Chapter Text
“This way.”
He had to cancel drinks with Edward.
It took two days to manage to speak with Frank Longbottom. Lee went to St Mungos first to request a visit and was told that he would not be able to visit with either of the Longbottoms without the consent of a family member.
The only legal family member that he could get a hold of was Augusta Longbottom, that had been quite an experience. The older woman was already suspicious when Lee explained that he was trying to get the chance to see her son, but when he told her that he was a journalist she looked ready to throw him right out the door. Lee had to work quickly. The classic Gryffindor charm clearly wasn’t going to work, Lee didn’t want to wear on the woman’s patience more than he knew he already was and also… according to Fred, he needed a little bit of work when it comes to charm.
He went for the truth and hoped for the best.
He told her about his trips to Azkaban. He told her about the Lestrange brothers. Augusta’s features pinched into something more than just a little unpleasant, hands clenching on her lap around her porcelain teacup. Then he told her what Rabastan said and oddly… she seemed to falter and pause and now-
“Normally we’d see them together, Neville and I.” The older woman said, walking quickly with her heels clacking loudly against the stone floors as they followed the healer leading the way ahead of them, “Since he’s at school, I suppose only seeing Frankie for now would be alright. He’s calmer when Alice is in sight, you see. I don’t like worrying the boy. However under the circumstances…” She paused to look at him under the brim of her large burgundy hat with white feathers around the top, “He doesn’t make much sense, you’re sure you’ll be able to speak with him?”
“I…” Lee swallowed hard but nodded as he managed to keep pace with the woman beside him, “I believe so.” She nodded and looked ahead just as he spoke again, “Can you tell me something about his behaviour? Are there topics I should try to avoid? Things I shouldn’t say?”
“There are many things you could say to him, and many more things he’ll say to you but.” She shook her head, “None of it makes sense.”
“He likes telling stories.” The healer in front suddenly said, she glanced back over her shoulder at them with a slight smile, the skin at the edge of her blue eyes crinkling slightly behind the frame of her glasses, “Muggle fairy tales about witches, fairies and trolls.”
Lee blinked, “Anything specific?”
She shook her head, “Nothing I can recognise… I’m a half-blood.” She clarified, “He babbles on for hours but, like Lady Longbottom said, they don’t really make sense. They just seem like stories.”
Lee nodded, his lips pursing in thought when Augusta suddenly spoke again.
“When the creatures spoke to you.” She asked softly, Lee still felt startled when she did, “You said they told you something else happened that night.”
“They both essentially confirmed the… torture at Bellatrix’s hand but something else happened that they won’t speak of.” Lee sighed as he repeated the same thing he told her when he visited her at her home, “Something that may potentially have something to do with Hogwarts and-“
“Dumbledore.” She hissed, shut her eyes to take in a shallow breath. Lee nearly jumped right out of his skin when she suddenly reached out to take his arm.
“Lady Longbottom-“
He’d stopped to reach out and hold her up as she leaned into him, thinking that she’d grabbed onto him to steady herself, only for her to urge them to keep walking. “What happened to my son and daughter in-law was an absolute tragedy. I still haven’t recovered from it and seeing them like this, its… I used to hear Frankie whispering about Albus with Alice, they didn’t trust him. Something was wrong but when I asked him, he wouldn’t tell me what it was.”
The healer finally stopped at a door on the left side of the hallway, a lime steel door waiting for them as she took out her wand to cast some spells.
“I do what I do now Mr Jordan, not for the benefit of those evil creatures, but because I want to know what happened to my son and daughter in-law. I want to know the truth. I sincerely hope, that you will not disappoint me.”
She levelled him in a glare, her hands clenching around his arm to a point where it almost hurt. Lee kept looking into the older woman’s eyes, the glare was piercing and yet-
He put his other hand over hers and gave a slight smile, “I won’t.”
She nodded, “Good.”
The healer had turned to face them and Augusta gave a slight smile of her own, “Well, get to it young man.”
“You’re not coming in with me?” She let go of his arm and brushed down the front of her burgundy robes.
“Frank gets… overwhelmed when there’s more than one person in with him and Alice isn’t around. I think I’ll visit with my daughter in-law for a bit. You’ll come see me, once you’ve finished?”
“Of course, Lady Longbottom.”
“Good.”
She said shortly before she turned around and quickly walked away. Lee frowned as he watched her go until the healer cleared her throat.
“You won’t have very long. Like lady Longbottom said, Mr Longbottom gets overwhelmed sometimes. You’ll only have thirty minutes.”
Lee nodded, “That’s fine.”
“Good.”
Lee watched as the healer completed whatever spells she needed to cast. He doesn’t have his notepad with him, no pens or quills. It wouldn’t be safe with the more… sensitive residents in the hospital so naturally he had to leave those outside the ward. Lee knew well enough to cast a transcript spell on himself. Their conversation should imprint itself on his notepad. It’s a spell he learned from George when he was struggling with potions in fifth year.
The lime green door popped open quietly, the healer looked at him. “Are you ready?”
No.
“Yes.” She nodded and opened the door to step inside.
“Mr Longbottom, you have a visitor.”
There was no response, the healer nodded for him to enter and he walked in to stand beside her. It was large room, plenty of space to move around. Yellow walls painted with green landscapes of flowers and trees, blue skies with fluffy clouds. Something meant to be calming. Lee was surprised that none of it moved the way most wixen paintings did. Although, moving walls might not be the best option for those whose mental states are… impaired.
There was no bed in the room, only a blanket with a pillow on a thick mattress on the floor. Nap times? They already told him that this was one of the day rooms they kept for their more… demanding patients. In the middle of the room was an oak table with two chairs. There were pieces of parchment scattered over it and crayons of the muggle sort as well. Frank Longbottom sat in one of the chairs. Mindlessly scribbling on a piece of parchment. Long dark hair covered his face as he scribbled, he’d tug at the sleeves of his light blue robes every now and then.
“Mr Longbottom, this is Lee Jordan. He’s come to visit you.” More scribbling, no response for what felt like forever but what was actually only four seconds before he stopped and looked up at them. Dark brown eyes flickering back and forth between the two before he just looked back down at the parchment and kept scrobbling.
The healer gave Lee a sympathetic smile, “I’m not sure what you’ll get out of him but he seems quite peaceful today. Don’t try to touch him and don’t raise your voice. He should be alright with you sitting at the table with him. I’ll leave you to it.”
She turned around and left the room closing the door behind her but not locking it. Lee watched her go before he looked back at the man at the table. He took a deep breath.
“Mr Longbottom, I’m Lee Jordan.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Blaise was waiting for him outside of Snape’s office.
Pansy had to show them to their new dorm room first. The trip was mostly quiet with Luna still somehow entirely too bright and cheery for her own good. Blaise looked over to him and Ron couldn’t help but sigh.
She really is going to have a ‘time’ fitting in around here.
Into the Slytherin common room. It was impressive, somehow slightly different from what he remembered the last time he and Harry snuck in there. They’re in the dungeons but the ceilings still seemed impossibly high, large windows gave way to the Black lake outside and torches lit up the grand room in a warm orange glow. It was still a bit before classes would start so when they walked in the common room was decently occupied. The second they stepped inside the room went silent and everyone stared. Ron only felt slightly better about it when Blaise reached out to take his hand. Meanwhile Neville seemed to shrink back and Luna openly smiled.
Pansy led them up to the boys dorms, showed them their room which looked more or less like the Gryffindor dorms only with green and silver instead of red and gold. Dark mahogany bedframes and dressers instead of warm oak. It didn’t look too bad to be honest and not nearly as dark as he was expecting.
Pansy left as soon as she arrived, looking beyond annoyed when she turned to find her newest roommate smiling warmly at her, waiting to be led to their room. Neville got comfortable just as Blaise grabbed a hold of his arm.
“I still have to show you mother’s gift, remember?”
Neville gave him a weak smile and waved him off and they went to Blaise’s room about three doors down. The one he shared with Malfoy and Nott. Both of whom were in the room when they arrived, Ron had to consciously fight off the urge to tense up too obviously.
“Salazar, you can’t be serious.” Malfoy glared from his spot on his bed and Ron sneered right back at him.
“Nice to see you too, Malfoy.”
“Piss off you-“
“Draco, Theo. Give us a minute.” Blaise interrupted quickly, Nott seemed to arch a brow at him while the blonde turned his glare on the Italian.
“What? What for-“
“We’re courting Draco, I don’t think I need to explain it any more than that.” Blaise said and Ron looked up at him to see him giving the blonde a very pointed look, “Some privacy, lads.”
Malfoy just kept glaring, Nott shook his head as he got up with a scoff.
“Fine.”
“It is not fine!” Malfoy said stubbornly and Nott just rolled his eyes.
“Look if you want to watch them and their courting activities then you’re more than welcome, however, I would like to spare myself.” He picked up a stack of books he had at the end of his bed and made his way over to the door, stopping to look at Ron. His eyes narrowed slightly before nodding. “Weasley.”
Ron just stared back, “Nott.”
He gave a snort and turned around, “We’ll see you in class, Blaise.”
“Thank you.” Blaise said as the raven left the room before bringing his gaze back to the blonde, “Draco.”
“I-“
“I’ll throw you out if I have to.”
Malfoy’s glare intensified as he snatched his own books out and practically stomped his way out of the door. “You’re explaining this madness later.”
“I’m well aware.” Blaise said with a soft sigh just as the door slammed behind him. Ron rolled his eyes.
“I think he likes me.” He joked and Blaise let out a startled laugh.
“Oh he’s infatuated.”
Ron laughed as he walked in further into the room as he looked at the beds. Malfoy’s was easy to pick out, the Malfoy crest embroidered onto a black blanket neatly made over the bed. Nott surprisingly had multiple pieces of parchment and books arranged on his bed along with a copy of the Quibbler. That left the bed by the window, made up as neatly as the others, a large black wooden chest at the foot of the bed.
“That one’s yours?”
Blaise nodded, “Sit down.”
The redhead did as he was told and sat down on the green, silver and black bedspread. Ron could feel his cheeks flush lightly even though he had no idea why. His hands clenched on the satin material beneath him while Blaise went over to the chest and opened it.
“I got this early, mother said to make sure you get it before classes start.”
“What is it?”
Blaise emerged with a large mahogany box with a silver latch and what he guessed was the Zabini crest carved over the top.
“Its… pretty.” Ron said as Blaise set the box down between them and sat down himself.
“Open it.”
The redhead looked at him for a brief moment before he opened the silver latch and lifted the lid to find-
“Robes?” He asked and Blaise nodded.
“Robes, school shirts and pants a few more clothes. New books and stationary.”
“What-why?”
“Why not?”
Ron frowned, “I have clothes and books and-“
“Mother insisted, I’m afraid.” Blaise started wryly, “We’re courting. You’re soon to be a Zabini bride. Mother expects you to look the part.”
Ron rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Of course she does.”
“Ron-“
“There’s nothing wrong with the things I have, they’re perfectly fine and I-“
“You don’t need them, I know.” Blaise said placatingly, “But this isn’t really for you, it’s for Mother and-“
“What Mother wants Mother gets? Bloody hell, you’d think she’s the one courting me!” Ron huffed as he got up from the bed, Blaise sighed quietly.
“That’s one way to put it.” He shook his head as he watched the redhead start to pace, “I’m not even really sure why you’re so upset.”
“I’m upset because I didn’t ask for any of this.” Ron growled out in frustration, “It hasn’t even been an hour yet and ‘Mother’ is already trying to turn me into-“
“What? A Slytherin or my bride?”
“Both!”
“And this is a problem?”
“I-“
“Because the last time I checked you sorted Slytherin and I am courting you since you are pregnant with-“
“Yeah I know. I haven’t forgotten, Blaise.”
“Then what is the problem?” Blaise asked as he got up from the bed and walked over to the redhead, “We agreed to try this right? You resorted and I’m courting you, that’s what we agreed on.”
“Yes, but I didn’t agree to… that!” he almost screeched waving towards the bed.
Blaise took in a deep breath, “No one’s trying to change you Ron, least of all me and I doubt even Mother could fully manage that.”
“Well-“
“Its new robes, clothes and some books. Right now, no one’s trying to change your name and no one is trying to change you.” The Slytherin said entirely too calmly and Ron hated him a little for it, as he reached up to hold the redhead’s shoulders with a warm smile, “It’s a gift… Look just, do this for me. Try them on and if you hate them, I’ll send them back, regardless of what Mother has to say about it. Alright?”
Ron huffed out a sigh, “Fine.”
“Great.” Blaise said reaching over to pick up the box to shut the lid and handing it to the redhead. “Bathroom’s over there.”
The redhead huffed again as he took the box, feeling like an absolute brat when Blaise just watched him with a tilt of his head. He turned and headed into the bathroom as quickly as possible before shutting the door.
“Bloody fantastic.” He hissed before looking around the room. Three toilet stalls, shower stalls, sinks and urinals. Black marble covered the floors, emerald green tiles for the walls with silver and black accents. Not that different from the Gryffindor dorms but, it’s still going to take some getting used to.
Ron went over to the bench on the other side of the room beside the showers to set the box down. Blue eyes narrowed as he glared at the box, though even he isn’t entirely sure why. It’s just… he just got resorted and already-
Ron took a deep breath and shut his eyes for a moment. Deep breaths in and out before he placed a hand over his stomach as he looked down at it.
“You know, you’re starting to turn into a lot of trouble.” Another deep breath, “Hopefully, this’ll all go well for both of us.”
With that he started to undress, folded his own clothes as neatly as possible and put them in a stack before finally opening the box to start going through it. There were five pairs of school robes and then five pairs of what looked like evening robes in emerald green, royal blue, burgundy red and two fitted black robes made from satin so soft it felt like butter. Multiple shirts, only half of which were school shirts. The rest were dress shirts of different colours as well. Pants went the same as well. There were socks and underwear – bloody hell she got him underwear as well. Different from the cotton sort Mum bought and mended for them over and over again.
Those things were all on the left side on the right were brand new ink pots and quills, parchment with each roll – annoyingly – water marked with the Zabini crest. Brand new textbooks and a few more notebooks still with the blasted water marks on them. Ron realised that most of what he was seeing was just what was on the surface.
The box must have bottomless and feather light spells on it.
It was… a lot.
Ron pushed his growing nerves aside and just reached in to take out a school shirt, tie, some pants, a pair of robes and one of the – entirely too shiny – pairs of black school shoes he found inside as well. He stared at the underwear and socks for a brief moment, looking down at his slightly faded and mended pairs before just grabbing those as well.
Why not, at this point?
The clothes seemed like they were charmed to fit to his body once he put them on. Ron got dressed as quickly as possible, trying not to think about how the satin underwear was so light it almost felt like he wasn’t wearing anything at all. The socks were so soft it was completely insane. It all felt so… nice. But Ron didn’t want to think about how nice it all felt, he couldn’t because-
After getting dressed he went over to one of the mirrors beside the showers and wanted to groan in frustration and annoyance. They’re just school clothes and yet somehow…
Bloody hell. He looks good.
Ron glared at his own reflection. He thought he looked alright when he left the Gryffindor dorms that morning but now as he stood in his new outfit, he realised that his hair looked a bit like a rat’s nest. He ran a brush through it a couple of times but-
He couldn’t help but fiddle with his hair a bit more. Ron dragged his fingers through the bright red locks and tried to pat it down here and there, before just giving up and ruffling up even more. There.
It might be a mess but now it’s a more purposeful mess.
He looked over to the door and swallowed hard, feeling oddly nervous since he now had to go out and show Blaise.
He could always just take it all off, put his own clothes back on and tell the Italian that he hated all of this so the ridiculousness could end but-
Ron looked back at the mirror, brushed his hands down his sides and along his front. He looked nice, more polished somehow. But he didn’t want to look nice like this, he didn’t want to like the way the clothes fit and felt and-
He feels like a traitor.
Ron looked around himself, at the green silver and black tiles and then back to his reflection in the mirror.
He jumped when there was suddenly a knock at the door.
“Ron? We have class soon, so you should probably hurry up… are you alright in there?”
“I-“ Ron shut his eyes, “I didn’t lock it, you can come in.”
The door opened and Ron braced himself.
“Well…” The Italian’s tone was oddly flat and Ron swallowed hard, he turned towards the door before he opened his eyes. Blaise was looking him up and down before he came to a stop less than a foot away. A smile slowly spread over his lips and he gave a nod.
“Mother’s outdone herself.”
Ron rolled his eyes even as he flushed, “Shut up.” He turned to look at the mirror and started fiddling with his hair again, “All of this is completely-“
He was cut off when Blaise turned him around and pulled him close to quickly press a kiss against his lips and smirked.
“You know if I hadn’t already gotten you pregnant, I might have been inclined to give that a try right now.”
Ron went beet red and he shoved back at the other’s shoulders, “As if I’d let you.” A smile spread over his lips against his will, he started tugging at his sleeves. “I feel stupid.” He admitted quietly, “All of this, how much did your mother even spend on these. Fuck, I don’t even need any of it. I feel like an overdressed peacock… or Malfoy.”
“You look perfect.” Blaise said while Ron just kept tugging. He rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of the redhead to turn him to the mirrors. “Just look at yourself.”
“Blaise-“
“Look.” He said wrapping his arms around Ron from behind and letting his head rest on the redhead’s shoulder, “You look great. If Mother could see you now, she’d start the wedding arrangements to make sure I didn’t let you get away.”
“I don’t care about what your mother thinks.”
“That’s actually a good thing-”
“I just don’t,” Ron shook his head, “This feels like a lot.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that. I… I’m not-“
“Used to it?” Blaise asked and Ron pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. He didn’t want to say that, but he didn’t really have another answer. Blaise nodded, his arms tightening just a bit around him. “You really do look great, I bet Draco’s going to pop a vein when he sees you-“ Ron let out a laugh and Blaise smiled, “But if you really don’t want to wear these you can take them off. I won’t force you to keep them on.”
Ron let out a sigh, “I just resorted and now I’m dressed in this. It’s like Gryffindor never even happened.”
“You’re still the same person.”
“But I feel different and I know that because of the baby and everything I should feel different, things are supposed to change.” He lifted a hand up to his hair to tug at it as he spoke sullenly, “You’re right, I do look good.”
But Molly would hate it.
Blaise scoffed, “Do you remember that night in the forest? What we talked about? You said you wanted to be different, you wanted things to change but you didn’t know how to feel alright about that.”
“Yes.”
“Professor Snape told you, didn’t he? About what it means to be a Slytherin, about transformation.” Ron shrugged and Blaise continued, “You can be whatever you want to be Ron, change yourself into whatever you want and you don’t have to feel guilty about it.”
“But-“
“Do what you want to do and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Blaise pressed a kiss against the side of his head and Ron blushed anew. “Now, we have class in ten minutes. Do you want to keep these on or take them off?”
Ron stared back at his reflection in the mirror, tugged at his hair took a deep breath and then-
“Let’s go.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah.” Ron said pulling free of Blaise’s grip to head over to the box. He put his old clothes inside and shut the lid, “Besides, I doubt your mother would be too happy about me snubbing one of her gifts and we’ll be late for class anyway.”
He turned to face Blaise who was staring at him with an arched brow. Ron rolled his eyes with a sigh of frustration.
“Fine, I like the stupid clothes and I’m keeping them on because I like looking nice. Now can we get to class? Or do you want me to send one of these watermarked letters to ‘Mother’ first?”
Blaise chuckled, “I’m sure she knows.” He held out his hand, “Let’s go.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It’s been ten minutes already and Frank had yet to even look at Lee, let alone acknowledge him. He didn’t know what to do. The man is in a very fragile mental state, one wrong move and this whole entire thing could end in disaster. Lee didn’t want to just throw the question at him like
“Remember that time when you were tortured into insanity by a bunch of Death Eaters? Do you remember anything else about that night or were you too consumed by unimaginable pain to notice?”
So what does he do?
Lee wanted to groan in annoyance. He really should have thought this through. He shouldn’t have listened to Rabastan bloody Lestrange to start off with. Maybe he should just leave but-
The image of Augusta Longbottom’s eyes flashed in his mind. Hard and fierce and yet, with the slightest hint of vulnerability there. Lee took in a deep breath. No, he has to try at least… something.
He was sitting at the table in front of Frank while the man continued to scribble. His drawings weren’t very good, barely better than something a child might draw. Simple shapes with lots of little lines, coloured haphazardly and definitely not staying inside the lines. Lee leaned forward a bit to get a better look.
“What are you drawing?”
No reaction, he just dropped the crayon in his hand and picked up another.
Maybe he should just leave. Lee looked around the table as he tried to think of what to do when one of the papers near the edge caught his eye. Bright colours. It looked like a girl. She had red hair wearing a green dress, with light blue wings. Lee reached out to take the paper. Frank suddenly stopped and Lee almost froze. He almost dropped the paper before he just continued with the movement. Frank’s eyes tracked the paper as Lee set it down on the table. He tried not to look at the man as he took it in.
It looked like a muggles idea of a fairy; red hair, green dress and blue wings with a stick in her hand that might be a wand only, there were darker green lines around the fairy. It looked like ropes.
Lee looked up at Frank who was silently watching him, he swallowed hard before he spoke.
“Is this a fairy?” It was quiet for a few seconds, Frank’s hand seemed to clench and unclench around the black crayon in his hand.
“Yes.” He said quickly before looking back down at the drawing he was working on, “The red fairy. Beautiful and kind and… rude.”
Lee let out a startled scoff, “Rude. I thought you said she was kind.” Frank didn’t respond. Lee pushed the image a bit closer to the middle of the table, “What are these things around her, are they ropes?”
“Vines.”
“Vines?”
“Its because of the curse. The red fairy was cursed by a wizard of light.”
“Why?”
“Because of the potter.”
“Potter?”
Then Frank stopped and looked at him his eyebrows furrowing for a second before he smiled, “Would you like to hear a story? It’s a very long story. Do you want to hear it?”
“Uh.” Lee blinked, “I… yes, I would.”
He nodded and then looked away, staring at the parchment in front of him before he spoke.
“Once upon a time, a potter met a prince.”
“Where did he meet him?” Lee asked and Frank shrugged in an oddly exaggerated way.
“In a castle, in a land far far away.”
“A castle.” Lee paused, “A castle like… Hogwarts.”
Frank’s head snapped up and he nodded, “Ten points to Slytherin.”
Lee blinked again and gave a wry smile, “I’m a Gryffindor, actually-”
“No. No no no. Ten points to Slytherin.” Frank insisted and Lee frowned.
“Okay, ten points to Slytherin. What happened after the potter met the prince?”
“The potter fell in love.”
“With the prince?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
Frank started scribbling, “The potter wanted to take the prince away, far far away from the castle because of the wizard of light. He put a curse on the prince. Cursed him to stay in the castle forever and ever.”
“Why?”
“If the prince escapes, if he breaks the curse the wizard will lose his power. So the prince has to stay, stay in the castle forever and never leave.”
“Wizard of light.” Lee mumbled, he thought of Hogwarts and- “Dumbledore?”
Frank froze, “Ten points to Slytherin.”
Lee’s eyes widened a bit and he could feel himself begin to tense, “How did the wizard curse the prince?”
“The same way he cursed the weasel and the ferret. He locked them in the castle, so they could never leave. But the potter, the potter tried to save the prince. He asked for help from the red fairy and they were going to do it. They were going to free the prince. Save the weasel and the ferret, the potter is the only one who could.”
“Why is the potter the only one who could save them?”
“The prince can only be saved by one of royal blood. Only one of royal blood can break the curse.”
“Royal blood.” Lee mumbled, “A pureblood?-“
“Ten points to Slytherin!”
The shout startled him but Lee could barely focus on that, “A pureblood, only a pureblood can free the prince?” That-
Merlin it’s not making sense. Dumbledore did something to someone and the only person that can save them is a pureblood?
“What happened when the potter tried to free the prince?”
“The wizard caught them, cursed the fairy and the potter.” Frank reached over to the picture in front of Lee to pull it closer, “First he trapped them in a rose briar with deadly thorns, covered in pearls. But the fairy found a way to escape, she freed herself and freed the potter. She was so sad.”
“Why was she sad?”
“The wizard stole her flowers. A bouquet made of monkshood and snakeskin, he crushed them under his feet and hid them away. She wanted to save the flowers as well but they had to free the prince first.” Frank then looked up at Lee, “If you free the prince the wizard will lose his power.”
“Alright,” Lee sighed, “How do you free the prince?”
“Do you have royal blood?”
Is he a pureblood?
“No.”
Frank shook his head, “Only one of royal blood can free the prince. You can’t save him, you have peasant blood.”
Peasant blood? It threw Lee for a loop and honestly left him feeling a little annoyed. He’s not sure which one he prefers, an Order member saying he has peasant blood or a Death Eater calling him a mudblood.
“Like the red fairy.”
“What?”
“The red fairy had peasant blood. That’s why the wizard cursed her and the potter. He needed to keep the potter away from the prince.”
“Peasant blood, a muggleborn.”
“Ten points to Slytherin.”
“He cursed a muggleborn.” Lee’s eyes went wide when he remembered his conversation with Rabastan and he looked up at the man to whisper, “Lily Evans, James Potter’s wife. Harry’s parents. He was a pureblood and she was a muggleborn… The potter, the potter is James Potter.”
Frank stopped again, “Twenty points to Slytherin.”
Lee leaned over the table a bit, “Who’s the prince?”
Both Frank’s hands came together to clench around his crayon, “The Prince is trapped in the castle.”
“But who is he?”
“He’s trapped in the castle. In the dungeons, that’s where he is.”
Lee wanted to scream in frustration instead he tried to breathe as he looked at the man sitting across from him. when a thought came to mind-
“The wizard of light, did he curse you too?”
Frank tensed up completely, “The Fairy asked for a favour, she went to the eagle and asked it to keep something for her.”
“Keep what?”
“A book of spells. Spells that could destroy the wizard of light, ruin him forever.”
“Okay, what happened?”
“The wizard of night.” Frank finally unclenched his hands and picked up the picture he’d been scribbling earlier and slid it over towards Lee. He hadn’t noticed before but the picture was mostly black, squiggles of what looked like animals under a half circle, a moon? “He sent his banshee and his jackals. They came to steal the egg. The only egg the eagles had, they came to take it away but then the wizard arrived.”
“The wizard of night?”
“Ten points from Slytherin.” Frank whispered softly and Lee realised.
“The wizard of light. Dumbledore was there?”
“He wanted the book, the book of spells. He lied to the banshee, told her that the eagles were hiding a different treasure. The eagles told the banshee that the wizard was lying but she wouldn’t listen. She screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed-“ Frank started to curl into himself, raising his hands up to his head to clench his fingers tightly in his hair, “The jackals told her to stop, they howled and whined but she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t stop screaming.”
“Mr Longbottom?” Lee watched as the man put himself into a tight ball on his chair, but he didn’t know what to do.
“If you’re going to kill them then just do it! The boy isn’t here and neither are the contracts! Rodolphus make her stop!” Frank started rocking in his seat, “Bella that’s enough! We need to leave, you’re wasting time!”
“Mr Longbottom-“
“The wizard watched, eyes of ice watched from the shadows. He watched and he did nothing!” Lee’s eyes widened in horror when he saw streams of blood begin to drip down the sides of the mans face, “Nothing! He did Nothing! NOTHING! NOTHING-”
Lee almost moved closer to stop Frank from hurting himself, only to stop when he remembered the healer’s words about touching him. Instead he quickly got up from the chair and ran for the door.
“HELP!”
The door swung open and the healer rushed inside, “What-“
She cursed softly beneath her breath when she looked over to Frank. Pulling out her wand she seemed to cast some sort of spell before she rushed over towards him.
“The visits over, you need to leave.”
“I-“
“Now!”
Before he could even try to think of something to say, two others in St Mungos robes rushed in by him and another eased him away from the door. “Sir you need to stay outside.”
Lee allowed himself to be pushed out. The last thing he saw before the door closed were the healers holding the older man down while another cast a spell on him.
“HE WATCHED! HE DID NOTHING!”
“Bloody hell.”
“Mr Jordan!”
He looked up to see Augusta hurrying over towards him. Her shoes clacking even louder against the floors as she shrieked.
“What in Merlin’s name happened?! What did you do!”
“I…” Lee swallowed hard as he looked over to the door only to almost lose his balance when Augusta finally reached him and grabbed a hold of his arms.
“Answer me young man! What happened?! What happened with my son-“
“Book of spells.”
“What? Stop mumbling and answer me-“
“Did they have any books?” Lee asked bringing the older woman’s words to an abrupt halt as she glared at him, “A book of spells?”
“What?”
“Mr Longbottom, he said…” Lee took a deep breath, “Did James Potter’s wife, Lily Evans ever visit your son and daughter in-law?”
“What does that have to do with-“
“Lady Longbottom, please!” He couldn’t help but shout causing the woman to jump and Lee pulled back, “I’m sorry. Mr Longbottom told me about a book, he made it sound very important. Do you know if he had any special books around the house? One that he was trying to keep safe? One that he would hide from the headmaster of Hogwarts.” He whispered that last sentence and Augusta frowned, she pulled back as well-
“I don’t – “ and then she gasped softly, “Alice.” She pulled away from Lee completely.
“What? What is it?”
Augusta took a full step back and looked away, “What happened to Frank?”
“I… he remembered that night he was… the night with the Lestranges.”
“Did he tell you what happened?”
“I think so, yes.”
Augusta looked up at him, nodded and then brushed over her robes in very much the same way she did earlier as she straightened her posture and lifted her head.
“It’s nearing lunch time. I think it’s time you left.”
“But, Lady Longbottom-“
“I think it would be best to discuss this later. Over dinner perhaps.” She stepped closer to him, “You will return to Longbottom manor and we will discuss this over dinner. I need your word, young man.”
Lee frowned but still nodded, “You have it.”
“Six o’clock, sharp. Don’t be late.”
With that she turned around and left him there. Lee just went over to the wall to sag against it as he let out a heavy sigh, shutting his eyes before he slid down to the floor with that frown still on his face.
“The Prince’s curse can only be broken by a pureblood…” Lee growled in frustration, “But… if James Potter is the potter, then who’s the Prince?”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Potions Master Snape, to what do I owe the honour?”
Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he looked back at the face of the woman in the burning coals of the fire, smirking even in the burning embers as she brushed a lock of hair from her face.
“I have a favour to ask of you, Lady Zabini.”
“Before that, how did the sorting go this morning? Is the Weasley boy still in Gryffindor?”
“No, he was sorted into Slytherin.”
“Good.” She said, “That’s one less thing to worry about. I’m sure I won’t have to ask you to keep an eye on my grandchild’s bearer. Blaise already told me that you’ve been brewing his prenatal potions for him.”
“I have. Unless you’d prefer to refer him to your family’s personal physician.”
“Oh absolutely not, why run off to St Mungos when I have free access to a talented potionsmaster right here.” She said simply, “I have complete faith in you master Snape. Besides, it’s better to have a bearer looking after another.”
“I beg your pardon, I’m not sure I know what you mean.” Severus asked as his lips pulled down into a slight frown and lady Zabini simply rolled her eyes.
“Blaise told me, about the mermaids and how they only dance if you’re in the room.” Her smirk somehow grew as Severus fought to keep his eyes from widening, “My mother used to tell me about the legends. ‘And all the world would dance at the blessing given by lady magic herself’.”
“It’s hardly anything extraordinary. Little more than a magical anomaly.” Severus said clearly while lady Zabini simply shook her head.
“All the same, I’m looking forward to having the Weasley boy over during the holidays. Blaise already knows not to let his bride near that absolutely atrocious family of his. I still have a few preparations to do. However, as he is under my guardianship, I expect any and all concerns regarding his wellbeing to be relayed to me directly.”
“Of course.”
“Good.”
“You seem to be in good spirits, considering the situation.”
“Well, once I took a moment to think it through and weigh out all our options,” She let out a soft sigh, “I realised that Blaise could do worse than a Weasley bearer.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh yes, I’ve been to Gringotts, went through a few archives. Had our goblin look into the Weasleys and Prewetts, you know, a bit of research and all that.” She explained vaguely, “Did you know that the Weasley and Prewett families both have four locked vaults? The Prewett and Weasley lines supposedly end with Arthur and Molly Weasley’s children and so they are entitled to the vaults and everything associated with them. There are contracts, heirlooms, three guarded estates. And yet somehow they seem to be wallowing in abject poverty.”
“They are not wallowing in poverty.” Severus said dully and lady Zabini simply shook her head.
“The point is that they have an entire estate waiting to be inherited, but somehow it’s all locked away. I asked our Goblin, he said he doesn’t know why. The contracts regarding the estate are sealed and only heir Weasley-Prewett can unseal them.”
“And who is heir Weasley-Prewett?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea. It’s absolutely madding,” She sighed again, “What’s stranger still is how their Wizengamot seats seemed to have disappeared. House Prewett should have five and house Weasley four, so nine all together but as far as I can tell neither Arthur nor Molly Weasley have access to them.”
Severus allowed himself a frown, “That is strange.”
“Yes well, I plan on taking Ronald with me to Gringotts once the Easter holidays start. They might be able to tell him what’s going on.”
Severus arched a brow at her, “You’re putting in quite a bit of effort in all of this.”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s carrying my grandchild and from what Blaise tells me there is a chance they may try to make this arrangement permanent. Doing a bit of research on my future son in-law is only a fraction of what I should be doing for the next nine months. Now, you said you had a favour to ask master Snape.”
“Of course.” Severus took in a breath, “Are you aware that your… future son in-law is close friends with Harry Potter?”
“The boy who lived, I’ve heard a rumour or two. Why do you ask?”
“Some… sensitive information has come to light concerning the boy and I was hoping that I could ask you to accept his company in your home during the holidays.”
Lady Zabini frowned, “What kind of information?”
“The kind I am not at liberty to disclose.” One more breath, “He needs a place to stay. From what I’ve witnessed in their friendship here at school, I know that Mr Weasley would welcome Mr Potter into his home with open arms if the need for it arrived. However, with Mr Weasley’s current situation I thought it best to clear it with you first.”
She was silent for a moment, “Where has the boy been going home to all this time?”
“Relatives. Muggles. Unfortunately, the situation with his relatives has become unstable.”
“And he can’t stay at Hogwarts for the Easter Holidays?”
“Apparently not.”
She was silent again and then let out a sigh, “Master Snape… Severus, I am not aligned with the light. We told your headmaster before, when he approached my husband and I about joining the Order, that we have no interest in involving ourselves with political affairs. House Zabini is in the grey and I plan on keeping it in the grey.”
“I am aware, however, the headmaster doesn’t know that I’m asking this favour of you.”
“Why not?”
“Its… complicated. I only need a safe place for the boy to go. Zabini manor has the strongest security wards that I know of, it’s how you’ve managed to stay in the grey and stay protected even in the war. I am not asking you to choose a side. Mr Weasley is very close to Mr Potter, I know if I didn’t ask then he would ask you himself if he knew of the circumstances.”
“He doesn’t know?”
“Very few people do and I would like to keep it that way.”
She took in a very deep breath before letting it out, “I suppose… If he is Ronald’s friend then, it would be odd to turn him away. Absolutely gauche, something in the vein of what the Blacks would have done.” her head gave a tilt, “It would be quite something wouldn’t it, hosting the boy that lived in my home. Really, it seems Ronald’s choice in friends isn’t quite so bad… Very well, the Potter boy may spend his holidays here. I’ll prepare a room for his arrival, the elves are already working on Ronald’s room and the nursery. One more project shouldn’t be too difficult to manage.”
Severus let out a barely discernible sigh, “You have my thanks.”
“You do have me curious.” She asked with an arched brow, “Why not ask a member of the Order to take the boy in? Why isn’t the headmaster dealing with the situation?”
“It’s complicated.”
“So you’ve said. Well,” She started with a dramatic sigh, “It seems I have some extra work to do, I assume you’ll take care of the paperwork concerning the boy’s temporary place of residence. The goblins have finalised the charms and spells surrounding the blood rights for Ronald, but I’m afraid there isn’t much I could do on my side concerning the Potter boy.”
“I will take care of it.”
“Wonderful. I’m sure we’ll speak again soon, master Snape.”
The embers shaping her face disappeared and Severus pulled his head from the fireplace with a heavy sigh.
Now on to the next problem.
He walked over to the desk on the other side of the room. Trying and failing to not look at the letter he had on his desk that he received that morning. A letter inviting him over for evening tea… at the Malfoy manor. It came from Narcissa. She sent a letter knowing that Severus’ position as Draco’s godfather would allow him to leave the school to visit her, without too much concern from any wandering eyes should they wander his way.
Severus wasn’t sure what to make of it. He hasn’t received any new orders from the Dark Lord and hasn’t been summoned for any sort of meeting in a while. A sudden invitation for tea couldn’t be anything good.
Another heavy sigh, Severus shut his eyes and tried to steady his breathing for a moment only to start when he heard the entrance to the secret chamber in his quarters open up. He turned quickly, just in time for Potter to appear. An odd look of contemplation on his features before he also noticed the older man and seemed to immediately straighten up.
“Mr Potter.” Severus started evenly, “I hope you found your chat with our founder illuminating.”
“… something like that.” He said uncertainly, Severus arched a brow but otherwise didn’t question the teen further on that subject.
“Your first class this morning is potions. As a newly sorted member of my house, I expect you to be punctual to that class along with all your other classes.”
“Right.” He said distractedly, “I’ll get going-“
“Mr Potter, before you leave.” Severus said walking around the desk to stand a few feet away from the teen, “I’m not sure if the headmaster has informed you yet, but you will be receiving extra classes with me starting tomorrow.”
“Extra classes?” He asked incredulously, “What for-“
“Legillimens, Occlumency. Apparently, you’ve been receiving unwanted communications from an unwanted source.” It took a second but once the information clicked in the boy’s head, he took a full step backwards and swallowed hard. “Occlumency will allow you to block those communications out so you will be able to better protect yourself. Legillimens will help you control your mind. Your first lesson will be tomorrow evening, nine o’clock sharp.”
“I… and headmaster Dumbledore asked you to do this?” He asked warily and Severus almost rolled his eyes. If he wanted to harm the boy, he would’ve been less obvious about it.
“Yes, you may ask him yourself if you wish. Regardless of whether or not you do, I expect you in my class before at nine o’clock sharp, tomorrow evening. Is that clear?”
He hesitated, “Yes, professor.”
“One more thing. I assume that Mr Weasley has informed you about his… living arrangements outside of school. That for the duration of his pregnancy, at the very least, he will be residing at the Zabini manor during school holidays?”
“Yes sir.”
“As you are one of Mr Weasley’s closest friends, Lady Zabini has asked me to inform you that you are more than welcome to accompany him to her home during the holidays.”
“Me? Why?”
“Mr Potter, I know you aren’t very well versed in the art of courtesy or common decency, however those who posses those traits know well enough and do in fact know better.” Harry glared at him and Severus almost scoffed. Could he be a bit kinder to the boy, especially with the information that has come to his attention; yes. But it would be completely out of character and absolutely suspicious if he started being nice to the boy out of nowhere, wouldn’t it? “You are Mr Weasley’s friend, lady Zabini is offering you a place in her home because you are his friend. It’s a kind gesture, Mr Potter. Accept it and accept it graciously.”
Harry rolled his eyes, “I’ll be staying at school, I won’t need her kind gesture. Thank you, professor.” He growled out as he turned to leave the room when-
“The offer is there, should you need it.” Severus said clearly and Harry looked back at him with a frown before he simply left the room.
“I should get to class.”
He listened as the boy left the office and then left the quarters, the door shutting behind him. Severus let out another sigh.
Now, to deal with other things. Mainly his reply to Narcissa.