An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 42 ~ Going Home for the Holidays

The next day, Eileen tried to secure a quiet compartment on the Hogwarts Express, but apparently, her days of traveling in quiet solitude with just Alsop was over. Hugo, Lily, Rose, James and even Albus descended on her in a horde. Poor Alsop barely managed to squeeze in and had to yank Hugo out of the way to sit next to her.

”I have seniority,” he said to his cousin as Eileen looked rather dazed by all the commotion, noise and company as her family chattered away about the ball and upcoming Christmas at the Burrow.

”You just have to come to the Burrow, Eileen,” Lily said enthusiastically above the rest of her family. “You wouldn’t believe all the food! It’s like the Hogwarts buffet, but only better.”

Eileen just blinked at her.

Alsop sat beside Eileen quietly. He didn’t have much to say, but he was thinking about the kiss she’d given him the night before. Was it just a “date” kiss, or was it time to ask her out again?

They rode along to Hogwarts, Eileen listening to everyone talk about the Burrow, and what their plans were for Christmas.

”Eileen, are you going to come to the house and see mum?” Hugo asked her directly.

Now, everyone fell silent and looked at the witch.

”I—I was thinking about it,” she said softly.

”You should do it,” Hugo said. “Don’t think about it. Thinking about things wastes time.”

Eileen looked at him. She was a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor. She always, well, usually thought about things before she acted.

”Well, I like to think about things, Hugo,” Eileen said.

“She doesn’t want to meet Aunt Hermione,” Albus said sullenly. “She’s chicken.”

Everyone looked at him, scowling.

”Of course she wants to meet mum, Albus!” Rose snapped at him. “But it can’t be easy, can it? How would you feel if you suddenly had a mother?”

”I’d want to hex my dad, that’s how I’d feel. Remember, he hid it from her all this time, and what does she do? Dances with him at the ball as if it’s okay. He’s a git.”

Rose scowled at him.

”Albus, you’re named after Eileen’s father,” she reminded him.

”I know. I’m thinking about changing it,” he replied, staring out of the window, his face set.

Eileen stared at Albus. That prat was named after her father? Good Grindelows. Gods, her wand hand itched. A month ago, she would have blasted him so hard, he would have flown out of the window and been left alongside the tracks to find his own way to King's Cross. She couldn’t do that now.

Too many witnesses.

”You know, it’s really crowded in here,” Eileen said, rising and leaving the compartment. Everyone immediately started yelling at Albus. Alsop left the compartment too, and looked up and down the long corridor. Eileen wouldn’t head for the front of the train—too many people. He began to walk toward the back, gingerly stepping through the doors until he saw her. She was in the caboose, standing outside, staring at the mountains they were leaving behind. He joined her.

”I’m going to beat Albus up as soon as I put away my things,” he told Eileen softly as she stared straight ahead. She was wearing her Weasley gear, her pom-pom waggling in the breeze.

”He’s probably only saying what the rest of you are thinking,” Eileen said quietly.

”I just think your dad wanted you, Eileen,” Alsop said. “He wanted you more than anything in the world. He just went about getting you the best way he could. And, it was brilliant.”

Eileen didn’t say anything. She just kept staring at the receding mountains.

”And I’m glad he did it,” Alsop said, conviction in his voice. “If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have ever known you, Eileen..”

Eileen looked at him.

”You would have never missed me, Alsop,” she replied. Her cheeks were red and Alsop felt like stealing a kiss from her. But after last night, he decided not to do it, thinking it might interfere if she felt like kissing him again.

”But, that’s the point, Eileen. You were never missed. Aunt Hermione, Hugo, Rose—none of them suffered. They were perfectly happy. You were a surprise, but not knowing you existed didn’t hurt anyone at all. And you were happy, too. Why should you hate your father when he bent over backwards to have you, and to care for you? When he loves you so much? Albus is the git to even suggest you turn your back on him. And now, everyone gets to know you and you get to know them, so it all worked out in the end. Don’t pay any attention to Albus. He’s just mad because he didn’t get to shag the witch he was with last night, and James did,” Alsop confided in her.

Eileen blinked at him.

”Really?” she asked, fascinated that some of her family was sexually active.

“Yep. It seems he moved just a little too fast and got slapped. Then his date stormed off.”

”But—but Albus is younger than you—“ Eileen began.

Alsop shrugged.

”I’m willing to wait,” he said quietly. “My brothers are Gryffindors, remember? They rush in. I’m not in any hurry to shag anyone. When the right witch comes along, I’ll know, and it will be about more than just shagging.”

Eileen reddened slightly.

“So—you’re the only virgin out of your brothers?” she asked him.

Alsop sighed.

”Yes, and they don’t let me forget it, either. But I don’t care. Both of them are probably going to come up with a wicked wizarding STD in the long run, and have to get injections in their—you know. I just hope I’m around to see it.”

Eileen chuckled a bit.

”You kind of have a mean streak yourself, Alsop,” she said softly.

”Maybe you’re just rubbing off on me,” he replied.

They stood there, looking at each other, then started to lean in, their lips puckering—

“Hey, what are you two doing out here? It’s freezing. Come back in, Eileen. We kicked Albus out and Lily hit him with a bat bogey when he tried to force his way back in.”

It was Hugo.

They both jerked back a bit guiltily as he looked from one to the other.

”It is cold, Eileen. Maybe we’d better go back,” Alsop suggested.

Eileen nodded and entered the caboose, heading back for the compartment, Hugo leading the way. Alsop brought up the rear, thinking his cousin couldn’t have had worse timing if he had planned it.

********************************

Hermione and Ginny were greeted by their boisterous children at the King's Cross station, Hugo and Lily bounding around them, trying to tell them all about the ball, and the dance-off between Rose and Eileen, and Alsop’s top hat and—

Hermione stared up as Eileen exited the train, one small suitcase in her hand. Hermione looked around for Severus, but didn’t see him as the rest of the parents collected their children. Eileen looked at her.

”Hello, Eileen,” Hermione said softly.

”Hello,” the young witch responded. She still didn’t come up with something to call Hermione.

”Mum! Mum! Eileen danced with us last night!” Hugo announced. “And she was dressed in all black!”

Ginny walked up and stood next to Hermione, studying Eileen a moment before she stuck out her hand, Lily beside her, smiling at her cousin.

”I’m Ginny Weasley. Your aunt,” she told Eileen, who slowly took her hand and shook
it.

”My mum,” Lily added.

Eileen looked at Ginny. So, this was her mother. She was pretty, slender with long red hair and freckles. She wore a Muggle coat and jeans with boots. Hermione was dressed similarly. Of course, they both wore Weasley gear. It was like being in some kind of cult.

”Hi, I’m Eileen,” she replied shortly.

”You’re very pretty,” Ginny said.

Eileen looked down and shifted her feet, reddening a little at the compliment. She had been called beautiful so much in the last day it was downright embarrassing. Did everyone need prescription spectacles?

“And I hear very smart,” Ginny added.

”She certainly is smart,” Hermione growled, making Eileen look up at her. “And I dare anyone to say otherwise! Imagine. The nerve.”

There it was. That temper again.

”Where’s your father, Eileen? Isn’t he going to pick you up?” Hermione asked her.

”No. I take the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron, go to Diagon Alley from there, then to Knockturn Alley,” she replied as Hermione frowned.

”I asked him to stop picking me up when I was in my third year,” Eileen added, sensing Hermione was about to say something she wouldn’t like. “I’m perfectly capable of getting to the shop myself while he’s working. It doesn’t make sense to close it and lose business coming to get me. I’m not a baby. But he always sees me off.”

Hermione’s ire quickly died down. She was about to jump to conclusions again, thinking Severus was being neglectful of their daughter. Obviously, he raised her with a lot more independence than she had with Rose and Hugo. Rose was old enough to take the Knight Bus home with Hugo, but—Hermione wasn’t ready to even loosen the apron strings a little.

”Oh, I see,” Hermione said. “Well, we’re going to Apparate home. I could take you by your father’s shop, if you’d like.”

Eileen kept a straight face. She was supposed to take the Knight Bus, but she always illegally Apparated to Knockturn Alley. It was the least policed area in the wizarding world.

”No, no. That’s all right. I’ll just catch the bus,” Eileen said.

”Well, I’ll wait with you then,” Hermione offered. “Ginny, can you take the children for me?”

”Sure, Hermione. Come along, you lot,” her sister-in-law said. “Nice meeting you, Eileen. Hope to see you over the holidays.”

”Oh, you will, mum. Eileen and I have a tea tasting in two days, don’t we, Eileen?” Lily said happily.

Albus scowled and James just looked rather surprised. Alsop was delighted of course. He was allowed at Lily’s tea parties. James and Albus were banned for life.

Eileen was still stunned by Hermione’s “offer” to wait for the Knight Bus with her. She blinked at Lily, then gave her a hollow “Yes.”

Hermione looked very surprised. Eileen was going to a tea party with Lily? Somehow, that didn’t fit with her initial appraisal of her daughter.

”Remember to dress nice,” Lily said as Ginny led her away. James, Hugo and Alsop also said good-bye, Alsop lingering a little before following his mum. Well, he’d see her in two days, and at his house.

How great was that?

”A tea party?” Hermione asked as they walked through the stone gate that placed them in King’s Cross proper.

”Yes. Lily likes tea parties. She said it’s to welcome me to the family,” Eileen replied a bit sullenly. Now it would take a lot longer to get to the shop.

”That’s nice,” Hermione said, wondering how to approach Eileen about visiting her. She didn’t want to drop in on Lily’s tea party. That was time she was spending with her
cousin.

”Ah, you know, Eileen, I’d like to see you over the holidays, too,” Hermione ventured. “Nothing too stuffy. Maybe have lunch or something.”

”I’ll contact you,” Eileen said shortly. She was mad.

Hermione could sense her anger, but didn’t understand why she would be mad. Maybe she was just snarky like her father. They walked through the station in silence, then exited. They walked down the block for a little distance and turned down a little used side street. Eileen sat her suitcase on the ground, then pulled out her wand and sullenly stuck it out toward the street. About twenty seconds later, the Knight Bus whooshed up.

The door flew open and a pimply faced young wizard in a cap stepped out.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Dorry Luftsack and I will be your conductor on--"

Suddenly he stopped his spiel.

"Hey, you're not stranded," he said to Eileen, his eyes narrowing.

"No, I'm not stranded. I need a ride to the Leaky Cauldron," she said with irritation. This was the Knight bus. It gave rides to everybody. What was this bloke on about?

"Wot? You can't Apparate?" Dorry asked her.

She could but she wasn't supposed to do it at sixteen. If not for her over-doting mum, she'd be at the shop by now. This knowledge made her more than a bit snarky.

"What is this? Twenty questions? Move and let me on the bus, you prat!" Eileen snarled at him as Hermione blinked.

Dorry colored and stepped aside as Eileen picked up her bag and entered the bus. She turned to Hermione.

"Bye," she said shortly, paying her fare and making her way back into the bus' interior.

"Bye," Hermione said, waving a little as Eileen took a seat and looked out the window at her soberly. Then the bus zoomed away madly, screeching as it turned the corner.

Hermione stood there a moment. Eileen was nothing like Rose or Hugo. She was very independent as well as outspoken. Obviously, she had no problems dressing someone down if they needed it. That conductor had been a bit nosy and disagreeable.

As she prepared to Apparate, Hermione wondered if Severus had received her letter. In it she had apologized and asked to meet with him to sit down and discuss how they would deal with Eileen so this mix-up would never happen again. She hoped he would be reasonable about it. She’d hate to have to go to the Ministry and utilize mediation to come to some kind of agreement. They were both adults. They should be able to work this out on their own.

Hoping there would be some response from the dark wizard, Hermione Apparated home.

***********************************

Snape was taking inventory when Eileen stormed into the shop.

”I hate the Knight Bus,” she hissed, her hair standing up all over her head.

Snape put his clipboard down and cocked his head at his disheveled daughter.

”The Knight Bus?” he questioned her, smirking a little at her state.

”I don’t see how no one gets killed. The driver can barely see and he wears spectacles that are almost an inch thick. I don’t think he’s ever heard of a brake in his life,” Eileen said, setting her bag down, walking up to her father and giving him a little hug.

Snape blinked down at her.

”And how did you end up on the Knight Bus? You usually Apparate to Knockturn Alley,” he said curiously.

Eileen plopped down into the recliner, her forehead full of irritation lines.

”My mother,” she said with a sigh. “She saw you weren’t at the station to pick me up and offered to bring me home. I like to Apparate by myself, so I told her it would be okay and I would take the Knight Bus like I usually do. I didn’t know she’d wait for it with me,” Eileen muttered.

Snape smirked.

”She just wanted to see you off safely, Eileen,” he said, knowing she’d hate it. She hated being treated like a little girl since her third year when she made him stop picking her up.

”I was safe. Who does she think I am? Rose?” Eileen snapped sullenly.

”She doesn’t know who you are yet, Eileen,” her father said. “You have to give her a chance to know you.”

Eileen blinked up at him.

”All right. Where’s my father?” she asked him.

Snape snorted. He knew she was referring to him being so reasonable.

”I assure you I am not Polyjuiced. It’s just that I’ve decided I need to work with your mother to make sure no misunderstandings like the other night happen again,” he told her softly.

Eileen colored slightly. That entire situation had happened because she had tried to be sneaky and got caught.

”She wants to see me over the holidays,” she said. Snape nodded.

”And you will see her. I’ve arranged a date for all of us to sit down and get the rules straight,” he replied.

”All of us? You, me and my mother?”

”Yes. That seems the proper way to go about it. That way things can be properly clarified,” he said firmly. “No one will have any excuse to make a mistake. After we’ve settled the matter, I’ll depart and give you some time to get to know your mother.”

”When?” she asked him.

”Boxing day. Right after Christmas,” Snape replied. “That way you can do a bit of celebrating with her, unless of course, you planned to spend Christmas there.”

Eileen caught the bit of sadness in his voice.

”Of course not, dad. I’m spending Christmas with you at home like I always do. Would you like goose this year? We had a roast last Christmas. I think we need to change the menu.”

”A goose would be fine, Eileen,” he said, picking up his clipboard, and frowning slightly.

”I wonder if you would mind if we had a guest for Christmas,” he said slowly.

A guest? They had never had a guest for Christmas before.

”Who, dad?” Eileen asked him.

”Odessa Divine. The prostitute,” he replied.

”Sure, she can come,” Eileen said, a little surprised. She had known Odessa for years, and she was nice despite her line of work. But she was surprised because although her father was civil to the witch, he didn’t seem to interact with her much. Had something changed?

”Good. I want to give her a Christmas present,” Snape said, staring down at the clipboard.

A present? What kind of present did you give a prostitute? Clean sheets?

”What kind of present, dad?” Eileen asked, interested.

Snape looked up at Eileen, his eyes sober.

”A job. I want to give her a job, Eileen.”

*************************************
A/N: Thanks for reading.