SALVATION

JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. If you are looking for strict Canon or even a slight deviation from Canon you won’t find it here.

Summary: The War is finally over and Snape finds that the world he knows has nothing to offer him. He finds himself drawn to a new world; one steeped in traditions of its own not known to the wizarding world. Will he take the risks needed for his own salvation?

Rated M for Sexual Situations, Language, Some Violence.

Author’s Notes: My inspiration comes from the novel and film WHALE RIDER.

SALVATION

Chapter 006: The Truth

Snape came to and blinked against the harsh sunlight streaming in the room. He was in hospital. His head felt like a hippogriff had sat on it – that or Neville Longbottom along with Crabbe and Goyle. Longbottom, Crabbe and Goyle: for the first time in a long time Snape thought of what he’d left behind in England. His experiences in Aotearoa so far proved that no matter where one went in the world, there was always more of the same that needed to be left behind.

‘Ah – so you’re finally awake…’

Snape looked over, expecting to see Rawiri – and to his surprise there was a much taller yet very burly man who faintly resembled but definitely sounded like the man who had been a good friend to him since his arrival in Eastland.

‘I’m Witi – Rawiri’s older brother and Pai’s father…’ the man explained.

The former Potions Master gave the man a penetrating look.

‘So it was you then who rendered assistance in our hour of need,’ Snape finally commented.

‘Yes, it was me.’

‘Wordless magic?’

Witi smiled.

‘Yes… wordless magic… ‘

‘Your presence isn’t just some fortunate coincidence, Mr. Ihimaera.’

‘Witi – we are friends here, Michael,’ Pai’ father smiled faintly. ‘My brother managed to finally track me down last week. We both agreed that conventional methods were not going to work; Jonny never did have the common sense to make a fight fair. If he could’ve helped you he would. But I’m the one with the gift, not him; and no way in hell was he going to get Pai involved. We wanted to protect her – and be there for you too… All this rubbish about mana – not for people like Jonny and his gang! I don’t know what in God’s name was in my father’s head…’

Snape sank back into his pillows, his mind going faster than Crabbe and Goyle attacking a jam donut. The Maori were a magical people and as the first-born and heir to the chieftaincy of his people, Witi Ihimaera was undoubtedly a very powerful man – as was his daughter. Paikea and he had never spoken about her abilities very much. In Snape’s mind she had been knocked back so many times that her confidence was undoubtedly shattered. He knew he could help her; it was just going to take time. Now he wished he had spoken out; it might have helped them both.

‘Paikea – where is she? Is she alright?’ he started suddenly.

Witi swallowed and shook his head helplessly.

‘Mr. Ihimaera – Witi – please!’

‘Pai’s in a bad way. Some kind of brain trauma and she’s got some kind of infection. They’ve got her in Intensive Care’

‘Intensive Care?!’

‘The treatments don’t seem to be doing much,’ Witi observed dejectedly as he stood up and walked over to the window. He looked out and wondered if he could ever find it in his heart to forgive his father for the trouble he’d brought to everyone – especially Pai. ‘Koro was wrong to broker a deal like he did. It wasn’t a level playing field, not by a long shot. That is not the tradition of our people. You were at a severe disadvantage at the hands of people that had nothing to do with the problems between yourself and Jonny. But he knew – he knew that Pai would never let you face that alone.’

Witi turned around and Snape could see that the man was genuinely upset – as though ready to cry.

‘She loves you – and it’s just the latest thing in a long line that he wanted to punish her for!’

‘What are you saying?’ Snape demanded as a vein throbbed dangerously at his temples. ‘ANSWER ME DAMMIT! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!’

‘My husband set you and Pai up – and he used Jonny and a couple of his mates to do it,’ Nana Wendy said as she came into the room. She’d heard enough. ‘He lied to us all, Michael. It was never going to be just a bit of a fist-fight… He lied to us all…’

Snape’s mind flashed back to that night.

‘Well, well, well … lookey what we have here!’ Jonny snarled as Pai was grabbed from behind.

He stood defiantly in front of her.

‘You got a big mouth you hori bitch!’ he spat ‘I think its time to get some of what this Paheka got…’ Jonny continued as he yanked Pai’s head up and punched her in the face before ripping her dress, exposing her breasts to his gang.

‘You get your filthy hands off her!” Snape roared. “You will pay for this! I swear by all that is sacred and holy in your traditions that you ALL will pay for what you have done to her!”

‘Are you fucking crazy Jon?’ someone commented. ‘Koro is going to have your ass in a hot minute!’

‘You think he gives a shit about her? The way he talks about her and to her? Wouldn’t be surprised if he came after some himself!’

‘No way man, I don’t want any part of that… The Paheka is right – you know how much trouble there’ll be when this gets out! What needed to be done is done… leave her alone…!’ a youth shouted. He didn’t look to be older than 16 at best.

They were all arguing now. Some wanted to do her and some didn’t; but their conflict was no consolation to the stranger in their midst. Snape had been prepared to take the beating he knew was due him. He’d squared up to Koro and made a deal. It was more for Pai’s sake than anything – he loved her that much.

But there was no way in hell that he was going to let anyone hurt her anymore. He finally comprehended just how evil, evil could be even in a place of beauty like this

As the full comprehension of what Koro had meant to happen to Paikea dawned on him, Severus Snape broke down and cried. It was too much for Witi and Wendy. They were all inconsolable, but none more than the man who had given Pai his heart and promised her he would never leave her. Wendy sat on the bed and put her arms around him.

‘She’ll be alright Bub – you’ll see…’ she murmured as Witi sat on the other side and put his arms around them both. ‘She’ll get better and then…’

Snape just shook his head ‘no’ as he sobbed uncontrollably.

‘I can help her,’ he finally commented in a choked voice. ‘I have to help her – it’s all my fault…!’

‘What? You can’t blame yourself for this!’ Witi said vehemently.

‘I meant to keep her out of harm’s way. I was derelict in my duty!’

‘Pai would never blame you for any of this. She loves you, Michael. You know that don’t you?’

Snape’s eyes filled with tears again.

‘Please – take me to her! I need to… I need to help her!’ he blurted out suddenly after a lengthy round of sobbing.

‘Alright; just you pull yourself together, eh? You wouldn’t want her to know you were there falling to pieces.’

Snape nodded and forced himself to stand up. Wendy handed him freshly washed and pressed clothes she brought from his house and then shooed him into the bathroom.

‘As long as I have breath – I will never, ever forgive Koro for what he’s done,’ Witi spat angrily.

‘Now just you look, son…!’

‘No, Mum! NO! For once in your life would you please open your eyes to the monster that he is! This is the man who is supposed to lead our people; the man who is supposed to be so spiritually rich and blessed! Pai isn’t the reason that our people suffer – he is! He knew DAMN WELL what some of those thugs are like that Jonny messes with! It wasn’t ever going to be just some simple little dusting! And he accepted it. HE ACCEPTED IT!’

‘Please – I have to ask you to lower your voices. This is a hospital, not a piss-up in one of your breweries!’ a nurse snarled as she stormed into the room and gave Witi and Wendy looks of disgust.

‘And you can just get off your high-horse madame! I have every RIGHT to be angry! You do bugger all for my daughter and cast aspersions on my Mum’s character?! Who the hell do you think you are?’ Witi demanded.

The nurse took in the Maori’s tailored pants and linen shirt along with his long hair pulled back into a ponytail and tribal tatoos. He was wearing an expensive watch and ring. Even the local drug dealers weren’t that flash. This one had an air about him, an air of dignity and authority.

Witi looked at the woman like the cockroach she was in his eyes just as Snape came out of the bathroom. The former Potions Master looked at the nurse coldly as he instructed her that he wanted to be released and she was to have the paperwork ready for his signature in five minutes.

Once she was gone he took a deep breath.

‘Take me to Paikea – please…’

xxxOOOxxx

Snape walked into Pai’s hospital room trailed by her father and grandmother. Rawiri was already there, consumed by grief.

‘I couldn’t even protect her…’ Pai’s uncle mumbled. ‘I promised to look after her and I failed…’

‘Don’t…’ Witi said softly. ‘If anyone should take any blame it’s me. I was the one who walked out on her. I’m her father and I knew what she was up against and I left her to the fate that I myself couldn’t live with... I…’

‘You had to be free to find your own path, son,’ Wendy said firmly. ‘Everyone has always lived by your father’s dictates – and what has it gotten any of us? A man can’t lead whose heart and mind isn’t in it. No one faults you for that.’

Everyone fell silent as Snape walked over to Pai’s bed. Her head was wrapped in a bandage and there was blood seeping through. There was a tube that had been inserted down her throat and tubes attached to needles in her arms. She was moist with fever and it didn’t look like she was being seen to as she ought by the medical staff.

Snape tried to be strong and stoic, typically British. But his black eyes welled up with tears and he burst into sobs as he sat and then prostrate himself across her. The Maori were stunned at the obvious depth of his love for Paikea. It wasn’t just one-sided on her part as they had feared it could be. But the strength of it did catch them completely by surprise.

‘I can help her,’ the former Potions Master mumbled at last. ‘I can…’

‘What do you want me to do, Michael?’ Witi asked as he placed his hands on the shoulders of the former Potions Master and gently pulled him up into a proper sitting position.

‘I need to be released – and then you can come with me back to the house...?’

‘You got it cuzzy, whatever you need…’

xxxOOOxxx

The drive back to Snape’s house was a silent one. Witi and Snape had left Rawiri and Wendy to look after Pai. There were things they needed to talk about privately. And this conversation was best not held in the car.

Snape said nothing as he unlocked the door and ushered Witi into the kitchen. He needed a cuppa – there was something about tea that always helped him to think. And he really needed to keep his wits about him given the subject of their discussion.

‘So,’ Witi said, breaking the silence. ‘You know about magic…’

The former Potion’s Master gave his guest a rueful look.

‘Yes,’ he answered quietly. ‘Yes indeed I do.’

Witi nodded and waited. It seemed to him that the man who called himself Michael Stuart-Clark was carrying around a lot of secrets – and that these secrets were a tremendous burden.

‘I was in a weakened state,’ Snape said after taking a long draught of tea. ‘I could not have executed so many wordless spells in that condition. It is difficult enough as it is when one is in good shape. Paikea… Paikea has been so beaten down that she is wholly disconnected from that part of herself. In any case, she too was in no fit state even if she had been so inclined.’

‘I think she really wanted to be able to help you, Michael.’

‘…as much as I really wanted to help her… to save her…’ Snape sniffed as he got up to make another mug of tea. ‘Be that as it may – you are no doubt wondering about my level of understanding.’

‘I have some ideas, yes. But it would be good to hear it from you. I think you rather have a need of unburdening yourself.’

Snape made hearty sandwiches for them both in silence as he thought. It did not escape his notice that Witi observed his actions, processing even the minutest of details without comment. ‘Like father, like daughter,’ he thought to himself. There was so much that Paikea understood about him – a peculiar sort of wordless complicity. Her father was much the same way and the former Potions Master was not sure that he liked it.

‘You live in the British Isles, as I understand it?’ Snape queried as he handed Witi the food he’d prepared for him along with crisps and biscuits.

‘Mmm you make a mean sandwich bro…’ Witi said after taking two huge bites. He hadn’t realised how hungry he really was. ‘But yes – after traveling and seeing a fair bit of the world I found exactly what I needed in your homeland.’

‘Which was…?’

‘Healing…’

Snape looked at Witi curiously. There were many ways to take that – but there was only one answer that made sense to him.

‘The healing power of love and acceptance,’ he observed.

‘Much like yourself and my daughter I expect,’ Pai’s father answered quietly.

Snape made a noise in the back of his throat and looked out of one of his windows. How inviting the valley still looked. Even with everything that had happened, he wasn’t put off the place.

‘I would do anything for her, I love her that much,’ Snape said quietly at last. ‘She deserves so much better than she’s ever had... But she’s healed me in ways that she would never understand.’

‘Don’t underestimate her; the blood and power of Paikea Te Rangi flows strongly in her veins – stronger than Koro, stronger than me. And I know that you definitely understand that in ways that Koro has been blind to.’

‘I understand… full well…’

Witi nodded and continued to eat.

‘I understand because I myself am magical, Witi.’

Snape looked at Pai’s father unflinchingly.

‘I’ve been up to London around Charing Cross,’ Witi said quietly as he met his host’s gaze respectfully. ‘There’s a pub there that no one would take notice of – except for people that have magical abilities…’

‘The Leakey Cauldron,’ Snape said through a deep breath. ‘You are a dark horse indeed, Mr. Ihimaera.’

‘I’m magical too, remember?’ Witi reminded him. ‘I think the Paheka magical governments grossly underestimate just how known you all are. Long before I saw it with my own eyes I’d heard of it.’

‘I always said much the same myself,’ Snape grimaced. ‘Unfortunately no one ever saw fit to listen to what I had to say.’

There was a loud snort and Witi shook his head. ‘Don’t I know it!’ he laughed. ‘Even Mum always said that we should try to reach out to other magical people. There’s a lot that’s happened in both worlds where we could have helped one another.’

‘Your mother is a very wise lady and I never take that for granted. Neither does Paikea.’

Witi smiled. ‘It’s good to know that Mum’s got more people around to appreciate her. Koro’s only lasted this long because of her.’

‘The Leakey Cauldron – have you dared to venture inside it?’ Snape queried.

Witi smiled thoughtfully and as he did he blushed.

‘Paikea does that,’ Snape blurted out. ‘She blushes just like you…usually at moments of tender-heartedness.’

‘She wears her heart on her sleeve, just like her old man… Anyway… once I saw the place and realised that no one else really did when I was around I kept coming back. But I was really terrified to go inside. I’d see people going in and out, some in the most OUTLANDISH clothes (Witi shook his head in disbelief), but I couldn’t muster the courage to step into the place. I was sure I’d stick out like a sore thumb not knowing what it was about…’

‘A wise decision. For a start they do not accept Muggle currency for payment nor do they serve much Muggle fare. Once you cross the threshold you are absolutely in our world… the Wizarding World. It is not so easy to carry a bluff when you are so woefully ignorant of your surroundings.’

’I have been inside though, quite a few times,’ Witi said quietly. ‘My fiancée took me…and she explained what Muggles are…’

‘Fiancée?’ Snape gasped. ‘You are engaged to one of us then – a Witch?!’

Pai’s father let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding.

‘Yes – and she’s a wonderful, wonderful girl!’

Snape listened almost in disbelief as Witi extolled the virtues of his girlfriend. He fleetingly wondered if she had been a Hogwarts student or if he might have come across her some other way; say in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade.

‘It’s a bit much to take on, I know,’ Witi finished as he calmed down. He looked over at his host who appeared to be in agony. ‘So you’re a Wizard, Michael… and a thumping good one too I bet!’

‘I am competent…’ Snape replied dryly. ‘Competent enough at least to be convinced that I can heal Paikea’s injuries myself. So; how it that you ended up with a Witch for a fiancée?

Witi blushed again and it tugged at Snape’s heart. Thought he hadn’t raised her, Paikea was very much Witi’s daughter.

‘Well I kept coming back as I said. All that time it never occurred to me that someone might actually take notice of me. She did.’

Snape snorted. ‘Our kind are not renowned for be observant. Most of us tend to be a lot less than fastidious when it comes to the minutiae of our surroundings. It’s cost far too many lives during times of great upheaval in our world…’

‘Funny – that’s what she says!’ Witi laughed, even though it was no laughing matter. ‘Anyway – she noticed me (I guess I kind of do stand out a bit for anyone that’s really taking notice) and so one day, bold as brass, this bolshy mademoiselle walks out in the middle of traffic and demands to know why was I being so silly to stand there yet again looking at the pub in the blazing heat when I could be having a nice cold drink inside!’

‘And you just couldn’t resist,’ Snape smirked. ‘Quite observant she was indeed.’

‘I had to admire her cheek! She escorted me in and it was our first date – just over a year ago now. We’ve been together ever since. I only got off my arse and proposed a couple of weeks ago; she’s a dream.’

‘She must be quite a lady to have warranted a commitment from you; that is my sentiment exactly about your daughter.’

‘Something else we have in common; my Princess is about Pai’s age. Lord have mercy – Pai will have my head on a stick!’

‘You don’t think she would approve of the age difference?’ Snape asked though inwardly cringing at Witi’s affection for his girlfriend.

‘Oh, she won’t mind it at all; she’s with you isn’t she? However, she will be mighty pissed that it’s being sprung like this… The last time she saw me was about 3 years ago. I’ve not been a good father to her, not at all with leaving her here like I did. But things are different now and I am not the person I was…’

‘I can understand that, completely.’

‘I’m sure you can…’

There was another lengthy silence as the two men processed what had not been discussed so far as much as what had. They did at least have once thing in common besides magic. Each had settled on the opposite side of the world from his homeland and of all things, the deciding factor that kept them where they were was love.

If Witi had a Witch for a girlfriend then surely he knew quite a bit about the troubles of his world, Snape thought to himself. Witi was well aware of what had gone on in his host’s world; but just how much Snape was not yet to know.

xxxOOOxxx

‘I never thought any of these things would ever see the light of day again…’ Snape commented as he and Witi unpacked trunks in the farthest reaches of his basement. There were no windows at all but Witi wisely opted not to comment on that. He did notice that his host seemed fairly relaxed, the most he’d been since they met. Something about this was comforting to the man.

‘Janie says it’s probably inevitable that what you know and how you get along wouldn’t leave you even if you weren’t immersed in it day-to-day…’

‘Janie? Ahhh your betrothed.’

‘Betrothed? You are throwback to a bygone era, cuzzy!’

‘I have been known to be exceedingly formal.’

‘Mum says you treat Pai really well; much better than any of those idiots Koro forced her to go out with.’

‘Your daughter has been very good to me from the moment we met. Was she to make the same claims regarding me it would be a lot less than the truth.’

‘Honest as well… a quality in short supply in this day and age…’ Witi sighed. ‘This is the last one – and it has those bottles you need…’

‘Good – it should take no more than 10 minutes on a high boil…’

‘You seem to have quite a liking for brewing…’

Snape thought it unwise to launch into his traditional speech extolling the virtues and glories of potions making that he had given the First Years at Hogwarts. For the moment he simply conceded that he found it relaxing.

‘We’ve got similar and the like out here that you could use; they’d be just as powerful with healing and such. Mum could sort you in a hot second; so could Pai probably.’

Snape didn’t comment as he adjusted the flame under his cauldron and gave the thickening liquid 5 carefully executed and precisely timed counter-clockwise stirs. The potion was coming along just fine. It was all he could think about for the moment.

‘Paikea and I have a great deal to talk about,’ Snape said. ‘However I think it will have to keep until after your reunion.’

‘It would be a bit much for her to take in: me coming back, her getting a stepmother and one that’s the same age…and who’s a Witch… and you telling her about you. If it’s all the same I think you should wait – and I also think I should be there when you tell her.’

‘So you do intend to tell her – all of it?’

‘Janie wouldn’t have it any other way. She says it’s more trouble than its worth keeping secrets from the people you love. Relationships can be destroyed by a lot less. Besides, with our background such as it is, there’s no reason to tell Pai. We all need to get off on the right foot – it’s important to me and especially Janie.’

‘Your fiancée sounds like a very intelligent woman.’

‘She is indeed; I’m lucky it’s me she chose rather than someone else.’

‘Do you think Paikea will believe you about what your fiancée is and the world she comes from? Even for people such as yourselves it is a rather far-fetched notion.’

‘Pai will have already seen and experienced a great many things that ordinary people can only dream of. Koro wouldn’t talk to her to help her understand what she’s got so its been down to Mum and Rawiri. But it’s different when you haven’t really experienced it – and neither of them have…’

There was a faint ‘pop’ followed by some fizzing from the bright red liquid now swirling briskly in the cauldron.

‘It’s done!’ Snape cried triumphantly.

Despite being cut off from his people and their traditions, he still was a Potions Master to his magical core. There couldn’t be any room for doubt when brewing; they could ruin the efficacy of the potion as much as any other mistake with the ingredients. There was something about being immersed in the tools of his trade that had always empowered him. Ever the perfectionist he insisted upon bottling the potion properly and cleaning up the workspace.

Fifteen minutes later Snape and Pai’s father were roaring down the road back towards the hospital each filled with trepidation. The worry was not about whether or not Pai would be healed; each was certain she would be without question. The concern was how to reveal the truth to her – their truth.

And what would she make of it when she was told?