Chapter 2: From the Cellar to Malfoy Manor and Back
Severus shook his head. As he turned back to his stocks, he couldn’t help but allow a subtle smirk to grace his own features, but then he frowned.
The girl was becoming a danger to herself. This incessant curiosity, the disobedience; she’d stolen from his stores, for Merlin’s sake. She knew far better than that. And he’d just let her walk away with a bit of chores in the conservatory. It was a slap on the wrist, really. After all, she could have been more seriously injured.
She could have been killed.
Although, perhaps Zoe’s burnt hands were punishment enough for her foolishness… Fearing another injury, she would more than likely think twice before attempting to brew on her own again, after all. Yet, he wasn’t sure that he had made his own disappointment and frustration clear enough to her. Severus shook his head again.
No, he had simply been harsh with her and threatened her so that she thought he would actually resort to hexing her to ensure good behavior. That was not the message he had wanted to convey at all. That had been nothing but sheer exasperation and annoyance with her actions and cheek bursting forth without any thought. In essence, he had snapped; he would have to watch that in the future.
Severus sighed. He just knew that he would not--could not in a million years--use a hex on his child. It had pained him to see the fear in Zoe’s eyes--to see her shrink away from him--and he had regretted his threat the second he had uttered it.
Of course, that regret hadn’t curbed his parental urge to denounce the girl’s thievery and foolish, endangering disobedience with a well-earned smacking. He had really only refrained from doing so briefly in order to finish the first aid on her hands and to give himself time to check his temper following her brazen accusation.
But then she’d spoken to him. She had asked him in that small, cautious voice if he would really ever hex her and the inclination to correct her behavior physically had left his mind entirely. Corporal discipline now seemed nothing short of overkill as he thought about how he had stood wrapping her petite, scorched, and undoubtedly painful hands in gauze.
If Severus was to be truly honest with himself, he had been uncharacteristically thrilled that the girl was suddenly so interested in potion making--his passion--for she’d never shown much of an interest before. He had seen that, despite her blunder, Zoe still seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the potion she had attempted which, in turn, made him all the less motivated to punish her for her mistake. Gods, he had truly gone soft.
No matter.
He would assist her in brewing the Pepperup again, but he would make it abundantly clear his expectations if she wished to continue to brew. He would make her cautious, but not afraid. He would help her to hone her natural abilities and instincts and teach her about the magical essence that must be put into every brew.
And he would have to make sure that she understood that carelessness and further theft would reap severe consequences.
Nodding to himself in resolve, Severus turned and exited the cellar, heading for his daughter’s attic bedroom. After all, there was no way she would be able to clean most of the chaos she had created without some magical assistance, never mind her practically unusable hands.
He had just entered into the sitting room on his way upstairs when the Floo roared to life. Severus froze as the blond head of Draco Malfoy appeared amongst the green flames.
–Did you forget?†the younger wizard asked good-naturedly as he spotted Severus moving toward him.
–Forget?†Severus was confused.
–The contract? The one you said you would help me to write this morning? For the investment with that Texan bloke, remember?â€
Severus hardly had to wrack his brains. Yes, he had forgotten and the morning hadn’t exactly been one conducive to suddenly remembering a meeting with Draco. Severus closed his eyes briefly, annoyed with himself.
–I did, indeed, Draco. I apologize. Please, allow me to…deal with something. I shall be there shortly.â€
–Certainly, Severus. Take your time.â€
He had nodded and continued upstairs where a few waves of his wand had restored Zoe’s bedroom to its former state.
Again, he had assumed that Zoe would be delighted once she found out that her penalty chores in the conservatory would be pushed to the following day owing to their need to spend a few hours at Malfoy Manor, but the girl had instantly become sulky instead. She had even whined to be left at home with Ollie.
–After nearly blowing up the house? I think not,†Severus had stated resolutely, raising a single, challenging eyebrow at Zoe’s indignant frown.
When he and Zoe had arrived in the library of Malfoy Manor, Severus wasn’t surprised to find that Draco had kept Scorpius close by, for the two fathers had learned the hard way more than once that their children could hardly be trusted out of their respective parents’ sights while under the same roof as each other.
The library was large--as every room in the sprawling manor was--with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves situated between enormous, dark-wood columns. Four tall windows took up one side of the room and a grand piano stood in one corner. Severus noticed that Draco had added to his collection of books since last he’d been in the room.
Following the downfall of the Dark Lord and, subsequently, the Malfoy family name, Draco had pulled every last Dark Arts book from the shelves--a centuries-old collection--and destroyed them. The library had been nearly barren for months until the son of Lucius had taken an interest in rare and not-so-rare books of all forms, from all over the world. Where once the vilest of magical tomes resided, there now stood travel diaries, encyclopedias, books of artwork and music and languages, as well as fictional literature--both Muggle and magical.
For their meeting that day, Draco had commandeered the largest of the tables in the library. Scorpius sat at a table opposite, doodling on a piece of parchment with a few books and wizarding toys beside him. Walking fully into the space, Severus placed a hand between Zoe’s shoulder blades and indicated that she should take a seat at the table across from the boy, who had immediately glared daggers at his rival. Zoe scowled, but didn’t protest, as Severus approached Draco.
–Allow me to apologize for my tardiness once again, Draco. It’s been a rather trying morning,†he said, giving a significant glance toward his daughter.
–It isn’t a problem, Severus, really,†Draco said, giving a bit of a good-natured chuckle showing he understood, to a certain degree, Severus’s meaning. –With any luck, it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to get this contract spelled out.â€
–Agreed,†Severus nodded, conjuring a long, blank scroll and a quill and ink with his wand as he took a seat on one side of the table.
–Now, I think it best to first lay down an outline of some sort. The headings may become the points and sub points for the true document later, of course.â€
Draco nodded. –Of course. You’re better at these sorts of things than I am. I just want to be certain that there are no loopholes for these scoundrels to crawl through.â€
–We’ve already discussed the main points. I don’t think there is any reason to believe that such loopholes will exist.â€
Draco nodded again. –Excellent.â€
The two men worked steadily for nearly an hour. Every once in a while, Severus would glance to the children across the room. He’d heard a few rushed whispers in the time since they had been placed across from each other, but they seemed to be sitting in utter silence for the most part.
He knew that Zoe would be content to read for hours, but that didn’t mean the animosity the children had toward each other wouldn’t rear its ugly head at some point. And, though he felt slightly guilty for thinking it, Severus had no doubt that his godson would consider boredom an appropriate excuse to pester Zoe who would--inevitably--retaliate in a manner far from the realm of what could be deemed couth.
–What do you think about this?†Draco asked suddenly, sliding a piece of parchment toward Severus.
Severus looked down at the table to read the long stipulation Draco had written out.
–Hmm… it’s a bit vague. I think that it would be prudent to--â€
There was suddenly an eruption of varying cracks and pops from the opposite side of the room. –Dad, Uncle Severus! Zoe knocked down my Exploding Snap card castle!†Scorpius tattled.
–He’s lying! I did not! There was a draft! It blew down on its own!â€
–That’s enough, Zoe,†Severus reprimanded evenly.
–But Papa, I--â€
Severus eyed his daughter authoritatively and she quieted.
–But what about my castle?†Scorpius whined loudly, looking at the adults incredulously.
Draco sighed heavily. –Scorpius, just…build a new one.â€
Scorpius’s shoulders fell in disappointment. –But isn’t she going to get in trouble? Dad…â€
–Scorpius,†Draco said more forcefully, –Give it a rest.â€
Scorpius wrinkled his nose at his father and slumped back into his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. Severus observed that his daughter’s lip quirked slightly upwards behind her book but he had no way of proving whether she was smirking about getting away with something or if she was merely reveling in Scorpius not getting his way.
Barely ten minutes later, he and Draco were interrupted once again, this time by the unmistakable sound of ripping paper and a scream.
–Papa! Scorpius ripped a page out of my book!â€
–I didn’t! She’s just trying to get me in trouble!â€
–Am not! You did it!â€
–Did not!â€
Draco sighed again and rubbed his forehead in one of his hands, obviously frustrated. Severus closed his eyes momentarily, trying to remain calm, and then frowned at the offspring.
–Quiet!†he growled to the children who both did just that. Severus took a deep breath and looked at Zoe. –How did the page get ripped out of the book?â€
Zoe held the paper up, exasperated. –I was trying to read and Scorpius reached over and just ripped it out!â€
–Scorpius, is that true?†Draco asked, aggravation starting to leak into his tone.
–No!â€
–Zoe, did you rip the page out of the book?†Severus then asked his daughter.
Zoe looked affronted that he would even suggest that she would do such a thing. –No.â€
–So, the page just detached itself of its own accord. Is that correct?†This time he looked from one child to the other. He had no idea who had done it, but perhaps a little scrutiny would elicit a guilty expression from one of them. However, neither of them was giving anything away until--
–He did it!†Zoe screeched, pointing an accusing finger at Scorpius.
–You lie!†Scorpius countered, choosing to lob one of his toys at Zoe who ducked to the side. The dragon figurine missed her but sailed to the wall behind her, hitting it with a loud thud.
–Scorpius!†Draco scolded.
Severus doubted the boy had even heard the remonstration from his father, however, for Zoe--looking scandalized for only a split second--chose that moment to chuck her own book at Scorpius, hitting him on the shoulder.
–Ouch!†Scorpius yowled melodramatically, gripping his shoulder.
Severus had seen and heard enough.
He rose then and walked swiftly to the other table where he grabbed his daughter’s arm and pulled her from her chair and toward the exit. Zoe watched him cautiously as he dragged her into the corridor and closed the door behind them. Once outside the room, Severus pushed his daughter’s back against the wall and looked down on her sternly.
–Tell me. Is it your ambition to spend our morning here sequestered with your nose in a corner?†he hissed.
–No,†Zoe said, shaking her head, her wide eyes all conviction.
Severus let go of her robes and stood upright. He knew the threat would have that effect on her; to be put in a time-out situation in front of the Malfoys--especially Scorpius--would be nothing short of ultimate mortification. –Then I suggest you alter your behavior with all possible haste for your current course of conduct is most assuredly leading you in that direction.â€
–But, Papa, Scorpius was--â€
–I do not care what Scorpius was doing. What have I told you every other time these conflicts between the two of you have occurred?â€
Zoe frowned. –Don’t retaliate,†she breathed out with every indication that she had heard him say it a thousand times before--as she very nearly had.
–Yes. You will not retaliate. Now, Mr. Malfoy and I are trying to work. I expect you to act with the proper decorum for the duration of this outing. Do you understand?â€
Zoe looked down at her feet then, thoroughly chastened. –Yes, sir,†she spoke softly, fidgeting.
–All right, then. Get inside, pick up your book, and behave yourself.â€
His daughter nodded, still looking to the floor and preceded her father into the room. Severus watched her walk back to her table and noticed that Draco must have exchanged words with his son as well, if the sour, yet subdued look upon Scorpius’s face was anything to go by.
The blond boy now sat absolutely still and quiet and he only raised his eyes briefly when Severus and Zoe reentered the room. Zoe grabbed up her book from the floor where it had fallen after bouncing off Scorpius’s shoulder and took her seat without a peep while Severus sat once again in his chair and pulled the parchment toward himself.
–Now, shall we?†he asked Draco.
–Please,†the younger man responded, indicating the partial contract.
Another half hour passed by without a word from either child and Severus was pleased with the progress he and Draco were making.
–I think there should be included a clause about funds obtained from third parties in this section here,†Severus recommended.
–Yes, I think that may be a good idea,†said Draco. –I don’t think we should trust that all the witches and wizards would come by their Galleons legally. They should have to show some sort of proof of income.â€
–A statement from their employer should suffice.â€
–Agreed.â€
As Severus used a spare piece of parchment to write out the various ways in which the clause could be worded--scratching out words, using his wand to reorder them sometimes--there was a crash as several of Scorpius’s toys clattered to the polished, hardwood floor of the library. In the blink of an eye, both Zoe and Scorpius were struggling with one another on the ground beside their table.
–What the bloody hell is going on this time?†Severus asked, exasperated, looking from the children up to the other father in the room.
Draco sighed heavily once again, putting his head in his hand. –I don’t know. They were perfectly fine thirty seconds ago.†After a moment, he eyed Severus knowingly. –I don’t think our children want us to finish this today.â€
–Apparently not,†Severus stated, scowling down at his daughter and godson grappling on the floor like uncivilized Neanderthals. –I may be able to persuade Minerva to take Zoe next Saturday, if you are free.â€
–I’ll make sure that I am free and childless,†Draco said. –Same place, same time?â€
Severus inclined his head in agreement.
–Brilliant. Now, would you like to split them apart or shall I?â€
–I’ll do it,†Severus said, pointing his wand at the children.
Instantly, Zoe and Scorpius flew apart from each other as if an invisible barrier had grown between them. They didn’t even acknowledge that their fathers were staring down at them angrily and instead were trying everything in their power to continue their squabble through the magical force Severus had erected.
Severus rolled his eyes.
–See you Saturday, then,†he sighed to Draco before striding to the opposite end of the room.
He found himself once more pulling Zoe to her feet as he held her firmly.
–We’re Apparating,†he said abruptly, though it was much more of a command to the girl to stop shuffling around if she didn’t wish to be splinched, than a simple statement of what was about to happen.
When the two of them arrived in their back garden an instant later, Severus immediately pulled his daughter in through the back door, through the kitchen and to the sitting room. He crossed it in only a few strides and pulled the bookcase door open to reveal the narrow staircase to the upper floors before unhanding his daughter and snatching her book from her grasp.
–Upstairs,†he said, pointing up. –Go to your bedroom. You are not to leave it except to use the loo until I have said otherwise.â€
Zoe frowned. –But, Papa, it wasn’t--â€
–It would not be in your best interests to argue with me,†Severus warned, leaning down toward his daughter menacingly. –Go. Now.â€
Zoe’s shoulders slumped and she wrinkled up her face in displeasure. Groaning, she began stomping her way up the stairs.
–Zoe,†Severus said, his tone cautioning her. The girl bristled slightly, checked her attitude, and continued her climb without the dramatic footfalls.
When his daughter disappeared from view at the top of the stairs, Severus slowly closed the door and pinched the bridge of his nose.
–Merlin, grant me patience with this child,†he said aloud.
Deciding a headache potion was in order before he could even begin to concentrate on the small bit of brewing he needed to finish, Severus tossed Zoe’s book into his armchair and made his way toward the cellar door.
/////////
Zoe sat on the floor in her bedroom staring off into space. She didn’t know how her father did it, but when he sent her to her room as punishment, somehow all of her games and books magically disappeared leaving her with nothing but furniture.
‘You’re sent up there to think quietly about your misbehavior, not to play,’ her father had said sternly when she questioned him about the phenomenon.
Zoe hated being punished. It was boring. She had tried twice to play checkers against herself with an old board her father was unaware that she had snuck up and hidden behind the loose baseboard several weeks before. But it wasn’t any fun when you knew exactly which moves your opponent was going to make. Not to mention there were pieces missing.
This was all Scorpius’s fault. She may have accidently blown down his card castle, but that was no reason to ruin a perfectly good piece of literature. Besides, the copy of ‘The Adventures of Cleo Callisto’ wasn’t even hers. Minerva had allowed Zoe to borrow the entire fictional series as enjoyable reading to offset her father’s sometimes rigorous school curriculum and now, Zoe had to figure out how she was going to explain to her godmother that Scorpius was a prat and didn’t know the first thing about properly respecting books.
Zoe looked up at the small clock next to her bed. She had been in solitary confinement for just under two hours now. Ollie had even had to bring her lunch up on a tray.
‘How long is Papa going to make me stay up here?’ Zoe wondered inwardly as she laid on her back on her rug, looking up into the rafters.
Pop!
Zoe sat up instantly, startled, to see Ollie standing directly in front of her.
–Oh, hi, Ollie,†she said, taking a deep breath. –You scared me.â€
The house elf looked rather sheepish. –Ollie isn’t meaning to scares Miss Zoe.â€
–It’s all right,†Zoe said, shrugging.
Ollie nodded a little more vigorously than was necessary before continuing. –Ollie is being sent to tells Miss Zoe that her Papa wants to sees her in the cellar.â€
–Now?†Zoe asked.
Again, Ollie nodded exuberantly before disappearing with a snap of her fingers. Zoe took a deep breath and rose to her feet to make the trek down to her father’s potions cellar.
Zoe opened the door slowly and cringed as the creak of the rusty hinges cut through the near silence of the cellar. As she made her way down the stairs, she saw that her father was standing with his back to the door and a cauldron simmering in front of him. He looked over his shoulder briefly and saw her standing at the bottom of the stairs.
–Come here,†he commanded quietly as he turned back to the cauldron, picked up a glass stirring rod and began to stir.
Zoe took another deep breath and made her way to her father’s side, looking at his hands stirring rather than at what she was sure was a scowl on his face.
–Can you tell me why you were sent to your bedroom?†he asked, keeping his attention on the cauldron.
Zoe sighed and looked down at her shoes. She hated this part of being punished the most; recounting her transgression back to her father. –Because I acted inapp-- inprop-- inproprit--â€
–Inappropriately,†her father helped her.
–Yeah, that. I acted like that at the Manor when you and Mr. Malfoy were working.â€
Zoe looked up but her father’s face was still a stern frown. She figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to add, ‘Even though it was all Scorpius’s fault’, to the statement.
–And?†her father encouraged.
Zoe frowned. What more was there?
–And… I, er… shouldn’t have?â€
Her father pursed his lips as he took the cauldron from the burner and set it aside to cool. He turned to face Zoe directly.
–You’re right, you shouldn’t have. However, that is not the answer I was looking for. What you should have said was that you were being punished for acting inappropriately today and for continuing to disobey me regarding these little squabbles with Scorpius.â€
–Oh, right,†Zoe said, looking to the floor once more.
Her father was silent for several moments and Zoe could feel his eyes on her.
–Did Scorpius really rip the page out of your book?†he asked.
Zoe looked up into her father’s eyes and nodded emphatically.
–Mhmm,†he hummed, as if confirming his suspicions. –Did you blow down his card castle first?â€
He eyed her sternly and Zoe knew that he would see right through any lie she may have told. Slowly, she nodded again.
–And you tried to get him in trouble for it.†It was not a question. –How many times must the two of you be told to stop with the schemes?â€
Zoe looked down at her shoes and shrugged.
After a time, she looked up at her father through her eyelashes and saw him shake his head with disapproval. He heaved in a resolved breath.
–I think replacing what little privileged free time you had tomorrow afternoon with an hour or two of washing vials and beakers down here should be a sufficient behavior adjustment,†he said, looking down his nose at Zoe, who merely nodded, defeated.
Her father cupped her chin then so that Zoe would look up at him. She could tell the real part of the lecture was coming.
–I do hope that is all it takes to make an impression upon you about this matter,†he said sternly. –I’ve told you more than once that these ploys to see how much trouble you and Scorpius can get each other in to were unacceptable but the barbaric brawling I witnessed today is most definitely not going to be tolerated in the future, young lady. It is uncivilized and settles nothing. Now, I know that you and Scorpius aren’t exactly friends and I could never hope to force such a notion upon you, but you will respect each other whether you like one another or not.â€
–He always starts it,†Zoe mumbled.
–Today, he did not,†her father reminded her, releasing her chin. –And frankly, I don’t care who starts it. Either you will end it on your own in an acceptable manner or Mr. Malfoy or I will end it and there will be consequences. In future, I want to see more of an effort on your part to get along with him.â€
‘Fat chance,’ she thought disdainfully.
–Yes, Papa,†Zoe said, obediently, however.
Her father eyed her a moment longer, then nodded once and walked to one of his storage cabinets. –If you can manage to stay out of trouble, you may go outdoors and play until dinner. Expel some energy, for with your schooling and various added chores, you will not be given the opportunity tomorrow.â€
Zoe didn’t need telling twice. She spun on her heel, rocketed up the stairs, and was in the back garden in a matter of seconds. Making her way past the ivy and weeds, she managed to get through the gate around the back of the greenhouse and was in the field heading toward the river soon after.
‘Finally, freedom,’ she thought.
It didn’t take long for her to find her favorite spot and she settled herself down in the lush grass under a tall willow a little ways from the bank of the dirty river. From her vantage point, she could see the smoke stacks of the old mill to her left and behind her were the rows upon rows of dingy brick houses. She knew the town wasn’t much to look at, but it was her home and she could always find some sort of adventure (mischief, her father said) amongst the abandonment and along the shores of the river.
She leaned back against the trunk of the tree, picking at the grass around her, and tried to think of ways to get back at Scorpius for getting her into trouble yet again. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even hear the group of children approach her until their shoes invaded her line of vision. When she squinted up, she saw that there were three boys standing around her.
–What are you wearing?†a red-haired boy a year or two older than Zoe asked. She knew him from her days at the Muggle primary school. His name was Eric and he was little more than a bully.
–Wearing?†Zoe looked down and only just then noticed that she was still dressed in her robes from her and her father’s trip to Malfoy Manor. She’d worn robes out into the Muggle town again. Her father would not be pleased. –It’s a, er…a dress.â€
–Doesn’t look like a dress,†the boy to her right said. He also had red hair, though it was darker and he was slightly taller than the other two, but Zoe knew that he was the youngest of the group and was, in fact, Eric’s brother, Ivan. He and Zoe had had the same teacher just last year.
–Who asked you?†Zoe retorted. She really wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation with these boys--the self-proclaimed tormenters of the neighborhood.
–Ooh, the little freak has cheek today,†Eric mocked. –We might have to change that.â€
–Sod off,†Zoe said, far from intimidated for her father always said that bullies were typically more bark than bite. –I was here first.â€
–Can’t do that,†Eric said. –You see this tree here? This is ours and nobody, especially not some scrawny, freaky little girl is allowed to sit under it.â€
–Yeah, nobody’s allowed to sit under it but us,†the boy Zoe didn’t know said.
Zoe raised her eyebrow at the sandy-haired boy in an expression that was quite reminiscent of her father, and then scoffed.
–I don’t see your name on it,†she snapped.
–We don’t need our names on it. Everyone knows this is our tree and if you know what’s best for you, you’d leave.â€
Zoe rose to her feet then so as best to be able to look Eric in the eye. –I’m not going anywhere. I have just as much right as you.â€
–No you don’t!†the sandy-haired boy countered. Zoe rolled her eyes.
–Well, you’ve told me,†she said sardonically.
An instant later, she found herself on the ground, dusty and disoriented, with a trickle of blood coming out of her split lower lip. She didn’t know who had hit her or why, really, but as the laughter above her rained down, Zoe felt a rage consume her.
She vaguely heard Ivan gasp something--something about red eyes--before she snarled and launched her full weight at Eric. The boy seemed caught off guard, no doubt surprised that such a small girl could pack so much power. She clung on to his shoulders with one hand and used her other fist to pummel one of his ears.
–Get off me, you freak!†Eric yelled, but Zoe wrapped her legs around the boy and pounded his chest, shoulders and arms, scratching, punching and slapping.
She heard the sounds of the other two boys yelling for her to get off, but seeing as how they seemed too scared to enter the fray, she didn’t heed any of it. She was sick and tired of the neighborhood kids making fun of her and she wasn’t going to take it anymore. The tears started to flow soon after and Zoe found herself straddled on top of Eric who had huddled himself on the ground and was doing his best to protect his face with his arms as he started to cry himself.
A minute of punching went by, maybe, before she was abruptly pulled off the cowering boy by strong hands. The person placed her on her feet but she looked to the ground, instantly very ashamed for what she had done. The sound of the blood pumping through her ears drowned out all the noise of the boys and the river around her. Breathing heavily, she registered seeing the boys run away out of the corner of her vision, their images becoming blurrier and blurrier as fat tears welled at the bottoms of her eyes.
Mustering up her courage, she finally looked up at the figure before her and her heart sank.
Her father looked far from pleased.
A Very Long Day by MetamorphmagusLupin
Chapter Notes: Here is chapter 2. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter enough to continue the read...
Chapter Endnotes: Please leave a review. Don't make me beg.