An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 56 ~ New Years Eve

Behind the Burrow, in the little shack Arthur kept for his Muggle tinkering, James was watching Albus practice his hexes as the rest of the family milled about outside. The shack was charmed to be larger on the inside than the outside to accommodate the large Muggle vehicles Arthur acquired from time to time. Currently, there were none.

Albus practiced firing spells at a mirror and blocked them as they ricocheted back at him. Some spells he couldn’t cast because the mirror would break, and James wouldn’t give him a practice duel.

“I’m not going to help you with this, Albus. I think you should leave it alone. It’s all been handled, and besides, you know Alsop is sweet on Eileen,” he told his brother as he effectively slashed at and blocked a “Stupefy” that shot back at him.

“I’ll leave it alone after I avenge grandmum,” the wizard said through gritted teeth, still practicing.

”Well, Eileen’s good. She’s probably going to blow you out of your trainers,” James observed. Albus stopped practicing and turned to face his brother.

”She’s not the only one good with a wand, James—I know—“

Albus faltered for a moment.

”I know stuff. Good spells. Really good spells,” he finished shortly. “And I didn’t have to grow up in bloody Knockturn Alley to learn them, either. I can take her, believe me.”

Albus had an unpleasant, cruel cast to his face as he said this. James blinked at him. What wasn’t Albus telling him?

”Albus, do you hate her that much?” he asked softly.

Albus turned back toward the mirror and looked at himself.

”No. I don’t hate her, James. Just things about her, things that don’t fit in this family, things she needs to know that don’t fit in. And not just by being ‘talked’ to, either. No one’s going to give it to her straight if I don’t do it.”

”Albus, you’re not an adult. You don’t have any say about this at all,” James responded.

”I’m sick of that. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we don’t have feelings about things. And Eileen’s our age, so we should be able to interact with her however we want, not tiptoe around her, holding everything in. I’m not going to do it, James. I’m not!”

Albus’ eyes glittered.

“I just think she needs to be taken down a few pegs. Look at what she does to Alsop, leading him around by his nads and changing him into whatever she likes. And what she did to grandmum. It would have been different if she had faced her, but she didn’t. She sucker hexed her when she was defenseless. It’s like Eileen thinks she can get away with anything as if she’s untouchable. Everyone can be touched, James.”

James stared at his brother’s back thoughtfully.

”Do you fancy her, Albus?” he asked him. “Whenever she’s around, you just stare at her. I noticed that at the Christmas ball.”

Albus whirled on him.

”No! I don’t fancy her! I want to hex her out of her robes!” he hissed.

Both of James’ eyebrows rose as Albus flushed.

”I—I didn’t mean to say it like that,” he murmured.

”Sure you didn’t.”

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On New Years Eve at the Burrow, the setup was much different. Molly served a buffet style meal where everyone could eat on the go. She also applied a powerful warming spell around the house because everyone kept going inside and out and letting out the heat. Even with all the constant cooking going on, it was hard to keep the hawk out.

Alsop was in the kitchen, helping the witches and doing grunt work. He was still on punishment and Harry was determined to make sure he knew it. But he didn’t complain as he carried dishes and plates about, Scourgified accidents and was generally ordered about like a peon. He was just glad this was all that happened. Plus in two days, he’d be back at Hogwarts and could see Eileen again. That kept him in good spirits.

In the yard, magical lanterns dangled from wires, keeping everything well lit as the well bundled family enjoyed themselves, the younger ones having snowball fights and casting spells at each other between bugging George about the fireworks.

”Oh, I have something—rather special,” he told an excited, chattering Hugo and Rose.

”Better than the dragon that chased granddad?” Lily asked him breathlessly, her face pink from the cold.

George grinned.

”Now, that one is hard to top, but I think I may have done it,” George said with a wicked smile.

Ron, Harry, Bill, Charlie and Percy stood around a large bonfire, drinking hot cider from large cups and talking.

”So, Hermione’s out with Eileen, eh Ron?” Bill said to him.

Ron nodded.

”She needed the time with her. Bit of nasty business with mum,” he replied, staring into the flames.

”I tell you what, that girl’s got a set of bollocks on her bigger than Hogwarts to hex Molly like that,” Harry said. “And she was willing to take as good as she gave at the shop. It was as if she wanted your mum to hex her in retaliation.”

”It’s how she was brought up,” Percy interjected, cupping his cider with both gloved hands. “With Snape as a father, she’s probably used to being hexed.”

Ron shook his head.

”No. Surprisingly, he was a good dad. I saw a Pensieve of Eileen’s childhood. Snape gave it to Hermione and we both watched it. I would have never believed he was capable of—of good feelings. Kindness. He was strict, but—he was devoted—“

”He’s still a git for stealing her in the first place,” Charlie said with a frown. “Life Debt or not, that’s a dirty thing to spring on a witch nineteen years later.”

“He felt he needed someone,” Harry said softly as the other men looked at him. “He didn’t believe anyone cared for him and with Voldemort dead, he had no purpose other than teaching, which I don’t think he liked that much.”

Despite how many people had been in Harry’s corner, he knew what it was like to feel as if he had no one in the world. Thank gods for Ginny and his best friends. Snape had nothing like that. Nothing at all.

Charlie snorted.

”So he steals a child, Harry? You can’t condone that under any circumstances.”

”No, but I can kind of understand it. He took a life for a life, and in his twisted way of thinking, it was fine to do. Hermione would never miss Eileen because she never knew she existed. If she hadn’t become ill, she still wouldn’t know,” Harry replied.

They all stood around in silence, then Percy cleared his throat.

”You know, this talk about Snape made me think of a quotation—“

”Aw, Percy!”

”Not another bloody quote—“

”Merlin, Percy—“

Percy frowned at the protestations, and continued anyway. The cretins.

”No, this is really relevant,” the wizard said, looking into the fire. “The quote is by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a novelist. He’s considered by many to be the father of Existentialism—“

“Existentwhat?”

”Get on with it, Percy. Gods.”

“Egghead.”

”It wouldn’t hurt you sods to bone up on a bit of history,” Percy snapped irritably at being rushed, “but the quote is, ‘Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him.’”

Everyone fell silent as they applied the quote to one Severus Snape. He had always been a difficult man to understand, one who seemed to hate everyone but risked his life in spite of that hate. Yes, there was the Lily Potter story, but not quite everyone swallowed it. The idea that Snape did what he did out of love for a dead woman who didn’t love him back was just—well—kind of nutters to most people.

Many adhered to the belief Severus Snape just couldn’t be trusted. It was in his nature to be traitorous, no matter who he served. Both Albus Dumbledore and Tom Riddle met their end through him, either directly or indirectly. His title of hero was dubious at best and the word ‘dichotomy’ didn’t even begin to describe the delicate balance between his good and evil aspects. The man was a bloody mystery and always would be.

”Well, Frodo certainly hit that broomstick on the handle with that one,” Charlie commented, the flickering bonfire casting light and shadow a bit eerily over the group as they contemplated what had driven the dark wizard to conceive and take a child.

”That’s Fyodor, you dolt,” Percy hissed, then took another sip of his cider.

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Eileen and Hermione reappeared in Diagon Alley and stopped at the Leaky Cauldron and mingled with the revelers, enjoying fish and chips and a couple of butter beers. Witches and wizards cavorted about, dancing, drinking and all in the spirit of the day. Another year was passing, and they were still around to see it.

“I swear, if a blonde or a woman tries to cross my threshold for the first-footing, I’ll hex them black and blue,” a witch cackled at a younger witch sitting beside her while nursing a drink. The witch scowled at her.

”But mum, I’m a blonde and a woman! What am I supposed to do?” she asked her.

”You’ll stand outside until I can lure a handsome, dark-haired wizard in who has some coal, bread, money and salt, that’s what! Now, drink your toddy!”

Eileen watched the revelry all around her. Her New Years had always been spent at home with her father, and they always had a nice time together. But it was nothing like this. She started as a gray-haired old wizard pulled Hermione out of her seat and began dancing with her, his legs moving comically as his long beard and curls bounced around beneath his pointed wizard’s cap. He was a spry old man. He had to be at least one hundred and twenty years old, if not more. His blue eyes twinkled merrily at Hermione as they bounced about, Hermione laughing.

Eileen couldn’t help but smile as her mum was handed off to the next wizard. The next thing she knew, she too was out of her seat, dancing with a stranger. This time it was a younger wizard, but still old by comparison to Eileen. He was rotund, with great red cheeks and a broad smile as he danced with the startled witch. A polka began to play and everyone yelled in appreciation, except Eileen. But she did continue to dance, bouncing about like an idiot and laughing.

Alsop would have paid good galleons to see her doing this.

Breathless and laughing, Hermione and Eileen made their way with the other revelers to Big Ben for the chiming in of the New Year. The crowd was enormous, Muggles and magical folk alike. Hermione pulled Eileen close.

”Hold on,” she said, flicking her wand subtly, and casting first a Disillusionment spell, then a Silencing spell around them. Suddenly, they disappeared, Apparating soundlessly.

A man who had been standing next to the smiling witches and noticed them, blinked at the empty space. Then pulled out his flask from his inside pocket, opened the top and peered in at the contents as if something were wrong with them. He sniffed, shrugged, then turned the flask up to his lips and guzzled. He lowered it, rasped a bit, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then and toasted the world as he yelled, “To Auld Lang Syne!” He was answered in turn by other revelers and he forgot all about the witches.

”Mum!” Eileen cried as they reappeared. She was surrounded by shimmers and looked down to see an ocean of cheering people. Then she saw the huge clock face. “We’re on Big Ben!”

”It’s the best place!” Hermione yelled at her over the din. “Nothing like hearing Big Ben chime up close! We’re lucky we managed to find space! It’s crowded with wizards this time of year!”

”Ear Protectors! Get your magical Ear Protectors! Only five sickles!”

Hermione grabbed at a shimmer and pressed ten sickles into a hand, keeping an eye on Eileen’s shimmer which was apparently staring down at the crowd. She collected the ear protectors by feel then pressed one of the earmuff-like items into Eileen’s hand.

”You’ll need to wear this!” Hermione cried. “It will keep you from going deaf!”

”Thanks!” Eileen called back, placing the earmuffs around her neck so her hands would be free.

”And at midnight, we shoot streamers down at the crowd!” Hermione said, smiling at her daughter, although she couldn’t see her.

Eileen’s shimmer seemed to still.

”I don’t have my wand! Dad took it!” she replied, her voice disappointed.

”Oh! Well, then we’ll both use my wand together! I’ll cast the charm and you direct the streamers!”

”Okay!” Eileen shouted back, happiness returning to her voice.

They stood there among the revelers, looking out across the crowds and London itself and waiting for the New Year to be ushered in. Both mother and daughter were glad to be sharing the holiday together. Bringing in a new year seemed to go perfectly with bringing in a new relationship. Everything seemed so bright and full of hope tonight. Maybe that feeling would stay with them long after the revelry died down.

The crowd began counting down. Witches and wizards on the clock put on their ear protectors and joined in the countdown, including Eileen and Hermione.

”—five—four –three –two –one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!”

Everyone cheered, hugged and began singing “Auld Lang Syne” as Big Ben rung in at precisely midnight, Hermione holding her daughter close for the first time in her life, tears in her eyes as she embraced her. Eileen felt a flood of emotions flow through her as she could feel Hermione’s love tangibly. This was her mother. .

Her real mother, and she cared about her unlike Delores. Now that didn’t matter. It wouldn’t ever matter again. The chiming stopped and both Eileen and Hermione lowered their protectors with one hand, still embracing.

”Happy New Year, Eileen. I’m so glad you’re in my life,” Hermione said to her softly, confirming how Eileen felt inside with her words.

”Happy New Year, mum,” she replied just as softly, her voice quavering. Hermione finally broke the embrace. There was a moment of awkward silence, then she said, “Grab my hand, Eileen and let’s send down some streamers!”

”Okay!” Eileen said, grabbing Hermione’s outstretched shimmer and sharing her wand, shooting brightly colored paper streamers down on the celebrating crowd below, feeling happier than she had in ages.

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A/N: I had to think of something fun for Hermione and Eileen to do, but not too fancy. I figured actually being on Big Ben with other witches and wizards would be fun and different. By the way, I was inspired by a George Michael song "Father Figure" and made a video featuring Snape and Odessa. Even if you don't like the pairing, you might appreciate the effort. I was obsessed by it. lol. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy3oTZSraiQ

Thanks for reading.