Keeping Emma

Chapter 9: Start of Term

Severus landed his broomstick on the front lawn of Hogwarts. He smiled down at Emma as she released the death grip she'd had on him during their ride back. He used his wand to detach their things from his broomstick and float them into the castle. The morning after the wedding, he and Emma had left for Bluff House, the isolated place that Severus had readied to keep her in until she agreed to marry him. They had enjoyed a three week honeymoon there, surrounded by nothing but ocean. But now August was nearing its end. The students would be arriving on September first, and Severus had never actually gotten around to organizing his potions stores or classroom supplies.

As soon as they got settled, Emma called for Merope to come to her. Severus settled Emma and the elf in his potions storeroom. Emma was going to take careful measure of all the ingredients left behind by Slughorn and create a detailed inventory for Severus so he could add it to the supplies he had purchased in Diagon Alley the week he'd met Emma.

He left her with the elf and a good supply of green olives and cinamon sticks and made his way to his classrooms to get them set up. He had two classrooms. The first through fifth year students used the large room. A second, just down the corridor, was for his NEWT level students. The potions he would be teaching them often took longer to brew, sometimes weeks. He did not want to chance having the younger kids accidentally coming into contact with them. He would be starting off with Polyjuice Potion.

Severus looked up as Minerva came into his NEWT classroom with a list. "Here are the names of your NEWT students, Severus," she said. "We have a new student who will be joining the class. She will be a seventh year. I have her transcript from the Salem Witches' Institute. Her grades are excellent. She's an American, the daughter of the new American Ambassador to the UK. He's a wizard. He also represents the American Supreme Coven in its interactions with the Ministry. Her name is Natalie Dalton."

Great, Severus thought. This was just what he needed, an American to hold his NEWT level class back. He knew nothing of the state of magical education in the States, but he was sure it was not up to Hogwarts' standards.

*****

Emma sat next to Severus at the High table as they waited for the students' arrival. She wore the green and black dress Severus had bought her and deep green silk robes that Minerva had given her so she would not stand out as much.

The castle seemed to give itself a shake as the sound of hundreds of young voices were heard in the Entrance Hall. The doors opened and the students began to pile in, pushing and shoving, their voices calling out to each other across the hall as friends who had not seen each other for over two months became reacquainted. Eventually, they began to separate into their houses and took their places at the tables.

Emma noticed the eyes of some of the older students at the Slytherin table seek out Severus, who steadfastly ignored them. Then, she saw their eyes slide over toward herself. Several of the students, mostly at the Slytherin table, began to whisper into the ears of the person next to him, pointing at Emma. Then, that student would, in turn, begin whispering into the ear of the next. Up and down the tables it went as Emma began to feel that same old rock in her stomach that used to be there when she was in school, when she knew that someone was telling a new student that she was a charity student and her mother a tramp.

It was no surprise when the whispers and giggles grew loud enough to make their way to the Head Table. Each one contained the word 'Muggle,' and the phrase 'saved from Azkaban.' One tall girl at the Slytherin table actually stood up and stared openly at her, saying in a voice that carried, "You're kidding. He actually married it? Whatever for? You'd think he'd keep it locked up somewhere."

A boy at the Hufflepuff table turned around. "Why don't you just shut up, Melita?"

Melita looked at him contemptuously. "Well, you wouldn't understand, coming from Muggles yourself, Fordman," she said, sneering. "It's ridiculous that we have to live in secret from the Muggles. By rights, they should all serve us, and Muggleborn wizards drowned at birth, like unwanted kittens."

Emma went to get up, planning on returning to the dungeons to spend the evening alone. Severus, however, placed his hand on her leg and squeezed, signaling that she should remain where she was. Dumbledore was looking at him, clearly expecting him to do something about Melita. He got up and approached his table, walking down it until he stood behind Melita's chair. The entire room fell silent.

"Miss Raffin," he said, "Your presence is offensive. Leave and wait for me in my office."

Melita stood up and faced him, too close, as she slid her hand up his chest. "Oh, come on Severus. Don't you remember the fun we all used to have together in the Slytherin Common Room? A few years ago, you were just a student here too."

"That's Professor Snape, or Sir, to you," he said, grasping her wrist firmly and tossing it away from him. "Five hundred points from Slytherin, and a week of detention for you." He looked toward Filch, who stood against the wall, petting his cat. "Mr. Filch? I'm sure you have a surfeit of toilets this young woman can clean? And Miss Raffin, I expect my wife to receive a lengthy and extremely polite written letter of apology in the morning."

Filch looked as if he were having having an apoplexy of pleasure as he said, "Oh, of course, Professor, an excellent suggestion. Come along young lady. You can get some dinner in the kitchens with the elves and get started right away."

As Severus turned and made his way back to the Head Table, Melita stood there, staring at him, not moving. Severus turned back to her and said. "Do you want to make it a thousand points and a month of detention?"

Melita's eyes were angry, her lips quivering, as she said, "No."

"No, what, Miss Raffin?" he asked.

"No, Professor," she said resentfully.

Professor McGonagall appeared in the doorway of the Great Hall just as Filch and Melita made their way out. She led the First Year students into the Great Hall two-by-two for the Sorting Ceremony. Emma sat, so wrapped up in her own embarrassment and misery that she did not even pay attention to it. She shook herself back to awareness as Minerva called out the final names on her list.

"Bill Weasley."

A cute young boy with longish red hair climbed onto the stool. The hat was no sooner on his head than it bellowed out, "Gryffindor!"

Young Bill Weasley turned and gave Professor Dumbledore a bright smile and a wave, then trotted off to join his house at their table.

"Also, students," said Minerva. "I hope you will join me in welcoming a new transfer student. She comes from America, where she has been an exemplary student at the Salem Witches and Wizards Institute. She will complete her magical education here with us at Hogwarts. Her father is the American Ambassador to both the Muggle Government and the Ministry. Natalie Dalton, please come to be sorted.

A tall, slender young girl walked into the Great Hall. She wore the required black robes. She was lovely, with shoulder-length, wavy red hair and green eyes. As she stepped up onto the raised platform in front of the High Table, she made eye contact with Emma and smiled, slightly nodding. Emma smiled back at her shyly. Natalie Dalton was quickly sorted into Ravenclaw and went to join them at their table.

Suddenly, the quiet was broken as the tables began to fill with platters of food, and the children's voices could be heard throughout the castle. But Emma noticed that Natalie Dalton seemed to stare at her during the course of the evening.

The next day, Severus approached his NEWT level classroom to await the students' arrival. He had already had the first years that morning--first Slytherin and Gryffindor, then Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The advanced class would have a formal class every Thursday from two until four. But they would all be given the password to the classroom so they could come in to work on their potions as needed.

The door opened and Melita Raffin came in.

"Sev...I mean, Professor," said Melita, "I've decided to drop Advanced Potions. I need you to sign the slip."

"Perhaps that would be best, Miss Raffin," he said, holding his hand out for the scrap of parchment.

"How could you do this to me?" she asked as he signed it. "We were such good friends during my third year. I'd always liked you. When I heard you'd be teaching, I thought...."

"That was a time when we were both too young to appreciate the stupidity of our actions. I am a teacher. I am also a married man with a child on the way. I will not put up with even the hint of disrespect toward my wife. Do you understand that?"

"But, she's a--"

"Can you try to fathom the hell she has been through? I know your father works for Fudge, and you probably know the entire story. She is my wife and nothing is more important to me than her wellbeing. Got it?"

Melita flushed. "Yes Professor, I've got it." She pulled a rolled up length of parchment from her robes and placed it on his desk. "It's the apology you wanted me to write, Sir." Then she turned and walked out of the room.

Soon Severus heard the sound of footsteps in the hall and the classroom filled with the sixth and seventh year students who had qualified and desired to take the NEWT level potions class. Severus began by taking roll, calling out each student's name and remarking upon the OWL grade each had gotten.

"Mr. Etheridge, sixth year, Gryffindor. I see you merely earned an Exceeds Expectations on your O.W.L. in Potions. What did you do wrong?"

Carl Etheridge, flushed in embarrassment. "I stirred my Shrinking Potion counter-clockwise when it should have been clockwise, sir," he said. "The frog kept shrinking and getting bigger and then shrinking again."

Several of the students began to titter.

"Silence," said Severus. "From my records, only four of you received an Outstanding last year, earning the right to laugh. I am forced to accept E grade students this year due to Professor Slughorn's relaxed standards, but you sixth years best be warned. From now on, only those of you who pass with an Outstanding will be in this class next year."

He continued with the roll, forcing each student who had earned an E the previous year to identify and explain where he or she had gone wrong. He finally got to the last name on his roster.

"Miss Dalton, seventh year, Ravenclaw."

The red-haired witch raised her hand.

"I see, Miss Dalton, that you achieved A's in potions from your old school. What, exactly, does that mean?"

Natalie Dalton looked at him distastefully. "It is the highest grade possible in America, Sir."

"I believe I have heard of your father," he said. "He's been in the Daily Prophet quite a bit lately. It seems the American Magical Community has finally seen the error of their ways and is willing to discuss accepting Ministry rule."

"I'm sure you have heard of my father. And he has heard of you too, of course. Sir," she said coldly, contempt flaring from her eyes.

"Now then," he said. "The NEWT level class will be held in this room. We will be brewing very advanced potions that can take weeks and even months to complete. Although we will meet for a formal class only on Thursdays, it is expected that you will make time to come here and work on whatever potion we happen to be making during the week, in accordance with the formula. We will be starting with Polyjuice Potion, which takes twenty-one days. The recipe is here." Severus waved his wand at the chalkboard and the instructions magically appeared.

"Find a partner to work with and set up a schedule whereby one or both of you will come here at least once a day to check on the progress of the potion. The password to this classroom is unforgiveable. At the end, each person will be using the hair of his or her partner to see if you've done it properly. Next week, we will be brewing experimental potions, so make sure you have your dragonskin gloves and face masks."

Severus swept in and out among the students, watching and pointing out tips and mistakes. As the class finally filed out, Severus called out to the young American witch, "Miss Dalton, please stay a moment."

Natalie Dalton adopted a cool, unperturbed expression as she approached his desk. "Yes, Professor?" she said.

"Miss Dalton, may I ask exactly what your problem with me is? I will not brook disrespect in my classroom."

"May I have permission to speak frankly, Sir?" At Severus' nod, she continued. "I am well aware, Sir, that you are holding a fellow American against her will. The Community of American Witches and Wizards is extremely opposed to what happened to Emma Gianni.

"If you know so much, Miss Dalton, then you also know that her name is now Emma Snape, and that she is not being held against her will. She is my wife, and we are expecting a child."

"As my father is arguing in your Wizengamut, Professor, it is doubtful that this happy state of affairs would even exist if she had not been kidnapped, tortured, and forced to submit to your will."

"Kidnapped? Tortured? What are you talking about? Why is your father so interested in a Muggle? My marriage has nothing to do with him or the Wizengamut."

"In America, Sir, we do not live separately from non-magical people. We work together; we interact and intermarry. My mother was not a witch; nor my father's parents. We keep the magic low-key, but when a non-magical notices something, it's usually ignored. In extreme cases, we may have to modify the memory of some, but we generally leave them believing they have been victims of alien abductions, implanting memories of flying saucers and such. And we do not use the "M" word, Sir. We find it extremely offensive. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go."

After the unpleasant young witch left, Severus made his way back to his apartment to check on Emma. She was lying in their bed, napping. The little house-elf, Merope, stood next to her.

"Professor, Sir," said Merope, "Miss Emma was very tired. Would you like me to bring dinner here for the two of you tonight?"

"I have to eat upstairs with the students. But, let Emma sleep. Make sure she eats well and takes more of her special strengthening potion when she wakes."

"Yes Professor," said Merope nervously.

Severus walked out of his chambers and went to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was on the Wizengamut. He wanted to know what, exactly, was going on with the American ambassador. He reached the gargoyle and said, "Chocolate Frogs." The gargoyle slid to the side, revealing the staircase to the Headmaster's office.

At the top of the stairs, Severus knocked. Dumbledore's voice soon beckoned him inside.

"Severus, how did the first day of term go?" he asked.

"It went well, Professor," he said, "at least until the Adanced class. That American is in there. She is rather disrespectful, and blatently accused me of keeping Emma against her will."

Professor Dumbledore sighed. "The American Ambassador has an agenda, Severus. It involves Emma. It seems that Fudge and Portage made an error in not allowing Emma to go free. They ignored a statute that also mandates that foreign Muggles must be turned over to their own Embassies. By rights, Emma should have been tuned over to his office, not placed in our custody at all. They do not consider the secrecy of their existence at all important, and they are outraged that we allowed the world to continue to believe she was dead. He is calling for the anullment of your marriage and her immediate return."

Severus felt his heart nearly stop. He couldn't lose Emma. He began to pace back and forth. "You can't allow this. You said that you had made the marriage legal in both our world and the Muggle one. He hasn't a leg to stand on, right?"

"At this time, the Wizengamut is considering a hearing on the matter, Severus. They do not want to destroy anyone's marriage. Nor do they want to roll over and let the Americans ride roughshod over them. But, the Goblins are urging the Minister to do whatever the Ambassador wants."

"The Goblins? What for? What do they have to do with this?"

"The Ministry is in debt to the Goblins from the last war. The Goblins want to extend their control over the commerce of wizards into the United States. If they get what they want, they will forgive the Ministry's debts. I'm afraid that your marriage is of no importance to them at all. It's all about the money they stand to make by giving the Ambassador whatever he wants."

"I can't lose her, Headmaster. You have to keep it from happening."

"The wheels of government move very slowly, Severus. The Wizengamut agreed to table the discussion until we meet again in November. I will stall and delay however I can. And I will keep you informed. Emma loves you, Severus. If it comes to a hearing, all she will have to do is say so, admit that she stays of her own free will and has no desire to leave. You have nothing to worry about."

Relieved, Severus took his leave of Dumbledore and returned to his dungeons. He walked into the bedroom to see that Emma had awakened. She was still in bed, her eyes sleepy and her hair a mess. She smiled and held her hand out toward him. He joined her on the bed, taking her into his arms and burying his face into her hair. He held onto her as tightly as he dared, feeling his arms quiver.

Emma felt his apprehension. What's wrong, Severus?" she asked.

"I need to know something," he said. "I need to ask you something and read your mind. Will you let me?"

Emma was mystified. "I guess," she said. "What is it?"

Severus lifted his head and stared into her eyes. "Do you still believe that you love me? If you had to swear to it, would you?"

"I don't believe I love you, Severus. I know that I love you. And I'd swear it to anyone. What's this all about?"

"I just need to know that you do love me. If you could return to America now, have your old life back, would you? Would you leave me?"

"Severus, listen to me. They would have to pry you from my cold, dead arms. I will never willingly leave you. Now tell me what's gotten you into such a state."

Severus just held her, feeling an impending sense of doom build in the pit of his stomach. He loved her, he realized. He had no idea when it had happened or how, but despite all the barriers he'd put up to stop it, his little Emma had managed to leap into his heart.

He lifted his head to look at her again. "Emma, I've made a terrible mistake. I was wrong about something. I told you I'd never lie to you, but it seems I have."

"Don't tell me, you've got a wife and three kids stashed away on Spinner's End, don't you? I knew it! That's why you won't take me there."

"Don't be ridiculous, Emma," he said. "I don't want to take you there because it's a crappy place. I just realized that I do love you after all. Believe me. It's as much a shock to me as to you."

"Of course you do, you silly man. I've known it for weeks now. I taste it every time you kiss me. I hear it when you whisper my name while we make love. I feel it with every beat of your heart as you hold me close. And I see it in your eyes. I was only wondering how long it would take for you to figure it out."

"Well, I've always been a little slow on the uptake, Emma," he said, dipping his mouth to hers.

"Do we really have to go upstairs to have dinner tonight?"

"Yes," he said, shaking his head no.

"Good, because I can think of something much more fun than that," she said, as her fingers began to undo the buttons of his shirt.