Dear Apprentice, Here Be A Bonfire

— Act 2 —

[Part Two]

Regulus licked his lips carefully, tracing each new crack on the skin.

Always hated polyjuice. He thought miserably. Makes me feel ill.

And it did not help that Severus had provided him with such a horrid specimen to transform into—a mudblood of all things.

Taking one last look at his reflection, Regulus attempted to wiggle his thickened eyebrows. As he did so he winced at the foreign movement of muscles. Everything about this body was just a little bit off. Severus had attempted to find a muggle that fitted Regulus’s body type and had gotten incredibly close. Still the little things—like the unique muscle plasticity of the face—managed to throw him off.

At least I’m not particularly ugly.

It was true enough. With short-cropped brown hair and charming almond eyes, Regulus looked a treat. His hair was slightly curled and fell to his shoulders in caramel locks, his lips shone radiantly and his smile lit up the room. Whoever this face belonged too was no doubt a handsome man. And as Snape had put it ‘Beauty enraptures people. If people find you pleasing to look at, you’re more likely to get things done. I’ve certainly seen it happen far too often.’

On that, Regulus could agree. The Dark Lord was as handsome as they come. And while he would have no doubt gained just as much control without his stellar good-looks, it gave him an edge on people. Sirius had the same talent, much as Regulus was loath to acknowledge it.

Taking a deep breath, Regulus prepared himself. Time to face the music. And the blood-sucking banshee.

Entering the pre-booked private booth at McGill’s Magic Diner, Regulus winced at the sound of the repeated tapping of acrylic nails. Focusing on the green monstrosities that emerged from the woman’s hands, Regulus put off looking her in the eye a moment longer.

“Oh my! So you’re the one who has kept my readers enthralled!”

Regulus looked up reluctantly to meet the shining eyes of Rita Skeeter herself.

Rita had been two years above him in school, an avid gossiper and run of the mill rumor-spreader, she had been the source of the majority of Slytherin drama during her time at school. Naturally, she became a journalist for the Daily Prophet. Regulus liked to think of her as a duplicitous hag.

“I suppose I am. Though I do assure you it vas not my intention to stir up so much uncertainty.” Regulus said, laying on a thick German accent. “I do apologize to you and your readers.”

Rita positively ruffled in her seat. Pulling out an acid emerald Quick-Quotes Quill, her eyes took on a calculating sheen. Inwardly, Regulus rolled his eyes. What a waste of Slytherin cunning.

“No need to apologize! A little mystery is all a lady like myself needs… and I must say you have provided quite the entertainment with your stunt with Peter Pettigrew. As such I assume that you are allied with Dumbledore and his Order?”

Noticing the undercurrent probing in the question, Regulus side-stepped expertly.

“Ah yes, Peter Pettigrew. I vill say that I did take action on that regard. I detest cowards and that Pettigrew was a specimen. As for allies, vell, let us just say I don’t take sides lightly.”

Rita leaned forward, clasping her hands till her nails dug into the flesh of her opposing palm. “I see, I see. Now that we’ve broached the topic of your own politics, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind explaining who you are and where you come from? I admit my readers are curious as to who the mastermind behind the brilliant plan to capture the Death Eater spy actually is.”

Regulus laughed slightly, feigning a modest blush. “Oh dear, you all seem to have taken it the wrong vay. I am no genius. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time is all.”

“I’m sure.” Rita hummed knowingly. “But what exactly led you to take action? What are your motivations? Where did you come from? These are the questions I am obliged to ask and you to answer.” She looked at him expectantly, grabbing the quill and sucking on its tip. “Do tell.”

“I am from Germany.” Regulus began. “My name is Osvarr. I am half-blood and I have heard of the horrors Grindevald brought to my home country. This Volde-mort you all fear is much alike. So vhen I got vind of his plots I could not stand back.”

“Oh how very noble!” Rita exclaimed. “So your past trauma from Grindewald’s reign haunts you still?”

Regulus winced at her wording. “How could it not? It vas horror after horror. My own mother died in the var.”

At this, Rita’s face twisted in mock pity. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Such a tragedy at a young age must have left its mark.”

“Not really madame. In fact I vould say quite the opposite. Nevertheless I don’t really enjoy discussing my mothers passing. Is there anything else ve can discuss?”

Reluctantly, Skeeter moved on. “I suppose… what about we talk about your brilliant plan on capturing Pettigrew. Could you lay it out for us?”

This, Regulus had prepped with Snape before setting up the interview. “Of course. I started off vith research. Research is very important vhen doing something like vhat I did. You do not vant to break any laws. Once that vas done I got ahold of an illegal portkey and registered it vith the British Ministry. I asked Scrimgeour for a favour and he put the terminal point in Azkaban. Then all I had to do vas get Pettigrew to doubt himself and use the portkey instead of going to his master. Since he vas a spy it vas not very hard. Spies tend to doubt their position. Constantly.”

Rita nodded. “But why did you not tell anybody of your plans? Why keep it such a secret? And why come out now?”

“Vell you see Miss Skeeter, I am a very private man. I had attempted to keep it secret for my own sake at first. But vhen I saw the reaction my plan had caused I decided to step out of my comfort zone. I vant to take a more active approach in this var.” Pausing for a moment, Regulus allowed his magic to flash outward powerfully, just as Severus had taught him. A skill very few wizards could perform. Rita’s eyes widened at the casual display of power. “I vill not let more die. Not vhen I can stop it.”

“How brave.”

“Thank you madame.”

Rita’s quill was now moving so fast that Regulus had to squint to see it. Nevertheless he stood, allowing some weariness to shine through. “Miss Skeeter may ve end this session? I must be going.”

Rita nodded, smiling up at him sweetly. “Why of course. I have enough material for a wonderful article.”

Regulus noted the insidious tone in her voice, knowing she would attempt to twist his words into a piece dripping with falsehoods and mistruths. But just as Severus instructed, he began to leave, only to stop at the doorway.

“Oh, and Miss Skeeter?”

“Yes Mr. Osvarr?”

“Do be sure to write an accurate article. Or else I vill hunt you down and squash you like the beetle you are.”

Rita paled. Worried I know your little secret, eh? “Wha—? How?”

Regulus grinned woolfishly. “I have my vays madame. Good day.”

Regulus swooped out, smiling at a waiter kindly and leaving the threat hanging in the air. Behind him, Rita Skeeter quaked in anger before gathering herself and stalking out.

The article released the very next day talked of a mysterious man who wanted to do right by the world. There was not even a trace of Reeta Skeeter’s trademark exaggerations.

As Regulus read the article, his lips twitched upward in accomplishment. Step one—Completed.

———————————————————

Severus could tell that Regulus was restless as he paged through the notebook Madam Rosmerta had given him. Now that he was back from the Three Broomsticks, Severus could examine it in more depth. In doing so the dark magic that had originally been so innocuous became recognizable as it lapped at his fingertips.

This book was important, that much Severus could tell. Yet even so the pages remained stubbornly blank, no matter what spells he cast. It was irritating, thought not as irritating as Regulus’s incessant pacing. Really, did the man have to keep tapping his foot so incessantly? It made Severus’s skin itch with discomfort.

“Would you stop that?” The words broke free before Severus could swallow them back down and were laced with annoyance. How odd. Usually I handle my temper better.

Regulus sneered. “Stop what? I’m doing nothing wrong.”

Well, in for a penny.

“Your pacing. It is driving me barmy.”

“Oh I’m sorry me being nervous comes at such an expense to your highness.” Regulus snapped back savagely, “Perhaps I should go back to my house. Oh wait! I hardly can do that now.”

“And that’s supposed to be my fault is it?” Severus replied. “I was not the one who decided to become a Death Eater.”

Regulus’s face turned a deep puce. “Oh yes, excuse me for a decision made when I was sixteen! I didn’t even have a choice. It was Death Eater or death itself.”

“Then you should have chosen death.” Severus snarled out. The moment the words had left his mouth, what he said registered with his brain. His hands flew to his lips and clamped down hard. What in the world has possessed me?

Regulus’s expression flattened. His eyes becoming oddly blank. “Yes, perhaps I should have.”

And before Severus had the chance to correct what he had said, Regulus left the room.

Merlin. I haven’t had a lapse in control like that since mother passed away. Severus thought dourly. I definitely should not have said that.

As Severus began to contemplate his out of character rashness, there was a knocking sound on the door Regulus had just left through.

“Come in.” Severus called. Much to his surprise, Mr. Jigger entered the room.

After Severus’s impromptu breakdown, Severus had not had much contact with the Potions Master. Feeling far too embarrassed, Mr. Jigger had kindly offered him some space to breathe after making sure his apprentice was alright.

His appearance now was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Discreetly, Severus tucked the notebook under the folds of his robes for lack of a better hiding spot.

“Mr. Jigger.” Severus began hesitantly. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

The potion master sighed tiredly, his eyes shooting up to the heavens. Now that Severus took a minute to look at him, he noticed his weary pallor. Concerned, Severus stood. “Are you well Mr. Jigger?”

“I’m fine child.” Mr. Jigger reassured. “A lot has happened in far too little time and I am not as young as I once was. In addition to that I have been receiving howlers for the last two hours and am sporting a rather dreadful headache.”

“Is there any particular reason sir? I don’t see why anybody would wish to send you a howler.”

Mr. Jigger’s sighed, settling down in the seat Severus had vacated. “Ah, well, I suppose it is not often my old friends at the EPSA are stood up. Your takeoff caused quite the ruckus. I do not blame you at all of course. I merely had to smooth over some loose ends before Clément himself flooed to my manor for your hide.” Mr. Jigger rubbed his forehead as his eyes zeroed in on Severus. “And you? How are you holding up after everything?”

Against his will, Severus’s mind flashed back to the scene of Mi-Mi’s dead body. His eyes stung.

“Not as well as I’d like, sir.”

“Understandable.”

With that they sat in silence for a moment. That is, until an owl came careening into the room. In it’s claws, a red envelope glinted maliciously in the light. Mr. Jigger groaned, lowering his head into his palm.

“Oh dear… not this again.”

Severus winced as the screaming began.

“JIGGER! YOUR APPRENTICE CANNOT JUST RUN OFF DURING ONE OF THE MOST MONUMENTAL POINTS IN POTIONEERING HISTORY! I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU TOLD CLÉMENT TO GET HIM OFF YOUR BACK, BUT BY MERLIN IF I DON’T HEAR AN EXPLANATION SOON! DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD DROPPED EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING TO ATTEND!?! MEET WITH ME THIS INSTANT! AND BRING YOUR APPRENTICE WITH YOU! IN All MY DAYS I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DISRESPECT! Oh. And Severus dear, if your listening, I’m sure everything will work out. I merely wish to hear your side of the story. So do pop by soon. Good day.”

“She’s so nice to you.” Jigger murmured once the yelling had stopped. “But with me, Lisa is an absolute monster. And then she wonders why everybody’s so scared of her.”

“That was Lisa Wu?” Severus asked. “But she seemed so nice when I met her…”

“A front, I assure you.” Mr. Jigger said, head between his hands. “Let’s get going. We mustn’t leave the dragon waiting.”

So Severus and Mr. Jigger prepared themselves to leave and flooed directly to Lisa Wu’s office.

Stepping out of the fireplace, Severus found himself in a luxurious penthouse-like room. With wide, open windows on three of the four walls and a spread of comfortable couches, it looked far too comfortable for an office where Severus was about to be scolded to high hell.

“Ah, Arsenius, Severus. Here at last?”

On the opposite side of the room, behind a mahogany desk, Lisa Wu sat in all her fearful glory. Severus felt a shudder run down his spine at the wicked grin she sent Mr. Jigger’s way. Thankfully, when she noticed Severus, her smile morphed into something softer.

“Well, now that you are here, why don’t you tell me whythe most sought-after apprentice in Europe ran off before his potions mastery ceremony without consideration to any of the guests in attendance who had paused their lives to watch your special day?”

Severus felt a hot flash of guilt run through him. He hadrun off and ruined all the hard work the EPSA had done for him. As the youngest potion’s master in a century, there had no doubt been tons of work done to ensure his ceremony was accepted by the masses who themselves been forced to work for years longer to gain their own mastery.

But before Severus could bring himself to apologize, Mr. Jigger’s hand landed on his shoulder as if to hold him back. Looking upward at his mentor, Severus watched as his face hardened at Lisa’s words.

“Lisa, you know I respect you. But please don’t talk so carelessly about things you know nothing of. My apprentice, as I’m sure you can see, tends to believe everything that happens is his fault. But most of the time, as in this case, none of the blame rests on his shoulders.”

Turning to Severus, Mr. Jigger met his eyes. Severus jerked when he felt another presence in his mind. Waiting patiently outside his shields, Severus knew it was not an attack meant to gain information, but a probing presence asking one question. Are you alright if I tell her the truth of what occurred? Or something close to it?

Severus nodded and Mr. Jigger withdrew and turned back to Lisa.

“Severus left the ceremony because a friend of his had sent a letter asking for urgent assistance. She had been caught up in an accident and had been greviously injured. So your endless pestering of him cannot have less of a basis.”

Severus felt a little ill, hearing Mi-Mi’s death discussed so readily.

Lisa glanced at Severus with a squinted gaze, as if trying to determine Mr. Jigger’s honesty. After a moment she paled, no doubt taking Severus’s grey palor as confirmation. “That would change things.”

“Quite.” Mr. Jigger’s replied, voice was tight and clipped. “Severus has been through quite enough. I take it I can count on you not to add to his burden?”

Lisa sighed, the lines on her face becoming more apparent. “Yes, of course.” Turning towards Severus she continued softly, “I’d like to apologize for my conduct.”

Severus shook his head, unable to meet her eyes. “You did nothing wrong ma’am. I’m sorry to have ruined the ceremony.”

“Oh none of that.” Lisa interrupted. “It’d hardly have been the first disastrous mastery ceremony that’s occurred.”

Mr. Jigger snorted. “You’d know, wouldn’t you?”

Lisa winced. “I was nervous enough as it was, Jigger. And you could hardly blame me for throwing up on that cow. Her robes were yellow—yellow!”

“That may be so, but she was still the Minister of Bulgaria.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me. I was convinced I’d be banned from ever entering the country.”

Mr. Jigger chuckled. “You almost were. That woman could hold a grudge. I know I shouldn’t say it, but I’m happy she was forced to step down.”

“Oh yeah, same here.”

With that the mood lightened, and Severus felt the weight on his chest disappear.

“Anywho, we must get going. And next time Lisa, just floo over. I detest howlers.”

Once Lisa nodded, Severus and Mr. Jigger flooed away. Feeling relieved that he had left without repercussion, Severus collapsed down on a nearby couch feeling warm inside. Mr. Jigger had said that he would be in his corner, but words were just words. However, after this meeting, by standing with him against one of the foremost powers in the EPSA, he had proven his commitment beyond all doubt. And for the first time since meeting Rosmerta, Severus felt as if he had found an adult he could trust.

———————————————————

Far away, back in Great Britian, Lily Evans made her way through her closet. Running her fingers through a black dress, she shook her head before moving on to the next outfit. Her wardrobe had grown considerably ever since she had started dating James, but that made it all the harder to find the perfect attire for an tonight’s outing.

With the wedding coming up in a mere matter of weeks, neither James nor Lily had managed to snatch a moment of peace. Every moment of their day was either spent picking a venue, arguing over the flowers or choosing who to invite. It was exhausting.

So much so in fact that Lily only put up token resistance when James’s mother stepped in and insisted on her taking a day for herself. Euphemia was an absolute angel, having already booked Lily tickets to a muggle rendition of Hamlet. In all honesty, had her soon-to-be mother-in-law not stepped in, Lily would have most definitely run herself into the ground.

Grabbing a green satin gown, Lily got changed and applied some makeup. It had been a long time since she had gone to a play. The last one her parents had taken her on had been before she started at Hogwarts. It had been a rendition of The Nutcracker. Petunia had fallen so in love with the choreography and dancing that she had begged to take classes for weeks afterward.

Smiling softly, Lily pushed away the grief she still experienced every time she thought of her family. With her parents now having passed in a Death Eater attack and Petunia having cut off contact, her family was not what it had once been.

“Lily?”

Taking one last glance in the mirror, Lily made her way out of her room.

“I’m ready now Mary. Sorry for making you wait.”

Mary smiled and waved her apology off. “Oh, it’s no issue! I just can’t wait to see Hamlet. Shakespeare was an artist. And if muggles are good at one thing, it’s telling a story!”

Lily chuckled. “That they are. Though I can’t say I love Shakespeare nearly as much as you do.”

“Oh Lils, nobody loves Shakespeare the way I do.”

Thinking back on the many rants Lily had been purview to in the Gryffindor common room when it came to Mary’s obsession with Muggle classics, she could not find much fault with that assertion.

“Then let’s get to it, Mary! We wouldn’t want you to miss your big day. Seeing a Shakespeare play in the flesh!”

Lily chuckled at Mary’s excited squeal as she made her way to the floo.

Throwing in some powder and stepping inside the fireplace, Lily hoped that her dress wouldn’t get singed.

Reappearing in a wizarding pub, she checked over her outfit (no burns!) and assisted Mary as she struggled to clean the soot off her blue ball gown.

“Lils, could you imagine if it stained? Thank god for your charm work. You were always best in the class.”

Lily flushed at the compliment. She had worked really hard throughout her time at Hogwarts, and hearing her friends praise her accomplishments always made her day.

Glancing at the time, they made their way down the street to the muggle theatre that was just around the corner. But before they could enter the building, somebody called her name.

“Lily? Lily Evans?”

Motioning for Mary to go inside, Lily looked around. Her eyes settled on a young woman whom Lily vaguely recognized from her time at Hogwarts.

“Hello.” The woman began. “I’m Rita Skeeter and I was wondering if you would have time for a quick interview.”

“An interview?” Lily asked, confused. The only thing she could even think of being interviewed about was her work in the war effort, and Dumbledore had asked her to keep it out of the limelight. “I’m not sure—”

“—Nonsense!” The Skeeter woman cut in, “It will only take but a moment of your time and it pertains mainly to your Hogwarts years! Surely such a successful young lady like yourself would want to reflect on such stellar times!”

My school years? How odd.

But thinking back, her school years had been rather excellent. So much so that James, Mary, Remus, and Sirius mentioned it often, going on and on about all her accomplishments. Surely it can’t hurt for me to talk about the good old days back in school. After how much work I put in, I think I earned my boasting rights.

“So? What do you say?”

Looking up at Rita, Lily nodded. “I would quite enjoy that.”

“Oh, how wonderful. I won’t keep you long. Just let me—” She reached into her purse and pulled out a parchment and dicta-quill, “—there we go! You ready?”

“I am.”

Rita waved her wand and cast a disillusionment charm so none of the muggles nearby noticed her quill moving on its own. Lily appreciated the forethought.

“You went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry correct?”

Lily nodded. “Yes, that’s correct. I was Head Girl, very hardworking. I always tried my hardest in every class and won a variety of awards at graduation including Most Likely to Succee—”

“—Ah! Thank you for that response. Onto my next question. While you were at school, were you friends with Severus Snape?”

Severus? Oh merlin, if she’s asking about him… what has he gotten me mixed into now?

“Yes, I was. But—”

“—oh that is just brilliant. Could you tell me more about him? What was he like as a kid growing up? Was he always a potions prodigy or could you attribute his talent to Hogwarts’s very own Horace Slughorn?”

Huh. Wasn’t expecting that.

“Er—I mean, yeah, I suppose.”

“Yes to he was a potions prodigy or yes to his success was due to Professor Slughorn?”

Unable to hide her confusion at the path the interview had taken, Lily interrupted, “Wait a minute Rita. I thought you were interviewing me, not Severus!” She trailed off with a small laugh, allowing Rita a graceful way out of her little faux pas.

Unfortunately, Rita trundled over the olive branch with all the elegance of a confunded elephant.

“I am interviewing you!” Rita exclaimed, “I’m interviewing you about Mr. Snape!”

“Oh… I see. That’s a rather interesting choice. May I ask why?” Lily paused taking a deep breath. “After all, I was Head Girl at Hogwarts, not Severus. So I do hope you’ll excuse me when I say that I don’t see why you are asking about Severus when I’m right here. Whatever he’s done has no bearing on my accomplishments and honestly, I find it quite rude.”

Rita gaped at her. “I thought he would have told you! You are his friend after all.”

“Told me what!?” Lily exclaimed. “Honestly woman, if you don’t start making sense right now I’m going to go inside!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to ruin the surprise, my dear.” Rita murmured, “But Mr. Snape is now the youngest potions master in a century.”

Lily felt her mind go blank. “W-wow. Good for him I guess.”

“Quite so quite so! Now back to the interview! So, now that you know, what do you think made Mr. Snape so much more successful than anybody could have imagined for someone who came from such humble beginnings?”

Now feeling rather off balance and slightly ill, Lily blinked at the reporter for several long seconds. Severus managed to become a Potion Master? Already? How? There’s no way. He was always so timid and underwhelming. It’s impossible.

“My dear—are you alright? I’m on a tight schedule and I need to get this piece in!”

Lily attempted a smile, but she knew she was close to breaking her composure. It’s time to make a retreat, I believe.

“I’m sorry Ms. Skeeter, but I have to be off! A play to catch you see!”

Turning on her heel she hurried into the theatre and made her way to Mary. Just as she sat down, the lights dimmed and the play began. Perfect timing, this is just what I need—a distraction.

Yet her mind could not focus on the music and acrobats before her. Instead, she kept trying to reconcile the poor, harsh little boy she knew from Spinner’s End to the successful potioneer Rita had talked about.

So as the actors on stage performed, Lily found her thoughts wandering.

Severus was a smart kid, I’ll give him that. But if I’m being completely honest, I never thought he would make anything of it. Without me at his side he was so unsociable. And I was just as smart—my grades were excellent and my OWLs were incredible. I was the one everybody expected things from. I was, to be perfectly candid, better than him.

Turning her eyes down to her lap, Lily found her hands curled into fists.

I did everything right. I was a muggle-born who pushed past prejudice and rose so far beyond anybody's wildest imaginations. I was a once-in-a-era genius. Even the great Albus Dumbledore took me under his wing. Nobody can deny that.

So why is he so successful and I’m not? What makes him so bloody special?

“Lils? Is everything alright?”

Turning towards Mary, Lily unclenched her teeth. “Yeah, everything’s just wonderful.”

Mary beamed at her, naively oblivious to her sarcasm. Then, she turned back to the stage.

Unfortunately, for the remaining time that Lily was in the theatre, she could not once return her attention back to the play. At least Mary enjoyed it.