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Scars, Part 21
Rating: NC-17 overall
Pairings: Snape/Lupin, Ash/Tsubasa; also a little Theodore/Blaise, Dylan/Hermione, and Aric/Takeshi
Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.
Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. No money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Warning: AU. This story contains a character from Half-Blood Prince, but does not follow the HBP storyline.
Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, The Revenant, Ash's Story, and Summer Vacation III.
Summary: The trial to determine the Snape heir continues, while the rival heir, Delauney, makes plans of his own.
Part 20
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The trial to determine the Snape heir resumed, and to Snape's surprise, it didn't go nearly as bad as he had imagined. Morrigan called a number of character witnesses, all of whom testified as to his courage and heroism during the war. She had considered calling in a few of Snape's colleagues to praise the contributions he had made to the field of Potions research, but his most prestigious accomplishment was the Wolfsbane Potion, and since werewolves were a rather touchy subject at the moment, Morrigan discarded that idea and focused solely on Snape's war hero image.
Several Order members testified about vital information he had obtained that had saved lives, and about how bravely he had fought the Death Eaters in the final battle. And Dumbledore testified about how Snape had risked his life working as a spy for so many years.
"But he was originally a Death Eater, was he not?" Delauney's lawyer Bole demanded. "He did join them and serve You-Know-Who of his own free will?"
"He was, and he did," Dumbledore replied calmly. "He was young and he made a grave error in judgment. However, once he understood Voldemort's true intent, he immediately came to me and confessed everything--the very day after he was inducted into the Death Eaters, as a matter of fact. And he willingly chose to atone for his error by becoming a spy, knowing that he would likely die a slow and painful death by torture if Voldemort should ever discover his betrayal."
Bole continued trying to malign Snape's character, but Dumbledore deftly refuted each slight without ever losing his temper or raising his voice, much to Bole's frustration. However, Morrigan had saved the best for last: her final witness was Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the Savior of the Wizarding World.
With a little skillful prompting from Morrigan, Potter testified that Snape had watched over and protected him during his seven years at Hogwarts, and even afterwards. "He saved my life personally on at least two separate occasions," Potter said in a firm voice. "Once during my first year at Hogwarts, when Professor Quirrell, under Voldemort's influence, was trying to hex me during a Quidditch match. And even after I left Hogwarts, when he was no longer under any obligation to protect me, he saved me from...um...Rabastan Lestrange." The boy stumbled slightly over his words at that point; in truth, Snape had actually been protecting him from James Potter, whose spirit had been possessing Lestrange's body. Under the influence of the Dark Magic that had temporarily summoned him back from death, James had lost control of himself and attacked his son, but it had been simpler to tell the public that the fugitive Death Eater Lestrange had been responsible--which in a sense he was, since he was the one who had summoned James as a Revenant.
In a steadier voice, Potter continued, "Professor Snape shielded me from Lestrange's spell and took the hex that was meant for me. It cut through his body like a sword, and he nearly died. He saved my life at great risk to his own."
Snape scowled as he listened to his former student's testimony; it was positively mortifying to be defended by the boy who had been a thorn in his side for the past seven years, with his insolence and mischief. It was only slightly less humiliating than having his life saved by Potter senior, and his only comfort was that hopefully the boy was just as embarrassed about defending Snape as Snape was about being defended. Still, he knew that Morrigan was right when she said that having Harry Potter on his side might help sway the Wizengamot in his favor. And he grudgingly admitted to himself that Potter junior was slightly less of a prat than his father, although he would never, ever voice that opinion out loud to anyone--not even to Lupin, who would grin with insufferable Gryffindor smugness, and certainly not to Potter himself.
Potter finished testifying and left after giving his former teacher a nervous, awkward smile, as if sensing Snape's thoughts--or more likely, was just responding to the scowl on Snape's face. And then it was his turn to take the stand.
Morrigan questioned him briefly, attempting to prove Theodore's fitness as the Snape heir. Snape confirmed that Theodore did indeed have Snape blood, inherited from both of his biological parents. The Snape and Nott family tapestries both revealed that Theodore's great-great-great grandmother on the Nott side was a Snape, and further research by Selima had determined that there was also a very distant Snape ancestor in the Dietrich family. Lupin had joked that Aric would be horrified, but Snape doubted that he would really be surprised, since all the pureblood families were interbred to an almost incestuous degree--one of the reasons why Snape's father had chosen a foreign-born bride.
Snape also testified that Theodore's grades at Hogwarts had been excellent, and that he was currently apprenticed to a noted expert in Ancient Runes.
"And Master Tremayne is pleased with Theodore's work?" Morrigan asked.
"Yes, very much so," Snape replied. "Master Tremayne is a very solitary man, and had not taken on an apprentice in many years. He reluctantly agreed to take Theodore on for a few months as a favor to me, but he was so impressed with Theodore's work that he agreed to extend the apprenticeship indefinitely."
"And your father, the previous Lord Snape, personally approved your choice of Theodore as heir?" Morrigan continued.
"He did," Snape said, although "approved" was probably a bit of a stretch. Severin had grudgingly accepted Theodore only because having an adopted heir with some Snape blood was better than having no heir at all. Still, it was close enough to the truth not to be an outright lie--at least by Slytherin standards.
"Is there any doubt in your mind that Theodore is a worthy heir to the Snape family?"
"None whatsoever," Snape replied in a firm voice.
"Thank you, Professor," Morrigan said, and stepped back to allow Delauney's lawyer his turn at questioning Snape.
"And just why did you have to adopt an heir, Professor Snape?" Bole asked in an unctuous voice, smiling in a way that Snape could only think of as "oily".
"Because I have no children of my own," Snape replied, carefully keeping his voice level, although he directed a cold stare at Bole, causing the man to take a step backwards.
"Because you have a male lover!" Bole sneered. "The werewolf teacher, Remus Lupin."
"That's hardly a secret, Bole," Snape said in a condescending voice, the same one he used when pointing out the obvious to the most dimwitted of his students.
The lawyer flushed, looking disconcerted by the fact that his taunt had failed to discomfit Snape. "The purpose of having an heir is to continue the family line," Bole snarled. "And if your heir cannot or will not produce an heir of his own, then what was the point of adopting him in the first place?"
"Well, it's a little soon to expect Theodore to produce an heir, don't you think?" Snape countered in a casual tone of voice, his expression bland and indifferent, as if it were a matter of no consequence. "He has only just graduated from Hogwarts, after all."
"Don't play dumb, Snape!" Bole spat.
"I must object, Madam Bones!" Morrigan protested. "Is Mr. Bole interrogating my client or simply insulting him?"
"Please maintain a professional demeanor, Mr. Bole," Bones admonished sternly.
With a visible effort, Bole got his temper under control, although he flashed a sullen, accusing glare in Snape's direction. "I apologize, Madam Bones," he said stiffly. "I shall rephrase my statement." He continued with exaggerated courtesy, "Professor Snape, I find it most surprising that you seem to have forgotten the events that occurred at last year's Yule Ball. Was it not revealed that your son was...ah...shall we say, involved in a romantic relationship with a male classmate? A Mr. Blaise Zabini, if I am not mistaken?"
"Oh, that," Snape scoffed, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Some idiotic student thought to play a prank by spiking the punch with a home-brewed potion. Several of the students, Theodore included, exhibited irrational and uncharacteristic behavior. Rather embarrassing for them, of course, but the effects wore off quickly with no physical harm to the students, although their pride might have suffered some damage."
There were a few chuckles and gasps of surprise from the spectators in response to Snape's audacity, but they were quickly silenced by a sharp rap of Madam Bone's gavel. "Then you deny that your son is having an affair with Mr. Zabini?" Bole asked incredulously.
"I do not ask my son about his affairs," Snape replied, which was true enough. He had already known of Theodore's relationship with Blaise even before the Yule Ball, because Lupin had told him about it. Therefore, he had never had reason to ask Theodore if he was having an affair with Blaise. Deflecting the truth without actually telling a lie had by now become second nature to Snape, thanks to the many years he had spent working as Dumbledore's spy. Since Voldemort had been able to use Legilimency to detect lies, it had been much simpler to tell him a partial truth than to disguise an outright lie with Occlumency.
"And he does not discuss them with me," Snape continued as Bole fumed. "Did you discuss your affairs with your parents when you were his age?"
There were a few chuckles from the spectators, and Bones rapped her gavel again. "I am not the one on trial here, Professor!" Bole snapped. "My client--and this court--have a right to know whether your son is fit to inherit the Snape title!"
"You are making too much about this little incident at the Ball," Snape countered in a tone of condescending amusement. "Many young people...ah...'experiment' during their school days. It does not necessarily mean that they will not wed and produce children in the future." It didn't necessarily mean that they would, either, but Snape chose not to elaborate on that point.
"Then are you promising the court that Theodore will wed and father a child?" Bole asked skeptically. "Do you intend to arrange a marriage for him?"
Most of Snape's attention was focused on Bole, but out of the corner of his eye, he also kept watch on Sebastien Delauney, and he noticed an intense, avaricious gleam in the French wizard's eyes. Selima suspected that Delauney did not really expect to win the lawsuit, but rather, hoped that the Snapes would bribe him to drop it. However, judging by the look on his face, Delauney wanted more than a fat bribe--he wanted it all, the entire Snape estate. Snape wondered who Delauney's patron was, and whether he was aware of the extent of his pawn's ambitions.
But Bole was waiting for an answer, so Snape replied, showing no outward sign of the thoughts churning through his mind. "Not at the moment. I am merely saying that it is too soon to be worrying about Theodore having children. My own father did not even marry until he was about my age..." He allowed a hint of sarcasm to creep into his voice as he continued, "And the Ministry did not convene a hearing to ask when he was going to sire a child." He glanced over at the members of the Wizengamot and saw that a few of them had the grace to look a little sheepish, although most of them seemed unrepentant. "So by my calculations, Theodore has at least a couple more decades before he needs to be pressured into an arranged marriage. It isn't as if the Snape line is in immediate jeopardy of dying out. I am in good health, and intend to remain that way, and I have a young and healthy heir."
"Of course I would never wish any harm to befall you, Professor," Bole said with an utterly insincere smile. "But even a wizard as powerful as yourself cannot predict the future. Your own father unexpectedly fell ill and died, after all. One never knows when the need for another heir might become imminent."
Snape wondered if that was a threat, then decided that it was probably mostly legal posturing, at least on Bole's part. He wasn't the type to dirty his hands with blood; that was why he had become a lawyer instead of a Death Eater. But who knew how far Delauney would go to win the Snape title? For a young man who had grown up in poverty, a life of comfort and wealth might well be worth killing for. Delauney's unknown backers were also a factor; Hermione Granger thought that the recent murders and Delauney's lawsuit might be connected, and as much as he hated to admit it, she could be right. Snape certainly couldn't afford to dismiss the theory out of hand, and made a mental note to check on the security at Master Tremayne's house, where Theodore was staying.
"My father did not 'unexpectedly' fall ill," Snape told Bole in a cool voice. "Although my family kept it quiet, he had been ill for many months before his death, and during that time he took steps to ensure the succession--hence, the family reunion that resulted in my being reappointed as heir. You may rest assured that should I contract an incurable disease, I also will take steps to make sure that the Snape line continues. Not that I need to, of course. My son knows his duty, and I am sure that he will eventually provide the Snape family with an heir without any pressure from me."
Once again, he was stretching the truth a little, though not quite lying. He knew that his mother hoped that Theodore would adopt an heir someday, and when he grew older, she would probably set about looking for one in her usual practical and single-minded manner. Theodore seemed amenable to the idea--albeit one that was vague and far off in the future. Still, he took his duties as heir seriously, and if necessary, he would be willing to adopt an heir sooner than expected, providing that he could find one. Of course an adopted heir was not what Bole had in mind, but if the Wizengamot chose to assume that Snape meant that Theodore would father a biological child rather than adopt one, then he certainly wasn't going to correct that assumption.
"Should the future of the Snape family rest on such nebulous promises?" Bole asked rhetorically, looking unimpressed. "That your adopted heir--who is only distantly related to the Snapes by blood--might get over his 'experimentation' phase, as you call it, that he might marry, that he might sire a child years, perhaps decades from now? Not when there is an heir right here, with a stronger blood claim, who has pledged to do whatever is necessary to ensure the succession." He gestured at his client, who flashed a charming smile at the assembled Wizengamot, then modestly inclined his head.
"And who is to say that your client would be any more or less successful at siring a child than my chosen heir?" Snape retorted. "For all we know, he might be infertile."
"How dare you--" Delauney started to protest, flushing angrily.
"Unless you have an illegitimate child tucked away somewhere?" Snape asked sarcastically.
"I have no child, but I have pledged to seek out a wife and father an heir if the Wizengamot decides in my favor," Delauney said stiffly.
"Yes, I am sure you would have a much easier time finding a wife as the head of a wealthy pureblood family than as the grandson of a prostitute," Snape said dryly.
"Objection!" Bole shouted.
"Professor Snape," Bones said warningly.
"I beg your pardon, Madam Bones," Snape said, then turned back to Bole. "Perhaps my son's blood connection to the Snape family might be a little distant. But at least it can be proven beyond a doubt that he has Snape blood--which is more than I can say for your client."
"We'll see about that!" Bole snarled, but Snape could see a few members of the Wizengamot nodding thoughtfully. Bole continued to interrogate him for awhile longer, but Snape had the dubious benefit of having been interrogated by the Dark Lord himself on a regular basis, and he was more than able to hold his own in their verbal fencing match, and Bole finally gave up and allowed Snape to step down.
"I would like to call the Professor's adopted son Theodore to the stand at our next session," Bole said rather sullenly.
Snape hedged, "Theodore is in the middle of his apprenticeship right now, and his Master is very strict. He will not of approve of his pupil's education being interrupted." Snape recalled how he had declared that he would not allow his son to be humiliated in public by being questioned about his sexual preferences, but he was now acutely aware that there was little he could do to prevent it. Bole smirked, and Snape glowered at him, repressing the urge to inflict a Crucio spell or two on both the lawyer and his client.
"We are attempting to determine who is most fit to head the Snape family," Bole stated rather pompously. "Therefore, it is essential that I be allowed to question the Professor's heir, since he is next in line to inherit the title."
"Mr. Bole has a point, Professor Snape," Bones said. "I am well aware of Master Tremayne's reputation, but surely he can spare his apprentice for just one day, given the circumstances? It's not as if Theodore would be going off on a jaunt to Hogsmeade."
"Master Tremayne and his apprentice are conducting crucial research for the Ministry of Magic," Morrigan said smoothly. "It is absolutely imperative that they not be interrupted at this point."
"Is this related to the museum break-in?" Bones asked. Although the details of the theft had not been made public, as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she was well aware of the stolen medallion, and knew just how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands.
"Yes, Madam Bones," Morrigan replied respectfully--and more or less truthfully. Tremayne and Theodore really were working hard to translate all the runes and books that had been found in the ruins, in hopes of finding more information about the medallion. What Morrigan left out was that the chances of them finding anything useful was rather slim, but still, no possible lead could be left unturned when a werewolf serial killer was on the loose.
Bones held a brief, whispered conference with Arthur Weasley, and it seemed that he was able to persuade her, at least partially, because Bones announced, "The trial shall be postponed for two weeks in order to give Master Tremayne and Mr. Snape time to finish their research." Bole started to protest, and Bones rapped her gavel to cut him off, then continued, "However, Theodore Snape must present himself in court when the trial resumes, regardless of whether or not his work is finished. Does that satisfy you, Mr. Bole, Ms. De Lacy?"
It did not, but both lawyers knew that the question was rhetorical, so they murmured reluctant assent, and court was adjourned.
As he prepared to leave, Snape noticed that the members of the Wizengamot were quietly debating and arguing with each other, which was interesting. He couldn't quite make out their words, but it seemed that they were much more divided than they had been at the previous session, when the majority had seemed to favor Delauney.
Snape mentioned this to Morrigan when they all gathered together back at the Manor. "Yes, I noticed that, too," she agreed. "It seems that your mother's efforts are bearing fruit."
Selima smiled, looking smug as a cat with a bowl of cream. "I've just given them something other than Weasley and yourself to worry about, Severus."
"Perhaps if they continue to be distracted, Theodore won't have to testify, after all?" Lupin asked hopefully.
Morrigan shook her head. "Not unless we can come up with a good reason for the Wizengamot to dismiss the case. Still, we've won a reprieve of two weeks. Perhaps we can dig up some dirt on Delauney during that time, and force him to drop his lawsuit."
"It would have to be something truly scandalous," Selima said, frowning slightly. "Considering that the Wizengamot is seriously considering his claim even though he's the grandson of a whore. But yes, continue your research, Ms. De Lacy. And perhaps you could begin making discreet inquiries as to whether a bribe will make him go away."
"He's greedy," Snape said. "I saw it in his eyes; he isn't just playing a role anymore. Regardless of whether or not that was his true intention to begin with, he's now determined to win the case and take the estate from us."
"But his case is shaky, and if he's losing support among the Wizengamot, he may settle for monetary compensation rather than walk away with nothing at all," Selima pointed out. "As little as I like the thought of paying out Snape gold to that usurper, it would be worth the expense to spare Theodore from having to testify." When Lupin smiled at her, she hastily added, "And to prevent the Snape family's reputation from being damaged, of course."
"Of course," Lupin said agreeably, still grinning as Selima gave him a sour look.
"Very well, I'll do my best," Morrigan promised.
Not long after she left, a small, scruffy-looking owl arrived to drop off a letter for Snape. He opened it and said, "Well, it looks as if I'll be doing some research, too. My contact came through, and has provided the locations of three sanatoriums that are rumored to accept werewolves as 'patients': one in Germany, one in Bulgaria, and one in Romania."
"That sounds promising," Lupin said. "Shall I go with you as a translator? I speak fluent German, though I don't speak Bulgarian or Romanian, but Viktor Krum and Charlie Weasley might be able to help us."
Snape shook his head. "I haven't your skill with languages, Lupin, but I can speak a smattering of each, and besides, since these places cater to customers from all over the world, the staff should be able to speak English. And...we are meddling in things that are normally kept hidden, which could be dangerous. I think it would be best if I went alone."
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, Severus," Lupin said, in that deceptively mild and pleasant voice he used when he was being particularly stubborn. "I phrased my words as a question to be polite, but I am not giving you a choice. If the situation is dangerous for me, then it is also dangerous for you, and I will not allow you to walk into danger alone."
"I can take care of myself," Snape protested, although he was aware that he was fighting a losing battle.
"So can I," Lupin retorted. "My specialty is Defense Against the Dark Arts, remember?"
"Of course, Lupin, but it really isn't necessary for you to--"
"Actually," Selima interrupted, "I would prefer it if Professor Lupin accompanied you, Severus. No matter how capable you are, I don't like the idea of you walking into unfamiliar and possibly hostile territory alone. Who knows what these people might do if they suspect you are trying to expose their secrets?"
"But Mother--" Snape protested weakly. {I can't believe that my mother and the werewolf are ganging up on me!} he groaned silently.
"Then it's settled," Lupin said sweetly. "Besides, if your cover story is that you are searching for a place to put an unwanted werewolf relative, I can pose as the werewolf, which will help make your cover more convincing."
"Don't I have any say in the matter?" Snape grumbled.
"None whatsoever," Lupin replied cheerfully.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Sebastien Delauney had arranged to meet his mysterious patron in the room he had rented at the Leaky Cauldron. Originally, he had been pleased enough with their arrangement; he had been paid a thousand Galleons to pose as the Snape heir, with the promise of more to be paid after the trial, even if he lost. And if he won, the benefits were obvious--a title, and the wealth and respectability that had eluded him for his entire life. It had seemed like a plan with no drawbacks; even in a worst-case scenario, he would return to France a good deal wealthier than when he had left it.
But that brief taste of life as a noble, as one of the pureblood elite, was intoxicating and addictive. His blood was as good as any of theirs, after all--his mother was from a wealthy and respected French pureblood family, and his unknown British grandfather had to be a pureblood as well, since the brothel where Philomela had worked had catered solely to purebloods. Half-bloods, no matter how wealthy, had not been welcome, and a Muggle-born had certainly never been allowed to enter the threshold of that elite establishment. For all Sebastien knew, his grandfather might really be the old Snape Lord, although Philomela had never been sure exactly who had fathered her child. Conveniently enough, though, Stefan Snape had left his cloak pin behind in Philomela's room--forgotten after an assignation, and he had fallen ill shortly thereafter, and so never had a chance to retrieve it. Years later, that pin had allowed Bole to display it in court as "proof" that Lord Snape had gifted his mistress with the family crest, an implicit acknowledgment that the child was his. Philomela had also possessed a small locket, a gift from her other paramour, Pembroke Parkinson, but Sebastien kept that piece of information to himself, since he was claiming to be a Snape, not a Parkinson. Even after she had sold the rest of her jewelry, his grandmother had held onto those small tokens as a matter of pride, as proof that even though she had been forced into prostitution, her son's blood was still pure. That part of his testimony, at least, had been true.
So why should he return to his life of squalor in France, working to satisfy the base desires of men and women whose blood was no better than his? His blood was as pure as theirs, so why shouldn't he be equal to them in rank as well? And even if his grandfather wasn't Stefan Snape, then he had probably been a Black or a Malfoy or a Parkinson, and the pureblood families were so interbred that there was probably a Snape somewhere in all of their family trees. Sebastien probably had at least as much Snape blood as the Professor's adopted heir.
He was no longer satisfied with the gold that his patron had promised; he wanted to become the Snape Lord and have his revenge on everyone who had called his grandmother a whore and sneered at his questionable pedigree. He wanted revenge on his mother's parents who had disowned her, consigning their daughter to an early death and their grandson to a life of poverty when he should have led a life of comfort and ease.
But Sebastien's patron didn't care about his wishes, only about humiliating the Snapes. So Sebastien thought that perhaps he would try to gain a little leverage over his nameless employer. To that end, he had purchased a pair of enchanted spectacles with--ironically enough--some of the gold his patron had given him. They would allow him to see through any magical disguises, which meant that he could discover his patron's identity. Sebastien couldn't afford a permanently enchanted item, so the spell would work for only one viewing, but he figured that once would be enough.
There was a knock at the door--one short rap followed by a pause, then two more, their agreed-upon signal. "Come in," Sebastien called, donning the spectacles as he made a show of shuffling through some court documents.
His patron normally appeared as a very nondescript man: neither young nor old, neither short nor tall, neither fat nor thin, with hair a very dull and ordinary shade of brown, and features so unremarkable that one's gaze seemed to slip over them without really noticing. But with the aid of the spectacles, Sebastien noticed that his employer was a handsome man with dark hair and eyes, much younger and much more striking than the glamor that he wore to disguise himself.
Sebastien did not recognize the face, but he carefully tried to memorize it without being obvious about it. He smiled distractedly and blinked owlishly, as if he could not see the man clearly through the spectacles.
"I didn't know that you wore glasses, Sebastien," his patron said, sounding amused, so it seemed that he didn't suspect anything.
"Only for reading," Sebastien said sheepishly as he casually slipped the spectacles off his face and tucked them into his pocket. "I must admit, I am a little vain, so I don't normally wear them in public."
His patron chuckled, "Ah, but glasses are hardly unfashionable here in England, since our beloved savior wears them." Despite his pleasant smile, the man's voice sharpened slightly. "Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the hero who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Sebastien shrugged indifferently, although he made a mental note that his patron had no love for the hero boy wizard. "Oh yes, I've heard of him, although the war had little impact on my country."
"Only because the Dark Lord was vanquished before he could expand the war to include your country," his patron said, a little sullenly.
"Then I suppose I should be grateful to this Boy Who Lived," Sebastien said lightly as his patron scowled. "But getting back to business, I am a little worried about how the trial is going. You told me that most of the Wizengamot hates Snape, but they seem to be leaning in his favor."
His patron's scowl deepened. "Someone has been stirring up trouble at the Ministry, turning Arthur Weasley's opponents against each other. Snape is probably behind it, or more likely, his mother. My father always said she was a shrewd bitch, and the real reason why Severin Snape rose as high as he did in the Ministry. And that De Lacy woman is a sly character as well. But whatever the reason, the senior members of the Ministry and the Wizengamot are too busy fighting each other at the moment to concentrate properly on the trial."
"Then how can we mend the situation?" Sebastien asked. "Are there certain officials we could bribe, or perhaps--?"
"We?" his patron interrupted sharply. "Just remember that you are not the Snape Lord yet, Delauney, and that you work for me. It is my gold that is being paid out, and I shall decide if and when a bribe is necessary."
"I beg your pardon if I overstepped my bounds," Sebastien said humbly, bowing his head to hide the sudden flash of resentment in his eyes. "I intended no offense; I am just worried that the trial is not going according to plan."
His employer appeared to be pacified by his show of humility, because he relaxed enough to smile slightly and say, "Relax, Delauney. I promised that you would be paid regardless of the outcome of the trial."
"Of course, and I appreciate your generosity," Sebastien said smoothly, raising his head to smile charmingly back at his patron, composure restored. "But I must admit, I would like to win, if possible. Who wouldn't want to be a Lord, after all? And it would be most useful to you to have a Lord who is your devoted servant."
"And would you be, Sebastien?" his patron asked, still smiling, but his voice took on a slight edge of bitterness and suspicion. "Devoted, that is. Gratitude, in my experience, is often short-lived. If you became Lord, perhaps you might think that you no longer need my support."
"Not at all, sir," Delauney protested earnestly. "I could never forget the debt I owe to the one who elevated me to such high status! Besides, even if I do win the trial and receive the Snape estate, I will still need a strong ally. I know that even if they vote against Snape, many of the purebloods will look down on me because of my father's illegitimate birth."
"That is true," his patron conceded. "If we win the trial, that is all well and good, but its main purpose is to distract and inconvenience Snape. Continue to play your role as I have instructed, and do not deviate from the script."
"As you command, sir," Delauney said meekly, bowing his head.
His good humor restored, Delauney's employer smiled in a patronizing manner and handed him a small but heavy pouch of coins, saying, "A bonus for your good work."
"Thank you, sir," Delauney said, accepting the pouch with a show of gratitude, and his patron left.
Delauney had only his employer's face and no name to go with it, but he was not discouraged. Someone so wealthy likely belonged to a family of high rank, so he would purchase back issues of the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly, and check the pictures on the society pages. There was a good chance that such a handsome and wealthy young man had been photographed attending some exclusive soiree or concert or play. Or perhaps he was related to a Death Eater, and that was why he was so bent on taking revenge against Snape--in which case it was very likely that there would be a picture of him somewhere in the articles covering the Death Eater trials.
The thought of blackmailing a possible Death Eater gave Delauney some pause, but then he reassured himself that if his patron was a Death Eater, he would have been killed or sent to Azkaban with the rest of them. Besides, the man he had seen through the enchanted spectacles looked young, in his early twenties, and most of the Death Eaters had been in their thirties or older, having been recruited during the first war, when Delauney's patron was still a toddler.
And from the gossip Delauney had heard, the families of the Death Eaters had been vocal in repudiating their relatives' crimes, and were trying very hard not to attract undue attention to themselves--and the murder of the rival Snape heir would certainly attract a great deal of attention.
So it was probably safe enough to put a little pressure on his employer if he emphasized what a useful ally he could be with the Snape family's name and wealth at his disposal. He would act humble and deferential, and eager to remain in his patron's good graces; after all, they both needed each other. Delauney, with his uncertain birth, needed the backing of the old pureblood families to truly be accepted into society even if he won the lawsuit, and if his patron's family was tainted by association with the Death Eaters, then they also needed allies. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Of course there was some risk involved, but an opportunity like this, the chance to claim what Delauney thought of as his proper birthright, might never come again. Surely it was worth a few risks to gain the power and wealth he had always craved. He chuckled to himself as he rose to his feet and pocketed the pouch of coins that his patron had given him. How wonderfully ironic, that he would use his master's own gold to purchase the materials that would allow Delauney to blackmail him!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Halloween fell on the weekend after the trial. It was usually a festive time of year in the wizarding world, but the mood was rather subdued this year, due to the unsolved murders and the uncertainty of the Minister's future. Still, the normal celebrations were being planned, and the students, who were somewhat sheltered from the outside world at Hogwarts castle, were eagerly looking forward to their scheduled trip to Hogsmeade.
"Is it safe?" Tsubasa asked during a staff meeting, fingering the hilts of his swords restlessly, an action that seemed to make some of the other teachers a bit nervous.
"I think so," McGonagall replied. "All of the murders have taken place at night, not during the day, and none of them happened near Hogsmeade or the school. It doesn't seem as though the students are being targeted."
"But it seems as though werewolves are somehow involved, either as perpetrator or targets, or perhaps both," Sprout said in a concerned voice. "And we have two werewolf teachers at this school, and a third werewolf who is the brother of a student and the son of two of the victims."
"We shall take all due precautions," Dumbledore assured her. "The students shall be organized into small groups that will be under the supervision of at least one teacher at all times."
Several of the teachers sighed regretfully. The Hogsmeade trips were normally a holiday for the teachers as well as the students, a chance to relax and socialize and drink something a bit stronger than butterbeer. Still, they understood the necessity of protecting the students, and no one objected to the Headmaster's plan.
"I'm afraid that you'll have to count Severus and myself out, Albus," Lupin said with a smile. "We've made plans to travel and take a little holiday this weekend."
"Of course, Remus," Dumbledore said cheerfully, winking at Lupin.
Stern McGonagall gave Snape a sympathetic look. "I know that recent events have been stressful for you, Severus; a holiday will do you good. The rest of us can manage fine without you."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
"A holiday?" Snape asked sarcastically, once he and Lupin were alone in their quarters. "Touring the illicit sanatoriums of Europe is not exactly what I'd call a pleasant holiday jaunt, Lupin."
"Yes, but I thought you wanted to be discreet, so we needed to come up with a cover story," Lupin replied, unperturbed. "Besides, perhaps we can manage to squeeze in a little sightseeing while we're there. I traveled to Germany on business once for one of my translation jobs, and I know of a wonderful restaurant in Berlin. And I'm sure that Charlie would be happy to give us a tour of the Dragon Reservation in Romania."
"Yes, spending time around ferocious man-eating beasts is one of my favorite pastimes," Snape said sourly. "Ranking only slightly above spending time around anyone from the Weasley family."
Lupin just laughed and leaned over to kiss Snape, a light peck on the lips. "I know that the situation is serious, but still, I must confess that I'm looking forward to going off on a trip alone with you."
Snape snorted derisively, but was secretly a little flattered. "You won't miss spending Halloween shepherding the little brats around Hogsmeade?"
"I'll manage to survive somehow," Lupin said with a grin. "What about you?"
"Spending Halloween in a sanatorium filled with madmen and werewolves actually seems far more preferable to spending it trapped in a castle with a bunch of overexcited children on a sugar high."
"I was hoping that we could limit the sanatorium investigation to the daylight hours," Lupin replied. "I thought that perhaps we could have a..." He smiled slyly. "...private celebration on Halloween night."
"That can be arranged," Snape purred in a silky voice, returning Lupin's smile. "Perhaps we could play...trick or treat?"
"I know exactly what treat I want," Lupin growled, eyeing Snape hungrily.
"You'll have to wait till Halloween," Snape teased, then cried out, "Lupin, wait--oof!" as he was pounced on and knocked down onto the bed by a very enthusiastic werewolf. "I think you've put on weight," he grumbled.
"All the more of me to love," Lupin cooed into his ear.
"Idiot werewolf," Snape grumbled, but then Lupin began nibbling on his earlobe, and his voice trailed off into a breathy sigh. "Ah..."
"I love you, too, Severus," Lupin said, a combination of amusement, tenderness, and lust mingling on his face in an oddly compelling and intoxicating manner. Snape was momentarily silenced, and Lupin kissed him firmly, cutting off any further complaints or protests.
Part 22
Several Order members testified about vital information he had obtained that had saved lives, and about how bravely he had fought the Death Eaters in the final battle. And Dumbledore testified about how Snape had risked his life working as a spy for so many years.
"But he was originally a Death Eater, was he not?" Delauney's lawyer Bole demanded. "He did join them and serve You-Know-Who of his own free will?"
"He was, and he did," Dumbledore replied calmly. "He was young and he made a grave error in judgment. However, once he understood Voldemort's true intent, he immediately came to me and confessed everything--the very day after he was inducted into the Death Eaters, as a matter of fact. And he willingly chose to atone for his error by becoming a spy, knowing that he would likely die a slow and painful death by torture if Voldemort should ever discover his betrayal."
Bole continued trying to malign Snape's character, but Dumbledore deftly refuted each slight without ever losing his temper or raising his voice, much to Bole's frustration. However, Morrigan had saved the best for last: her final witness was Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the Savior of the Wizarding World.
With a little skillful prompting from Morrigan, Potter testified that Snape had watched over and protected him during his seven years at Hogwarts, and even afterwards. "He saved my life personally on at least two separate occasions," Potter said in a firm voice. "Once during my first year at Hogwarts, when Professor Quirrell, under Voldemort's influence, was trying to hex me during a Quidditch match. And even after I left Hogwarts, when he was no longer under any obligation to protect me, he saved me from...um...Rabastan Lestrange." The boy stumbled slightly over his words at that point; in truth, Snape had actually been protecting him from James Potter, whose spirit had been possessing Lestrange's body. Under the influence of the Dark Magic that had temporarily summoned him back from death, James had lost control of himself and attacked his son, but it had been simpler to tell the public that the fugitive Death Eater Lestrange had been responsible--which in a sense he was, since he was the one who had summoned James as a Revenant.
In a steadier voice, Potter continued, "Professor Snape shielded me from Lestrange's spell and took the hex that was meant for me. It cut through his body like a sword, and he nearly died. He saved my life at great risk to his own."
Snape scowled as he listened to his former student's testimony; it was positively mortifying to be defended by the boy who had been a thorn in his side for the past seven years, with his insolence and mischief. It was only slightly less humiliating than having his life saved by Potter senior, and his only comfort was that hopefully the boy was just as embarrassed about defending Snape as Snape was about being defended. Still, he knew that Morrigan was right when she said that having Harry Potter on his side might help sway the Wizengamot in his favor. And he grudgingly admitted to himself that Potter junior was slightly less of a prat than his father, although he would never, ever voice that opinion out loud to anyone--not even to Lupin, who would grin with insufferable Gryffindor smugness, and certainly not to Potter himself.
Potter finished testifying and left after giving his former teacher a nervous, awkward smile, as if sensing Snape's thoughts--or more likely, was just responding to the scowl on Snape's face. And then it was his turn to take the stand.
Morrigan questioned him briefly, attempting to prove Theodore's fitness as the Snape heir. Snape confirmed that Theodore did indeed have Snape blood, inherited from both of his biological parents. The Snape and Nott family tapestries both revealed that Theodore's great-great-great grandmother on the Nott side was a Snape, and further research by Selima had determined that there was also a very distant Snape ancestor in the Dietrich family. Lupin had joked that Aric would be horrified, but Snape doubted that he would really be surprised, since all the pureblood families were interbred to an almost incestuous degree--one of the reasons why Snape's father had chosen a foreign-born bride.
Snape also testified that Theodore's grades at Hogwarts had been excellent, and that he was currently apprenticed to a noted expert in Ancient Runes.
"And Master Tremayne is pleased with Theodore's work?" Morrigan asked.
"Yes, very much so," Snape replied. "Master Tremayne is a very solitary man, and had not taken on an apprentice in many years. He reluctantly agreed to take Theodore on for a few months as a favor to me, but he was so impressed with Theodore's work that he agreed to extend the apprenticeship indefinitely."
"And your father, the previous Lord Snape, personally approved your choice of Theodore as heir?" Morrigan continued.
"He did," Snape said, although "approved" was probably a bit of a stretch. Severin had grudgingly accepted Theodore only because having an adopted heir with some Snape blood was better than having no heir at all. Still, it was close enough to the truth not to be an outright lie--at least by Slytherin standards.
"Is there any doubt in your mind that Theodore is a worthy heir to the Snape family?"
"None whatsoever," Snape replied in a firm voice.
"Thank you, Professor," Morrigan said, and stepped back to allow Delauney's lawyer his turn at questioning Snape.
"And just why did you have to adopt an heir, Professor Snape?" Bole asked in an unctuous voice, smiling in a way that Snape could only think of as "oily".
"Because I have no children of my own," Snape replied, carefully keeping his voice level, although he directed a cold stare at Bole, causing the man to take a step backwards.
"Because you have a male lover!" Bole sneered. "The werewolf teacher, Remus Lupin."
"That's hardly a secret, Bole," Snape said in a condescending voice, the same one he used when pointing out the obvious to the most dimwitted of his students.
The lawyer flushed, looking disconcerted by the fact that his taunt had failed to discomfit Snape. "The purpose of having an heir is to continue the family line," Bole snarled. "And if your heir cannot or will not produce an heir of his own, then what was the point of adopting him in the first place?"
"Well, it's a little soon to expect Theodore to produce an heir, don't you think?" Snape countered in a casual tone of voice, his expression bland and indifferent, as if it were a matter of no consequence. "He has only just graduated from Hogwarts, after all."
"Don't play dumb, Snape!" Bole spat.
"I must object, Madam Bones!" Morrigan protested. "Is Mr. Bole interrogating my client or simply insulting him?"
"Please maintain a professional demeanor, Mr. Bole," Bones admonished sternly.
With a visible effort, Bole got his temper under control, although he flashed a sullen, accusing glare in Snape's direction. "I apologize, Madam Bones," he said stiffly. "I shall rephrase my statement." He continued with exaggerated courtesy, "Professor Snape, I find it most surprising that you seem to have forgotten the events that occurred at last year's Yule Ball. Was it not revealed that your son was...ah...shall we say, involved in a romantic relationship with a male classmate? A Mr. Blaise Zabini, if I am not mistaken?"
"Oh, that," Snape scoffed, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Some idiotic student thought to play a prank by spiking the punch with a home-brewed potion. Several of the students, Theodore included, exhibited irrational and uncharacteristic behavior. Rather embarrassing for them, of course, but the effects wore off quickly with no physical harm to the students, although their pride might have suffered some damage."
There were a few chuckles and gasps of surprise from the spectators in response to Snape's audacity, but they were quickly silenced by a sharp rap of Madam Bone's gavel. "Then you deny that your son is having an affair with Mr. Zabini?" Bole asked incredulously.
"I do not ask my son about his affairs," Snape replied, which was true enough. He had already known of Theodore's relationship with Blaise even before the Yule Ball, because Lupin had told him about it. Therefore, he had never had reason to ask Theodore if he was having an affair with Blaise. Deflecting the truth without actually telling a lie had by now become second nature to Snape, thanks to the many years he had spent working as Dumbledore's spy. Since Voldemort had been able to use Legilimency to detect lies, it had been much simpler to tell him a partial truth than to disguise an outright lie with Occlumency.
"And he does not discuss them with me," Snape continued as Bole fumed. "Did you discuss your affairs with your parents when you were his age?"
There were a few chuckles from the spectators, and Bones rapped her gavel again. "I am not the one on trial here, Professor!" Bole snapped. "My client--and this court--have a right to know whether your son is fit to inherit the Snape title!"
"You are making too much about this little incident at the Ball," Snape countered in a tone of condescending amusement. "Many young people...ah...'experiment' during their school days. It does not necessarily mean that they will not wed and produce children in the future." It didn't necessarily mean that they would, either, but Snape chose not to elaborate on that point.
"Then are you promising the court that Theodore will wed and father a child?" Bole asked skeptically. "Do you intend to arrange a marriage for him?"
Most of Snape's attention was focused on Bole, but out of the corner of his eye, he also kept watch on Sebastien Delauney, and he noticed an intense, avaricious gleam in the French wizard's eyes. Selima suspected that Delauney did not really expect to win the lawsuit, but rather, hoped that the Snapes would bribe him to drop it. However, judging by the look on his face, Delauney wanted more than a fat bribe--he wanted it all, the entire Snape estate. Snape wondered who Delauney's patron was, and whether he was aware of the extent of his pawn's ambitions.
But Bole was waiting for an answer, so Snape replied, showing no outward sign of the thoughts churning through his mind. "Not at the moment. I am merely saying that it is too soon to be worrying about Theodore having children. My own father did not even marry until he was about my age..." He allowed a hint of sarcasm to creep into his voice as he continued, "And the Ministry did not convene a hearing to ask when he was going to sire a child." He glanced over at the members of the Wizengamot and saw that a few of them had the grace to look a little sheepish, although most of them seemed unrepentant. "So by my calculations, Theodore has at least a couple more decades before he needs to be pressured into an arranged marriage. It isn't as if the Snape line is in immediate jeopardy of dying out. I am in good health, and intend to remain that way, and I have a young and healthy heir."
"Of course I would never wish any harm to befall you, Professor," Bole said with an utterly insincere smile. "But even a wizard as powerful as yourself cannot predict the future. Your own father unexpectedly fell ill and died, after all. One never knows when the need for another heir might become imminent."
Snape wondered if that was a threat, then decided that it was probably mostly legal posturing, at least on Bole's part. He wasn't the type to dirty his hands with blood; that was why he had become a lawyer instead of a Death Eater. But who knew how far Delauney would go to win the Snape title? For a young man who had grown up in poverty, a life of comfort and wealth might well be worth killing for. Delauney's unknown backers were also a factor; Hermione Granger thought that the recent murders and Delauney's lawsuit might be connected, and as much as he hated to admit it, she could be right. Snape certainly couldn't afford to dismiss the theory out of hand, and made a mental note to check on the security at Master Tremayne's house, where Theodore was staying.
"My father did not 'unexpectedly' fall ill," Snape told Bole in a cool voice. "Although my family kept it quiet, he had been ill for many months before his death, and during that time he took steps to ensure the succession--hence, the family reunion that resulted in my being reappointed as heir. You may rest assured that should I contract an incurable disease, I also will take steps to make sure that the Snape line continues. Not that I need to, of course. My son knows his duty, and I am sure that he will eventually provide the Snape family with an heir without any pressure from me."
Once again, he was stretching the truth a little, though not quite lying. He knew that his mother hoped that Theodore would adopt an heir someday, and when he grew older, she would probably set about looking for one in her usual practical and single-minded manner. Theodore seemed amenable to the idea--albeit one that was vague and far off in the future. Still, he took his duties as heir seriously, and if necessary, he would be willing to adopt an heir sooner than expected, providing that he could find one. Of course an adopted heir was not what Bole had in mind, but if the Wizengamot chose to assume that Snape meant that Theodore would father a biological child rather than adopt one, then he certainly wasn't going to correct that assumption.
"Should the future of the Snape family rest on such nebulous promises?" Bole asked rhetorically, looking unimpressed. "That your adopted heir--who is only distantly related to the Snapes by blood--might get over his 'experimentation' phase, as you call it, that he might marry, that he might sire a child years, perhaps decades from now? Not when there is an heir right here, with a stronger blood claim, who has pledged to do whatever is necessary to ensure the succession." He gestured at his client, who flashed a charming smile at the assembled Wizengamot, then modestly inclined his head.
"And who is to say that your client would be any more or less successful at siring a child than my chosen heir?" Snape retorted. "For all we know, he might be infertile."
"How dare you--" Delauney started to protest, flushing angrily.
"Unless you have an illegitimate child tucked away somewhere?" Snape asked sarcastically.
"I have no child, but I have pledged to seek out a wife and father an heir if the Wizengamot decides in my favor," Delauney said stiffly.
"Yes, I am sure you would have a much easier time finding a wife as the head of a wealthy pureblood family than as the grandson of a prostitute," Snape said dryly.
"Objection!" Bole shouted.
"Professor Snape," Bones said warningly.
"I beg your pardon, Madam Bones," Snape said, then turned back to Bole. "Perhaps my son's blood connection to the Snape family might be a little distant. But at least it can be proven beyond a doubt that he has Snape blood--which is more than I can say for your client."
"We'll see about that!" Bole snarled, but Snape could see a few members of the Wizengamot nodding thoughtfully. Bole continued to interrogate him for awhile longer, but Snape had the dubious benefit of having been interrogated by the Dark Lord himself on a regular basis, and he was more than able to hold his own in their verbal fencing match, and Bole finally gave up and allowed Snape to step down.
"I would like to call the Professor's adopted son Theodore to the stand at our next session," Bole said rather sullenly.
Snape hedged, "Theodore is in the middle of his apprenticeship right now, and his Master is very strict. He will not of approve of his pupil's education being interrupted." Snape recalled how he had declared that he would not allow his son to be humiliated in public by being questioned about his sexual preferences, but he was now acutely aware that there was little he could do to prevent it. Bole smirked, and Snape glowered at him, repressing the urge to inflict a Crucio spell or two on both the lawyer and his client.
"We are attempting to determine who is most fit to head the Snape family," Bole stated rather pompously. "Therefore, it is essential that I be allowed to question the Professor's heir, since he is next in line to inherit the title."
"Mr. Bole has a point, Professor Snape," Bones said. "I am well aware of Master Tremayne's reputation, but surely he can spare his apprentice for just one day, given the circumstances? It's not as if Theodore would be going off on a jaunt to Hogsmeade."
"Master Tremayne and his apprentice are conducting crucial research for the Ministry of Magic," Morrigan said smoothly. "It is absolutely imperative that they not be interrupted at this point."
"Is this related to the museum break-in?" Bones asked. Although the details of the theft had not been made public, as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she was well aware of the stolen medallion, and knew just how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands.
"Yes, Madam Bones," Morrigan replied respectfully--and more or less truthfully. Tremayne and Theodore really were working hard to translate all the runes and books that had been found in the ruins, in hopes of finding more information about the medallion. What Morrigan left out was that the chances of them finding anything useful was rather slim, but still, no possible lead could be left unturned when a werewolf serial killer was on the loose.
Bones held a brief, whispered conference with Arthur Weasley, and it seemed that he was able to persuade her, at least partially, because Bones announced, "The trial shall be postponed for two weeks in order to give Master Tremayne and Mr. Snape time to finish their research." Bole started to protest, and Bones rapped her gavel to cut him off, then continued, "However, Theodore Snape must present himself in court when the trial resumes, regardless of whether or not his work is finished. Does that satisfy you, Mr. Bole, Ms. De Lacy?"
It did not, but both lawyers knew that the question was rhetorical, so they murmured reluctant assent, and court was adjourned.
As he prepared to leave, Snape noticed that the members of the Wizengamot were quietly debating and arguing with each other, which was interesting. He couldn't quite make out their words, but it seemed that they were much more divided than they had been at the previous session, when the majority had seemed to favor Delauney.
Snape mentioned this to Morrigan when they all gathered together back at the Manor. "Yes, I noticed that, too," she agreed. "It seems that your mother's efforts are bearing fruit."
Selima smiled, looking smug as a cat with a bowl of cream. "I've just given them something other than Weasley and yourself to worry about, Severus."
"Perhaps if they continue to be distracted, Theodore won't have to testify, after all?" Lupin asked hopefully.
Morrigan shook her head. "Not unless we can come up with a good reason for the Wizengamot to dismiss the case. Still, we've won a reprieve of two weeks. Perhaps we can dig up some dirt on Delauney during that time, and force him to drop his lawsuit."
"It would have to be something truly scandalous," Selima said, frowning slightly. "Considering that the Wizengamot is seriously considering his claim even though he's the grandson of a whore. But yes, continue your research, Ms. De Lacy. And perhaps you could begin making discreet inquiries as to whether a bribe will make him go away."
"He's greedy," Snape said. "I saw it in his eyes; he isn't just playing a role anymore. Regardless of whether or not that was his true intention to begin with, he's now determined to win the case and take the estate from us."
"But his case is shaky, and if he's losing support among the Wizengamot, he may settle for monetary compensation rather than walk away with nothing at all," Selima pointed out. "As little as I like the thought of paying out Snape gold to that usurper, it would be worth the expense to spare Theodore from having to testify." When Lupin smiled at her, she hastily added, "And to prevent the Snape family's reputation from being damaged, of course."
"Of course," Lupin said agreeably, still grinning as Selima gave him a sour look.
"Very well, I'll do my best," Morrigan promised.
Not long after she left, a small, scruffy-looking owl arrived to drop off a letter for Snape. He opened it and said, "Well, it looks as if I'll be doing some research, too. My contact came through, and has provided the locations of three sanatoriums that are rumored to accept werewolves as 'patients': one in Germany, one in Bulgaria, and one in Romania."
"That sounds promising," Lupin said. "Shall I go with you as a translator? I speak fluent German, though I don't speak Bulgarian or Romanian, but Viktor Krum and Charlie Weasley might be able to help us."
Snape shook his head. "I haven't your skill with languages, Lupin, but I can speak a smattering of each, and besides, since these places cater to customers from all over the world, the staff should be able to speak English. And...we are meddling in things that are normally kept hidden, which could be dangerous. I think it would be best if I went alone."
"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, Severus," Lupin said, in that deceptively mild and pleasant voice he used when he was being particularly stubborn. "I phrased my words as a question to be polite, but I am not giving you a choice. If the situation is dangerous for me, then it is also dangerous for you, and I will not allow you to walk into danger alone."
"I can take care of myself," Snape protested, although he was aware that he was fighting a losing battle.
"So can I," Lupin retorted. "My specialty is Defense Against the Dark Arts, remember?"
"Of course, Lupin, but it really isn't necessary for you to--"
"Actually," Selima interrupted, "I would prefer it if Professor Lupin accompanied you, Severus. No matter how capable you are, I don't like the idea of you walking into unfamiliar and possibly hostile territory alone. Who knows what these people might do if they suspect you are trying to expose their secrets?"
"But Mother--" Snape protested weakly. {I can't believe that my mother and the werewolf are ganging up on me!} he groaned silently.
"Then it's settled," Lupin said sweetly. "Besides, if your cover story is that you are searching for a place to put an unwanted werewolf relative, I can pose as the werewolf, which will help make your cover more convincing."
"Don't I have any say in the matter?" Snape grumbled.
"None whatsoever," Lupin replied cheerfully.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Sebastien Delauney had arranged to meet his mysterious patron in the room he had rented at the Leaky Cauldron. Originally, he had been pleased enough with their arrangement; he had been paid a thousand Galleons to pose as the Snape heir, with the promise of more to be paid after the trial, even if he lost. And if he won, the benefits were obvious--a title, and the wealth and respectability that had eluded him for his entire life. It had seemed like a plan with no drawbacks; even in a worst-case scenario, he would return to France a good deal wealthier than when he had left it.
But that brief taste of life as a noble, as one of the pureblood elite, was intoxicating and addictive. His blood was as good as any of theirs, after all--his mother was from a wealthy and respected French pureblood family, and his unknown British grandfather had to be a pureblood as well, since the brothel where Philomela had worked had catered solely to purebloods. Half-bloods, no matter how wealthy, had not been welcome, and a Muggle-born had certainly never been allowed to enter the threshold of that elite establishment. For all Sebastien knew, his grandfather might really be the old Snape Lord, although Philomela had never been sure exactly who had fathered her child. Conveniently enough, though, Stefan Snape had left his cloak pin behind in Philomela's room--forgotten after an assignation, and he had fallen ill shortly thereafter, and so never had a chance to retrieve it. Years later, that pin had allowed Bole to display it in court as "proof" that Lord Snape had gifted his mistress with the family crest, an implicit acknowledgment that the child was his. Philomela had also possessed a small locket, a gift from her other paramour, Pembroke Parkinson, but Sebastien kept that piece of information to himself, since he was claiming to be a Snape, not a Parkinson. Even after she had sold the rest of her jewelry, his grandmother had held onto those small tokens as a matter of pride, as proof that even though she had been forced into prostitution, her son's blood was still pure. That part of his testimony, at least, had been true.
So why should he return to his life of squalor in France, working to satisfy the base desires of men and women whose blood was no better than his? His blood was as pure as theirs, so why shouldn't he be equal to them in rank as well? And even if his grandfather wasn't Stefan Snape, then he had probably been a Black or a Malfoy or a Parkinson, and the pureblood families were so interbred that there was probably a Snape somewhere in all of their family trees. Sebastien probably had at least as much Snape blood as the Professor's adopted heir.
He was no longer satisfied with the gold that his patron had promised; he wanted to become the Snape Lord and have his revenge on everyone who had called his grandmother a whore and sneered at his questionable pedigree. He wanted revenge on his mother's parents who had disowned her, consigning their daughter to an early death and their grandson to a life of poverty when he should have led a life of comfort and ease.
But Sebastien's patron didn't care about his wishes, only about humiliating the Snapes. So Sebastien thought that perhaps he would try to gain a little leverage over his nameless employer. To that end, he had purchased a pair of enchanted spectacles with--ironically enough--some of the gold his patron had given him. They would allow him to see through any magical disguises, which meant that he could discover his patron's identity. Sebastien couldn't afford a permanently enchanted item, so the spell would work for only one viewing, but he figured that once would be enough.
There was a knock at the door--one short rap followed by a pause, then two more, their agreed-upon signal. "Come in," Sebastien called, donning the spectacles as he made a show of shuffling through some court documents.
His patron normally appeared as a very nondescript man: neither young nor old, neither short nor tall, neither fat nor thin, with hair a very dull and ordinary shade of brown, and features so unremarkable that one's gaze seemed to slip over them without really noticing. But with the aid of the spectacles, Sebastien noticed that his employer was a handsome man with dark hair and eyes, much younger and much more striking than the glamor that he wore to disguise himself.
Sebastien did not recognize the face, but he carefully tried to memorize it without being obvious about it. He smiled distractedly and blinked owlishly, as if he could not see the man clearly through the spectacles.
"I didn't know that you wore glasses, Sebastien," his patron said, sounding amused, so it seemed that he didn't suspect anything.
"Only for reading," Sebastien said sheepishly as he casually slipped the spectacles off his face and tucked them into his pocket. "I must admit, I am a little vain, so I don't normally wear them in public."
His patron chuckled, "Ah, but glasses are hardly unfashionable here in England, since our beloved savior wears them." Despite his pleasant smile, the man's voice sharpened slightly. "Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the hero who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Sebastien shrugged indifferently, although he made a mental note that his patron had no love for the hero boy wizard. "Oh yes, I've heard of him, although the war had little impact on my country."
"Only because the Dark Lord was vanquished before he could expand the war to include your country," his patron said, a little sullenly.
"Then I suppose I should be grateful to this Boy Who Lived," Sebastien said lightly as his patron scowled. "But getting back to business, I am a little worried about how the trial is going. You told me that most of the Wizengamot hates Snape, but they seem to be leaning in his favor."
His patron's scowl deepened. "Someone has been stirring up trouble at the Ministry, turning Arthur Weasley's opponents against each other. Snape is probably behind it, or more likely, his mother. My father always said she was a shrewd bitch, and the real reason why Severin Snape rose as high as he did in the Ministry. And that De Lacy woman is a sly character as well. But whatever the reason, the senior members of the Ministry and the Wizengamot are too busy fighting each other at the moment to concentrate properly on the trial."
"Then how can we mend the situation?" Sebastien asked. "Are there certain officials we could bribe, or perhaps--?"
"We?" his patron interrupted sharply. "Just remember that you are not the Snape Lord yet, Delauney, and that you work for me. It is my gold that is being paid out, and I shall decide if and when a bribe is necessary."
"I beg your pardon if I overstepped my bounds," Sebastien said humbly, bowing his head to hide the sudden flash of resentment in his eyes. "I intended no offense; I am just worried that the trial is not going according to plan."
His employer appeared to be pacified by his show of humility, because he relaxed enough to smile slightly and say, "Relax, Delauney. I promised that you would be paid regardless of the outcome of the trial."
"Of course, and I appreciate your generosity," Sebastien said smoothly, raising his head to smile charmingly back at his patron, composure restored. "But I must admit, I would like to win, if possible. Who wouldn't want to be a Lord, after all? And it would be most useful to you to have a Lord who is your devoted servant."
"And would you be, Sebastien?" his patron asked, still smiling, but his voice took on a slight edge of bitterness and suspicion. "Devoted, that is. Gratitude, in my experience, is often short-lived. If you became Lord, perhaps you might think that you no longer need my support."
"Not at all, sir," Delauney protested earnestly. "I could never forget the debt I owe to the one who elevated me to such high status! Besides, even if I do win the trial and receive the Snape estate, I will still need a strong ally. I know that even if they vote against Snape, many of the purebloods will look down on me because of my father's illegitimate birth."
"That is true," his patron conceded. "If we win the trial, that is all well and good, but its main purpose is to distract and inconvenience Snape. Continue to play your role as I have instructed, and do not deviate from the script."
"As you command, sir," Delauney said meekly, bowing his head.
His good humor restored, Delauney's employer smiled in a patronizing manner and handed him a small but heavy pouch of coins, saying, "A bonus for your good work."
"Thank you, sir," Delauney said, accepting the pouch with a show of gratitude, and his patron left.
Delauney had only his employer's face and no name to go with it, but he was not discouraged. Someone so wealthy likely belonged to a family of high rank, so he would purchase back issues of the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly, and check the pictures on the society pages. There was a good chance that such a handsome and wealthy young man had been photographed attending some exclusive soiree or concert or play. Or perhaps he was related to a Death Eater, and that was why he was so bent on taking revenge against Snape--in which case it was very likely that there would be a picture of him somewhere in the articles covering the Death Eater trials.
The thought of blackmailing a possible Death Eater gave Delauney some pause, but then he reassured himself that if his patron was a Death Eater, he would have been killed or sent to Azkaban with the rest of them. Besides, the man he had seen through the enchanted spectacles looked young, in his early twenties, and most of the Death Eaters had been in their thirties or older, having been recruited during the first war, when Delauney's patron was still a toddler.
And from the gossip Delauney had heard, the families of the Death Eaters had been vocal in repudiating their relatives' crimes, and were trying very hard not to attract undue attention to themselves--and the murder of the rival Snape heir would certainly attract a great deal of attention.
So it was probably safe enough to put a little pressure on his employer if he emphasized what a useful ally he could be with the Snape family's name and wealth at his disposal. He would act humble and deferential, and eager to remain in his patron's good graces; after all, they both needed each other. Delauney, with his uncertain birth, needed the backing of the old pureblood families to truly be accepted into society even if he won the lawsuit, and if his patron's family was tainted by association with the Death Eaters, then they also needed allies. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Of course there was some risk involved, but an opportunity like this, the chance to claim what Delauney thought of as his proper birthright, might never come again. Surely it was worth a few risks to gain the power and wealth he had always craved. He chuckled to himself as he rose to his feet and pocketed the pouch of coins that his patron had given him. How wonderfully ironic, that he would use his master's own gold to purchase the materials that would allow Delauney to blackmail him!
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Halloween fell on the weekend after the trial. It was usually a festive time of year in the wizarding world, but the mood was rather subdued this year, due to the unsolved murders and the uncertainty of the Minister's future. Still, the normal celebrations were being planned, and the students, who were somewhat sheltered from the outside world at Hogwarts castle, were eagerly looking forward to their scheduled trip to Hogsmeade.
"Is it safe?" Tsubasa asked during a staff meeting, fingering the hilts of his swords restlessly, an action that seemed to make some of the other teachers a bit nervous.
"I think so," McGonagall replied. "All of the murders have taken place at night, not during the day, and none of them happened near Hogsmeade or the school. It doesn't seem as though the students are being targeted."
"But it seems as though werewolves are somehow involved, either as perpetrator or targets, or perhaps both," Sprout said in a concerned voice. "And we have two werewolf teachers at this school, and a third werewolf who is the brother of a student and the son of two of the victims."
"We shall take all due precautions," Dumbledore assured her. "The students shall be organized into small groups that will be under the supervision of at least one teacher at all times."
Several of the teachers sighed regretfully. The Hogsmeade trips were normally a holiday for the teachers as well as the students, a chance to relax and socialize and drink something a bit stronger than butterbeer. Still, they understood the necessity of protecting the students, and no one objected to the Headmaster's plan.
"I'm afraid that you'll have to count Severus and myself out, Albus," Lupin said with a smile. "We've made plans to travel and take a little holiday this weekend."
"Of course, Remus," Dumbledore said cheerfully, winking at Lupin.
Stern McGonagall gave Snape a sympathetic look. "I know that recent events have been stressful for you, Severus; a holiday will do you good. The rest of us can manage fine without you."
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"A holiday?" Snape asked sarcastically, once he and Lupin were alone in their quarters. "Touring the illicit sanatoriums of Europe is not exactly what I'd call a pleasant holiday jaunt, Lupin."
"Yes, but I thought you wanted to be discreet, so we needed to come up with a cover story," Lupin replied, unperturbed. "Besides, perhaps we can manage to squeeze in a little sightseeing while we're there. I traveled to Germany on business once for one of my translation jobs, and I know of a wonderful restaurant in Berlin. And I'm sure that Charlie would be happy to give us a tour of the Dragon Reservation in Romania."
"Yes, spending time around ferocious man-eating beasts is one of my favorite pastimes," Snape said sourly. "Ranking only slightly above spending time around anyone from the Weasley family."
Lupin just laughed and leaned over to kiss Snape, a light peck on the lips. "I know that the situation is serious, but still, I must confess that I'm looking forward to going off on a trip alone with you."
Snape snorted derisively, but was secretly a little flattered. "You won't miss spending Halloween shepherding the little brats around Hogsmeade?"
"I'll manage to survive somehow," Lupin said with a grin. "What about you?"
"Spending Halloween in a sanatorium filled with madmen and werewolves actually seems far more preferable to spending it trapped in a castle with a bunch of overexcited children on a sugar high."
"I was hoping that we could limit the sanatorium investigation to the daylight hours," Lupin replied. "I thought that perhaps we could have a..." He smiled slyly. "...private celebration on Halloween night."
"That can be arranged," Snape purred in a silky voice, returning Lupin's smile. "Perhaps we could play...trick or treat?"
"I know exactly what treat I want," Lupin growled, eyeing Snape hungrily.
"You'll have to wait till Halloween," Snape teased, then cried out, "Lupin, wait--oof!" as he was pounced on and knocked down onto the bed by a very enthusiastic werewolf. "I think you've put on weight," he grumbled.
"All the more of me to love," Lupin cooed into his ear.
"Idiot werewolf," Snape grumbled, but then Lupin began nibbling on his earlobe, and his voice trailed off into a breathy sigh. "Ah..."
"I love you, too, Severus," Lupin said, a combination of amusement, tenderness, and lust mingling on his face in an oddly compelling and intoxicating manner. Snape was momentarily silenced, and Lupin kissed him firmly, cutting off any further complaints or protests.
Part 22