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The Long Road	By : SinisterMe Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Remus Views: 63598 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 18
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 43
- 44
- 45
For a moment after the Healer’s shouted accusation, everything seemed to stand still.
Then, in a burst of motion, Healers in blue robes rushed down the hallway to attend to the bleeding man. For the time being everyone’s attention was on the injured Healer and that worked just fine for Snape. He crouched down on one knee in front of Teddy, taking in the child’s bloody, distressed face and generally disheveled appearance briefly.
He decided people would be more likely to be on their side if the child’s face wasn’t covered in gore, so he waved his fingers over the mess, cleaning every trace of it away with a bit of wandless magic.
“Are you alright?” he asked Teddy as calmly as he could, stroking his hands down the child’s arms soothingly in an attempt to make the boy meet his eyes.
Teddy shrugged, pulling tightly into himself and away from Snape.
“Are you in any pain?” Severus tried again.
Teddy shook his head ‘no’.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” he asked gently. Teddy wasn’t the type of person that went around biting people randomly just because the mood struck him. And he most certainly was not rabid. That meant there was some other, more logical explanation for all of this – there had to be.
Teddy repeated the denying motion.
Two male Healers walked up to them, wands drawn before he could question the boy any further. “We’re going to need to take the werewolf into custody, sir.”
Severus’ head snapped up to look at them, patented sneer in place. He didn’t bother rising.
“Custody?” he asked caustically. “Are you sure you have enough armed Wizards present to handle one little boy?”
“Mind your cheek, sir. We need to take him until we get this sorted, that is,” one of them told him.
“You’re not taking him anywhere,” Severus said firmly, tightening his grip on Teddy’s arms, pulling him a step closer to his own body. “We are going to get this ‘sorted’ right here and now.”
“We have our orders,” the other one said, reaching his hand out towards Teddy.
Before Snape was aware of what he was doing, his wand was in his hand and a barrier had been erected around him and Teddy, effectively stopping the man from coming anywhere near them. His hand bounced off the barrier like he ran into a wall of glass.
Severus turned away from them as if their presence was no longer of any concern to him.
“Teddy, you need to tell me what happened in there,” he said urgently to the boy.
“Don’t let them take me, master! I tried to be good! I really tried!” Teddy protested, in a panic.
“I’m not letting them take you anywhere,” Severus said.
He was particularly good with wards and had confidence that if the Ministry did decide to cave in on their heads, they would be just fine underneath the one he had just raised. He cupped the boy’s tear dampened cheek with his hand. “It’s going to be okay, Teddy. We just need to figure out what went on in there to cause all of this.”
Teddy shook his head again.
“So the lady Healer took you down the hallway and…” Snape began the story for him, hoping that by starting at the beginning and staying calm he could coax the tale out of the child.
“And she took me into the room. She was nice, sir. She waited with me for a while until the real Healer came,” Teddy’s voice was shaky; he was obviously barely keeping himself under control.
“What happened then? Did she leave the room?”
“Yes, sir. She left me with the Healer and closed the door.”
“What went on then?”
“He wanted to ask me some questions – they were hard! I didn’t know all of the answers, sir.”
“Did his questions upset you?” Severus asked, trying desperately to get a grasp on events.
“No, sir. I answered them the best I could and he seemed okay with that. It didn’t take very long.”
“Okay, and after the questions were over, what then?” If he had to wring the story out of Teddy one sentence at a time, so be it.
“Then he wanted to weigh and measure me, sir.”
Severus could see the Healers getting more and more agitated outside of the bubble he’d made around them. A third person wearing different coloured robes was walking up to them gesturing wildly with his hands.
“And did he?” Snape asked, paying them no mind.
“Y-yes.”
“Yes? Teddy you have to give me more than that.”
“I – he…” Teddy looked nervously over at the Healer that wasn’t talking to the third man, but was watching and listening carefully to them instead. He ran his hands over his face in a motion of pure stress.
“I won’t be angry with you, Teddy. You can tell me anything and I promise that I will be on your side.”
That seemed to embolden the boy a little. His eyes flickered over to the listening Healer again.
“Tell it into my ear if you don’t want him to hear,” Snape suggested, leaning forward and turning his head.
Teddy hesitated for a moment and then bent in, cupping his small hands around Severus’ ear and whispering at length into it. When he was done, he pulled back and looked down at his feet.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” Teddy whispered into the open.
Snape held Teddy literally at arm’s length, looking him over carefully as he hadn’t had time to do so far. He took in things he hadn’t moments ago.
Teddy was wearing no shoes. His shirt and robes were askew, the fine garment of the robe torn in the back where the Healer had likely tried to grab Teddy when he’d burst from the room. The fact that his shirt was missing no less than four buttons, his pants were also ripped at the front opening, the clasps undone and the strings pulled almost completely out like someone had tried to tear them open. The freshly forming bruise that was beginning to appear on his neck and collarbone.
“I am not mad at you, Teddy, You did exactly the right thing,” Severus told him sincerely, pulling the boy into a tight hug.
“You said not unless I wanted to, not until I was way older. I didn’t think you meant for me to…”
Severus shook his head vehemently. “No I did not, you were absolutely correct.”
“But I bit him, sir.”
“He’s lucky if that’s the worst thing that is going to happen to him today,” Severus growled.
He pulled back and held onto his rage long enough to fix Teddy’s shirt and to magically repair his robe and trousers. He’d look at the bruise later, when there was more time and not so many eyes on them.
“I’m going to deal with this situation now, Teddy. Just for the moment, I want you to stay in this protective barrier. No one can touch you in here, you are totally safe.”
“Don’t leave me, sir!” Teddy grabbed his robes, sounding of absolute misery.
“It is better for you to stay in here. If I take you out there with me, they may try and take you somewhere before I can get this figured out. They can’t even lay a finger on you if you are in here and I’ll be right outside.”
“Please take me home!” Teddy said, large tears beginning to spill from his eyes again.
Severus handed him a kerchief. “I will. Everything will be okay. I love you, Teddy.”
Teddy nodded, a sob escaping him as he took the handkerchief and pressed it over his face.
Severus stood, his magic allowing him out of the circle and then completely enclosing it again as he exited it. He ignored the twinge in his heart at the thought of leaving Teddy alone when he was so upset, but there was little else to do. He had to find a way to fix all of this.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded loudly. “Is this the kind of institution you run here?”
The Healer who hadn’t been listening in turned back to him, agog.
“We run a perfectly legal institution, sir. You may note that we are a part of the very Ministry itself. We are a place of order and rules – your animal has broken both.”
“Where is the Healer that was seeing to my slave?” he asked coolly. He hadn’t spent most of his life playing a role not to be able to fall back into it in a heartbeat. “I wish to speak to him.”
   “They’re disinfecting his wound as we speak. Those creatures are filthy, bacteria laden things. He’ll get an infection for sure, and pray that’s all that he gets.”
Snape opened his mouth to retort but closed it again, looking at the man in disbelief.
“What do you mean, ‘all that he gets’?” he asked instead, curious amidst his anger.
“Well, you know. The moon wasn’t that long ago and that’s how it’s spread, by biting. Just because it isn’t common to have someone Turn because of a bite like this, doesn’t mean it never happens.”
“Yes, it does,” Severus responded, infuriated. “You can’t be daft enough to mean that!”
“I’m dead serious, sir.”
For years that had been his favorite saying. Now it pissed him off beyond reckoning.
“I’m done speaking with you. Let me talk to one of your superiors. In fact, I’d like to see the Head of this Department, if you can’t let me speak with the Healer in question,” Severus snarled. He had no time for idiots and fear mongers. Turned by the bite of an untransformed lycanthrope, indeed - either they were teaching their trainees pure garbage or this man was having him on.
“In question, sir?” the healer asked, looking at him like he was a lunatic.
“You bloody well heard me. That child is not and has never been a threat to anyone while in his human form. I won’t say it again; get me someone else to talk to, your superior or their superior – both at once if you’re not too stupid to figure out how to manage it.”
“They’ve been called. I’m afraid if you don’t surrender the slave, we’ll be forced to contact the Aurors.”
“Oh, by all means, please do,” Severus said, sounding composed for the first time since he’d began talking to this moron. “In fact, you’d better let me speak to one before this charade goes any farther.”
“Sir, I am at a loss as to how you can continue to pretend that you are the wronged party. Your animal is dangerous. Healer Lanning is the one who has been put at risk here and legally, he is entitled to whatever he wants for reparation. If he wants that thing put down, then that is what he gets. You’re welcomed to contact your legal representation, if you wish to try and dispute this matter in court.”
Severus was about to verbally tear this man’s head right off of his body, honestly, he was. Thankfully two men walked up to prevent him from doing just that. One was a man he’d yet to meet, the other, he presumed by the bandage, was Healer Lanning. He reminded himself that simply killing Lanning on the spot was likely not to help his case.
“I am the Head of this Department, Mister-?”
“Snape. Your name is?”
“Healer Gibbons. Let me say that since I took over this Department, I have never witnessed an incident so… dramatic, before.”
“Spare me the preamble, Healer. I need to know what I have to do to take my slave home with me today.”
“Take it home?” Gibbons repeated. “Oh I hardly think you’re going to be taking it home.”
“I hardly think that I am going to leave him in the less than capable hands of your ‘department’, Healer. My property has been assaulted once while in your care for less than an hour.”
“Well in case it has escaped your notice, Healer Lanning is the one with the injury, Mister Snape. You signed the paper that declared you were aware of how things worked, were something like this to happen. Healer Lanning was well within his rights to do his inspection of the werewolf and he is well within his rights to demand appropriate compensation for his suffering.”
“What I signed indicated that I was responsible for my slave’s actions. And really, Healer Gibbons, well within his rights?” He really hated having to take this angle, but they were leaving him no other choice. “Was he well within his rights to try and diminish the value of my property?”
“What are you trying to say, Mister Snape?” Healer Gibbons asked, affronted.
“I’m saying that this… man… tried to deface and devalue my property. Are you familiar with the going rate for slaves of his age and ability?”
“Fairly well, sir, but I fail to see how that is relevant in -”
“That is relevant because the price of a slave his age is more than cut in half if they are proven at resale not to be virginal. A simple spell proves it. If my slave had not taken action, this man would have turned my golden investment into brass Knuts. I have trouble believing that doing so would have been ‘within his rights’.”
Healer Gibbons sucked in a deep breath, but didn’t actually appear startled in the least.
“But I am not telling you anything you don’t already know, am I Healer?” Severus was realizing that even by taking that angle, they may be royally screwed. If the Department Head knew that one of his Healers was preying on small children and hadn’t taken action, well that spoke of condoned behavior, didn’t it?
Gibbons didn’t say anything back to him.
“In that case, I will be in contact with my representation after all. I’m sure you have a floo in your office that I could use to contact him, do you not?” Severus was very proud of himself for not annihilating both of them, though it would have been a more sure fire way out of here and a hell of a lot more satisfying.
“If I may, Mister Snape, I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. Severus Snape, right, from the papers? I’m Healer Lanning.” The man held out his uninjured hand to shake Snape’s.
Severus looked at the offered hand in disdain. He looked from it up to the man’s face, his expression the mirror of hatred. Lanning just stared placidly back at him, seemingly unaffected.
Lanning dropped his hand. “I believe you said that the paper you signed stated you were responsible for the actions of your slave, did it not?”
“I did.”
“Well that form was changed just this morning, you must have gotten an old ones by mistake!” Gibbons exclaimed. He looked over at Lanning. “Well then, I’m not sure how to handle this one – the policy has changed you see,” he turned back to Snape. “Now, as it stands, we just put down the violent ones, rather than allow them back into society.”
“I would never have signed that paper, I assure you,” Severus told them both fervently. “Am I not legally bound by the paper I signed? How was I to know of your policy changes? Surely you cannot legally bind me to an agreement I didn’t sign.”
“This is a real mess,” Gibbons sighed. “I’ll need you to contact your solicitor as well, Healer Lanning. Mister Snape, if you will step into my office I’ll give you access to the floo. I don’t want some legal fiasco on my hands here, we’ll settle this as soon as possible, hopefully to your mutual satisfaction Mister Snape, Healer Lanning.”
Lanning didn’t look all that put out; he didn’t look much of anything at all, really. “I’ll go contact him now, sir,” he said to his boss.
“I’m not leaving Teddy here alone,” Severus said to Gibbons. “I need your word that he will be allowed to stay with me.”
“Until this is figured out, I don’t believe we’d be in the right if we took him. I don’t want to break the law, you know.”
You don’t want to lose your cushy job is more like it. “Thank you Healer. Please allow me to collect him and I will be in contact with my legal counsel.”
“Of course, meet me by the front desk when you’re done. I’d like to speak to the staff again about the use of new forms only.”
Severus turned back to Teddy before the man was done his sentence. He dispelled the protective bubble around him and went over to him immediately.
“Ignore everything you just heard me say,” he told the child quietly. “They only fathom life in a certain way – I doubt that they would understand that I would be angry over your treatment because I know you deserve better. I’m sorry, Teddy.” He hugged the child to him.
“I don’t care about any of that – you aren’t planning on selling me, though? Please, master…”
“I will never sell you or give you away. Not unless you are to go with your father somewhere that will be better for you. I would never willingly send you away from me, Teddy, you have to believe that.”
Teddy pulled back and tried to smile at him. “I do, sir.”
“Come with me. I have to contact someone that will help us get out of this.”
Severus stood and took Teddy’s hand, ignoring the pointed look from the Head Healer.
“Follow me, sir,” he told Severus.
When he’d been left alone in the office, Severus used the floo to contact Darien Ackerley. He’d been his representation all through the trials. He’d also been the Malfoy’s representation. The fact that both of them were free now was a testament to his skill.
“Snape?” Darien asked, seeing his face in the floo.
“Thought you’d never see me again did you?” Severus asked.
“Well I was hoping not to, anyway. Get yourself involved in another genocide cult then?”
“Not quite. Would you be able to come through? This is rather serious.”
“Well as long as you remember that you’re being charged full price for this time, even if it is only a consultation.”
“Yes, I know I’ve been being billed ever since you first blurted my name like I didn’t remember what it was. And I’m hoping to pay you for more than consulting.”
“There, you’ve said the magic words. Move out of the way so that I can come through, and remember…”
“Yes I know, face to face time is double, speaking to another solicitor is triple. Charge me what you will, you know I don’t give a Hippogriff’s arse.”
“I’m starting to forget why I don’t like you,” Darien said, stepping through the floo.
“I need you to represent me and my slave against WIBNA, worst case scenario.”
“Ah, there it is - thank you for reminding me. Are you insane?”
“No, just being screwed,” Snape said.
“Who… is that your slave?” Darien asked, looking over Snape’s shoulder at a cowering Teddy.
“He is. Do you want to hear the story or not?”
“I do and remember-”
“I know, two and a half times normal rate for storytelling. You are forgetting how much time we spent together over the years aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s becoming less and less clear the longer I’m away from my sprawling manner home. You built a good part of my fourth floor, you realize? I could finally afford that balcony fountain the Missus had been wanting for ages.”
“Happy to accommodate,” Snape said with derision.
“That’s good, because I have extensive plans for a rooftop swimming pool,” Darien said smoothly, eyes flashing.
Darien Ackerley was, by all accounts, a plain man. He had few notable features, unremarkable hair and always dressed in fine, yet understated attire. Severus believed it was what made him excel at his job – everyone underestimated him - unless, of course, they’d had the displeasure of going up against him. He had a reputation for being vastly overpriced, but was worth every Knut. Snape liked to think that if Riddle had been given a fair trial, Ackerley could have managed to whittle the prosecution down to community service and still left everyone happy somehow.
“The indoor one losing its charm?” he asked sarcastically.
“Well, you know how it is,” Darien said airily. “You realize that I don’t usually take slavery cases,” he told Snape with a pointed look.
“You know that I’m able and willing to pay whatever you need,” Snape repeated. He went straight into telling the story so far, sparing no detail. If he let him, Darien would just banter back and forth all day, charging him all the while.
“Let me re-state the facts as I know them, shall I?”
“Be my guest.”
“You received a summons. You accepted the summons. They botched the paperwork, you signed on the dotted line of an out of date policy. They attempted to cheapen and destroy your property. However, your property caused a Healer harm. You made a scene, and here we are?”
“That’s the short of it,” Snape agreed sourly.
“What I’m having trouble understanding,” Darien started slowly, looking over Snape’s shoulder at Teddy, who was sitting there looking the very picture of despair, “is why, with your vast wealth – you don’t just let them destroy this slave and buy a new one next auction. You have to know that it will cost you far less than procuring my services for even a half day of work.”
“Not that you would be able to understand this, Ackerley,” Snape said, trying not to sneer, “but not everything in this world has an amount of Galleons that can be measure its equal.”
“Nonsense!” Darien proclaimed. “I refuse to believe such slanderous accusations.”
“Your sense of humor always has had something lacking.”
“Fine; let’s say that this slave is worth my going rate. What else are you willing to concede? Let me tell you that it’s well-known within my profession that one doesn’t go up against WIBNA and come out the successor. You’ll have to have something to bargain with, or there won’t even be a question about it, the pup will be destroyed by nightfall.”
“His life is worth anything to me,” Severus said simply.
“Anything?” Darien asked skeptically.
“Yes.”
“Well in that case…”
“I signed a piece of paperwork that indicated I was to be held responsible for Teddy’s actions. I was also told that Healer Lanning was entitled to anything he wanted as compensation. I am leaving it up to you to find out what that ‘anything’ might be, outside of Teddy’s life.”
“This sounds a lot easier than most of my work,” Darien grinned.
“Excellent, then you should have no problem succeeding.”
“Well, anything else you’d like to tell me before I meet with this Healer’s representation? What did you say his name was, Lannin?”
“Lanning,” Severus corrected.
“Lanning you say? What’s his first name?”
Severus thought back. “I’m not sure that I was given his first name. Would it make a difference?”
“It very well might. I’ll have to speak to his solicitor before I know too much. You really do mean it when you say that this is worth anything to you?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. Anything.”
The thought that they would kill Teddy was more than he could stand. Would he really be able to look into Remus’ eyes and tell him there was something he could have done to save him, but hadn’t? Would he be able to rise and rest day after endless day, knowing in his own heart that there was a price too great to pay for this child’s life? No, he could not.
Darien leaned in towards him, scrutinizing his face. “You really mean it?”
“Are you just not paying attention? I must have said so three times by now,” Severus snapped.
“I am attentive and sound of mind, sir. You, on the other hand, may have completely lost it – I’m not certain. Not that it matters – as long as you pay your bill you’re welcomed to whatever you like. I’ll go test the waters and see what his representation has to say. I’ll see what he has to offer that we’re willing to work with.”
“Speak to me before you deny them anything.”
“You’re aware that no matter the circumstances, the Ministry will likely favor Lanning over you if this has to go before the Wizengamot. It would be much better if we could settle this out of court. If needed, all four of us – you, me, Lanning and his representation – will sit down face to face and try to come to a resolution that is acceptable to everyone.”
“Anything Ackerley; don’t make me say it again.”
“Whatever Snape, I’ll see what I can learn when I speak to this Healer’s solicitor. Where will you be once I’m finished?”
Severus thought for a moment. “In the waiting room at the front of the Ward. I have another slave that is waiting there and I would like to inform him of events.”
“You always were an unconventional bugger.”
“I thought you were charging me for this? Get moving man, I don’t pay you to stand here and insult me!”
Ackerley just laughed. “I’ll go find who I’m supposed to be talking to. I’ll come and retrieve you when I’ve got some information.”
Severus nodded.
Ackerley opened the door that led into the hall. Healer Gibbons was pacing the floor just outside, his hands behind his back and a tired look on his face.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before. I’m Healer Gibbons, Department Head of Pediatric Lycanthropy,” Gibbons said, holding out his hand.
“Darien Ackerley, Mr. Snape’s representative. Do you have somewhere I would be able to meet with Healer Lanning’s solicitor? I’d like to get straight to business before this blows up to be larger than it is, don’t you think, Healer Gibbons?”
“Yes, I think that would be preferable.”
“Will this Department’s representation be present as well?”
“This Department is in no way liable for whatever went on here today!” Gibbons protested.
“Not even for giving my client outdated documents to sign? Interesting. I wonder what the Wizengamot would say if they were presented with that statement,” Darien pretended to muse.
“My word, you don’t think it will come to that, do you?” Gibbons asked, clearly upset by the concept.
“For your sake I hope not, Healer Gibbons. My client has informed me that he would like to have some time to himself, though I assure you he will not go far. If you would be so kind as to lead the way?”
“Of course sir, of course. Wait wherever you like, Mr. Snape, though you won’t be allowed to leave this level. Come, Mr. Ackerley,” Gibbons bobbed away immediately, Darien hot on his heels.
Severus shook his head. Even in the first thirty seconds of meeting the man, Darien had been trying to put Healer Gibbons on edge; in his own personal opinion, he had succeeded. It was nice that Gibbons paid no mind to him as he tried to accommodate Darien.
He looked down at Teddy, who was cringing unobtrusively behind him. Sighing, Snape reached out his hands and tucked them under the boy’s armpits, lifting him off of the floor and into his arms. He’d intended to go to Remus as soon as he was able, but found himself briefly rooted to the spot as Teddy’s arms went around his neck. Yes, this child’s life would be worth any price.
He found his bearings and propelled them forward, ignoring all of the looks they were getting from staff and patients alike as he strode through the waiting room, Teddy held securely in his arms. He breezed past the door warden and straight into the room they’d left Remus in.
There he sat, the same as when they had left. He breathed a visible sigh of relief when he saw the two of them round the corner.
“How did it go?” Lupin asked with trepidation.
“We have a bit of a situation on our hands,” Severus said in answer.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that a ‘Healer’ tried to assault Teddy, who, having no other recourse, bit him hard enough to draw blood. My solicitor is already here.”
Remus held out his arms for his boy and Severus relented instantly. Teddy clutched onto Remus desperately.
“What did he do to him?” Remus asked, distraught. He took Teddy in his arms and held him close.
“The man attempted to touch him inappropriately, telling him that he needed to be good and submit to it or he wouldn’t be allowed to leave. He was too smart to believe that, however, and did what he had to in order to get out of the room with him. Am I missing anything, Teddy?” Severus asked.
The boy shook his head and burrowed deeper into his father’s arms.
“What is going to happen to him?” Remus face twisted.
“Nothing, if my solicitor is even half worth his fee. They bolloxed the paperwork I signed upon admittance – I believe it may allow for some leeway.”
“What do they want to do with him?” Remus asked, not satisfied with that answer. It was too tidy, Severus was hiding something from him.
“It isn’t going to happen, Remus,” Severus said firmly.
“What is it, Severus?” Lupin implored. “Please.”
“There was talk of several things,” he alluded.
“Severus!”
“They want his life, Remus,” Severus said, finally. He regretted it instantly at the distraught look on Remus’ face.
“No!” Lupin exclaimed, clutching his child close. “Severus, they can’t!” He denied, even though he knew that they could.
Severus lowered himself to one knee beside Remus’ chair.
“And they won’t,” he said firmly, putting his hand on Lupin’s arm.
“How do you know?” Remus asked plaintively, close to tears. He felt lightheaded; he felt sick.
“Because I won’t let them; it is an unacceptable option and nothing is too far reaching to make them take it off of the table.”
Remus peered down at him, those honey brown eyes bored right into his soul.
“Severus, I don’t know what you’re thinking but I don’t like it already,” Remus said.
“What I’m thinking is that this child’s life is worth more to me than anything I have ever possessed or have dreamt of possessing. It is as simple as that.”
“Oh, I don’t disbelieve you, but I highly doubt it is simple at all,” Remus said wearily. This couldn’t be happening. He placed a kiss on Teddy’s head. The boy was dozing, all of the fright and excitement having worn him out. There was no way he was going to let him go.
Severus bent forward and leaned his forehead up against Remus’ arm.
“I’m sorry I failed you,” he whispered.
“But you haven’t,” Remus said. The words ‘not yet’ hung in the air between them but he refused to vocalize them. “You’re willing to fight for him. You have to know how much that means to me, Severus.”
Snape nodded but didn’t look up for a moment. When he did, it was with a very solemn expression on his features.
“The paperwork I signed stated that I would be the one held accountable for his actions. It is the angle I’m going to try and use. If they want a life in reparation, they will have to make due with mine.”
Remus sucked in a breath, struck speechless. Surely Severus didn’t actually mean that, he couldn’t.
“Though of course we will try for another solution first,” Snape continued calmly. “Don’t despair just yet, Remus, I’ll not let anything happen to him.” Great job you’ve been doing of that so far.
Remus swallowed against an ache in his throat. “I would despair if something happened to you as well, Severus,” he said, emotions almost teeming inside him.
Severus shook his head. “You and your son have been provided for in my will, you will not be put up for general auction if I die. There is a list of people who are acceptable for you to transfer to – old friends or Order members. Whoever on it accepts and is acceptable to you will automatically receive my vault key; there are more than enough Galleons there to provide for you and Teddy well into your next ten lives.”
“Severus I don’t know what to say… Except that wasn’t what I meant.” That last bit of information was too much to process at the moment, he was quite overloaded as it was.
“There isn’t much to say, except that hopefully they are open to other options for repayment, which I expect they will be when they find out how full my vaults are, if nothing else.”
  “I just don’t want you doing anything unnecessarily rash,” Remus said, finding the words did not at all encompass what he’d wanted to say. The notion that at the end of the day, he might be without his son or Severus for the rest of his life made him ill. How was it that this negative sort of thing seemed to follow him everywhere, as if he were the darkness in his own life and his lycanthropy and everything else were merely aside effects? “I know you’re clever enough to get us out of this, never mind that solicitor of yours. I-I don’t want to lose you, Severus; please don’t do anything crazy.”
“If I’m to succeed at this, I almost don’t see how I can avoid that. You’re a Gryffindor, surely life on the edge and near death experiences are written into your House Creed somewhere.”
Remus smiled weakly. “It’s hard to find the usual gusto for it when the lives of people I-I care about are on the line, I guess.” That also was a watered down version of what he’d wanted to say.
Severus tried not to let that statement get to him. Remus wanted to stay, Remus cared about him. He banished the thoughts from his head immediately. People said things they didn’t mean when they were under great deals of stress. He couldn’t imagine anything more stressful than being confronted with the fact that someone wanted to kill his child – he was surprised that Lupin was taking all of this in so steadily.
He didn’t have anything proper to transfigure into another seat, so he cast a cleaning and warming spell on the floor at Remus’ side where he had been kneeling and eased himself down onto it. The pressure that had been building in his knee lessened almost instantly as he straightened his leg out. He wondered, not for the first time, how Lucius had managed all that groveling at Riddle’s feet – his knee was in even worse shape back then as his own was now.
“What are you doing?” Remus asked.
“Waiting; that’s about all there is to do at present.” Severus leaned back against the fine upholstery of Remus’ chair.
“Alright, but isn’t there somewhere more comfortable you would rather do that waiting?”
“No, there isn’t.” This entire place was uncomfortable for him, had been since they’d gotten into the lift. Having actually been into the ward, he liked it even less. Besides, with an outcome as drastic as the one they may be facing, he’d rather be near the Lupins than not, for whatever time he was allowed.
They sat in silence for a while. Severus had no trouble ignoring the disgusted-yet-intrigued expression on the guard’s face whenever he couldn’t help but look over at them again and again. He sighed and closed his eyes, wishing that the hammer would just fall already - he was long prepared to be the anvil again, having been one for most of his life. What he hated was the anticipation more than anything.
He felt a movement from Remus in the chair, shifting Teddy’s weight to be more comfortable on his lap. Then, the light pressure of Lupin’s hand was felt – fingers grazing the crown of his head, carding softly through his hair. He sat still, allowing the affectionate gesture out of shock, if nothing else. The hand continued downward after a few moments of doing this, and the backs of Remus’ knuckles glanced down his cheek. Remus made the same slow exploration of his neck, the pads of his fingers stroked just under the collar of his robes and the shirt he was wearing underneath, a light pressure across his collarbone.
He emptied his mind and exercised just the tiniest portion of his Occlumency. He let his current surroundings fade away, putting in their place the memory of grass under his fingers, the feeling of sunlight on his face, a cool breeze breathing its way around them. He found himself relaxing muscles he hadn’t even known he was tensing, allowing his respiration to slow. How long he stayed there, lost in his partial fantasy and unbelievable reality, he couldn’t have said.
The sound of an exasperated exclamation near the doorway caused him to open his eyes and straighten up. Darien stood in the doorway, an irritated expression on his face and his hands crossed over his chest.
“Circe,” he muttered under his breath. “When you said you’d be waiting out here with your slaves, somehow I didn’t picture it to be quite like this. Get up before anyone else sees you on the floor.”
Snape rolled his eyes, but braced himself on the arm of Remus’ chair and slowly hauled himself to his feet, straightening with an audible series of pops from his back.
“Well?” he asked impatiently.
“You always were so damned polite,” Ackerley said acerbically. “The Healer is willing to bargain, though I don’t know how much. He knows that if this sees the inside of a courtroom there will be no doubt that the outcome will be in his favor. Our only advantages are the paper you signed, the fact that the Department Head wants this dealt with swiftly and you being stinking rich.”
Remus kept his eyes on his son. Teddy was awake again, but remained quiet on his lap. There it was again, the mention of Severus’ wealth. He wondered where the money had come from, and why Snape appeared to resent it so much. He certainly seemed more than willing to part with it, for what reason he couldn’t imagine.
“That sounds like more to work with than we’ve had in the past,” Severus mused.
“True; in the past we’ve really only ever had that last one - not that I’m complaining, of course,” Darien chuckled.
“Of course,” Severus echoed. “So what now?”
“We’ll all meet together after a brief recess. They’re making up a list of things that they may find acceptable in place of the pup’s life.”
“I still don’t see how we can be listed as completely in the wrong. What that man tried to do-“
“Exactly. What that man tried to do to your slave. You’re smarter than this, Severus; it’s all in the language. How can something with the status of property possibly win a case against a professional Wizard? We’re just lucky this one is willing to deal.”
“Any idea what he might want?”
“None; Quinton Lanning is a tough egg to crack, though I did get someone at my office to pull any info available on the Lanning family. They’re Pureblood almost as far back as the records can find, with one exception. His brother Edmund was married to a Muggle – killed, along with his wife and two children in a Death Eater raid near the end of the first war.”
“So what you’re saying is that his solicitor will have done the same for me, found out my old affiliations and he is unlikely to be willing work with us because of them.”
“No, not at all. What I’m saying is that you’d better be willing to pay the price you named to me earlier – he really is entitled to ask anything of you. This could work against us, or it could work for us. If you really do want that pup to keep his life above all else, that is.”
“Just say what you’re thinking, Ackerley,” Severus said, patience waning.
“I have your file as well, you know; monstrous thing unedited, it is. On a hunch, I compared parts of yours with the Lanning family. You were there, you know.”
“Where?”
“At Edmund Lanning’s house, the summer before the first fall of You-Know-Who. You were part of the raid that took out Edmund and his whole family. Just in case you weren’t paying attention, he was the brother of our Healer, here.”
“I’ve been cleared of those acts by the Ministry,” Severus said reflexively. He felt his Occlumency flaring to life in the back of his mid for real, trying to protect him from the images surfacing when he thought about those times. The most terrible thing is he still wasn’t sure which raid, which family was being discussed here. There had been so many faces, so many deaths… Darien spoke again and broke his temporary trance.
“I’m aware of that - I helped to arrange it. What I’m saying is I doubt the Lanning family would be as forgiving as the Ministry was and might still want repayment,” Darien said in a voice that implied that if Snape hadn’t caught on by now, he was daft beyond hope.
“I see,” Severus said slowly, suppressing a shudder. Almost nothing could be worse than having his mind on display for so many people as it had been while they’d been fighting for his freedom. He understood now that Darien was implying that this transgression may be counted as another asset, however deftly disguised. “We’ll use it if we have to.”
“It only took me minutes to figure it out, might take them longer because they’ll need permission to read that chapter of your file. Being it affects their family so greatly, I’m sure they’ll have no problems getting access to it though, if they haven’t already.”
“How will we know when they’re ready to meet with us?”
“They’ll let us know. We’ve got some time. I’m going to run back to the office to see if I can dig up anything else to help us. There aren’t too many other cases to compare this to; most people wouldn’t even think of paying legal fees over a slave.” Darien’s eyes slid over to Remus and Teddy, a question was clearly implied in his statement.
“You’ve been my representation for a very long time, Darien,” Severus said. “When have I, or the legal problems I’ve had, ever been counted among the ranks of ‘most people’?”
Darien gave a sharp exhale through his nose and shook his head. “Never. I still don’t understand where you’re coming from on this one.”
“Remus Lupin was a loyal member of the Order through both wars; his son should be protected for that alone. This child’s mother was an Auror as well, you realize – Nymphadora Tonks. Even with his status as a slave now, I fail to see how either of those facts could neglect to impact the outcome of this case, even a little.”
Ackerley’s eyes lit up. “You don’t say,” he said with the beginnings of a smile. “I’ve really got to go, Snape. I’m assuming I can’t get you to wait anywhere decent, so I’ll come get you when we’re ready to meet. I suggest you prepare yourself, make sure you’ve decided how much this is worth to you, truly and honestly.”
“I’ll see you soon, Darien,” Snape said as his only answer.
Darien let out a put-upon sigh and turned from the room.
Severus ran a hand across his face and looked down at Remus and Teddy, who were both staring back at him with different measures of uncertainty. He felt his shoulders droop; what was he to say to them?
“I’m so sorry, sir,” Teddy started before he could sort anything out, “I should have just let him. Now you’re in trouble!”
Severus had to pull back his frustration at hearing the boy say that.
“In absolutely no way is any of this your fault,” he said earnestly to Teddy. He obviously hadn’t made it clear enough before. “That man had no right to attempt to do what he did with you. Anything that comes out of this, no matter how bad it may seem, is the fault of WIBNA and their laws – you, my child, are totally innocent of it.”
The truth of what he said took a moment before it fully permeated his mind. The last conversation he’d had with Potter played in bits and pieces in his thoughts. They needed someone to speak out, someone who wouldn’t be bought, with the funds to go up against WIBNA, someone with a case or anything really, against them; someone with a story that might display their true colours for all to see. He could have laughed at how preposterous it was. Something must have shone through in his expression because Remus was giving him a strange look.
“What are you thinking?” Lupin asked.
“That I just might have a plan,” was all he would say in return.

It was just under an hour before Ackerley turned the corner into the dark little room they were waiting in.
“They’re ready for us,” he said in way of greeting.
“Did you find anything of value, or were you just eating lunch and knocking back Premium Scotch?” Severus asked, standing from where he had taken seat again.
“Both, actually,” Ackerley said, unabashed. “I verified the information you gave me. That, alongside the fact that an enslavement spell was cast on both Lupins before the laws were in place with WIBNA, may shake them in their certainty that if this goes to court, they will win. I wouldn’t count on it however.”
“Let’s go see how much, if any, they’re willing to give,” Severus said to Darien. He looked back to Teddy and Remus. “I will return as soon as I can,” he told them, casting the charms that would protect them while he was gone.
Darien was tapping his toe by the end of it.
“I’m coming,” Severus half snarled, following him down the hall.
He was led to a conference room with a long table in the center of it.   There were already four men seated there. Two he recognized - Gibbons, the man in charge of the Pediatric Lycanthropy Ward, and Quinton Lanning, the Healer responsible for assaulting Teddy.
“Mr. Snape,” Darien said, “May I introduce you to Albert Hince, Mr. Lanning’s representation, and Nathaniel Hornsworth, a representative from WIBNA, here to make sure anything decided is within accordance to the most current laws.”
“Greetings gentlemen,” Severus said dryly, taking a seat without having one offered to him. Darien sat beside him.
“We’ve all been made aware of the situation,” Hince said. He was a squat man with a long fringe of black hair, not at all intimidating in appearance. “Ackerley has filled us in on your angle, Mr. Snape. All that is left is to mediate a solution.”
“We understand that you do not favor the usual method of putting the thing down,” Hornsworth took over swiftly. “That is regrettable; it would tie up all of the loose ends quite neatly. You’re aware that WIBNA would reimburse you his worth, due to the sensitivity of this situation?”
“I’m aware,” Severus said frostily. “I will not accept it as an option. If that is all you have to offer, I’ll see you in court.”
“Even with the new information about the animal’s parentage, even with Healer Lanning’s liberties with your property – the law still stands firm on this. Your animal caused bodily harm and possible infection to a Healer at this Institute. The circumstances hardly matter; remuneration must be paid. Healer Lanning is kindly willing to negotiate another method of its payment, something I might add, which recent laws do not require.”
Severus narrowed his eyes and leaned forward a little.
“Well,” Ackerley cut in before Severus could snap at them, “enough of this talk. We understand the situation well enough. We’d not be discussing this if it wasn’t for the muck up in paperwork this morning. All the same, here we are. Let’s hear what Healer Lanning is being so generous to offer in place of the pup’s life.”
Hince pulled out a piece of parchment and slid it over to Ackerley.
Darien picked it up and scanned it quickly. He laughed and crumpled up the parchment.
“You really think my client, who has obvious contention with this Healer’s treatment of his slave, would allow transfer of ownership for a moment, let alone an entire week?” he asked mockingly.
Severus had tensed up when he’d seen Darien’s reaction to the paper. He relaxed when he heard what the offered term was. Clearly not acceptable; he was suddenly glad Darien was his representation. His mannerism and greed aside, he really was good at what he did, and he understood more than he let on almost every time.
Hince’s expression twisted briefly. Then he smiled at all of them.
“My client and I have discussed this in detail and I believe I have a strong understanding of what he would like. It is within his right to demand the death of this creature. He is willing to forgo that in light of your paperwork mishap. He still desires blood for blood, correct me if I’m wrong Quinton.”
The Healer nodded, his expression light.
Hince continued, “Also, I’m sure it has been made known to you, in case you don’t remember already, the history you have with my client’s family. He has no reason to want to accommodate you or your wishes.”
“And yet he does,” Darien drawled. “You know what you want already, just lay it on the table and quit with this pretense of your client’s honor.”
A slip of parchment, longer than the last, was set on the tabletop and slid over to Ackerley.
Darien’s face lost a shade of colour.
“You can’t be serious?” he said, his tone pretending at amused.
“We are. It is the last offer before we take this to court, where we can all say for certain what will happen. You’ll be lucky to warm the seat of your chairs before that pup is sentenced to death. It is the usual sentence for possible transmission of the disease. The Healer was found to be negative for lycanthropy, or else, yet again, we would not be having this discussion,” Hince said levelly.
“Of course he’s negative!” Severus burst in. “He was not transformed. Any half-wit knows that only saliva from a fully transformed werewolf can transmit the condition.”
“Far from being staffed by half-wits, our facility is run by the most celebrated minds in the field!” Gibbons puffed up.
“I am well aware Healer,” Severus sneered to the Department Head, “they offered me your job when the organization first opened, but I had to politely decline as I’d given up a life of torture and bigotry years ago.”
Gibbons blustered and spluttered, trying to find a response. Lanning’s neutral expression turned just a little darker at the allusion to Snape’s past.
“If we can be getting on with this, gentleman,” Hornsworth said, sounding bored.
Ackerley nodded, unable to refute the statement. He slid the paper over for Snape to read.
“I’ll need a moment to confer with my client if you please,” he said stiffly.
“Our time here is limited – the esteemed Mr. Hornsworth has other appointments today,” Healer Gibbons piped up, shooting Snape a vile look.
“Surely you can’t expect him to decide here and now? A demand of this magnitude needs consideration!” Daren proclaimed, incensed on his client’s behalf
Severus had barely heard this exchange. Having read the paper twice, he set it down and smoothed it out with his hands. He understood that it was either consent to this or to Teddy’s death. Even if they had the possibility of winning in court – it would be so small… the verdict there would be final. There was no way he was willing to risk it; he didn’t need time to decide.
“I accept,” he interrupted their argument.
The table went silent. Darien looked at him like he was mad.
Quinton Lanning’s face broke into a smile, the first expression he’d made their entire meeting as far as Severus could tell.
“You’ll have two days to sort everything out, starting tomorrow,” Hince said, looking like a cat who has caught a very plump mouse. “I’ll need you to sign here, Mr. Snape.” He slid Severus a parchment.
Snape scanned it briefly, making sure that it was binding and there was no way for them to back out and take them to court before the time he was to give his payment. He slid it to Darien, who read it and handed it back.
“If you’re sure this is what you want,” he said. “The document is sound.”
“That is all I need to hear,” Severus said, taking a quill off of the table and dipping it in Darien’s inkpot and signing a paper with a flourish and no hesitation. He handed it back to Hince.
“Wonderful. My client may need some information from you. We’ll owl ahead if we need to send someone to collect it in person,” Hince told him.
“I’ll make all of the necessary arrangements,” Hornsworth said without looking at the paper once. Severus realized, as he should have done sooner, that Hince and Hornsworth had agreed upon the terms ahead of time. He leaned in and whispered something into Darien’s ear.
“My client would like to know, are there any restrictions on what he can do with the next two days?”
“Don’t leave the country,” Hince said. “Other than that… just be available to give us any information we request and you’ll run into no problems.”
Severus nodded. “If that’s all?” he said.
Hince nodded.
Severus stood and went to walk from the room, Darien following him closely.
“See you in a couple of days, Snape,” Quinton called pleasantly from behind him.
Severus didn’t slow down until he was good and far away from the conference room. Even then he strode with purpose until Darien grabbed his sleeve and turned him around.
“What?” Severus asked, finally stopping.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Darien said. “What on Earth made you agree to that?”
“It was my only option,” Severus said. “I had to take it.”
“How can you be so bloody calm about this? I’m reluctant to even have my name attached to this, no one will believe you wanted this, they’re going to think I’m absolute shit at my job!”
“No one with half a brain would think that, Ackerley. Besides, if what I’m thinking works out, you’ll not lack for work.”
Darien gave him a hopeful look. “You at least have a plan? Some kind if agenda? That I can maybe work with!”
“I’ll be in contact if there’s anything I need. Don’t worry, you’re on retainer until this is all over.”
“I forget we’ve played this game before.” Darien’s face fell, “Or similar ones at the very least. You’re barmy, Snape.”
“I know,” Severus agreed. “Now go, I’ll need you to make a list of people who have been put in similar situations by WIBNA; anyone with a grievous enough complaint should be included – whether they conceded or tried to go ahead with defending themselves. Track your time magically and you’ll be paid in full for all of it.”
“Yes sir!” Darien chirped and went back down the hall, presumably to floo out.
Severus didn’t watch him go, he rushed back through the ward until he reached the doors leading to the hall, throwing one of them open hurriedly. He brushed past the guard with as little regard as last time and turned the corner into the small room Remus and Teddy were waiting in.
Remus looked both nervous and relieved to see him.
“Severus!” He said, as if that could explain the roiling mess of emotions contained in his stomach.
Snape wasted no time, casting the levitation charm on Remus chair.
“What is happening?” Remus asked.
“We are getting the hell out of here,” Severus said with a small smile.
“They’re letting us all leave? They don’t want to-?” Remus couldn’t say it.
“No one is giving their lives to WIBNA, not today at least,” he said wryly. “I don’t know about you, but I could stand to feel the sun on my face after a few hours in this pit.”
“But what do they want?” Remus exclaimed.
Severus made a gesture to brush the question off. “We can talk about it later,” he said dismissively.
Remus made a sound like he was going to pursue the subject, but was silent.
Snape took the chair contained Remus and Teddy and went straight to the lift. It was faster escaping the Ministry than it was going down into it, or so it seemed. Once up and on the main level, Severus stopped in front of the public floos.
“What do you say we take a quick trip through Diagon Alley?” he suggested to Remus.
“Seriously?” Remus asked.
“Yes,” Severus said, looking down at the still despondent Teddy, who obviously hadn’t believed his attempt to make light of the outcome at the Ministry any more than his father had, “I suddenly feel like ice cream.”
He levitated them over, paid for a pinch of powder and took them all through to the bustling street.
It was midafternoon, the usually bustling street was only partially cluttered with people. No one paid much attention as they wandered on down.
Severus walked beside Remus and Teddy, not wanting to miss the excited gleam in his eyes as he took it all in. He appeared to be trying to simultaneously see everything around him and burrow away from it all and deeper into his father’s lap.
Seeing the sign, Severus held the door open and led them into the ice cream parlor. There was a young man behind the counter, who had just finished serving two girls tall cones of colourful ice cream.
Teddy peered past the guard at the rows of frozen sweets, his eyes alight with interest, his breath fogging the cool glass.
“Which one looks the tastiest to you?” Severus leaned in and asked the child.
Teddy smiled and pointed to one in the back row that was swirled through with a bright rainbow of colours.
“Can I get a cone with two scoops of this rainbow concoction right here?” Severus asked the clerk. “Remus?”
“The chocolate and cherry for me please,” Remus said quietly.
Severus ordered a cone for Remus and one for himself, espresso flavor. Teddy seemed to manage the cone better than Severus thought he would, but all the same he decided it would be for the best if they sat at one of the tables and enjoyed the afternoon. He got Teddy settled in one of the chairs and moved Remus so he’d be nearer the table, taking a seat himself.
He was trying to think more carefully about what he’d signed earlier in the day, but his mind kept drawing away from it. Instead he found himself watching Teddy enjoy his treat. The boy was watching the street, where a lady was playing a violin, the case open on the ground. As she played, the music swirled around her in colours depending on the notes she played – clearly a Synesthesia Spell of some sort. The results were beautiful, that was for sure.
Teddy wiggled in his seat, trying to catch drips as they fell from his cone and not doing half bad. His attention was torn between the sweet and the performer.
“Sir?” Remus asked unsurely, “Is everything alright?” There was no way that he believed they’d been allowed to leave so easily. What was the cost, who would pay it? Severus appeared serene about the whole thing though, and that gave him reassurance. He was trying to trust him.
Snape moved his eyes away from their focus, which Remus realized was Teddy.
“Everything is just as it should be,” Severus said, meeting Remus’ eyes, the edges of his lips upturned in a small smile.
He was thinking that if he’d selected the first option Hince had given them. Lanning would be free to take whatever he wanted from this boy. He knew almost nothing about this man other than the fact that he had tried to force himself on Teddy. It was enough to make him desperate to keep the child from his reach, by any means. He would be raped and beaten, his impressionable mind filled with more nonsense and atrocity than it already was. Teddy’s smile would never be as bright as it was at this moment. He’d not likely be so quick to laugh, so fast to trust. He wouldn’t want to share himself or the wonder of his love so freely with anyone so easily again. True, he would not be dead, so there would be hope; however, there would be so much needless struggle and pain.
No, he would shoulder punishment for the child, and he would do it gladly. Whatever the ends were, they would be a small price to pay for Teddy grow into a strong, confident person; for him to live a life without the experiences that Lanning would force on him in his memory. Nothing in his own miserable life had amounted to so much as one smile from that boy; he would do anything to preserve it.
He and Remus would discuss the final agreement later, when Teddy was in bed and they were settled down. He wasn’t sure he could put it into words before then. A drink would definitely be in order.
They finished their treat quietly and Severus Apparated them home with great relief.
A/N: Sorry for more suspense! I hurried this chapter along as fast as I could; I hope it was worth the wait! Please let me know what you think about it. Thank you to anyone who has rated or reviewed this story in the past, you guys are fantastic and you’ve been so kind! More to come as soon as I’m able.
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The Long Road