Spring 2008

The sofa with the traditional design of English Roses stood still on the same place, the windows with the great view to the sea behind. It was the family's favourite place to relax when the weather frustrated plans doing something outside. Eileen huddled against her father's arm reading a historic novel about dragons and elves. Marcus sat on the other side of Severus, with drawn-in knees, the unkempt black hair obscuring the narrow face and the aquiline nose. A book with a well-worn leather cover absorbed the boy.

It rained outside; the Phoenix sat on the perch making a clicking noise whenever another thunder growled in the distance. The owls, Pauline and Hugo, delivered messages and potions and returned only for the night. Leonor left the cottage already in the morning for surgery hours and home visits.

Severus glanced apprehensively around when another thunder rolled across the sea. Eileen turned another paged and looked up from the book.

"When will mum get home?"

"For dinner," replied Severus, looking back down on a recent periodical.

"Is Apparition dangerous in a thunderstorm?"

"It's not if you concentrate well on your destination."

"I hope mum is coming soon," whispered Eileen and some worry lines appeared in the young face.

Only then Marcus noticed what was going on, he shrugged, closed the book and stood up to take a shortbread from a square biscuit tin on the table.

"Do you want me to check if she's in the apothecary?" murmured Marcus chewing one biscuit after the other and glancing to the low embers in the fireplace.

Severus looked up to his son and then to the wedding band on his finger, "She's alright."

"You cannot know," frowned Marcus taking the box with the Floo Powder from the mantelpiece.

"I know," answered Severus giving his son a tight-lipped smile and a wink, telling him to return the Floo powder to the usual place. "The weather in Scotland is different and the Floo is taboo for you."

Marcus returned the box grudgingly. He'd used the Floo often, knew how it worked but the parents never let him go alone. He wouldn't mind going to the apothecary now and taking a stroll through Hogsmeade when the shops filled with students, witches and wizards because of the Easter term break. The wirily built boy sighed, just four more days left to entirely concentrate on spells and potions books. It irked him that he was only permitted to read the theory.

"Aren't thunderstorms scary in Hogwarts?" he pressed the matter further.

"You cannot even hear them in the Slytherin Common Room," replied Severus folding the periodical and thinking if that was true for the other dormitories too. Thunders echoed loudly in between the mountains.

Severus dispelled the thoughts and said casually, "I'll make some tea. Do you want a hot chocolate?"

Marcus and Eileen nodded. The boy sat quickly to the table, eating more of the self-made shortbreads.

"Why am I not allowed to go to Hogwarts with Eileen in September? I can do magic. I'm not too young."

Some lines appeared on Severus' forehead. He took the kettle and infused a tea, then filled cocoa in a mug and heated the milk with his wand.

"You are only ten, Marcus." Severus' voice sounded harsh and visibly annoyed.

"The muggle school is so easy. I'm playing soccer and can score goals whenever I want. That's annoying. I'm a wizard," sniffed Marcus and scowled into the cup smelling the roasted cocoa beans and caramel.

"You are not allowed to use magic in front of muggles," grinned Eileen knowing full well that nobody ever noticed.

Marcus frowned bad-tempered at his sister. He knew that he had a knack to score whenever the school team required it the most; but didn't sensationalize the ability. Marcus' gloomy gaze and somewhat knowing scowl made the teachers not particularly fond of him until his only muggle friend persuaded Marcus to play soccer and then he convinced with a special boldness if the team struggled to win. He never showed nerves and became easily the tough backbone of the team.

Eileen supped the hot chocolate waiting for Marcus to continue the conversation like every day when he was bored and ready with all homework. In term breaks it was worse and meanwhile no day passed without discussing Hogwarts. Her mum rolled the eyes whenever he started, and father became thin-skinned when that topic came up.

"Please, let me try with a wand! I can do all the potions mum needs; you just have to let me," implored Marcus. Concocting potions created the best opportunity to get hold of a magic wand and try simple spells behind the parent's backs.

Severus sighed, "We do a new batch over the weekend. You both can help." He glanced to the dry bundles of bramble leaves and mints hanging besides the fireplace.

A smile lit up in the faces of both children and another rolling thunder was forgotten for the minute. A narrow strip of light announced a mild evening; the heavy rain would stop soon. Severus had to talk to Leonor best on a quiet walk along the cliffs while they watched Eileen and Marcus speeding along the shore with their broomsticks.

The peace returned to the cottage 'Above the Cliffs' after offering to make potions together. Everybody continued reading until the owls soared through the door with Leonor in tow.

Severus hastened to meet her.

"How are you?" He took Leonor's dripping cloak and dried it with a spell. The hair stuck wet to her cheeks, and he brushed it away, warming her skin with his hands. She looked tired.

"A busy day but I'm not very late." Leonor kissed Severus full on the mouth. He held her tight without breaking the kiss voluntarily. He hated the days when she worked full-time as a healer. Leonor's absence reminded him of Azkaban. He sighed — the fear to lose her still branded to his mind. That demon filled him with agony.

"What did you do?" she asked lightly waving to the children. Marcus and Eileen sniggered, observing their parents 'welcome ritual' from the distance.

"Reading, bad weather. We managed it almost to Skomer Island in the morning but returned quickly when the wind picked up shaking the brooms nastily."

Severus pressed another kiss to Leonor's forehead and whispered to her ear, "You smell like a fresh spring rain."

"I'm soaked wet, didn't know a good Apparition spot near to the home of the last patient in the middle of Swansea. I walked in the heavy rain." She pretended to dissolve with self-pity and a mischievous grin curled her lips. "The weather in Scotland was dry and sunny."

"Get changed. I fancy a walk later. It's getting better outside. We need to talk about Marcus," whispered Severus with worry lines on his face.

"Good." Leonor brushed Severus' smooth hair out of his face, massaging the always tense neck muscles with her thumbs and teasing out a shy smile from the stern man.

"Minerva visited me in the apothecary today. She did that only once after the ministry sentenced you to Azkaban."

"And what did she want now?" growled Severus frustrated.

He refused to meet anybody from the 'old days' and wasted not more than a curt nod whenever meeting a colleague or Order member in Diagon Alley. He only asked Harry Potter for a visit. That was about three years ago, only one month after the conditional release from Azkaban. He apologized — like promised to James and Lily. It had been a sensitive conversation, perhaps the only good exchange Severus ever had with Harry.

"Minerva likes to truly see you."

"I don't need pity."

Severus walked away back into the kitchen, running his fingers through the hair and staring to the moving dark clouds.

"She does not intend to pity you," insisted Leonor and hugged Marcus and Eileen asking them about the day too. The news about brewing potions together spilled immediately.

Leonor sighed saying, "You hardly can await going to Hogwarts, Marcus."

"He's just trying to learn something useful," started Eileen. "We can watch and help each other if we are in the same year."

"You defend your brother," frowned Leonor.

"It's not fair that you all sit here in the cottage and I'm alone in that ancient old castle! I don't want to go there alone." Eileen looked now grim and disappointed. Brother and sister got up and snatched their books heading slowly for the door as if there was a chance that the parents changed their mind.

"I don't argue about Hogwarts now. Tidy up your rooms and then come down for dinner," said Leonor with a suggestion of fatigue and the kids toddled off mumbling under their breath.

"Marcus needs unceasingly new challenges," sighed Leonor. "I hoped that your return stops his curiosity but it's increasing instead."

"He's eager for magic knowledge," said Severus quietly. "I gave my mother also a good grilling about the magic world until she gave up letting me have all books even those I shouldn't have read as a child."

Leonor laughed bitterly. "Eileen and Marcus are both good at school, but Marcus never gives it a rest with complaining. Look to the attic! He sleeps between bookshelves, muggle textbooks about maths and physics are next to spell books and potions guides. He spends all his pocket money for it and Richard and Thomas support him. Draco gave him recently all his schoolbooks from first to seventh year. I wonder how long that is enough."

"You've done well sending him to a muggle school keeping his mind busy." He hugged Leonor and brushed his lips along her neck. "Get changed and let's talk about Marcus later. It would be good if he's in the same year as Eileen; he's now already taller than most first years."

XXX

The other day Leonor took the children to Hogsmeade allowing them to dawdle through the wizarding shops and meet Ashley's son who started already at Hogwarts and bragged fondly about every new learned spell. Saturday was often reserved for potions and Severus attended a meeting of the potion's guild on Sunday.

The guild boomed ten years after the war and Severus became quickly one of the most heard lecturers. New Hogwarts graduates joined and when Severus published the Crutiatus Potion a year after being released from Azkaban, then the international attention grew steadily. Eldred Burke still lead the guild as a chairman supported by Edward Fawley's son who took over the vice-chairmanship after the father's death.

Leonor just served lunch when the wind chime issued a pleasant tingling sound. Eileen threaded clams and beads onto a chain and now it served as a doorbell whenever non-family members crossed the boundary of the cottage.

All three looked to the door. Nobody was expected for a visit.

"I'll check it. You stay here," offered Marcus quickly, fork and knife fell to the plate with a clang. He reached for his mother's magic wand, but she just shook her head. Then he hurried away with his head down and hands in the pockets, another possibility to do a bit of magic wasted.

"He's so nosy!" said Eileen craning her neck to see through the corridor to the door.

"I'd call it protective." Leonor smiled; Marcus considered it a task to investigate every variation from the normality whenever Severus was absent, otherwise he left it grouchily to his father.

Eileen watched Marcus opening the door to a tall, severe-looking woman in her seventies. Marcus said nothing, obviously taken aback by her appearance. The woman spoke first.

"Can I have a word with your father?"

"He's not here," growled Marcus and it was clear that he didn't know what to do next.

"Who's that?" whispered Eileen turning to her mother, but Leonor was already on the way to the door.

"Let Professor McGonagall pass, Marcus!" called Leonor. "Severus lunches with the Potion's Guild today but I expect him to return soon. If you like to wait," offered Leonor taking Minerva's cloak and gesturing her to sit on the table with the family.

Marcus and Eileen looked at the Headmistress of Hogwarts with big eyes. They both knew the face from the Daily Prophet.

Minerva introduced herself without mentioning her position and listened carefully to the names of the children, a light frown on her forehead.

"Continue to eat, it's getting cold," said Leonor mildly. "Can I offer you something as well, Minerva?"

"No, thank you, although it smells delicious. But the elves served shepherd's pie today and I'm well-fed. I can also wait outside if you want to finish first."

"No problem, if you don't mind that we eat up quickly. How's Hattie?" asked Leonor genuinely interested in the old elf's welfare.

"Well, I suppose. She still serves Horace, that reduces the workload and gives her the feeling of being important. She developed a liking for his crystallized pineapple."

"Good to hear. I miss her."

Leonor smiled and memories of the year when Eileen and Marcus were born returned.

Minerva just nodded and continued to speak, watching Marcus from the side.

"I'm sorry to burst in unannounced, but I did not want to miss the opportunity on the last day of term break."

All three tugged in. Marcus and Eileen exchanged some looks while Minerva observed the room. Marcus looked sullen and his knuckles became white when he stabbed the vegetables forcefully.

"You've been a teacher of my father," pressed Marcus through gritted teeth and broke the silence first.

"Yes, and later a colleague."

"What do you want from him after so many years?" Marcus scowled at Professor McGonagall. Eileen looked up shocked by the tone.

"Marcus Severus Snape, do you want to leave the table right away?" scolded Leonor in an instant and the ten-year old backed away knowing full well that he overdid things when his mum used the full name.

"Sorry." He gnashed his teeth looking down to the plate.

Leonor still stared at Marcus angrily, but Minerva patted his arm and a mild smile curled her lips.

"You are right Marcus. I should have come earlier. You have a nice home; your mother did very well." Minerva hung her head now, a touch of shame and regret crossing the expression.

Marcus glanced at the old teacher, scrutinized the green eyes in the wrinkled face and gave her at least some credit.

"Dad told me that you taught Transfiguration."

"That is true."

"Was he good?"

"I would call him very talented. If I remember right, he finished the exams with 'Exceeds Expectations' in the subject."

Eileen burst now also with curiosity seeing that McGonagall was not the slightest bid angry.

She couldn't hold herself back telling proudly, "Dad copied the real Sword of Gryffindor and sent a fake to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault in Gringotts. The Goblins didn't notice that it was a falsification."

"He transfigured the sword under Dumbledore's instructions and the Goblins noticed that it was a fake. They just didn't bother to tell Bellatrix as Harry told us," rectified Leonor with a smile.

Professor McGonagall shifted nervously in her seat when Eileen grazed the past when Severus was headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Can I help you with something else?" asked the professor lightly hoping to turn the small talk into another direction.

"And how was dad in Potions?" asked Marcus away.

"Did he not tell you?"

The siblings shook the heads.

"Outstanding, Professor Slughorn was very pleased that year."

Marcus face lit up and he pushed the plate away.

"I suggest you go and visit the farm now," said Leonor consoling.

"We can do that tomorrow after school," replied Marcus quickly.

"Your friend invited you. He and his father are waiting. The lambs are not for long in the sheepfold," said Leonor firmly and her children knew that the time for them was over. They dawdled clearing the table but heard not more than some small talk about the beautiful surroundings of the cottage.