Chapter Thirty-Three: At Spinner’s End
Chapter 34 of 118
MMADfanSunday, 7 March 1999. Severus meets Gareth in Hogsmeade and Apparates him to Spinner’s End so that they can have a private discussion.
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Chapter Thirty-Three: At Spinner's End
Sunday, 7 March 1999
At quarter to three, Severus approached the Hog's Head. Gareth was waiting for him outside the pub, leaning nonchalantly against a wall.
"Hey, Snape!" he greeted him, straightening up. "Here? Or we could go back to the house. Mum's there, but we could go up to my study."
"I said 'alone.' You are in danger of becoming a dunderhead if you don't understand the meaning of the word 'alone,' McGonagall," Snape hissed. He looked around. "We need to talk."
"Wherever you like," Gareth replied coolly.
"There's only one place I can think of at the moment. Come with me." Snape turned on his heel and went around to the narrow, smelly, dark alley beside the pub, and Gareth followed.
"I'm Apparating us," Severus said, grasping the other wizard's arm. With no further warning, he Disapparated with a crack, bringing Gareth with him.
Gareth regained his balance and looked around him. Dusty, dingy, seedy . . . the windows were covered with a layer of rain-streaked grime, the wallpaper was faded and stained in spots, there was a thick coating of dust everywhere, and the furniture...well, threadbare would have been an improvement.
"Where are we?"
"My house," Severus said shortly. "I haven't been here since August." He glanced around him. "I do not care to stay here even when I must." He looked at Gareth as if challenging him to say something about the room, but the younger wizard just nodded, swiped some dust off a wooden straight-backed chair, and sat down.
Severus waved his wand, ridding the room of the dust, then he looked down at Gareth. Now that he was there in front of him, he did not know what to say.
"Was your mother angry with you yesterday?" he asked finally.
"For having you at the house? No. She did ask that I try to tell her in advance next time, but as your visit was unexpected, that wouldn't have been possible."
"Was she upset?"
"I don't know. She didn't appear to be. She was tired from being out in the crowds with Hermione, but other than that, I can't say." Gareth smiled up at him. "Are you going to sit down? I feel rather as though I'm being interrogated with you hovering over me like this."
Severus sat. "What did she say about my visit?"
"Not very much. She knows we're friends, Snape. It may have been something of a surprise for her that you were there, but it couldn't have been a complete shock."
"That's what I mean. She knows we're friends. Did she ask about what we did?"
"No. I did tell her that you'd arrived at lunchtime expecting to see Hermione, so you and I had lunch together, but she didn't ask." Gareth gave a crooked smile. "I assure you, Snape, even if the possibility occurred to her, she would not ask me if I stripped you naked in the sitting room...or anywhere else in the house."
Severus blushed. "About that, it was private."
"Of course it was. It was private and it was something just between the two of us."
"And you won't say anything to anyone."
"Of course not. It would be rather counterproductive if I were to do that...I wouldn't be inclined to tell anyone at any rate, but it was something special for you. I wanted to make you feel good. I know that you wouldn't appreciate having it known by anyone else. It was for your pleasure and to help you open up more and accept love and a warm human touch."
Severus put his head in his hands.
"I am sorry, Severus," Gareth said softly, "if it had the opposite effect."
Severus shook his head slightly. "And you?"
"What do you mean?"
Severus continued to look down, his forehead resting in his hands. "Do you . . . regret it? Or are you ashamed of having touched me?"
"I wouldn't regret it on my own account, Snape, only for your sake if you are upset about it. And I am certainly not ashamed of touching you. You're my friend."
Severus sat in silence, struggling with the confused emotions bubbling in him. Finally, he said, "I am sorry about yesterday in your bedroom. On both our accounts. It offended you and even the suggestion debased me."
"You mean . . . what you said about punishment and repayment?"
Severus nodded shortly.
"It's all right. You were under some stress at that moment," Gareth replied.
Severus raised his head. "Because it's not true. And I did enjoy what you did. Very much. Too much."
"Too much?"
Severus searched for words. "It made me very sensitive. I was aroused. Then I saw Hermione, and I became more aroused, more . . . . Anyway, that's why I asked her out."
"I don't quite understand, but that's good," Gareth said. "She was very happy that you asked her out on a date."
Severus nodded. "But I shouldn't have asked her out because I was aroused."
"If you would have wanted to ask her out even if you hadn't been aroused, I don't see the problem. It's not as though you were sexually excited and asked out a perfect stranger, or you asked her out only so you could get her to go to bed with you. You and Hermione have been on the verge of dating for so long, it was becoming almost comical...and I don't mean that I laughed about it, Snape. It's just an expression."
"I wanted to, though. Get her to go to bed with me. I kept thinking about it," Severus said.
Gareth sighed. "That's not the same thing as taking her out, getting her drunk, and seducing her just so you could satisfy your desires."
"I still thought about it after I went to bed," Severus said softly, "and about you."
"I think that's natural."
"I . . . I wondered whether you were aroused by me. I thought you were, but . . ."
"It wasn't about that. It was about you. And it wouldn't have mattered to me whether you became excited or not as long as you enjoyed it, relaxed, and felt loved. It was simply a nice side-effect that you enjoyed it as much as you did," Gareth said with a quick grin.
"But were you?"
"Severus, I do find you attractive...though it may seem odd to you. And yes, I was aroused, as you put it. But you don't need to worry that I am going to try to seduce you."
Severus could feel the heat creeping up into his face. "You wouldn't want to?" he finally asked, trying to avoid acknowledging to himself what he had wanted to hear, and what he wanted McGonagall to do at that moment.
Gareth leaned back. "Ah, I see," he said. "In theory, it would be nice. And yes, I was sufficiently attracted to you to have enjoyed such a thing. But you needn't worry. I won't try to seduce you."
Severus looked down. He didn't know what he wanted from McGonagall, but he did know that his answer was still disappointing.
"Only half of me was worried that you might," he whispered. He looked back up at Gareth. "Do you think about me? Think about me that way?"
"Notice you that way, yes, but if you're asking whether I fantasise about you, to be truthful, I don't. Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I did think of how nice it had been to touch you, though. It was also very gratifying to see you enjoy it." Gareth grinned. "To my mind, if it got you worked up enough emotionally and sexually to induce you to invite Hermione on a real date, that could only be a good thing."
Severus searched for words. "I don't think so. I am glad I asked her to dinner, but . . ." He closed his eyes and shook his head. "My life up until several months ago was very complicated, and yet in some ways, very simple. I had a simple, single purpose. I was certain that I would die, and if I didn't die and the Dark Lord was defeated, that I would be tossed into Azkaban for the remainder of my life. Apart from a very brief, bizarre time a few years ago, my sex drive waned...spying for and on a psychotic megalomaniac has a tendency to kill one's libido even before repeated bouts of the Cruciatus does. Yet even before the Dark Lord rose again, everything I did seemed to focus on his eventual return. It seemed unwise to entangle myself with anyone, and although, particularly when I was younger, I was not celibate, sex was never . . . it wasn't . . . . Taking care of my needs on my own seemed sufficient, even preferable."
"Working at Hogwarts couldn't have made it easy, either," Gareth said. "It's not a normal life even if you aren't a spy. Hard to develop normal adult relations. Living there more than nine months a year . . . I couldn't do it, not as an adult."
Severus shrugged. "Minerva has made some changes now that she's had more time to think about the school and isn't consumed with the war. We have more time when we are allowed to leave the grounds for extended periods, even overnight, particularly for the regular faculty, but the Heads of House still have more responsibilities. She is considering allowing faculty to rotate and have entire weekends off, but that has created some questions about inequities, since it is difficult for anyone who is a Head of House to leave their responsibilities for that long."
"They did something like that for my mother after she had me," Gareth said, "but it was an exception. She actually spent almost every weekend at home, only returning to Hogwarts if there was something specific she had to be there for. She even spent a lot of week nights with us, but I never knew whether that was officially sanctioned or if she simply did it. I can also just barely remember going up to the castle with my father in the evening, being put to bed, and then leaving with him first thing in the next morning. But we didn't do that often after I was about five. She also didn't have any responsibilities outside of teaching and the occasional curfew patrol, so I don't think anyone cared where she spent her time otherwise."
"Be that as it may, it is not a particularly normal life for any adult, even if they aren't a spy, as you say." Severus looked around him. "The only reason I kept this house was to have somewhere to go during the summer. By the end of each August, I hate it." Hated it before that, if truth be told.
Gareth cast a glance at the room, but didn't say anything.
Severus gave a short laugh. "You see, McGonagall, what a pathetic life I have had. No friends at Hogwarts...although some of the staff tried to be collegial...none outside of Hogwarts except former Death Eaters who had somehow escaped Azkaban, and what kind of friend could I be to them, or they to me? And to be honest, I believed that was as I wanted it. I trusted almost no one and disliked almost everyone. I had no life."
"Aunt Minerva thinks of herself as your friend," Gareth said. "I think she has for a long time. So does Uncle Albus."
Severus shook his head. "They are friends of a sort. But my relationship with Albus was complicated, and Minerva had been my teacher. They are friends, though, yes." Severus sat back in his chair. "I suppose my point is simply that over the last several months as I have felt healthier and less like I am in almost constant danger of death or torture, my libido has begun to return. But that was not problematic until yesterday."
"Problematic?"
Severus looked at the younger wizard, meeting his eyes and remembering the sensation of his lips on his buttocks. He could feel a tingling in his groin. This wasn't normal, he thought, but looking at the healthy, strong young wizard in front of him and remembering his hands and lips on his body, he could feel his arousal growing. McGonagall had said that it was about intimacy, not about sex, but it had been sexually charged, nonetheless. This strong, handsome wizard had wanted to touch him and bring him pleasure, touch him, Severus Snape, who had inspired so much fear and revulsion in others. He did not desire Gareth, but he wanted to be desirable, and thinking about the way that Gareth had touched him so sensually, he wanted that touch again.
Severus nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Problematic, McGonagall."
Severus continued to stare at the younger wizard.
"I'm sorry, Snape," Gareth said quietly. "I had intended to give you some human warmth and comfort and hoped it would open you to closer relationships with others, including Hermione. It pleased me to hear that you invited Hermione out. I am sorry if you see that as a problem."
"That is not the problem," Severus replied. "You might be able to help with the problem."
"You need to tell me what the problem is, then," Gareth said.
Severus did not want to tell him. He did not even want to admit to himself that he wanted the younger wizard's attention. He wished Gareth would simply seduce him. He could simply enjoy it whilst it was happening and then not blame himself afterward.
Finally, Severus said, "It was like food to a man who had been starving and didn't know it. And now that appetite has been reawakened and he hungers. Hungers and believes it would have been better to have been left to starve in peace."
Gareth shook his head. "I couldn't let you starve, my friend. There is no reason for it any longer. You now live in a world in which you don't have to anticipate that every touch could bring pain. There are people around you who want to be your friends. It is a difficult thing for them, though, when you close yourself off to them."
"That does not change how I feel now, though."
Gareth looked at him quietly for a moment, then he said, "I did tell you that if ever you needed a massage or a friendly shoulder, I would be there for you."
Severus was silent.
Gareth stood and stepped toward him. "Is that what you would like? Another massage?"
Severus looked down.
Gareth knelt in front of him and laid his hand lightly on Severus's knees. "Is that how I can help with the problem, Snape?" He reached up and brushed Severus's hair back from his face.
Severus said nothing, but he did not move away. He felt Gareth's caress graze his cheek and jaw, and he closed his eyes. Gareth traced his lips with his finger, and Severus parted them. Gareth lightly brushed Severus's bottom lip with one fingertip. Severus kept his eyes closed as he felt Gareth unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt and loosening his collar. Gareth's fingers were touching his throat, then his hand slid to the back of his neck. Severus did not resist when Gareth pulled him down toward him; he felt his lips on his throat.
"Is that how I can help? Or is there something more?" Gareth whispered. He brought both hands to cradle Severus's face and kissed his lips lightly. "Something more?"
Severus struggled with the urge to tell him that he wanted more; he won the struggle and remained silent.
Gareth began to unbutton Severus's jacket, then his waistcoat. He placed his palms against Severus's chest and leaned forward to kiss his lips once more.
"Say 'stop,' Snape, and I will stop," he whispered.
Severus let out a long breath and nodded.
Gareth unbuttoned Severus's shirt, then he ran his hands over his bare chest. No undershirt that day.
"You know, Snape, this is a little awkward for a massage. If you would like one, I think we should move."
Severus opened his eyes to look at the man kneeling in front of him. "Upstairs."
With a smile, Gareth nodded, and as he stood, he took Severus's arms, urging him to stand, too.
NEXT
Chapter Thirty-Four: Uncertainty
Sunday, 7 March 1999
Severus finds himself in a situation he brought about but nonetheless hadn't expected.
Rated MA.
Warning for sexually explicit language, het fantasy, homoerotic scenes, and fluffy slashiness.
Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall
*WARNING FOR SLIGHT SPOILER BELOW*
Author's Note: Remember, this is not turning into a Severus/Gareth fic, as much as some of you might be beginning to like that idea! Severus will find that his relationship with Gareth does help him in his other relationships, though, and they will continue to be good friends, and Gareth will continue to play an important part in his life.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Long Vernal Season
1058 Reviews | 7.24/10 Average
OMG! How did I miss these last two chapters? Totally wonderful! I'm so in love with Severus and Poppy, I hope it works out for them, I'm worried about Gertrude's attack getting in the way of their happiness, Severys should really talk to Poppy about it and clear the air, I'm sure Gertrude wouldn't mind talking to her as well and explaining she's forgiven him. I'm also so curious about Poppy's middle name! I' suspicious of Gwen bein the vigilante although Severus doesn't think her capable of it, I'm dying to know whow it is and why she's doing it. Are Gertrude and Quin together now? I thought I saw a gleam of something there. Please, tell us soon! I read you haven't forgotten about this fic or any of your other WIPs so I'm hoping for an update in the near future, if live allows. Thanks!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi! How lovely to see your name again! :) I'm glad you enjoyed those last two chapters -- though they won't be the last ones, I do hope! I am planning to pick up my WIPs very soon. I've written a couple short fics recently (for Minerva Fest and for the HoggyWarty Christmas exchange), so that kind of helped grease the fanfic cogs a bit. So many (astute!) questions -- but you'll have to wait for the answers!Thank you so much for sticking with the stories! It's very encouraging to know there are still a few folks looking forward to more chapters. :-)
Response from doralupin87 (Reviewer)
Hi! I'm glad to see you are back in fanfiction again and I do hope the cogs are all greased up and ready to go! I've been waiting (patiently!) for an update to this story and to Charming The Scottish Garden, I do love me some Johannes and Siofre! Oh! So, my questions are good? That means I might be onto something, although you did give me a little preview that Gertrude would have a new man in her life, you didn't say who it was, so I think Quin might be a good choice just because they seem connected, although I don't remember quite well if they are related or not. I don't know how much I'll like Trudie with someone other than Malcolm but since you'll be writing it I'm sure I love it, you have this way of making me fall for the craziest couples like Severus and Poppy, never in a million years would I have liked them together if it weren't for your story. Anyway, I look forward to any updates you post. Thanks for coming back, I hope life is good to you :)
OMG. I love these two. Poppy and Serverus are sooooo cute. Please update soon. I want to know what happened to Severus'sbparents and how will Serverus react when Gertrude comes to Hogwarts to teach???
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm sorry it's taken so long to respond to your comment. I really appreciate your review. I am coming back to fanfic after a longish hiatus, and I hope to update all of my WIPs very soon. (Some of what went on with Severus's parents can be glimpsed in "Charming the Scottish Garden," which is set in the late 50s and focusses on Siofre and Johannes. You don't have to read that story to enjoy LVS, though.) Thanks very much for your review! I do hope to post a new chapter of Long Vernal Season within the next couple of weeks.
Im glad i chose to read this chapter last before going to bed. It's raining outside my window now which makes it even easier to imagine the scene you've set before us. I love that Severus and Poppy are moving forward with their relationshp and growing more comfortable with each other. And who wouldn't wanna be snuggled up with the one they love when it's raining outside? Sigh. LOVED IT!!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thanks! It's good to write a relationship that's progressing.I'm glad you liked the rainy seaside snuggling! :-)
It's a lovely story. I look forward to new installments.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you very much, Dorit!The next chapter is underway, though slowly. I'm glad to know you're looking forward to it! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you very much, Dorit!The next chapter is underway, though slowly. I'm glad to know you're looking forward to it!
Yay, an update!!I loved the interaction with Siofre, Poppy, and Severus in this chapter. I think Siofre is trying, in her own way, to make Severus feel welcomed on the estate and I think it was great that she gave them each a charm so they could Apparate. And the surprise with the flowers and the note at the cottage was perfect. I loved it and I think my heart melted with Poppy's. lol
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Siofre is trying to make Severus feel welcome, as you say, and to let him know that he is both safe and trusted there. It's a bit of an unusual circumstance for him.Poppy's heart sure did melt -- I think Severus should be very happy about that! :-)Thanks for the review! (I'm hoping for another soonish, but I'm working on CSG at the moment -- it's kinda fun writing Siofre at these two different points in time.)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Siofre is trying to make Severus feel welcome, as you say, and to let him know that he is both safe and trusted there. It's a bit of an unusual circumstance for him.Poppy's heart sure did melt -- I think Severus should be very happy about that! :-)Thanks for the review! (I'm hoping for another soonish, but I'm working on CSG at the moment -- it's kinda fun writing Siofre at these two different points in time.)
I was so thrilled to see you posted another chapter! Glad to hear that the writing bug has bitten you again and hope you are well.
Regarding this chapter I found your ideas about arithmantic charms fascinating; what a creative mind you have! Severus bringing up procreation was funny and interesting. I had assumed Poppy was past her childbearing years. As always, looking forward to more.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thanks,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! Glad you liked the Arithmantic charms -- it was fun to be able to work them in here and show Gareth practicing his specialization. I figure that with much longer lifespans than Muggles, witches have correspondingly longer procreative years, although it would be a rare thing for a witch past a certain age to actually have a child, both due to a decline in fertility w/o recourse to potions and to personal choice. You may remember that in Death's Dominion, Severus didn't automatically realise that Gareth was Gertrude's son because, as he remarked later to Hermione, she was pretty old when she had him, unusually so (67 yrs old). So Poppy continues to take contraceptive potion on the off-chance that she might become pregnant even without any fertility potions. It's good to be back with my characters and stories again -- I've missed them! I've also just missed having the mental and emotional space to write; it's good to have RL calming down a bit! I'm glad to see you're still around, too! It's been a while!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thanks,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! Glad you liked the Arithmantic charms -- it was fun to be able to work them in here and show Gareth practicing his specialization. I figure that with much longer lifespans than Muggles, witches have correspondingly longer procreative years, although it would be a rare thing for a witch past a certain age to actually have a child, both due to a decline in fertility w/o recourse to potions and to personal choice. You may remember that in Death's Dominion, Severus didn't automatically realise that Gareth was Gertrude's son because, as he remarked later to Hermione, she was pretty old when she had him, unusually so (67 yrs old). So Poppy continues to take contraceptive potion on the off-chance that she might become pregnant even without any fertility potions. It's good to be back with my characters and stories again -- I've missed them! I've also just missed having the mental and emotional space to write; it's good to have RL calming down a bit! I'm glad to see you're still around, too! It's been a while!
Loved it! I thought Severus was about to propose! You're killing me. 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hiya,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm glad it didn't kill you, since then you'd miss the rest of the story! haha! 
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! It was really fun to get back to the story.Thanks very much! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hiya,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm glad it didn't kill you, since then you'd miss the rest of the story! haha! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! It was really fun to get back to the story.Thanks very much!
This is the first time she said it, isn't it?Oh, that's wonderful :) glad you're back again!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Indeed it is!It's good to see you -- I'm glad I'm back again, too!
Response from herby (Reviewer)
Oh, I forgot: Congrats on 2nd place! :)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Indeed it is!It's good to see you -- I'm glad I'm back again, too!
Response from herby (Reviewer)
Oh, I forgot: Congrats on 2nd place! :)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you!
When will your next updaate be?
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm not sure. October was a really hard month, so I wasn't able to write for the last few weeks, and November is looking a bit better, but I'm trying to get myself back on track with things before I can write. I'm glad you're still following the story! :-) Thanks for staying in touch with it even if it's been a bit skimpy in updates recently.
Response from BitBit (Reviewer)
Sorry you've been having a hard time! Don't worry, I LOVE this story. Can't wait!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I'm not sure. October was a really hard month, so I wasn't able to write for the last few weeks, and November is looking a bit better, but I'm trying to get myself back on track with things before I can write. I'm glad you're still following the story! :-) Thanks for staying in touch with it even if it's been a bit skimpy in updates recently.
Response from BitBit (Reviewer)
Sorry you've been having a hard time! Don't worry, I LOVE this story. Can't wait!
I can't wait to hear what happens next! Hope to see the next chapter soon!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! It's in the works -- it's been a really tough month, so little energy for writing, but I'm trying to plug away. Thanks for dropping me a note! I always enjoy hearing from readers who are enjoying the story. It's very encouraging.
Response from Applebee545 (Reviewer)
So happy to hear that!! Your welcome and can't wait to see it! :)
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hi,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! It's in the works -- it's been a really tough month, so little energy for writing, but I'm trying to plug away. Thanks for dropping me a note! I always enjoy hearing from readers who are enjoying the story. It's very encouraging.
Response from Applebee545 (Reviewer)
So happy to hear that!! Your welcome and can't wait to see it! :)
First off let me just say I love this story, very creative, but come on! You're driving me insane! Please just marry them already it would be adorable! And Severus talking about children- I almost fainted! Can Poppy still have children? Anywyas, I can't wait for your next update! 
Response from BitBit (Reviewer)
Oh and when will you tell us Poppy's middle name, that whole thing is hilarious!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'm glad you love the story! There's more to go -- mysteries to solve & all that -- and I hope you enjoy that, as well. :-)Witches can continue to have children a few decades longer than Muggle women, though in the last decade or two, they may need a bit of help from potions. Gertrude had Gareth when she was 67 with a bit of help from potions -- and because Malcolm really wanted a child with her. There are actually hints to the reader as to what Poppy's middle name might be -- in the title of the story (though that also expresses what Severus is experiencing throughout the story), in Firenze's prediction back in Part 2, and in Aine's prediction a little while back.Thanks for the review! I might try to write a bit on LVS today.
Response from BitBit (Reviewer)
Oh and when will you tell us Poppy's middle name, that whole thing is hilarious!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'm glad you love the story! There's more to go -- mysteries to solve & all that -- and I hope you enjoy that, as well. :-)Witches can continue to have children a few decades longer than Muggle women, though in the last decade or two, they may need a bit of help from potions. Gertrude had Gareth when she was 67 with a bit of help from potions -- and because Malcolm really wanted a child with her. There are actually hints to the reader as to what Poppy's middle name might be -- in the title of the story (though that also expresses what Severus is experiencing throughout the story), in Firenze's prediction back in Part 2, and in Aine's prediction a little while back.Thanks for the review! I might try to write a bit on LVS today.
Another awesome chapter to the story, woo hoo.Loved the "procreation" bit of the chapter. I can't believe Severus went there, teehee. And poor Poppy ... that must have caught her off guard. Cracks me up. And I'm dying to know more about the letters!!!Update soon.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yep, that certainly did catch Poppy off-guard! Glad it gave you a giggle!We'll get to the letters, never fear! Thanks! Glad you liked it. 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yep, that certainly did catch Poppy off-guard! Glad it gave you a giggle!We'll get to the letters, never fear! Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Woah! That's a teaser! I am DIEING to know what the letters say! Awesome way to set the chappie up. I loved the nudges - and I won't say more on that. I am most interested in all the explanations of Arithmancy - a lot of your ideas about magic give me ideas on how to work around my ideas of magic, if that makes any sense. You and Squibby both have great scientific ideas in relationships with magic - and I just love to read how they weave together. As I grow older, I am learning - everything in this world - living, dead or otherwise, even history, is interwoven into nearly everything else. Almost every act and every creature has a direct affect on the rest of the world if you travel along the path long enough. I find this interweaving so facinating.Bla bla bla, enough of my rambling - an excellent suspense chapter - has me chomping at the bit to find out WHAT is going on with Severus' parents!And, was I misreading, but is Poppy a tad uncertain about Sevy here? She doesn't seem as relaxed and confident as usual.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
You'll find out a bit more about what the letters say in the next chapter, but not everything until Severus reads them. It ties in with a lot of bits and pieces we've been gleaning about Severus's parents since Part One, as well as tying into what we learn about Eileen & her father in Charming the Scottish Garden -- there will be a bit of a recap of that in LVS for Severus's sake (and for readers who aren't reading the late 50s, early 60s CSG fic).Poppy isn't uncertain, though she does show hesitation in a couple spots. Naturally, she was a bit taken aback with the sudden mention of procreation! lol! But her other hesitancy has a reason for it, which will come out in the next chapter. No big deal, though.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
I was thining she might be a tad threatened by Gareth, since Severus has told her of a more friendly relationship that they had - thought she might have some doubts. I certainly have to get back into CSG, that's for sure - I've forgotten a great deal.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
No, she's not. Gareth just dominates the conversation here a bit. As he is quite capable of doing! lol!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
HAHA! Some of us are like that, especially when you get us on a subject we love. Gareth has good company - is all I'm gonna say! *grins* 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
You'll find out a bit more about what the letters say in the next chapter, but not everything until Severus reads them. It ties in with a lot of bits and pieces we've been gleaning about Severus's parents since Part One, as well as tying into what we learn about Eileen & her father in Charming the Scottish Garden -- there will be a bit of a recap of that in LVS for Severus's sake (and for readers who aren't reading the late 50s, early 60s CSG fic).Poppy isn't uncertain, though she does show hesitation in a couple spots. Naturally, she was a bit taken aback with the sudden mention of procreation! lol! But her other hesitancy has a reason for it, which will come out in the next chapter. No big deal, though.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
I was thining she might be a tad threatened by Gareth, since Severus has told her of a more friendly relationship that they had - thought she might have some doubts. I certainly have to get back into CSG, that's for sure - I've forgotten a great deal.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
No, she's not. Gareth just dominates the conversation here a bit. As he is quite capable of doing! lol!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
HAHA! Some of us are like that, especially when you get us on a subject we love. Gareth has good company - is all I'm gonna say! *grins*
I enjoyed the exploration of Arithmancy and its many applications in the wizarding world. It must be a lot of fun to take canonical concepts and expand on them in such an interesting way.Poor Severus had a bit of a slip there! Procreation?
He's certainly blunt about his intentions toward Poppy in that bit. He can't have had much of a love life in the past, though, so enjoyable sex must be something new to him, as well as someone who reciprocates his love for her. It's lovely to see him have a second chance at love as well as life. I always love to see Gareth and his relationship with Snape, particularly their banter. They've come a long way from their first hostile meeting in DD, that's for sure!It was a lot of fun to see Angus Og make a little cameo at the end of the chapter, especially now that I know he's the Celtic god of love. A suitable entity for Severus to call on, certainly.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
It is fun to play with magic in the stories. I enjoy trying to systemetize it while still keeping it magical and a bit mysterious. (Heck, a lot mysterious in most cases, since it's magic! ) I see basic Arithmancy as a bit like symbolic logic combined with physics, and advanced Arithmancy like theoretical physics plus its practical application in creating effects in the world, not just describing it, so rather well differentiated from "Muggle" numerology, in which everything is reduced to numbers. In my version of magical Arithmancy, other symbols are used to, and they can mean different things and have different "powers" depending upon their juxtaposition with other symbols, whether numeric or otherwise. Yep, I have spent far too much time contemplating a wholly imaginary magical system! lol!Severus did have a little slip that showed Poppy the general direction of his intentions, didn't he?Yes, good ol' Angus Og. Minerva has been using terms from Celtic myths & legends this year for her passwords, and she's particularly fond of that one because of the story her brother Malcolm told her about Angus Og.Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
It is fun to play with magic in the stories. I enjoy trying to systemetize it while still keeping it magical and a bit mysterious. (Heck, a lot mysterious in most cases, since it's magic! ) I see basic Arithmancy as a bit like symbolic logic combined with physics, and advanced Arithmancy like theoretical physics plus its practical application in creating effects in the world, not just describing it, so rather well differentiated from "Muggle" numerology, in which everything is reduced to numbers. In my version of magical Arithmancy, other symbols are used to, and they can mean different things and have different "powers" depending upon their juxtaposition with other symbols, whether numeric or otherwise. Yep, I have spent far too much time contemplating a wholly imaginary magical system! lol!Severus did have a little slip that showed Poppy the general direction of his intentions, didn't he?Yes, good ol' Angus Og. Minerva has been using terms from Celtic myths & legends this year for her passwords, and she's particularly fond of that one because of the story her brother Malcolm told her about Angus Og.Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Welcome, Welcome back! I have so enjoyed your stories. I am currently rereading this one to again familiarize myself with the 'danglimg plot clues.' I must admit to a secret desire... Would truly love to see you get the Potions Master into a kilt. Full Scottish.regalia would be even better! Thank You again for taking the time to dream and compose a follow-on tale for the Professor.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hello, Sehkmet! (Love your name!) Yes, there are a very many dangling clues in this story, and they are going to begin to gradually come together. I'm very glad that you're enjoying the story. :-)Severus in a kilt? Hmmm, must think about how to achieve that one . . . maybe in a side-story. Could make for some fun. Naturally, it couldn't be of his own accord. Bad bet with Gareth, perhaps? The possibilities abound!Thank you very much for your kind words! It's especially encouraging coming back from a longish hiatus.Have fun with the reread! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Hello, Sehkmet! (Love your name!) Yes, there are a very many dangling clues in this story, and they are going to begin to gradually come together. I'm very glad that you're enjoying the story. :-)Severus in a kilt? Hmmm, must think about how to achieve that one . . . maybe in a side-story. Could make for some fun. Naturally, it couldn't be of his own accord. Bad bet with Gareth, perhaps? The possibilities abound!Thank you very much for your kind words! It's especially encouraging coming back from a longish hiatus.Have fun with the reread!
It was interesting to see Alastor again here. He seems to be on slightly better terms with Snape, although their relationship is certainly a tense one. They're both intense figures who can hold grudges. Burns certainly sounds like a suspect! I'm interested to see where questioning her leads. She doesn't seem to understand that not all Slytherins are as bad as Polyphemus and the toe-rag (in the immortal words of Minerva McGonagall) were.I hope the vigilante is caught soon, especially now that someone has died as a result of her actions. The use of the Conruptus spell is a truly disturbed touch, especially combined with the "diseased flesh" rhetoric. I'd certainly be wary if I was a crook and had Mad-Eye Moody on my tail!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Moody is trying to be conciliatory to Snape, but Moody doesn't do conciliatory very well, and Snape isn't the most forgiving soul. Considering their personalities and their histories, they're actually getting along pretty well now! lol!Yep, the vigilante's choice of hexes is particularly nasty. "Disturbed" is a good word for it.I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Moody is trying to be conciliatory to Snape, but Moody doesn't do conciliatory very well, and Snape isn't the most forgiving soul. Considering their personalities and their histories, they're actually getting along pretty well now! lol!Yep, the vigilante's choice of hexes is particularly nasty. "Disturbed" is a good word for it.I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
I will put a £ on Burns, can't wait so learn if I am right.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'll make a note of that!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
I'll make a note of that!
Seems like forever since we've had an update so I'm very happy to see one now. I'm very pleased Poppy rushed home to be with Severus after the attack. I think these two are just adorable (don't tell Snape I said that) and for her to endure the wrath of her friends upon coming home early ... I think Severus better really appreciate her gesture. And the bit about Minerva and Gertie before they became friends ... awesome. I love how all your stories tie in together. Can't stand Moody, though that's probably b/c you've written him so well. haha.Hope you'll update again soon!!CFP,the GLM
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yeah, Moody can be pretty abrasive, and since Snape still doesn't like him, that comes through here.I'm sure that Severus both appreciates the gesture and regrets it -- since it raised questions in her friends' minds about why she would leave -- but on the whole, he is very glad she's back, and he's glad that she is willing to leave her friends when she believes he needs her, and that she is willing to be put in an awkward position to do it.I'm working on "Stray" at the moment. It's a bit weird to switch back and forth between "Stray" and LVS, but sometimes I write on one, sometimes the other. It's easier when I'm writing two RaMverse fics because, as you say, the stories all tie together, but "Stray" is not set in the RaMverse and it has a canon-compliant (pretty much) Snape, not the more reformed Snape of the RaMverse.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yeah, Moody can be pretty abrasive, and since Snape still doesn't like him, that comes through here.I'm sure that Severus both appreciates the gesture and regrets it -- since it raised questions in her friends' minds about why she would leave -- but on the whole, he is very glad she's back, and he's glad that she is willing to leave her friends when she believes he needs her, and that she is willing to be put in an awkward position to do it.I'm working on "Stray" at the moment. It's a bit weird to switch back and forth between "Stray" and LVS, but sometimes I write on one, sometimes the other. It's easier when I'm writing two RaMverse fics because, as you say, the stories all tie together, but "Stray" is not set in the RaMverse and it has a canon-compliant (pretty much) Snape, not the more reformed Snape of the RaMverse.
*snip*“He’s dead. Died an hour or so after reaching St. Mungo’s. Poor sod didn’t have a chance. It was another Conruptus, but this one hit his abdomen, practically dead centre. The damage was extensive. Even if he’d been found right away, the Healers say his chances of surviving such a bad hit were close to nil. Looks like his wife has a good chance of pulling through. She was hit second, and she’d turned to shield her children. The youngest was in her arms.” Moody’s cheek twitched, and his natural eye blinked. He swallowed and shifted in his chair, his claw-foot scraping against the stone floor. *snip*Awwwwwwwwwwwwww - is that Alastor nearly getting choked up???? AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! I wuvs my Alastor! 
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yeah, just a bit! I know you love your Alastor!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Yeah, just a bit! I know you love your Alastor!
Two witches, managing their men... both very skillfully.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Sometimes necessary!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Sometimes necessary!
Poor Poppy. It's a miserable feeling to constantly watch out for someone else at a party, making sure they're enjoying themselves or at least not unhappy.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
If Poppy had any clue that Severus is particularly uncomfortable with Gertrude, then she'd be even more worried about that, but she is certainly drawn from her enjoyment of the party during her initial worries that Severus is unhappy. Fortunately, that improves, because, as you say, it can be miserable to constantly be watching to see if someone is enjoying themselves! You can't enjoy the party yourself.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
If Poppy had any clue that Severus is particularly uncomfortable with Gertrude, then she'd be even more worried about that, but she is certainly drawn from her enjoyment of the party during her initial worries that Severus is unhappy. Fortunately, that improves, because, as you say, it can be miserable to constantly be watching to see if someone is enjoying themselves! You can't enjoy the party yourself.
Ha! Panacea - I knew it. The contrast between how the three of them approached the door-riddle was perfect. Flitwick loving the challenge, Poppy game for it but seemingly unconcerned about failing, and Severus annoyed at the inconvienience and protective of his dignity.And the contrast between the way Severus and Poppy viewed her younger self was sweet, too. She's still a bit worried and insecure about their age difference, and he's so in love with her that he considers any Pre-Sev version as simply Poppy-in-development.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Panacea is definitely a good one to add to the list!Glad you enjoyed the different perspectives!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Panacea is definitely a good one to add to the list!Glad you enjoyed the different perspectives!
I'm so glad he got that off his chest! And that Poppy took it well. It's a good thing she's both mature and has a real generosity of spirit, otherwise his habit of blurting things out could get him into deep trouble. And this time they were only cuddling, not even post-coital. LOL.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
That was a big blurt, too! Fortunately, Poppy also has learned to try to digest something that surprises her before blurting something herself. lol!Severus is trying to behave differently with Poppy and be as open with her as possible (though he's still hiding some big secrets from her), and he's unfortunately going to an extreme in his honesty. Still, his instincts are basically right; he's just not very good at timing or wording yet, to say the least!
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
That was a big blurt, too! Fortunately, Poppy also has learned to try to digest something that surprises her before blurting something herself. lol!Severus is trying to behave differently with Poppy and be as open with her as possible (though he's still hiding some big secrets from her), and he's unfortunately going to an extreme in his honesty. Still, his instincts are basically right; he's just not very good at timing or wording yet, to say the least!
Anonymous
Sorry if this is a short one - I just wanted to let you know how happy I was about the update, and how much I liked it.
Poor Severus, to have to meet that Gwen person - but it's only natural, of course, that this will happen to him now and then. And I nearly had forgotten about the attacks. I'm getting more and more curious about their origin!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It has been so long since I've updated on a regular basis, it's not surprising you had forgotten about the attacks. I hope to update at least twice a month from now on -- barring major disruptions in RL.
Thanks again!
What a lovely fun chapter! I'm so happy and excited to be reading a new chapter of this story. I so adore your Severus and how he's come to interact with the others in such a friendly way. Reading about dueling parctice was fun - I think I've said it before but I vastly enjoy your creative use and explanations of magic. Charms, Transfiguration, Jinxes, spells, intention, all of it actually seems to make sense in a way that I could actually use it (if I were a witch and if magic actually existed.) You make it so real, so effortless, such a part of the way of things -- it's like watching Fred Astaire dance... effortless - we all think we could actually do that. Seeing how Madam Fuller reacted to the situation makes me appreciate Poppy all the more. I loved Melina oblivating her - what a surprising and fun moment. I can just imagine the look on Severus' face and the conspiriatorial comradery he'll now feel with Melina. Hope there will be more to this story soon. Thank you for your creativity and hard work.
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
Thank you very much for the review,
Response from MMADfan (Author of A Long Vernal Season)
! I am very glad you enjoyed it.If you ever wake up to discover yourself a witch in the middle of the HP universe, you can put your knowledge of magic to work! lol! (And not go trying untested zero-g charms on people!) I'm glad you like the magic. It is fun to construct. I had a particularly good time with Flitwick's hyperbaric treatment, although the details of it weren't sketched out here.Glad you enjoyed Melina's little surprise at the end of the chapter!Thanks again for your review and for returning to the story after such a long hiatus. Hopefully, the next chapter won't be so long in coming! (I'm working on a novella-length Hooch fic at the moment, and I'm trying to get that finished sometime this week. We'll see! Keep an eye out for that one. It's not RaMverse, though -- Snape's in it, and he's our canon Potions master.)