Banished: Chapter 19

[zephyr_macabee]

The next day set the pattern for Severus’ summer.  He rose at 5, had juice and cereal, then apparated to Granny’s by 6.  He started weeding where he left off the night before.  At 8:30 Granny called him in for what she laughingly called ‘second breakfast’, eggs and bacon, toast and coffee.  Then it was back out to the garden.  Granny showed him how to manage the irrigation system, opening and closing the water channels with his hoe.  It was hard work; he had not done manual labor like this since his teens.  At 11:30 he was happy to stop and rinse off in the wash house.   Lunch was provided by the dining hall, delivered to order by a house elf.  When Granny suggested a siesta after lunch, his first thought was to decline.  But she gently shooed him out to the arbor, where a wide, soft hammock swung in the shade.  Climbing in, he quickly drifted off for an hour’s nap which left him greatly refreshed.  After a glass of lemonade, they adjourned to the work shop where they spent a few hours organizing notes and cataloguing plants from her last expedition, the previous fall.  He spent a final hour in the garden, cleaned his tools and apparated back to campus after wishing Granny good evening.  Casting a cleansing charm on himself and his clothes, now that he was well away from the garden, he walked to the dining hall.

 

This was his first meal on his own, and he expected to eat alone and then go back to his apartment.  He was surprised when several people called out to him as he entered the hall, inviting him to sit with them.  He ordered his meal and turned with his tray, wondering what he should do, not wanting to offend anyone.  Headmistress Twofeathers solved the problem by claiming his company for herself.   Since she outranked everyone else, they cheerfully surrendered him to her.

 

“Well Severus, how was your first full day with Granny?”  He told her about his day, how he had enjoyed using his muscles and being outside in the fresh air.  He spoke of the beauty of the garden and the tenaciousness of the weeds.  He praised Granny’s laboratory and plant collection and expressed his awe of her vast knowledge of medicinal plants. 

 

The Headmistress was very pleased; she was more certain than ever that this wizard was worthy of their efforts.  She told him that she had sent Josefa Sanderson off that morning with a letter to Albus Dumbledore, explaining that Severus would be staying and that Josefa was his replacement.  “I expect that we will be hearing back from him in a day or two, Severus, but don’t worry, I won’t allow him to take you away.” 

 

Severus hoped that she would prevail.  He had never felt so welcome or safe in any place before, not even in his own home, and he had no desire to return to Hogwarts.  Quite a change in three days’ time.

 

After dinner, Severus received invitations to go to the pool or the gym or into town to a movie, but he declined them all.  He found he was very tired and sore and he was longing for a hot bath, just as Nat had predicted.  Several of the students walked him back to his apartment, chatting about potions.  He wished them good evening and went in.  Dropping his dirty clothes in the hamper, he filled the tub with water as hot as he could stand.  Lowering himself in with a sigh, he relaxed and let the heat sooth his pains.  After catching himself falling asleep, he drained the tub and took a quick shower to clean the dust from his hair.  Then he crawled into bed with a potions book to read himself to sleep.  It had been another good day.

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Comments

[josanpq.livejournal.com]

Much better for the nerves, this kind of living. :-)

[zephyr-macabee.livejournal.com]

I could get into it. I need Severus to get buffed up and tanned before September. Who shall I bring from England....hmmmmmm?