New Strategies
Early Saturday morning Severus was sat in his favourite armchair in his quarters at Hogwarts enjoying the quiet and drinking his first cup of coffee before he began a busy day of brewing and marking began.
He had been enjoying the Daily Prophets reporting on the persecution of Knockturn Alley residents by select Aurors. The most recent article showed a young couple who were simply dressed, but not shabbily so, with a three year old looking sadly at his injured father, who had a poorly made splint on his arm and leg, apparently the result of a bone shattering curse. The father was described as the main source of income for the little family and his wife now needed to care for him and their son as they couldn't afford the potions required to heal him. All in all it was a masterly written piece on a wholesome hard working family who had had their world torn apart by vicious and unscrupulous Aurors led by Mad Eye Moody - who was well know to be unhinged.
The newspaper was praising the anonymous donors who were supporting the Knockturn residents in getting legal support and enabling justice to be done. The DMLE had been coming under rapid fire recently with the numerous court cases being bought against it. Some of the more damning cases had included the use of excessive force without provocation, property damage and the disregard of proper protocol resulting in the illegal incarceration, all of which had resulted in compensation being awarded to the victims. Barty Crouch Sr. as the Head of the DMLE had been under increasing pressure to rein in these apparent 'rogue' Aurors, in particular Moody who appeared to be their ringleader or to resign so that someone else could.
Knowing that his childhood bullies made up part of Moody's squad had him hoping that they would get everything coming to them.
While fetching a refill of coffee in his kitchenette he was alerted to a visitor entering via his floo. Only a small number of people beyond Hogwarts had direct access to his rooms and one of them was currently living with him, the other two where Lucius and Narcissa.
"Good Morning Severus, how are you this morning?" Narcissa asked when she saw him.
"I am well Narcissa. Not that it isn't always a pleasure to see you, but why are you here so early?"
"Livia mentioned a lack of plans for her weekend so I thought it would be nice to surprise her with a weekend à Lille magique, France".
"I thought she was planning a weekend of research?" Severus asked, almost certain that was she had mentioned ....'ah' he thought wryly.
"Exactly! She needs some time away from her dusty old tomes and there is no better way than a shopping trip in France. She desperately needs an outfit for the Nott Spring Equinox celebration but she keeps insisting that she's either not going or that she already has robes." At this she strode into Livia’s room and woke her up.
Severus listened to his sisters squawk of surprise followed by Narcissa ushering her into the bathroom while she packed the 'essentials'.
Five minutes later Narcissa stepped back into his lounge and eyed his robes.
"Do we need to pick some robes for you Severus? I haven't seen you in any new ones since you took your Lordship" she enlarged a small book that she took from her pocket and turned it for him to read.
"Are these still your measurements?"
Severus choked on his third cup of coffee "How in the blazes do you have those!" he spluttered and coughed.
"I will take that as confirmation" she said with a small smile and placed the, now shrunken, book back in her pocket.
Upon recovering his composure he decided that Narcissa may actually be of use to him since she was here anyway.
"Cissa, please take Livia’s' vault keys to the Prince Accounts. She has been refusing to carry them or use them, insisting that she is perfectly happy using her own money and account. Will you talk to her about accepting the use of them, she is being inordinately stubborn as usual"
He cast a quick spell and when the keys flew to him he passed them on to Narcissa for safe keeping.
She had insisted that he take the thrice be damned Lordship, but was refusing to accept her share in it. He had been insisting for weeks that If he had to put up with a Lordship, Manor houses and more money than he could reasonably spend in a life time, she could except the jewellery, money and houses and be happy about it. She insisted that it was his and that she had quite enough to live on. In truth all he wanted to do was give his sister what they had never had, to have no further concerns about money, to enjoy being able to afford the little luxuries that she had never been in a position to enjoy. Maybe Narcissa could teach her a thing or two about frivolous spending, he had no concern that she would ever go overboard. It would be nice to see her loosen the purse strings a little though.
"Make sure she gets a full wardrobe and buys something for herself" he finished a little gruffly, not really comfortable with the topic of conversation or the soft look Narcissa was now giving him.
Livia walked into the room wearing the outfit Cissa had left on her bed and raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"Are you going to tell me what’s going on now?" she asked impatiently.
Narcissa held out an envelope to her and said "Good bye Severus, we will see you Sunday night" then she said "Shopping!" and the port key whisked them away before Livia had time to complain.
They landed on a marble floor in the large lobby of a very luxurious looking hotel with pale cream walls and an exquisite chandelier in the centre of the room. Louis XV furniture was spaced out around the room and a central table held an enormous flower arrangement with an array of Hydrangeas, orchids, scented roses and Arum lilies all on shades of white with only the green foliage to accent them.
"Where are we Cissa?"
"Hôtel et spa avec jardins sereins. The Nott Spring Equinox celebration is in a week and we need outfits. So I thought we could enjoy the weekend being pampered and shopping".
Livia groaned and looked a Narcissa in disbelief. "You have kidnapped me so you can go shopping?"
Narcissa ignored her friend and directed all of her attention on issuing a list of arrangements that she wished the concierge to make on their behalf while they settled into their rooms.
Some ten minutes later a young woman led them to their suites which was connected by a lounge and balcony.
"Good News! They had availability for the dead sea mud wraps and ritual skin regeneration treatments, they are booked for tonight before dinner. I've ordered breakfast to come here to our rooms before we head out shopping for the day" she paused glancing at her friend who seemed less enthusiastic than she had hoped. "I haven't been away on my own since Draco was born, I'm glad that you are here with me" she told Livia sincerely. Livia stood, smiling and gave her friend a hug.
"Very well, lets have breakfast and get ready for the day. I'm glad I bought my comfy shoes!" she said with renewed cheer.
"All of your shoes are 'comfy'" Narcissa stated with a disdainful glance at the footwear in question. "I'm sure Lord Slytherin would appreciate seeing you in a more fitted outfit with pretty shoes" she teased lightly wanting to gauge Livia’s reaction.
"Hm? Why? I can't imagine he would really care one way or another" she shrugged while concentrating on her breakfast.
Narcissa couldn't believe how a woman so very intelligent could be so obtuse.
"When you came to dinner at Malfoy Manor you both seemed to get on very well for mere 'acquaintances' " she prodded gently.
A soft hum was all the she received so she decided to try changing her approach.
"Lucius tells me that Lord Slytherin is likely to start looking for a wife soon".
"Well he should find that fairly easy" she said without any apparent care.
"What makes you say that?" Narcissa asked, hoping draw more information out of Livia.
"Handsome, rich, titled, intelligent, amusing... I could go on but you get the point" Livia said carelessly, picking up her coffee.
"I didn't realise your taste ran to older men?" Cissa teased with a smile, sudden surprise at part of what Livia had said caught up in her mind and she couldn't help asking, "You think he is amusing?", she had never heard the Dark Lord joke?
Livy groaned dramatically, "Not you as well! Has Severus put you up to this? I've already had to endure Sev giving me a talk on my apparent 'infatuation' with Thomas. Well I will tell you what I told him, I don't harbour any romantic feelings towards Thomas Slytherin. Just because I can objectively appreciate his good points doesn't mean I have a crush on him and at no point have I lost sight of the bad points he has. I'm fully aware that he has no history of long term attachments and as I have no interest in becoming attached to him it is of little relevance. Ok? Now you needn't worry either."
Narcissa was reeling internally, Severus had spoken to Livia to discourage what he thought were her feelings for the man, which means he must of seen what see had seen between the two. She would need to speak to Severus when she returned when they returned so she could compare notes.
"Very well. Let us finish here and start our day shall we?" Narcissa said happily.
After a long and tiring day Livia was glad to be covered in mud for an hour if for no other reason than she was able to rest her feet.
Narcissa had dragged Livy into every high end clothing, accessory and shoe boutique and after a lengthy lecture on not being selfish and allowing her poor brother to look after and spoil as he had always wished to and how she wasn't allowing him to share the experience of all that came with his lordship. By the end of it she had a full wardrobe of fancy clothes, most of which she was sure she would never have occasion to wear, bags of accessories and several uncomfortable looking pairs of shoes with cushioning charms in them.
Narcissa took charge of ordering Severus several pairs of new robes and shoes, the robes all in a variety of different colours and several formal sets complete with his family crests. When Livia had mentioned that she was surprised Severus had requested new robes she was informed that he didn't.
"How do you know his measurements to order robes for him?" asked a confused Livia.
Narcissa gave a wicked smirk and glancing at her friend slyly she admitted,
"When he stayed with us for a few days last summer I had a house elf measure him when he was asleep".
Livia stared at her friend feeling a mixture of admiration and abject horror at the lengths she would go to to ensure someone was properly attired, at least in her mind.
After an hour in mud, followed by the twenty five minute rejuvenating ritual both of the ladies met back up in the brine baths to relax before dinner.
There were several pools that all adjoined one another and there were people dotted around, some chatting quietly but many just enjoying the effects of the water.
Nearby to where she had settled was an old gentleman with whom they had exchanged a polite greeting with.
"...are you positive that we have to attend this equinox celebration at the Notts. I'm sure we are only invited because Sev has a Lordship now and I know he doesn't want to attend"
"I don't believe that is the only reason for your invite Livy" her friend said with a peculiar glint in her eye "Besides, when does Severus Snape ever want to attend an event he is invited to. If it isn't Potions related he has to be forced out of his self imposed isolation, if for no other reason than so that he can practice his non existent social skills and assure us he is still alive and well" Narcissa finished with an arch look.
"Excuse me, I couldn't help over hearing you mention Severus Snape. It was the Potions Master you were referring to was it not?" the old man asked with a thick Greek accent.
"It was" Livia answered "Potions Master Severus Snape is my brother. Are you acquainted with him?" she asked, pride for her older brother filling her as it always did when he was recognised for his accomplishments.
"Unfortunately No. His Potions Master Mason Goldhorn was my apprentice some 70 years ago, I have long wanted to make contact with Master Snape and have followed his work avidly since he began his mastery. Sadly Mason died before he could introduce us" the older man explained.
"I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure Severus would have been delighted to make your acquaintance, he has always spoken very highly of Potions Master Goldhorn. I am Livia Snape and this is my friend Lady Narcissa Malfoy"
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Potions Master Ural Xanthippos Metaxas, would you be so kind as to join this old man for dinner this evening, if you have no previous engagements of course" he said with a bow and gentle smile.
"We would be delighted, Thank you" Livia replied with a wide smile before Narcissa could invent a prior arrangement.
"Ah. It does an old man's heart some good to be able to look forward to an evening with two beautiful women for company. When you reach my age dinner companions are harder to come by and frequently more less engaging and more dreary!" he exclaimed in good humour.
They parted ways a short while later having arranged to meet at 8pm in the hotel restaurant.
Livia had enjoyed her evening immensely and found Ural to be witty and intelligent with the kind of gentlemanly behaviour that came from the time he grew up in. She couldn't wait to return home to Severus and regal him with all she had found out about the older man, she was sure that he would be equally as fascinated as she was with his knowledge of old spells and potions that were in use when he was a young man growing up in Greece. Ural was very knowledgeable about his craft and took great delight in describing some of the ingredients that then had been in plentiful supply but that over the years had sadly become rare or non existent. At the end of a pleasant meal they exchanged contact information and Livia promised to pass his details on to Severus and to write to him soon.
Narcissa had enjoyed the evening meal less so than her companions but couldn’t begrudge Livia the time she spent quizzing the Potions Master and she knew Sev would be very enthusiastic to learn of him.
The next day the two women headed back out into the charming shopping avenue and Narcissa reminded the other about their hair appointments and that Severus had wished for Livia to purchase a treat for herself. Narcissa later wished that she had specified what sort of 'treat' she had meant when Livia took the opportunity to purchase yet another old tome.
Upon Livia’s' return home she excitedly regaled Severus with tales of her meeting Ural and how he followed Severus' work, about her new book and the new wardrobe she and Narcissa had commissioned for him, which was only fair considering he had insisted she get one. Severus listened patiently, glad that his sister had enjoyed herself, excited at the prospect of meeting Potions Master Metaxas and wholly unsurprised at his sisters purchasing another book or Narcissa being complicit in purchasing a new wardrobe for himself.
Dumbledore stood up from the seat of Chief Warlock, resplendent in his bright and cheerful robes, and a chime echoed throughout the chamber, signalling that the session was about to begin.
He began "You are called to order.
The first order of business is to confirm that the minutes of the last Wizengomot session are accurate. Please raise your wand if you disagree", he nodded happily when no wands were raised. "The minutes are accepted" he intoned and the Wizengomot clerk tapped their wand on the file which was sent to the filing room.
"Is there any business that needs to be attended to as a result of the last session?" Silence was his only answer and he moved on.
"Our first topic for discussion is the budget allocated to the Department of Mysteries (DoM). They have again requested an increase to their budget and staffing", he said disapprovingly. "I move that it is once again rejected. We have no need to pry into the finer working of magic, it encourages people to meddle where meddling should discouraged, as we saw when Grindelwald was rising in power on the continent" he looked over his glasses at the members of the Wizengomot. "I open the floor for debate" he finished.
Lady Goldstein stood, a woman who had recently lost her husband who had been a curse breaker, who had been attacked by an unknown curse "I believe they should receive the increase. Had they have been properly staffed and funded they may have discovered a counter to the curse that killed my husband. Though he died as a result of the work he chose and loved, there are those who will inherit property in the future, much like the item my husband was attempting to make safe, that may well be affected upon coming into contact with a cursed item"
Much arguing took place for and against the DoM's request but eventually it was refused once again.
Several hours later the meeting was nearing the end and Dumbledore asked, "Is there any other business before this meeting concludes?"
At this Lord Greengrass, notable for his steadfastly neutral stance on politics and magic, stood, "I request that an immediate, full and formal investigation into the DMLE be enacted following the increase of court cases being bought against it" he sat back down.
"I second the motion" said Lord Bones, who had taken his wifes name as she and her sister were the last of their line, had heard extensively from his sister-in-law Amelia Bones about what was being allowed to transpire in the DMLE
"I third " agreed Lord Burke who was still incensed following their attempt to frame him.
Dumbledore's eyes tightened slightly but a genial smile remained on his face as he opened the floor to debate.
"I think we can all agree that the DMLE does a splendid job of keeping us safe. I believe the recent spate of complaints and lawsuits to be the result of the malicious interference of some of the darker elements of our society" Dumbledore gave Lord Slytherin a significant look to which he received only a bland one in return.
"Perhaps they are in need of greater numbers and funding, stress has been known to cause mishaps and error in judgement. They can hardly be held accountable if they are overworked" said Lord Doge in support of his friend.
"If we increase their numbers any further there will be more Aurors than civilians. I don't believe for one moment that the issue here is 'over work' it is more likely to be a case of 'Idle hands do Loki's work", objected Lord Greengrass vehemently.
"Hear, hear" cried out a number of members to that statement.
Lord Slytherin stayed out of the debate, allowing those in the neutral and light factions to argue their points and spent the majority of the debate in observing those who were on the fence. It would be useful to gauge how many could likely be persuaded to allow an investigation to take place.
Unsurprisingly it was the argument of how many galleons the court cases were costing the Ministry that pushed many to vote in favour of Lord Greengrass' request. As per usual the needs and rights of the populous were second to the amount of gold in the ministry coffers, 'gold that could apparently be better spent on meals and wine if they were delayed at a meeting' he thought sardonically.