemed likely that Draco had now come to a decision.

At half past four, freshly shaved and in a complete change of clothes...the ones he'd been wearing when he was helping Albus smelled peculiarly dank...Severus sat at his desk. There was a knock on the door, and he flicked his wand, opening it. The tall, slightly stooped, blond young wizard darted a glance to either side, then he took two quick steps and entered the office, immediately closing the door behind him.

Draco's appearance was no different than it had been in previous weeks. His student robe draped perfectly on him, and all the clasps were done up the front from waist to chest. Beneath his black student robe, Draco wore a plain dove-grey robe of fine material. His shoes were well-polished, as were their silver buckles. His single adornment was the small Slytherin emblem on the left breast of his student robe.

"Professor Snape." Draco bobbed his head once. "Thank you for seeing me on a Saturday, sir."

Severus gestured to the chair in front of his desk. Draco nodded again and sat.

"Sit up straight," Severus directed, and Draco shifted in his chair, sliding his butt back further on the seat, but hardly seeming any straighter.

"I need permission to leave the Hogwarts grounds next week," Draco began. "You see, I have come to a decision regarding the issue that we discussed before."

"Regarding your name."

"Yes, sir." Draco sat up slightly straighter and pushed his blond hair back from his forehead. "I have decided that I will change my last name. I have been in correspondence with a solicitor in London. She has agreed to meet me next week. She has appointments available on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon would suit my class schedule better, sir. If I may have permission to leave."

"Who is the solicitor?"

"A Ms Candace Terwilliger-Jones. She has a positive reputation. She seems to know what she is doing. She employs Squibs. They do work for her with the Muggles."

"I have no objection to your meeting with the solicitor on Thursday. I will speak with the Headmistress, but I believe that you can begin making your plans to travel to London."

"Thank you, sir." Draco seemed to relax.

"What have you decided upon?" Severus anticipated that the boy would say he was taking his mother's surname, Black.

"Out of respect for my mother's wishes, I will retain 'Malfoy' as a middle name. I do not plan to use it, however. After the change has been approved, which Ms Terwilliger-Jones says should take two to four weeks from the time I sign the papers, I will be known as Draco Newman." He blinked and straightened, then he smiled. "Draco Newman, sir."

"It is a fine choice," Severus said with an approving nod. "I hope you do not have unrealistic expectations of what a name change might accomplish for you, however. People have very long memories."

"People can think what they like. I am doing it for myself. Before she sent Mother and me to Sweden, the Headmistress told me I had a chance to make something of myself, to make my own future. I don't think I could . . . I think it would be more difficult for me as Malfoy." He said the name "Malfoy" as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"And your father?"

"Lucius Malfoy made his choices," Draco said coldly. "He made choices that affected Mother and me both. And his choices were bad ones. For more reasons than he will ever admit, I believe. I will not be bound by being a Malfoy."

"It once gave you pride..."

"Would you want to be a Malfoy now, Professor Snape?" Draco shook his head, not expecting an answer. "I had a long time to think when Mother and I were in Sweden. To think, to read, to do things to take care of myself for once...and to take care of Mother. I want a fresh start, a new beginning. I want to be a new man. A new kind of pureblood wizard."

"You know that there are a great many 'pureblood' witches and wizards who never identify themselves as such, Draco. They think of themselves simply as witches and wizards. I think that if you wish to become a new man, you might consider doing that, yourself."

Draco's eyebrows came together as he thought about that. "Yes, all right. I will do that."

"I see that you continue to spend time with Miss Sefton. She sits beside you most meals."

Draco nodded. "Suzie's just a kid, only turned eleven on the day she took the Hogwarts Express. She's a little homesick." Draco shrugged. "And she's a Muggle-born in Slytherin. She doesn't always understand what's going on. People take advantage of that...or they try to. I've clued her in, though. Yeah, she'll be okay."

"I was pleased. You have done well, looking after her. I was considering discussing with Minerva reinstating you as a prefect..."

"No, sir, I'd rather not." The pale boy's cheeks went pink. "I don't think people listen to me the way they used to."

Severus narrowed his eyes as he considered the slim young man sitting before him. The boy had changed over the previous year and a half. "Yes, we will make you a prefect. It is unusual, but this year is an unusual one. You and Miss Lovegood returning for your sixth and seventh years, for example. Then there are the first-years who entered at age twelve."

"Professor..."

"You will need to learn new ways of persuading people to listen to you, Malfoy," Severus said. "If you think you're up to it."

"Newman, please, sir." Draco thought a moment. "And I'm up to it. If you and the Headmistress wish."

Severus nodded. "I will speak with her and let you know."

"Professor, do you suppose, I know it won't be official for a while, but do you suppose you could let it be known that I'm Draco Newman now? Ms Terwilliger-Jones said that I can call myself whatever I want to as long as I'm not trying to do anything illegal by it."

Severus took in a deep breath. "I will inform the staff at the next meeting. That is not until Wednesday evening, so you will need to wait. And do not be surprised if people forget your new name, or even resist using it. Once you are legally Mr Newman, if you have trouble with any staff seeming to resist using the new name, as opposed to simply forgetting, do not speak directly to them. Tell me. But be aware that quite likely people will simply forget, particularly the teachers who taught you for six years before this. You may do as you wish with your peers. I suggest you simply ignore those who call you Malfoy."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

"One other thing, Mr . . . Newman. Do not sign anything without having someone else who you trust look at it. If you have no one to bring with you to the appointment, bring the papers back here, and I will look at them. There are one or two others on the faculty who might read them for you, as well. Professor Dumbledore, for one. You don't want to discover there's some peculiar clause that you didn't recognise."

"Giving up my first-born son, or something?" Draco grinned. "Okay, I'll bring them back here. Ms Terwilliger-Jones suggested I might want to do that, anyway, that she'd explain it all to me, but that I might want to have someone else read the papers over, too. I trust her. She's all right, I think. She's married to a Muggle-born."

Severus snorted. "Simply not being a pureblood racist does not make a person honest or good, even if they employ Squibs and marry Muggle-borns."

"I got her name from Mr Greengrass. She's done some contracts for him."

"All right. I'll ask Professor Dumbledore what he knows of her. Or perhaps . . . Alroy MacAirt. As a businessman, he might have a better idea. I will look into her for you." He only remembered that there had been a Candace Terwilliger in Ravenclaw who had been in his year at Hogwarts. They'd taken classes together, but he could barely form a mental image of her. She didn't stand out one way or the other, except that she was studious. And what someone was like as a teenager was not always a predictor of how they might be as an adult or in their profession, so it scarcely mattered that he did not remember her well. He would inquire of MacAirt.

"Thank you, Professor. I will see you when I return on Thursday."

"Thursday is my evening off. I do expect to hear that you returned to school before curfew, however, and we can meet the next morning." Severus twitched a slight smile at him. "Come to my quarters at seven. You may breakfast with me."

"Sir? Thank you, sir. I'd like that."

"It will save time." Severus hesitated. "I am also proud of you, Draco."

"I will try not to disappoint you, Professor."

"Do not disappoint yourself, Newman. Now get along. Dinner begins shortly. And if you could see to it that Miss Sefton eats in moderation this evening and avoids the foods that don't agree with her?" It seemed that half the Hogwarts menu didn't agree with Suzie Sefton.

"I do try, Professor!" Draco said with a grin as he stood. "Do you know, she thinks you're the greatest. I don't know whether she'd rather become you or marry you, but she's got it bad."

Severus barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. "As you say, she will eventually feel less homesick and more comfortable here. I am sure she will outgrow it...or redirect it. Watch yourself, Mr Newman!"

Draco chuckled. "Good evening, Professor. See you at dinner."

Minerva listened quietly, then she nodded. "Of course he may leave on Thursday to see his solicitor. I remember Miss Terwilliger...Ms Terwilliger-Jones now...very bright, very intense. She was in your Transfiguration class, remember?"

"I remember her existence, but little more," Severus said.

"I'll mention this to Albus. I'm sure he would be happy to examine the papers, make sure that nothing clever has been inserted that might disadvantage Draco, disavowing any Malfoy inheritance, for example."

Severus snorted a laugh. "He'd probably put that in of his own choosing, I would imagine, given the way that he feels now."

"But he should not. The way he feels now may change. And he doesn't want to do anything irrevocable that he might regret later."

"Inheritance is rather a moot question at the moment, anyway, unless the Malfoy fortunes change significantly. Lucius told me that he was permitted by the Ministry to sign over to Draco what assets were remaining in certain accounts rather than have them taken by the Ministry for the victim restitution fund. That's likely why the Ministry took the manor at terms so advantageous to them. But at least they didn't visit the sins of the father upon the son, or whatever the expression is."

"Malfoy did try to protect Draco's interests, then," Minerva said.

"More probably he simply didn't want everything to go towards restitution, and he would rather keep it in the family, I'm sure."

"Was there anything else? If not..."

"Yes. I would like to have Malfoy...Newman...be reinstated as a prefect. I think it would be good for him, good for Slytherin, and good for Hogwarts."

"I don't know . . ." Minerva reflected. "I am inclined to agree with you on certain levels, but I am concerned about whether he would set the kind of example you need in Slytherin right now."

"He has taken Suzie Sefton under his wing, so to speak. A Muggle-born witch. He says he is trying to keep her, in her naivete, from being taken advantage of by other Slytherins, and I'm inclined to believe him. I think we should reward him for his efforts to change." His eyes narrowed. "Perhaps if I had been rewarded instead of being ignored when I did something I thought was right...or punished when others had done the same as I had done or worse...things might have been different for me."

"I did not say that we should ignore him or his efforts, Severus," Minerva said. "Yes, we will give him a prefect's badge. But it will be probationary. You can put that however you think best, Severus. But if he tries to abuse his position and I hear about it, he will no longer have the badge." She sighed. "And it is unfortunate, but true, that he will need to be an exemplary prefect, one completely beyond reproach. There is no getting around the fact that he may call himself 'Draco Newman' now, but he was 'Draco Malfoy' for all of his young life before this. I do not want to be seen as condoning any pureblood bullying or even just ordinary bullying. He will need to be careful. What others might be able to get away with, he will not."

"I know this." He certainly knew that he himself would be under scrutiny for as long as he lived, people waiting to see whether he stepped out of line.

"Very well. I will inform Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Carter and deal with any objections they might have. You may return the prefect's badge to him . . . next week. After you announce his name change at the staff meeting. We will tell the staff about him being a prefect at the same time."

"Good. I will inform him," Severus said, starting to rise.

"Wait, Severus, there's something I needed to discuss with you," Minerva said.

Severus leaned back in his chair.

"It's nothing . . . very significant, but . . . you know that I had an appointment at St. Mungo's yesterday."

Severus nodded.

"I'd made an appointment with Healer Baton. Poppy recommended I see a Healer because I have been having headaches on the side where I was injured in the spring, and that eye has been bothering me a little, too. It was purely precautionary, and I don't want you to worry, Severus," Minerva said, noting Severus's expression of consternation. "It's nothing at all, really, but I do need to take certain measures to alleviate the symptoms. Simple things, like taking more breaks when I work than I am used to taking, making sure that my work area is always well-lit, that kind of thing. It's nothing to worry about. But to err on the side of caution, I have agreed to return for follow-up appointments for a while, just to be sure that nothing more serious develops. So I wanted to forewarn you about that. I'll let you know before each appointment, of course, so you will know I'll be gone from the castle. Also . . . I'm not telling Albus. He doesn't know I've been having headaches and he doesn't know that I went to Mungo's. I don't want him to worry needlessly, since there is nothing wrong with me. So I would like to keep this just between us, you, me, and Poppy. Don't say anything to him."

"As you wish. And you may call on me for anything else that might help, you know."

"I know that, and I appreciate it."

"Won't Albus be curious about your trips?"

"Perhaps. If he notices. They'll be during the day when he's teaching."

"It might be better to mention it to him," Severus said.

Minerva rolled her eyes. "He already fusses over me enough. He'd probably set me a curfew if he began to imagine that I was ill." Minerva sighed. "I might tell him, but not just yet. There's really nothing he can do except fuss and worry, anyway."

"I think that if you wait, he will be displeased."

Minerva sighed again. "I will tell him sometime before my next appointment, then. Which, by the way, is the ninth of November. I hate to worry him needlessly. You remember how he was whilst I was recovering from that injury. I half-expected him to put me in a Charmed sedan chair and have me floated about everywhere...if he let me go anywhere at all."

"You were very ill. You very nearly died," Severus pointed out.

"I know, but I didn't. Albus can go overboard sometimes, and it's worse when he's bored. He always has to take things in hand, fix them. Sometimes there's nothing to be done, nothing to fix. And he felt responsible for my injury, as though he somehow could have prevented it. No, better to have him see that I am perfectly well and to understand that these are merely precautionary checks. I'll wait to tell him until just before my appointment. Speaking of Albus and boredom, thank you for helping him with his playroom today. I know that he had a good time, and it was more fun for him with you there."

"Of course. I told him I would help him as I am able as he finishes the room and the staircase. I am interested to see what the other levels of the Tower hold. Dumbledore says some of them haven't been opened in two hundred years. I wonder whether there was anything left behind in them when they were closed up."

"I am sure that he will appreciate the help."

"Has he given thought to the other side of things?"

"You mean, the fact that he doesn't feel in charge of anything any longer?"

Severus nodded.

"He is forming a Muggle-book club. You will get a notice for it, I am sure. Staff and upper level students both will be invited to participate. And you'll be hearing about this from him, but do not let him know that I told you first, he wants to create a bowling alley in the upper dungeon..."

"He wants to what?"

"He wants to create a bowling alley. He has some thought about creating bowling teams. It wouldn't be open all the time; only according to a schedule or for special occasions."

Severus let out a deep, heartfelt sigh. "I hope he puts sufficient noise-dampening charms on the damned thing if he does it. And keeps it in an area where people won't be traipsing about near Slytherin House."

"I am hoping his enthusiasm for the idea will wane, myself," Minerva said, "but I did not want to be a wet blanket. I am hoping that he will find something outside of the school with which to busy himself, perhaps with a charity or something of that sort."

"You would think that reading the dunderheads' essays would tire him out too much to want to take on very many other projects," Severus replied. "But I am glad he has found some outlets for his energy."

"He and Filius are having a good time with the prefects planning the Halloween party."

Severus's lips twitched a smile. "Has he told you what his costume will be? No? Well, I'll not spoil your surprise, then. He's very pleased with himself."

Minerva laughed. "Yes, but he is looking forward to making an entrance...and surprising me, as well. I'm surprised he told you."

"I think he was bursting to tell someone. He knows I can keep a secret," Severus replied with a short chuckle. "What are you coming as?"

"I have a few ideas . . . since the theme is famous Muggles, I thought perhaps either Amelia Earhart or Jeanne d'Arc. I am unsure about which era I feel more comfortable in."

"Your hair is almost the right length for either of them." After her injury, Minerva had left her hair shorter, coming to just above her shoulders. It waved quite becomingly about the nape of her neck, Severus thought. "You could always use a Glamour to shorten it a bit more and give yourself a fringe."

"I may change my mind, but I have to decide soon. What about you?"

"I don't know." Severus shrugged. "I've been busy fielding questions from my prefects about famous Muggles, and which ones might be acceptable...I have already nixed Genghis Khan, Lucretia Borgia, Stalin, and Hitler as inappropriate for a member of Slytherin House in this post-war era...but I haven't given it much thought, myself. Perhaps Thomas Becket."

"Not very cheerful," Minerva observed.

"Well, neither are yours: Earhart crashed her plane somewhere and was never found, and Joan of Arc was burned at the stake."

Minerva laughed. "I will try to think of someone else then. If I weren't worried about scandalising everyone, I would come as Mata Hari or Boudica."

"They're no more cheerful. Mata Hari was executed and Boudica, after any number of other indignities, committed suicide rather than be enslaved by the Romans."

"Perhaps I should go to the library and try to find a more cheerful character. Florence Nightingale?"

"No good. She witnessed terrible things in the Crimea."

"But she died in her old age in her sleep, I believe."

"It could become a bit wearing to carry a lamp about with you all evening, though," Severus pointed out.

"I'm sure she didn't carry a lamp all of the time," Minerva said. "I'm not certain about her anyway. She's more Poppy's sort. I'll think of something."

"Personally, if you want to go for someone with a dramatic life, I'd enjoy seeing you as Mata Hari, with bells on," Severus said with a smirk.

Minerva laughed loudly at that. "I don't know whether to take that as a challenge or a warning!"

"The boys' reactions could be quite fun to watch," Severus said. "Might be worth it."

"It might at that," Minerva said, chuckling. "But I could wear a long dress, not necessarily anything too revealing, just . . . suggestive and exotic. And not some short tunic as I would have to don for Jeanne d'Arc, or trousers for Amelia Earhart."

"Or what you'd need to wear as Boudica...she probably wore bearskins or something."

"I very much doubt it. She was hardly a cave woman. But I also doubt her clothing was particularly modest."

"Don't come as Boudica, Minerva. I'd only think of her gruesome fate," Severus said with a shudder.

"Very well. Mata Hari? What do you think of when you think of her?"

"I think glamour, cleverness, and feminine wiles," Severus said. He grinned. "Perfect for you, even if she was a spy."

"Calumny, sheer calumny! It'll be Mata Hari or the aviatrix, then," Minerva said with a nod and a sparkle in her eyes. It was good to see Severus enjoy himself, even if he was teasing her. "Now, what about you?"

"Thomas Becket still sounds like a good choice to me."

"You'd hardly look any different...all dressed in black, I always picture him."

"Why do you think the costume appeals?" Severus asked with a smirk. "Besides, I thought a black cassock, white chasuble, and a long black cape. I don't know how authentic it would be, but it would work. Put a big cross around my neck, and I'm Thomas Becket."

"Since Albus won't tell me who he's coming as so I can't pair up with him, perhaps we could choose a couple of characters who match. Like Antony and Cleopatra," Minerva suggested.

Severus barked a laugh. "I am sure that Albus would appreciate my coming as your paramour."

"Oh, he has a sense of humour. He wouldn't mind."

"They are both tragic figures, and didn't Cleopatra commit suicide, too? Besides, I don't want to wear a Roman tunic. I don't have the legs for it."

"Yes, well, I'm not coming as Henry the Eighth just so you can come as Thomas Becket and wear black," Minerva said.

"That was Henry the Second, I believe. You have your tyrannical Henrys confused. What about . . . Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth? I could wear a long cloak. Something in velvet," he said, seeming to like the idea of a long velvet cloak.

"Or John Brown and Queen Victoria...you could borrow a kilt from Gareth," Minerva suggested seriously. "You're about the same height."

"Knees, Minerva." His brow furrowed. "I'm sure we can think of something."

"Robin Hood and Maid Marian?"

"Knees again, Minerva. And I can't see either of us in those roles, anyway. You're no Maid Marian. Besides, they're fictional. I believe I prefer to dress as an actual famous Muggle if I must participate."

"Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus?"

"I think we'd have the same knee problem."

Minerva laughed. "Everyone has knees, Severus. I never noticed anything remarkable about yours."

"And my legs are spindly."

"They are not."

"Hmn." Severus thought a moment. "We wouldn't have to be an actual pair . . ." he said slowly. "If you came as Amelia Earhart, I could come as Charles Lindbergh."

"Didn't he have disagreeable politics or something?" Minerva asked.

"Everyone has disagreeable politics, Minerva. That's the nature of politics."

"Still, that is a good idea. That or something similar."

"Well, it's getting late," Severus said. "You don't want to get another headache for lack of rest. I will see you in the morning. Let me know if you settle on a pair of characters for us, otherwise, it's Thomas Becket for me."

"You think about it, too, Severus! See if you can't find someone more exciting. Good night! I'm glad you're getting into the spirit of it!"

"Hmph. Good night, Headmistress." He nodded to her. "Sleep well."

NEXT

Chapter Nineteen: Of Scotch, Choices, and Ambiguity

Saturday, 24 October 1998

Severus gets a preview of Albus's costume for the Halloween fancy dress party, and the two wizards talk about past and present.

Characters: Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Wilspy