Heart of the Guardian

22. Mithraic Rituals

They arrived at the Burrow just as Molly was setting the table. Footsteps clattered and thumped down the stairs, heralding the arrival of Ginny, Granger, George, Charlie and Potter, in that order.

"Hi, Professor!" Potter said in greeting, a little startled at Snape's casual attire.

"Potter," he nodded. The boy looked happy and relaxed, as did Granger and the boy's girlfriend – assuming he and the Weasley girl had gotten that far. Even George looked more animated and involved, he noted. He sighed and nodded to himself. Clearly the boy belonged here. The Weasleys cared for him, were good for him... and he was just as clearly good for them. He needed his friends... he needed family. His mind began sorting through how to get the boy's things to him for the duration of the summer.

Conversation flowed in three-part harmony around the table during dinner. Snape, Arthur, Bill and Percy talked about the Ministry; the four teens laughingly argued about Quidditch; Molly, Fleur and George listened avidly to some tale of Charlie's about dragon chasing. The conversations ebbed and flowed and intertwined around each other in a soothing if noisy rhythm, punctuated by requests that a dish be passed, or exclamations over Molly's excellent cooking.

Afterward, Bill and Fleur, Percy, Charlie, and George made excuses to head back to London, though Percy and Bill confided to Snape that they intended to get George drunk. Snape was unsure as to the advisability of that, but Bill clapped him on the shoulder. "Not too drunk... and Charlie'll spend the night with him until Ron gets back in the morning," by which Snape understood that the boy's brothers were keeping watch on the solitary twin. His heart clenched.

He nodded. "If there is anything I can do..."

"Just look after Harry – that's the best thing you can do for any of us," Bill said. He wondered if his confusion and uncertainty showed on his face, but Bill had turned away.

The teens went out for a turn around the Burrow. Snape and Arthur followed. Potter's black head leaned against Miss Weasley's red head on his shoulder, as they walked off with their arms around each other, Ron and Miss Granger hand in hand at their side. Watching them, Snape shook his head in a strange realization.

"They look like James and Lily," he observed aloud.

"Do they?" Arthur turned to watch. "Molly and I never knew them that well, you know. We weren't in the Order at the time – just Molly's brothers. We only knew them peripherally, and even then, other than a time or two, it was too dangerous for the Order to gather. Molly had just had the twins... we were busy with Bill and Charlie... The Potters were ten years younger, just married... They had their own circle of friends. Of course, only Dumbledore knew you were in the Order at the time – it wasn't safe for the rest of the Order to know, and definitely not those of us not in the Order. Good thing, given Pettigrew – you'd have been dead," he said, glancing at Snape beside him.

Snape stood frozen in memory.

'My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?' Dumbledore had said, then sighed... 'If you insist...'

Merlin and Hecate, he'd been lonely...

His chest hurt and he raised a hand to rub it, but lowered it when he realized Arthur's eyes were on him.

The two of them watched as the teens disappeared around the corner of the house. "Let's have some tea," Arthur said, reaching his arm to take him by the elbow and turn him back to the Burrow.

They joined Molly in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes. Arthur put on water for tea. Snape watched them work around each other, their love for each other evident in small things – the way they moved, as if choreographed, the small touches they exchanged, the teasing banter.