The July quietly slipped to August, the weather was warm with too few of rainy and gloomy days, he yearned for them. He wanted to escape the brightness of the sun. The cheerful weather that was so much at odds with his own inner gloom.
Narcissa and Hermione continued to exert their will, pushing him to do exercises, even and especially when he snarled and argued with them. He could feel his muscles returning to their strength. Not that it mattered. The day before he even managed to make a few shaky steps, leaning heavily on the shoulders of Narcissa and Hermione. Not that it mattered either.
Lucius came at least once a day, he talked about everything and nothing. Not that it mattered. He would listen to his old friend, annoyed and ashamed, nodding politely. Participating in the conversation as much as he could without snapping. It still didn't matter.
Poppy was more than satisfied with his progress, with walking and his muscle recovery and… He stopped listening. Why were all of them so blind? It didn't matter. Small things, insignificant… A grown man in his forties learning to walk again, hardly a newsworthy material.
A family of Death Eaters, one of the social elite, showing a mercy to a poor half-blood friend, the Dark Lord's weapon, the right arm of darkness. Trying to integrate themselves and him into society once more. Not a front page material - not now at any rate. It didn't matter, not on a large scale of things.
A little Know-it-all, miss handsy, was still ruining her reputation - this time deliberately. She chose to stay, chose to taint her good name for his sake. Like that would have any effect - it didn't matter.
Nothing mattered in a long run.
He could walk. He could reclaim his family last name and all their fortune, all their privileges… It didn't matter at all. People were still the same. They will bow before him, they will lie their way to his good will and - they will still despise and hate him.
And even his "dream lady" abandoned him. Or at least that's how it seemed to him. There are no dreams of her, she doesn't show up - for a debate or as a seductress. But that...that is his fault. Yes, he knows what is going on with him, he just doesn't have the strength to do anything about it.
The only marginally interesting thing, the only thing that can reach his num brain is Draco. The boy has an agenda, he has a plan. And if he isn't too tired to get involved Severus would ask and offer his help. But not now. Still, he follows closely what is going on.
Oh, yes - Draco is leading Hermione to some still unseen goal. First, he left the papers for her, turned and folded on just the right page. He doesn't know what was the article Draco aimed at, but he knew enough to know how looks like when someone setting the trap. After that, he informed Hermione about the fact that he already passed his NEWTs. The other day he voluntarily exposed Hermione to Daphne, after that Hermione was quiet and absent-minded for the most of the evening.
He wondered briefly should he be worried for the girl. And he most certainly would be if this was Lucius...but Draco… Draco was all bark and no bite. His Death Eater days took all the fight out of the boy. Besides, even if his parents gave their blessing, a political move no doubt even if Narcissa tried to negate it, the Greengrass family was always pro-Muggle lenient. So in retrospect, Hermione was safe whatever Draco planned.
But, what was the boy's endgame?
The day dragged on, same as previous ones. Nagging elf around meals times, two fussy females forcing him to suffer through a series of exercises… In retrospect, he should have known that sooner or later something was bound to happen. And it did.
Hades screeched loudly, ruffling his feathers at the brown owl, a common resident of Hogwarts owlery. He glanced at the raven with fondness, bloody owls from Hogwarts never managed to bring good news.
I don't want to talk to her. He thought with a silent groan. Minerva sent him a note informing him that she is going to visit later that day. Maybe she wants funds for the Hogwarts, she did try to convince Albus to consider taking patrons for the school.
Severus sighed. He was aware that both Hermione and Draco watched him with poorly hidden curiosity. He took self-filling quill from the nightstand and scrawled his reply sending the owl back to Hogwarts. Hades glared at him, feather still ruffled - even the bird judged him.
Hours later Minerva walked into the room, with Longbottom and Lovegood trailing behind her. He groaned, forcing himself to glare at his former students and Minerva, she never mentioned that she will bring those two.
"It is nice to see you, Severus. You look better."
"Good day Professor." Lovegood girl smiled at him airly.
Merlin, she is still out of the touch with reality. "I wish I could say the same, Minerva."
His words were lost in a happy cry from Hermione and annoyed huff from Draco. Hermione was hugging her friends, sending a polite hello to Minerva.
"We will go to the…"
"There is no need for that Miss Granger, I came to see Severus and you." replied Minerva, he knew that tone.
What is she plotting now?
"By all means, Minerva. Do state your business so we could get over with this quickly and as painlessly as possible." he wished he could sound cross or acerbic as his old self did but even to his own ears he just sounded tired and deflated.
"This isn't an official visit, Severus. But, I can make it one if you wish so." Minerva glanced at him, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed to his right. She was positioned between him and four of their students.
So I am just an excuse, she is here for the girl.
He wasn't sure should he feel relieved or insulted. He had nothing against Minerva, and she played her part perfectly if unknowingly in the last year of the war. She was one thing he could count on, her need to spite him and to protect students.
"I would prefer if you do so."
"Very well. Do you plan on returning to teach at any point?"
"No. You very well know that teaching was never my goal, not when I started and not now." he replied stiffly, this was too many information in too public setting, but he couldn't bring himself to care. "I am now well off and have no need to earn my keep."
Minerva sat quietly looking at him with sad eyes for a while before she nodded. "In that case…"
"I am sure we could work something out as long as you do not insist on me setting a foot in that cursed place - ever again, Minerva. That is one of my conditions."
"One?" Minerva looked at him over the rims of her glasses perched on the tip of her nose, her face a fit stiff. "What would be other conditions?"
"We will discuss that in private, Minerva."
"You may speak freely now. Neville is already a member of Hogwarts staff, in a year or two he will take over Pomona's class. Miss Lovegood is very supportive towards Hogwarts. Malfoys already pledged their patronage."
He looked at Minerva but kept a corner of the eye on the sofa. Hermione was changing colours, her face shifting emotions every few moments. Draco had a smug gleam in his eyes.
Slippery little weasel.
Now he understood Draco's plan, maybe not the reason behind it, but reason didn't matter either way. He would be the one to benefit from Draco's plan. He will lend a helping hand to the boy. Leaving a long silence to fill the room he finally nodded.
"Very well, I will set a few funds - scholarship programs for Muggleborns and Half-bloods from poor families, tuition and obligatory school provisions. A separate fund for the same group sorted in Slytherin and scholarship for mastery in Potions under the condition that suggested candidate pass the test I devised."
"Do you plan on offering a mastery course to the students?"
"No." he had no will or inclination of teaching to the rest of his days, which may not be as long as everybody around him predicted. "I am done with teaching, with idiots."
"If that is what you wish, Severus. However, if you change your mind…"
"I won't." he cut her off.
The conversation started to tire him, it took a lot of his strength to maintain at least a seemingly normal attitude. What he really wished for was to be left alone. Minerva seemed to sense as much, she didn't move but she did turn to Hermione.
"And shall we see you in school this fall, Miss Granger?"
"Ummm, you see, Professor, I'd love to but…" Hermione started to stutter. He watched her covertly, suppressing the need to bark at the girl that she should go, consequences be damned.
"But what, Miss Granger?" Minerva looked the girl over the rims of her glasses.
"Well, I take care of Severu...ummm...Profes...amm...Mr. Sna...Prince, and I still do hold the capacity of his secretary…"
"I have no use of an uneducated secretary, Miss Granger. Your position is purely perfunctory at this moment due to the circumstances." He replied in a flat matter-of-fact tone. Hermione's head snapped in his direction, eyes big and almost scared.
What is she afraid of?
"Yes, I understand that, but… Matron left me in charge of Mr Prince's therapy and…" Hermione tried again and this time Minerva stopped her from talking.
"Poppy informed me that Severus is progressing nicely, and for his needs, at this point, she can provide alternate help." Minerva raised her hand to prevent Hermione from trying to speak and continued. "If you try to give that unfortunate lapse in judgement regarding the Occlumency, Miss Granger, I have to inform you that I talked with Albus about that."
There was a collective gasp in the room. He felt like someone stabbed him or punched him hard under the ribs. Minerva just tightened her face more and gave a sigh, one she used when she was talking about particularly dense students.
"You do remember that we are in the wizarding world? Portraits can be overly talkative, but occasionally they can be of use." Minerva had her lecturing tone of voice. "As Albus informed me, Miss Granger, your accident was avoided for a long time due to a careful research of practitioner of the art, and the fact that knowledge is transferred from teacher to pupil. It is not something you simply may read in books."
Hermione blushed and bowed her hear mumbling and too quiet apology. Minerva nodded and continued to talk.
"You are not the first who made this mistake, maybe only luckier given that Severus does not suffer from any serious consequences."
"I beg to differ, Minerva." He grumbled.
"Oh, Severus, shush. As I was saying… Albus informed me that you two can be physically separated, only your metal connection will stay until Severus is well enough to dismantle it properly or allow the Mind Healer to do it. As long as neither of you is in a life-threatening danger or severely mentally damaged by the curse, you will be fine. Albus told me to look for references for the process in the Atlas of Unusual Healing Accidences."
"Yes, but Severus has a very strict exercises regime and some of those are from the Muggle world, who would…" Hermione tried again, this time Draco cut in.
"I will. That is if you arrange it with the Minister and Wizengamot. I may stay here still as your assistant and take care of Severus. I know all by heart. And you can teach me that massage…"
Lovegood girl giggled, Longbottom blushed to the roots of his hair but Hermione beamed at Draco.
"Would you?"
"It certainly beats returning to the Ministry for the remaining of my penance." replied Draco.
"And you will be in the same year with me." chimed in Lovegood
"Didn't you already finished your schooling?" asked Hermione.
"No, Neville did. I had to retake exams from the sixth year. And I had to take over the editing of the Quibbler, dad is home finally but he is...he's not well. Headmistress allowed me to do that from school." smiled Lovegood "And Neville is a teacher now…"
"Assistant teacher." quietly corrected her Longbottom.
"Assistant teacher then. You won't be alone. What do you say, Hermione?"
"Well, I want to finish my seventh year properly…" she glanced at Draco.
"Don't look at me, I was homeschooled - properly." sneered Draco at her.
"Draco," Lovegood turned to him. "Could I bother you for the interview for Quibbler? We are gaining readership and becoming a sought-out and respected magazine now."
"Very well, that's settled then, I wish to speak with Severus in private now." Minerva cleared her throat. The kids stood up without a word.
"We could go to the…" offered Hermione.
"Rosarium! We could sit in the Rose garden." Draco suggested.
"Misty will call you when the time comes." He added, eager to get rid of them, so many people in the room started to tire and annoy him.