Chapter 26

Warning: This session with Scorpius is even more brutal than the last one.

As Severus prepared to head out for his rounds the next morning, there was a knock on his office door.

"Come in," he called. The door opened, and he heard foot steps but didn't see anyone. "Filius?" Severus guessed before the small man appeared from behind the tall chair.

"Do you have a minute?" Filius asked, climbing into the chair and looking up at Severus.

"Yes, of course. How have you been? We haven't had much of a chance to talk since I became visible."

Filius fidgeted, and then he took a deep breath.

Severus waited patiently.

"You do know that Minerva asked me to take her place when she retired?" he asked.

"Yes," Severus said slowly. "I know you will do a good job."

"I really don't want the job," he blurted out. "I would have taken it, and I would have done well, but I really would rather not," he said, looking down at his hands.

"You deserve the appointment, Filius. You've been here many years, and you weren't a Death Eater. I'd say you are more qualified than I was."

"Severus, I love teaching. I do not enjoy bureaucrats, nor do I like paper work. I enjoy teaching Charms and working with the choir. I really have no desire to become Headmaster. Minerva would have never asked me had she known you'd come back. I know you'd be excellent in the position, as you've done it before under very difficult circumstances. I'm sorry we were not all more supportive. We all had blinders on under the circumstances. Dumbledore would not have trusted you so if he had not been certain."

Severus waved his hand to dismiss the apology. "It's the past, Filius. I was successful because I was a good actor and a good spy. It was my job to look guilty. Dumbledore asked too much of me."

Filius nodded. "I agree with you there." He squirmed a bit. He'd always been a gentle man, and he tried to stay out of any and all conflict. He just wanted to teach and enjoy his life.

"Well to the point, I would like to know if you would take the position if I relinquished my promise to Minerva. I feel you would be the best man for the job. I will do the job if you do not take it. But I truly wish you would. I want the school to be the best it can be, and we do not want to leave it open to a Ministry appointment, do we?"

Severus gave him a thin smile. "No, Filius, we definitely do not want to do that. If it is your wish and you truly want out of this job, I will take it for the good of Hogwarts."

Filius actually bounced up and down on his chair for a moment. "Jolly good, I'm spared. Thank you, Severus." He climbed down off the chair, and Severus got up and came around the desk and shook the small man's hand.

"You're small in stature but a great man, Filius. I will be happy to have you as an ally and friend as we both take care of Hogwarts for the future of wizards and witches in England. I expect you to come to me if you see I'm not doing the job properly."

"Of course, of course," he said, rubbing his hands together with glee. "I'd better get to my class." He waddled out of the room as quickly as his short legs would carry him.

Severus found he had tears in his eyes. He was saved from a mundane life of security and substitution. He would be content to run this school and have Hermione by his side. This would be their home. It had been his home nearly three quarters of his life.

He stood, straightened his robes, and walked from his office. Hermione was just letting her second hour class in the door. She smiled at him with a curious look on her face. He smiled and nodded to her as he passed through the classroom.

"I will tell you at lunch," he said, placing a kiss against her temple as he went down the hall.

Hermione watched him go and noted that he seemed to be standing straighter and his step was lighter. She turned to her class. "Take your seats; we will begin immediately. Turn to page 76 in your book. Today we'll be studying headache potions."

*****

Severus walked through the halls of Hogwarts and breathed in the scent of old stone and the metal of its armor. This school had nurtured him when he had no one to support him. Through Poppy, this school had become a home. He could not imagine a finer history to uphold. He sighed. Becoming Headmaster after this year was completed meant facing Dumbledore. He had to confront him, didn't he? With the love that was his through Hermione, he no longer found he was angry at Dumbledore for what he had done. How could you be angry about having found the love of your life? Granted, his methods had a lot to be desired. But Severus could not imagine life without his beautiful wife.

He would go into that office and tell that bastard off for not having given him a choice. But in the end, he would thank him for the love that was now a part of his life. He found he looked forward to visiting with his old friend again. There was a lot they needed to say to each other.

Severus stepped out the front door, and a warm sun hit his face and warmed his body. Life was getting better and better. Now all he had to do was get through his "lessons" with Scorpius. He hoped that he could help the boy for the sake of his godson Draco and in memory of the friendship he'd had with Lucius.

He decided to go see Minerva after rounds and make sure this was what she wanted, as well. He was not disappointed.

******

Hermione was waiting for him when he returned to the classroom. He came and took her in his arms and held her and told her what Filius had wanted and about his conversation with Minerva. Hermione congratulated him and held him close, knowing this would help him tremendously. She knew he'd been at loose ends about his future.

"Will you truly be happy not teaching and not working with potions?" she asked.

"I will have a private potion's lab at my disposal. Albus showed it to me once. The quarters there are quite something, as well. We will live in style." His happiness was contagious, and Hermione felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

"I'm so happy for you, Severus." She kissed him and buried her face in his neck.

"You're relieved, too, I imagine." He laughed. "The old man won't be dawdling around with nothing important to do. No one wants to be married to a security man."

"Severus!" She playfully smacked him. "I don't care if you're cleaning toilets as long as you're with me, you love me, and you're happy. But you deserve to have this job, and you will be amazing at it. You need something to stretch your mind and occupy your time. This job is so much more. It's a huge honor." She snickered. "Maybe when you're old and retired, I will take your place."

He grinned down at her. "I don't plan to retire for a very long time, my love. You will just have to be happy with the position you have."

She grinned. "I can handle that; you just work as long as you're able. I am after all Muggleborn. You have the advantage."

Severus pulled her close and held her tightly. He would not think of a time when one of them was gone and the other left alone.

"Come on," he finally said, "we'd better get to lunch. We have fifth hour to look forward to and my session with Scorpius."

With those sobering thoughts, they slowly went to lunch.

******

Severus stood when Scorpius came into the room. "Mister Malfoy, how was your day?"

"OK," the boy said, looking toward the Pensieve with a bit of trepidation.

Severus followed his gaze, feeling about the same. "We can talk about the last memory instead of viewing a new one if you wish," he told the boy.

"No, I want to see more." His face was defiant and hard.

"Very well." He went toward the Pensieve and Scorpius followed.

Severus drew a deep breath and pulled a silver memory from his forehead and dropped it into the Pensieve. "Go," he commanded as he plunged his face into the Pensieve.

Severus found that Scorpius was a step ahead of him. There was an old house up ahead, surrounded by dark, tall trees. There was a low glow of candlelight in a window, seen only because the night was pitch black. Severus stepped to Scorpius' side.

"Come on," he said.

He went ahead and heard the boy's steps on the gravely stone of the long, dirt road that went up to the house.

As they entered, Scorpius saw that it was an old house, one that may have been abandoned in the past. The halls were covered in peeling wallpaper. There were piles of leaves against the hall walls. Dust covered everything.

Harsh voices could be heard ahead; hushed remarks were being bandied back and forth.

They entered a bedroom where a woman lay on the bed. Her hands were tied to it by scarves. Severus, a few years older than the boy they had seen earlier, was staring at her with huge eyes. She had been beaten and possibly brutalized. He had his arms clutched around him, and he was yelling, "Lucius, please just leave her. You can't do this."

It was then they saw Lucius, standing in a corner with his hands over his face. "I have no choice, Severus. If we don't do this, Tom will kill us."

"What have we gotten ourselves into? I did not sign on to be a murderer. I wanted to make potions. Tom has helped me finish my studies and get my master's degree earlier than most. I never thought he'd ask me to kill with my knowledge."

"Really?" Lucius sneered. "What did you think he would want with it? He needs poisons to best his enemies. That vial you have will end her suffering. It will end her pain. All you have to do is pour it into her mouth. Severus, give it to me and just walk away. I will make sure she's dead."

"Please, Lucius, we can leave the country and start over in America. We can get away from all of this. This will lead to war. Don't you realize this?"

"Realize it? You're an idiot, Severus. I'm counting on it! Now give me the potion. I will do it."

"Why must she die, Lucius?" Severus' hand shook as he held on to the vial with a death grip.

"She knows what Tom's planning, and she will alert the wizarding world," Lucius told him. It's not time yet. We aren't ready. Now give me that vial, Severus." Lucius grabbed his hand and tried to pry the vial out of it. "You will get us killed. I am looking forward to the things Tom can teach us. We will have power that you can't imagine. I have heard a rumor that he knows how to fly. Think of it, Severus!"

Severus looked at the pleading eyes of the bound woman, and he jerked away from Lucius grip. The vial went flying and shattered against a wall. The vile, black fluid from inside ran down the wall.

"Severus, now look what you've done. He's coming, and she must die. There is no other choice." Lucius wrung his hands together and went to the bed. He stood, looking at her with panic in his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged at her and put his hands about her throat and squeezed."

Severus came forward. "No, Lucius, no!" Severus tried to pull him away.

Lucius turned and backhanded Severus so hard he landed on his butt on the floor.

Scorpius turned to look at Severus and found the man was deathly white and had his eyes closed. He looked back and watched as

Lucius then strangled the woman with his bare hands. Scorpius heard his grandfather's younger self laugh. "That was an amazing feeling. You could feel the life drain from her. That was power. I held her life in my hands, and she surrendered to my strength."

Severus struggled to his feet. He was horrified. "Lucius, I've seen you kill before but never with your bare hands." He felt his stomach turn. "You're a monster. I'm trapped in this hell with you."

Lucius laughed and put an arm around Severus. "You're such a dramatist. We are headed for glory, my friend. Glory, power, and wealth. That will keep you warm at night.

Suddenly Tom was there. The man was beautiful. His bright eyes would have made women swoon, but there was a twisted glint in them that made Scorpius back away and stop against Severus. Severus placed his hands on the boy's shoulders for support, as much for himself as the boy.

He looked at the woman's body like she was a gross bug and then said, "I told you to try the poison. Did you strangle her?" His voice was low and dangerous. The young men looked scared.

"Severus, did you not use the poison as I requested?" Tom asked, coming close.

Severus avoided looking at his eyes. "Yes, sir, there was an accident." He could not help glancing at the wall stained with the poison.

Tom glanced there, as well, as he assessed the situation and looked at the marks on the woman's throat. "If you are to work with me, you must follow my instructions to the letter. Do you hear me?" He came very close to Severus, and the young man cowered before him.

"Yes, My Lord. It will not happen again." Severus went to his knees and touched Tom's shoes with his forehead.

Tom looked at Lucius. "You were in charge, and it was your duty to see that it was done right. He is young, and it will take time to train him." His look was so wilting that Lucius went down on his knees.

Tom pulled his wand before the two young men realized and shouted, "Crucio!"

He watched with pleasure as the two young men screamed and writhed before him. This time, the torture went on longer, and they were unconscious before he stopped.

Scorpius had turned toward Severus to block the view, and Severus held him against his body with his face buried in his chest.

"Can we go?" he asked with a sob.

"No, not yet."

Severus watched as Tom left them there, unconscious. Finally, there was a groan.

Scorpius turned back to see Severus struggle to his feet and go to arouse Lucius. Lucius was crying when he woke. He sobbed, holding on to Severus.

"I wish we could run. But if we go, he will hunt us down, and we will be just as dead as that woman. You and I have to stick together. You have to back me up when we have a job."

Severus nodded. "I won't let you down again."

Now Severus took hold of Scorpius and pulled him out.

The boy sobbed against him. Severus went down on his knees and pushed the boy back so he could look in his eyes. "There may have been financial success for your grandfather. He became hard after that night. But was it worth the pain we went through nearly every time? Voldemort was even more warped when he returned, and he was furious with all of us for not looking for him...for not helping him when his body was destroyed and only a shred of his spirit roamed looking for substance to stay alive. Scorpius, there was no honor and glory. There was only death, pain, and horror masked by richness."

Scorpius pulled away. "I don't care what you say. My grandfather loves me, and he taught me that I can have anything I want if I'm strong enough to fight for it."

"Yes, by all means, fight for what you want. But use good and not evil to get there. Evil begets more evil, and it will destroy your soul like it has done to Lucius."

Scorpius glared at him. "I will not betray my grandfather. He has loved me and my Father with all that he was. He did all of it for us and my grandmother." He ran from the room.

Severus slumped into his chair and sat with his hands in his face. He did not hear or see Hermione come in until he felt her hands on his hair. He pulled her down into his lap and took his wand from the desk to and locked the door. He let himself cry again. The tears seemed to wash the pain from his heart, and Hermione's presence soothed his soul.

"Severus, how did he react?" she asked once he'd calmed enough to talk.

"He cried. He hid his face from what I showed him, and he held on to me. Lucius killed a woman with his own hands. I hoped he would see the futility of dark magic and evil deeds. This is why I chose those memories. But his voice was still filled with anger and hate when he ran out of here." He slumped against her, holding her tightly. "What if we can not change his course? I do not know if I could follow through with my threats to Obliviate him. Seeing these things again shows me more and more that I chose the right course when I came to Dumbledore and begged him for help."

Hermione kissed his face and said, "Scorpius was crying when he ran out. He may have angry words, but his armor is cracking. I think eventually he will come and apologize for what he did and mean it."

Severus buried his face in her hair. He said, "I used to use my long hair to hide behind. It was a measure of distance between myself and others. It allowed me to observe others unnoticed. Now your hair is my refuge, Hermione. The scent and thickness are my refuge, as is your body and heart. I could not do this with out you, my love."

They sat there for a long time, and Hermione just loved him.

Thank you, Lisa, for the wonderful Beta work you do for me. I appreciate your extra effort in getting this chapter to me before your vacation.

Angela and Becky, thank you so much for your comments.