Sub Rosa

Chapter 24 – Family Reunion

Kathryn sat happily chatting with her family, Hermione and Minuet had struck up the oddest friendship and Kathryn’s niece Lillith had become the third in their triumvirate. Lilith was Hermione’s age and had the Laveau café au lait coloring and the same rich brown hair and eyes as Kathryn. Lillith was dressed in her Virginia Academy uniform of white blouse, black skirt and Grey sweater. The three of them, with Hermione and Minuet in their Hogwarts uniforms, minus the very wizard-like robes, were talking non-stop. Lillith was as much a bibliophile as the other two and the three girls were glowing with joy in their sharp intellects and like minds.

Harry and Gabe were talking nonstop across the table, heads together and the genetic resemblance was uncanny. Harry seemed ecstatic to be surrounded by so many people who treated him like family.

Georgiana, Kathryn’s mother, had cocked her head to one side and recited from La Livre when Harry had asked the relationship between them, clarifying the status of cousin to him and he had almost wept with joy when Gabe asked if he could call him Cousin Harry.

The other kids were fielding questions from Kathryn’s family about life in England and school there. In turn, the Leblancs, the Leveaus and the Whites were being peppered with questions about America and their own lives. It was loud and full of laughter, like all of their family gatherings.

Beside her, Severus was deep in conversation with Grand-mére and Kathryn left him to it, she had no doubts he could hold his own.

“Of course, I will have my Ball next year when I turn seventeen.” Lillith answered Minuet’s question and Hermione frowned in puzzlement.

“Ball?”

“Muggle-born.” Minuet jabbed a thumb at Hermione, it was explanation not insult though, so Hermione just shrugged.

“My Introduction Ball.” Lillith explained to Hermione’s still blank face. “It’s a ball so that I can meet all the eligible pureblood wizards and see whom I want to marry.” Hermione’s face was a picture.

“But you’ll only be seventeen!” Hermione looked offended.

“I won’t get married then, silly, just start getting bids.” Lilith rolled her eyes.

“Bids? It sounds like an auction.” The brown haired girl was starting to fidget, upset by the conversation.

“Miss Granger, no member of my family has ever been forced to marry against their will. The bidding process is to determine the seriousness of the suitors.” Kathryn smiled at the other girl, knowing how very Victorian it all sounded to her.

“Besides, I am going to University, like Kathryn, I’m not getting married till afterwards.” Lillith added. Hermione frowned.

“Then why have a ball now?”

“So that the arrangements can be made in advance. The pureblood world likes things neat and tidy, Miss Granger, everything arranged and ready to go.” She grinned at the girl and got an answering smile in return.

“Why aren’t you married then?” Hermione asked and then snapped her mouth shut in horror. Lillith turned to Kathryn with a puzzled frown.

“Actually, yeah, why aren’t you married, Aunt Kat?” Kathryn smiled in memory and watched as Hermione relaxed.

“Because I saw to it that I got no bids at my Ball.” She replied, the images in her mind making her chuckle. Lillith was staring at her in shock, but Minuet leaned in with great interest.

“How did you do that?” There was more to her interest than mere curiosity and Kathryn knew that Minuet came from a family that would not hesitate to force her into an advantageous marriage.

“I saw to it that I talked about politics, Arithmantical theory and other highly inappropriate subjects with great vigor all evening to each and every possible suitor.” She gave Minuet a Cheshire cat grin. “No man likes a seventeen year old girl to lecture him as though he was stupid, especially the more egotistical little snots that get dragged to the balls.” Minuet smiled in return, calculations dancing in her eyes.

“That was very clever of you, Professor.” Hermione murmured appreciatively.

“I don’t understand, Aunt Kat, why wouldn’t you want to get married?” Lillith was genuinely confused.

“Because at the time I was presented You-know-who was just beginning to gain power and no one knew just who was joining him. The crop of S.P.M.’s that year was also particularly frightening.”

“Crop of what?” Hermione looked back and forth between them all.

“Single Pureblooded Males.” Lillith replied and the brown eyes brightened in amused understanding.

“That particular year it was all young men with no brains or old men with no teeth.” Kathryn shuddered in memory and the other girls looked disgusted.

“I thought Professor Snape was the same age as you.” Once more Hermione’s mouth operated without reference to her brain and she flushed.

“The Snapes are not good ton, Hermione.” Lillith rolled her eyes. “I mean, they are okay and all, but a Leblanc can do much better.” Kathryn frowned at her niece.

“There are more important considerations than good ton, Lillith Anne.” Lillith blushed and glanced at Severus, apparently only just realizing he was seated right next to Kathryn. “Mother was always a little too concerned about status and not enough about people.” She explained to Hermione, the four of them turned to where Georgiana Leblanc was holding court.

Her aristocratic face was topped with ice blond curls and her sky blue eyes were cool, she was the perfect picture of the gracious lady, but she was not warm like her husband.

Michael Leblanc, Sr. sat beside his wife, his skin far darker than his wife’s and his hair and eyes the same chocolate shade as Kathryn’s were. He shared with Kathryn the same heart shaped face and the nose that was too sharp on Kathryn looked merely strong on him. He turned his head and winked at the girls.

“You father seems really nice, Professor.” Hermione smiled back at him.

“Grandpa is a total sweetie, but Grandma Georgiana has the Laveau temper, you know.” Lillith smiled back at her grandfather. “Aunt Kat has the temper too.” She said in a stage whisper to the two Hogwarts students, who giggled at Kathryn’s lowered brows.

“Yes, I do and you are pushing it, young lady.”

“Are you coming for Yule, Aunt Kat?” Lillith changed the subject quickly. The girl knew the exact distance she could push.

“I am hoping so.” Kathryn looked up as her father moved to stand behind her.

“Harry seems rather pleased to be here.” He commented.

“Well, finding out he has some family other than the Dursleys makes him really happy.” Hermione sighed.

“The Dursleys?” Michael settled into the chair beside Hermione with an eyebrow raised.

“His mother’s sister and her family. They’re muggles and they’re awful to Harry. They think him being a wizard makes him some sort of freak.” The others fell silent, staring at her in horror. “They’re the kind of people who burned witches.”

Michael turned to where Harry and Gabriel were chatting.

“Harry.” He called. Harry turned around to look at them, a smile still warming his lips.

“Yes sir?”

“We were hoping you could join us for Yule.” Harry’s face already bright now became almost incandescent in his joy. “All the family gathers for the holiday.” He added with a gentleness that touched Kathryn’s heart.

“I would love to, sir. I will ask Professor Dumbledore if I can come.” Harry replied, filled with excitement and nearly faint from joy.

Kathryn watched as Hermione smiled at her best friend, but noticed that Minuet looked a little sad. More issues to contemplate.

“Miss Ravagienne, are you okay?” Kathryn enquired softly. Harry turned and looked at Minuet where she sat looking a little lost.

“Yes, I just don’t want to talk about Christmas.” Harry winced, having just realized that Minuet’s father being in Azkaban would make for a bleak Christmas indeed. The huge dark eyes in the oval face were glaring at Harry, daring him to comment.

Michael pinched Minuet’s stubborn chin, turning her to look at him.

“You are going to break hearts in a few years girl. You are going to have dozens of bids.” She smiled at him sadly.

“No, I’m not. The only people who will bid for me will be Death Eaters and I won’t marry one.” Tears threatened to spill out of her eyes and she rubbed at them hastily.

“That’s not true.” Harry shook his head. “I know of at least three boys at school with crushes on you and none of them are Death Eaters.” Minuet looked at him with suspicion, but he met her eyes without flinching, willing her to believe him. She smiled then, a genuine look of pleasure on her face.

“You know, for a Gryffindor, you’re not too horrible.” She tossed her hair and ignored the laughter that ran through the rest of the group.

“Well, for a Slytherin, I suppose you’re all right too.” Harry responded mimicking her tone but with a sweet smile on his face.

All too soon it was time to go, the kids were yawning, the adults had places to return to and Kathryn was quietly filing the memories of this day away in her mind, something to pull out and smile at when times were hard.

She turned and saw Severus talking with Grand-mére Marie. They had their heads close together and they seemed very much at ease. She smiled, happy that they liked each other. Grand-mére’s approval would be important to a man like Severus. For all his modern ideals, there was still a pureblood scion of an ancient family lurking in the back of his head.

Grand-mére turned to hug her goodbye and dropped the shrunken books she had requested into her pocket.

“Ma petite, this man you have, you should keep him.” Grand-mére whispered as they embraced.

“Grand-mére, je t\'aime, but don’t meddle.” Kathryn scolded gently. She was pleased Grand-mére liked Severus, but there was a long way between a lover and a permanent commitment. Not to mention the complications of her job, his job, both of their spying activities and the ever-present threat of Voldemort. All in all there were some daunting hurdles, and she wasn’t even sure yet how she felt about him, beyond friendship.

“When have I ever meddled?” Marie replied with a bright smile and Kathryn groaned.

“Time to go!” She called and gathered her charges up.

Ten minutes later they were back at Hogwarts trudging up the driveway to the castle. It was very late at night here and the kids were yawning as they got inside and split up to head off to their respective dorms, waving goodbye and smiling.

“You know, when you first suggested this interhouse project, I thought you were completely mad.” Severus was using his snarky tone and Kathryn wanted to cuddle against him, but refrained. “Now I find the idea might have some merit.”

“Was that an admission that you might have been wrong about something, Severus? I will note this day down for posterity.” She chuckled at his haughty sniff and leaning against his arm she let him escort her back to her rooms.

Once they were inside she kissed him.

“What was that for?” He raised an eyebrow after she released him.

“Does there have to be a reason?” She chuckled and then quieted at the look on his face. He was watching her with a tenderness she had never seen before. It was frightening and exhilarating all at once.

“No, there doesn’t have to be a reason.” He wrapped his arms about her and then withdrew his hand with Grand-mére’s package dangling from his fingers, having neatly picked her pocket.

“Severus!” she was shocked and amused by his action.

“My dear girl, I am a lying, deceitful Slytherin and a Death Eater, what did you expect?” The eyebrow was back up and amusement glinted in his dark eyes.

“Ex-Death Eater.” She corrected and then lunged for the package playfully. He grinned and held it out of her reach.

“Note that you did not dispute the rest of it.” He whirled away from her and set the package on an end table. Tapping it with his wand, he enlarged the package and began opening it, while Kathryn laughed and flopped on the couch. He pulled out the books and fingered them lovingly, running a thumb along the bindings.

“Happy?” She snorted.

“I had to be sure that they weren’t tokens from your other lovers.” He waved an airy hand. Kathryn stood up and moved into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder, no longer even the slightest bit amused.

“There are no other lovers, Severus.” She wrapped herself around him and he held her tightly.

“I have no right to feel jealous.” He sighed into her hair.

“Why? You start sleeping with anyone else and I’ll rip her apart with my bare hands and then I’ll come after you.” She rumbled fiercely into his chest.

“We can’t do this Kathryn.” She shook her head against him. “It’s not safe and there are things that we have to do for our jobs.” She wanted to cry just thinking about it, for she had been wrong earlier, she did know how she felt about him. Despite her denial and determination not to, she had fallen in love. The knowledge shook her and perversely also steadied her. Having analyzed the problem, she simply nodded.

“You’re right, aual.ual.” She relaxed against him, soaking up his warmth. “Take me to bed Severus.” She asked finally and he did.