Chapter Seventy-Two: Home

Chapter Seventy-Two: Home

Monday, 22 March 1999

"Where can he be?" Poppy asked as the small clock on her office wall gave a low ding indicating the half-hour mark had been reached. "You said he'd contact you if he wouldn't be here by eight-thirty, didn't you?"

Minerva nodded. "But he could be on his way and not had a chance to send a Patronus." Poppy had been pacing nervously since they had moved over to her office ten minutes earlier.

"He told me he would meet me here at eight-thirty, as well," the matron said, pausing once more to look out her window at the Hogwarts gates. She wished that there were a few torches closer to the gates. The shadows were murky, and she could imagine assassins lying in wait for Severus and Draco as they returned, leaping upon them just as they were about to reach the safety of the school grounds. "They never should have left when they did. They should have waited and gone when they could return in the daylight, even if that meant cancelling a class or two."

"You know that Severus wouldn't agree to that. I also expect that Malfoy's request had some urgency to it," Minerva replied, forcing herself to remain more calm in the face of Poppy's agitation. "I am sure he is fine. The two of them together would prove a formidable target for anyone. I think the attacker is a coward. He's always attacked his targets when they've been alone and unaided. Malfoy can't even carry a wand."

"But the attacks are escalating, you said, and if the people...or person...is growing bolder or more desperate for success, they might attack despite the fact that there are two of them."

"Let's wait a while longer before we panic, eh?" Minerva said. "I doubt that it would please him to return, perfectly whole and well, to two hysterical witches."

Poppy nodded and tried to restrain herself from pacing. She didn't bother pretending to be calm, however, and stood by the window watching the gates, straining her eyes to see into the dark.

"Can we lower the lights a bit, Min? It's hard to see the grounds when it's so light in here. And maybe you could do that cat-thing you do to your eyes? You can probably see the gates better than I."

Minerva shook her head, but lowered the office lights and drew her wand to cast her charm on her eyes. "It's not very effective under these conditions," she said. "I really doubt that I'll see much more than you can."

Poppy shrugged. "I think you should put torches right at the gates, or even large lanterns. Yes, that would be better. Or perhaps great reflecting lamps like they have at..."

"I will have Rath and Shunpike see to the lighting tomorrow. You are right, it should be better lit down there. But I think that a couple of small lanterns will be sufficient. Thank you for pointing that out, however."

Poppy nodded. "Is that them?" she asked, seeing a shadow move. "Or someone else?"

"No, just a breeze through the trees," Minerva said. "I'll have them trimmed back a bit, as well."

Five minutes later, Severus and Draco appeared, just inches from the gates in a very precise Apparition, and Poppy breathed a sigh of relief as Severus reached out and opened the gate, allowing Draco to step through first. With the two safely behind the closed Hogwarts gates, Minerva raised the lights again.

"There. They were less than fifteen minutes later than Severus had expected. He was probably underway and it would have taken more time for him to find somewhere to cast his Patronus discreetly than he wished to take," Minerva said sensibly, though she was also clearly relieved by the wizards' safe arrival. "Not to mention that it could take several minutes for a Patronus to arrive. He might be back before the Patronus even got here."

"True. I don't suppose it would do for him to begin casting Patronuses out on the pavement outside Mungo's, either...or even in the middle of Diagon Alley, for that matter." Poppy watched the two walk up the drive toward the castle. "He looks very tired, though, and . . . stiff. I hope he is all right."

"Likely just a long day. And if Malfoy was in Mungo's secure ward, he would have had those stairs to navigate. I hear that they are quite a detriment to casual visitors and curious Lookie Lous," Minerva said.

"That's true," Poppy said with a nod.

"Now remember, Poppy, no fussing over him. He threatened to quit the last time that I suggested he not leave the castle for a while."

Poppy nodded. "I'll get ready for our meeting, then. Things are proceeding smoothly, and I think everything will be ready for the staff training. Gladys and Healer Brighthead have both volunteered to come in and work with the students individually or in groups, as well, on their own time."

"Brighthead? I didn't think much of him when I saw him a couple times myself back in June when Boneset insisted upon it, but . . ." Minerva shrugged. "Perhaps he'd be fine with the children. Kept wanting me to focus on some of the most ridiculous things, and nothing that was really the issue. He acted like I was some poor old dithery academic caught up in some . . . some nasty business. Like I was only a victim or something. Hardly. It was less what happened to me or what I'd seen that bothered me...then and now...than what I'd had to do, the decisions I'd had to make. But perhaps with children, that approach might work. Of course, I don't think he could get beyond thinking of me as his former Transfiguration teacher, either, and that probably didn't help matters. It was likely difficult for him to envision the teacher who had taught him how to Transfigure a snail into a snuffbox turning around a couple dozen years later and ordering people to their deaths, or instructing them to kill . . ." Minerva shook her head distractedly. "I'm sorry, Poppy. I don't know what that has to do with anything. Just look after Severus tonight, and don't fuss too much. Probably best if he doesn't know we were worried about him."

In her office, Poppy could hear Minerva speak briefly to Severus outside the door to the infirmary. Unable to pretend that she was merely concentrating on the training schedules, she got up and started into the infirmary. As soon as she saw Severus, his eyes seeming bleak and his face, pale, she hastened to him. Whatever had kept him, it hadn't been a pleasure jaunt, and she was relieved to see him back safe.

"Poppy, I'm sorry I am later than I'd thought," Severus said apologetically.

"I'm glad you're back. Oh, Severus, I am glad you are here!" She slipped her arms around under his cloak, held onto him, and felt him relax into her embrace and let out a long sigh. She gave him a squeeze, then raised her face to look up at him. "You seem tired. Did you eat? No? Then we'll have something now together."

"I don't know if I could," Severus said. "I don't think I have any appetite."

"Something light. A nice omelette. Then we can work on the project, if you like."

He shook his head. "I know we should, but could it wait? I don't think I can think about that this evening."

"Of course. There really isn't much left to discuss, anyway," Poppy said, taking his hand and stepping back to get a better look at him. She raised her other hand and caressed his face. "You do look tired."

He nodded. "It has been a long day, that's all. I'll be fine." He smiled slightly and returned her gesture, caressing her cheek lightly. "Don't worry about me, Poppy."

"I can't help it. Minerva told me you were seeing the Malfoys. I was worried about you. And when you were late, I kept imagining what awful things might be happening to you...I'm sorry, I shouldn't fuss," she said quickly. "You're here now, after all."

"She mentioned the vigilante to you, then? And her own concerns about me?" Severus asked. At Poppy's reluctant nod, Severus sighed and pulled her toward him, putting his arms around her. "I wish she hadn't. I don't want you to worry."

Poppy could feel him breathe in deeply, then let it out slowly before he kissed the top of her head.

"I can't help it," she said, "but I will try not to bother you about it, make a fuss."

"I knew we were running late, but it just didn't seem there was a good opportunity to send the Headmistress a Patronus, and all I wanted . . . all I wanted was to not delay any longer so I could get back here as soon as possible."

"Did you see Lucius, then?" She felt him nod. "Was that hard? Is he terribly injured from the attack?"

Severus shook his head and let her go. "No. He looks as though he will recover quite well. But it was a highly unpleasant excursion, nonetheless."

"Let's go to my rooms and get something to eat and you can rest. I think I could manage something, myself, now that I know you are safe and sound."

"You didn't eat?" Severus asked as Poppy drew her wand to turn out the lights and close her office door.

"It wasn't very good tonight," Poppy replied.

"Come here," Severus said, turning her to face him. "Did Minerva disturb you with her concerns during dinner? She oughtn't have said anything to you. You mustn't worry about me, Poppy, and neglect yourself!"

"I couldn't help it. The thought of some maniac attacking you . . . doing who-knew-what, it just put me off my food. And it really wasn't very good tonight," she said lightly. "I did have one of those delicious Florentines, though." She smiled up at him. "That put me in a better mood."

"That is insufficient, however," Severus said sternly. "You always tell me to eat properly. You should do the same."

Poppy laughed. "Then join me for some supper?"

Severus smiled and nodded.

In her suite, Poppy called Perlie and conferred with her quietly about their supper. When Perlie had popped away, she turned to Severus. "I thought I'd make some tea for us myself. I'd make the jasmine tea, but I don't think either of us needs the stimulation. Do you have any preference in herbal tea?"

Severus shook his head. "Whatever you would like. And let me help you."

"There's not much to do, but keep me company? I'd like that."

A few minutes later, both were sitting on her sofa, Severus pouring the herbal chai for them.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Poppy asked. "It sounds as though the visit was disturbing to you. Did he say something to you that was upsetting? Or did Narcissa?"

Severus shook his head and took a sip of tea. "No. He did ask a favour of me, but that was merely . . . somewhat irksome, I suppose. When I left here this afternoon after classes, I thought that the worst thing was having to postpone our meeting, when I had been looking forward to it. And I suppose, in a way, that still was the hardest thing." He twitched a slight smile at her. "But then we visited Narcissa, who is in some house that is being used by the Department of Mysteries for something highly mysterious, being kept a virtual prisoner, though in pleasant enough surroundings, I suppose. I think her greatest burden is boredom and separation from Lucius. When we arrived at St. Mungo's, we made a quick stop in the gift shop, and it began to feel like an ordinary sort of hospital visit. You know, sweets, reading material, well-wishes, then on our way . . ." Severus paused to finish his cup of tea.

"But then?"

"I had heard, of course, that there was some new secure ward to treat patients who were convicted Death Eaters, or for other dangerous offenders who need medical treatment, and I knew that there were a few long-term patients there, people who couldn't easily be housed in any of the Ministry's new prisons or who needed constant medical care. But I didn't know much about it. I suppose . . . perhaps I didn't want to know very much about it. Anyway, I didn't realise that it was underground. Not just in a lower level, either, but..."

"Yes, I know. It's a very secure facility. I've not seen it myself, but I've heard about it."

"Poppy, I thought that the worst part of having to go there to see Malfoy would be the climb down and then the climb back out. And that was bad enough, but . . ." Severus shook his head. "They really should have a lift."

"They do, for St. Mungo's personnel. And, I presume, for most of the other regular prison staff that run the place," Poppy replied, "but I think the stairs are there to provide as much a psychological barrier and distance from the outside world as to provide any kind of real security."

"Oh, it was a barrier. I'll not return there. Never." He looked over at her seriously. "Poppy, promise me something. Promise me that if anything happens to me, if I am ever injured, you won't let them put me there. Promise me. Even if they say it's for my safety."

"I..."

"Please, Poppy."

"Yes, I promise. I will do all in my power to make sure that never happens. I'll kidnap you myself, if I have to. But I hope that no such occasion ever arises!"

"As do I, but if it should . . ." He shook his head. "Going down those steps, those seemingly unending steps, I felt as though we were entering hell. Even the effect on my magic . . . there were wards that seemed to press against me as if to squeeze my breath from me, and it made me dizzy, though the sensation did pass."

"Probably not the wards," Poppy said.

"I could feel them..." Severus began.

"I'm sure you felt some very strong charms, but the effect you describe was probably from the spatial distortion."

"Spatial distortion?" Severus asked.

"I'm not even supposed to know this, so you shouldn't repeat it, but the unit is not as far down as it seems to be."

"What?"

"They brought in architects and gravitomancers from Switzerland to do a lot of the spellwork. There's a point a few hundred feet down where they've used spatial charms to create the sensation that you are going down. And I suppose you actually are going down, in a way, but in reality, the stairs are going sideways, and in a circle. Then just before you get to the final flight of stairs, the spatial distortion is removed, and you begin to go down again."

"What?" Severus repeated, staring at Poppy.

Poppy nodded at Severus's incredulous expression. "Have you ever been in any of those passages here at Hogwarts where it feels like you're walking in a level corridor but you're actually going up or down? It's the opposite of that effect. From what I understand, about two-thirds of the stairs go through a Charmed spatial distortion. It still requires the same amount of effort to climb the stairs as it would if they were actually going up and down, though. You must be exhausted."

Severus was still looking at her in disbelief. "You mean that it's not hundreds of feet underground?"

"It's still pretty far, but it's not as far as it seems."

He shook his head. "Well, if they wanted to make it a labourious and off-putting exercise, they certainly fulfilled their mission."

"It does make it harder to get in and out, I'm sure," Poppy said. "What's it like when you get down there?"

"Cold. Not literally. But very sterile, very light. Almost too clean feeling. Inhuman, somehow. But I didn't see any evidence that anyone was being mistreated, and the staff seems professional. The one in charge tonight, Madam Framingham, did her job without making it seem as though we were the criminals. They're careful about what's brought in, though, and who the visitors are."

"Alberta Framingham is working there? It would be a good position for her, I'd think. She's very smart, and competent at everything she does."

"I don't know her first name. She said that her husband is your Mrs Framingham's grandson."

Poppy nodded. "John. He was a Healer at St. Mungo's when I did my training. Alberta is a few years younger than I am. She trained as a mediwitch before she went to work for the Ministry with their Obliviators. She moved around a lot at the Ministry, and last I'd heard, she was working in the Department of Mysteries, but that was about a decade ago." Poppy quirked a smile. "I actually dated John when I was at Mungo's, but we fell out of touch."

"Is that why you have her portrait hanging on your door?" Severus asked. He wondered if she still carried a torch for the Healer after all those years.

"I thought it seemed amusing at the time, you know, the way things do."

Severus nodded. He didn't really see, but he thought that perhaps it was the sort of thing witches might understand better.

Perlie arrived just then, platters floating above her head.

"Thank you, Perlie. Just set it all over on the table."

Poppy and Severus stood and went over to the table on the other side of the room.

"I asked for a spinach and mushroom omelette with Gorgonzola cheese," she said as Severus held her chair for her. "I hope that tastes good to you tonight."

"It does sound good," Severus said.

In addition to the omelette, there was a long loaf of French bread, butter, a mixed green salad, and a carafe of cider.

"If you don't want cider, we could have more tea, or there's water..."

"The cider's fine, Poppy," Severus said, pouring them each a glass.

They ate in silence for a while, Poppy pleased to see that Severus's appetite had returned and that he was enjoying the omelette.

When he had finished and pushed his plate away, Poppy got up and went around the table to stand behind him. As she rubbed his shoulders, Severus let out a sigh and relaxed.

"Now, you were going to tell me more about your visit with Lucius, I believe," Poppy said, giving him one final squeeze.

"Yes. As I say, he had a favour to ask of me. Nothing particularly . . . unpleasant," Severus added as he stood from the table, "but probably difficult." As they sat together on the couch, he recounted Lucius's story of his rescue by the Muggle.

"I can't imagine that they would simply Obliviate him and not treat him for any injuries," Poppy said. "They don't like Muggles to be admitted to hospital with mysterious, inexplicable symptoms. It still happens, of course, but if they Obliviated him, I would think they'd do something to treat him, too. You can probably find out either from the MLE or from the Muggle Liaison Office who the man was."

"If they will tell me."

"Melina could probably find out for you. I'm sure she would. If you like, I could ask her. Pop around to Edinburgh tomorrow during the day, and we might have an answer for you by the time you're finished teaching in the afternoon. That way you wouldn't have to go out again, either."

"I can hardly avoid leaving the castle altogether," Severus said, "although you are correct. It would save me a trip. But Lucius asked the favour of me. I can't very well ask you to do this."

"You aren't asking. I'm offering. I'd like to see Melina, in any case, and depending on how much time I can be away, I might even be able to get in a little shopping and have lunch out. I'm overdue for a real day off, anyway." She grinned at him. "I'd feel like a genuine sleuth. I might even be able to find out where he lives for you. It could be fun."

Since Severus had not been looking forward to the task and Poppy seemed so eager to help, he nodded. "Very well. But don't speak of it with anyone you don't have to. I know you are discreet, but I'd just as soon not have people think I'm out . . . out Muggle-stalking or something."

"Oh, don't worry about that! If Melina doesn't know who the man is and can't find out easily, I can do a little digging around on my own, but I won't bring your name into it at all."

"All right. I'd appreciate that. Thank you. But do not be concerned if you are unable to discover anything. Malfoy may simply need to be disappointed."

"I'll give it a shot, though," Poppy said. "What about the rest of your visit?" She placed her hand on his arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Severus leaned his head back against the back of the sofa and looked at the ceiling. "It was a peculiar experience, in any case, seeing Malfoy there...and I caught a glimpse of Pettigrew, still in his coma...and knowing that most of the others there were convicted Death Eaters . . . it reminded me forcefully of what could have happened to me if I had survived and not been . . . not been exonerated."

"You didn't require exoneration," Poppy broke in. "Not this time around. We all knew what you were doing for us. Shacklebolt knew. Even if everyone else at Hogwarts had died and somehow you had lived, no one would have let you go to prison after all you had done to help defeat Riddle."

Severus twitched a slight smile at her. "Perhaps. I do not share your bright view, but I must admit to finding it a comfort."

"I can understand, though, how it must have been very disconcerting for you. Probably even a bit frightening," Poppy said.

Severus nodded. "Yes, it was. And I did have a moment, more than a moment, of anxiety that I would not be allowed to leave there. It was frightening," he admitted. "And as used to being underground as I am, living and working in the dungeons, which are much darker and superficially more unpleasant, that place had an oppressive feeling. It was as though I was in danger of being buried alive there in that sterile place . . ." He swallowed. "It was better than Azkaban, and there were no Dementors, but it felt remote from anything . . . anything good, warm, and human." He reached out and touched her cheek. "I feared never being able to see you or feel your touch again," he whispered.

Poppy slid closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, putting one arm around him. "You're here with me now."

Severus nodded. "At the end," he said softly, "we were leaving, and I was eager to get out of that dreadful place, come home to you, and we were almost to the reception area . . ."

"Yes?" Poppy said when he didn't continue.

"Bellatrix Lestrange was there. Her door was open. A guard was going to help the mediwitch give her a potion she didn't want to take, I believe. I don't want to tell you the details. Her words were not fit for your ears. But she was mad, Poppy. Completely mad. She had never been right in the head, and her years in Azkaban had made her worse, but now . . . it was horrific. She was screaming, cursing those around her. She is convinced that the Dark Lord is still alive somewhere and that he will return for her . . ."

"That must have been very disturbing to witness," Poppy said.

"That would have been bad enough, but she saw me . . . Poppy, she . . ." Severus shook his head. "It doesn't bear repeating."

"Then don't, unless you want to. You can tell me anything, though, you know, Severus."

"Perhaps. But suffice it to say that the encounter, and what she said when she saw me, very nearly made me physically ill."

"Draco was with you?" When Severus nodded, Poppy said, "Poor boy! However he feels about her, to see his aunt like that...it must have been upsetting for him, as well."

"It was. But I was so . . . Poppy, you know the kinds of things I have seen and done in my life. There is little that shocks me, but this was so unexpected and so . . . personal. It sickened me, and I do not think that I was able to provide Draco with any support."

"I am sure that he understands that. You were probably both affected by it in different ways."

Severus nodded mutely, trying to expunge from his mind the image of Bella, crazed and calling his name, calling him "Master."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk more about it, Severus?" Poppy asked gently.

He shook his head. "I can't repeat what she said."

"Honestly, I have heard a good many things in my life that were very unpleasant. I'm sure that if it was shocking to you, what she said was truly horrifying, but hearing it second-hand won't be the same. And if it helps you..."

"She is delusional about the existence of the Dark– of Riddle. She said some things about that, implying . . . implying . . ."

"What?"

Severus turned his head away. "She . . . she called me 'Master,'" he whispered.

"Oh. Oh, Severus . . ." Poppy held him more closely.

"In the midst of an insane rant, filled with invective and bile, she was calling to me . . ." Severus shuddered, his eyes closed.

"That must have been dreadful. I can scarcely imagine."

"It was horrid. And frightening." He licked his lips and shook his head. "There was a moment when I even feared that they would hear her and, not believe her, but think that somehow . . . somehow I belonged there with her. That her identifying me like that would indict and convict me."

"What she said must have been very surprising to you, and terrible to hear, but if she is that mad, she must rant all of the time about things of that sort. I am certain that no one would take her seriously unless they were mad themselves."

"Still, that she would look at me like that and call out to me...it reminded me again of my past and of what I am trying to escape." He couldn't look at her. "Whatever you may have heard, I don't think that you have any true idea about the kinds of things I did, the kind of man I was, and what I was becoming. What I was allowing myself to become. Bella knows, though. She knows the evil in me. She sees it still when she looks at me. The evil in my heart."

"She is not sane, Severus," Poppy said firmly. "I do not see evil when I look at you...ah ah!" She held up her hand to stop his protest. "I am not so blind that I am unaware of what Death Eaters did, and I know you were one, and I am not so naive that I could ever convince myself that you had nothing to do with any of the dreadful things that were done during the time you were a Death Eater. But that was many years ago. Much has changed, and you have changed. The very fact that you flinch from such evil and from these reminders of your past proves to me that your heart is not evil and that you could not fall into such ways again." She placed her palm on his chest. "I do know you, Severus. I may not know everything about you, whether we are speaking of the past or of the present, but I do know you. I would never have made love to you if I saw evil in your heart. If I felt evil in you."

Severus simply shook his head.

"Here, now! We have to do something to get your mind off this before you go to sleep," Poppy said. "Tonight might be a good night for a dose of Dreamless Sleep."

"Perhaps," Severus said. "I certainly don't want to go to bed thinking about it all."

"Let's go for a walk. Not a long one...I'm sure you're tired after all those stairs...but just around to the gardens. It's a beautiful night. Or we could go up to the North Tower. I think a little fresh air would do you good."

"Is that your professional opinion, Madam Pomfrey?" Severus asked with a slight smile at her enthusiasm.

"No, that's my opinion as a good friend and as a witch with a great deal of life behind her," Poppy said.

"Not so much, Poppy," Severus replied. "I do believe that though my years are fewer, perhaps I might have used up just as much living, or more."

"Ah, Sev, you might be surprised!" Poppy said with a grin. "You never know what lurks in a mediwitch's past, after all!"

"True, true, I had no idea that you and Healer Framingham were a hot item back in the day, after all," Severus said, trying to go along with Poppy's attempt to cheer him up. "What things you all might have got into at St. Mungo's, well, it probably doesn't bear repeating!"

Poppy stood and tugged his hand. "You're right! I'm sure the supply cupboards could tell quite a tale if they were able!" she said with a laugh.

"Supply cupboards? Oh, Poppy, you shouldn't be putting images like that into a poor tired wizard's head," Severus said with a smirk, but pushing to his feet. "You don't know what you might encourage him to. I don't know about a walk, though."

Poppy chuckled. "Come on, Sev, put your cloak back on. We'll go down to the gardens or up to the Tower, but I'll have you breathing some good fresh air tonight. Get all that sterile St. Mungo's air out of your system!"

Severus shrugged.

"Down to the gardens. Then we'll come back via the entrance at the base of the North Tower, and you can go straight to your rooms without climbing any more stairs today, hmm?"

Severus nodded and reached out a hand, Summoning his cloak. "If you don't mind being seen out with me . . . doing nothing but walking. It will hardly look like Hogwarts business to anyone who might see us."

Poppy rolled her eyes. "If you're concerned about that, then I'd rather not go, but it certainly doesn't bother me. Besides, this time of night, who's there to see?"

"All right, then," Severus agreed with a nod.

Once outside, the two walked slowly, Severus allowing Poppy to choose their path around the side of the castle, ambling past the Whomping Willow and into the gardens between the greenhouses and the Forbidden Forest to the east of the castle.

"Mmm," Poppy said, "you can smell spring in the air even now."

"That's Pomona's desiccated dragon dung fertiliser, I believe," Severus said seriously.

Poppy laughed. "Well, whatever it might be, it makes me think of spring. And don't you feel a difference in the breeze off the lake?"

Severus shrugged. "It is cool, but fresh, I suppose."

"Let's sit for a bit," Poppy said, leading him around behind Greenhouse Three to a bench set against the wall. She sat down and patted the bench beside her. They were out of sight of the castle, now, and she slid a little closer to him.

"Now, isn't this a good way to clear the head?" Poppy asked. "Better, I should think, than roaming the corridors till all hours, stalking errant students out after curfew."

Severus snorted. "I don't do that often any longer. And I probably should, at least occasionally. It wasn't only students I was stalking, though."

"What, then? Your own nightmares?"

"They were years of danger. You know that, Poppy. And if I couldn't sleep, it burned off excess energy and served a purpose, as well."

"Mmhm, true. But I still think this is better." She slipped her hand around his arm. "Particularly with some company."

"It is," Severus agreed.

The two were quiet, gazing out over the lake, and Poppy tilted her head to look up at Severus's face. Although it was dark, she thought that he seemed more relaxed than he had, but she could see that the events of the evening were still weighing on him. He should focus on something else, something he might look forward to.

"Have any plans for the weekend?" Poppy asked. "I'm going to visit my sister for a while on Sunday, but I'll be here on Saturday. There's the duel in the afternoon, but perhaps we can spend some time together in the morning."

Severus shook his head. "I have plans in the morning. But I will return for the duel in the afternoon, and I believe I will be here the remainder of the weekend."

"You are going somewhere?"

Severus nodded. "Meeting McGonagall. We have some business to attend to."

"Ah . . . well . . . I hope you have an enjoyable morning, even if it is business," Poppy said. "Where are you meeting him? His house? Perhaps he might come up here, instead."

"No," Severus said shortly.

When he didn't elaborate, Poppy said, "I just thought you might be able to avoid leaving the grounds if he were to come up here and see you."

"No." Severus paused. "We aren't meeting at his house. We are meeting at mine."

"Oh, I see . . ." Poppy said, though she didn't. She'd always had the impression that Severus spent as little time as possible at his home. He certainly never left the castle during school holidays, except during the summer. She hadn't thought he'd even do that if he didn't have to. "Is it necessary?"

"Yes."

"All right." Poppy leaned back and looked at the stars. He clearly didn't care to share his plans with her, and she wouldn't press him about it. Perhaps it was merely long-standing habit of not telling anyone anything that he didn't have to, or perhaps he was simply tired, but she still wished he would provide her with more than just one syllable responses. She supposed it was something positive that he'd even told her where they were meeting. She sighed.

"We are . . . discussing the house itself," Severus said after a long but comfortable silence. "It would not be an exercise we could do elsewhere."

"Ah."

Severus cleared his throat. "He wishes to have somewhere to use his Muggle gadgets."

"I thought he had everything at Melina's," Poppy said questioningly.

"He does, but he does not wish to incommode them," Severus replied. "He suggested that since the house at Spinner's End stands empty for most of the year, he might rent a room there."

"That's not a bad idea, actually," Poppy said. "And that way there'd be someone in and out of the house regularly to check on things."

"Indeed." One year, he'd arrived a Spinner's End to discover that the roof had developed a leak, likely some months before, which had caused some water damage. He had repaired what was necessary, but left the rest, including the water stains on the wallpaper. "He also has some ideas for refurbishment. I do not wish to give him carte blanche to do as he wishes with the house without having a clearer picture of what he has in mind."

"Sensible. It is your home, after all."

"Hardly a home, but I do make use of it," Severus said. "I also need to set a password so that he can have free access to the place."

"Is he planning on moving from Hogsmeade altogether?" Poppy asked.

"I do not believe so. Not at this time...and certainly not to my house. We are agreed that he may use it when I am not there. We have made no other plans. I believe that if he could simply use his computer and such in Hogsmeade, he would do that, but that's obviously impossible."

"I don't understand why he bothers," Poppy said frankly. "The Muggle gadgets are interesting, I suppose, and I know that Quin has become quite reliant upon them, since he couldn't live as a wizard for so long and he often used them when interacting with his Muggle businesses even before his injury, but why Gareth would want to visit his things is quite a puzzle to me."

Severus let out a low chuckle. "He does not 'visit' them, Poppy. He uses them. I have never used a computer, myself, but I understand that it is useful, and he apparently uses it to communicate with friends in distant places. Right now, he only uses it once or twice a week, but if he has a more private place to keep it, he could drop in every day, if he wanted to. He has stereo equipment, as well. That, too, requires electricity."

"But Charmed musical boxes nowadays are more economical than they used to be, it's easier to add charms to them than it once was, and they don't take up much room," Poppy pointed out.

Severus shrugged. "You enjoyed the video with MacAirt the other evening. That was Muggle."

"Yes, I suppose . . . And it depends what you're used to, as well."

Severus nodded.

They sat in silence for a while, feeling the chilly breeze come in off the lake, and finally Poppy squeezed his arm and said it might be time to go in.

"It's getting late, and it's quite cold here, too," she said.

"You should have said something. I could have cast a warming charm," Severus said.

"It didn't bother me. I could have cast one, as well," she replied, standing.

They started around toward the castle.

"Severus?"

"Mm."

"I don't want to sound . . . demanding . . ."

"Yes?"

"And I know that you can take care of yourself, and I wouldn't ask you to lock yourself away anywhere, but when you do go out . . . could you take extra care? I don't want anything to happen to you."

Severus paused and touched her arm. She turned and looked up at him. "I know I shouldn't make any demands on you," she began.

"Shh. I will take care. I do not want you to worry. And I do not plan on leaving the grounds any more frequently than I must."

"And if you could try to return before dark?" Poppy suggested.

He nodded. "When feasible, yes."

"Good. I know you aren't helpless, and you're very good with your wand, but the thought of someone jumping upon you at a vulnerable moment...it simply distresses me."

"I will attempt to avoid any 'vulnerable moments,'" he said wryly, beginning to walk again. "They are not something I would seek out, in any event."

Poppy let out a short laugh. "I know that. I suppose I'm just being silly."

"No, I appreciate it. And," Severus said thoughtfully, "although McGonagall and I must go to the house, there is no reason why we must arrive separately. I could ask him to meet me here at the gates and we could Apparate together, if that would set your mind at ease."

"It would, Severus. Thank you for humouring me."

"No, thank you for caring," Severus said softly. "And for not trying to keep me from doing things despite your worries."

Poppy nodded. "I was concerned tonight. I shouldn't have let myself become so worried, but after Minerva said what she did about the escalating attacks, and the letters to the Ministry, and that you might be one of the next targets, I just couldn't stop thinking about someone doing something terrible to you, and not being there with you . . ."

"She shouldn't have said anything. I doubt the danger is as great as Minerva implied to you. As you said yourself earlier, I haven't been a Death Eater for years. My role in Riddle's defeat has been widely publicised. I think you can rest easily, Poppy."

"I'll try not to worry when you're late returning back," Poppy said, "but I can't promise you that I won't worry at all. You are important to me, Severus."

"And you are important to me, which is why I will do what I can to minimise your worry," Severus replied. "I should have sent a Patronus as soon as Newman and I left Mungo's, but he wanted to make a brief stop in Diagon Alley first, and I simply wanted to get as far from that miserable place as possible. Then once we were in Diagon Alley, I simply didn't have an opportunity. We also ran into Gareth, Alroy, and Quin, which necessitated a little polite interaction."

"You weren't that late, really, either. I'm not usually easily thrown into a tizzy, Severus...I hope you don't think I'm silly. But it was entirely new information to me, and I hadn't had an opportunity to speak with you about it, either."

"No, I think you are generally quite calm and sensible. It probably is part of what makes you a good matron. And that is one reason why I wish to reassure you...because you are not prone to such fits of nerves."

Poppy laughed slightly. "I will try to maintain my calm a bit better, now."

"I completely forgot that when we were in Diagon Alley, I picked up something for you," Severus said, pulling a bag from his cloak pocket. He handed it to her.

"What is it?" Poppy asked.

"Nuts. Mixed glazed nuts. Newman wanted to get something for a couple of girls, so I took the opportunity to get you something. I hope you like nuts."

"I do...thank you! You needn't bring me something every time you come back to the castle, though. But I am pleased," she said, looking up at him and smiling as he opened the door to the North Tower entrance for them.

"If I limit my excursions from school, I will have fewer opportunities to do so," Severus said. "I wished to give you something when I was able."

"Thank you! I will look forward to them."

The two walked through the lower level of the castle till they reached stairs that would lead Severus almost directly down to his rooms, with the stairs leading up bringing Poppy to the end of the corridor that led past the staff room.

"I can walk you to your rooms," Poppy said.

Severus shook his head. "I should accompany you to yours, but I do not believe my legs would appreciate another five flights of stairs."

"Take some potion before you go to bed, Severus. Dreamless Sleep, at least, and a bit of analgesic, too."

Severus nodded. "Good night, Poppy."

"'Night, Sev...I'll let you know at breakfast whether I can get out to see Melina or not tomorrow. If I can, we could meet after dinner to talk about whatever I've found out."

"I would like that." He glanced around them, then bent and kissed her cheek softly. "Sleep well."

NEXT

Chapter Seventy-Three: Renovation

Saturday, 27 March 1999

Spinner's End.

Rated T.

Characters: Gareth McGonagall, Hermione Granger, Gertrude Gamp, Severus Snape