Chapter Text
He had killed Albus. He had killed the phoenix to whom he had sold his soul. Did this mean that it was his again?
Andromeda took the kettle off the heat and poured water to warm the teapot. Severus sat on her sofa at 4am, weary from the night’s events. He had returned Draco to Narcissa’s arms and the two of them had run off to their private rooms as soon as the toast to Severus’s victory had been drunk. Severus stayed at the Dark Lord’s celebration until he was able to claim exhaustion, although he was sure that the Malfoys’ cellar was still being raided.
Andromeda returned with tea and sat to his right, resting her hand on his arm. Ted had been sitting on his other side, his arm wrapped around Severus’s back. The silence was interrupted by the crack of Apperition and Tonks ran into the house. “Thank Merlin, you’re here. I was so worried.” And ignoring her parents, slid into Severus’s lap and pulled him into a giant hug.
The silence continued for quite some time, with Ted and Andromeda drinking their tea and Tonks encouraging Severus to take a sip now and then. There was nothing that could be said. Severus had been wrestling with this moment since the day he had made his Vow to Narcissa, and Tonks, Andromeda and Ted had been his confidants and advisors ever since. He came to them with all of his worries after his Vow, and then came ranting after Albus had so casually said that “yes, of course you’ll be the one to kill me,” as if Severus’s bought soul had no greater value than a pebble on the ground. There was no longer anything to be said. No longer anything to be done.
There was another crack of Apperition and Andromeda stood swiftly, positioning herself to confront the visitor. There was a knock, and then Remus opened the door without waiting for the answer. He took in his wife on Snape’s lap with Ted’s arm around him and yelled, “Get back! He murdered Dumbledore!”
Ted stood and replied calmly, “Remus, come walk with me a bit outside.”
“Snape murdered Dumbledore! He’s You Know Who’s man and we’ve all been fooled.”
“Now, Remus,” Ted replied. Remus looked around and saw Andromeda’s wand on him. He looked at his wife and saw her looking at him as if it were he who had betrayed her. He stowed his wand and followed Ted out the door.
“Remus,” Ted began, “You’re our son now, but Severus is our oldest friend. There are secrets that are not ours to tell, but Severus is welcome in our house now and will be at all times in the future.”
“You don’t know what he is capable of. I do! I grew up with him at Hogwarts. He can create spells of unimaginable horror. He is an incredible dueler and he betrays everyone! He used an Unforgivable to murder Dumbledore! Dumbledore! Who vouched for him time and time again. He will murder you and your family, my family, if you continue to indulge him.”
Ted sadly shook his head and they continued walking in silence. “Do you know us, Remus? Do you know Dora? Can you not trust us?”
They walked another turn through the woods behind the house. “I trust you,” Remus finally conceded. He took a deep breath. “I’ll trust you.”
“Then go home and get some sleep. Severus needs our Dora right now. You know, she considers him her best friend.”
Remus snorted. “That’s what she always said. Never believed it until today, though.”
“Go home, Remus. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Remus apparated back to The Den, and Ted walked inside to find his daughter sitting on one end of the sofa with Severus’s head asleep in her lap. They exchanged small, sad smiles and then Ted found an afghan and draped it over them. With the morning would come the retaking of Severus’s role, but for this night, he could feel the comfort of his last friends.