alisanne: (Snape)
[personal profile] alisanne
Title: Lessons from Carols
Author: [personal profile] alisanne
Pairing/Characters: Severus Snape/Kingsley Shacklebolt, Frank Longbottom/Alice Longbottom, Augusta Longbottom.
Word Count: 100 x 7
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for [livejournal.com profile] snape100/[insanejournal.com profile] snape100/[community profile] snape100's prompt # 722: Snape's Library - A Christmas Carol.
This is part Thirty-Four of my Snape: Horcrux Hunter series (LJ/IJ/DW).
Warning(s): AU.
Beta(s): [personal profile] sevfan and emynn.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.


~

Lessons from Carols

~

“Absolutely not!” snapped Kingsley.

Severus sighed. “They wouldn’t hesitate to off us in a similar situation.”

“Maybe, but we should be better than them.” Kingsley’s expression softened. “I know we should entertain all options, but murder’s never one.”

“Perhaps it should be.”

Everyone turned to stare at Augusta, who hadn’t even looked up from her book. Severus squinted. It appeared to be a copy of A Christmas Carol.

“Mother!” gasped Frank.

Augusta looked up. “What? It had to be said.”

“No one’s killing anyone,” insisted Frank. “We’re taking them to the Ministry.”

“They’ll escape,” Severus warned.

Frank smiled. “We’ll see.”

~

“There’s another consideration,” said Severus.

“What’s that?” asked Frank.

“We do this, my cover with the Dark Lord’s blown.”

“And?” murmured Kingsley.

Severus eyed him sharply, getting a bland smile in return.

Frank frowned. “And why’s that?”

“Think! Bellatrix was my bodyguard. If she got captured, I should’ve been as well.” Severus raised an eyebrow. “Unless you incarcerate me, too, a plan to which you’ll find I’ll…disagree, it’s clear I’m the traitor.”

Kingsley smiled. “Sounds like we have a winner.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “You’re prepared to give up all inside information?”

“There may be another way,” said Augusta.

~

“Mother,” sighed Frank.

“Hear me out.” Augusta held up A Christmas Carol. “Any of you ever read this?” When they all shook their heads, she rolled her eyes. “It wouldn’t kill you to read a Muggle book occasionally. Although technically, this author was a Squib—”

“Mother!” snapped Frank.

“Right. Anyway, in the story, three spirits visit a horrid man, and by the end, he changes his ways.”

Kingsley coughed. “You want us to try to change Vol—his mind?”

“Why not?”

“There’s no time,” said Alice.

They all stared at her.

“Because?” asked Augusta.

Alice puffed. “My water just broke.”

~

All colour drained from Frank’s face. “Merlin, Circe, and Morgana,” he gasped, hurrying over to her. “Are you all right? Do you need anything? What can I do?”

Alice smiled at him. “You could get that bag that’s on the bench in our bedroom and then take me to St Mungo’s.”

Frank nodded, his eyes wild. “Bag. Bench.” He smiled brightly. “Baby?”

Augusta sighed. “Right, clearly it’s going to be one of those. Frank,” she said slowly, as if to a child, “take Alice to hospital. I’ll see you there.” She handed A Christmas Carol to Severus. “Here. Read that.”

~

Severus pocketed A Christmas Carol. “What now?” he asked as they watched Frank gingerly help Alice toward the Floo.

Kingsley shrugged. “We go with them to hospital. Support them.”

Severus rolled his eyes. “I meant about the prisoners. We can’t just leave them here unsupervised.”

“Fair point.” Kingsley snapped his fingers. “Dobby!”

Dobby appeared. “Master Auror?”

“We’re going to St Mungo’s. Watch the prisoners. If they try to escape, Stun them.”

Dobby actually smiled. “Yes, Master Auror.”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “That idea pleases you. Why?”

Dobby looked uncomfortable. “They is mean, bad people,” he finally said.

Severus nodded. “Agreed.”

~

St Mungo’s was crowded, evidently July was a busy month there.

Alice was rushed to maternity immediately, Frank at her side looking slightly green and shaken. Augusta, Severus, and Kingsley all settled in the waiting room.

Severus had just finished reading A Christmas Carol when a large, boisterous group burst in. Looking up, he groaned.

“What?” asked Kingsley.

Severus nodded. “The Marauders, minus Pettigrew.”

Kingsley frowned. “Who?”

“That’s what they called themselves in school,” said Severus. “Bloody wankers.”

Potter and Black spotted Severus right away, and after some whispering, Potter started towards them.

“Here we go,” whispered Severus, bracing himself.

~

Severus pocketed A Christmas Carol before standing up. Kingsley stood beside him. Severus, grateful for Kingsley’s solid presence, relaxed.

Potter wore a fake smile, but Black scowled, eyes darting back and forth between Severus and Kingsley as if working something out.

Severus decided to go on the offensive. “Potter. Black. How…nice to see you.”

Potter coughed. “Likewise. So, what are you doing here?”

“We’ve a friend in labour,” said Kingsley, his tone pleasant. “You?”

Potter’s smile went genuine. “Lily’s about to deliver.”

“Congratulations,” said Severus. His eyes went to Black. “Black.”

“Bastard,” hissed Black. “What’ve you done with Regulus?”

~

Continued in Nutcrackers (LJ/IJ/DW).

Date: 2018-03-11 07:24 pm (UTC)
teryarel: (Default)
From: [personal profile] teryarel
Thinking about this scene I wondered why Sirius didn't simply hex Severus on first sight. But then I remembered that they're in a hospital. And James surely wouldn't want a fight when his child is about to be born.

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