The Man Who Came In From The Cold

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 has carried on well past Harry Potter’s 7th Year. Snape is on the run from Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic, both of whom will stop at nothing to silence him. He finds unexpected refuge in the most unlikely of places.

The Man Who Came In from the Cold

Chapter 008: Curiouser and Curiouser…

Snape found that Christiane wasn’t joking when she said the outbuilding needed work inside. The walls had been over-run with damp and needed treating. The flooring needed to be re-laid. The list grew steadily longer but he was resolved to make the most of the situation. Goodness knows his former home in the North of England was far worse.

Spinner’s End – it was no loss to leave it behind, only the multitude of books which had lined its walls. Each and every one meticulously chosen and placed in its sacred space on the shelves that covered every inch of space right up to the ceiling, but it was a matter of practicality given the house was a typical two-up two-down affair.

This building – this house, his new house, was blessedly different. Had Christiane been more enterprising she would have renovated it long ago and let it to tourists who had more money than sense. It was quite a roomy affair, far more space than one person really needed, in his mind. But it suited him after having such cramped quarters at his former residence and even at Hogwarts. He couldn’t say ‘home’ – he’d never really had a home. But gîtes were big business – and she could solve all her financial problems just by renting this out as self-catering accommodation.

He realised though it was a good idea – the place wasn’t hers to let out for a profit. He was beginning to understand the complexities of her situation with the farm. In some ways she was being taken advantage of. But the one time he dared broach the subject they’d fallen out again, so he let the matter drop – for now.

The former professor had spent the better part of the weeks leading up to Christmas getting his house in order when he wasn’t doing farm work or looking after the books. He let out a weary sigh as he surveyed his handiwork so far. He ached in places he never dreamt possible – but there was no doubting the satisfaction of having done it all himself – with some help from his employer here and there.

‘Well you certainly have kept yourself busy,’ Christiane said approvingly as she walked into the space and looked around. ‘Nice job! It already looks a hundred times better in here…’

‘Rather than throw out all these things, I propose you sell them at the car boot sale you mentioned. If the previous tenants had wanted them they would not have left it all behind. This lot should fetch a reasonable price.’

‘Take what you can use – and then we will see about the rest. You need furniture down here and some of this stuff is actually quite nice…just needs cleaning and fixing up a bit...’ She looked at a rickety table about to fall over. ‘Well – ok, a lot….’

‘What about you? Surely some of this interests you?’

‘I don’t have the room and besides, I’ve got all the things I’m getting rid of. Make a fresh start and all that…’

Christiane began putting up Roman blinds and heavy curtains and Snape protested, thinking that she had spent her own money.

‘Before you say something to destroy my newly-recovered goodwill, you ought to know I rescued these from my attic. Something else some of the previous tenants left behind. The waste! They haven’t even been used!’ the young woman said tartly, ‘And there are all sorts of things that you will find useful. You can bring in what you’d like to keep – everything is on the verandah. Anything you don’t want, we can sell.’

Snape moved everything indoors while Christiane finished putting up the window dressings throughout his house. She ignored his muttered commentary and continued on with her work in his bedroom. There was an old bed, night-table and wardrobe which they had managed to heave up to the loft. It was a decent space and with a bit of airing the acrid smell that filled the place should clear. She secured the cream-coloured blind and then topped it with curtains that were a sumptuous shade of berry red which matched the blanket and comforter along with the decorative tapestry.

As a house-warning present, she had given him two authentic Bayeux Tapestries brought back from a weekend trip home. One was now hung in the large living space downstairs and the other she’d hung on the largest wall of the sleeping alcove one day while he tended the horses. He’d given her little more than a nod of acknowledgement for her efforts and hadn’t taken them down, so he must not be terribly displeased. Beggars can’t be choosers anyway, she thought to herself, and what was good for her would have to be good enough for him.

‘There – nice and cosy!’ she said as she stood back and admired her decorating skills. ‘He’ll be beating them off with a stick…’

‘I will be beating whom?’ Snape asked as he swooped into the room to see what she was up to.

The idea of someone being in his own intimate space made him feel…uneasy.

‘Whoever it is that you’ll be…getting it on with…when you get them up here,’ she said with a strange gesture.

‘What kind of man do you think I am Miss Barthélémy?’

‘I don’t think anything, Monsieur Ravenscroft,’ Christiane said irritably as she pushed past him. ‘Now about these things downstairs…’

xxxOOOxxx

Hermione and Ginny took their time in shopping in Diagon Alley and then headed for Selfridges and House of Fraser on Oxford Street. It wasn’t often that they found time to spend together what with their jobs and the work both did for the Order. At Grimmauld place there were always too many other people around and privacy wasn’t in abundance, not even for the odd intimate encounter with their boyfriends now and then.

They sat in a corner booth of a large Muggle restaurant. Here at least they could be assured of privacy as they tucked into a nice meal. Voldemort had spies in every magical establishment between Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic. If you were smart you talked about idle things like the weather, your grandmother’s hideous carpet or the latest Nimbus Millenniums about to go on sale. People were dying because of things they’d said or because someone misinterpreted what they said. They were safer amongst Muggles than they were with their own kind when it came to needing to chat.

‘So – I’m not just imagining that something seems to be going on with you and Lupin, right?’ Ginny asked in a low whisper.

Hermione let out a deep breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.

‘Oh, Ginny – I’ve needed someone to talk to, but Remus has insisted that we don’t tell anyone…’

‘Then maybe we shouldn’t talk about it; forget I mentioned it.’

Hermione blew a wayward lock of hair from off her face and looked at her friend tearfully.

‘I hate keeping secrets, it’s like he thinks I’ll be ashamed of him or something dreadful will happen because I’m with someone who just happens to be…what he is…’

‘Maybe… maybe he’s just trying to be careful because of Tonks. Look at her – she’s a wreck!’

‘She brought it on herself! He doesn’t love her and he’s told her about a hundred times already,’ Hermione snapped.

‘Calm down, Hermione. I’m not the enemy here, ok? But I don’t see why he just doesn’t tell her he’s got someone. It doesn’t matter who it is – she’d have to get over it whoever it was.’

‘Except knowing it’s a stranger isn’t quite the same as knowing he’s with me. Look at Cho and Harry – if he’d shagged her rather than some Muggle after everything you had been through before you wouldn’t have been nice about it at all!’

‘We were kids then, Hermione; of course I wouldn’t have been. But too much has happened, and we are all different people now. Tonks is a grown woman – she’ll just have to deal with it. Fred and Angelina still manage to get on well enough even with everything they’ve been through…’

‘I guess you’re right,’ Hermione sighed as she poked her lasagna. ‘And having to deal with her marrying Oliver… I still don’t have the words for that…’

‘You can’t help who you fall in love with, or who you love. That’s what Mum keeps telling Fred.’

‘Maybe sometimes you should,’ Hermione whispered tearfully.

‘Hermione – are you having doubts about Lupin?’

Hermione sniffed and tears started streaming down her face. Fortunately they were behind a beaded doorway, so no one could see them.

‘I like him, Ginny. I like him enough. It’s just that… I don’t feel…’

‘Your stomach doesn’t turn backflips when you see him or think about him; the earth doesn’t move when he looks at you or he touches you…?’

Hermione laughed quietly.

‘You and Harry – God I really do envy you sometimes!’

‘I know – I can see it, Hermione. That’s why I wanted us to talk. You should be too caught up in your own relationship to be fussed about me and Harry.’

‘I know.’

‘How did you two end up together anyway? I’m sorry, but I am just trying to understand…’

Hermione sat and thought for a minute. And the fact that she had to think at all bothered her as much as it did Ginny.

‘Hermione…? Surely you have some thoughts as to why you are with the man?’

‘He’s good and kind… We can talk about things…’ Hermione reasoned. ‘He knows a lot…’

‘Mmm hmm sounds like Flitwick…’

‘He what?’

‘You might as well be talking about anyone. You don’t even sound like you are even sure about what it is you actually have with him. Its all up here,’ Ginny said gesturing to her head, ‘rather than here,’ she added, gesturing to her heart and then the area wizards believed the soul was.

Hermione was quiet and looked at her friend gravely.

‘He thinks I’m in love with someone else…’ she said tonelessly. ‘At least that’s what he hints at. You know, he’s quite passive-aggressive – Remus is. He plants a seed and then convinces you that it’s all your doing…’

‘Are you sure you aren’t just coming up with some excuse outside of the obvious?’

‘You see – even though you have your doubts about him, you won’t even entertain rational thought. He is such a good man, he has suffered so much – he is just so damn agreeable that no one will consider that he has his faults! He’s got a side to him that is not particularly pleasant!’

‘Well – no one else really knows him like you do, I guess…’

Hermione snorted under her breath.

‘Sirius knows; he knows better than anyone. But he won’t hear a bad word said against the last remaining Marauder besides himself. Remus hides who he really is – even from himself. He is so bloody desperate to be liked…no one can see his imperfections…he won’t allow it.’

‘Sirius thinks you’re in love with Snape – they all do. And I’ve heard him saying things that just shouldn’t be said – and especially to Lupin. So if you want a reason for why Remus has an attitude – his old friend and good buddy is to blame.’

‘I see,’ Hermione said tightly. ‘So – he’s stirring with Remus as much as he used to with Professor Snape. It figures!’

‘Defending Snape to them doesn’t do you any favours, Hermione.’

‘With Dumbledore not around somebody has to talk some sense! If Professor Snape fell into our laps tomorrow he’d be shopped to the Dementors just like that,’ Hermione said with a quiet snap of her fingers. ‘And I actually wouldn’t put it past some of them just kill him on sight for the hell of it. Look at Harry, Ginny, he’s obsessed with Snape and it’s got to stop before he does something to gets him in trouble!’

‘No less than you are, Hermione. I’d say there has to be a middle ground there between the two of you.’

Hermione leaned in closer and spoken even softer than before.

‘Do you really believe that he tried to murder Professor Dumbledore Ginny? Do you really think that all those rumours about things he supposedly did before he came to Dumbledore are true?’

The flame-haired girl sighed.

‘You don’t become a Death Eater without doing some horrendous things. And you don’t stay one unless they are absolutely convinced that you are dedicated to their cause…and they are not easy people to convince of anything.’

‘Forget the Defense Against the Dark Arts crap from Moody! This is me, Ginny! Do you think he’s raped and killed people! Do you really believe him capable of that!’

‘I don’t think that he has done it in the time that we’ve known him, maybe; but I’m not going to pretend that it isn’t possible that he did a lot of evil things before he ‘saw the light’… He’s not a nice man, Hermione. He never has been no matter how many lives he might have saved for our side.’

‘So you do think he’s capable of it then?’

‘Why is this so important to you, Hermione? You are so desperate to see something good in him that quite frankly seems doesn’t make sense to a lot of people. You sound like you do feel something for him; and given what he’s put you through over the years it doesn’t make sense.’

‘I’m not in love with him. Stop looking at me like that! I’m not in love with him and I don’t love him! I just think… The Order is going to have a lot to answer for when Dumbledore gets back…’

‘Dumbledore isn’t coming back, Hermione! There is no way he can survive what Snape did to him!’

Hermione realised it was futile to carry on like this. No matter what she said, she wasn’t really being heard. She probably expected too much from her friend, especially after all their family had been through. Snape was nowhere near the ambush that George had been caught up in, and yet he was blamed for everything. He’d been off on an assignment for Dumbledore, ironically enough, but still everyone thought the resident Death Eater should have known something. That was what he was there for, wasn’t it?

‘Why is that no one has ever seen him with a girlfriend?’ Ginny mused out loud. ‘Even with all the opportunities as school – he never tried it on with any of us… He could have really taken advantage… Lord knows Lockhart did from what I heard…’

‘You mean there is something decent about our old Potions Master after all?’

‘Come on, Hermione! He’s not exactly Playwitch centerfold material, now is he!’ Ginny laughed. ‘But there were a few stupid ones around who would have dropped their knickers for him if they’d been given a shot…’

‘They needed the grades, more like…’

‘Uh huh; you know – you still haven’t answered my question.’

‘And which one would that be?’

‘How did you end up with Lupin?’

‘I don’t know, Ginny! How do people end up getting together? I could ask the same about you and Harry you know?’

‘At least Harry and I have a bit of a history – even if it was a childish crush on my part. You and Lupin – that’s just a bolt out the blue.’

Ginny looked at her friend closely.

‘He must have really been something…’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well – to get you in bed with him! I never figured him to be like that – he’s not your type at all!’

‘And what is my type, exactly?’

‘It’s not him, Hermione. You’re the one having to sit and think about what he is to you and about the fact that you don’t feel anything for him. Is the sex that mind-blowing?’

‘GINNY!’

‘I’m just playing Devil’s Advocate – the same way you did when I went out with Michael Corner back at school.’

Hermione looked so under-enthused by the idea of shagging the werewolf that Ginny took pity on her.

‘I know you aren’t romantic and crazy like I am about feelings and all that, Hermione. I just want you to be happy – and right now I can see that you aren’t.’

‘I know. I just want all this to end… I want…I want more than I will probably ever have. I’m not the prettiest girl, Ginny. I’ve only ever had my intelligence to recommend me. Men don’t usually go for brains first, second or even third. Remus doesn’t care about my looks and he at least respects the fact that the best I can offer anyone is companionship. I’ll never be anyone’s idea of a trophy wife.’

‘Maybe one day when you start to really believe in yourself, you’ll see that you can do better…and that you have a lot more to offer a man, the right man, than being a fuck buddy.’

‘Even if it’s not Ron?’

‘You’re too good for him, Hermione! He’s about as emotionally intelligent as your average First Year. Stop settling for men who can’t make you happy! Ron’s no better than an overgrown child!’

‘If only it were that easy. We can’t all be like you, Ginny. You’ve never been short of attention, not at school and not since leaving. And you ended up with a man that more than a few would sell their souls to Voldemort for.’

‘They are attracted to his fame and what they think it will bring them. But I guarantee you none of them are interested now unless he lives – and doesn’t have Death Eaters breathing down his back. There is no halfway with Harry – you have to take the bad with the good. And quite frankly none of those stupid girls at school was up to the job of loving him and accepting all the baggage that comes with it.’

‘Ginny…’

‘You know what I’m saying is right. I love him and I am willing to risk my life for him. I am willing to die for the love I have for Harry – and I have no regrets, not one. He is not an easy man to love, but I do love him. Even you couldn’t do that, remember?’

There was an awkward silence as both women looked at their cold meals.

‘You’ve got charisma, Ginny. You’ve got this something that makes people pay attention when you walk into a room. There could be other women ten times as attractive, but it’s you that people want to be around. I don’t have that. I am an ‘insufferable know-it-all for a lot of people. I know I have a sensitivity chip missing. I know that I am not easy to be around. I’m useful, that’s about as far as it goes for some…’

It wasn’t every day that Hermione revealed so much of herself, and especially her insecurities.

‘Even today,’ Hermione continued sadly. ‘You have no idea how much you are looked at and admired. You’ve got that something that no amount of reading books is going to give me. No one sees me, the real me – inside. No one, except Remus… he tolerates me pretty well, really.’

‘Maybe people do see you and admire you for the woman you are, Hermione. You just don’t want to believe it… I think you do need your head examined if you think that Remus Lupin is the best that you can do. I don’t have anything against him, except that being with him doesn’t make you happy. You can’t be that desperate – not in a month of Sundays. You are the woman who pulled Viktor Krum – and he is still trying to get you back!’

‘Viktor – people don’t think much of him except for what he does on the Quidditch pitch; and he’s lovely really.’ Hermione said blushing. ‘He makes me feel like I am the most important thing in the world to him; like I am the most beautiful girl in the world… he always treated me like a princess… That’s what he always calls me… his princess…’

‘Do you have any idea what you look like when you think of him Hermione,’ Ginny said, taking her friend’s hands into her own. ‘The way you look now is the way you should look when you talk about Lupin. You love Viktor – you always have. It’s only your insecurities about the fan-girls and becoming famous as his girlfriend that has kept you apart.’

‘Oh come on! That’s just ridiculous!’

‘Is it? You just compared yourself to me, making me feel like shit by the way, and justified settling for Lupin because he ‘tolerates’ you. For Merlin’s sake Hermione, get it together with Viktor while you still can or else one day you will wake up and it will be too late. He won’t wait forever, and you are damned lucky he even wants to be bothered after what you’ve put him through. I don’t understand the hold Lupin has over you...but at least you know Krum loves you and he always has.’

‘Viktor sent word; he’d like me to go to Bulgaria for a bit. His family would like to see me again – can you believe it?’

‘Why wouldn’t they – you are the woman he loves, after all? You got on with them every time you went out there!’

‘I’ve never met Remus’ parents. He lives on their property – and yet not once have I met them since we’ve been together…’

‘If it were me – I’d be following my heart and going for the man that loves me and that I do have feelings for, rather than someone who puts up for me for whatever crazy reasons of his own. Look at the life Lupin leads, how can that be any good for you when it’s not what you really want to be dealing with?’

Hermione sighed.

‘So breaking up with Remus is a good idea then…?’

Ginny snorted.

‘I don’t know why you even went there in the first place…’

‘Arggghhh how could I be so stupid! I just wanted to forget Viktor and put all that behind me!’

‘You what? Hermione Jane Granger – aren’t you the one always lecturing on the perils of rebounding and using people for something as idiotic as forgetting someone else you love! Do you remember what you said to Terry Boot just last week about Padma?’

‘Oops?’

‘Oops my arse!’

‘I’ve let this carry on for too long. I’m going to settle it, tonight when we get back. I should have never pushed Viktor away and at least it’ll give him a Tonks a chance – at least she does have a mad pash for him…’

‘Well that’s one consolation…’

‘What is?’

‘That it’s Viktor Krum you are aching to shag and not Snape!’

xxxOOOxxx

Christiane and Snape were going over the house accounts when a car pulled up out front.

‘It’s a bit late, isn’t it?’ Snape said with a sniff. ‘Expecting company?’

‘Were you?’

The former professor scowled and retreated to the kitchen while Christiane went to answer her front door. He heard the sound of it opening followed by rather enthusiastic squealing. There was rapid fire French being mixed with Jèrriais and laughter. She had more than one visitor. He would just collect his coat from the coat closet and go home.

Before he’d had time to clear the room, Christiane stepped into it.

‘It’s about time you met two of the most important people in my life,’ said breezily.

‘Sebastian… this is my sister Esmé; Esmé, this is Sebastian Ravenscroft – my assistant. You should see what he’s been doing to le petit maison. It looks a lot better with him living in it…’

‘Mademoiselle, Enchanté. C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer,’ Snape replied coolly.

‘Merci beaucoup. C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer également,’ Esmé replied with a dimpled smile. ‘If you don’t mind, Monsieur Ravenscroft, I would like to practice my English. I have heard quite a bit about you and how much you have helped my sister…’

She began to potter around the kitchen, taking down large mugs and putting the kettle on to boil.

‘How did you get all the way out here in this snow?’ Christiane said taking a seat.

This was Esmé’s home away from home, so she would just leave her to it.

‘Your guardian angel… I ran into him in St. Helier and he insisted on bringing me out here; he’ll be back in a minute. I was going to come tomorrow on the bus. I’ve got lodgings in town, paid for by Le Café Rouge!’

‘You still would have had a long walk! And in this weather, you must be mad! And why are you staying in town when you can be out here with me.’

‘Well… I got myself a little gig over here for the week and thought why not? Then we can go home together. Besides, you know what maman is like right now… you can’t move for all the decorations and boxes of food. She is got everyone running around like mad – I tell you c’est fou! It’s mad! I’m happy to be missing all that preparation this year. We can stroll in, as sweet as you please on Friday and just take our shoes off… Anyway – the rest of the band is in town and it wouldn’t be right to live in the lap of luxury while they make do with a B&B…’

‘You took a gig so far from home at Christmas time – you are playing with fire girl!’

‘At least I am coming home and brining you with me. God almighty, I will be SO glad when the holidays are over!’

Snape said nothing as he prepared the mug of coffee handed to him. It was quite something to see Christiane and her sister together; if he hadn’t know who they were he could have easily mistaken them for twins they looked so much alike.

‘I was thinking we could have a little soiree at the café after the show tomorrow night. It will be like back home. Good food, good wine and good friends.’ Esmé said warmly as she sat across from Snape. ‘You will come too, Monsieur Ravenscroft?’

He enquired about her music as Christiane ran to get the door.

‘I keep telling you – that thing needs to be serviced. It’s not like you can’t afford it, Sir,’ came Christiane’s teasing voice down the hall.

Snape was too busy listening to her sister to hear the response of her other visitor.

‘Gill – I have someone for you to meet,’ she said enthusiastically as she stepped into the kitchen. ‘This is my assistant, Sebastian Ravenscroft; Sebastian – it’s about time you met the man who keeps the roof over our heads…’

Snape looked up…

…and found himself staring into the shocked eyes of Guillaume D’Arcy.