Chapter 21

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thanks to June for her beta work.

Chapter 21

After making sure his wounds were closed, and that he would not continue to bleed, Hermione helped Severus to his feet, and they both Apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. Once there, he rested for a few moments before they slowly walked into the castle, making their way to the hospital wing. As soon as Severus saw his son, he felt his strength return. He rushed to the bed and looked at the sleeping Raven.

“My son,” he kissed the boy’s forehead and looked at him.

Hermione came up behind him and handed him a small bottle of a dark red liquid. “You’ve lost too much blood, Severus. Drink this,” she said.

He took the bottle from her hand, recognizing it as a blood-replenishing potion. He swallowed it quickly.

“Come, he will be asleep for a while. Let Poppy have a look at you,” said Hermione, as she took his arm and pulled him from Raven’s bedside.

Severus walked to where Lucius and Odette had been sitting, and he smiled down at the young girl.

“I’m glad to see you are all right,” Severus said as Odette stood and hugged him. He kissed her on top of the head. “But…”

“But, just why did you two leave the castle?” Lucius chimed in, before Severus could finish. He knew Severus was going to ask the very same question he himself wanted to know.

“I’m sorry, Father. But we were feeling like this was a prison. Raven and I just wanted to be outside for a little while. We didn’t mean to worry anyone, honestly.” Odette looked at the three adults staring at her. She had sense enough to look ashamed, but she’d hoped she wouldn’t be punished from now to her thirtieth birthday.

“What you and Raven did was very foolish, Odette,” Lucius said as he took his daughter by the hand and looked into her eyes. “You were specifically told not to leave the castle.” She bowed her head, but Lucius took her chin in his hand and made her look at him as he spoke. “This was no game. You were told why we were doing this; we were honest with you, with all of you children. And you betrayed our trust and honesty by defying our orders and almost getting yourselves killed.”

Tears were running down the girl’s face now. Hermione and Severus moved towards the bed.

“Do you know what Bellatrix wanted you for?” asked Lucius.

“Lucius, she’s been through enough,” said Hermione, as she sat down with Odette, and then looked to Lucius.

“Hermione, love,” Severus said as he stood behind Lucius. “She needs to know the danger they both put themselves in because of their foolishness. They must both know what the consequences of their actions might have been.”

Lucius continued. “Odette, we did not risk our lives during the war to have our children killed or made playthings at the hands of people like Bellatrix. We fought to make this world better and safer for our children. There are still people like Bella out there; some have been hiding, others have never been caught and are freely roaming around. We are lucky in that they are few and far between. When we told you to stay inside the castle it was to keep you safe, not to punish you or spoil your fun.”

Odette wiped her tears and looked at her father. “When you say plaything, do you mean…she wanted to do things to me? Intimate things?” she asked as she started to blush and shake. It was becoming clear to her now, just what could have happened had her father and uncles not found them in time.

“Yes,” Lucius answered simply. He dared not tell her that before Bellatrix took the girl for herself, she had offered Odette to her own father. “But you are safe now. She will never harm anyone again.” He placed his hand on her cheek, and leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead.

Hermione wrapped her arm around Odette’s shoulder and hugged her tightly.

“Would you like to come home for a bit?” asked Lucius. Odette looked in the direction of Raven’s bed. Lucius followed her eyes and smiled.

“Perhaps after a few days have passed, then?” Lucius said. “Your birthday is coming up. I know your mother would like to take you shopping.” He stood up from his chair and looked down at her.

“I’ll come home next weekend,” Odette stood and hugged him tightly. “Maybe Raven can come with me?” she asked as she looked at Severus and Hermione, who looked at each other.

“We shall see,” said Severus as he smirked and looked to his sleeping son. “He may be scrubbing cauldrons for the next month.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning found Raven waking up to find Kat, Odette, and the rest of the pack surrounding his bed. Kat had her arms crossed over her chest, which made her look just like their father.

“You are so lucky you didn’t get yourself killed, Raven Snape. What were you thinking?” she said, throwing her arms in the air.

“Thinking? If he had been thinking, he would have stayed here,” said Armando.

“Honestly Rav, that was a pretty dumb thing to do. You both could have been…” Max made a slashing motion across his throat. His sister, Samara, then promptly swatted him on the back of his head. “Ouch! I swear, Samara, if you thump me one more time today I’ll turn your hair into pink feathers.”

“Max,” his sister drawled as she rolled her eyes, “do you always have to be such a wanker? They don’t need to be reminded of what could have happened to them after all they’ve been through.”

Raven looked around and noticed someone missing. “Where’s Vlad?”

“He’s coming,” Kat leaned in close to Raven and whispered, “He went into town with Osiris and Crooks to get some sweets at Honeydukes.”

“Were your Mum and Dad very upset?” Raven asked Odette.

“Well, I wouldn’t say they were pleased,” said Odette. “I thought Daddy was going to punish me, but I guess he was so happy I was safe he let me off. I don’t think Uncle Severus will be as kind with you.”

“You’ll be scrubbing cauldrons from now until graduation, I gather,” added Kat.

“Bollocks,” Raven groaned.

~*~*~*~*~*~

As the children sat in the hospital wing with Raven, Severus was relaxing on the couch. He had rested for about as long as he would allow himself. Upon his arrival at his rooms, Hermione had told him how they found him. She showed him the handkerchief Remus had enchanted for her, and even showed him how it worked. He was fascinated not only with how it worked, but with the fact that Remus had actually agreed to help.

He scolded himself, though. It had been years since he and Remus had buried the hatchet. He knew that of all the Marauders, Remus was the only one with whom he could have ever gotten along with. He now sat in front of a coffee table covered with books and scrolls, even some papyrus.

Hermione came in from the small kitchen with a tray of tea and biscuits. “Have you found anything?” she asked as she poured him a cup of tea.

“I have a few possibilities we can start with. Some are better than others,” he said as he took the tea she offered him, and looked at her. “One thing I am sure about. This potion will either cure Remus or kill him. He must know the risks.”

Hermione sat next to him. “Tonks was telling me how sad he’s been,” she said. “As time goes by, it takes him longer to recover from the change back into a human. The older he gets, the harder it will be on his body. Somehow I get the feeling he will take the risk.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have always thought that of all the Marauders, Remus was the only one who would have possibly befriended Snape had it not been for the other three. In my world, I can easily see Severus and Remus on friendly terms.