An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 65 ~ Either a Blessing or a Curse


“You look disappointed,” Ron said to Hermione after she read him Minerva’s letter which stated there would be no hearing concerning Eileen.

They had eaten supper and retired to the living room. They were now sitting side by side on the couch before the cozy fire. Rose and Hugo were back at Hogwarts and it was just them again.

”I am,” she admitted. “I was really looking forward to lighting into the Board. The very idea that Eileen had some magical advantage was ludicrous.”

”The Board realized that,” Ron said, “especially after looking at your own marks at Hogwarts.”

”And Severus’ marks as well. They say we both would have done well in Ravenclaw.”

Ron nodded.

”Snape created quite a few spells that are popular today. Particularly Levicorpus,” Ron reminded her.

”Yes, and that absolutely awful Sectumsempra spell,” Hermione responded, her brows furrowing.

”Brilliant bit of magic, though,” Ron said thoughtfully. “Between you two, Eileen has brains dripping out of her ears. I can kind of see why he wanted you for her mother, Hermione, you are extraordinary. You know that, don’t you?”

Hermione flushed a little.

”Oh Ron, you’re just saying that—“

Ron sat up straighter on the couch and scowled at her.

”No I’m not, Hermione. Why do you think I married you? Even when we went to Hogwarts, I knew you were something special. I even knew it the first time I met you on the Hogwarts train—“

Hermione scowled at him.

”Oh yeah, Ron. Sure you did. We got off to a great start at Hogwarts,” she said sarcastically. “Let’s see—oh yes. After Charms class you said, ‘It’s no wonder no one can stand her. She’s a nightmare, honestly.’”

Hermione frowned at Ron as if he’d said it recently.

Ron shook his head, unable to believe she still remembered his thoughtless statement word for word after all these years.

”Hermione, that was over twenty-five years ago, besides, I was jealous of you. That’s really why I said it. You were so smart, and so good at everything. Really, I was just being a prat. But, that’s when we all became friends, remember?”

”Oh, I remember. It only took me almost being smashed into a pancake by a troll,” she reminded him with a snort.

”Yeah, but it made me look good, didn’t it?” Ron replied, waving an invisible wand and exaggeratedly enunciating “Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa!”

Ron had inadvertently used that spell to pull the huge club out of the troll’s hand and knock it in the head when it fell. It was more of an accident than purposely. But still, it had done the job and Ron was technically the hero, though Harry deserved some credit for shoving his wand up the creature’s nose.

Hermione hit Ron with a cushion, knocking him back against the couch and proceeded to beat him until he grabbed her and pulled her into his lap.

”And to think this all started because of a smelly troll,” he said softly, kissing her soundly.

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

At an unconscionably early hour, Hagrid stumbled across the grounds, wrapped in his blanket, carrying a lantern and groggy with sleep. He stopped at the gate, holding the lantern high and peering through the bars.

” Who’s out thar?” he growled. He’d been awakened by a magical bell that clattered incessantly when someone was at the gate to be let in.

”Severus Snape,” Snape replied, his pale face reflected in the lantern light.

”Oh, perfesser,” Hagrid said, becoming more alert. “Why yeh ‘ere so early?”

Snape produced Alsop’s letter.

”A student, Mr. Alsop Potter, requested to see me about an important matter concerning my daughter. Since I do have a business to run and it sounded important, I decided to come early.”

”But he’s probably still asleep, perfesser.”

”I’ll wake him,” Snape replied.

Hagrid blinked at him.

”Fine,” he said, pulling his wand out, unwarding the gates and letting Snape in.

”I don’t need ter walk yeh to tha castle, do I?” Hagrid asked with a yawn.

”No, I can find my own way, Hagrid.”

”Be sure ter let the Headmistress know yer in the castle and wot yer doing. Yeh kin use tha Floo in tha entrance hall. Night, then,” the half-giant said, turning and heading back to his nice warm bed.

”Good night, Hagrid,” Snape said, then purposely began to walk across the grounds.

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

”My gods, Severus, it’s barely five in the morning,” Minerva complained from her office.

Standing in the entrance hall and talking through the Floo, Snape replied with a purr, “It’s the early bird that catches the worm, Headmistress.

”And I suppose Mr. Potter is your worm. Severus, you are just trying to catch that poor boy off guard and you know it!”

”Still, he requested my appearance, Minerva. He didn’t say what time.”

Minerva sighed.

”Oh, very well. Proceed to Ravenclaw. The castle still recognizes you as staff, so the entrance will open without a password. Let me tell you how to get to Mr. Potter’s room—“

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

”Alohamora,” Snape said softly, unlocking Alsop’s door and entering his room. It was dark. Snape closed the door.

”Lumos,” he breathed, lighting his wand tip and easing up to the bed, letting the light fall on the sleeping wizard. He was dressed in a t-shirt and plaid boxers in Ravenclaw colors. Snape studied him. He had already divined was this was about. Alsop wanted to court his daughter. Snape shined the light around the room, his dark eyes falling on a small wooden chair against the wall. He walked over, retrieved it and sat down next to Alsop’s bed. Alsop didn’t move. He was sound asleep.

Snape pointed his wand at Alsop’s temple.

”Legilimens,” he breathed, entering the boy’s mind. He’d see his motives for himself.

Snape viewed Alsop’s memories of Eileen from when he first met her. Ouch! It certainly wasn’t pretty. Eileen turned him into a stinkbugger when he wouldn’t leave her alone. To his credit, he didn’t retaliate, but kept trying to talk to her and make her laugh.

One day he walked up to the boulder she was sitting on by the lake. She was reading. He walked in front of her, spread his arms and said, “Just do it, Eileen. Here’s some suggestions. A newt, frog, maybe a three-toed slug. I’m ready.”

He closed his eyes.

Eileen looked up at him, scowling.

”You’re so stupid, Alsop,” she replied, not hexing him and returning to her book.

He opened one eye and looked at her, then opened both eyes and lowered his arms. Very slowly, and very carefully he sat down on the boulder next to her.

Snape continued viewing, seeing how the friendship developed. Then he saw the scamp stealing kisses from his daughter, after which he was turned into a number of small wriggly creatures.

Still, he kept coming back and they became friends. But he was very respectful to her, and took quite a bit of guff, smiling at her biting sarcasm and wit. Snape could see he was completely smitten. He also saw he asked Eileen to be his girlfriend on several occasions. He also witnessed the conversation about the difference between him and his brothers who appeared to be actively shagging witches.

Snape continued to watch Alsop’s memories, seeing Eileen initiate a good night kiss after the ball, and Alsop heel-clicking reaction. Snape smirked a bit at this despite himself.

He started when he witnessed a duel between his daughter and Alsop’s younger brother. He was a Parselmouth? Snape couldn’t believe it when Eileen was changed into a flying pig. Well, he had told her to always stay focused. She’d learned the hard way what not following his instructions could mean. He didn’t think it hurt her to lose a duel to someone other than him. It was a learning experience. Next time, she’d be more vigilant.

He watched as Alsop caught her and took her to the infirmary, and saw her muzzled and leashed for attempting to bite the hand that helped her. He shook his head slightly. Eileen was a little hellcat and he still stood by her side.

He saw the later confrontation with Albus, who brazenly attempted to steal Eileen out from under him, and how he withdrew from her. He also saw Eileen strong-arm him into talking to her, and what happened in the second floor corridor.

His reaction wasn’t good when Alsop kissed her, but he saw his daughter respond to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back. Snape’s belly felt as if there were a thousand heavy stones inside it. Then he heard her ask him if he wanted to shag her.

Snape thought his heart would stop and part of him wanted to withdraw, afraid he was going to see his daughter doing something he didn’t want to see, but—he had to know. So he continued watching and listening.

Alsop’s response was honest, but respectful. And his daughter’s response was exactly what he prayed he’d hear. His instruction didn’t go unheeded. She wasn’t ready to rush in, and apparently, neither was Alsop. He just wanted to be with her.

Snape listened to the rules Eileen laid out and noted Alsop’s responses, and horror at having to contact him. But, he did it and that showed the boy was serious about his daughter. It ended with him nervously penning the letter, his temples perspiring as he wrote the short message.

”I hope he doesn’t kill me,” he said to the owl before tossing it out of the owlery and watching it fly until it was a tiny dot.

”That’s it. I’m all in, now,” he said to himself. “But Eileen, I know you’re worth it.”

Snape withdrew from Alsop’s mind, looking thoughtful.

Eileen was sixteen now, and it was natural she’d start being attracted to wizards. Alsop was a Potter, but he seemed to be of good character and—in love with his daughter. He wasn’t sure if Eileen loved him. She didn’t say it, but she was definitely attracted to him.

Snape sighed. This was it. The thing he had dreaded as a father. Giving another wizard access to his daughter. He looked down at the sleeping Alsop, then raised the torches.

”Mr. Potter,” he said, “Wake up.”

Alsop tossed and turned.

”Wake up, Mr. Potter. You said you wanted to talk to me,” Snape said in a low voice.

Slowly Alsop’s eyes opened and he blinked against the light for a moment, then turned his head and saw Snape sitting alongside his bed. He sat up immediately, sliding back a bit and wiping his eyes as if to make sure he was seeing who he was seeing.

”Good morning, Mr. Potter. I received your letter and came immediately,” Snape purred at him. Alsop looked out the window and could see the gray skies of dawn.

He looked back at Snape.

”Thank you sir,” he responded nervously, “I didn’t know you’d arrive this early.”

”Is that—a problem?” Snape purred at him.

”Oh, no. No, sir. I appreciate you coming. Let me get more presentable,” Alsop said, attempting to get out of bed.

Snape held up one pale hand, stopping him cold.

”No, that’s not necessary, Mr. Potter. Now, what is this about my daughter Eileen that is so important? Is she in some kind of trouble?”

“Oh, no sir. Not at all?” Alsop replied nervously, thinking he might be the one in trouble as he met Snape’s sober gaze.

”Well, what is this about, Mr. Potter? Out with it,” Snape said sharply.

Alsop drew in a deep breath.

”I—I would like your permission to court your daughter, sir. I respect her very much,” he blurted out.

Snape cocked his head at him.

”Only respect, Mr. Potter? You could respect her without courting her, you know.”

Alsop’s eyes rounded and he responded quickly.
”Yes, sir, I know that, sir. But—but I really like her. There’s no one in the world like your daughter, sir.”

”I agree with you there, Mr. Potter. But, she is young and has her studies to think about. Having a boyfriend could interfere with her marks,” Snape said.

”I wouldn’t interfere, sir. In fact, we often study together. I get good marks as well sir, I know how important they are. Her grades wouldn’t suffer. They’d always come first,” he assured the wizard a little desperately.

Snape’s eyes glittered a bit as he remembered what it was like to desperately want a witch. But in his case, the witch didn’t want him back.

”And she is too young for intimacy, Mr. Potter. I don’t want her—compromised, if you understand me. If your goal is to get into my daughter’s knickers—“

Alsop turned absolutely green at this statement.

He began to stutter as Snape looked at him in amusement, fully aware he and Eileen had planned on waiting to explore a sexual relationship.

”Your ability to articulate your position is less than impressive, Mr. Potter,” he said as Alsop’s face fell. He was going to say no.

”However, I must commend you on taking the initiative to contact me and approach the situation as a gentleman. And I do believe, Mr. Potter, that you are indeed a gentleman and will conduct yourself as one toward my daughter. So, yes, I will give you permission to court her.”

Alsop looked at him with wide eyes.

”You will, sir?” he asked in amazement.

Snape nodded.

”But, Mr. Potter, I must warn you, if you hurt my daughter in any manner, physically or emotionally, there will be—a reckoning,” Snape said, his face twisted now. He meant it. Potter’s son or not, there’d be a very painful aftermath.

”Do not break her heart. Do not be—unfaithful. If you feel the need to deal with other witches, you make a clean break with my daughter before you act on that desire, you understand me?”

”There’s—there’s no other witch but Eileen, sir,” he replied honestly.

Snape studied him.

”You’re young, Mr. Potter. You have not yet met a quarter of the individuals who will come into your life. It is possible you may indeed meet someone who moves you more than Eileen. And it is possible Eileen may find herself attracted to another. Things of youth are rarely permanent, love being one of them. Keep that in mind.”

”Yes sir,” Alsop said, wanting to tell the wizard that there would never be a witch that could attract him more than Eileen. But he held his tongue in the face of experience.

”Very well,” Snape said, reaching into his inner robe pocket and producing a long, black feather.

”Give this to Eileen as proof of my blessing,” he told the young wizard, who took it reverently. “She’ll recognize it.”

”It belongs to Raucous, doesn’t it, sir?” Alsop asked him as he studied the glossy feather.

”So you’ve met him?” Snape asked with a slight smirk. He knew what happened with Raucous at the lake.

”Oh, yes sir. A beautiful bird, sir,” Alsop replied.

Snape could have snorted. Alsop was a real charmer. The apothecary stood up.

”Stay well, Mr. Potter,” he said as he departed the room.

”I will, sir. Good-bye, sir,” Alsop replied.

The moment Snape closed the door, Alsop leaped out of the bed, staring at the feather.

”I don’t believe it. He said yes. Oh gods, I think I’m going to pass out,” the wizard breathed, dropping on his bed with a broad smile and falling back onto the mattress.

He couldn’t wait to tell Eileen.

************************************
A/N: :::shakes head::: Snape is something else. Thanks for reading.