How Severus Spends His Summer Hols

A/N: This chapter is a bit different, we’re all taking a short trip to England, so get your seatbelts on and for those of you already there… put on the kettle. LOL


November 12th in England…

The owl circled the small house before diving through the owl chute. Flying past the bushy haired woman in the kitchen, the owl proceeded to search the house. Finally finding its intended recipient, the owl landed and eyed the red headed man, notice clutched tightly in its beak.

Ronald Weasley leaned forward, holding his hand out to the owl. He recognized this owl and had been waiting for the notice from Lucius Malfoy for some time now.

The bird eyed him a bit longer before releasing the missive. It took to wing once more, not waiting for an answer.

Ron unrolled the scroll, frowning at the blank parchment, until suddenly the elegant script began to appear.

Messr. Weasley,

The pleasure of your company is requested on this eve at dusk to discuss the arrangement previously agreed upon. A similar missive has been sent to all parties involved. Rendezvous The Alchemist’s Bar in London, St John Street and bring all the gathered information.

L.M.

Ron reread the note and looked up, calling out to his wife as the missive burst into flames. “Hermione… charm supper warm for me. I’ve business in London tonight.”

He stood and grabbed his cloak, wrapping it around him as he murmured the address to the pub over and over again. He pulled up a loose plank in the floor of the closet, retrieving a manila packet before walking out the door.

Lucius sat in the far corner of the small pub, sipping at a warmed brandy, his eyes on the door. He was waiting for several Weasleys, of all people for a Malfoy to be waiting for. Hopefully they would arrive without an ensuing uproar and their business could be concluded quickly.

Bill Weasley was the first to enter the small pub. He looked around, removing the dark sunglasses from his face as he spotted and nodded to Lucius Malfoy. As he started over the pub door opened and he turned, smiling slightly at his youngest brother.

Ron greeted him and they walked over to the table where the aristocratic wizard sat. “Mr. Malfoy.” he greeted the other man softly.

Lucius nodded to both men, gesturing for them to be seated. “Please have a drink gentleman, we’ll wait a bit longer before delving into our agenda for the evening,” he said as he nodded to a barmaid.

Within the next few minutes, three more red headed men arrived. Fred and George clapped brother Charlie on his back as they made their way back to where the others were waiting.

“Hullo,” George… or Fred said as they took their seats and ordered pints apiece.

Ron waited until the barmaid left the pints before pulling a package from his cloak and sliding it across the table to Malfoy. “This is all I could put together. He’s too well known and in the public eye for us to even touch on the subject. This calls for someone a bit more Slytherin.”

The red headed men nodded simultaneously and looked at the older man.

Without bothering to look in the packet, Lucius slid it into an inner pocket of his coat. “I’ve already made the proper arrangements gentlemen,” he murmured with a cold smile. “I simply wished to reassure you that the job will be finished soon.”

Lucius looked around the table, letting his eyes rest momentarily on each man, looking for some sign of regret. Seeing none, he nodded once more and raised his glass. “To a job well done.”

Ron smirked and raised his own glass. The Weasleys murmured the toast and drank to the downfall of their estranged brother.

One by one, the Weasley men finished their pints. Arrangements were made to meet once the announcement had been made. The matriarch of the Weasley family wouldn’t receive the news of Percy’s death gracefully and each of her boys vowed to be there to supply the proper comfort and sympathy.

The eldest stood and nodded to his brethren before taking his leave. The others followed, each leaving a short time after the last one until Lucius Malfoy was once again alone at the table.

As the evening grew later, a gaunt looking, black haired man appeared in the doorway of the pub, looking around until his eyes settled on Lucius Malfoy. Orion Snape made his way unobtrusively to the table, sitting elegantly as he began to remove his gloves.

“Tell me Lucius, what is this about? Why have you asked to meet me in such a place?” Orion asked as he flicked his fingertips disdainfully at their surroundings.

Lucius gave the man a small, condescending smile and waved the barmaid over. He ordered an aged Scotch for his visitor and pulled the package from his coat. He pushed it across the table to the older man. “It is in the best interest of your heir that you should handle this matter.”

Orion frowned for a moment, not reaching out for the packet. “Severus is in trouble?” he asked, one black brow raised as he regarded Lucius.

Lucius sipped his brandy and shrugged. “I wouldn’t say Severus exactly but the Snape heir will be. A threat has been discovered, one that not even myself and my considerable… influence can take care of.”

The elder Snape snorted derisively at the other man. “Speak plainly Lucius. You don’t want to get your hands dirty and Severus is unable to protect his child. You came to me hoping that I would see that it would be in my best interest to protect this unborn child. I am assuming of course that Potter has not yet whelped?” he sneered as he stared at the younger man.

“No, the child has yet to be born. However Severus’ hands are tied in how he is able to approach the situation.” Lucius set his glass down on the table and met the dark gaze. “Percy Weasley has taken steps to kidnap Severus’ child.”

Orion took the packet with two long fingers, slipping it into his robe pocket. “I’ll see what can be done. Was that all?” Orion asked as he drained his Scotch and looked at Malfoy.

@@@@@@@

November 24th…

Cho looked back at her friends, laughing as Percy tugged her along the street from the apparition point close to their home in King’s Lynn. The couple and friends had been out celebrating the news of the upcoming adoption of the child of an ‘unwed mother’ for the Weasleys.

Cho Weasley knew exactly where their new child was coming from, but knew they’d most likely have to have some sort of cosmetic charms put in place before they could ever have the child in public. Potter’s green eyes or Snape’s nose would be a dead give away.

Perhaps at some point in time she’d felt remorse in what they’d played a part of. The fact they were returning Harry to a life of torture and misuse, but that all paled when she thought of how The Boy Who Lived Again had snubbed her after he’d ended his Quidditch career. Honestly, the nerve of the little nancy to prefer a man over a beautiful woman like she was, he deserved whatever befell him at the hands of men.

Percy smiled at his beautiful wife and answered a question from his co worker’s wife. “We do what we can within our means, Shelby. One can only hope we can offer a better life to the dear. Certainly the breeding will suffer but then again we can’t all be purebloods.”

The laughter echoed off the street and Percy shook his head, counting the days until this charade would be over. Knowing the meticulous man Snape was, the baby would be healthy and strong with Potter’s magic. Now all he waited for was word from the scoundrel, Taylor before he could retrieve the child. The blasted man had gone on holiday after his house burnt, or that was what the newsagents had reported.

And that was the key to all this, Potter’s magic. His abnormality made it possible for Percy to hatch this final scheme. He’d seen the younger man’s depravity and knew it could be used to his downfall. Then Snape had stepped in.

Taylor had been furious when he’d found that someone had actually dared pick up his property from where he’d put him in that frozen alley. Upon finding out the identity of the man who had taken his slut in, he’d kept track of them through the club crawlers that had seen Potter and Snape out at various venues.


Once Percy had gleaned the information that Potter was indeed with child and was living in some backwater hell, he had immediately gone to Taylor. Really, he thought, he should send his baby brother a thank you note for telling their mother the news of Potter. Merlin knew that woman couldn’t keep something like that to herself. Now it was only a matter of time.

Percy smirked as they neared the house. He’d finally risen above what his parents had aspired to while weighed down with their seven children, ramshackle barn of a house, and little ambition. He would be someone that demanded respect. Someone that would never be overshadowed by Potter’s glory ever again, not for him would a tiny office in an obscure department deep in the bowels of the Ministry. No more would he take a backseat to the usurper that stole his place from within his family, the man that had become more of a son to Molly than he had been. No, he Percy Weasley would be Minister for Magic and nothing Harry Bloody Potter or his whinging family could do would stop him.

Stopping their group of friends, Percy cleared his throat. He turned Cho around and faced the little group. “Treasured friends, we share our joy with you and welcome you into our home.” Smiling smugly he squeezed Cho’s hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss to her delicate hand.

“Special wards have been added to our home in preparation for the new arrival. One cannot be too careful when it comes to the safety of our children and our little one deserves the best chance at a new life.”

Percy turned and placed their twined fingertips against the magical barrier…

Their guests watched in horrified awe as a blindingly white light lit the quiet street and the Weasleys were engulfed in flames. Terrified, the well wishers could only watch as the house went up a split second later, the resulting explosion’s concussive wave threw them to the street and rained burning debris down upon them. Several would later tell Aurors that the Weasleys never had a chance.

November 25th

Severus sat on the sofa, a left over turkey sandwich in one hand the television remote in the other. He flipped through the channels, munching on the sandwich as he listened to Harry chattering on the phone to Davy about something or other. He’d been really worried about the two men getting on but it seemed nothing compared to the mother-in-law spat Harry now had going with Grant.

A knock at the door had him turning and staring at the door. Harry came out of the bedroom, phone in hand looking at Severus with curiosity. The two growing puppies at his heels barking and snarling their own warning at the intruder.

“I didn’t hear anyone drive up, did you, Severus?” Harry asked as he eyed the door. He knew that they were able to hear approaching vehicles as they neared the house and there had been nothing but silence. Worriedly, he said a hurried good bye to Davy and waited to see what his husband wanted him to do.

“I heard nothing,” Severus said softly, frowning at the door as a knock was heard again. Getting to his feet quickly, drawing his wand from the inner pocket of his sleeve, he motioned to Harry. “Go upstairs and wait for me. Do not come down otherwise. Do you understand?”

Nodding, Harry passed Severus, the dogs following closely as he made his way as quickly as he could up to the second floor. If something had made his ultra cautious husband nervous, he’d abide with his bidding.

Going to the door and peering through the thin curtain, Severus spied a man in plain brown robes carrying a clipboard and broom under one arm.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Severus demanded through the closed door.

“Wizarding Parcel Service, WPS, sir. I have a certified letter for a Severus Snape. Is this the correct address?” the man called out. He was at the end of a very long shift and just wanted to go home to his wife and a leftover turkey sandwich.

Severus frowned then shook his head. Would they never get the address of the shop correct? He’d be filing a complaint Monday morning with someone.

He opened the door and made a show of putting his wand away. “I’m Snape. Give it here.”

Eyeing the odd looking stranger, the delivery man thrust the clipboard at him instead. “I need your signature please.”

Rolling his eyes, Severus scrawled his name under the rest of the illegible signatures then looked balefully at the man. “Now, may I have my post?” He asked impatiently. If the ingredients went off because of this little trog then he’d have to go with WizEx for the rest of his transactions.

Looking at the man’s signature, smiling as the page glowed green in acceptance, the messenger reached into his all but empty satchel and pulled out a thin envelope, passing it over to the customer before turning to go. “Have a good one,” he called as he mounted his broom and soared over the trees.

Severus scowled at the man and shook his head, slamming the door as he studied the post. He walked up the stairs and opened the door to one of the guest rooms. “You may come down now, Harry.” He waved the missive at Harry. “Bloody WPS, bollixing up the shop invoices.”

Harry rolled his eyes and paused in passing to kiss Severus’ cheek as he headed back downstairs to call Davy back.

Sitting down on the bed, Severus sighed and slit the envelope open with his fingers and pulled out a piece of parchment. Seeing nothing written on the parchment, he unfolded the yellowed paper. Newsprint flashed before his eyes and he caught the paper as it fluttered to his lap.

Bringing it up to read, he frowned as he recognized some adverts from the Daily Prophet, he flipped the page over and gasped as he read the headlines and accompanying article.

Ministry Official and Wife Dead

… Ministry official Percival Weasley and his wife, Cho arrived at their home in King’s Lynn in the company of several friends. According to eye witnesses to the events, the Weasley’s attempted to pass through the wards on their home and were promptly incinerated when the wards reacted negatively to their presence.

The house was destroyed and several witnesses injured in the resulting blast…

Investigative Auror Neville Longbottom has issued a statement.

“After exhausting all the efforts of the Ministry, we have asked renowned cursebreaker, William Weasley, to help disassemble the wards trying to find the problem in the magics cast. Mister Weasley is also brother to the late Percival Weasley and has vowed to get to the source of this tragic accident. So far all is seemingly normal and no foul play is suspected.”

The Ministry would like to reassure the public that this is surely an isolated case and for the population to feel safe in the continuing use of household warding charms…

Memorial arrangements are as of yet undecided, Mr. Weasley’s mother was unavailable for comment when firecalled at her home in Ottery St. Catchpole…

Severus read the article through twice and shook his head. Lucius had kept his word it seemed, he needed to firecall his old friend when Harry was not within hearing of the conversation.

Folding the news article and slipping it into his pocket, Severus paused as he heard the whoosh of flames come from their hearth and then the strident voice of Granger rang out.

“Harry… there’s been an accident!”