Fic: "1. Bitter, 2. Sweet" (Severus Snape, Hogwarts Staff and Students) -- The Bitter Ending
The Bitter Ending
23 December 1998
Not until nearly Christmas does Minerva find the time to deal with Severus Snape's possessions. They've been sitting in the headmaster's private suite since Severus's death. Otherwise, the rooms are unoccupied; she has been in no hurry to take up residence.
Even if she'd been able to bring herself to move in, there simply hasn't been time to do it. The staff -- elves included -- have been spending every waking moment since May repairing the castle, dealing with the emotional and physical fallout of the war, and meeting the needs of the "eighth-years": those students who had not been able to finish their education during the war year.
In all these months, Minerva has resolutely refused to allow herself to think about Severus. Of course she is glad to know that her suspicions were correct, and he had not, after all, supported the Dark Lord. Glad for his sake, and for her own: she'd hate to think she is that bad a judge of character.
But beyond that, the memories of him are too painful, and so she throws herself wholeheartedly into rebuilding. There is so much to do that she has no time to think of anything else, and when she does manage to snatch a few hours' sleep, she's dead to the world. Not a single nightmare yet.
The Minister of Magic came to call on her towards the middle of December with news of Severus's will. They have never found his body, but the Wizengamot had decided to declare Snape officially deceased, based on Harry Potter's evidence -- no one is about to question Potter's word on anything.
"The Wizengamot feels it's best if we settle things as soon as possible," Kingsley told her, "so that we can all move on. I think it's a wise decision."
"Yes," replied Minerva, though she doubted that any legal pronouncement would bring real closure.
Still, Kingsley is right. They need to mover forward as best they can.
It's after the staff Christmas party -- Filius insisted on holding it, and Minerva admits now that it was a good idea -- that she seeks out Irma Pince.
"Severus has left all his possessions to Hogwarts," she tells Irma as they sip the last of their mulled wine. "He had precious little, really, except for the books. Would you be willing to look through them? Decide what the library can use, and arrange to sell or donate the rest?"
"I'd be happy to," says Irma. "But Minerva, surely there are some you'd like? For the headmistress's use, I mean? You and Severus were friends once, and you both love books so much. I'm sure he'd like you to have something to remember him by."
Minerva shakes her head. "If there's anything you think the headmistress should read, professionally speaking, you can let me know. Otherwise. . .no. I just. . .no."
Irma nods understandingly. "Fine, then. I'll dig into them on Boxing Day and give you a report."
27 December 1998
Irma knocks on Minerva's door in the early evening, but declines an invitation to come in for a drink.
"Some other time, if we could. Argus and I are having dinner in Hogsmeade tonight," she says. "I just wanted to give you a quick summary of Severus's books. He really had a fine collection, I must say. I'm taking at least half of them for the Hogwarts library -- including the school's own copy of Spell Theory that has been missing forever. I wonder where he found that?"
"No telling," says Minerva.
"A lot of the others will be useful in the common rooms," Irma continues. "I like to keep some basic reference texts there, you know, so the children don't always have to come and chatter in the library. And I'm sure Flourish and Blotts will give us a good price for the rest; they're always looking for second-hand stock.
"Everything is in really good shape, but of course, I'd expect that from a book lover like Snape. He did have a few battered titles, though -- mostly old schoolbooks, probably from his own Hogwarts days. Standard Book of Spells, Magical Draughts and Potions, Hogwarts: A History -- that sort of thing. They're quite tattered. You know even careful children can be hard on their books."
Minerva nods. "They certainly can. And I doubt that Severus's family could have afforded new textbooks in the first place. They were surely used when he got them."
"Well," says Irma, "most are beyond repair, so I'll just toss them. But they're the only ones we can't use. Otherwise, the collection was really a lovely bequest."
"Thank you so much, Irma," Minerva says. "Have a good time with Argus."
She shuts the door slowly. That's that, then. The last page closed, as it were, on Severus Snape's life. At least his books will continue to be read. He would have liked that.
She pours herself a small glass of firewhisky and sips. Once the books have been taken away, she decides, it will be time to talk to the house elves about moving her things into the head's personal quarters.
She must put the war and its dead behind her.
23 December 1998
Not until nearly Christmas does Minerva find the time to deal with Severus Snape's possessions. They've been sitting in the headmaster's private suite since Severus's death. Otherwise, the rooms are unoccupied; she has been in no hurry to take up residence.
Even if she'd been able to bring herself to move in, there simply hasn't been time to do it. The staff -- elves included -- have been spending every waking moment since May repairing the castle, dealing with the emotional and physical fallout of the war, and meeting the needs of the "eighth-years": those students who had not been able to finish their education during the war year.
In all these months, Minerva has resolutely refused to allow herself to think about Severus. Of course she is glad to know that her suspicions were correct, and he had not, after all, supported the Dark Lord. Glad for his sake, and for her own: she'd hate to think she is that bad a judge of character.
But beyond that, the memories of him are too painful, and so she throws herself wholeheartedly into rebuilding. There is so much to do that she has no time to think of anything else, and when she does manage to snatch a few hours' sleep, she's dead to the world. Not a single nightmare yet.
The Minister of Magic came to call on her towards the middle of December with news of Severus's will. They have never found his body, but the Wizengamot had decided to declare Snape officially deceased, based on Harry Potter's evidence -- no one is about to question Potter's word on anything.
"The Wizengamot feels it's best if we settle things as soon as possible," Kingsley told her, "so that we can all move on. I think it's a wise decision."
"Yes," replied Minerva, though she doubted that any legal pronouncement would bring real closure.
Still, Kingsley is right. They need to mover forward as best they can.
It's after the staff Christmas party -- Filius insisted on holding it, and Minerva admits now that it was a good idea -- that she seeks out Irma Pince.
"Severus has left all his possessions to Hogwarts," she tells Irma as they sip the last of their mulled wine. "He had precious little, really, except for the books. Would you be willing to look through them? Decide what the library can use, and arrange to sell or donate the rest?"
"I'd be happy to," says Irma. "But Minerva, surely there are some you'd like? For the headmistress's use, I mean? You and Severus were friends once, and you both love books so much. I'm sure he'd like you to have something to remember him by."
Minerva shakes her head. "If there's anything you think the headmistress should read, professionally speaking, you can let me know. Otherwise. . .no. I just. . .no."
Irma nods understandingly. "Fine, then. I'll dig into them on Boxing Day and give you a report."
27 December 1998
Irma knocks on Minerva's door in the early evening, but declines an invitation to come in for a drink.
"Some other time, if we could. Argus and I are having dinner in Hogsmeade tonight," she says. "I just wanted to give you a quick summary of Severus's books. He really had a fine collection, I must say. I'm taking at least half of them for the Hogwarts library -- including the school's own copy of Spell Theory that has been missing forever. I wonder where he found that?"
"No telling," says Minerva.
"A lot of the others will be useful in the common rooms," Irma continues. "I like to keep some basic reference texts there, you know, so the children don't always have to come and chatter in the library. And I'm sure Flourish and Blotts will give us a good price for the rest; they're always looking for second-hand stock.
"Everything is in really good shape, but of course, I'd expect that from a book lover like Snape. He did have a few battered titles, though -- mostly old schoolbooks, probably from his own Hogwarts days. Standard Book of Spells, Magical Draughts and Potions, Hogwarts: A History -- that sort of thing. They're quite tattered. You know even careful children can be hard on their books."
Minerva nods. "They certainly can. And I doubt that Severus's family could have afforded new textbooks in the first place. They were surely used when he got them."
"Well," says Irma, "most are beyond repair, so I'll just toss them. But they're the only ones we can't use. Otherwise, the collection was really a lovely bequest."
"Thank you so much, Irma," Minerva says. "Have a good time with Argus."
She shuts the door slowly. That's that, then. The last page closed, as it were, on Severus Snape's life. At least his books will continue to be read. He would have liked that.
She pours herself a small glass of firewhisky and sips. Once the books have been taken away, she decides, it will be time to talk to the house elves about moving her things into the head's personal quarters.
She must put the war and its dead behind her.