An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 46 ~ Coming Together

Snape, Odessa and Eileen enjoyed a fine meal, discussing the duties Odessa would have.

”If anyone comes back with ingredients, be sure to give them the triplicate refund form. They have to have the receipt, the ingredient, the ruined brew or potion, and the formula they were following. All of the ingredient must be accounted for and the leftover weight has to match the amount of ingredient added to the potion perfectly. If it is under or over, no refund is issued. And the potion is checked as well to see if the ratios are correct. The refund form has to be notarized as well,” Eileen instructed the witch.

Odessa frowned slightly.

”That’s quite a lot to do in order to get a simple refund,” she observed.

”I know,” Eileen said with a wicked smile. “I came up with the policy myself. Customers were trying to rip dad off all the time, buying more ingredients than needed, using just enough to make a viable potion, then returning the rest to get the money back. They are told they will have the results in 4 weeks. Usually, they feel the paperwork and wait is so much trouble, they just leave.”

Odessa just shook her head as Snape eyed his daughter proudly. Her approach had been brilliant. And most potions problems had to do with the actual brewing, not the ingredients themselves. Snape could tell immediately what had gone wrong with a potion. Usually it was improper heating, adjusting the temperature too early or too late.

After the meal, Odessa readied herself to leave after helping Eileen wash dishes and put away the food. Snape took a few pulls on his pipe in the living room, digesting his food. The witch exited the kitchen, Eileen hanging back to give them a grown-up moment.

”Thank you again, Severus,” Odessa told him softly as he put out his pipe and rose. “If Eileen wasn’t here—“

“Odessa, the first thing I want you to do is change your mindset. Sex is no longer a commodity for you. You do not have to share your body with anyone in exchange for anything any longer. You are my employee, and your skills are thanks enough,” the dark wizard told her gently. “You’re a free woman now. If you indulge in sex, it will be because you want to do it, not because you have to do it. Let that sink into your psyche. You’re no longer a prostitute.”

Odessa blinked up at him.

”I’m no longer a prostitute,” she said softly, then smiled at him.

”And here’s twenty Galleons,” he said reaching into his pocket and drawing out two ten-Galleon coins. "This is an advance. I will take it out of your pay for the next few months. It’s so you can buy food and personal items until your first payday.”

Odessa looked down at the coins, then deposited them in her cloak pocket. If Severus hadn’t given them to her, she would have had to trick to eat. He thought of everything. Odessa blinked back the water trying to rise in her eyes.

”I never thought I’d ever get out of this business. I always believed I’d end up at the bad end of Knockturn Alley, old, alone and selling myself for just sickles,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself for a moment at the thought of it.

”No, that won’t be your destiny, Odessa, not if you make an effort to change it,” Snape replied, knowing that which he spoke of. He had taken his own destiny in hand when it appeared he would be alone and unloved as well.

She gave him a smile as she tied on her cloak and pulled on her gloves. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed the wizard’s cheek.

”You’re one of the good ones, Severus Snape. I don’t care what anyone says about you. Good night.”

”Just be at work promptly at 8:30 the day after tomorrow,” Snape suddenly snapped. “Or your pay will be docked one Galleon.”

Odessa simply smiled at him, completely uncowed.

”I’ll be there, boss,” she said, then exited, closing the door behind her.

Boss. Snape kind of liked the sound of that.

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

Odessa Apparated directly to Knockturn Alley. Drunken Christmas revelers were all about, picking up hookers indiscriminately. A former customer stumbled up to Odessa with his drunken friend.

”Hey there. My mate needs a messy blowjob,” he said crudely. “His wand spit-shined. Knob-bobbed. The works.”

”You’re going to have to find someone else,” Odessa told him flatly. “I’m no longer in that line of work.”

Several prostitutes heard her, and frowned.

”What gives, Odessa? You’re turning down a trick? You’ll take it if you know what’s good for you. You don’t get that many offers,” one young blonde whore said disdainfully. “You’re lucky I don’t snatch them out from under you. Must be because it’s Christmas.”

”I’ve got a job, now. Snatch away, ho ho ho,” Odessa replied carelessly, walking away from the women with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

”She’ll be back. She doesn’t know anything else,” another young woman said, then beckoned Odessa’s trick and his friend over to negotiate the fee for a messy blowjob. Drunken clients were easy to take advantage of. The unsavory wizards lurking in the shadows agreed as one of the men pulled out a handful of Galleons and dropped a few in the prostitute’s outstretched hand.

Odessa felt lighter than air as she walked down the narrow alley to her flat. She let herself in, removed her cloak and sat down, smiling. Then, she looked thoughtful and stood up and walked over to her kitchenette. She rummaged through her kitchen cabinet for something suitable to write on. She found an old cutting board. She used the tip of her wand to write a few words, then opened her front door and affixed it to the ironwork with magic. She stepped back to look at the sign, hardly feeling the cold.

It read: Out of Business.

She cocked her head at it for a moment, then stepped forward, adding a word in capital letters.

The sign now read: Out of Business. FOREVER.

Other whores might return to the streets, but Odessa didn’t plan to be one of them. She knew a good thing when she came across it, and this—this was practically a miracle.

She wasn’t going to ruin it.

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

Early Boxing Day morning, Eileen and Snape made their rounds of the orphanages and shelters, providing potions for everyday ailments and a few special ones for emergencies. They simply left the items outside the door in a ribbon-draped box, warded so they could only be taken inside the establishments. To this day no one knew who delivered them the valuable supplies year after year.

Ron, Hermione and the children also got an early start, dropping off decorated boxes filled with old but still useable items of toys, shoes and clothing, as well as canned goods, books, craft supplies and more at the local shelter.

Molly had Arthur drop off a huge amount of treats and meat pies at St. Mungos for the patients who were there without friends or family to visit them. Of course, she included enough for the staff.

George personally and clandestinely delivered a number of low-level jokes to the children’s wing of the hospital, much to the chagrin of the medi-witches who were the usual targets of the pranks. George loved doing that. He was sure Fred would approve had he been there.

”We’ve done it again, Fred,” George would say softly as he watched a medi-witch shriek in terror when a little boy opened his mouth and a snake appeared to slither out of it.

It was a Sugar Snake of course. A candy that was held in the mouth and expanded when the air hit it. It looked very real and would stiffen once it reached full size so it could be licked like a peppermint stick. Needless to say, the medi-witch didn’t appreciate it at all as the little boy curled up with laughter, feeling better than he had in days.

The Potters also left gently used goods at the local shelter.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was time for the Snapes to meet the Weasleys at the Three Broomsticks. Ron had convinced Hermione to send Snape an owl saying that he and the children would be in attendance.

”No need in making a scene, Hermione. Don’t blindside him,” Ron told her.

Snape wrote her back, telling her she would have to foot the bill for Ron and her children’s meals and that he’d reserved a private room for lunch rather than a booth to accommodate all the “extra baggage.”

Oooh, what a git.

But, they were still going to meet and that’s what was important. She put all the copies of the Family Agreement into a manila envelope, along with a number of pens. She felt a bit apprehensive, but determined. The ground rules would be clearly laid out.

“All right, we’re off,” Ron announced. Everyone gathered together and Disapparated.

They reappeared in Hogsmeade with a resounding crack of thunder, then headed for the Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta greeted them at the door. She was still very attractive, her hair going gray. She took their coats and directed them to a private room at the back of the inn.

Snape and Eileen sat on one side of a large, round table, both looking quite solemn as the Weasleys walked in.

”Hi Eileen!” Hugo said with a broad smile.

He was always so friendly, Eileen couldn’t help giving him a small smirk.

”Hi Hugo,” she replied.

Ron, Hermione, Rose and Hugo sat down, pulling their chairs close so they were on opposite sides of the table. Hermione looked at her daughter.

”Hello, Eileen,” she said softly.

”Hi,” Eileen responded.

”Severus.”

”Hermione”

”Snape.”

”Weasley.”

The terse greetings done, Hermione opened the manila envelope and passed the Family Contract form around the table. Rosmerta brought in some appetizers, setting them in the middle of the table.

”I will call you when we’re ready for lunch,” Snape said to the witch, who nodded and left the room. The wizard’s dark eyes drifted over the blank contract.

”What is this?” he asked Hermione as Eileen studied the empty contract.

”As you can see, it’s a Family Contract. It's basically a written set of rules, consequences and privileges. I thought if we all sat down and wrote out our expectations of each other, then we could reach a mutual understanding as a family. I thought it the best way to go about this—unless you have some other approach, Severus,” Hermione said.

Severus looked at Eileen.

”What do you think, Eileen?” he asked his daughter. If she didn’t want to go through this, he wouldn’t make her.

Hermione’s brown eyes shifted to Eileen. She hadn’t known Snape would ask Eileen how she felt. In Hermione’s family, she and Ron made the decisions and didn’t leave such things up to their children. Parents knew best in her household.

Eileen shrugged.

”It’s okay, I guess,” she responded.

Snape looked at Hermione.

”Very well,” he told her.

“Fine,” Hermione said in a business-like manner. “Now, everyone is welcome to participate in making these rules, including Eileen, Rose, Hugo and Ron. We can discuss them and decide whether or not to add them together.”

Everyone at the table remained awkwardly silent.

”All right, I’ll start off. When there is an issue with Eileen at Hogwarts, both parents will be notified. Eileen will be expected to make sure we are both contacted. It will be her responsibility.”

Eileen looked at her mother. It was a reasonable rule, but gods, it sucked.

Snape nodded.

”That seems fair enough. Can you accept this responsibility, Eileen?” he asked his daughter.

Eileen nodded, although she frowned a little.

”Ok, everyone add that on the first line with a number one next to it,” Hermione directed, getting into her role.

”In the case of punishments, I will be the primary disciplinarian,” Snape said. “I’ve raised Eileen in a certain manner and I would like to see my rules maintained and not be undercut. Any punishments you decide, Hermione, have to be run by me first until I am certain that you aren’t too soft on her.”

Hermione scowled at him.

”Soft? I am not soft when it comes to correction, Severus,” she declared.

”I’ll say,” Hugo piped in.

”Still, I want it understood I am the primary disciplinarian. And Mr. Weasley is not to discipline her at all. He will defer to your judgment. Eileen is not his child and I am not comfortable with him having a position of authority over her.”

”No, that won’t work. Ron is her step-father. He needs to have some kind of authority or she could just walk all over him.”

Eileen listened to them talk about her as if she wasn’t there. She met Rose’s eyes and saw sympathy in them.

The argument continued, Ron wisely staying out of it. It was finally agreed that Snape would be primary disciplinarian and Ron would have limited authority with Eileen.

Ron just thought he’d send Eileen home to her father if she acted up, and let him deal with her. Kicking her to the curb seemed the proper way to go.

“I don’t want to hear anyone putting my father down,” Eileen suddenly said, everyone looking at her. “If I do, then I’m going to leave and not come back. I mean that.”

Hermione stared at Eileen, who folded her arms. Obviously, this was a rule not open for debate. The consequences were quite clear.

”All right, Eileen,” Hermione said, and everyone added the rule.

”No hexing the step-parent,” Ron suddenly said.

Hermione looked at him in shock.

”Why would you want a rule like that added, Ron? Do you think Eileen would—would attack you?”

Both Snape and Eileen looked at Ron soberly. So, he hadn’t told Hermione about the little incident at the shop where Eileen nearly choked the life out of him. Eileen thought that was pretty cool of him, actually. He probably didn’t want Hermione to think she was totally evil. She was close, but not totally.

”Add it,” Eileen said, as Hermione looked at her in surprise.

Ron looked at his stepdaughter. She’d just issued a truce of sorts. Well, that was good.

”Why add something like that? You wouldn’t hex Ron,” Hermione said.

”You don’t know that, mum,” Rose said softly. “If it makes dad feel safer for that rule to be added, you should add it.”

”But—“ Hermione protested.

”Hermione, you said that the rules would be discussed. I also agree it should be added if it makes Mr. Weasley comfortable, and that makes it a majority vote, even if your son disagrees,” Snape said, his eyes narrowed.

He thought Mr. Weasley to be very wise to include that rule, considering Eileen had nearly killed him once. It was in his defense, but still . . . caution was prudent in this case.

”I don’t disagree,” Hugo said, adding his two Knuts.

”Fine. But I don’t see any sense in it,” Hermione conceded as the pens scribbled.

And this went on for almost two hours. Hermione tried to add a clause that the children wouldn’t hex each other, but was shot down. Magical children always had magical scrapes. Hugo and Rose hexed each other on occasion, as well as their cousins. She couldn’t stop nature.

There were the standard rules of notifying at least one parent where Eileen would be, with whom and when she’d be back. Snape didn’t think this necessary since Eileen did that anyway, but Hermione felt it should be a rule because Eileen might not do it with her otherwise.

Finally, the Family Contract was done and signed by everyone. Hermione felt it was two hours well spent. Snape stood up. He had a headache and couldn’t spend another minute in the Weasleys’ company.

”I know I said I would stay for lunch, but I’m afraid I have to depart early. I will put your meal and Eileen’s on my account,” the wizard said as he folded his contract and placed it in his inner robes pocket.

Eileen rose, too. Snape looked at her.

”No, Eileen. You stay here. It’s time to get to know your mother,” he said to her soberly.

Eileen wanted to protest. After all of this rule-making, she was ready to go. It had been an ordeal. But Hermione was looking at her so longingly that she slowly sat back down.

“Okay, dad,” she said.

Rose could see Eileen wanted to break and run, and she really couldn’t blame her. She was just glad she didn’t have to sit down and have rules written about her.

”Send me an owl when you are ready to depart,” he said, raising an eyebrow at Eileen in warning. She’d better not Apparate back to the shop.

”I’ll bring her home, Severus,” Hermione said to him.

Snape looked at her. He was so used to taking and retrieving Eileen places, he didn’t even consider her mother could handle it.

”Very well,” Snape said, then departed without a word.

Everyone looked at Eileen, who reddened a bit. Why were they all staring at her? The tension in the air was as heavy as a blanket.

”I’m ready to eat,” she said tightly, trying to fight the feeling of constriction around her.

“That’s an excellent idea,” Hermione said as Rosmerta entered the room.

”Can I take your orders?” she asked pleasantly.

”Fish and chips, with vinegar, salt and mushy peas,” Eileen said quickly.

Hugo and Rose had the same thing, but with ketchup added.

Hermione had a small salad, and Ron had the Humongous Meal Taster Tray, which had a lot of everything. Eileen watched him inhale his food in fascination, little Hugo going to town with as much enthusiasm as his father.

She was glad she didn’t have any Weasley genes. She’d probably blow up as big as Hogwarts. Rose ate normally, but—still.

There wasn’t much conversation until Hugo finished his food and started asking Eileen about her Christmas and thanking her for his gift. She’d given him a small, very soft Bludger that immediately began to attack him the moment he opened the box. Hugo had hooted with delight, trying to dodge the little Quidditch ball. Real Bludgers were made of iron and about ten inches in diameter. This one was about five inches and painless.
Hermione made him put it away, because once the Bludger became aware of other people in the room, it began attacking them as well, Hermione trying to wave it away as it bumped into her head several times, then went for Ron, Rose and even little Ebony, who spat at it and fought valiantly, batting at it with her little paw.

Combined with his Snitch and broom, Hugo was perfectly set up to practice his Quidditch moves solo. Maybe he’d make the team next year.

Eileen had given Lily a porcelain tea set in scarlet and gold. She balked a little at the Gryffindor colors, but managed to get through wrapping it up, her nose wrinkled.

She snarkily gave Rose a book entitled, “Learn How to Dance in Five Easy Lessons.”

Rose had chucked it much like Eileen did her makeup kit.

”Did you like our gifts?” Hugo asked Eileen.

”Most of them,” she replied, cutting her eyes at Rose, who gave her a little impish smile. She knew Eileen wouldn’t like the make-up, but she was trying to give her a clue.

”Most of them?” Hermione said, her face falling. She thought Eileen didn’t like her gift.

”The books are great,” Eileen said, giving Hermione a little smile. “But I can live without the clown makeup Rose gave me.”

Hermione smiled at her broadly as Ron chuckled at her description of Rose’s gift. Ron had seen the makeup and suggested that from what he saw of Eileen, she probably wouldn’t appreciate it. But Rose wrapped it up anyway.

”She needs a little color in her life, dad,” the witch said as she added it to Eileen’s other gifts.

“What about my gift? My picture? I charmed it myself,” Hugo said.

”It’s on my nightstand, Hugo. Thank you,” Eileen told him. He gave her a huge smile.

Ron bet she put a silencing spell on it immediately. It said, “Hi Eileen,” every five seconds or so. But, it was the thought that counted.

Talking became easier after that and they enjoyed a very nice lunch. Ron paid for his and the children’s meal, then they all Disapparated for the house. Eileen looked around the small cozy home and saw Hermione kept a very nice library of her own, although she didn’t have the insane amount of books that her father did.

”Hugo, Rose, come with me,” Ron said, leading them out of the living room. “Give your mum and Eileen a chance to talk.”

”Aw,” Hugo complained as he followed his father down the hall. Rose looked back at them, then followed Hugo.

”Um, would you like to sit down, Eileen?” Hermione asked her daughter.

Eileen sat down on the sofa and Hermione sat across from her in an armchair.

”I don’t know really where to start,” Hermione said to her softly.

Eileen blinked at her. She didn’t know anything about her mum, so maybe it would be best to start from the beginning.

”You could tell me what you were like growing up,” Eileen suggested.

Hermione gave her a small smile.

That was the perfect place to start.

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

Eileen listened to Hermione’s story, completely convinced her mother had been insane as a student, and Harry Potter was nothing but trouble and could have been the vehicle of her demise, particularly in her later years when they were hiding out.

But, Hermione was a fascinating witch as well, and courageous. She had punched Scorpius’ father in the nose? Eileen had seen Draco on several occasions, and thought he was one of the most stuck-up, self-important wizards she’d ever seen. He was just too—too perfect with his blonde hair, gray eyes and aristocratic demeanor. And that made him a little creepy. Scorpius looked almost exactly like him.

But, being attacked by werewolves? And her father throwing himself between them? Wow. Just wow. The hours flew by and before they knew it, Ron was calling them in for supper.

“You’ve been through a lot,” Eileen said as they walked into the kitchen. Rose and Hugo were already seated at the table. Ron had made a fairly good Shepherd’s Pie.

”Yes, I have,” Hermione agreed as they sat down at the table.

”And I’ve never regretted any of it,” she said softly.

Eileen looked at Hermione, and then around the table, her heart tight in her chest.

”Even me?” she asked her mother quietly.

Hermione’s eyes began to water as Ron, Hugo and Rose looked on.

”Especially not you, Eileen,” she said honestly.

Yes, Hermione had been shocked to discover she had another child, but she never once wished she didn’t. Not once. Her anger had been directed at Snape for being such a sneaky, selfish bastard, but Eileen—Eileen was truly welcomed.

Eileen stared at Hermione, then said, “I’m glad—mum.”

Tears flowed freely down Hermione’s cheeks as Eileen looked at her with wet eyes.

”Napkins all about,” Ron interjected, handing both Eileen and Hermione paper napkins to wipe their eyes with. “Otherwise, you two might wash us all away.”

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