Caregivers

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Caregivers Chapter 6

Between working, swimming and sleeping, the days flew by for Severus. It was Friday before he knew it and time for his ‘group therapy’. Grand Master Lundquist, who had been told by Potter that Severus would have a weekly meeting at this time, smiled when he heard Severus swearing as he disappeared with a pop.

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Severus stumbled a little bit as he appeared in the middle of the meeting room. After he took off his dragon hide apron and carefully placed it on the seat next to his, Severus viewed the room with a critical eye.

His brow shot up when he saw Draco leaning heavily on one of the twins while his right hand clutched the other twin’s wrist. Severus noticed the pained look on the twin’s face that Draco had a vise-like grip on, but no matter how uncomfortable it may have been, he never flinched or moved a muscle. The only thing he was doing was gently stroking the hand that held him tightly. If it wasn't for the fact that it was the Weasleys that were giving the boy some comfort, he would have been impressed by their compassion. There was the slightest of smiles shown on Draco’s face. His eyes, which were so lifeless during their time in Azkaban, no longer were empty. They scanned the room, even if they didn’t express any emotions.

Across from Draco and the twins sat Molly with her arms tightly folded over her chest. Her face drawn in a dark scowl, much likes his Professor’s glare. He found it rather amusing and wondered just which one of her brood was she perturbed at. It wasn’t long before he saw the reason for her anger. In the corner stood Lucius with another redheaded,, freckle-faced Weasley. Taking a moment, Severus tried to ascertain which Weasley it was. At first he thought it was the dragon tamer, but quickly changed his mind. Dragon tamers were notorious for their short hair. Too many good men were lost when their hair caught fire from a flame-throwing dragon. No, it was safer for them to keep their hair as short as possible.

‘Must be the curse breaker,’ Severus frowned at the thought. Even if he and Lucius's affair was short lived and over eons ago, he still found himself feeling jealous. Jealous of what he wasn’t sure. They looked content with one another. Severus couldn’t help but notice how the two of them looked into each other's eyes, entranced in the unspoken words between them.

Severus snorted softly; the two would never make it. Lucius was too much into himself to have anything for anyone else. The only reason Lucius and Narcissa stayed together as long as they did was because they were both self-absorbed and lived separate lives under one roof. Weasleys were different creatures. They believed in love, fidelity and all that rot. No wonder why Molly looked so annoyed; the two didn’t stand a chance.

“Molly, you look rather disturbed by something, would you like to share your feelings with the group?”
Healer Thornton asked.

“I’m rather upset as you can tell,” Molly started to explain.

Severus waited with baited breath for her explosion.

“It seems that my family, who I sweated over a hot stove for the last thirty years to give them wonderful dinners, did not have appreciated the meals I’ve made for them," Molly pouted.
“Now Molly dear,” Arthur patted his wife’s hand. “We have loved every meal you have ever made for us. It’s just…”

“It’s just what Arthur? That you prefer Malfoy’s cooking to mine? That’s it, isn’t it? You’re tired of me?” Molly started to bawl.

“Molly,” Arthur tried to placate his wife. “No one can take your place in our hearts and there is no one alive that can cook a better meal than you, but the beef tenderloin with wild mushroom gravy that Lucius made was exceptional. Evenyou have to admit it.” Arthur pulled his crying wife into his arms.

Malfoy and William took their seats next to the elder Weasleys.

“Mrs. Weasley,” Lucius said but stopped when William gave him as withering look. “Molly,” he corrected. “I meant only to pull my weight around your home. The two of you have been very kind to me and I wanted to show you my appreciation. I promise I shall never again touch your stove.”

Severus was dumbstruck. This whole scene was about Lucius cooking a meal? How dreary.

Molly immediately stopped crying and stared at Lucius as if he grew a second head. “Lucius Malfoy, you will do no such thing.”

“I beg your pardon?” Lucius asked bewildered.

“After thirty years, do you think that I enjoy cooking every meal? My mind will explode if I have to think of what I should fix for dinner one more time. It’s nice not to cook and to eat your cooking is an exquisite experience,” Molly said, sniffling.

“I consider myself a rather intelligent person; however, I’m not following your train of thought,” Lucius said. He felt William nudgehis leg. Lucius looked over at William who closed his eyes and shook his head as if he wanted Lucius to drop the subject.

“I have so little to do with all the children gone, and now I’m about to lose Bill to you,” Molly started to cry again.

“Mom,” William winced. “Lucius and I are just friends.”

“Even I don’t believe that,” Severus spoke up. “The two of you look like you’re about to devour each other., whichwould be a lot more entertaining than spilling our darkest secrets and watching Molly cry.”

“Severus, that’s enough,” Healer Thornton scolded. Severus realized too late that it wasn’t a good idea to insult the matriarch of the Weasley clan. He snickered at the verbal abuse they rained down of him. This meeting was turning out to be more interesting than he anticipated.

“What did Snape do this time?” Harry asked with a weary voice as he entered the meeting.

Healer Thornton couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he explained, “He insulted Mrs. Weasley.”

“Ah!” was Harry’s reply, understanding everything. “Severus, behave yourself.” Harry demanded lightly.

“I thought I was.” Severus said mildly, “I made a simple observation. It’s not my fault that they,” he waved his hand indicating the small group of people, “can not accept criticism.”

“Please,” there came a weak voice.

The room became deathly quiet as everyone’s focus turned to the where the voice came from. It was startling to see it came from Draco.

“Please,” Draco repeated, “It’s too loud. Please don’t fight.” Draco hid his face into George’s shoulder. Fred rubbed reassuringly his back to calm him.

Severus stood and acknowledged Draco with a slight bow. “My apology Master Malfoy. I will endeavor to ’behave’ myself in your presence.”

“As all of us will,” the Healer added. With a smile he added, “It’s good to have you back with us Draco.”

Draco only snuggled closer into George.

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After the meeting, Harry and Severus used the floo system to go home. When they got there, they found Poppy waiting patiently behind Harry’s desk. Placed in the middle of the desk was an album, faded with age, but in in pristine condition. She rose from her chair to meet the two men, clutching the album to her chest.

“Hello Severus,” she nodded. “Harry.”

“Poppy, what a surprised!” Harry said as he rushed to her side to give her a hug. “Is everything all right?”

“I came to visit an old friend, if that’s okay with you Harry,” she barely acknowledged Harry's presence. Her eyes were transfixed on Severus. “It’s time to share memories I think.”

Harry eyes shifted from Severus and Poppy and back again before answering, “I’ll check on dinner. You’ll stay and share our meal won’t you?”

She finally looked at Harry and said with a smile, “I would love to have dinner with my two fellows, but can you give Severus and me an hour or so of privacy?”

“Of course. I’ll make myself scarce,” Harry gave her a peck on the cheek, and as he passed Severus he reached out and squeezed his arm firmly. He closed the door behind him and could feel a silencing charm being put up around his study. He felt slightly left out, but it was obvious what Poppy had to share with Severus was sensitive. Without a second thought, Harry went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

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“Come, Severus,” Poppy reached her hand out to Severus. “Come sit with me, and I’ll tell you my deep dark secrets.”

Severus took her hand and walked to the couch where the two sat closely together. She placed her family album on her lap and petted it as if it was a dear pet.

“I come from a very wealthy family,” she started. “I was precocious and spoiled rotten; I enjoyed life to its fullest and got whatever I wished.”

“Poppy, you’re nothing like that…” Severus said.

“No, not now. I had a lot of growing up to do to get where I am now. As I was saying, I got whatever I wanted and when I was sixteen, I was in love. Not puppy love, mind you, but the mature, ever-lasting love,” Poppy snickered at her own stupidity.

“I have a picture of my love in here,” she was still rubbing the top of her album. “Tall, dark and handsome, every girl's dream.” She opened the book slowly. Severus first noticed a delicate beauty standing in her Sunday best.

“That was me at sixteen,” she informed Severus. She turned the page slowly, almost reluctantly. “This is the picture of the man I fell in love with. He possessed my heart and soul, and I did anything he asked.”


Severus gasped as he saw the picture. Tom Riddle was smiling back at him. “You and…he?” Severus pointed at the picture, almost unable to breathe.

“Yes, the love of my life was Tom Riddle. He was older, more sophisticated, and he and said the right things. He treated me as a queen, which I thought I deserved, and I doted on him. I gave him anything he wanted, including my virginity.” Tears leaked from Poppy’s eyes as she spoke.

“Severus,” Poppy lifted Severus’s chin until their eyes met, “I killed for him. I took a gun and shot a man I never met. I can still hear him begging me not to do it. I walked up to him and shot him in the head.”

“Poppy,” Severus had no idea what to say or how to comfort her.

Poppy wiped her eyes with her bare hands and sniffled, “I refuse to cry over something that happened decades ago. I did my penance, and try to live a good fulfilling life.”

“What happened?” Severus finally choked out.

“I was sent to a clinic in Switzerland. There, they found out I was under the Imperius curse. Knowing that didn’t help,” Poppy straightened her back and regained control of her emotions.

“Then it wasn’t your fault,” Severus consoled Poppy.

“Perhaps not, but I didn’t even try to resist and I should have. What is worse is once I was released, I returned to my lover,” she continued.

“No! How could you?” Severus felt guilty once the words poured out of his mouth. He went back to Voldemort to many times before finally going to Albus for sanctuary.

“I loved Tom Riddle, it was that simple. I loved him so much I bore his son,” Poppy stated.

“Voldemort has a son?” Severus was flabbergasted.

“No, but Tom Riddle does. It was when I found out I was pregnant that I took a really close look at him. I did not like what I saw. With each passing day, he was changing into the monster that we all knew. So I ran as far away as I could and had his son.”

“What happened to the boy?” Severus was having a hard time trying to believe what he was hearing.

“I gave him up for adoption, and don’t ask me to whom. Neither you nor any one else will ever know who he is, but I’ll tell you this: he’s a wonderful young man who gave me three grandchildren even if he isn’t even aware of it,” she smiled as she spoke of her son.

“Why tell me now? Why not take this secret to your grave?” Severus asked.

“Because we all have secrets that will eat us alive if not dealt with. For a moment forget Harry, and Healer Thornton. We’re just two old friends who are reminiscing about our live. Tell me the dark secret that you’ve never shared; the one that you try to bury every time it creeps into your mind. There will be no judgment. Only understanding.” Poppy patted Severus’s hand.

Severus shuttered at the memories of his past. The ones he never spoke of, not even to Dumbledore.

“I was not much older than you,” Severus began…


TBC


A/N Thank you for taking the time to review my story. Everyone of them is cherished and greatly appreciated.