Bikes, Beasts and Banks

Bikes, Beasts and Banks

The old bed squeaked precariously whenever Ginny turned in her fitful sleep. Unable to sleep himself, Severus regarded her hair, which shone fire-red in the pale light of the near-full moon, and mused about the previous day.

He had spent a whole day in her proximity and observed how she mutated from frightened to relaxed and how she first took in the local culture, Muggle and magical alike, and morphed back to the outdoor type who took deft strides and breathed deeply.

In the end, Ginevra had been tossed into her role as wife as much as a missed family member. And yet, returning to Spinner's End, the young, isolated witch had not been nearly as distressed as Severus had feared.

They had only three nights a week at Spinner's End during which they were unobserved and could fulfil the despicable curse their master had laid upon them. It was no surprise that Severus' sexual need had awoken, and the schedule didn't allow for a delay...despite any inner turmoil. He had once again admired the girl's strength when he was accepted.

Despite the mental stress and the thrice-damned mouth protection, she had even relaxed in his arms, and he believed that she had found her physical relief.

When the young witch finally ceased mumbling and turning, Severus closed his eyes, dozing more than sleeping.

A breeze of cold air called him back when Ginny was creeping out of bed far earlier than strictly necessary. Returning from the icy bathroom, she did not crawl back into the warmth but went to the chest of drawers. Opening his lower eye only, Severus surreptitiously followed her actions as she selected the one shiny, racy bra she owned, the one she had purchased from that lingerie shop in the shopping centre, Carlisle Lane. She picked up the necklace with the leopardess and donned the new, grey dress.

It was a woman, a young, but grown-up witch with a nicely shaped bust who turned gracefully and looked down herself to glimpse at how the skirt fell. When a smile lit her face, she radiated self-assurance and even satisfaction.

Severus felt the blood rush into his groin, murmuring his approval at his wife's choice of underwear.

Was she looking refreshingly natural? Maybe there was a hint of glee, but he was willing to count this as a very natural reaction, given her predicament.

The outer robe with the stripes attributed his young wife with the power he knew she had. In the brightening light of the morning sun, it accented the copper tones in her hair, dampening the carrot-hue just a bit.

Before slipping into the cloak, she stroked her cheek with its soft fabric. It fell gracefully over her ankles and truly charmed her. The new shoes were certainly more in keeping with a young witch's tastes than the old ones they had had to borrow for her. Severus was even more relieved to know that they were still in shape and not yet worn out by feet other than her own.

A smile still on her face, Ginny put on her casual Muggle clothes again and carefully placed the new garments into the wardrobe. Back being the sportive, feisty student, she fumbled in the pockets of her jeans, producing a crumbled piece of paper. "Damn! I totally forgot about that."

Severus allowed himself to wake up from her exclamation, and she explained about Maud's volleyball practice.

Glad for his young wife that she had made a little contact to the locals, Severus had no general objections against a friendship with Maud. Over breakfast, they worked out a common thread to follow with the Muggle family.

"I'll have to visit her and excuse my missing the date. What kind of sport is volleyball, by the way? Do the balls shoot like the darts of a Manticore? What properties do they have?"

Severus stalled, trying hard to keep his face neutral. He would not want her to be sorely disappointed of a friend she so badly needed. "From my experience, most Muggle games are played with a single ball." And they have no more magic in them than the traditional Quaffle from Gertie Keddle's diary, he added mentally.

"How do you associate them with a Manticore, a beast that Muggles believe to be a myth?"

She went to his shelves as she explained, "We did Manticores last year, and somewhere it said..."

Sadly, magical beasts were under-represented in Severus' collection, and she dropped her arm. "Well, in some additional reading, they used 'volley' as in 'the Manticore fires a volley of darts at its victim'. It's the only reference to the word I know."

She returned to her seat, frowning with annoyance.

"'Volley', that's of French or Latin origin and voler simply means to fly," Severus lectured. "The author of the book on beasts undoubtedly refers to the militaristic meaning of the word, 'discharge of a number of guns at once'. That describes the hunting technique of the Manticore."

Ginny huffed. "Yes, sir. I was trying to do as teachers always expect from us: use my knowledge and reapply it..."

"A reasonable request, nevertheless. Here, however, the game is named after the simple meaning, since the ball must not hit the ground. I believe its set-up is somewhat like badminton which we saw, although volleyball is a team sport. Every team stays on their own side of the net..."

"How does one foul then?" Ginny blurted out.

"One does not foul. Foul play is not the ultimate goal of any sport."

"You couldn't have told Slytherin team about that, could you?"

"The ball is bigger and played with the hands: no rackets," Severus continued, ignoring her question.

"And no brooms. Okay, I get the idea, I think. Sounds boring."

While Severus secretly agreed, he would swallow a Snitch before he said so aloud. "Give it a try!"

"I can?" Her eyes gleamed instantly. "Then perhaps next Monday...oh, blast; if we change the schedule, then Mondays will be school-days." Her disappointment was audible and visible.

Brows furrowed, Ginny added, "There is more: Maud wants to take me on a bike tour. Merlin's beard, what do I say?"

Severus stood and considered her for a long time. "I suppose it will not help to state that you do not have your bike here or that you are... eh... out of practice."

"Maud laughed herself silly when I said so," Ginny confirmed through gritted teeth. "I felt like a fool. All Muggles have bikes, right? She might conjure one from somewhere. Find, I mean."

"Very true. Deprived of Apparition, flying brooms, or carpets, Muggles see these vehicles as convenient for journeys or small excursions. Provided that one remains on the Muggles' artificial ways and streets... what is it?" Severus interrupted himself when he saw her grimace.

"Don't do that," Ginny blurted out, stomping her feet. "We're not at school."

When Severus failed to understand, she elaborated. "You fell into teaching mode, Severus. Look how stiff you're standing. Two more sentences, and you will conjure a blackboard and draw diagrams. But this is not a classroom; it is our home. As much as you hate loud arguments, I can't have you lecture me in here."

Our home. The statement washed over him like a caress.

Severus leaned sideways on a shelf, which wasn't comfortable at all, but as far from his teaching stance as possible. "Very well... as I was saying, Muggles use their bicycles even for transporting a picnic or shopping goods. They are silent and clean, in contrast to the motorised contraptions leaving behind a cloud of soot, sulphur, carbon oxides and what have you."

Suddenly, he moved. "I see no reason why you should not ride a bike, as long as you remain in the outskirts, on bike lanes or in the fields...not in traffic." With a tilt of his head, he invited her outside. "Let's go into the shed!"

"You actually have a bike? You can ride a bike?" Severus' heart leapt in his chest as he saw Ginny's cheeks redden. Her eyes widened and sparkled in astonishment as well as excitement. He cleared his throat and rapidly moved on before he'd be caught staring at her, or worse, pull her into a fierce embrace. He wondered if their self-inflicted ban of kisses was a blessing or added more to the frustration.

The ramshackle garden shed held two bikes, a dark-green one and a smaller, reddish one. "My father insisted I learn it, and we went on a few tours," Severus provided on Ginny's questioning look.

"Did you like it?"

Staring out to the clouds, he took his time to answer. "He asked the same when I was thirteen. I had just made it into the Quidditch team. I was foolish enough to say flying a broomstick was better." His left hand had gone up to clasp his right upper arm, where Ginny knew there was an ugly scar.

"I need not learn to ride a bike if it returns painful memories, Severus," she said quietly.

"I was able to write after three days," he answered dismissively. "My dratted father is no reason to abandon everything that is Muggle. It would be all he wanted. Now, let me see." Severus didn't quite use the Muggle approach to repair and clean the red bike. It was done in ten minutes. He explained the basics and reminded her to stay on the pavement. "It is mostly a matter of balance. Given how you fly, this should not be a problem." Ginny swallowed, not wishing to reveal that she had not been flying three times a week, as he assumed. Severus applied a cushion spell on her knees and elbows before they left the little garden.

With a shiver, Ginny noted that they left behind magic as well, even if she had her new, short wand tightly fixed to her inner arm.

Severus had her push the bike a few houses down the street where the smoother pavement would be easier to negotiate with. The downside was that all houses were still inhabited and, given Ginny's age, curious heads started peeking out of the windows.

Eventually, Maud came out and walked or ran on Ginny's left side, while Severus, his wand at the ready in his right sleeve, insisted on staying on her right.

"How do I avoid tilting to the side? How do I get off quickly enough if I do?"

"Speeding up would help you with the balance," Maud said, panting as they stopped. "But then we get into trouble here. It would be easier to jump off a ladies' bike, but this one is small, which isn't bad either. Put your feet down when you must."

Taking turns by leaning in was similar to steering a broom. However, thinking of brooms, Ginny easily forgot that she needed to keep peddling. When she fell to her left once again, Maud held her, brushing over her hand. She felt and saw the ring and double-checked. She gaped, but since Ginny was falling they were distracted before anyone noticed.

A few minutes later, Ginny rode with more confidence. Severus asked the two to continue alone. "I have business to attend. I will be in the lab. Miss Taylor, there will be no excursions into town. Ginevra is not aware of all the traffic rules. Try the fields over to the east, where the path is tarmacked." Maud nodded obediently, and Severus bowed them goodbye rather formally.

After a few more goes along Spinner's End, Maud fetched her own bike. "This is a ladies' model, see?" she explained.

The bicycle gave Ginny a feeling of freedom she had sorely missed. This isn't that different from flying, she thought happily, when CRASH... she met the rough ground with a clear thud.

Her magically padded joints remained unharmed, but the heel of her left hand looked bad, her chin and cheek were bleeding. Looking at a gaping wound on her forearm, Ginny yelped, but her thrumming head, which felt about twice its normal size, did not approve of the sound.

Behind her, Maud had gone rather pale. "Let's walk back. I'll take your bike. We must wear helmets next time. Come along; I'll ask Mum to take a look at you."

While she picked up the bike, Ginny carefully rejected the offer. "Thank you, but Severus is proficient in medical treatment. Anyway, our home is closer than yours, but thank you for the offer."

There was no way of dismissing her new friend before they reached the door. "Ah, so this is the house." She investigated the front wall carefully. "Of course, I'll accompany you inside. Hey, isn't there a door knocker?"

With resignation, Ginny fetched her wand, tore down the wards and ushered her in.

Severus took in her appearance with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Acted your age." He coated her arm with a burning greenish ointment that healed the open skin rapidly, a process that Maud followed with curiosity. Careful not to touch her lips, he cupped Ginny's chin to check her pupils. "Headache, concussion?"

"Banged it on the gravel, thanks!" Ginny replied harshly. "Didn't see the bigger stone and flew off course. The bike requires your attention as well, I fear."

"Sit, I will fetch a headache... cure."

Severus located the potion easily but wondered how Maud would react to Ginny being handed a purplish, smelly drink instead of... aspirin, he recalled. He poured the potion into a tall, white china-beaker and pressed it into Ginny's waiting hands. "It's dissolved already."

A short while later, Ginny smiled. "I'm feeling all right now, thank you."

"Very well, but stay inside now. I need to go tend to my experiment; promise me you will rest."

The door to the lab was closing, and already Maud bombarded Ginny with questions. How on earth she had opened the doors and what fuelled these lamps if they weren't electric but didn't emit smoke either.

"Please, Maud, stop asking such things I cannot answer. I need you to accept that this is how we live, and although it is different it is just as effective."

"All right, I'll ask other things." Upon the threatening tone, Ginny felt sweat appear on her back. "Mr Snape, what is he to you?"

Dreading the reaction of her new acquaintance, Ginny started explaining that there was a struggle between two groups. That she could not go home and that Severus was a teacher and she lived with him now, in order to go to school.

Highly suspicious, Maud looked around. "Where is your room?" As no reply came forward her voice hardened. "What. Is. This. Ring?" She had her hands in her hips by now.

Ginny sighed as she looked at Maud. "You won't stop, will you? Yes, this is my wedding ring. I'm married to him. You are even right that it wasn't exactly our own deep desire, but we..."

With a shriek, Maud went for the door. Ginny jumped up. A red sizzling bow from her wand passed over Maud's head and made the door glow orange before Maud was there. "I'm sorry, Maud, I thought we could avoid that," she said while Maud rattled at the door that would not budge. With a defeated tone, Ginny called, "Severus!"

Ginny watched as Severus Obliviated Maud's memory of being inside their home and felt the loss like physical pain. On the porch, she said goodbye to a somewhat irritated Maud Taylor, who didn't even see their house properly.

:*:*:*:

When Draco arrived for their afternoon run, he found a despondent girl brooding over her books. He raised his brow. "No welcome smile for me, I take it." Ginny scribbled furiously and did not even look up.

Draco wondered why she would not come along, and Severus answered lightly, "She has had her share of fresh air and fun today."

Grimly, she nodded. "Right. I'm concentrating on my Transfiguration text. I really need to try and perfect my skills."

"Indeed."

"I'm tempted to blow you a raspberry, like Peeves. Coming from me, it would be a really wet one, too."

Relieved to see that it wasn't a dispute between them that held Ginny in the house, Draco swallowed down his curiosity.

The men renewed the wards on the house and ran while Ginny most obediently dug her nose into the books and parchment spread around her.

All through dinner Ginny eagerly told Draco about Fleur, but she didn't reveal anything Draco might have trouble keeping a secret. After a surreptitious kick from his mentor, Draco finally asked to be shown one of the dresses. Raised to play the polite gentleman complimenting just about everything a woman chose to wear, he found himself utterly surprised at the elegance the young witch revealed wearing the new blue dress.

"This is... You look gorgeous! Severus, be careful. You might quickly lose her if she presents herself like that. To me for example!" he exclaimed.

"I might have a word to say in such a process," Ginny warned him. "But I say as much: I'm grateful to the women loaning me dresses. Yet, it feels so much better to have my own clothes now. They are of today's style and, yes, I think they suit me. Thank you so much, Severus. Uh... I think I should have said so much earlier."

Severus sent her the most reprimanding glare he could manage while she had her hands on his shoulder. "Indeed."

"Oh, you, don't you try that way with me!"

Seeing that his attempt to intimidate her failed, he conceded gladly. "Your happiness was thanks enough. I agree, Fleur and Master Ironfist chose well. It was far from easy to persuade the master. As for describing women's clothes from man to goblin... " He rolled his eyes meaningfully.

:*:*:*:

Under strong persuasion from Severus, Ginny kept a strict schedule, grudgingly admitting that he had a point: she was not to risk her chance to advance in a course! But she also kept herself busy since in her spare times her mind wandered off to Fleur, or she found herself wallowing over the loss of Maud's memory, and possibly her friendship. The latter she could not even correct in the following break.

Severus was mostly found upstairs, but he came down to prepare lunch. When he burnt the toast for the second time, Ginny was drawn into the kitchen. "What's up?" He looked frustrated and pensive and had no reply.

After lunch, Severus checked Ginny's essays, adding a list of questions before he went upstairs again. No, I will not add the stirring techniques for plant solutions to a Herbology essay, she decided. But the powers of their wild variety in potions depended on when they were collected. The point fitted in here before potting techniques in a glasshouse. She pointed her wand to the right place, incanted, "Addendo three inches," and filled the created space.

A door being closed sharply brought her attention to the mysterious events in the upper floor. Severus came through the concealed door, his wand drawn. The tip was emitting blue sparks. "Sparks of frustration," Ginny testified in a sing-song voice, "indicate too much willpower paired with a wrong access."

"Yes, Professor Lupin!"

"Don't smash the door. You like these books," Ginny warned. "I haven't even read them; wouldn't it be a shame?"

"Indeed. Since the door is used by... guests, Draco and you, I mean," he added, not willing to reveal anything about Wormtail, "these books are not dangerous. Except for your O.W.L.s. How is it going?"

"No blue sparks. So, better than your work. What were you practising?"

He stared out of the window. "A spell."

"Who would have guessed!?" she huffed.

"Dinner?"

"Don't you try to change the topic, Mr Snape. What spell?" A little softer, she asked, "Care for some support?"

Severus stiffened and had his old scowl back in place in no time. "I do not need cheery bystanders," he pressed out through clenched lips.

Suppressing her first thought...that she wasn't a Slytherin...she declared, "I'm not... looking for that. I know to differ between kind support and malicious joy." Against his doubtful looks, she added, "I don't want to impose, but sometimes even a second-year can help. Observing, reminding or asking the right questions, you know."

Severus looked... frustrated...and something else. Ashamed? Ginny could all but see the thoughts circle in his head. Finally he came to a decision and explained his problem. "It's a spell you have already mastered but I cannot seem to manage."

"But then I can help! Oh, I'd so like to!" Ginny jumped eagerly on her toes. "I'm feeling so... inferior. Please let me help you. Let me teach you! Only this once?" She ran into his arms, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.

"Inferior? You?" Severus closed in. "You are teaching me every day, Ginevra." The situation called for a kiss, and they had a hard time avoiding each other's lips. Eventually, Severus took her hands. "Professor, if you would give me remedial lessons?"

"What is the spell?"

He dropped her hands and looked away. "Patronus."

Ginny's eyes brightened. "Oh, yes. We trained it in D.A., facing all kinds of problems. Willpower isn't yours. You're not stuttering like Neville. The memory then." It wasn't a question, yet she stopped, prompting for a reaction that did not come.

"Something truly positive."

Severus didn't move.

"When I managed a silver cloud for the very first time, I was thinking of my first ride on the Hogwarts express. The anticipation! Friends! Finally learning all my brothers talked about. Doing it. With them. Meeting... ah, well."

"Meeting the Potions master they had been enthusing about," he provided.

"Not quite." She punched his chest lightly, but then she became all too serious. "Places and things Tom had written about in the diary. And... Harry. Goodness, I had a crush on him, you can't imagine."

"Ginevra! You are talking to your husband!"

"I was talking to my pupil, but a teacher's crush isn't a topic for that either. Although... maybe your first crush is suita..."

"NO." His voice alone had her jump back.

After they had calmed down, she related thoughtfully, "Harry succeeded first with Hagrid telling him he could leave his uncle's house to become a wizard."

"At that point I feared for my mother. I had good reasons, I might add."

"Your letter wasn't as unexpected, either," Ginny admitted. "Show me then."

She waited.

Waited a long time.

"Mr Snape, I have given you a concrete enough task." Ginny's voice, her small lips and stern look imitated Professor McGonagall frighteningly well.

"Expecto Patronum!" he finally voiced, sounding unconvinced. Something silver steamed out of the tip of his wand and dissolved immediately.

"Splendid!" Upon his glare, she explained. "Those who failed forever in D.A. didn't even get that far."

In true lecture mode, she explained, counting with her fingers, "The Patronus represents happiness, hope, and the desire to survive. Search for them individually. Happiness? Collect a few. Write them down if it helps. After dinner you'll search for hope. Before bedtime you write down occasions when you felt a strong desire to survive. Concentrate on one at a time."

"Yes, professor."

:*:*:*:

It was later that evening, when they had cleaned the table and the house was quiet, that Ginny broke down.

Severus had been expecting this to happen and withdrew to the bedroom with a book, giving her space to recollect herself.

Instead of reading, though, Severus found himself pondering what to do with her, how to prepare her for the next period at school, where she would have to face the crowd as if nothing was amiss. He once again cursed Dumbledore for the tasks the old strategist had assigned him. Save the innocent, indeed! Barnes wanted her to remain refreshingly natural, and the Bloody Baron couldn't see her being confined after childbirth early enough.

Never had Severus' lack of skills regarding how to handle a distressed teenage witch been more painful than this evening. He knew even less about the needs of a wife in despair, and the concept of future-mother-of-his-children was too frightening to even think of.

When she timidly knocked before entering the bedroom, as if suddenly it wasn't hers anymore, fear and despair gripped Severus' heart. The pain was stronger than he had imagined this tinted and long-lost organ of his could possibly hurt. What would she now demand?

Puffy-eyed, clothes creased and dishevelled, she simply stood there. Severus dropped the book and sat up slowly, but ready to jump. After a few choked attempts to speak, she breathed heavily and stated, "I need a hug."

Feeling stupid as much as relieved, Severus complied.

She snuggled until she was comfortable, and her heart and breathing slowed down. Severus marvelled how her soft, warm body felt just right next to his.

He had learned how to hug, but he had yet to understand when it was appreciated.

:*:*:*:

After breakfast Severus produced the lists, if you could call them lists, with two or three items. He'd give any student hell if they delivered such poor work at school. "Severus, I cannot believe this. Were you looking for the right things?" Ginny had the presence to avoid asking for the lists outright, although she was bursting with curiosity. "Could you name one off the 'hope' list to me?"

He cleared his throat. "Bellatrix and the Vow. My hope to pay her back."

"No, Severus, this isn't hope. This is about frustration and a desire for revenge. You feel hope when something positive happens and you see there might be more of it in the future. A potential for that. Happiness?"

He huffed. "When a murderer is stopped won't count either, I assume."

"It won't. Nor the death of anybody, even if you feel they deserved it, and even if it prevents further deaths. We checked this from a book. Actually, Hermione did. She bombarded us with the collection of the invalid British memories of two centuries. We nearly kicked her out." The memory brought a small, warm smile to her face, and the corner of Severus' mouth twitched slightly.

Ginny imagined and combined what she knew about her husband. Sadly, she noted that he most likely would not find anything in his childhood, where innocent happiness should dwell. Later then? As abstractly as possible, she formulated, "You once made a... drastic decision in your life. Why was that? Wasn't there a hope behind it? And desire to survive?" Even inside their house, they didn't voice the name Dumbledore, but she imagined he could settle for his drastic decision to turn to the headmaster.

Severus tried again and procured an indistinct silvery shadow that morphed and tried to take shape before it faded.

"Better...a lot better. One of the components might have still been missing or perhaps you failed to concentrate. Happiness, Severus," she started again. "Hope and a desire to continue, to develop a future; what memory combines these? Didn't you take such a step rather recently?" She stroked his cheek.

"I destroyed it all," he pressed out, unwilling to continue.

"That was temporary, Severus. A misunderstanding we've solved. Try, love!"

He blinked. "Expecto Patronum!" A semi-transparent cloud whooshed from his wand. It hovered in the room; it took shape, developing a longish body of about four feet, two quite massive, wide arms and other, smaller extremities. Suddenly, it puffed away. Severus fell onto a chair. His shirt was drenched, his forehead shone in sweat. Blue sparks escaped his wand.

"You're getting there," Ginny said, holding a glass of water she had conjured leisurely. "Still, you're doing it with too much willpower." But Severus did not look happy. "Why the sudden end?" she probed.

"I cannot use you that way," he croaked.

"What?" She chanted the spell, and the most elegant silver-chequered leopardess prowled around them. It went over to Severus as if to lick his face. With a flick of her wand, Ginny cancelled the spell and looked at her tired out pupil. He needed a break.

On a hunch Ginny took her second wand and examined it. "I've never tried a Patronus with this one." Her right thumb glided along the smooth wood. "They aren't a Transformation and yet, maybe the magic works differently?"

Her new leopardess was a good deal smaller, but stouter, more muscular, and certainly as capable of driving away a Dementor as the other had been. "I was thinking of our wedding, Severus. All the people in the foyer, seeing you, then Percy. How nervous we were. Us, speaking the words. Looking into your eyes."

Severus tried with his second wand, and the longish body formed again. The arms developed, growing claws...no, pincers.

A huge scorpion! Its segmented, erectile tail ended in a foot long stinger. Its carapace sported the median eyes plus two pairs of lateral eyes arranged to grant it overall view. Its longish claws menacingly parted the air.

"This monster demands at least two beakers of anti-venom," Ginny exclaimed in joy. "I bet it is highly poisonous."

"Suits me, then?" Severus asked lightly, cancelling the spell. He was breathing heavily and for once his eyes glimmered and twinkled.

"Admit it already, you like the beast!"

"I do." Even more though, he liked the memory of his young wife rushing to him and pushing him to the bed after she had explained the Stimufidelius.

:*:*:*:

After lunch Severus declared they had an errand in town and would prepare the paperwork now. He procured what he called his Muggle identity papers and cast a complex variant of a copy-spell on them muttering, "Ginevra Molly Weasley".

Ginny scowled at the result, as it was creased and smudged and flimsy compared to the pristine papers he had.

"Excellent," Severus smirked.

In town, he made her sit on an adjustable stool in a Muggle photo booth and after a few flashes, a set of tiny portrait pictures appeared that needed to dry in a warm stream of air. Considering the size of the whole booth, Ginny was impressed by the magic...no, technology, inside.

The new, crisp photos were aged to match the papers, and then Severus fixed them at the prepared square. "Here you are; please pocket your papers," he suggested, enjoying himself greatly at her disgust.

They walked up to a big office building and entered what was called the Registry office. The secretary smiled widely at them. "Everything is prepared, if you please follow me?" She turned to her colleague, adding, "Marlene, you're needed."

Half an hour later, they left a somewhat confused Registrar...he had congratulated them several times over, addressing them in various names...as a married couple.

The officials had predictably taken such insult at the state of the young woman's papers, and since, conveniently, she had had the required pictures at hand, she was now in the possession of brand-new documents. It would be valid until the EU-regulated versions could be retrieved in the same place.

"You could not have told me before why they had to look like they'd been retrieved from a Niffler's nest?" Ginny accused her husband.

"What would have been the fun in that?" he retorted. "I prefer using original documents. We will set a restoration charm on them that will return them to their original shape minutes after magical manipulation. The procured ones are more difficult to protect against the simpler forms of fraud."

"Did you add two years to my age to avoid any trouble with the Muggle authorities?"

"It was much easier this way, and we need it now again." With these words, Severus led her into another, much more impressive, sandstone building with pillars, bays and balconies.

"Let's go in here. This is my bank."

They passed by tall boxes in the foyer, strange apparatuses with red numbers, and posters with laughing, happy people in front of posh houses and new cars or elderly people enjoying the Mediterranean sun.

Although many people were waiting patiently, they were the next ones called forward to a counter. The clerk took the green marriage certificate from the registrar and Ginny's papers and went to a grey box in the corner. He returned with what he called copies of these documents, although they were only black-and-white and plain paper.

They had to sign several contracts that Ginny only hoped Severus understood in detail. The basic result seemed to resemble her access rights to the vault at Gringotts. She received a small, stiff card, and Severus asked the clerk to show to her what the card allows her to do at the tall boxes, the ATMs.

On their return, they stopped at an antique bookshop, and Severus rummaged through the shelves, but found only a battered text on arachnids in general. He decided to double back to the bigger bookshop, which was no help. They made a strike in the library, though.

:*:*:*:

Sitting on the sofa, enjoying his tea, Severus familiarised himself on the beast that was his Patronus and its relatives. His scorpion mostly resembled Heterometrus longimanus, the Asian forest scorpion. Maximus, he added mentally. Reading on, he remarked, "Does Hagrid consider scorpions boring?"

Ginny lifted her quill mid-word. "Huh? I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"He must have skipped them in your education, judging from the fact that you missed an important point. My Patronus has huge claws, compared to its body," he lectured. "This usually means that its venom is not very poisonous. I'm disappointed you do not know more about such an important animal."

"Yes, well, I still have two years to my N.E.W.T.s," Ginevra answered lightly and finished the sentence on her parchment. Just a day ago, Severus would have found nothing at all important in scorpions, now he had to show off.

Silently she considered him. He seemed in an exceptionally good mood. "Severus?"

"Hm."

"Could you show me the enforcement spell you used on my Patronus when we were under attack?"

"After you have finished your assignments."

"Bossy slave-driver."

:*:*:*:

All pupils of sixth year and below would leave the Academy on Monday after breakfast, but the N.E.W.T.s candidates were to remain and take exams under the watchful eyes of representatives from the Ministry.

Their teachers had to be present during the exams as well, and therefore Ginny could not return home over this break. Severus had declared he was not willing to leave her at Spinner's End alone.

During Herbology, Ginny wracked her brains searching for arguments to stay with him. "Mrs Snape! Watch what you are doing!" Resolutely, she pushed the thought away and bound the leaves of the suffocating algae tightly together so they could not wriggle themselves around any parts of a body. She could not afford a mistake with this teacher, she reminded herself. She received no further comments from her in this lesson, which was the highest praise there was.

With the prefect system in place, there was less turmoil in the classrooms or corridors, although Professor Barnes sported little green horns for two days. On the second day, his classroom was incredibly clean and organised, Ginny noted with a grin. He must have been learning.

The seventh years showed serious cases of nerves in their last week of preparation. They were allowed into the library all day, while all others were banned.

Contrary to the inhabitants of the crammed dormitories, Ginny could retreat to their own rooms to avoid the tense atmosphere in the Great Hall, and for once this appeared an attractive option. However, one evening Severus and Professors Slash and Barnes had been called away before dinner. The ground floor was empty and creepy. She didn't dare stay there alone.

Therefore, after dinner, Ginny asked Draco, Theodore, and the two girls along. Heather looked horrified, but Draco pointed out how much better their work would proceed down there. "Severus has all kinds of books. We don't need the library, we can talk about our experiences, and we can even practice."

Florence cocked her head and gauged Draco with a sideways look as he delivered the first name of the feared Potions master.

"I even have a complementary book on Transfiguration," Ginny added.

"No need for that," Florence snorted. "How about Charms? I cannot make sense out of the textbook."

"We own at least four more books."

"Who would have thought?" Florence muttered, gathering her things. "I'm ready."

With five of them, the room was crammed, but it wasn't as hectic as upstairs. Decisively, Ginny opened the French door, so that she and Draco could sit on the bed, writing on their knees. Theodore got the desk, and petite Heather folded her tiny legs and used another chair Ginny brought from the office as her table. Florence tried the desk first, slipped down to the floor and eventually sprawled on a rug. With the window ajar and warm tea every now and then, the place was far cosier than the noisy Great Hall.

Hours later, Draco fetched the second visitor's chair from the office and discussed slicing techniques for Potions with Theodore in a low voice. Desperate, the boy reported, "Last week I finally got the chunks of the dahlia stalks in even ¼ inches, but the potion turned an ugly green and fumed."

"Oh, yes, I recall that. The chunks had been so even because you forgot to change to a flint blade. The carbon steel knife was easier to handle, sure, but at the same time it causes a reaction with the surface. NEVER use a carbon steel blade on a Phalaenopsis, if you have an acid brew."

The girls congregated around the armchair and trained wand movements for Charms and then the newest spells for Transfigurations. For the third time, Ginny had now successfully Transfigured one of her shirts into a glass bowl and aimed at it again to produce a rose. "Remember the thorns," Florence said. The strange object was close to a flower, all right. It even had thorns...at the rim of its petals. "Now really," Florence whispered and shook her head while Heather tried a neutral, but friendly face.

"Your turn," Ginny said, shoving another shirt to her silent friend.

Heather frowned in concentration. The shirt became a bowl, which was the easier step. Thinking of the rose already, she had made the bowl pink and not a bit transparent. "Is this allowed?"

"It would be, I assume, if the material was glass," Florence said, taking up the pliable object to regard it. She bent the rim of the bowl. "This here looks and feels more like leather. You'll never make it to a rose from here." She waved her wand, and there were two shirts again. "Right, try again," she commanded and leaned back quietly. The other girls cleared their throats and concentrated again, not making a sound.

Draco held his wand at an angle of 45 degrees while Theodore stirred an imaginary potion holding his wand at the same angle, concentrating hard to follow the eight-shaped slope they had drawn on the shelf without changing the tilt.

It was utterly silent until a rich, male voice rolled like thunder over the assembled.

"A party?" The dark undertone cut through their concentrated thoughts like a knife. Momentarily all five had lost the ability to move.

Ginny was the first to react. "Severus," she exclaimed. "You're back already!" She went over and touched his upper arm in affection while not daring to embrace him in front of pupils.

"More like a work meeting, sir," Draco reported solemnly, standing straight. "It was my idea, considering the noise in the Great Hall. I am sorry, sir. We'll clean up and be gone within minutes." The other three still didn't dare lift their faces.

Severus held up his hand. "Will I still recognise my office?"

Draco and Ginny nodded. Except for fetching the visitor chairs, they had not touched it.

"In this case you may continue for half an hour. I will accompany Miss Brookhurst and Miss Hestrop to their dormitories and excuse them." Upon their astonished looks he added, "It is past curfew for the undergraduates, but I dare say you are not misusing the time. Go on! I'd like to see a few of these... eh... roses later. And I'm bound to suffer Mr Nott's stirring skills tomorrow in any case." He prepared a jug of tea and left.

"You take my shirts for yourself, and I take his!" Ginny whispered and fetched some.

They transformed even more glass bowls into... well... something. "I don't understand you!" Florence exclaimed. She reTransfigured the odd vegetable into the glass bowls and explained with one of them. "The open side becomes the petals, of course. You need individual ones, thin and soft; fragrant, if you manage. The bottom of the bowl must elongate, change its colour and substance."

Desperate now, Ginny tried with the petals only. This didn't work at all. "What an idea!" Florence shook her head. "How could the petals live on top of the glass bottom?" She rapidly aligned all eight bowls on the floor, and after eight strong spells, they were replaced with a line of roses, each a little smaller but a shade darker than the preceding one, each with 2-4 leaves and a thorn or two. The boys looked up sharply, distracted by the scent. The exchanged a knowing look as they returned to stirring imaginary porridges.

On a hunch, Ginny went back to the cupboard and exchanged her wands. Hadn't Mr Ollivander said the new one was good for Transfigurations? She had proceeded with it until the middle of fourth year, maybe jumping a year ahead would not harm?

Florence had reTransfigured all her roses to glass bowls. Heather's training material was soon shirts once again, and she was aiming at the first. Yes, this one was certainly a glass bowl. The rose was... a flower... probably.

Nodding, Florence handed her the next shirt, not paying attention to Ginny. The boys were busily stirring and slicing air. Ginny felt the rush from the new wand as if it was eager to prove itself. She chanted the incantation and saw... a rose. Whilst not a perfect example of a rose, it was not a cauliflower either.

She tried again, and...wow!...this was a rose! Severus' other two shirts even smelled like a rose. "Got it!" she exclaimed and quickly pulled her wand up the sleeve. "Whatever it was, it is gone."

When their time was up, Severus was greeted with a set of roses and a cleaned-up room. "Thank you for having us here, sir," Draco said seriously when they made their way to the dormitories.

Ginny was frowning when he returned. She showed him once again how she had done it. Severus recognised the short, new wand immediately but didn't show any reaction. "What else do you have tomorrow?"

"Potions first, then Transfigurations and Charms. After lunch it's Herbology and Combat Flying."

"I'm glad that you'll be really well prepared for Transfiguration this time. Do try and return your books before they become all muddy," Severus said, closing the distance between them and holding her tight. "I hope the day was worth it."

:*:*:*:

Over the long break, Ginny stayed with the Malfoys. She or Severus, who came for the nights, were freed from all household chores, which was a change and, in a way, even welcome. Narcissa gave them a guest suite and insisted on letting her elves go over all the Snapes' school clothes. While they would not admit it openly, both Ginny and Severus felt that their backs were grateful to get a full width bed all for themselves for the later parts of the night.

Upon Severus' request, Ginny didn't only do her own homework but discussed Draco's as far as she could understand it. Professor Windeye's British Beasts and Geography was identical anyway. Duelling and Charms were not a big problem. Nor was Potions, surprisingly. Although she had not heard all of it before, Ginny knew the theory of Draco's previous period well enough to follow Draco's explanations. "Theo wasn't too bad the last day, but he'll never be a great brewer," Draco opined.

The two took a run-and-hunt session through the Malfoy grounds. Draco warned her that the grounds held several traps and insisted she keep close. He took a few sharp turns, even cut the corners through some of the flowerbeds and Ginny, although panting, knew better than to deviate from his path.

By Wednesday afternoon, the last exams Severus had to supervise were over, and he insisted that they go back home. With Ginny using her new wand, they had the house re-spelled before tea, and for a glorious moment Ginny knew that she had been really up to par.

Finally alone, the Snapes could discuss the wand issue. Ginny was still 'under probation'...or whatever her status was...and their master had not authorised a second wand. He might never do so. Professors Barnes or Flank had not remarked on Ginny's different wand, but why this was so wasn't clear. They didn't really expect any difficulties coming from the friendly old teacher, although one could never know. But Professor Flank was another issue. Actually, anybody who might have spied and observed Ginny could have realised despite her care.

Ginny did many Transfiguration exercises alternating her wands and concentrated on the difference.

With the new feeling for Transfigurations in general, she felt a lot more confident with her old wand as well. This is how they decided to continue. She would use the advantage of the second wand for her understanding, but never again in lessons or the exams.

:*:*:*:

:*:*:*:

I consider myself very lucky to have Coshie, Jingjingchiquita and Savine Snape as my betas! They not only find the prepositions and terms I'm missing, they also help develop the characters and go through every sentence to get the chapter into shape. Thank you, girls!!