Chapter Seventy-Four: Glimpse the Snape Family Past
Chapter 75 of 118
MMADfanSaturday, 27 March 1999. Gareth gets a look into the past when Severus shows him through the house at Spinner's End.
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Chapter Seventy-Four: Glimpse the Snape Family Past
Saturday, 27 March 1999
Severus first brought Gareth into the dining room, the table of which was stacked with books, with more books stacked on the floor along one wall.
Gareth looked with interest at the pile closest to him. Muggle history, the first world war. The next stack over held biographies, both Muggle and wizarding. He stepped around a few neatly stacked piles of Maximilian Powers novels. It looked as though Snape had all of them. Gareth smirked.
"I intend to get more bookshelves," Severus said. "In the meantime, just move whatever you need to in order to work on the place. If you wish to use the dining room, you can move the books up to my bedroom. Try to keep them in order, however."
Severus led Gareth into the large but minimal kitchen. After pointing out the few appliances, he crossed the room to a door at the back of the kitchen. He opened it and pulled on a string overhead, seeming slightly surprised when the light bulb lit. It was a low watt bulb, though, and the area beyond, shadowy. A dank draft met Gareth's face.
"The basement hasn't much in it," Severus said. "I rarely go down there unless I have to do something to the furnace. But we can take a look today."
The two went down some narrow, creaking wooden stairs, the damp rising up to meet them. Severus drew his wand and cast a Lumos.
"Not much here, as you can see." Severus turned and took a few steps. He reached out and took hold of a doorknob, one that seemed much older than the house itself. The handle turned easily, but the door stuck slightly, warped by the damp, and it opened with a crack. Severus reached around the doorjamb, and Gareth blinked as a bare red bulb lit. The red bulb went out with a slight click, and Severus fumbled in the near-dark. Now another low-watt white bulb came on.
"My father's room," Severus said simply.
Gareth took a step forward. A scent of sharp chemicals met his nostrils, faint, but distinct.
"Caught the rat down here once." Severus's voice was hard. "I chased him out quick enough, then set a trap for him if he tried it again. It's off now, though. I disabled all the rat traps on the rooms this summer, including the ones up on the first floor, so you don't need to worry about that. He would have had his paws in everything if I hadn't set traps."
Gareth stepped past Severus into the small room. Curled paper hung from a line strung from the ceiling. He reached up and touched one. Catching a glimpse of the other side of the white paper, he was intrigued and stepped around. He smoothed out one curled corner and looked at the black-and-white photograph. A very young boy, stringy and pale, but with a bright smile on his face, proudly held up an unidentifiable object. A little bumpy plate, perhaps an ashtray.
"That's you," Gareth said with a slightly awed breath. He looked at another of the papers. A photograph of Severus, perhaps four years old, stretched out prone across the top of the couch...the sofa that was still upstairs in the living room, but looking new...holding a small balsa wood aeroplane in one hand. Gareth could almost hear the burring hum the boy was making through his lips. The next photo was of Severus a few years later, looking more serious, standing at the kitchen table beside a seated young woman who Gareth presumed was Severus's mother. The two were looking at a large book together, the woman pointing out something to Severus.
Gareth looked around him. The room was small, long and narrow. Along one wall, there was a single long shelf with shallow rectangular pans and an apparatus fitted with different lenses. On the opposite wall were shelves containing jars of chemicals, or what remained of them, and several closed boxes, covered with dust. He looked back up at the pictures on the line.
"Photographs," Gareth said. "Of you."
"My father's hobby," Severus said shortly.
"Amazing . . ." Gareth reached out and touched the enlarger. "He developed film himself?"
Severus nodded. "Took photographs, then developed the film. I used to watch him, standing on that stool there. The timing was everything, he said, and I would watch as the pictures appeared. He would explain . . . he made decisions about how long to immerse the photographic paper in each chemical. It was an art . . . like potions. But it was many years ago. I don't remember . . ."
"He was good. Very good." Gareth looked again at the photograph of the woman and child, uncurling it more to get a better look. It was simple, but the composition was perfect, and the photographer had caught each of his subjects at a moment when they had almost identical expressions of intent interest. "He loved you. Both of you."
Severus made a movement, and Gareth immediately regretted his statement. "Sorry, Snape. Just popped out."
"Mmph."
"These boxes, they have more pictures in them?" Gareth asked.
"I believe so. And negatives. I have not looked in . . . in many years. Not since before my mother died," Severus replied.
"It's a treasure trove," Gareth said, reaching out a tentative finger to touch a picture of a river, taken just as ducks rose up off the water, dark shadows against a deliberately foggy background, the silhouette of a young boy just off to one side, crouched down watching them.
"Hardly. You can clear it all out. Just put it in the bin," Severus said, turning rapidly and stepping through the door.
"I can't do that," Gareth said. "You shouldn't just throw it all away."
"It's the past," Severus said. "No holding on to it." He switched off the light.
Gareth hurried to follow him. "You should go through it all first."
"If it concerns you that much, then just leave it all there. Another few decades of dust won't matter." Before Gareth could protest further, Severus led him over to a large furnace. "Furnace. Needs some upkeep, which I do irregularly, but it seems to function well. It probably could use servicing, however. I leave the thermostat set only high enough to keep the pipes from freezing when I am not here, so it has not been taxed particularly hard. If you only rely on warming charms when you are here, it might not need anything done to it. Over here is the fuse box. If your equipment overloads something, you will need to replace a fuse. There's a box of them here. I presume they are still functional."
After showing him a few other things in the basement, Severus brought Gareth back upstairs. "You've seen just about everything there is to see on the ground floor. There's a cupboard under the stairs, and there's this." Severus opened another door off the kitchen, revealing a small, dark, windowless empty room with bare floor and walls. "It was supposed to be a loo, but one was never put in. The plumbing's roughed in, though."
Gareth nodded. "And that's your back garden?" he asked, looking through the window of the back door.
"Obviously."
It was entirely overgrown with weeds and stringy saplings.
"I can have one of the elves clear that out for you, maybe plant some grass and a few flowers."
"If you like. But I don't care, so do it for yourself if you want."
They were about to leave the kitchen when a large Tawny Owl swooped down and banged on the window. Gareth started toward the window, but Severus stopped him.
"Can't open it. Charmed shut," he said curtly, going to the backdoor and unlocking it to let the bird in. "You can remove the charm, if you like. It's a simple one, not a ward."
Gareth nodded. The owl glided over to him, screeched, then landed on the kitchen table.
"For me, I guess," Gareth said, taking the letter from the bird. "Sorry we don't have anything for you."
The owl let out another screech and flew through the door. Severus closed and relocked it as Gareth opened his letter.
Gareth felt his heart sink and some of his enthusiasm for that morning's project drain out of him as he read. Nothing like the gentle let-down, he thought, to make you feel a fool.
"Bad news?" Severus asked.
Gareth shrugged. "No, not really. Just from Rolanda. She's busy this week . . . and then she says that after her holiday on the North Sea, she is going to go for some new treatment. No time for us to get together."
"Perhaps once her treatment has been completed," Severus began.
"She's going to America for it. Seeing some Medicus there who specialises in whatever it is. Staying with her cousin in San Francisco. Several months, she says." She was "grateful" for his company the last few weeks. Lovely.
"I see . . ."
"Ah, go ahead and read it," Gareth said, flipping the parchment onto the table and sitting down in one of the metal kitchen chairs. "Tell me if I'm only imagining that she doesn't want to see me again."
"It's your letter . . ." Severus picked it up and scanned it. "It does seem as though she is uninterested in making any time to see you before she leaves. But it is polite."
Gareth laughed. "Thanks, Snape. Nice effort to cheer me up."
"Sorry, McGonagall."
"Hmm, it was no great romance. I probably didn't ever really have a chance to make it one, either," Gareth said. "I have to say, though, that this is not the sort of news I wanted today."
"I wouldn't think it would be welcome at any time."
"I suppose not, but it didn't start out to be a spectacular day. That's one reason I took exception to your attitude this morning when we got here."
"I explained that..."
"Yes, I know, and by comparison with your troubles, mine are insignificant," Gareth replied, standing. "I have nothing to complain about."
"So what started your day off poorly?" Severus asked as they left the kitchen and headed upstairs.
"Nothing, really. Except that Hermione keeps trying to take short-cuts in her work, which would be fine if she were only doing it in the exercises I set her. Then she could learn from them and see for herself that the ones she's taking are unwise, but we're working on some commissions right now, and I can't afford the luxury of taking the time for her to redo her work. Or for me to redo it, either."
Severus frowned. "That doesn't sound like Hermione."
"She's trying to do too much, I think, and she's been over at Weasley's just about every evening this week, except for the two nights when she has class. She's also still doing her Animagus exercises, and she had a late date with Tarrant last night. So that's part of it. She also just doesn't have the experience to know which short-cuts work and will still give you the same outcome, or close enough to work with, and which ones are faulty. Sometimes, she's too clever for her own good. She needs to slow down and be a little less clever sometimes."
Severus smirked. "I learned that when I was about her age."
"That's right...boil cure potion ad nauseum!" Gareth said with a laugh.
"Exactly."
"Perhaps I could try something similar with her . . . I will think about it. Part of the problem is that as a Gryffindor, she has a tendency to want to just dive right into the middle of something, and it's sometimes better to approach a problem from the edges, examine it carefully from various perspectives, before setting down to work."
"And Ravenclaws never do that? Just dive right in?" Severus asked, opening a door at the end of the hall.
"True, true, some do...I guess it's just a hazard for people who are used to being able to grasp things quickly and conquer problems with just a little effort."
"This was my mother's bedroom," Severus said. "I thought that if you like, you might wish to use it. As a bedroom. If you decide to stay overnight or have a guest."
"You told me you've kept it shut up and that you don't use it."
"I do not." He switched on the bedside lamp then crossed over to the window and raised the blind. It jerked from his hand and sprang to the top. Severus shrugged and looked around himself. "Clear it out. Box up whatever you find. Her clothes and shoes are still in the wardrobe. You can throw them out. I doubt anyone would want them. Not more than twenty years on. Anything else, just put in the attic. I'll take care of it someday. Perhaps this summer. You can use the furniture, unless you'd prefer to bring in your own."
"Thanks, Snape. I'll label everything I box up."
"Mm." Severus led the way back out into the hall and opened another door. "I thought you could use this room for your computer. It was my mother's witch's room, where she kept all her things. Her small corner of the wizarding world. Dad and I never went in there...it was her space. After she died, I removed the books, most of them, but didn't do anything else with it. I think she kept some personal papers, diaries and such, in here, but I didn't find them. If you do . . . perhaps burning them without reading them would be best. She may have destroyed them before she . . . before she died, though."
"If I find anything of that nature, I'll give it to you and you can make that decision," Gareth replied. "I wouldn't feel comfortable burning someone else's private papers."
"Just box it up with everything else, then, and label it. I'll get to it someday," Severus said. He looked around him. "It's rather a mess. Other than removing the books, as I say, I never did anything with the room. It's where they found her."
"Who did? You never told me how it happened. I'd be interested to know. But only if you want to tell me," Gareth said.
"She took something. They never told me what it was, and at the time, I was too . . . surprised to be curious. I'd never thought she'd do something like that." He picked up a framed photograph from the desk, an ordinary black-and-white Muggle photo, likely taken by his father. His mother was holding him in her arms. He was probably only a few weeks old. He put it back, placing it face-down on the desk. "Her cousin Giles Black found her. My grandfather had had some idea that the two might marry after my father left us, but once Grandfather died, that idea did, too. But Giles still came around for dinner a couple times a month. If he hadn't . . . I don't know when she would have been found. Possibly not until I returned home for Easter. Though perhaps I wouldn't have come for Easter, if I hadn't heard from her, and just stayed at school . . . Anyway, she'd not been dead a day when he did find her. She must have planned it that way."
"I am sorry, Severus," Gareth said softly.
Severus shrugged. "We were not a happy family." He quirked a smile at Gareth. "So you see, I am simply carrying on a family tradition."
"Don't say that, Severus, don't." He reached out and placed his hand on the other wizard's arm. "You can be happy. You can."
"Possibly." Severus shrugged. "I'll show you where the box room is and how to get into the attic, then I think we're done here. Tell me, McGonagall," he said as he closed the door behind them, "what else started your day off badly? I'd think it would take more than a minor apprentice problem to disturb your inveterate cheerfulness."
"Don't say it like that, Snape, like it's a character flaw to be cheerful. Besides, I'm not always cheerful, and I'm hardly a Pollyanna."
"You are avoiding the subject," Severus said astutely. "It must have been particularly unpleasant."
"Not terribly. It's not like I have some vigilante group out to get me. I can't complain."
Severus opened the door between the one to his mother's bedroom and her witch's room. "The box room." He stepped in over a stack of old Daily Prophets and pulled a string, lighting a bare bulb. "This should all go in the tip, or be burned," Severus said, nudging an old narrow mattress with one toe. He wrinkled his nose.
"It certainly needs airing out," Gareth agreed, not stepping into the windowless room.
Severus pointed to the ceiling. "That trap door opens and some steps fold out. The attic is up there. Only half of it has a floor, though, so take care where you step."
"Right."
"So we're done up here," Severus said, turning off the light and closing the door.
"Not quite, mate. I brought you a present. Not exactly a house-warming present, but I thought you might like to take the first step in the renovation of your home."
Severus furrowed his brow and watched as Gareth pulled something from his satchel. Gareth handed it to him with a grin.
"A light bulb?" Severus asked.
"Aye, for your hallway light. You said the light bulb had been burned out for a decade, so I thought it might be a good move toward the future if you replaced it today. Symbolic, sort of."
Severus snorted a laugh, but walked over to the overhead light and looked up at it.
"Have to take the globe off first," Gareth said.
"I can see that," Severus replied.
"And we should probably clean it before we replace it," Gareth added helpfully.
"Really, Gareth, I think this is a one-wizard job," Severus said as he raised his wand to remove the globe from the fixture.
Gareth laughed, and when he continued to laugh longer and harder than Severus thought warranted by the circumstances, he turned to him as he caught the heavy glass globe in one hand. "What is so bloody funny?"
"How... how..." Gareth leaned against the wall and tried to catch his breath. "How many wizards... hahaha! How many wizards does it take to change a light bulb?" He dissolved into laughter again, holding his sides.
"It is not that funny, McGonagall," Severus said, though he couldn't keep himself from smiling. He'd forgotten the existence of Muggle light bulb jokes. He was unsure why light bulb jokes were funny, but perhaps it was just incongruity of the simplicity of the task with the complexity of the joke combined with the absurdity of the method employed by the subjects of the joke. As Gareth regained control of himself, Severus finished replacing the light bulb, flicking his wand to clean years of grime from the glass before he screwed it back over the bulb.
"There. Push the switch now, McGonagall."
"You should do the honours," Gareth replied. "It's your house."
"It's your symbolic start to the renovation," Severus grumbled, but he pressed the switch and the overhead light came on for the first time in fifteen years. Gareth clapped. Severus rolled his eyes and pushed the switch again.
NEXT
Chapter Seventy-Five: A Wizard Not to be Crossed
Saturday, 27 March 1999
Gareth and Severus finish their discussion of the house at Spinner's End. Gareth evades Severus's questions, but tells him some interesting stories.
Rated T.
Characters: Severus Snape, Gareth McGonagall, with "guest appearances" by Quin MacAirt and Malcolm McGonagall
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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.)