The Burning Pen

A New Beginning
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 74

Chapter 74 ~ Reaching an Understanding

Hermione and the children had an enjoyable supper together, Rod telling them what he did during the holidays so far and how much fun he had. Everyone was shocked when they found out what Professor Snape’s gift was.

”He gave you a broom for Christmas? Wow!” Hugo said, impressed.

Hermione didn’t say anything, but she smiled. The Potions master was certainly wracking up the points.

“Yes, a Firebolt. I can’t fly as good as you and Rose, but I’m doing all right,” Rod said, eating more stew. It was delicious. “I need a lot more practice. I’m going to need the broom so I can reach the higher fields when I start working.”

”That’s why he bought it for you,” Rose said, her eyes narrowing slightly.

”I guess,” Rod said, “But still, it’s mine.”

Hermione looked at her daughter. Rose didn’t seem impressed by Severus’ gift to Rod.

”He doesn’t seem to do anything unless there’s something in it for him,” the witch said, her mouth turning down.

“Rose, that’s not true!” Hermione exclaimed, “Professor Snape sacrificed a lot for the Wizarding World.”

”Yeah. I know. He’s a ‘hero,” Rose said a bit disparagingly, “Let’s all bow down and kiss the hem of his robes.”

Rod looked at Rose, his brow furrowed. She didn’t like Professor Snape. Hugo didn’t say anything but continued to eat his stew. Hermione turned crimson.

”Rose! That’s a terrible thing to say,” she chided her daughter.

Rose pressed her lips together stubbornly and said nothing.

Hermione sighed, not understanding her daughter. If Rose didn’t like Severus, why did she tell her to go see him on Christmas night?

Rose finished her stew quickly.

”May I be excused?” she asked her mother.

”Go ahead, Rose,” Hermione said to her, frowning.

The witch left the table, went into her room and put on her cloak, hat, scarf and gloves then left the apartment, Rod, Hermione and Hugo looking after her.

Hermione sighed.

”I don’t know why Rose is acting the way she is,” the witch said.

Hugo looked at his mother.

”I think she’s comparing Professor Snape to dad. He’s nothing like him,” Hugo said.

“No, he’s not,” Hermione agreed.

Rod took a drink of his pumpkin juice, not wanting to join in this family conversation.’

“She’s missing dad, mum. She knows you like Professor Snape and it kind of bothers her. I think she’s a lot like Grandmum, though she really wants to see you happy. I know she does,” Hugo said encouragingly.

Rod cleared his throat.

“I’m going to go and check on Rose,” he said to Hermione, who gave him a sad, little smile.

”Thank you, Rod,” she said.

Hugo didn’t move. His mum needed support. Rose was acting like a spoiled brat and he was going to tell her so too. Later.

“I’ll help you with the dishes, mum,” he offered as Rod went and put on his sweater, hat, scarf and gloves then exited the apartment.

”Thank you, Hugo,” Hermione said, smiling at him.

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Rod found Rose in the picnic area. A single torchlight illuminated the small area. She was sitting there, staring out into the forest. Rod sat down quietly. Presently she looked at him.

”Hi Rose,” he said, “Are you all right?”

Rose blinked at him, her eyes filling.

”I don’t know, Rod,” she replied, “I . . . I just don’t know what to think about my mum and Professor Snape. He’s so . . . so dark. And he controls everything. I don’t think my mum sees that. Plus he’s mean-spirited. I don’t think I want him with my mum.”

Rod didn’t say anything at first. They sat in silence for a while.

“He kept me from going to Azkaban,” the wizard said.

Rose stared at him.

”What? How?” Rose asked Rod, interested.

“I never told anybody about what had happened before I got arrested. I . . . I had summoned Voldemort back from the dead,” Rod said to the witch, “Only I didn’t know it was Voldemort. He said his name was Tom. He was a ghost. He was the one who taught me the Locomordres spell.”

Rose’s eyes widened.

”Lord Voldemort? Oh my gods, Rod!” she exclaimed.

”Yes. And if Professor Snape didn’t show me who he really was, I would have gone to Azkaban. He came out of hiding for me, Rose,” the wizard said, “He had to expose himself to help me. So he isn’t all selfish.”

Rose scowled.

”I bet he still had a reason for it,” she said stubbornly.

”Maybe he did, but I doubt it was entirely a selfish one. He could have remained hidden,” Rod said. “And . . . and he showed me what he went through, Rose. It was horrible. He really is a hero, but he wasn’t ever treated like one. He doesn’t care about that, even if everyone else does.”

Rose still looked unconvinced.

”Still, he’s a dark wizard, Rod,” she said to him.

”So am I,” Rod responded. All Slytherins were considered dark by default.

”Not like he is,” she said to the wizard. “He’s cold, unfriendly and sarcastic. He always sets the wards to trap me and Hugo, and look how he always grabs your neck when you disapparate with him. He could catch your sleeve or something, but he likes to hurt you. How mean is that?”

Rod smirked. He didn’t address the ward issue. As far as Rod could see it was Rose’s own fault she was continuously getting covered by bubble gum. She should know better by now. Hugo had told him all about it. So he addressed the neck-grabbing instead.

”He’s just trying to make me take my Apparition test, Rose. It’s just a rough way of getting his point across. It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “And for as him being the way he is, if you had seen what he’s gone through, you’d understand him better. You’d see why he’s the way he is.”

”Well, I don’t know what he went through, and I seriously doubt that even if I did it would excuse the way he acts toward other people,” Rose said. “Suppose he starts mistreating mum?”

Rod looked at her consideringly. Despite how threatening the wizard could be, Rod didn’t believe the Professor would mistreat anyone beyond telling them off and acting snarky. Most likely, they would deserve it too.

”Rose, can you do Legilimency?” he asked her.

”A little,” she said, “if I focus hard.”

”Listen, the Professor showed me a Pensieve of what it was like for him as a spy under Voldemort. If you saw my memories, you’d see he really is a good man. You’d know it for certain. Only a good man would go through what he did for the Wizarding World. But, but it isn’t pretty, Rose,” Rod said, wondering if this were such a good idea.

Rose looked doubtful. She didn’t think it would make a difference. But, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

”All right,” she said, drawing her wand.

”Give me a minute,” Rod said, pulling up the terrible memories and thinking them over a bit so they would be nice and clear for the witch to access. Rod drew in a breath. “All right, I’m ready.”

Rose pointed her wand at Rod, right between his eyes.

”Legilimens!” she cried.

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

Rose was in tears by the time she managed to pull out of Rod’s memories. The wizard hurriedly ran over to the other side of the table, sat down and let the witch hold on to him, crying into his sweater.

“How . . . how did he ever survive that?” she gasped, trembling against Rod.

”He was strong. He had a job to do,” Rod said, feeling a bit awkward as Rose clung to him. “You see how alone he was, Rose. He had to do everything by himself. Sort of like me, but a million times worse. It makes sense he’s not that friendly. No one was friendly to him back then.”

“They . . . they tortured him and he wouldn’t tell about Uncle Harry,” the witch said, “They almost killed him.”

“He would have died rather than tell anything,” Rod said, “He protected everyone he could, Rose. He can’t be all bad. He might be controlling now, but back then he couldn’t control anything. Maybe that’s why he’s the way he is. And still, he isn’t bad. He saved Hugo, and saved me. Even gave me a job. Come on, Rose. You have to see he isn’t terrible. Just different.”

Rose continued to sob for a few more minutes, Rod patting her shoulder awkwardly. Finally she stopped, but her face and eyes were all red and bleary.

“I feel awful,” the witch said, “The way I talked to him earlier today, and what I said tonight about kissing his robes because he’s a hero.”

Rod didn’t say anything to comfort Rose concerning what she said at the kitchen table. It had been pretty awful and she should feel bad about it. That was the Slytherin in him. Everyone reaps what they sow. Even witches as pretty as Rose Weasley.

“I think we should go back inside. It’s pretty cold out here,” Rod suggested to the witch, who nodded. They both rose and walked back toward the site.

”Do you think I’m an awful witch, Rod? For acting like I did?” she asked the wizard.

Ooh. Loaded question.

”Well, it was pretty awful. I think you hurt your mum’s feelings but it’s not anything that can’t be fixed,” he said encouragingly. “Everyone deserves a second chance. And I don’t think Professor Snape holds anything against you. He’s used to people not liking him.”

Rose took this in.

”Besides, he has to treat you nice. He likes your mum, remember?” Rod added with a grin. “He won’t get too far giving you grief. So don’t worry about it Rose. It’ll all work out in the end.”

Rose found that this actually made her feel a little better. Professor Snape never really treated her badly. She was the one who was acting like a spoiled brat. All she needed to do was be willing to give him a chance, like mum and Hugo.

”Thanks Rod,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.

The wizard turned bright red, though Rose couldn’t see it because it was dark.

”You’re welcome,” he said shortly as the door to the site opened, announcing them.

They entered the apartment. Hermione and Hugo had cleared the table and now the witch was reading over some research. She looked up as the pair entered. Her eyes were a bit dark as she looked at Rose.

Rod excused himself and walked into the bedroom, joining Hugo who was playing with his autographed Snitch, letting it loose and chasing it around the room.

Rose looked at her mother.

”Mum, can I sit down?” she asked her mother.

Hermione moved over a bit stiffly and Rose sat down beside her, looking at her hands which she twisted in her lap. Then she looked at her mother.

“Mum. I’m really sorry about what I said to Professor Snape today, and what I said about him tonight,” she said softly.

Hermione didn’t say anything but continued to look at her research papers. But her eyes weren’t moving so Rose could tell she wasn’t really reading them.

“I just didn’t understand what you see in him. To me, he just seemed like someone everyone just fawned over, because he was a hero. I didn’t understand just what that meant. And it’s like he uses that as a reason to be cold to people, like, like he’s better than them. How he doesn’t socialize or laugh . . . well he laughs but at things he shouldn’t like me and Hugo covered in bubble gum . . .”

Hermione’s mouth quirked a bit.

“And mum, I know you like him, but I couldn’t really see him liking anybody. He seemed too selfish. And he seems so dark, like he could hurt you. I’m sorry I felt like that, but he’s so different than dad. I know he gave you this job and this place, but that’s because you make money for him . . . and I thought you might have started liking him just because you were lonely and he was here. I want you to be happy mum, I just wasn’t sure that you could be happy with someone like him. I’m still not sure, really. But that’s not a reason for me to mistreat him and act like a spoiled brat. I just want to tell you that I’m sorry and I’m really going to try and get along with him, mum. And I’m sorry for what I said about him being a hero. He really is one. A real one,” Rose said to her mother, tears falling from her eyes for acting like such a bitch.

Hermione sighed.

”Why didn’t you just tell me how you felt, Rose? I could have told you more about him,” Hermione said.

”Because you already liked him, mum. I didn’t want to be like Grandmum, but I guess I am kind of. Worse, really, because I held it in,” Rose said, her voice quavering.

“Rose, I wasn’t wild about Professor Snape when I was your age either, believe me. And your father . . .”

Hermione shook her head.

”He couldn’t stand him. Neither could Harry. None of us knew what kind of man he was back then. It was only after Voldemort died we found out the truth about him. He never tried to make anyone think better of him either. He’s still that way. But Rose, he’s capable of great love. He really is. And he is kind, though he doesn’t like to show it and covers it up by pretending he’s only doing kindnesses because there is something in it for him. Like tonight. He brought Rod here so you and Hugo could see him, not because of the fields. But he’d rather we believed that rather than he did something nice just to be nice. It’s his way. And annoying as it is, I like that about him. It’s one of many things I like about him,” Hermione said, smiling at her daughter.

“He’s certainly good at it,” Rose said, scowling slightly.

”He’s perfected it for years,” Hermione said, shaking her head slightly. “He’s really mellowed though. He’s not as bad as he was.”

”He’s not living the kind of life he was,” Rose said, “He’s free now.”

”Yes. And he wants a normal life, Rose. A happier one then he’s had. If I can make him happy, I want to,” Hermione said to her daughter, “He makes my life happier, despite how dark he is.”

”Then that’s all that really matters, mum,” Rose said to her mother. “Again, I’m sorry. I’m going to apologize to the Professor the next time I see him for what I said at lunch.”

”I’m sure he’ll appreciate that Rose,” Hermione said, giving her daughter a hug and a kiss on her cheek.

The air cleared, both mother and daughter sat in companionable silence, Rose retrieving a copy of “Teen Witch” and Hermione returning to her notes.

There was much to be said for communication.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.

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