A Maker of Potions Severus Snape – dark enigma. e Pompous and sarcastic Head of the Noble House of Slytherin e Dumbledore’s Dark Spy, and now hero of the war against Voldemort e An inspirational speaker (when he bothers), yet – in terms of scholastic results – we learn that he’s only a ‘ fairly mediocre’ teacher e Mean and cruel to students e Tetchy, manipulative, and at times intimidatory to colleagues e And in his private life – a wealthy seeker of carnal pleasures What is his past, present and future? What could this irascible wizard possibly have to fear from a new trainee teacher? What are his long-term ambitions, and can he develop the maturity to achieve them? Could he ever come close to equalling the great Albus Dumbledore, that powerful wizard and inspired manager of difficult personalities, who – as we shall see proved again for us in this tale – can bring all the right people together to resolve a crisis. And is ‘Super Sleuth’ Snape as good a spy as he thinks he is? If you would like answers to these questions, this emotional roller-coaster of a story should fit the bill nicely. |
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Part 1 - Chapter 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 |
| Chapter Seventeen - The Milestone The pilastered white marble walls gave the room a feeling
of neoclassical grace. The beige veins
of the marble toned in with the toffee coloured Across the table from the Registrar and a little to the
right sat Snape, and to his right was Fabien Lavelle. Behind them, the seats were taken up by almost
all the staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together with Harry
Potter and Cho Chang. The seating in the room was arranged in two blocks that
flanked a wide central isle. The front
row of the left hand block was occupied only by Aurora Lavelle. In the rows behind her were ranged Aurora’s
parents, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, Aberforth Dumbledore and his
wife, Septimus Peor with Remus Lupin, and Amanda Fitzwarren and Neville
Longbottom with Ginny, Charlie, and most of the other Weasleys. Behind them, the massive figures of Rubeus
Hagrid and Olympe Maxime completed the occupation of the left hand seats. The Headmaster had found it difficult to
choose which side to sit – he was, by marriage, Celeste’s great uncle, but he
also felt himself to be something of a father figure to Snape. Eventually he decided he must abide by
tradition – he knew Snape would understand, and probably not want it any other
way. As ever, McGonagall wanted to sit
next to the Headmaster but she had no wish to sit on Snape’s side of the room –
she had no desire to be seen to be in any sense on his side. In a little shallow alcove to the right of the main room, a
small orchestra was softly playing Luigi Boccherini’s Minuet from his String
Quartet in E Major. The sound wafted
gently out across the sea of witches and wizards in their beautiful robes and
hats. The orchestra finished Boccherini’s Minuet and began the
second Andante from Handel’s Water Music, at which point Snape rose slowly from
his seat and turned, looking more Gothic than ever amid the room’s neoclassical
elegance. Snape however had his own kind
of elegance. He stood tall and proud,
composed and looking very much in command.
He was hiding his nerves well. He
wore and outer robe and tunic of bottle green velvet, black breeches and a
snowy white silk shirt. The left breast
of his robe bore a silver Slytherin serpent.
The congregation’s faint and expectant buzz of conversation subsided as,
pale and motionless, his black hair framing his face in a pointed arch, Snape
stood looking down the room, gazing over the heads of the crowd, patiently
waiting. At the appropriate stage in the
music the door at the back of the room opened. Celeste and her father appeared. Snape knew she had rehearsed this carefully, planning
her entrance so that by the time the two of them reached him, the music would
be drawing to its close. Lucien Lavelle wore a gold-edged silk robe of his habitual
powder blue, royal blue breeches and a cream satin shirt. Celeste wore a robe of deep red velvet edged
with gold and bearing on the left breast the gold emblem of a rampant lion –
the colours and insignia of the House of Gryffindor. Naturally, her hair was put up into its
French pleat, but Snape was surprised to see that she had forgotten her ear
clips. Where are the gold earrings, he
wondered. Then he understood. The neck of her new red dress was cut low,
revealing the silver serpent necklace with its oval emerald. It was more important to Celeste to wear that
necklace at her wedding than to maintain her careful colour co-ordination. It was a detail he appreciated – its meaning a
signal just between the two of them. Arm in arm, Celeste and her father paced slowly down the
isle. She caught Snape’s eye, gave him a
small, reassuring smile and his taught face softened in return. Once they were positioned in front of the table, Lucien
Lavelle took his daughter’s right hand and passed it to Snape who held his left
hand ready to receive it. Briefly Lucien
wrapped their hands in both of his own, pressing them together to signal his
blessing on their union. He smiled at
them and slowly withdrew to sit beside his wife in the first front-row
seat. The music faded to it’s conclusion
and the Registrar cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Severus
Sebastian Salazar Snape and Celestine Leander Lavelle…” he began. His voice was even and comforting, unhurried
and deep… “…If any person knows of any
reason why these two should not be joined in matrimony, let that person now
declare it, or forever maintain his silence.”
He waited for a few seconds in case anyone wanted to challenge the
validity of the marriage, and then continued.
At length he reached the vows. “Repeat after me” he said softly to Snape. “I call upon these persons here present … to
witness that I, Severus Sebastian Salazar Snape … do solemnly take … Celestine
Leander Lavelle … to my wedded wife … to have and to hold … from this day
forward … in sickness and in health ... for better or for worse … and forsaking
all others, I bind myself to her.” Phrase by phrase, Snape dutifully repeated the words, and in
her turn Celeste did the same. “Have you a ring?” the Registrar discretely asked
Snape. Rings were not obligatory, but
for those who chose to provide one, they were expected to provide an
accompanying speech. Fabien stood up
briefly to pass Snape the Slytherin platinum ring with its diamonds and central
emerald. Snape placed it halfway along
Celeste’s finger and spoke the words he had prepared. “I give thee this ring … in token of my love, and of my
undying devotion … an heirloom of my House … and a pledge of the worldly goods
with which, unreservedly, I thee endow … and hereto I plight thee my
troth.” Gently, he pushed the ring into
place at the base of her finger. “Have you a ring?” the Registrar discretely asked Celeste. She nodded calmly as Lucien stepped forward, handing his
daughter a ring. She turned and placed
it halfway along Snape’s wedding finger.
He had never seen the ring before.
It was gold and shaped exactly like hers. It also contained three gemstones – a deep
red garnet flanked by small, brilliant diamonds. His hand was trembling slightly and she gave
it an affectionate squeeze. Her voice was level and assured as she spoke her prepared
words. “I give thee this ring … in token
of my love, and of my undying devotion … May the garnet’s fire bring warmth to you in
the chill of the world … and may the diamonds’ light be a guide to you through
the darkness … And with this I plight
thee my troth.” Gently, she pushed the
ring into place at the base of Snape’s finger.
It fitted exactly – they were both relieved to find that the
measurements the jeweller had taken in April had not been inaccurate. Thinking over her words, Snape gazed in awe
at his beautiful ring, and he squeezed Celeste’s hand. “I now pronounce you man and wife – you may now kiss the
bride” the Registrar said. Snape’s ring
glittered as he slowly swept his arm around Celeste and kissed her gently. The Registrar smiled. “A little paperwork formality now” he said; “the
signing of the register.” As they disappeared into the anteroom for the signing, the
orchestra played Carl Orff’s music and Fabien’s mellow voice captivated the
assembly with Omnia sol temperat. When Celeste and Snape re-emerged the ceremony was
technically at an end. Having sung the
closing bars, Fabien stepped aside. With
a whisper of thanks to him and to the Registrar, Celeste and Snape stepped
forward and began their return down the isle, as the orchestra played the
joyful and ebullient third movement – the Allegro – from Bach’s Brandenburg
Concerto Number One. They assembled in the reception room amid warm wishes of
congratulation and the clicking and flashing of two photographers’ cameras. One camera belonged to the photographer
Sinistra had hired for them as her wedding present, the other was from the
press. They posed for photographs, said
their goodbyes to Celeste’s grand parents who were not going on to the
reception, and then finally prepared to Disapparate, making for Hogsmeade where
the carriages waited to transport them to Hogwarts. Sinistra’s photographer accompanied the
wedding party – he would be present for the whole day. At Hogwarts a marquee had been set up in the grounds, and
when all the guests were seated the house-elves served the food and made sure
everyone’s wine goblet was kept filled.
Dumbledore made a short speech of welcome and toasted the bride and
groom to signal the start of the wedding feast. Snape and Celeste had changed their clothes. Snape was still in bottle green but his robe
was of a summer-weight material. Celeste
wore a full-skirted, sea green, silk dress with a tight bodice and leg-of-mutton
sleeves. The necklace was still proudly
in evidence at her plunging neckline and the silver ear clips were now in
place. When people were starting to feel replete it was
traditionally the time for the bridegroom’s speech. Snape rose from his seat and called for
everyone’s attention. “Ladies and Gentlemen.
Colleagues. Friends.” As Snape spoke he looked around, letting his
hypnotic gaze draw everyone in. “You
will no doubt be pleased to hear that I shall not weary you with a long speech,
but while I am speaking could I please ask the house-elves to charge the glasses. Thank you.”
He paused briefly to ensure the elves had noted their cue and were
discretely topping up all the champagne flutes; and as they did so, he
continued. “First of all I should like
to say ‘Thank – You – All’ for coming here today, to join Celeste and myself as
we celebrate our special day. Thank you
for the wonderful gifts you have given us (he waved an elegant hand towards a
table at the end of the marquee, laden with beautifully wrapped packages). Thank you too for the less, err, tangible
presents – for this banquet, and the use of the school premises, for the music
we will shortly hear, and the fireworks which will conclude today’s
celebration; for the photographer recording this special event; and too for the
help I have received in preparing myself for this day.” As he made this last point Snape directed his
gaze upon Madeline Black and gave her a small, shy smile. Then he broadened his gaze and continued once
more. “Today marks a milestone in my life. A turning point. Another–second–chance. There have been some dark times in my life –
often of my own making – but I have been very fortunate, more fortunate than I
perhaps deserve, to have good friends to help me through those times. The Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, has
fulfilled such a rôle and I now offer him my long overdue thanks. And now Celestine Leander Lavelle takes up
the challenge of shining a light into the dark corners of this irascible
wizard’s psyche. You will no doubt
agree, hers is a brave undertaking. So I
ask you now, without more ado” Snape said, picking up his own champagne flute,
“to raise your glasses and drink a toast, to the witch who has generously
consented to share her life with mine – Mrs Celestine Snape.” Everyone stood momentarily and raised their glasses,
murmuring ‘Mrs Celestine Snape’. Then,
as the elves again saw to the refilling of the glasses, they took their seats,
expecting Dumbledore or possibly Fabien to call the next toast. As they toasted her, Celeste looked shyly around and
smiled, murmuring her thanks. Then as
Snape resumed his seat she surprised everyone by getting to her feet. “It is not customary” she announced bravely, “for a bride
to make a speech at her wedding reception, but having received such a tribute,
I must break with tradition. My husband
will not approve of this – he is a stickler for tradition.” She smiled and continued. “I think it is true to say that Severus Snape – irascible
wizard – is very well known to almost everyone here. You have probably called him many things over
the years.” Her audience smiled, some
chuckled. “Difficult is one of the politer words that spring to mind.” At this impish comment, warm laughter filled
the marquee. “But” she continued in a
more serious vein, “Severus, as he has shown many times, has never been lacking
in courage. So, ladies and gentlemen,
would you please raise your glasses and drink a toast to, the wizard who will
not flinch from pain in order to achieve change – Professor Severus Snape.” Along with the guests, Celeste turned to Snape, raised her
glass and toasted him. He was
dumbfounded and actually looked visibly moved.
Fighting to keep control of his emotions, he reached out his hand to
hers. She put down her glass, bent, and
kissed him, and this brought forth a storm of applause. Finally, as it subsided Fabien rose, made a
short speech and blessed the bride and groom.
He then read out some owled messages of congratulation. They included one from Cornelius and
Petronella Fudge, one from Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater, and one from
Vladimir Gordeev, the Russian Wizard who was Charlie’s predecessor in Dancing took place on the lawn near to the marquee. As planned, music was provided by the Niall
Falallin orchestra, with Ravelin to arrive later to do the hotter numbers. Snape opened the dancing with Celeste,
swinging her confidently about to Alicia’s light, jazzy and jokey rendition of
It Had To Be You. Other couples soon
joined them, Celeste’s parents, Dumbledore with McGonagall, Aberforth with his
wife, Sprout with her husband, the Blacks, Harry with Cho Chang and Hagrid with
Madam Maxime. More and more came forward
until the dance area was quite full. Alicia looked a picture in a glittery sugar pink full
length dress and silver sandals. Her
hair was trimmed with tiny pink rosebuds.
She followed It Had To Be You with a sultry-voiced I’ll Take Romance, to
which the couples could waltz. Snape and
Celeste looked at ease as they danced, and they seemed to be having fun. It was also increasingly clear that they were
becoming heedless of the staring crowds and simply enjoying the music. And it was true, Snape was at last starting
to lose the painful self-consciousness that fuelled a lot of his coldness, his
sarcasm and his disproportionate desire to prove himself. Harry struggled through Begin the Beguine, but when the
orchestra slid into the rapidly cascading phrases of the Alicia took a rest while the orchestra played Cheek to
Cheek, and then tried to dance a two-step with Sirius Black, to the tune of the
1930s song March Winds and April Showers.
Her straight dress was rather too tight for dancing and they both found
it quite hilarious. By then Snape and Celeste were standing to one side,
resting, and drinking iced pumpkin juice.
They surveyed the crowd and the dancers, noticing Sirius laughing
good-naturedly with Alicia. “It’s quite a success” Snape said happily, “and the weather
is perfect! By the way, who invited
Draco Malfoy to the reception? I’m not
displeased to see him, but he buttonholed me about a teaching career when he
greeted me a few minutes ago.” “I think he’s with Hermione Granger” Celeste replied a
little uncertainly. “Remember we marked
some invitations to named individuals plus guest of their choice? I believe Hermione brought the Malfoy boy.” “Did she really?” Snape said, amazed. “I thought she would probably bring Viktor
Krum.” He watched Neville Longbottom dancing quite smoothly with
Ginny Weasley, and the Weasley parents dancing together as the orchestra played
the tune of another 1930s song, Hands Across the Table. He observed that Alicia was having more
success in moving to this tune as she danced with Fabien Lavelle. He also spotted Septimus Peor and Remus Lupin
who were drinking flagons of mead and talking to Harry and Cho. Yes, he said to himself, it’s going
splendidly. * * * Dusk was falling, making the flashes from the
photographer’s camera more noticeable.
Magically suspended lanterns were popping into existence and floating
above the crowd. Some guests were
helping themselves to food from the buffet in the marquee. Many others were dancing; the orchestra was playing
You and The Night and The Music. Ravelin had arrived and were setting up with help from the
Flitwick brothers. The band all wore
glossy black two-piece suits, white satin shirts, and green bow ties. Fake diamond cufflinks glittered at their
wrists. Harry went over to see Dean who
had been a Housemate of his at Hogwarts.
They chatted and reminisced until Dean said “OK, we’re gonna start now,
Harry. We’re openin’ wiv You Aint Seen
Nothin’ Yet…” In need of a rest, Dumbledore and McGonagall sat at a little
table with Celeste’s parents and Fabien Lavelle, and watched the dancers jiving
to the hot rock number You Aint Seen Nothin’ Yet. The Black’s were, as usual, going wild, but
even Snape and Celeste were putting in an amazingly good effort. After several goblets of wine, Snape had
really got into the mood of the dancing and had thrown caution to the winds. Dumbledore noticed Aurora Lavelle’s eyes narrow. “Do you still doubt him, Aurora?” he asked. “I’ll never trust him” she murmured. “Look at him – Salazar Slytherin reborn!” “He is not an ancestor of Salazar’s” McGonagall said. “His great-great something-or-other was
adopted by Slytherin’s descendants.
Albus has the details somewhere.” “Yes, a baby was adopted” Dumbledore agreed. “A
foundling. Left on a doorstep, much as I
left Harry Potter. But I believe the
Snape foundling was actually a
Slytherin descendent. I looked into
Snape’s family history when he came here as a pupil. Such a strange, gifted, difficult boy he was. Quite an enigma. All my investigations lead me to believe the
witch who abandoned that baby was indeed a pureblood Slytherin. As to why she left her child? Perhaps she could not endure the stigma of his
illegitimacy. Perhaps she did not have
the means to take care of him. Who
knows? Severus pooh-poohed my
theory. He certainly never saw himself
as ‘The Heir of Slytherin’, and he is not a parcelmouth. And yet – I still suspect we are looking at
the heirs of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin dancing together
today. And when you see the firework
display tonight, you will see I am not alone in my opinions.” “That just proves me right” “You are too hard on him, Aurora” Lucien objected. “Yes, he has a dark side, but few of us are
exempt from that. He also has a power to
heal.” “He does indeed” Fabien agreed, “and an ability to break
free of his darkness.” The tune changed.
Dean Thomas began to sing Witchcraft, and Fabien stood up to dance. “Minerva, may I?” he asked, extending his
hand to her. “I bet you have never
danced with a Friar before!” Blushing slightly, McGonagall stood up and took his hand. * For the evening Alicia had swapped sugar pink for midnight
blue. It was another sequinned sheath
dress of satin, slashed to the thigh to reveal dark blue fishnet tights. Her hair sparkled with metallic blue
glitter. Her next song was My Resistance
Is Low. Ravelin followed this with the Beach Boys’ song Barbara
Anne. Snape had by now taken a small
drop of Terpsichorean Potion just to give himself a little extra courage, and
he and Madeline Black managed a modern bop to this song, as did Sirius and
Celeste. Then they swapped back to their
respective spouses for a very hot rendition of Crocodile Rock, and then Take a
Chance on Me, followed by Dean cooling the tempo by singing This Time The Girl
Is Gonna Stay. At about half-past nine Alicia and Dean were singing Say
Me, Say You as a duet, to which everyone could dance a slow smooch. Following this, and moving in perfect unison
like The Four Tops, Ravelin sang Knock on Wood, during which Snape and Celeste
stopped dancing and went to say farewell to a few chosen individuals. “The next three songs lead, without a break, into the
firework display” they explained “And at the end of that we set off. So we want to say goodbye in advance now, and
to thank you for making this day so wonderful for us.” They embraced Celeste’s parents – Celeste
giving her father a special hug of gratitude, as she could see he had found the
day something of an ordeal. They also
embraced Fabien who again uttered a blessing.
There were hugs too for Dumbledore and McGonagall. Snape shook hands with the Flitwick brothers
and Celeste kissed them. Then they
looked for Harry and Cho and the Blacks, but they were all dancing. “No matter” Celeste said. “They’ll get our thank you letters soon.” Accompanied by Ravelin and the full orchestra Alicia was
starting to sing The Power of Love as her last solo so they quickly returned to
the dance area. Snape whirled Celeste around faster and faster – they
looked as though they could dance all night.
Their eyes were locked onto one-another; no one else existed for them
now. In many ways Snape looked very much
the evil sorcerer and Celeste the beautiful bewitched victim – some would have
agreed with Aurora Lavelle’s opinion of him. As the final bars of the waltz approached, Felix Flitwick
and his brother Clement positioned themselves beside the firework ignition
point. The music was changing, blending seamlessly into Handel’s
Music for the Royal Fireworks as the dancing stopped completely and all the lanterns
were extinguished. Showers of Dr
Filibuster’s ‘Professional Exhibition Grade’ fireworks exploded in time to the
thunderous baroque chords, reaching ever higher as the music progressed. Enthralled, the crowd oooed and aaarhed! At the climax the final fireworks burst,
fizzing and crackling, splitting the darkness, forming the shapes of a golden
lion and a silver serpent cleverly intertwined; as starbursts of red and green
repeatedly erupted around them. The
crowd gasped! “That is truly amazing!” Dumbledore exclaimed. “Felix and Clement have surpassed
themselves. It would be so easy for one
animal to appear to be devouring or crushing the other, but the Flitwick
brothers have depicted an embrace; a caress.” Standing at the front of the crowd, in their own embrace
stood Snape and Celeste, their heads tilted back to watch the pyrotechnic
wonder. This was their signal. They turned, raised their hands and called a
thank you to everyone and a brief farewell.
A second later they had melted into the impenetrable shadows behind the
firework display; and a few moments after that the lights were restored so that
the guests could party on… Out of sight, Snape and Celeste hurried to the other side
of the castle. At the back entrance to
the dungeons the carriage was already waiting and two house-elves were talking
to the driver. Once inside Snape’s
chambers they changed their clothes and lined up their few pieces of luggage
which were already packed. The elves
assisted them to the carriage. “Thank you Binnie, thank you Tavey” Celeste said. They seated themselves in the carriage and
she held Snape’s hand. “ |
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During the following term Snape worked hard on his teaching
methods. He let Celeste sit in on a
selection of his classes and when she wasn’t involved in that, she helped
McGonagall with administrative work, and covering some of Madeline Black’s
Flying Lessons and Quidditch matches.
For the hours she worked Celeste was paid at the trainee teacher rate;
her attendances at Snape’s classes were, naturally, unpaid. Whenever they had time to spare Snape and Celeste scoured
the countryside for a house, but nothing suitable was for sale. They both admired Tol Galen which was a Tudor
manor house, three miles beyond Hogsmeade; a timbered structure with a jetted
upper storey, herringbone brick infill between the outer timbers, and roof
tiles in wonderful shades of warm orange, russet and brown. “I could make an offer for it” Snape suggested hopefully. “But it’s not for
sale” Celeste pointed out. “Your occasional fondness for stating the obvious ignores
the fact that I could still make the owners an offer” he insisted. “What, just knock on the door and say ‘Can I buy your
house?’ If they’re interested they’ll
really whack the price up, Severus!” “Now pay attention, Witch!” he said firmly, taking hold of
her shoulders. “What if they overprice the house by, say, ten
percent? Fifteen even? We can afford it – if we want too. Or we can
decline. Nothing would be lost. What is our money for? We have more than enough for our needs. Le me try.
Please Celeste.” He looked searchingly into her eyes and she
could feel herself going weak at the knees – he really wants this, she realised. “Let me see if they’ll consider it” he
continued. “Anyway, we have yet to view
it – we may not like the interior.” Snape made his offer, was invited to view the property, and
on the appointed day they stood outside for some minutes, drinking in the tranquillity
of its setting. “I wonder what the name means?” Celeste said. “It’s Tolkienish” Snape replied with relish. “Have you ever read The Lord of the
Rings? No? The Hobbit?
No? Well, Tol Galen is explained
best in The Silmarillion. It was the island
in the River Adurant in Ossiriand where Beren and Luthien lived after their
great and terrible deeds were accomplished.
I think it means The house Tol Galen dated from 1598 and various modifications
had been made to it over the centuries.
It had been the original creation of an eccentric wizard called Adrian
Aphazzar who thought it amusing to fashion a traditional English half-timbered
house in the Scottish Highlands. It was
set on a hillside and had flagstone floors at ground floor level, a wealth of
old beams, oak panelling in most rooms, inglenook brick fireplaces, servants’
quarters and even a room that was suitable for a potions laboratory – a
semi-basement billiards room where the building cut into the hill. It had thirty-four acres of grounds which
included a sunny patio sheltered by beds of shrubs, a kitchen and herb garden,
and a lot of mixed woodland which reached almost up to the house at one point
and sprawled away down the gentle hillside towards the distant River Hogg. The grounds also housed a cesspit and an
oil-fired electricity generator, so modern appliances were possible without the
need for connections to the mains. They
both fell in love with the house and fought very hard not to appear too anxious
to acquire it. “I must say I have reservations about that roof” Celeste
remarked in private to Snape. “Those
clay tiles are lovely, but they are not that heavy. I’m surprised they stay in place in winter
gales.” “Nevertheless the house is still standing” he replied
testily. “Are you suggesting we replace
the roof?” “Well, stone tiles would be safer” she said, “providing the
trusses are strong enough. If we go
ahead we do need a survey.” The owners of Tol Galen said they would have to think over
the Snapes’ initial offer as they had not contemplated moving. However they were back in touch with Snape
and Celeste within a month, quoting an asking price eighteen percent over what
Snape and Celeste felt the normal market price should be. With haggling and a lot of difficulty Celeste
negotiated the price down to a fourteen percent excess, at which point Snape
indicated to her that, subject to a structural survey, he wanted them to
accept. He felt the house was ideal and
couldn’t wait to set up home – his first real home, with his beautiful wife,
and the prospect of fatherhood. The surveyor discovered the roof tiles were laced with
spells. He recommended stone tiles but
Celeste admitted they were very taken with the appearance of the clay ones. “Well if you’re definitely set on keeping these” he said, “and
I agree they are very attractive, you could have the edges secured with steel
clips. And definitely have the spells
renewed – I’m surprised the roof withstood the 1990 gales.” Because of the state of the roof Celeste negotiated a
further price reduction and then, much to Snape’s relief, the sale went
ahead. Together with six house-elves,
they took possession of the house in early February. The house-elves were salaried and wore a
uniform of bottle green with the twin serpent SS insignia. They were surprised to find their new wizard
family were vegetarians; a fact they checked with Celeste. “Miss, is it right Miss?” Violet said, “that we is not to
serve any meat unless you says so? And
we is not to buy toiletries and cleaning things except as you direct?” “Who told you this?” Celeste enquired, intrigued. “Master say so, to Basil and Daisy” Violet replied. “But I say we is to double-check because it
is unusual. And it is you we have to get
say-so from.” Celeste’s mind raced.
“Well – yes” she decided quickly.
“Yes, it is correct. Your meat will come from Hogallen
Farm. We may at times eat meat, but we
will agree the menus with you in advance, so there will be no mistake. As for cleaning materials, I will give you a
list of companies to deal with. Don’t
worry. It won’t be difficult.” She then confronted her husband. “So you’re going vegetarian” she said. “You dark horse; you didn’t say.” “Yes, well…” Snape mumbled.
He looked embarrassed. “I will
probably eat meat at school, but I’m giving it up at home. For you.
We will bring our children up according to this principle. I will have my way in some things” he assured
her hastily, “but I see how important this principle of compassion is to you.” Celeste hugged him.
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you” she said. He wasn’t sure whether she meant giving up
meat, starting a family, or simply making their marriage work – in fact she
meant it all. The roof was renovated very promptly. The wizard roofing firm repaired loose tiles,
attended to the charms and clipped the roof edges, colouring the steel clips
brown so that they were not noticeable. Privately,
Snape was surprised at how well it turned out. The move went quite smoothly. Snape retrieved his furniture from storage
and he also took the opportunity to adjust the mirror on his wardrobe door,
saying it had been damaged when the contents of the wardrobe were cleared. Celeste was not convinced; she suspected he had
simply had the mirror reattached at a normal height. However she never challenged his explanation,
on the grounds that if he could now bear to look his reflection in the eye,
what was the point of making an issue of it? Being so far north in Britain it was not possible to
recreate the open, breezy, sunshiny feel of Celeste’s parents’ Scilly Isles
home, but they soon managed to make Tol Galen cosy and inviting; much more
homely than Hogwarts’ dungeon rooms. At
last they were able to start to use their wedding presents. Snape decided the mini hi-fi Sirius Black had
given them could go in the bedroom, and out of sheer enthusiasm he got up
before half-past seven one gloomy Saturday morning, unearthed both the Black’s
presents, and began to set up the hi-fi even before he had finished
dressing. He had brought some CDs from
the sitting room where they had been trying them out on the larger hi-fi system
Celeste’s parents had given them. An odd
collection of music now lay scattered on top of a chest of drawers, Elvis
Presley’s You Are Always on My Mind rubbing shoulders with Vaughan-Williams
Greensleeves Fantasia and Ravel’s Bolero. “You are a nut” Celeste said, watching Snape poring over
the instructions and trying to work out which lead went where, as he knelt
beside the roaring fire he had kindled.
“Are you going to wear anything other than just a shirt today? Leave that till later – I’ll help you.” However, by the time she had showered and was starting to
dress Snape had the hi-fi in operation.
He dug out a CD of Chopin’s Impromptus and Nocturnes and, still naked
except for his neck cord and unbuttoned shirt, he stared out of the window as
the fluid piano playing of Dubravka Tomsic filled the room. “Ah! The black satin
sheets!” Celeste exclaimed, spying Madeline’s present. Pulling them out of their cellophane, she
shook out a sheet and wound it around her, toga fashion. “Beautiful aren’t they” she said. “Real satin, too. And monogrammed.” An idea occurred to her. “Monogrammed!” she repeated. “Severus, the monogram on these is perfect,
exactly right. Exactly right. A carbon
copy. How would –? How would Madeline know about the monogram on
your sheets? Severus? Severus?” Snape turned. He
looked at Celeste standing there, looking perplexed and suspicious, wound in
black satin; the silver SS serpents clearly visible near the sheet’s corner she
was holding. “I – I don’t know” he said, sounding very uncertain of
himself. “She’s never been in my bedroom. Celeste, I swear she– I swear she–
Honestly, I promise you, I have never–” But his unconvincing protestations tailed off because
Celeste couldn’t keep up her look of angry suspicion, and now as she tried to
hide her face in the sheet, her shoulders were shaking with suppressed
laughter. “I know” she squeaked eventually. “I
gave Madeline one of your towels to copy.
Aah! Ohrr, sorry! I couldn’t resist that; you looked so puzzled, and guilty. I know you have
a bit of a yen for Madeline. I don’t
mind.” “You bitch!” he hissed.
“You witch! The torment you can
put me through.” In three strides he was in front of her, pulling the sheet
gently from her, noticing the way it slid from her skin. He contemplated tearing it from her, but the
fact that it was a present made him act with more care. “I’ve not seen this before” he remarked, noticing Celeste’s
new peach satin cami-knickers. He ran
his fingers over the smoky grey lace edging. “Well, I have to keep your interest somehow” Celeste
replied. “Oh, you have my interest” Snape assured her. “Be in no doubt, Madam. Be–in–no–doubt.” Reaching behind her head, he grabbed a handful of her hair
and pulled, making her face tilt upwards.
Celeste made no protest at this rather harsh gesture; indeed, as he kissed
her she shrugged off the thin straps of the cami-knickers, stepped out of the
flimsy garment, and folded her arms around him.
Snape bent his head to her breast. Suddenly he stepped away from her and lay back on the bed. “Get on top of me” he ordered. “This, witch, is your punishment for teasing
me so much. I trust you approve of it.” Fighting hard to keep himself under control, he watched
with greedy delight as Celeste knelt astride him and, with growing abandon,
took her pleasure from him again and again. When they finally went down to breakfast Tansy brought
Snape and Celeste their morning post.
Snape was surprised to receive anything, and as he opened his letter he
realised it was the subscription renewal to his club. Cautiously he glanced across at Celeste. He had never told her he was a member of The Mephistophelean;
in fact he hadn’t given it much thought for over a year. He explained what the letter was about and
said “I suppose there is no point in renewing.” Celeste looked at him and thought it over. “Yes, keep it” she said at last. “Keep your membership going.” Seeing his questioning look she added
“Severus, you are a very private person.
You’ve lived, in effect, on your own for years. And been an under-cover agent. You need a bolt hole. Hang on to your club membership – I won’t mind. If we stay in He smiled at her.
She understood his insecurity and need for private space. “You’re not such a bad old witch, sometimes”
he acknowledged. “And what is in your
post, Milady?” “Theatre trips she replied.
“At Easter. “I have no preference” he said. “I like the music to “Hmm; I suspect * * * Snape enjoyed the privacy a house of his own gave
them. They lived at the castle during
weekdays but went home at weekends. At
Tol Galen Snape did not have to worry about sealing his bedchamber against
students or being interrupted to deal with some fracas in the common room. During the Easter holiday he arranged for a
triple garage to be built because Celeste decided she wanted at least two, and
possibly three cars. “No, I don’t need a Rolls Royce” she explained. “But I do want a comfortable saloon car, as –
let’s face it – most of the year the weather is not very warm! And I’d like us to have a sports car for when
we do have fine days – just a little something for the two of us. And since it seems we might have a family, we
might need something that can transport a Weasley tribe – we’ll know in the
fullness of time. So adequate housing
for three vehicles is what I want.” “Are you telling me you are pregnant?” Snape said, guarding
himself against being too hopeful. “Mmm. I do believe I
am” she replied, smiling smugly at his look of perplexed joy. The following December Celeste gave birth to twin
boys. She was half hoping she could have
the twins at school, in the hospital wing, surrounded by Poppy Pomfrey and
familiar faces she trusted. But Pomfrey
persuaded her to give birth at St Bathild’s. “It’s your first confinement” she pointed out, “and it
looks like it’s going to be twins. What
if you need more than we can do for you here?” Celeste thought it over.
“Yes. OK; you’re right” she
conceded. “I know I’m just being
selfish.” “Good. That’s
settled. Well. That’s not my only consideration” Pomfrey
admitted. “I just can’t face the thought
of Severus pacing about out here as an expectant father. He’d be even more impossible than ever!” Both witches found this mental picture highly amusing. Their suspicions proved correct – Snape was exceedingly on
edge while Celeste was in labour. He
made himself so unpopular, he was not allowed into the delivery room for the
delivery of the first baby. But Celeste
managed the birth very well and asked for Snape to be present as she felt the
second birth underway. So he was just in
time to see his second son being born.
Two days later they were home; all doing very well. They named the boys Severus Sebastian Salazar and Lucien
Alexander Albus. They were fraternal
twins and turned out as different as could be!
Young Severus, who was always known as Sebastian or Sebby (until the
birth of the Snape’s first grandson) had black hair, a pale brown complexion
and sapphire blue eyes. He had fine,
regular features, a delicately curved version of Snape’s hooked nose, and he
was strikingly handsome even from an early age.
He was confident, cunning, ruthless, and charming when it suited
him. He’ll become a dark haired version
of Dieter Brandauer, Celeste realised.
At primary school Sebastian tended to bully the other children and a
little gang of sycophants formed around him.
This caused his parents to worry about him at times. He did well at Hogwarts, particularly in
Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy, but he was a
more than adequate potions maker. He
played Chaser for Slytherin and eventually became Hogwarts’ Head Boy. Like James Potter and Sirius Black, Sebastian
never seemed to work hard yet he habitually got good marks. Snape envied the adolescent Sebastian’s easy self
confidence, cruel good looks, effortless success, and success with the
girls. He worried about his lack of
scruple; realising he had fathered a true Slytherin. When Sebastian left Hogwarts, Bill Weasley
offered him a well-paid job as a curse breaker for Gringotts Bank. Sebastian went off to Lucien was a blue-eyed blond, whom Snape always found much
easier to get on with than Sebastian.
Lucien was also handsome, but quiet and unassuming. He was appropriately named because in appearance
he took after his mother and her father, even to the extent of inheriting their
straight noses. When the boys were young
they often used to fight, and Snape was surprised at how tough Lucien was. He could obviously take care of himself; he
just wasn’t one for bragging or showing off.
He was an intellectual boy who worked with great conscientiousness and
application. He went into Ravenclaw
House and got excellent examination results, particularly in Arithmancy,
History of Magic and Muggle Studies. He
had Snape’s fussy meticulousness and Celeste’s love of discovering how the
world functioned, but whereas she applied it to mechanics Young Lucien applied
his mind to legislation. A gifted
linguist, he became a successful lawyer at The Court of International Magical
Law. His grandfather Lucien used to
enjoy conversing with him in French.
Young Lucien wasn’t often persuaded to sing, but he had a fine baritone
voice. At the age of twenty-nine ‘Young’ Lucien shocked the whole
family by marrying a witch some thirteen years his senior – the languorously
beautiful Jasmina Lestrange. Jasmina was
the daughter of the notorious and now deceased Death Eater couple who had spent
many years in Azkaban. Snape remembered
them well and he also remembered Jasmina from school; she had been in his House,
joining Hogwarts the year Celeste arrived as a trainee. As she matured, Jasmina had become powerful
and alluring, but aloof, and in those days she never looked happy. Snape thought her a strange choice for
Lucien, but when he voiced his concerns, Celeste reminded him that her mother
had had reservations about him. “We cannot understand the choices of our children” she
said. “If she is the one who stirs his
soul then no one else will do.” Thirteen months after she had produced the twin boys,
Celeste gave birth to fraternal twin girls.
She again went to St Bathild’s and this time Snape was present at both
births. The first baby was delivered
easily, but the second was a little larger and a good deal heavier. Celeste had to work extremely hard and was
exhausted from the effort. After the
birth she spent three weeks in hospital resting and recovering. Snape looked after his infant sons at home;
refusing The girls were as different from each other as the boys had
been. The first born, Eleanor Augusta
Camilla was pale skinned, and had black hair and eyes as dark as Snape’s. She also had a delicately curved version of
his hooked nose. Eleanor turned into a quiet,
obedient child, devoted to her father and fanatically hard working; discretely
conscientious rather like Lucien. She
excelled in Potions and Herbology, and got very good academic results. Snape was exceptionally proud and fond of
her, regarding her as a non-bossy version of Hermione Granger. Eleanor became Head Girl the year after
Sebastian was Head Boy. The parallels
with Hermione were strengthened when on leaving school she trained as a teacher
at Beauxbaton. But on completing her
training she married – unexpectedly – a Mediwizard by the name of Augustus
Cirell. Within eleven months of her
marriage she gave birth to a girl, Camilla Celestine
Estelle; and a year later she produced a boy Sebastian Augustus Salazar. Snape was always faintly surprised that the
Sorting Hat had put Eleanor into Slytherin – she was not noticeably ambitious,
nor cunning; perhaps her cleverness lay in being able to conceal a cunning
nature. She had grown into a dark
beauty, with black hair, black eyes, a slim lovely face, and a reserved nature
which concealed a strand of good-humoured fun. When, in the delivery room, he saw Eleanor’s sister emerge,
Snape knew Aurora Lavelle had been reborn.
They named their second daughter Guinevere Aurora Leander and she was
usually known as Guinny. She was golden
blonde, but curiously had Snape’s dark eyes.
Strong, muscular and a great flyer, Guinevere was a natural choice for
Beater for the Slytherin Quidditch team.
She was a fearless, almost reckless player. Slytherin won the Quidditch cup five years
running when Sebastian and Guinevere were in the team. Snape considered her recklessness to be
something of a Gryffindor quality but he could see that his second daughter
was, like Sebastian, a true Slytherin.
She had her mother’s physical strength and flying ability taken to
excess, and her grand mother Aurora’s smug ruthlessness. She also had – although Snape would never
admit it – a good deal of his spitefulness.
Snape loved her and worried about her, but even Celeste admitted that
she was a difficult girl to like. Before she left Hogwarts, Guinny was approached to play for
The Glencarrick Grondhammers. Celeste
and Snape were, on balance, relieved when she accepted because Guinny was
fairly hopeless academically, and they had no idea what she would do with her
life. They had frequent rows with her
about her attitude. She was a clever
girl who excelled only at sports and putting hexes on people, but had no
ability to apply herself to serious study.
They were happier when she went on to play Beater for the England
International Team – the Grondhammers had a bit of a reputation for dirty
tactics. “What on Earth possessed us to give her the stately name of
Guinevere?” Snape said. “We ought to
have called her Mathilda or Hildegard.
When I see her smashing her way around a Quidditch pitch I know how
Wagner must have pictured the Valkyrie.” Two months after the twin girls were born Celeste discovered
that she was pregnant again. It wasn’t
planned, and Snape was furious with himself for letting it happen. He was also very worried, and was even
wondering if Celeste should consider undergoing a termination. “It’s too soon after having the girls” he said. “That last pregnancy brought you very low –
you still need to build up your strength.” “I’ll be alright” she said reassuringly. But Snape was not reassured. He was guilty that they had resumed
intercourse so soon, instead of relying on other methods to please each
other. And he was secretly terrified that
Celeste might die in labour – his old subconscious fear about losing the
important women in his life was resurfacing. “I was very selfish” he admitted. “I’ll never forgive myself if your health
suffers.” “It won’t. I’ll be
fine. Anyway, I’m just as much to blame”
Celeste reminded him, remembering how much she had longed for their lovemaking
to be resumed, and how she had foolishly insisted she could not conceive
because she was still breast-feeding. “Then how about a wet-nurse for the girls?” he
suggested. “Yes, I know it’s old fashioned,
Celeste, but look at that great lump Guinevere you are having to nourish. Be sensible.” But Celeste was adamant – she would certainly not entertain
the idea of a termination and she did not want a wet-nurse. Stubborn as ever, she wanted to manage
everything herself and wean the girls when she was ready. Snape was beside himself with worry when
eight months later she went into labour, even though during her pregnancy he
had bolstered her health and strength with every potion he could devise. He insisted she go to St Bathild’s again in
case there were any complications – he had a very bad feeling about the birth
and he wanted all the experts on hand. The labour went exceptionally smoothly and within quite a
short time Celeste gave birth to a single beautiful baby girl. She was of average birth weight; a serene
child with a wisp of red hair and large emerald eyes. “Well, that’s it” Celeste said firmly as she cradled the
new baby. “No more babies. Five is enough. One more and we’ll equal the Weasley’s, which
you jokingly said you didn’t want.” “I honestly don’t mind” Snape murmured dreamily as he gazed
at his new daughter. “As long as you are
well and as long as the babies are healthy, you can have as many children as
you please. Providing we leave a
sensible gap between them.” They named their third daughter Miranda Fabienne
Cassandra. She matured into a strikingly
beautiful witch, with dark red hair and arresting green eyes reminiscent of
Lily Evans and Snape’s mother Miranda.
Her willowy grace also reminded Snape of his mother. In moments of self-mockery he used to refer
to her eyes as ‘Harry Potter eyes’.
Snape was as fond of her as he was of Eleanor – Miranda could manipulate
him unmercifully if she wished. She was
unquestionably a Gryffindor – the Sorting Hat cried out the name before it
touched her head, just as it had yelled Slytherin when it approached
Sebastian. Young Miranda wasn’t
exceptionally academic but she had a similarly natural ability for magic as
Sebastian exhibited. Charms and
Transfiguration were her best subjects, but she didn’t have a bad subject. Although she had no obvious gift for
divination, Miranda had a mystical quality reminiscent of her great uncle
Fabien. She also had a good singing
voice – mezzo soprano, like her mother.
On leaving Hogwarts, Miranda trained to be a teacher and took up a post
as Transfiguration Professor at Sienna. Author's
Note: For an
explanation of the name Tol Galen see The
Silmarillion by J R R Tolkien. |
| Chapter Nineteen -The Maturing Years When the children were of Primary School age Celeste was
employed as Administration Officer at Hogwarts.
Muggle children at the Primary School though the Snape children a bit
strange. The teachers attributed this to
the fact that they were very precocious and obviously came from a wealthy
family. They had lots of interesting
holidays and many theatre and museum trips.
Paradoxically their home did not have television, nor a computer, nor a
land-line telephone, but the Snape children were adept at using mobile
phones. They also had a large indoor
playroom, adapted from their nursery and apparently they were allowed to roller
skate on its wooden floor. It seemed
their parents didn’t mind about such things – the Snapes were strict and
old-fashioned, but also surprisingly liberal in some ways. The strange Snape family lived many miles away, and the
beautiful ‘Mrs’ Snape drove her children to and from school each day in a black
Mercedes Traveliner 8-seater vehicle; which, in private, Primary School staff
jokingly referred to as ‘the hearse’.
Mysteriously, however bad the weather, the vehicle’s paintwork was
always spotless, as was its grey velour upholstery. The Primary School staff only ever saw the
enigmatic ‘Mister’ Snape four times. He
managed to get time off work to attend the school's Christmas Carol Concert on
three occasions. Invariably the weather
was bad and he was always muffled up in rather theatrical clothes – a black
floppy brimmed hat, a Regency style russet brown riding coat with a ‘cape’ top,
and long, supple, Cavalier-style boots.
He had a supercilious air, and hardy spoke to anyone. He also had an impressive baritone singing voice. They understood he was some sort of biochemist,
or possibly a lecturer in pharmacy – they weren’t exactly sure, it was never
made totally clear and strangely no one ever remembered to ask. As well as coming to the Carol Concerts, Mrs Snape always
attended the school’s Sports Days and she usually won the parents races. Mr Snape managed to attend once, but only as
a spectator. He looked markedly
different from his winter appearances – he wore an immaculate cream shirt over
smart camel coloured jeans, and a piece of amber hung from a thin brown suede
cord around his neck. Despite his
laid-back appearance, he was still as supercilious as ever, and smiled grimly
when two of his children – ‘the awful Sebastian and Guinevere’ – won all of
their events. He hugged his wife and
laughed darkly when she won the parents sack, and egg-and-spoon races. They seemed a most devoted couple. During their Primary School years Celeste taught the
children to be adequate swimmers, and she arranged for them to have horse
riding lessons at Hogallen Farm. She
also gave them an introduction to sailing during short stays at Isle San
Pareil. At Tol Galen the Snape garage was usually home to a luxury
saloon car, a two-seater sports car and the Mercedes Traveliner 2.3 litre
diesel people-carrier. For her saloon
car Celeste tried a Rover 800, and then a Rover 75, but finally switched to a
Jaguar X-Type 3 litre, because its 4-wheel drive provided superb handling on
snowy roads so she didn’t have to bother with charms to improve the
traction. Her sports cars were
invariably MGs or classic Austin Healeys, usually repainted in shades of
metallic green. The saloon cars were
almost always silver. Snape enjoyed being driven about the country lanes in the
little sports cars, but he appreciated the warmth and comfort of the saloon
cars when they went on longer journeys or when the weather was inclement. Except on family outings and holidays, he
rarely travelled in the people-carrier, viewing it as merely a utility vehicle. Snape and Celeste travelled miles on fine weekends and on
holidays. Over the many decades that
they lived together she enabled him to discover * * * In the year 2013 Celeste was appointed to Hogwarts’
Professorship of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes.
Although they didn’t enjoy having both parents as lecturers, most of the
Snape children did very well when they went to Hogwarts. Ginny had the capability to do better – as
ever, her problems mainly related to her poor attitude and malicious
temperament. Since their first year together, Snape’s Potions exam pass
rates improved steadily and he was soon the equal of McGonagall, Flitwick and
Sprout. The ‘irascible wizard’ had
finally matured. Potions lessons rose in
popularity at Hogwarts, and many more students opted to take it at NEWT level
as well as at OWL. More than once McGonagall
and Dumbledore discussed this remarkable upturn, and they began to plan for the
future. In 2021 Dumbledore celebrated his one hundred-and-eightieth
birthday and he decided to retire. Snape
told McGonagall he would apply for the Headship and also register his interest
for the Deputy position, should it become available. He explained that he did not expect to get
the Headship, nor did he deliberately want to challenge any application she
might intend to make, but he felt it was politic to show his interest in any
possible career advancement. McGonagall warned
him that she certainly intended to apply for the Headship. McGonagall was appointed Headmistress and Snape became
Deputy Head, still retaining Potions and the Headship of his House. A month later Sirius Black was appointed
Professor of Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor House. McGonagall advertised the Defence Against the
Dark Arts vacancy and appointed Gabrielle Delacour. The new teaching team worked together for six, surprisingly
harmonious, years, at the end of which McGonagall retired. She and Dumbledore finally married and set up
home in So the year 2027 saw the birth of Snape’s first grandchild
and his appointment as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. He was seventy-two, which is
middle aged for a wizard. He was the
youngest Headmaster Hogwarts had ever had. The new teaching team worked very well together. Hermione had indeed changed since her school
days, but not as much as her husband, Draco Malfoy! Snape finally came to realise how much the
arrest and imprisonment of Draco’s Death Eater father had made an impact upon the
former pupil – he was no longer overtly big headed and he was fairly conscientious
and reasonably co-operative, even with non-Slytherins. In part, Draco took his cue from Snape,
noticing how he and Black had risen above past differences in order to foster a
good working relationship. But in part
he had already crafted much of his transformation, turning from snooty show-off
into a hard-working young man who was finally able to woo the talented Hermione
Granger and persuade that gifted witch to become his wife. Snape often puzzled about this. He was tempted to think that Draco had been
so cunning in hiding his bedrock attitudes that it proved what a true Slytherin
he was. When he once made some throw-away
comment that, given the hostility of their schooldays, Hermione was not the
most obvious choice of partner for Draco, his new Head of Slytherin merely
replied, “Well, we were only children in those days, Headmaster. Through those seven years we had the ultimate
love/hate relationship. I detested Hermione
at first, and I’m sure she loathed me.
Then at the 1994 World Cup I actually found myself worrying that she
might get attacked. And when, some
months later, I saw her dancing with victor Krum my eyes were opened to how
attractive she was. But I kept reminding
myself that she wasn’t pureblood. That,
and inherited wealth were always my stumbling-blocks. It was only much, much later, when I was
thinking about who might be the mother of my children that Hermione repeatedly
haunted my thoughts. She wasn’t high-born,
she didn’t have money, but she does have intellect, common sense, high
standards, and the heart of a lion. Not
a bad dowry. Don’t ask me why she chose
me. I think she eventually gave up
hating me and began to feel sorry for me, certainly once my father was
arrested.” Snape merely nodded, recognising that there was possibly
some faint parallel between Hermione’s feelings for Draco and Lily’s for
himself. Nevertheless, he still thought
Draco exceptionally successful in his deviousness! * * * In the following year Celeste’s father, Lucien Lavelle,
died, a month after his eighty-eighth birthday.
He was buried at sea in accordance with his instructions – he and Aurora
wanted no grave. Out of respect for the
family’s wishes for a very modest funeral, only Aurora, Celeste, Snape, Fabien
and Dumbledore attended. Snape stood
rigidly, grasping Celeste’s hand and gazing sorrowfully at the slim body lying
in repose beneath a powder blue cloth.
Concealed by the drapery, Lucien’s remains were wound in unbleached
calico and expertly weighted with rocks.
Snape felt he was losing a father; he grieved at the passing of
Lucien. Fabien spoke the funeral
oration. Since the Easter of 1999, Lucien’s health had markedly
improved, and from the time he met Snape in the following July he had never
needed to return to St Mungo’s. Fabien
had always sensed this would be so (or, more accurately, he had foreseen it) –
he knew that Snape and Celeste would be a powerful combination, good for each
other and good for others too. Snape
worked hard and successfully on various potions to help Lucien to relax and
cope with his traumatic memories. For
ethical reasons Lucien rejected at the outset Snape’s plan to use a potion
containing salamander blood, so over the years the Master of Potions
experimented with combinations of horn shavings from Swedish Short-Snout
dragons, strands of kelpie mane and phoenix tears, always in combination with
lavender flowers. He discovered that a
single Alihotsy leaf was an acceptable alternative to salamander blood. But his most successful potion contained Short-Snout
horn shavings, kelpie mane, and, when he could get it, the residual ash from a
phoenix burning day. Lucien was able to ‘forgive’ Snape for being a Death Eater,
and this also did much to help him to come to terms with his torturers. Following Lucien’s death, Celeste inherited her parent’s island and the Snapes
retained it as a second home. It was to
become, many decades later, Celeste and Snape’s main retirement home. * * * After the tragic outcome of the 1995 tournament, Dumbledore
and the Department for International Magical Co-operation had worked hard to
try re-instigate the Tri-Wizard Tournament as a regular event, but their early
attempts were dogged by war with Voldemort.
The original plan had been to restore the contest to its 5-yearly cycle,
but in practice this never worked. Setting
his sights a little lower, Dumbledore had hoped there could be a repeat event at
least every seven years so that all the students could experience one during
their school life. However even this timetable
proved too challenging at first – following the 1995 tournament, the next one
did not take place until 2003. Only from
then did the seven year pattern hold – Beauxbaton won in 2010, repeating its
success of 2003, Durmstrang won in 2017 and Beauxbaton again in 2024. However in 2031 the victory went to Hogwarts,
and Snape, now Headmaster, was able to bask in the glory.
|
|
-
Snape
Family Tree
- |
| Chapter Twenty -Gifts of Inheritance As Snape sat musing over his life, in the room that had
grown gradually hotter and stuffier, a chestnut-haired witch poked her head
around the door. She was a strong,
muscular woman in her mid fifties; a woman dressed in green and with
mischievous hazel eyes. Diamonds and an
emerald sparkled in a broad platinum ring on her finger. “So this is where you’re hiding” Celeste exclaimed. “Are you coming down? They’ll be back soon.” She walked over to the window to push it open
further, her summer sandals resounding on the close-boarded floor. “Funny how we never got round to taking these
bars down” she mused, as she stared down through the iron rungs to the garden
below. “We still kept this as a nursery
and then a playroom, even though we didn’t have any more.” Snape came over to her and slid his arms around her slender
waste. He nestled his chin against her
neck. “Shall we start again?” he asked. “Oh my goodness, no!” Celeste exclaimed in horror, turning
in the circle of his arms. “All that
potty training, and teething. All those
nappies! I don’t mind practicing” she added meaningfully,
snaking her body against him, “but no more babies. Grandchildren are fine – at least the window
bars now stop them falling through.” They kissed, and he held her body hard against his. Finally they managed to break apart. “Come on” she said reluctantly. “We mustn’t let our kids catch us making love
in our old nursery, even if this is our thirty-second anniversary!” They walked hand-in-hand down through the house and out
into the garden. Birdsong and the
perfume of lavender filled the air, as butterflies busied themselves about the
last of the buddleia blooms. Celeste sat
under a sun umbrella, flicking through a copy of Witch Weekly, while Snape
dragged his favourite sun-lounger into the shade and lay dozing, remembering that
on the previous day they had lain on this patio in absolute privacy – Celeste
had given him a full-body massage, and they had then made love in the open air,
rather unsteadily and therefore with much hilarity, on this very sun-lounger. Ah, the joys of having no children at home,
he sighed. At length they could hear the shouts of children coming
through the trees. A voice was yelling
‘Granddad, Granddad’ and Celeste could see Snape pretending to be asleep. His four year old granddaughter, Camilla – always
known as Milly – rushed up and tugged the sleeve of his bright, buttercup-gold,
shirt. “Granddad!” she persisted breathlessly, “I’ve got some nice
leaves!” Snape made no answer, so she
climbed onto his lap, taking great care not to scuff his grey jeans – she knew
how particular he was about his clothes.
“Come ON Granddad; wake up!” she squeaked. She shook his hand, watching reflections
flash from his garnet ring. Then, to
Celeste’s amusement, she lifted the piece of amber on the cord around his neck
and let it fall like a door knocker against his sternum. Suddenly, with a roar like an angry lion, Snape opened his
eyes wide and lunged his head towards her, making her shriek and draw
back. He caught her in his arms and they
both laughed – it was a game they often played.
“Where are these leaves?” Snape demanded at length, examining her
hands. “Ah, borage!” “Borago officinalis” the precocious child proclaimed,
showing him the stems in her hot little hand. “Quite correct” he replied.
“Two house points.” He looked about the patio in case she had brought anything
else. Camilla was inclined to collect
anything she thought interesting or useful for making a potion. Since she had been a toddler they had been
treated to worms, leaves, berries, caterpillars, twigs, fungi and even small
spiders resulting from her forest jaunts.
Snape, Celeste and Camilla’s parents had spent hours trying to explain
that some plants and animals are dangerous, but Camilla was a stubborn child –
she had assumed some degree of caution, but only bitter experience had taught
her that nettles sting and brambles are prickly. Hot and weary from their forest stroll, the rest of the
family caught up with Camilla. Her
mother Eleanor, the girl in the dark red dress, was holding the hand of ‘Young
Sebby’ – her little son Sebastian.
Miranda, cool and graceful in a tie-dyed cotton dress of burnt orange,
walked beside them. A few paces behind,
Eleanor’s husband was deep in conversation with his brother in law
Sebastian. Trailing behind them, hand in
hand, were Lucien and Jasmina. They flopped into chairs or onto sun loungers, as a house-elf
in a bottle green T-shirt and shorts brought a tray of iced juices and two
different tonic drinks Snape had made from Sage and Yellow gentian leaves. He always kept a stock of herbal tonics in
the kitchen refrigerator during the summer, because they were refreshing to
drink on their own, or they could be mixed with spirits. Gratefully the group helped themselves to
refreshments. Young Sebby asked if he
could try some of the tonic. “Yes, if you really want to” Snape replied. “But you may find it too bitter, young
man. Just try a little– Hmm” he exclaimed, surprised at Sebby's calm
reaction to the bitter sage tonic.
“Would you like me to show you how I make it?” “Erm, I’d like to see where the plants grow” Young Sebastian
said cautiously. He loved Tol Galen’s
herb garden and was always trying to sneak into it. Originally it had been open as the rest of
the grounds were, but once the Snapes had started to cultivate dangerous plants
such as Tansy and Aconite they had walled off the herb and kitchen garden, and
kept the black iron gate sealed with a spell. “I’ll take you in there, later” Celeste promised. “I need to get some salad burnet and bogbean. You can help me pick it.” Camilla was hard at work persuading Snape to take her to
his laboratory so that they could stew her leaves to make a potion. Whereas Young Sebby liked the walled garden,
Snape’s laboratory was Camilla’s favourite room. Snape took endless pains with her,
introducing the little child to the rudiments of potion making. He was very proud of her – her dogged
application to work reminded him of her mother, but Camilla’s boundless
self-confidence enabled her to be far more inquisitive and experimental than
Eleanor had been at that age. Celeste
and Eleanor both suspected she would turn out to be very like Hermione Granger,
but as Camilla was Snape’s granddaughter he pooh-poohed this notion. Eleanor, meanwhile was laughing at Snape’s ‘two house
points’ remark. “I think Milly’s earned
more than that” she remarked. “Knowing
Borago officinalis at her age! I never,
ever got less than five from you, Father.
For real, I mean – at school.” “You were always such a goody-goody!” Sebastian jeered. “Yes, but do you remember when I lost ten!” Eleanor
reminded him with a sudden look of horror.
“TEN! So did you! In one go!
It was unheard of for me!” “Oh, yeah” Sebastian chuckled, thinking back to his late
teen years. “That was the night we got caught
cooking a fry-up in the common room.” “I never knew
about this” Lucien exclaimed. “No, well you weren’t meant to. Nobody was” Eleanor said with a sheepish look
at her father. “You were in Ravenclaw, Lucien!” Jasmina reminded him. “If this was a Slytherin embarrassment you
can be sure it would not be mentioned beyond the common room.” “Exactly so” Eleanor agreed. “Only Mum and Dad knew. We were doing a stir-fry late at night over
the common room fire. Someone stole a
cooking pan and tried to charm it into a wok.
Sebastian did the stir fry from vegetables and herbs that had also been
‘acquired’. Soy sauce was called for,
but the kitchens didn’t have any. We
didn’t know how to make it, so I made up this concoction from Marmite and lemon
juice and goodness know what else; dittany and vlox root were part of it.” “It tasted really good!” Sebastian grinned. “And we were all tucking in when Dad turned
up. God he was cross!” “And not without good reason” Snape growled. “Your mother and I could smell Chinese herbs
all through the dungeons – in the Potions classroom, in my office, in our
sitting room. Even in our bedroom! It’s a wonder Albus couldn’t smell them in his office. My
office. Ohrr Sebastian, you really were
the limit. I had hopes of you being Head
Boy the following year–” “Which I was–” Sebastian tried to say, pretending to sound
hurt. “Which, time after time, you nearly blew!” Snape
roared. “And Eleanor! I had never
known you to misbehave so.” “Well, losing twenty points between you wasn’t the end of
the world” Miranda pointed out. “No, but Dad took ten each from Sebby and me as the
ringleaders, and two each from everyone else there!” Eleanor explained. “I think we lost Slytherin thirty-two in
all. We weren’t very popular with the
rest of House.” “And we lost the House Cup to Ravenclaw that year” Snape pointed
out acidly. “I should have taken more
from you, but I was concerned about the cup.
Stealing from the kitchens.
Wrecking a cooking pot. Messing
around at Sebastian was doubled up with laughter as he remembered
that no one could get the cooking pan back into shape. “But we won you the Quidditch Cup, Dad” he chuckled. “We always got you that.” “That is true” Snape conceded. He grinned and looked suddenly at
Eleanor. “Marmite, lemon juice and dittany?”
he asked gleefully. “And vlox root; yes.
Actually, it was pretty good” she beamed. She loved cooking and experimenting with
ingredients. Snape did too. Once he and Celeste had acquired Tol Galen,
during their school holidays he would often ‘mess about’ in the kitchen with
the two elf cooks, working out new recipes for food and drinks. “Oh, how Minerva would have wagged her finger at you if
she’d known about it!” Celeste said.
“She always suspected you tweaked things in Slytherin’s favour whenever
you could.” “Me tweak
things?” Snape bridled. “If I remember
rightly she was the one who was
responsible for getting Harry Potter a Nimbus 2000 – best broom available at
the time. And he played for his House team in his first year!” Snape tried to suppress a ripple of a dark smile. “I never saw any reason to let Slytherin miss
out. If in doubt, award a point or two –
after all, no one else was going to go out of their way to give us anything.” “If in doubt, knock a point or two off the others”
Sebastian murmured philosophically, nodding in agreement. “Don’t forget my leaves, Granddad” Camilla piped up. “Oh I give in” Snape sighed. “I can see I’m not going to get any peace
until Milly has done something with these leaves. If you will excuse me I will see you all
later. Sebby, are you coming too?” “No thank you, Grandfather” Young Sebastian replied in the
extra-polite manner he was always careful to use when speaking to Snape. “I’m going to the herb garden, aren’t I.” “Yes, of course you are” Snape agreed, and holding
Camilla’s hand he set off in the direction of the potions laboratory, walking
slowly so that the little girl could keep pace with him. Snape took her via the kitchen as they would need a couple
of lemons and a bottle of white wine. In
the potions laboratory he kept a close eye on Camilla. They began by washing their hands and the borage
plants. “This is not going to be a potion, Milly” he explained, “but
if all goes according to plan we are going to end up with a very pleasant
summer drink – a ‘cool tankard’ it is sometimes called. Unfortunately for you, you won’t be able to
have any because it is going to contain wine, but we will let you know how good
it is.” He smiled at her downcast
face. “Now, Milly” he added
encouragingly, “can you find us a size one cauldron, a chopping block, a wooden
spoon, and a two-pint measuring jug?” While she was hunting for those, Snape gathered together a
sharp knife, a jar of sugar, a jar of dried Billywig stings, a large pair of
tweezer-like forceps, and kitchen scales.
The scales were cast iron and brass – a souvenir from a holiday in
Ironbridge. When everything was
assembled Snape cut the fruits in half and then helped Camilla to slice each
piece, his wand at the ready in case she cut herself. He also let her strip the leaves from the
plant stalks. “Now we will weigh the leaves” he explained. “I think you have, at most, a couple of
ounces here, but we may as well check.” Under his expert eye Camilla weighed the leaves and noted
the weight he told her to write down. He
then helped her to weigh out an ounce of sugar and to fill the jug one quarter
full with water. Snape checked her
quantities, fine tuning them where necessary; then he let her fill the cauldron
with the water, sliced fruit and sugar. “Very good.
Carefully cut the leaves across” he instructed. “That will release the juices from the veins
quite quickly. Then the cut leaves must
go immediately into the cauldron; don’t delay.
That’s right. Now; take the
forceps and try to pick out one Billywig sting.
Just one – or we will all be floating on the ceiling. Yes, I thought you’d find that funny.” Camilla found it too difficult to pick up a single dried
sting, so Snape tipped a tiny heap of stings onto a piece of parchment and let
her extract one from the heap. He then
returned the excess to the jar and watched her add the sting to the cauldron. “That’s right. Good
girl” he continued. “Now we let this simmer
for twenty minutes. And after that it
must cool. I will heat it; you can
stir.” He used a spell to heat the cauldron and Camilla stirred it
carefully. “We can leave this to simmer now” he said. “If it cools too much I will give it a blast
– you’ll like that, wont you. Meanwhile,
Milly, you find us a sieve and a funnel, and I’ll find us a carafe.” While they were working, Celeste let Young Sebastian into
the potions laboratory. “It’s far too
hot in the garden” she explained. “Can
Sebby join you?” “Of course” Snape replied.
“Sebby, help Milly find a sieve…” When the twenty minutes had elapsed Snape used a further spell
to speed the cooling process and helped Camilla to strain the liquid into the
carafe – a very difficult process which was half Camilla’s own efforts but
buoyed up with her grandfather’s levitation charm. Then he uncorked the wine and she was allowed
to add that. Again, it was a tricky
operation for a four-year-old, and, despite the funnel she spilt a little, but
without condemnation he employed his wand to clear the spillage; a process both
children enjoyed watching. Snape stored
the carafe in his laboratory fridge and they began the not so interesting
process of clearing up. * Meanwhile, the patio grew very hot as the afternoon
progressed and Celeste encouraged her children to move into the sitting
room. She knew that, living as they did
in All the windows of the house were open and most doors were
propped open, so the sitting room was comfortably breezy. Eleanor and Jasmina started a game of chess,
but the others were content to chat and brows through photograph albums. “Hey, look at this” Sebastian cried. “That’s when we went on that canal
holiday. Remember Luce?” Lucien did remember it.
It was the summer before they had started at Hogwarts and they had taken
a Narrow Boat along the “I remember that” she called out. “It was awful – hard work, messy and
wet. Yuk! Was it the previous year we went on those
steam trains? Across the Ribblehead
Viaduct, and all that stuff?” “Yes; Settle to “That was much better, that holiday” Eleanor said. “The train carriages were so stylish, and the
countryside was beautiful.” “That’s because there was glass between you and it”
Sebastian pointed out acidly. It was true. Eleanor
loved comfort. Her notion of a proper
holiday was to stay in a hotel of at least a three star designation. Hot and cold running water were her idea of
life’s absolute essentials. “We had some great holidays” Lucien said, looking over
Sebastian’s shoulder as he slowly turned the album’s pages. “Ironbridge.
Remember the iron bridge? And the
Hay Inclined Plane?” “And the Victorian Tile Exhibition” Eleanor chimed in. “Check” she added softly. “Oh look, “That’s where your father and I went on honeymoon” Celeste
said wistfully. “We had that same
cottage – oooh, about – seven or eight year earlier than what you’re looking at
now. Four days we stayed there; just
messing about on the beach and on the water.
And when it got too hot we had the wooded hillside. He read me poetry – Keats and Byron. Shakespeare’s sonnets– Yes, I know you all think it’s funny. But your father has an amazing voice. He’s quite a romantic on the quiet. Oooh, “Oh, that’s why I recognise it” Sebastian sniggered. Eventually Miranda gave up looking over Sebastian’s
shoulder at the holiday albums and found her parents wedding photographs. Jasmina, who had lost her game to Eleanor,
came to sit beside her. She easily recognised
Alicia Spinnet who now performed under the stage name of Eshmoon. She recognised, too, all the people she was
at school with, but there were quite a few faces she didn’t know at all. Celeste leant over and pointed them out. “That’s Neville Longbottom with Ginny Weasley, Charlie and
Bill’s sister. They got married the
following year; same year as Charlie and Amanda. There’s Charlie and Amanda. That’s Harry and his girl friend Cho. She was his girl friend then – their wedding
photo is on the sideboard over there.
Erm, you’ll know those four” she added, pointing to the Lavells talking
to Albus and Minerva. “Oh, and my Uncle
Fabien you know. That’s Septimus Peor,
my House Master with his partner, Remus Lupin – they both teach at
Beauxbaton. (Lucien caught Sebastian’s
eye but said nothing, and Celeste continued, unaware.) Professor Flitwick’s brother Clement – he and
Felix did the fireworks and helped a lot to organise the musical
instrumentation. We had an orchestra and a rock band – there they are,
Ravelin. One of the three singers was a
Hogwarts old boy. And Alicia of course
everyone knows – she’s and ex-pupil too.
There’s Madeline and Sirius, jiving – ye gods they were boisterous in
those days…!” The afternoon wore on and Celeste realised it was time for
tea. She shepherded her flock to the
dining room where high tea awaited them.
Having finally managed to root Snape and both grandchildren out of the
potions laboratory where they were, as she put it ‘just messing around’, she
also retrieved the ‘cool tankard’ from the fridge and took it to the dining
room, but the grandchildren took her attention and it was put aside onto the
sideboard. Subsequent tea-time
conversations drove it from her mind… As they began to eat, Sebastian said he had some news. “I’m giving up the bank” he told them. “Yep, it’s true” he insisted as they all
stared at him, open mouthed. “I’ve
accepted a teaching post at Durmstrang – Defence Against the Dark Arts.” Snape’s asparagus quiche slid of his fork in surprise. “But you’re not trained?” he snapped. “Doesn’t matter – they still offered it to me” Sebastian
said carelessly, as if determined to rile his father. Snape gave him a look of stern disapproval. “There’s more to teaching than knowing the
subject” he murmured darkly. “Well good for you, Sebby, if you want it” Miranda said. “But Durmstrang!”
Lucien gasped. “What about “Are yes, the witches” Sebastian muttered. “There is a possibility – a very faint
possibility – that I might be getting engaged.” “Have you got any other bombshells for us or is this it?” Celeste asked,
pretending to be cross with him. “Come
on, who is she?” “Her name is Rebekka Zimmermann and she teaches Charms at
Durmstrang” Sebastian confessed. “It’s
not definite yet – well, it’s far from definite – but it’s looking a bit
hopeful.” “And when do you start at Durmstrang?” Snape asked, more
concerned about his eldest son’s career than Sebastian’s latest sexual exploit. “Next month” Sebastian replied. “And I’ll be using my proper name at work –
Severus Snape.” “Then make sure you do a damn good job!” Snape hissed
menacingly. “Next month? That
soon?” Celeste cried. “Sebby, you might
have confided in us earlier!” “I didn’t want to say anything until it was in the bag, OK?”
he explained ruefully. “I’m sorry; but I
didn’t want to count my chickens.” “Yes, I understand that” Snape said. “It’s just a bit of a shock, that’s all.” “What’s Uncle Sebby doing?” Young Sebastian piped up. “Mum, what’s Uncle Seb…” “Well, if this is the moment for announcing news” Eleanor cut
in, “we have some too.” “And so have we” Jasmina said quietly. Snape and Celeste looked at each other, shaking their heads
in bewilderment. “Who shall we hear
first?” Celeste asked. She stared around
the table. “Whose is the least
shocking? Jasmina? Eleanor?” “Err, Jazz, you go first” Eleanor said nervously. “OK” Jasmina said.
She looked at Lucien and they again held hands. “We’re going to have a baby” she said
shyly. “Next March.” “Wow!” Miranda exclaimed. Celeste got up and gave her a hug. Then she did the same to Lucien. “Congratulations!” Snape said with feeling. He shook his son’s hand and went around the
table to give Jasmina a hug and a kiss. “What’s happening, Granddad?” Young Sebastian asked, as
Snape resumed his seat. Camilla, for once, said nothing, but watched everyone with
rapt attention. “Your Uncle Sebastian has a new job and Uncle Lucien and
Aunty Jasmina are going to have a baby” Celeste explained to her grandson. “Now, Eleanor, I believe you have something
to tell us.” “Yes” she said. “Baby? Or job? Or something else entirely?” Snape enquired,
his eyes narrowing. “Job” she said shortly.
“I’m going to Beauxbaton to teach Potions.” “Good heavens!” Snape replied. “When?”
He was secretly delighted. “September next year” she said. “Valentine Valmont retires then, and it’s
been agreed I will be taking over. Sebby
will be school age by then and, well, that’s it really.” “And what of your
job?” Snape asked Augustus. “Well, I can Apparate” he pointed out. “But I’ve started looking for something
nearer Beauxbaton. I’ve got over a year
to sort something out. It means, of
course, that we’ll be moving to “Don’t look so sad, Mum” Eleanor pleaded. “It’s my first
teaching appointment. I’m really looking
forward to it.” “Of course” Celeste agreed.
“Of course you are. I’m just
being selfish, thinking we won’t see so much of you two, and Milly, and Young
Sebby.” “But you both teach.
You only see us in the holidays now” Augustus pointed out. “That’s true” she admitted. “Yes, that’s right” Snape agreed. “We will still be able to visit you in the
holidays, won’t we.” “Of course you will” Eleanor agreed. “And we’ll have Jasmina and Lucien’s baby to see as well”
Celeste said. “Severus is a dab hand at
changing nappies. No – OK – I am only
joking. But he is good with getting
babies to sleep. I remember him walking
about with Lucien, lulling him to sleep, while I was trying to cope with you
girls.” “Aaah, poor ickle Lucy!” Sebastian teased. Lucien threw a bread roll at him. “Behave!” Snape snapped.
“Act your age. What sort of
example are you setting to Camilla and Young Sebastian?” “Sorry, Father” they said, grinning sheepishly at each
other and occasionally pulling faces when they thought Snape wasn’t looking. “Wow! So much is
happening, I can’t take it all in” Celeste exclaimed. “Are there any more surprises” Snape asked shrewdly, giving
them all his best penetrating stare. “Oh-ho, no! Nothing
from me, Dad!” Miranda assured him. “I’m
just enjoying teaching, and giving all the wizards the run-around. No plans to marry. No plans to move.” “No, I don’t think anyone else will be giving you heart
failure, Dad” Sebastian agreed brightly, as the Drocourt clock began to
chime. “Can someone pass me another of
those samosas–? Thanks… Of course I don’t know what Guinny might have
up her sleeve” he added a moment later, through a mouthful of salad. “She’ll be here soon” Celeste observed, glancing at the
clock. “Are we going to live in * Shortly after they had finished their meal Guinevere turned
up. She didn’t get on too well with her
family and their spouses. Apart from her
mother, the only one she had anything in common with was Sebastian, who could
talk about Quidditch; and she got on reasonably well with her youngest sister, Miranda,
who was by nature gracious, easy going and non-judgemental. Guinevere’s arrival occurred almost thirty minutes before
Augustus and Eleanor set off for home.
They never stayed late because of the children. Miranda, Lucien and Jasmina departed an hour
later, leaving Guinny sitting on the patio with Celeste and Sebastian, enjoying
the pleasant evening coolness. Very soon
however, Snape disappeared to shower and change his clothes, and to instruct
the house-elves about supper. Work
permitting, he would dutifully attend Guinevere’s important matches, but he was
bored by the children’s interminable conversations about Quidditch. Eventually Sebastian made some excuse to
withdraw leaving Celeste and Guinevere alone together. The young witch watched him go, her dark eyes
troubled. “Err, I’ve got something to
tell you, Mum” she began. “Well, it’s been a day of news and surprises” Celeste
said. “Go on, do your worst.” “You may not like it though” Guinevere insisted. “Never mind. Try me”
Celeste said positively. She felt she
could cope with anything. “You know I wrote and said I had a friend” Guinevere explained. “Good friend.” “Yes” her mother replied, thinking back. “Samantha Johnson. Chaser…
Guinny? What…? Tears?
Whatever is the matter?” Celeste moved over and put her arm around her daughter’s
shoulders. She had never seen the tough
tom-boy cry since she was a tiny child. Angry with herself for this unexpected display of emotion,
Guinevere roughly brushed the tears away.
“She’s my partner, Mum” she said firmly.
“Let me show you a photograph…” “Your partner?” In a
daze Celeste looked at the photograph.
It showed an attractive black girl, a little older than Guinevere. She had an engaging smile, a wealth of
bouncing Afro curls and flawless skin like milk chocolate. “You mean you are lovers” Celeste added,
trying to make sense of the words her daughter had used. “Yes” Guinevere whispered. “How long for?” Celeste enquired, still sounding as dazed
as she felt and not knowing what else to say. “Over a year” Guinevere replied. “It’s really important to me, Mum. We’re quite serious about each other. How do you think Father ’ll take it?” A sudden frown creased Celeste’s forehead. “Actually, I have no idea” she replied
truthfully. “Let’s go and tell him. Don’t worry – we’ll get through this somehow.” Sebastian and Snape were in the sitting room. Snape, dressed now in a cobalt-blue cotton
robe, was trying to point out reasons why teachers should be trained to teach. “Pupils take up information differently” he was
saying. “It’s all very well knowing the facts you want to put across, but the
art is to know how to present it to them; how to foster their own spirit of
enquiry, and yet protect them when it’s necessary.” “Don’t worry, Dad” Sebastian assured him. “I’ll be able t’ – oh, err, scuse me. This is my cue to butt out.” Ignoring his father’s puzzled face, he gave
Guinevere and Celeste a meaningful look, winked at his sister and added “I’ll
be on the patio.” “Do I stay for this?” Celeste asked Guinevere. “Yes please, to begin with” she replied. When he heard the news Snape took it surprisingly well, and
after a few minutes Celeste left them alone and went out to Sebastian. “You knew, didn’t you” she said to her son. “Yeah, I’ve known about Sam for a few months” he
admitted. “Miranda’s known, too – sort
of. Miranda’s not much fussed about such
things anyway. She’s a bit of a free
spirit, like me. Well – like I used to
be. Guinny said she was gonna break the
news today. Probably. She’s always felt a bit of an outsider in the
family – feels she doesn’t fit in.” “Oh, heavens–” Celeste began, shocked to learn that any
child of hers should feel like that. “Don’t think anyone can do anything about it” Sebastian
replied. “That’s just how it is.” “Well, I can’t hear your father shouting” Celeste observed. “Mind you, that doesn’t mean much – he’s got
the most deadly whisper I’ve ever heard.
And the most passionate” she added sheepishly. “Sebby, can you see what they’re doing?” “Err, yeah. He’s
giving her a hug. Now a kiss. Yep, I think we can go in.” “Ohrr, thank goodness!
Oh, and Sebby?” Celeste added, “bring Rebekka to visit us soon as you
can – soon as things look promising. OK?” “OK. Thanks Mum.” He gave his mother a quick hug, then, a little awkwardly,
they walked indoors. Snape looked at Celeste, trying to read her reaction. “Well, as ever with our wedding anniversaries,
we did try to get all the family
together today” he announced, “but it seems we didn’t quite manage it. I was wondering whether Guinny and Samantha
would like to come to dinner. Perhaps
next Sunday.” His eyebrows arched in
enquiry as he looked from his wife to his daughter. Celeste smiled.
“That sounds fine to me” she agreed.
“Guinny, do you think you two could manage that?” “Yes, I think so” Guinevere said, returning the smile. “Thanks.”
She looked gratefully at her father. “Thanks, Dad” she added in a small voice. “Good. That’s
settled” Snape said with relief. “Now
Guinny; how about some supper…?” * It was almost “Remember this at our wedding?” he murmured. They danced on, and in time the tune changed
to Unchained Melody. “Oh, what a day it has been!” Snape exclaimed. “Have you enjoyed it, Milady?” “Of course I have!” Celeste assured him. “Even with all the unexpected news?” “It’s nothing really bad, is it” she pointed out rationally. “Careers.
Babies. Partnerships. We are lucky.
Our children are talented and successful. We should be glad for them.” “Yes” he agreed. “We
should. We are! What a family – look at them! Look at us!” His eyes had fallen on the family group photograph and he
stopped dancing to pick it up. The
sideboard’s top held a cluster of photographs, most in scrolled pewter frames –
Snape’s parents, Celeste’s parents and grand parents, Harry and Cho as bride
and groom, and the photo of Lily Evans, Harry had given Snape when he came to
collect his mother’s portrait from the dungeons the year after Snape and
Celeste had married. Amongst these the
photograph of the Snape family group was by far the largest. There was Snape, centre stage, smiling coolly
at the world with a look of supreme self-satisfaction. Pressed lovingly close against his right side
was Celeste, her pearly, joyful smile much in evidence. Next to her was proud, cunning Sebastian with
his winning treacherous charm; and next to Sebastian was Guinevere, looking
strong and defiant. On Snape’s left side
was Eleanor with her dark beauty and her half-smile of slight discomposure. Next to her, looking firm and dependable, the
comely, regular features of Lucien smiled modestly. And beyond Lucian, willowy
Miranda smiled her other-worldly, enigmatic smile. Snape hugged Celeste tightly to him as he studied the
photograph. “I could never have guessed
in my darkest days” he said softly, “that I would forge a union with the
beautiful heiress of Gryffindor and thereby father such lovely and gifted
children. Nor that I would become
Headmaster of Hogwarts. Thank you,
Celestine.” He kissed her temple and she
hugged him tightly in return. At length she said “I feel weary now. I’m going to put my feet up.” She sank into one of the capacious sofas that formed three
sides of a large square in front of the inglenook fireplace. The hearth itself was full of roses – three
dozen Guinée black-red fragrant blooms, almost concealing their hammered copper
container. Snape always bought Celeste
Guinée roses on their anniversary in remembrance of their wedding
ceremony. On her birthday he chose a
bi-coloured red and peach-gold rose such as Sweet Magic, Piccadilly or Colibri
to symbolize the colours of Gryffindor.
And on Valentine’s Day, Keepsake’s deep pink blooms were a fond reminder
of Gilderoy Lockhart’s lurid pink decorations they sat amidst, during their
many light-hearted February trips to The Cup and Sorcerer. “You didn’t seem too shocked about Guinny” Celeste
observed. Snape stood pondering matters for a few seconds. “No, I don’t think I am” he replied. He replaced the photograph and plumped down next to
Celeste, taking her hand in his. “I
think I almost half knew” he added. “I
don’t mean I understand it, but it doesn’t seem anything to worry about – quite
the contrary really. I just want her to
be happy.” “So do I” Celeste said.
“She’s an awkward girl, but I do love her.” “As do I” he replied in gentle agreement. “Samantha Johnson. Guinny says she went to Beauxbaton, but I
believe I remember her elder sister at Hogwarts. Angelina.
She was in Gryffindor.” “Was she a Quidditch player?” “I’m pretty sure she was; yes. I think I’ll have a drink. Celeste, it’s been such a day! Can I tempt you to an “Oh! No. No, hang
on” Celeste replied. “How about–? I want you to try this.” Hurrying to the dining room she picked up the long
forgotten carafe of ‘cool tankard’ and filled two goblets. Then she used a spell to chill them. “Try this” she repeated.
They sipped their drinks, enjoying the tiny levitation effect the
Billywig sting produced. “Well, what do
you think?” Celeste asked. “Mmmm. Very good. Very pleasant” he replied “But hardly “Yes!” “Her first – well, not quite a potion – but not a bad
effort for a four-year old! And apart
from warming and cooling the cauldron I hardly helped her!” he exclaimed
softly. “Exactly” Celeste replied.
“She’s a natural isn’t she.” Snape drained the goblet, set it carefully down on the
coffee table and put an arm around his wife.
He thought of his daughter about to start teaching Potions at Beauxbaton
and of her daughter who at the age of just under five, had proved herself very
at home in his potions laboratory. He
could not know at this stage in his life, that she would become a professional potion
maker, nor that a future grandson Rupert would become Durmstrang’s Professor of
Potions, nor that there would be a great granddaughter Elspereth who would
became Potions Professor, Head of Slytherin House and later Headmistress of
Hogwarts, and who would also possess the curious gift of parceltongue. As yet, this all lay in the future. However he hugged Celeste and kissed her
cheek. His heart was very full. “It is good to know” he said, working hard to keep his
voice level, “that the gift continues – that there are in the family at least
two more Makers of Potions!” Author's
Note: Cool tankard exists. I have guessed at the proportions but apart
from the Billywig sting the recipe should work. (Billywigs, along with some of the other
animals Snape used in his Nerve Calming variation, can be found in J K
Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where
to Find Them.) |
|
Celeste retained no conscious memory of her ‘chessboard’
dream at The Necromancer in the Easter of 1999, yet Tol Galen’s herb and
kitchen garden bore a remarkable resemblance to it. Snape and Celeste worked at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry until Snape’s retirement. In
all those years Celeste never sought promotion – she had the ability to be a
House Mistress, or to take her career further, but felt it would be improper
for two Professor Snapes to occupy senior positions at the same school. However, she never wanted to work anywhere
else and enjoyed class teaching. When
Snape retired she retired too, and they spent most of their time at Isle Sans
Pareil, enjoying the Scilly Isles’ milder climate. No longer restricted to school holidays, they
also travelled a good deal. Eleanor and Augustus moved to Camilla married a St Mungo’s Mediwizard, but Young
Sebastian’s heart was given to a waitress from The Necromancer. Camilla had one son, Valentine Augustus
Severus, who also became a potion maker.
Young Sebastian had two daughters; Vanessa Eleanor Leander, and
Elizabeth Salazanne Miranda. Vanessa
became a Mediwizard at St Mungo’s, and to everyone’s great surprise Lucien and Jasmina had three children; Lucien Severus
Salazar, Augustus Leander Fabien, and Alexandra Yasmina Estelle. They were accomplished wizards and witch, but
they also all took Muggle degrees – respectively in Logic with Physics, Modern
Languages and Astrophysics. Sebastian married Rebekka Zimmermann and had four children;
Rupert Severus Salazar, Franz-Anton Sebastian, Kaspar Reinhard Leander, and
Ruth Alexandra Kandida. In later life Rupert became Professor of Potions at Durmstrang. He had married Harry Potter’s granddaughter,
Imogen, and so it was Rupert’s daughter Elspereth (Snape’s and Harry’s great granddaughter)
who became Potions Professor, Head of Slytherin House and later Headmistress of
Hogwarts. Imogen Potter was the daughter
of Sirius Potter and Narcissa Malfoy (Draco and Hermione’s eldest daughter). So Snape was intrigued to see that Elspereth Imogen
Salazanne Snape, the future Headmistress of Hogwarts, was a descendant of the
Snape, Potter and Malfoy families. She
was also a parcelmouth, as were all of Harry Potter’s descendents. Samantha Johnson was welcomed into the Snape family. As Samantha worked as coach for the Chudley
Cannons, she and Guinevere chose to set up home near Shaftesbury in Fancy-free Miranda played the field for years, but
eventually settled down with a Muggle engineer from All the family were vegetarian; many were vegan. Amongst Snape’s and Celeste’s descendants
there was always a strand of compassion.
There was, too, a curious ability to see into the future – a trait
inherited via Celeste’s Uncle Fabien who was that strange creature ‘a Muggle
who was almost a wizard’. Also, to
Snape’s delight, his descendents included many gifted potion makers and
speakers of parceltongue. To the end of their days, Snape and Celeste remained
in love and faithful to one-another.
Snape never admitted to his wife that in 1998 he had searched her bed-sitting
room, nor that he had followed her to Hogallen Farm, and later to The End |
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Author’s Notes My object in writing this
was to get Snape to develop sufficiently to become a husband, father and
Hogwarts Headmaster. I therefore made him
change, and used as a premise the notion that he is a mediocre teacher. I do not like his teaching style,
nevertheless I have to admit that Order of the The process of change
actually started in Chapter 5 when, via Fabien Lavelle, Snape received a
blessing; naturally he was unaware of this. Because I have created so
many fictitious items in this tale, such as Stipa macropungens, Spartina
argenta and Zenthem Gum, I feel it only fair to list some items and references
that are genuine but perhaps a bit obscure… |