Seven.
Chapter 7 of 15
SS LupinIt had started off as an ordinary night for the girl and him, until he received the news that threatened to erase ten years of quiet joy.
ReviewedDisclaimer: The following characters and places you recognize do not belong to me and are the property of JKR and her affiliates.
~*~
Snape bolted out of bed as he saw the orange-red flames beyond his room. He reached for Marie’s hand, but the girl was already running into the sitting room. Snape let out a curse and cast a Bubble-Head Charm in Marie’s direction. Continuing to chase after her, he Summoned the suitcase he had kept for the two of them in case of an emergency.
“What are you doing?” Snape hissed as he staggered through the smoke-filled room, almost blacking out from a lack of oxygen. He silently cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself and ran to Marie, his head still reeling and eyes tearing up. She was reaching for something on the bookshelf, pulling out the volume she had been reading recently.
“I wanted my book!” she mouthed through the bubble of air. Snape picked her up, and she turned her face into Snape’s neck. Studying the room, Snape saw the main blaze in the kitchen, spreading out to surround them in the sitting room. The only fire-free part of the house was Snape’s bedroom, and conjured jets of water wouldn’t be enough to douse the flames.
He cast a light Freezing Charm on their bodies and wrapped his arms around Marie, running into his room with his head turned down. Flames licked painfully at his bare legs, but Snape went on, focusing his energy on the windowpane. The glass thinned into a sheet of water that flooded out of the room. Snape ignored the fatigue in his arms as he hefted Marie up further and stepped through the window.
But the fire wasn’t just contained to the cottage. The surrounding woods around him were ablaze, along with other houses closer to the Muggle village Snape’s home was near. In the distance he could see robed figures pointing their wands to the sky and at other parts of the village, sending Incendio spells in every direction. One, however, had his wand raised to the sky.
Snape’s eyes followed the upward path created by the jets of light expelled from the wand until he saw a scarlet phoenix blazing against the stars.
The grass still cool and wet under his feet and Marie clutching his neck, Snape Apparated to the one safe place he knew of other than his now destroyed home.
~*~
Hogwarts had seen death and war, but it was still one of the most secure magical institutions in England. Snape walked from the Apparition point to the castle, still holding Marie to himself even though she was no longer the small baby he had been given years ago.
Snape heard a rattling noise coming from Marie and saw that her teeth were chattering. He cast a Warming Charm, not noticing the extreme changes in temperature on his own person. He was still adjusting from the dream-memory of his Vow for Marie, fresh in his mind with the added panic of his present experience of the fire. Most of Marie’s lifetime had taken place in that house, along with scores of books and parchments related to Potter’s cure that had been housed in the study. At least some of them would be salvaged in a special Gringotts safe, but the rest of it – her first crayon and paint creations, her old chair, their home…
Sprinting toward the eastern side of the castle, Snape began to count his steps. On his thirty seventh one, he had reached an arch of stone that rested at his eyelevel. It seemed out of place when nothing stood under it, save for the rest of the castle wall. Snape shifted Marie to one arm, lifting the other to feel along the smooth surface of the arch.
His fingers made contact with a rough shape, warm and in the shape of a snake’s head. No Parseltongue was needed to use the arch – only the words of a Slytherin in great need.
“Confugius ara.” It came out in a coarse whisper.
The stones below the archway shimmered away, and Snape stepped through the doorway to climb down a narrow staircase. A slice of moonlight shone through the shadowy descent until the doorway behind them appeared again as dark stone.
Upon reaching the end of the stairway, Snape was greeted by the sight of a tall, wooden door. Taking in a gulp of breath, Snape then exhaled, “Alohamora.”
The door clicked open, and Snape entered a room he hadn’t seen for over a decade.
His bedroom chamber, dusty and undisturbed, looked the same as it had the last time he had slept there, except for almost eleven years of grime and cobwebs. He scanned the room with a cautious eye; no creatures had taken up residence here since his departure.
Snape’s arms felt numb from Marie’s weight. With a hasty Scourgify, ridding the bed of the filth that had settled there, Snape laid the girl down. Her eyes wide and her arms wrapped around the book, Marie spoke for the first time since they’d escaped the fire.
“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have run out – I just wanted the book, and–”
“We’ll discuss it later. For now… get some rest.” Snape tucked her in and sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.
The Headmistress should be on her way; the wards must have alerted her as soon as they had entered. So with an ash-streaked face and icy hands, Snape waited for the next nightmare to begin.
~*~
Author's Note: Beta'd by Southern_Witch_69.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Recovery
55 Reviews | 5.95/10 Average
I just discover this story and I like it very much! I can't help but see it has been a while since who write it... Hope inspiration strike one day, until then I will wait I guess!!
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thank you! As of yet I haven't been able to continue, but I still have hope to finish, too.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thank you! As of yet I haven't been able to continue, but I still have hope to finish, too.
Glad to see the update. Looking forward to the next.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thank you very much! :-)
I loved the comment about Julie having a girl's name. LOL I've b een thinking that since I first saw it. Ahahaha
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I'm glad you did... I wanted him to have a 'distinguished' name, but to still keep the feel of him being a little boy. =]
The point is that I'm not getting this story. It seems like a slow, increasing agony for Severus. In the beginning, he had found a reluctant hapiness with a girl he 'almost' calls his own, then things become more complicated and he suffers. With each new introduced character (Harry, Julius, Ron, Millicent (oh, my!)), Snape's grip of his life is slipping ever so slightly more. He does not only have his new social interactions to deal with, he is threatened by some Dark organisation. What you set up in store for him is frankly astonishing. I sincerely hope you plan a happy ending, although I can't phanthom one just now.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Yikes... I think the one word that hit me was slow - I hope it isn't getting boring... First off, I hate angst or anything that has a character anguishing in horrible circumstances. I'm just thinking of Snape adjusting to post-war life in the Wizarding world, after being for the most part isolated for so long. It can't possibly be perfect, so this story is working with a flawed world that Snape is trying to make his own. Although, yes, Millicent is on the random side. If you have any other questions, please let me know. :-)
Well it was worth the wait. Your writing of the everyday happenings in a very crowded house is sublime.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thank you very much! The next chapter is being written.
Haha and wow! The laugh is for the arse comment and the wow is for being able to spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Glad you liked the arse bit... silly humor has to enter my fics one way or another. ;-)And I take no credit for being able to spell it; I got up to 'fragilistic' when I gave up and looked it up online. Thanks for the review!
Fun chapter! This is quite an intriguing story. I'm looking forward to more.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Yay! It was fun writing it. More is up soon; thanks for the review!
I'm really enjoying this, especially the getting along.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thanks so much - the relationship between Marie's fathers is an important part to this story, and I really want to 'get it right.'
My, my, Snape seems to be softening towards Harry - are you setting this up for some spectacular row or something? :D
I had been wondering how you would handle things once Harry was released, and must say I really like the way you have them interacting.
More, and soon please :)
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
lol, they aren't out of the woods yet - more rows are up ahead. :-) The next chapter is in the works. Thanks for reviewing!
hehehe. I'm with Severus! At least it wasn't the whole Weasley lot! Now, I wonder what's next?!
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I really couldn't write them all with poor Snape... that will have to come later. I think I will be going back to the attack on the house in the next chapter.
Snape a father figure? - the poor girl! Nice start though. I look forward to the rest of it.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
He's definitely not the best choice, but it was part of the challenge. Thanks for the review!
Hey there!
I found this story over Southern witch's fic rec, and I love it - I like your characterizations, like Severus and Maries interactions and am definitely looking forward to more! Oh, and I can SO see Hermione doing what she did - for one cause she's overjoyed about Harrys recovery and then to help Marie - even if living with Potter sucks for Severus, I think it's a real chance for Marie.
Thanks for sharing!
Fran
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I was recc'd! :-)Thank you so much for your review; the next chapter should be finished soon.
Poor Severus. I feel so bad for him, and I'm rather upset at Hermione. Nice of her to tell Severus Harry was staying there until after he'd already moved in. I'm not much of a Harry fan, and I can only imgaine how Severus must feel, to know he's going to have to live under the same roof of Harry - who he definitely isn't fond of.Again, poor Severus. I'm almost hoping he leaves...But either way, I simply can't wait to see what happens next. Please update again soon! :)
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I really am writing Hermione as a she-demon, and I hate that - but I can see her being so excited about Harry's waking up that she'd become a zealot in trying to reconcile everyone. Besides, there may have been some deception on her part, so that Snape could move there in the first place. :-)Thanks for your review; the next chapter is in the works.
Ah, what a twist. ~snicker~ Can't wait to see how things work out. :)
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I do love my plot twists... hopefully, the next chapter should be finished soon.
I love Snape's response to Rita's question about being back in the wizard world.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I love the snark, too - thanks for reviewing. =]
hahaha. the image of severus running in the grass in a grey nightshirt (my mind added grey socks and the dew) is priceless. HAhaha 
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
lol, I'm glad you liked that image; I wanted a slightly a humorous contrast to Snape's escape in HBP. Thanks for reviewing!
I have my suspicions about these people. I must say that I feel so badly for them to lose their home and all the special things (like him reflecting on the loss of her first little artwork and such...). That would be what I'd hate to lose, too.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I know... my mother still bemoans the fact that she had lost/threw away some of my childhood creations :) Thanks for reviewing!
I've just finished reading all six of the chapters that are currently posted. I've enjoyed it because it reminds me of one of my favorite episodes of Masterpiece Theater, Silas Marner with Ben Kingsley as Silas. I just checked it out on IMDb and found out it was first shown in 1985, it certainly doesn't seem like I first saw it over 20 years ago.I had found the novel extremely boring when we were required to read it in 10th grade, but now it has become a favorite. Severus is a perfect Silas, and Marie has him wrapped round her finger just as Eppie had Silas. I love what I've seen of the relationship the two of them have.I'm hoping desparately that you won't turn the story into an SS/HG pairing. Not only do I hate that pairing, but it doesn't go with the story the way you've written it or the way George Eliot/Mary Anne Evans wrote it. It's a love story about a man and a child, about how that child changed the fundamental character of that man with the truly paternal love he developed for her. That's exactly what you have Marie doing for Severus.
I will be waiting for your next update.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Wow. This review was so amazing, and I had to look up Silas Marner because of it (I'm familiar with the book but didn't know much about it). I really do not know if I will write any 'pairings' in this story - characters and plot changes as I go along WIP style, but I do know that the main focus of this fic is the development of Snape's love for Marie. Thanks again for reviewing. =]
It was nice to have some background. What will happen now?
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thanks, I thought I was boring everyone to death with flashbacks... chapter 7 is being written; thanks for reviewing!
Strange ending. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
I know... it was a bit abrupt, but it will be further detailed in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
Psychological suspense is what you're giving us, and I like it. Marie is very perceptive, isn't she?
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Psychological suspense? (squees at such an elaborate term for my fic) Thanks for your review. Marie is quite a perceptive character, but I imagine she's been seing Snape and Hermione interact quite a bit in her lifetime. =]
Ah, Hermione always trying to serve justly, without taking into consideration the consequences thereof. Harry really didn't need that shock and Severus shouldn't feel as if he needs to be on the defensive to save his relationship with Marie. Good thing that Marie doesn't have any of the hang-ups her two fathers have. Looks like she will be the glue to cement the future.
I like this story so far, very original. Looking forward to more.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Yes. I'm afraid Hermione might be keeping up that in the future.Thanks very much for your review - the next chapter's in queue.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this story plays out, so far i'm quite enchanted.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Aw, thanks alot! And I know this is random, but I love your username. =]
Response from lupinschewtoy (Reviewer)
Thanks. Now I just have to become inspired enough to get past the starting stage of two stories so other people can see how cute my name is. lol. Your story is still quite wonderful and I am looking forward to more chapters.
I like this beginning. I'd really like to see where you're going with this.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thank you for reviewing! =]
Your description of Snape's flight with Marie had me as breathless as he was. Well done job! now, I wonder what that phoenix was for.
Response from SS Lupin (Author of Recovery)
Thanks alot! As for the phoenix... I'm not telling yet. ;)