In the Shadow of Pendle Hill

Chapter Four

In the Shadow of Pendle Hill

The mid-August sun dipped slowly towards the horizon, casting lengthening shadows throughout the village of Downham. A stream ambled lazily at the foot of the parish, thirsty from lack of rainfall, and the air was thick with the scent of geraniums which grew in oversized clumps in cottage front gardens and lined window boxes with vibrant splashes of crimson.

Summer had cast its hypnotic spell upon the rural community, lulling them into a trance of heedless tranquillity, and the few residents roaming the steep incline towards the local pub failed to notice the dark-haired, sallow-skinned man appearing out of thin air in the church graveyard with a female companion at his side.

Severus continued to hold Tess's hand after Apparating behind the largest tombstone in the churchyard, and she looked across the garden of remembrance towards the striking outline of Pendle Hill in the distance.

"This place is beautiful!" she said, drinking in the green, fertile farmland and the looming brownish haze of the infamous hilled landscape.

Overhead, a clattering of jackdaws could be heard from their tower-top nest, and a few juvenile birds ran along the church roof, awaiting the arrival of their next meal.

Tess seemed comfortable in the graveyard, for she lingered there, holding onto Severus as she meandered through the headstones, gaining a sense of history and context for the parish and its people. Severus watched her as she smiled at loving inscriptions and became tearful for the loss of the young. He still marvelled that her emotions could be so close to the surface and yet not entirely rule her actions; her openness was an encouragement to him, as guarded as he remained.

They had both lost people they'd loved. Severus remembered attending the funeral of Tess's fiancé, Alex, where he'd watched her weep for the man who had been missing, presumed dead, for over a year. He also recalled the day when Tess found him kneeling at Lily Potter's grave, unaware of the true reason for his visit to Godric's Hollow. Inadvertently, they'd helped each other grieve for their loved ones. The path their lives had taken since then had surprised them both by equal measure, and after spending almost every hour of the last two weeks in each other's company, Severus was slowly adjusting to their new life together.

"I hate to drag you away from your grave-spotting, but we're going to be late," said Severus when his interest turned to boredom.

"Of course. Sorry. I just like it here," Tess replied, tearing away her eyes from a gravestone and smiling. "Strange, I know."

Severus smirked. "I still think it strange that you love me," he commented wryly, pulling her hand and guiding her towards the path.

Tess laughed. "I notice your inferiority complex remains sufficiently intact."

Severus smiled inwardly at their continuing banter. "There's only one person alive who believes I regard myself as inferior."

"I know. I'm honoured." The smile on her face bore no sarcasm.

At the end of the paved path, she followed him through the gateway. Severus felt a thrill of anticipation as they walked down the steep lane.

"Where is it?" Tess asked, shielding her eyes from the sunshine. "I can't see any properties for sale."

"The house is at the end of this lane, following the line of the brook towards the field. It's the only property on the market."

"Popular location, then," Tess surmised.

"Yes, but apparently this particular place has been on the market for a few years."

"I wonder why?"

"I suspect we are about to find out," Severus said as they approached the picturesque footbridges which characterised the sandstone cottages of Lapwing Row. The trickling brook provided a soothing soundscape as it ran past the front of the homes, feeding the stream near the heart of the village.

"With all that water, there probably won't be a cellar," Tess contemplated.

"No, but I believe there is a substantial out-building at the rear."

"It's about time you escaped those dungeons, I suppose," Tess said, winking.

At that moment, a car door opened, and a woman stepped onto the road holding a clipboard to her chest, tottering on impossibly high heels. She was young and very nervous.

"Mr Snape?" she asked, approaching the couple and holding out a hand, which Severus shook cordially. "I'm Miss Stephens, but you can call me Tracey," she said, assessing the Goth-like man and his female companion. "You must be Mrs Snape?"

"Um, no," Tess said, clearing her voice slightly.

The estate agent quickly offered an apology, but Severus barely noticed; he was too busy assessing Tess's reaction to the faux pas. She gave little away, just a hint of awkwardness befitting the situation. Severus had hoped to witness blushing cheeks or the scraping sound of shuffling feet, but pinched lips were the only sign of her discomfort, and he found himself disappointed. He was desperate for a sign of her wish for a long-term commitment, and until that moment arose, he would not reveal the depths of his devotion. Before he could admit his desires to her, he needed to feel sure she wanted to be with him, to share a life and a home with him. Severus felt slightly queasy with anticipation as they crossed the footbridge.

"I'll open the front door for you, but I won't accompany you in, if you don't mind?" Miss Stephens said briskly.

Tess moved to fill the silence which followed. "That's fine, Tracey. Perhaps we can meet you in the back garden in a few minutes' time?"

"Perfect," the girl said with her first genuine smile. She turned the key then let herself through the side-gate and disappeared from sight.

"Curiouser and curiouser," Tess said as Severus opened the door and stepped inside.

The house was understandably stuffy, having been closed up for the majority of the summer, although it was clear that some attempts had been made to keep the place clean. There were no cobwebs and the carpets were unsoiled. The house smelt of old plaster, sandalwood, and a tinge of something almost imperceptible.

"Can you feel it?" Tess asked, closing her eyes to focus her attention.

"Yes," Severus replied, holding his hand out into the hallway, searching for a seam, a tear, any kind of clue. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not find the source. "This place has known magic, without a doubt."

Suddenly a loud thump resonated down the stairs, followed quickly by a rattling sound akin to kitchen pans falling from their racks.

"Ah," Tess said with a smile. "That pretty much confirms things."

They moved up the creaking staircase to the small landing area and opened the hatch to the attic. An old rope ladder dropped from the hole, and motes of dust spiralled free from their enclosure.

"Ladies first," Severus said, indicating the climb into the loft.

"Is this what they call Slytherin chivalry?" Tess enquired, retrieving her wand.

A piercing, high-pitched wail escaped though the open loft door, and Tess seemed to change her mind, hesitating at the foot of the ladder. Severus smiled. He was capable of being chivalrous; he'd merely wished to see how brave she was when it came to dark, enclosed spaces. With his wand in his hand, he stepped in front of her and ascended the dusty rungs, wobbling as the old rope stretched to accommodate his mass. Severus cast a precautionary Shield Charm and lit the tip of his wand as he poked his head into the crawl space.

In a cobwebby corner of the attic sat a pugnacious-looking ghoul, wielding a silver ladle and a rusty skillet as if they were weapons. When the ogre comprehended the wizard before him, he broke into a large smile and banged his frying pan merrily, overcome with joy.

"Severus!" Tess called from below. "What's up there?"

"Just a ghoul. Lonely, by the looks of him." Severus descended the rope ladder and stepped aside for Tess, who clambered up into the attic eagerly.

"Pleased to meet you," Severus heard Tess saying into the dark aperture. The banging of the ghoul's makeshift drum increased in intensity. The pair of them had probably made its century.

Grinning, Tess came back down and rolled up the rope by magic. "I think he's pleased to see us," she commented drily.

"That ghoul probably hasn't seen wizards in years. It certainly explains why the house didn't sell; the racket he's making would be enough to scare Muggles away. Without new Muggle owners, the Ministry wouldn't send the Ghoul Task Force to remove him."

"Poor soul," Tess said sadly.

"Hardly," Severus replied.

"Spirits have souls too, you know," Tess admonished.

Severus answered with a roll of his eyes. "It's a mystery why this house wasn't passed on to a wizarding family. Let's have a look around; I'm sure if we look closely enough we'll find some Undetectable Extension Charms and perhaps an extra room or two."

Ten minutes later, Tess and Severus exited via the back door and walked past the out-buildings into the large, overgrown back garden. The lawn area had been kept trimmed, but desiccated shrubberies lined the wooden fences and an old garden bench rotted at the bottom of the garden. The estate agent met them on the lawn, appearing anxious and intrigued by the length of time the unusual couple had spent inside the house. Tess smiled kindly at the young woman as she brushed past to examine the reaches of the grounds.

"Miss Stephens." Severus nodded in formal re-acquaintance.

"Err... How did you like the property, Mr Snape?" she asked apprehensively.

"It is adequate," Severus answered noncommittally.

The girl's large brown eyes bulged at the revelation. "You didn't find anything against your liking?"

"Only the carpets, but they can be replaced." He could not deny he enjoyed the young estate agent's surprise. Her mouth bobbed open like a fish, and she hurried to compose herself.

At the far end of the garden, Tess was looking skyward, her temple creased in concentration. She noticed the pause in their conversation and asked, "Is this garden south-facing?"

"Yes, it is," Miss Stephens answered, relieved to be of some use to the couple. "The whole garden gets the benefit of plenty of sunshine."

Tess smiled at the girl and addressed Severus. "It's perfect for my telescope."

His heart thumped so forcefully that he thought the muscle might break free of his ribcage. Whilst there was much he needed to learn about the woman he loved, he knew all he needed to know, for now. He turned away from Tess and escorted Miss Stephens towards the back door.

"We'll take it," he said quietly.

The young woman gasped. "You're making an offer?"

"An offer? Yes, I am. I'll pay cash. Can you negotiate a lower price with the vendors? Say, one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand pounds?"

"I'm sure they'll consider your proposal, Mr Snape."