Deserving (Final Chapter)

Sorry for the long time without a post. To explain I would have to go into my personal life and I really can’t do that right now.

This chapter is not Beta and I do not know if it will be any time soon.


Chapter 49

Harry arrived at work to find Kingsley in frenzy. “They can’t do this. They just can’t. Hermione tell me that there is something we can do about this. Please!”

“The pictures are indeed illegal,” said a hesitant Hermione.

“The pictures!” cried Kingsley. “The pictures are not what worry me. How can they even think of doing this to my Nicky?”

Hermione wished she had some encouraging words for Kingsley who was pacing from one end of the office to the other with the pictures in one hand and the decree in the other.

Harry walked into the open office. Ron and Sly were there trying to stay out of the towering Auror’s path. Harry gave them a ‘what’s going on?’ glance. Ron bended to Harry’s ear level.

“Kingsley just found out that a law has been passed. No children of Marked Ones will be admitted into Hogwarts.”

“What?!” yelled Harry making him noticeable for the first time to Kings and Hermione.

“Harry, you’ve heard,” said Kingsley approaching him with desperation written all over his face.

“Calm down, Kings. That can’t be true. Right Hermione?” he said turning to the witch who was pulling on her fingers. She obviously did not know the answer.

“Harry, they used illegal pictures to prove that the children were threats,” she said trying to explain.

“Pictures?” Harry asked.

Kingsley trusted the pictures into Harry’s hands. Harry stared down at them to see Nicky and Richard on their brooms hovering over the pond in Kingsley’s backyard. Harry could not understand how an innocent picture like this could have caused any commotion. He looked at Hermione.

“Those brooms are hovering way over six inches,” she explained.

Serena, Harry thought.

“Harry the thing is that someone took these pictures in a private home that was magically guarded,” she explained.

“How is that possible!” exclaimed Kingsley. “I protect my child, my husband, and my home with the maximum protection.”

Hermione turned to look at Harry.

“Rita Skeeta,” Harry concluded.

Hermione shook her head. “I don’t think so, Harry. She knows I can destroy her, but I don’t doubt that Single has stooped to these types of illegal procedures to get what he wants. Harry, how could they have been flying so high? Single is claiming that the dark magic in them is so strong at this young age that it would be ludicrous to enhance their magic with a formal education.”

Harry knew how they had been able to fly so high but the answer would not help them solve their problem. Harry turned and began to walk in haste towards the exit of the Ministry. The rest followed him.

“Mate, where are you going?” said Ron catching up with Harry.

“Where else? Hogwarts,” said Harry not stopping to converse.

***

But as he reached to floo he spotted Severus with Neville coming out of one of the opening. Severus was the first to react.

“Sss,” but then thought better “Harry, I came to warn you…”

“What are you doing out of the house without Kreacher? You know it is dangerous…”

“I think I can supplant a house elf,” assured Neville.

“Harry, you cannot pay attention to this nonsense about keeping the children from Hogwarts,” said Severus trying to bring the conversation back to the matter at hand.

Harry’s resolve came back in full force and he turned and entered the floo. “Do not worry about that. It will not happen. I can assure you of that.”

“Harry that is why I came…” but Severus’ words met an empty floo. Harry was determined.

One by one they apparated at the gates of Hogwarts trying to keep up with Harry who was like a charging bull. No one nor nothing stood in his path.

“Harry, please stop. I assure you this is nonsense,” pleaded Severus trying to keep up with his husband but Harry would not stop. He was on a mission.

At the headmistress office they were greeted by a gruesome scene. Two pages had been ripped from the book of Hogwarts and were crumbled on the floor. Harry whipped out his wand at once and the rest followed suit.

“You’ve gone too far Single,” shouted Harry aiming his wand.

“Have I?” he said turning to the other Ministry Officials that were present. “I am quite sure I have acted within the law. Our laws. If that still means anything to you.”

Severus and Minerva looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Foolish wizards. Don’t they know anything about Hogwarts? Severus approached the book.

“How dare you come near a sacred book as this one?” said Single with gritted teeth.

Harry stepped forward reminding Single that his wand was pointed directly at him.

“Husband,” said Severus not wanting to aggravate Single by calling his Guide by his given name. “Please look at the book and you will see that there is nothing to fear.”

“Severus step behind me, now,” ordered Harry.

“Husband, please listen to me. If you would only look at the book.” But Harry would not take his sight away from Single. Hermione decided to see what the professor was talking about.


“Harry,” she squealed with delight. “Harry, the Professor is right. Look for yourself.”

Ron stepped next to Harry with his own wand extended as to replace Harry’s. Harry moved slowly to the book and looked at where Hermione’s finger was resting. There in beautiful handwritten calligraphy was both his children’s name.

“So what’s on the floor?” he asked still with his eye and wand on Single.

Hermione shrugged and then picked up the crumple paper. There in her hand was an exact copy of the page in the book. She looked up at the headmistress trying to understand what her eyes were seeing.

“Harry, it seems Single try to rip the page out but the book produced another copy,” was Hermione’s only possible assessment.

“This is what I have been trying to explain,” said Severus, “No law can govern Hogwarts. Believe me the ministry has always tried but the castle will not obey. This is not the first time the ministry has tried to keep a child’s name from the book. The ministry has even tried to put names in but to no avail. The admitting and denial of students is totally up to the castle.”

Single was horrified by Severus’ words and walk to the book ignoring Harry’s wand. “This cannot be. I ripped this page out myself,” said Single pulling out the page again. He was greatly mortified when he saw the big grin on Harry and Hermione’s face. He didn’t have to look down to know that the page had reappeared. Kings approached the book and turning the page until he found Nicky’s name in the book as well. They all looked at Sly expecting him to do the same but Sly knew he could not let Single know that he had a son, a son with a woman that was Marked. Severus understood first and cleared his throat bringing everyone back to their senses. But it was too late. It seemed that Single picked up on how everyone was expecting Sly to look in the book.

“Mr. Sly,” said Single with calculated caution. “Would you like to look up a name also?”

Sly straighten up like the soldier he was and looked unto a spec on the wall not wanting to show his emotions. “I do not think the book would carry the name of an unborn child; especially not one that was in the womb of a dead wife.”

“Killed by the Dark Lord himself,” retorted Single in one breath.

Sly nodded.

“Don’t ever forget were your allegiances are, Mr. Sly,” cautioned Single. “As for the rest of you, I can assure you that I will hold the Ministry’s wishes. No child of a Mark One will be allowed into Hogwarts.” Turning to look at Harry straight in the eyes. “No matter who opposes the decree,” said Single slamming the book shut.


***

No sooner had they reached the gates of Hogwarts they all turned to look at Hermione. She knew what they wanted to know and inclined her head in defeat.

“I was not able to see if little Matthew was in the book or any of the other babies born to the Marked Ones,” she announced to the disappointed crew.

“Nicky, Richard and Serena have magic,” whispered Sly almost to himself.

Everyone turned to look at him.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” assured Ron.
“The Professor said it. Hogwarts decides and if you don’t have magic your name can not be placed in the book. He said it himself. He said the Ministry had tried and failed,” Sly continue to evaluate the situation.

His words seem to make so much sense that no one dare challenge his them.

“Professor, do the children have magic?” asked Hermione.

“Mione, what kind of a dumb question is that?” Ron chastised.

“Well, if they have magic but it is dormant, Hogwarts is sure to pick up on it. Not for nothing but Neville’s family thought he was a scuib and look at him now. He is probably the strongest wizard alive.”

“Mrs. Weasley might be on to something,” said Severus scrounging up his forehead as if working something out in thin air. “We do not really know if the magic is there or not. With their parents we knew that their magic had been taken away from them but with the little ones we do not really know why they have shown no traces of magic.”

“Well, their parents didn’t have magic when they were born so…”

“Ron, only the birthing parent didn’t have magic,” said Hermione cutting into Ron’s thought. “And besides there are plenty of us muggle born walking around the corridors of Hogwarts.”

“Mrs. Weasley…”

“Severus, please call her Hermione,” interjected Harry “I keep on turning to look for Mrs. Weasley.”

Everyone smiled at jet another little transformation of Harry.

“Only if Mrs. Weasley does not mind,” said Severus looking at Hermione.

Hermione gave him a smile. “I would love it if you would consider me a friend and feel comfortable enough calling me by my given name.”

“Well, that’s settled. What were you saying Professor?” said Ron trying to bring the conversation back on track.

“I was about to say that you may be on to something, Mr. Weasley or may I call you Ronald?”

“Not while I have a wand and you don’t,” said Ron with a straight poker face that soon turned to a grin. “But you may call me Ron.”

“Professor, what do you mean when you said that Weasley was on to something?” asked Sly in somewhat of a shy voice.

Severus looked at Mark Sly. He did not wish to give the man false hope. “It is just a theory and it has very little fact to substantiate it, but the fact that the birthing parent was given a potion to extract their magic might have something to do with the lack of magic in the children.” He scrutinized Sly for any reaction to his words.

“If this is the case; can we solve the problem?” asked Sly tentatively.

Harry looked at his partner and could not help but to feel pity for him. Sly was a dad concern with the well being of his child. Harry gave a faint smile. Baby, well Mathew had found himself a great dad. A dad that was not going to stop searching for a cure for his son. It gave Harry a warm feeling inside. He looked at his husband and thought that if anyone could help Mathew it would be Severus. Severus could solve anything.


“Mr. Sly, I do need for you to understand that we are simply brainstorming here…”

“Yes, I know that, but how many times have you and Hermione come up with a solution doing precisely this?” Sly rushed to contradict Severus.

Severus sighed. Mark Sly was going to raise his hope no matter what he said. “Yes, Mr. Sly, if this is the reason, we can surely find a solution.”

Harry grinned. Yep, Severus can solve anything.

***

Two months had gone by and Severus had not found a way to give the children their magic. It was Saturday morning and Harry and the children had a play date with the Petri children.

“Papa, can I take my broom?” asked Richard looking up at Severus.

“I do not think it to be a good idea. The Petri children cannot ride it and it would be unkind to have them just staring at you while you are entertained,” explained Severus.

“I’ll share,” promised Richard.

This made Harry think back on all the play dates that they had had with the Petri children. And in an aha moment he whispered. “They have magic.”

Severus seemed to tune into Harry’s line of thought. “The hag,” he added.

That shook Harry out of his thought. “What?”

“Rogers said that an old hag had kept him alive. She gave him a potion that kept him alive. Not a permanent one like the one that I developed but still one that did the job,” explained Severus.

“So you thing she might have found the way to give the children magic,” said Harry as he reached up to hold Richard’s broom that was hovering over his head with his son smiling down at him. It took Harry a minute to realize that there was something wrong with this picture. Richard’s broom was a toy broom and was not supposed to fly more than six inches above the ground. He looked at his husband for an explanation. Severus turned his gazed to the culprit; Serena.

***

When the Potter family reached the Petri household they found Ron and Hugo waiting for them. The Petri had invited both Aurors and their children to the play date. The children went directly to the yard to play. Meanwhile Severus went into the kitchen to help Mark Rogers and try to get some information from him. Mark explained that the witch had never given the children any potions and that he was not aware of the fact that other children did not have magic. He did say that the old witch had tended to both his birthing. Severus asked if he could possibly speak to the witch and Mark went outside and got his husband.

Carl Petri took Severus to see Wanda and Severus recognized her at once. He could not believe that the woman was still alive. She had visited the school once and Dumbledore had explained that she had been his teacher but retired the year Dumbledore began at Hogwarts. How old could this witch be? Thought Severus.

The old hag greeted them with a crooked grin. “Oh, I knew our paths would cross again, Severus Snape,” she said as she walked over to her stove and picked up the teapot. “I knew that life would teach you to forgive yourself.” Then she stared up into space and as if having seen a vision she corrected. “Well, life is teaching you. That does not mean you’re learning.” She turned to look at him with a knowing grin. Severus could not help but feel uncomfortable before this woman. What did she know? What had she seen? But he decided that was not important and tackled the matter at hand.
“The Petri children have magic,” he abruptly said.

“Your own children have magic also,” she grinned at him again. “Serena, is it? Yes, I do not believe you have helped but notice that she has magic.”

So the gift of sight; thought Severus. “My daughter and her abilities are not the reason I have come to you.”

“No? You do not fear for her?” she asked turning to serve the tea and motioning him over to the two chair table.

“As every parent; I worry but no, she is not the reason for my visit.”

“Oh but surely, Severus Snape, a lowly wizard as your self can not be here to help the children of others.” She said sipping on her tea not in the bit concern that Severus was standing next to the table and had not taken her offer to sit and drink tea.

“The children that I have come to talk about are the children of my little snakes, so yes, I am here in a purely selfish matter.”

She stared into blankness still with a faint grin on her face. “Yes, selfish indeed. Yes, cruel indeed. Yes, lowly indeed.”

“I know all this,” he interrupted exasperated. “I know what I am but that is neither here nor there. I am here because there are children in our magical world without magic and that cannot be,” he said trying not to raise his voice. “Can you help me?”

She looked up at him and straight into his eyes. “No”

He felt the blood drain from his body. His shoulders slumbered.

“Only you can help those children. You have been marked for this task from the beginning of time.”

Severus realized that his visit had been a waist of his time. He did not believe in destiny. He could not believe in it. He controlled his life and only he could change it.

“Good day, madam,” and he turned on his heels.

“Severus Snape,” she said. “I do think I can give you a gift.”


He turned to look at her and she was holding up a potion.

“From my personal stash,” she said as if gifting him with pure gold.

It took him but a second to realize that she had given him a vial of Veritaserum. Foolish old hag. He could make this potion with his hands tied behind his back and blindfolded. Never the less he thanked her, took the bottle, and left.

***

When he arrived back at the Petri household he found Ron and Harry anxiously awaiting him. He shook his head in defeat.

“Nothing?” questioned Harry.

“I learned that the reason the Petri children have magic is that they were tended by the hag and not St. Mungos, but that I learned from Mark Rogers before I even went to see the witch.”

“So… nothing?” Harry asked again.

Severus shook his head and showed him the vial.

“What is it?” asked Ron.

“Veritaserum,” enunciated Severus obviously upset at the fact that his former student did not know this.

“Brilliant,” said Ron with a broad grin. “We have all the confirmation we need to know that there is something funny going on at St. Mungos and she even gave you the potion.”

“Excellent,” Harry said following his friends train of thought.

Severus had no idea why the duo was so cheerful.

“Now why didn’t I think of that?” asked Harry as he walked over to his husband to take the bottle.

Severus looked lost.

“Professor, would you mind keeping an eye on Hugo while Harry and I go tend to this matter?”

Still lost.

“Forgive me Sirs but I do not understand how this bottle will solve anything,” Severus said in bewilderment.

Harry and Ron gave each other a tomfoolery look and chuckled. Then Harry turned to his husband. “This is going to make things much easier and the great part about it is that you had nothing to do with the making of the potion so no one can accuse you of anything,” he said pecking his husband on the cheek and following Ron out to the garden gate. Severus watched baffled as they disappeared.

***

It was way pass midnight when Harry came home. Severus took his cloak and waited for Harry to tell him what had happened.

“Well, it’s like we had suspected all along, St. Mongos was sabotaging the children’s magic. And what is worst they knew what they were doing.”

“But the children have not been convicted of any crime; how could they have punished them?” asked Severus.

Harry took a deep sigh. “Why do people do most of the things they do?” he said with a shrug. “Ignorance, hatred, envy, take your pick.”

“Will they be convicted?” Severus asked knowing the answer.

“No, it seems it was Single’s call and he has cart blanch to do as he sees fit when it comes to the Mark Ones.”
“The children are not marked,” Severus argued.

“They gave the same potion they had used to extract the Marked Ones magic to the expecting parent at every visit. Low doses of course. They had no idea how this was going to affect the fetus.”

“This danger was not enough to make them reconcider?”

Harry shook his head.

“So their crime is to go unpunished?”

Harry approached his husband and took him in his arms. He wanted to heal the hurt that Severus was feeling and had no idea how to go about doing so. He kissed Severus’ forehead, then his nose and then his lips. Severus broke away from him and stood by the fireplace. Harry understood his husband’s frustration.

Harry dropped his head and stared at the floor. “I don’t know what to do, how to make this better. When I am the one hurting you always know what to do.”

The silence was chilling.

“Help me, talk to me, tell what you need,” Harry whispered.

Severus closed his eyes and in a volume that equaled Harry’s he said, “Be strong.”

Harry pondered these words. Severus needed his strong dominate mate. It had been a while since Severus had needed to submit. Harry thought he had done a great job at whining Severus from this need. Harry didn’t mine playing games in the bedroom but it was times like this that he felt the frustration of the whole situation. Severus was feeling impotent. There was nothing he could do to help his little snakes therefore he felt guilty. Potter knew this was preposterous but he also knew that this was precisely how his husband felt.

“What do you suggest?”

Severus closed his eyes in frustration. He did not know what he needed. Pain, perhaps? Would Harry be able to give him so much physical pain that he would forget for an instant the emotional pain he was feeling? He felt his husband’s body heat approach him. He felt his arms wrapped around his waist. He felt his nose nestled in his neck.

“Talk to me,” Harry whispered into his ears.

“Pain,” was Severus’ monosyllabic answer.

“You cannot blame yourself for everything that happens to the Marked Ones.”

Again Severus disengaged himself from his husband and went to stand in front of the fireplace looking on to the flames. All of a sudden his gaze was pull upward to the forgotten wand that laid on the mantel. His wand.

“Why do you refuse to give me my magic?” he asked in a low but clear voice.

Harry was stunned. Severus had never asked for his magic nor his wand. The wand had laid there for years without either one of them giving it a second glance. Snape was desperate. Someone had hurt his little snakes and was going to walk free.

“Well, I think the reason would be obvious,” said Harry.

Severus shook his head. “No, I do not believe it is, Sir.”

Sir? All right then. We are back to sir; thought Harry.

“You are far too skilled of a wizard to have a wand. Don’t you remember our encounter at the hill after…” bad, bad, such a bad a choice of event to use as an example.

“After I murdered Dumbledore,” said Severus with a slur in his voice and turning to face Harry.

“At his command,” Harry jumped in.

Severus turned to his wand again.

“You with a wand would have disappeared and I would have never been able to find you.”

Snape sighed “I refuse to go down that road yet again.”

“Look, I know you left and that you came back out of your own free will. But look how well you did when you didn’t have me. Your potion making abilities alone can set you for life. You are only doing a couple of special orders a month and you Gringot’s account is doubling every ten weeks. You don’t need me.”

Severus was as rigid as a piece of concrete. He was not going to tackle this again.

“All right, I get it. This is the real reason I can’t give you a wand,” he said approaching his husband and stabbing Severus’ forehead with a finger.

“Forgive me, Sir, but I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Really? I think you do. I think you know very well how much trouble you would get yourself into if you had magic. Not to mention the deficit we would have in healers. Until all of your little snakes are safe you cannot be trusted with a wand.”

“What makes you think I would get caught?”
Harry had to smile at this. He retook his husband in his arms. “Severus, we have children to think about. We can’t just go around playing hero anymore.”

Severus arched his brow. “You were the only one ever doing any playing.”