Return to England

Part 10

There was a house elf named Dobby who had won his freedom during the last civil war. He had gone on raids with Lucius Malfoy, and he had acquitted himself well. People said of Dobby that he was unusual for a house elf.

Severus returned to England, but upon his arrival, he discovered he could not locate his home. He cast a revealing spell and saw it shimmering before him. He managed to knock on the door, and he was let in by Dobby.

"Dobby begs a thousand pardons," said the elf. "Lucius and Draco have fled because of a recent bout of persecution and everyone thought you would be gone a whole year and every one decided to hide everything in your home."

Severus inspected the house to discover that the kitchen, the lavatory, and half the front parlor were free. He assured the elf that the space was adequate unless Dobby snored louder than Padma. Dobby said that he was puzzled by the last remark but, in compensation, they could live on the choicest items from the Malfoy larder, and he, Dobby, was a first-rate chef. Severus replied that he would have a sherry with his bath, and after he rested, they would go out for a pint and fish-and-chips. He hadn't had a decent brew in ages.

There was a woman named Parvati whose surname was Patil. She was the sister of Padma Patil. During her school years, Parvati had appeared less serious than her sister, but she had taken a job in government and had become engaged to a law officer. People said of the two sisters that they were similar when young, different when in school, and reversing roles after they left school.

Severus heard a knock on his door one Saturday morning and opened it to see Parvati Patil. He gave her a pleasant enough greeting but stated his home was in no fit shape for company.

"Mrs. Malfoy sent me," she said as she swept in.

She seated herself in a chair. "I already know what's here since I was the one who suggested it as a hiding place while my fiancé and his colleagues search the Malfoy estate for contraband."

Dobby snapped his fingers and a tea service appeared. Severus asked if she had any qualms about hiding illicit goods from her fiancé the law officer.

"What? This stuff is dangerous. I don't want my boyfriend anywhere near it."

Severus said those were admirable sentiments but what about others getting hurt.

"You weren't supposed to be back until next year. And you're a powerful warlock. You are still powerful, aren't you? You didn't let the Colonials weaken your moral fibre, did you?"

She looked him in the eye, gasped, and backed toward the door, not taking her eyes off him. "What did you do to yourself?"

"I've become a host to two warring Spirits, and I'm under the curse of a witch who believes herself scorned."

"My, my, aren't you talented. No wander you left the Colonies after only six months," she said. "My sister says she regrets the curse, but she is too forgiving, and I'm of the opinion that you probably deserve much worse."

"Your sister is a lady that I much admire even though fate tore us apart," said Severus, "but tell me, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Parvati sat and sipped a tea to brace herself before confiding that Lucius had promised to take a group of them raiding but an unexpected witch hunt by the government had ruined their plans and she was here to see if Severus would do the manly and honorable thing and organize a raid and save the Malfoys from an act of bad faith.

Severus stood and solemnly raised his right hand. "How. White Indian make heap good on promise. Not let Malfoy brave speak with forked tongue."

"Well played," said Dobby.

Parvati replied that that seemed to be the response she was looking for. She pointed out that the last raid had acquired precious metals along with artifacts of such potent magic that no one wanted to touch them. She demonstrated her point by showing him the ancient battle wands in their leather wrapping. He unrolled the bundle and passed his hand over the wands.

"I like these," he said, picking one before offering Dobby his choice.

Two waved wands reverberated through the room.

"I didn't know you two were that powerful," said Parvati, backing away from them.

"I've always admired you," said Severus.

"You're every creature's dream," said Dobby.

"You're flushed," said Severus.

"You're panting," said Dobby.

"Are milady's breasts feeling perky?" asked Severus.

"Are milady's knickers getting damp?" asked Dobby.

Dobby's nostrils flared. "I smell virgin."

"That's personal and private," exclaimed Parvati.

"Your fiancé truly has fibres of stainless steel to resist a woman of such charms," said Severus.

Parvati was against the wall and breathing deep. "You won't hurt me, will you? You'll be gentle."

Severus and Dobby looked at each other. "We've got to brace up."

"You are the most desirable woman we know, but under our savage veneer, we are Brit gentlemen," said Severus.

"Our upper lips are even stiffer than the rest of us," added Dobby. "We would never touch a betrothed lady."

Parvati regarded the two. "I rather think you are beasts with a thin layer of civilization that will soon wear off."

She took a deep breath. "Be that as it may, your raw power plus your last remnants of rational restraint may be able to make the next raid a success. Goodness knows, that's what's needed. Cissy didn't want Lucius to go. The last raid aroused the inhabitants of that godforsaken wilderness, but there's treasure out there, and I deserve to go on the raid this time."

"Taking that into account, it would be proper for us to avail ourselves of any useful artifact we find in this stash," said Severus.

"Dobby is not certain Dobby should carry a wand," said the elf.

"It's not a registered wand," said Severus. "It's a stick someone found."

"Are you really going to let an elf have a wand?" asked Parvati.

"What are you going to do, tell your law-officer fiancé that an elf has raided the contraband you hid from him?" asked Severus.

"I see you haven't completely changed," said Parvati, "except you're now a Dark Wizard."

"I'm not a Dark Wizard. I'm a possessed wizard."

Part 11

There was a woman named Hermione whose surname was Granger. She was exceptionally talented and, hence, had a difficult time finding a suitable position. She was now a professor at a school for witchcraft and wizardry. People said of Hermione that she might be an intellectual but she had a wild streak in her that craved adventure.

Severus and Dobby received an invitation from Hermione Granger to meet her at a local pub. He and Dobby arrived at the appointed time and gave her a good greeting before seating themselves at her table.

"I suppose you wanted to meet in public after talking to Parvati," he said.

"She said you were scary. She said you were an animal, but I find that hard to believe."

"You may as well find out for yourself," he said, looking her in the eye.

She leaped to her feet. "What did those Colonials do to you?"

"I did it to myself," he said, "and no, they did not tamper with my fibre. I suppose you want to look in the library to find a cure."

She sat and took his hand. "I'm certain something can be done."

She continued to hold his hand. "You look fit."

Severus sang a song:

I wandered in the wild part

And let the land take my soul

I bid my sorrows to part

And willed to join with the whole.

The land lifted my spirit

The animals danced for me

The free wind howled of merit

The sky showed what I could be.

The patrons raised their glasses and clapped. Hermione smiled and licked her lips.

"But you look pleasantly exhausted," he told her.

"Dobby has seen this many times," said the elf. "The first years of teaching drain the new professors."

"You must rest," said Severus.

"Will you help?" asked Hermione.

Part 12

There was a witch named Luna whose surname was Lovegood. She was known for her strange beliefs, but her friends had found her steadfast and courageous. People said of Luna that she would accomplish much if she found a proper use for her talents.

Severus and Dobby knocked on the door of the Lovegood residence and received a cordial greeting.

"You are regarding us as curiosities," said Severus. "How does it feel to be on the giving instead of the receiving end?"

"Parvati warned me not to be alone with you two while Hermione claimed you to be splendid fellows."

"That's not incompatible when viewed from a higher plane," said Dobby.

"I have often aspired to soar to such heights," said Luna, "but speaking of soaring, I assume you are here to talk about reconnaissance brooms. Lucius invented them for his last raid."

"We should build a fleet of them with improved sensors," said Severus. "We need to get in and out fast. The report is the previous raids have provoked the inhabitants of the region."

"It's sad, really," said Luna. "We want to collect treasures from our past that have no value to them, but there's no way to do it peacefully. Thousands of years have gone by, and all we have is hostile co-existence."

"It is a great failing on our part," said Severus.

"The thousands of years of climate change act in our favor," said Dobby. "The old settlements with their treasures are different from the current favorable places to settle."

"We will make every effort to avoid conflict," said Severus.

"If we are careful, we will take no life," said Dobby.

"Can't you ask those powerful entities inside you to come to our aid?" asked Luna

"They are willful beings that bring both great benefit and great calamity," said Severus, "and often together."

"I suppose that's not incompatible when viewed from a higher plane," said Luna.