The Miseducation of Lavinia Llwynog: Part I

"No!  I will not stand for it!"

"Lower your voice, Severus.  I may be old but I am not hard of hearing."

Evelyn turned the doorknob of her husband's office, not bothering to knock.  Severus was standing up,  palms planted firmly on the desk as he leaned towards Minerva, who was seated in front of him.  His brows were knitted together and his lips were curled back in a ferocious snarl.  Minerva sat upright and rigid, her face composed in stern determination.  Most people quailed when Severus' temper was unleashed, but Minerva was one of the exceptions.

"What is going on here? "  Evelyn looked from Severus to Minerva, then back to Severus.  He sat down in his chair, his mouth a tight firm line.

"Minerva has proposed a plan for Lavinia's future animagus training.  A dangerous plan of which I heartily disapprove!"  Severus scowled at Minerva.

"Fiddlesticks!  When have I ever placed a Hogwarts student in danger?  That was strictly within the purview of my late friend, Albus Dumbledore!  Also Hagrid and may I add, you as well, Severus!"

"Me?  Minerva, you know quite well that I was the one who was the protector of Harry Potter, not to mention Draco Malfoy and various other..."

"Oh, Severus, let's not get weighed down with such trivial details," Minerva waved her hand in front of her face as if she were swatting away a fluttering insect.  "You are detracting from the issue that we were discussing."

"Severus, will you please tell me what you are talking about and how it concerns Vinnie?" Evelyn cried in frustration.
 
Lavinia "Vinnie" Llwynog was one of Severus' favorite pupils and a close friend of their son, Soren.   Severus rarely showed any kindness or paternal good will towards any of his students, but Vinnie was one of the exceptions.  She was not a stellar student, but she was bright and creative.  She was quick-witted and knew how to think "outside of the box"  a quality which Severus prized more than mere intelligence.  She had also been a true friend to Soren,  a calming influence who had been able to reign in their son's more frenetic tendencies.  Evelyn also had deep affection for Vinnie.  The girl was in her Muggle Studies class and took a serious interest in the subject.
 
"You know that Minerva has been tutoring and guiding Vinnie in her development as an animagus," Severus said heatedly.  "She now wants to desert her position at a critical time in Vinnie's training and hand it over to a scoundrel!"

"Severus, that is harsh!" Minerva said sharply.  "Sebastian Renard is an accomplished animagus.  I trained him myself and am confident in his abilities."

"Your husband does not want to admit what we all know--I am old," Minerva continued.  "Training Lavinia in her development as an animagus is grueling.  I cannot offer her the guidance and attention that she deserves if I am not feeling physically up to it."

"Now don't worry," she said as she saw Evelyn's alarmed expression.  "I am not completely retiring.  I will still continue to tutor Lavinia on the fundamentals, but she will benefit more from a younger person who can run her through the more physical aspects of training."

"I am sure that there are many accomplished registered animagi who fit that description," Severus responded.  "Giving the job to Renard is a big mistake!"

"Who is this Sebastian Renard?" Evelyn asked.

"A sly, conniving low-life who operates  just barely on this side of the law!"  Severus snapped.

"An intelligent, cunning man, who was once a pupil of mine, as well as Severus'." Minerva retorted.  " He is a registered animagus--a fox, which would make him a perfect instructor for Lavinia. He fought bravely at the Battle of Hogwarts and is not the same boy who gave Severus such headaches when he was a student here.   He is now a respectable businessman with a wife and children."

"You can leave out "respectable!" I have it on good authority that the Ministry has conducted routine inspections at his place of business to root out magical contraband!"

"I'm well aware of the fact that Pansy Parkinson has made Renard and his business a target," Minerva said dismissively.  "Nothing illegal has ever been found.  We all know how hard it is for some personal grudges to die, don't we Severus?"

"Just because nothing was found doesn't mean that he wasn't trafficking in illegal paraphernalia," Severus responded, ignoring Minerva's last comment.  "I know him better than you think.  When he was a student here he had quite a nice little side business selling black market items to his classmates.  Trained by that Fagin, Mundungus Fletcher! As his former Head of House I can vouch for his dishonorable character.   I believe that I still have a drawer in my file cabinet which is filled exclusively with his detention records!"

"Indeed you probably do, Severus," Minerva said.  "As I recall you were also the one who took his side when he was on the brink of being expelled from Hogwarts!"

"That had nothing to do with him," Severus replied stiffly.  "It was for his mother.  That woman must have gone through her own personal hell raising him.  Better to keep him in Hogwarts where I could keep an eye on him than to release him back into the general population where he would get into all kinds of mischief with characters who were even worse than Mundungus Fletcher! Seriously, I wonder if my decision had any influence at all on him.  It certainly would be awkward if he ever appeared before the Wizengamot, considering that Wendy is seated there as a senior member.  Has a member ever had to recuse herself because a member of her family was standing trial?"

"Wendy Renard!  I knew that the name was familiar!" Evelyn exclaimed.  Wendy Renard was a senior voting member of the Wizengamot and also on the Board of Governors at Hogwarts.  Severus had introduced them at a Board function.  Wendy had been in Severus' class at Hogwarts (although not the same House) and was one of the few former classmates whom he respected.

"Sebastian is Wendy's son?  You like her Severus!"

"I respect her, Evelyn.  You certainly know that liking a person and respecting a person are two different things," Severus responded tartly.  "Whatever your impression of Wendy may be, I can assure you that her son is nothing at all like her.  If I didn't know better I would have thought that she found him in a basket on her doorstep!"

"He is a highly intelligent and creative man, just like his mother," Minerva added.  "He certainly always had his own way of doing things, but Merlin's Beard, Severus!  Why not give him a chance to show his good side?  You teach his children--I'm sure that you can concede that he has been a good parent!"

"I am sure that his wife was a major influence on how the children were raised," Severus responded.  "She was also my pupil in Slytherin and the complete opposite of Sebastian!  How those two ever ended up together is a mystery!"

"It surprises me that a man your age can still be ignorant about the elements of attraction between the sexes," Evelyn cut in.  "Opposites do attract!  As it happens, I do have a Renard child in my Muggle Studies class--Augustine.  He's a very quiet boy.  Are there others?"

"Are there ever!  At last count there were four children.  The two oldest are in Slytherin.  Maximillian--Max--is a Seventh Year, one year ahead of Soren.  Reginald--he goes by R.J.--is in his Fifth Year.  Augustine is in his Third Year--he's the little traitor who was sorted into Gryffindor," Severus said with a smirk as he cut his eyes at Minerva.
 
"I thought you said that there were four children?" Evelyn asked.

"Well, I cannot say much about the youngest.  She was born last year while the other three were at Hogwarts.  It looks like their parents took advantage of the empty nest since the children were greeted with a little surprise when they returned home at the end of term!" Severus said with an evil grin.

"That's quite enough, Severus!" Minerva exclaimed as Evelyn shot him a filthy look.  "You've certainly said enough here to unfairly impugn Sebastian Renard's character!  May I remind you that Lavinia's guardian Hadrian Llwynog has already given permission for him to tutor her?  As her Head of House your approval will speed things along, but definitely is not required."

"Why don't you tutor her, Severus?" Evelyn asked.  "You're already instructing Soren."

"We've been through this before, Evelyn," Severus said.  "Proper animagus instruction should be one on one.  Tutoring Soren and Vinnie together could not only create a potential conflict of interest, but it  could also lead to distractions which would impede the lessons.  Studying to be an animagus is hard work and requires great concentration.  Mistakes can be disastrous and also fatal!  That is the main reason why I do not wish to have Vinnie's tutelage overseen by a man like Renard!"

Evelyn looked from her husband to Minerva and smiled.

"Well it looks like there is a difference of opinion here concerning the future of Vinnie's training.  I guess that the only thing to do is for me to meet with Mr. Renard in person and decide for myself."

"No Evelyn!  That is not necessary!" Severus shouted.

"I think it's a splendid idea!" Minerva said as she smiled warmly at Evelyn.  "You should meet Wendy's son, especially since his mother has informed me that she will be gifting Hogwarts with a very generous bequest.  Will you two be attending the event at the end of term?"

"I can't see how we can get out of it," Severus grumbled.

"We received the invitation last week," Evelyn said.  "Soren was included.  That was so generous!"

"Wendy is a very generous person."

"A quality which she did not pass down to her son," Severus growled.  "Renard will expect to be compensated for his services."

"Please, Severus, when has a Slytherin  ever done anything for free?" Minerva laughed.  "Don't worry about the money.  Hadrian Llwynog has already agreed to pay for Sebastian's services.  The two already do business together so I'm sure that they will agree on a fair price."

"I'm not talking about monetary compensation," Severus said darkly.  The two women ignored him.

Minerva waved her wand and handed the business card which appeared in her hand to Evelyn.

"Here's Sebastian's business card.  His office is in a warehouse at this port.  It is in the north of England--you can reach it by train in a day's time.   As a squib you should have no trouble finding it.  The Muggles who work in the area just see a deserted, decrepit warehouse.  Send him an owl and ask for an appointment.  I'm sure that he will clear his calendar, seeing who you are."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Severus said scowling.

Evelyn examined the card.  It seemed ordinary, considering that the man imported and exported magical goods.  The vellum was a fine quality, a creamy color with the sepia words printed in clear bold lettering:

                          Renard & Prince
                                   Importers & Exporters of Magical Goods
                                         Sebastian R. Renard, President


"Prince?" Evelyn said in surprise.

"Don't ask," her husband said quietly.  Evelyn looked at him.
 
"Not now," his eyes said.  "Another time."

"Well, whatever my initial first impression of Mr. Renard may be, I must say that he has good taste," Evelyn remarked as she ran her finger over the card.  She picked up her briefcase.

"If you two will excuse me, I have one more class before the end of the day.  Don't worry--I will not give Vinnie any hints that her future education has been a topic of such heated discussion!  Needless to say, I do not want you giving Soren even a remote suspicion..."

"No worries, Evelyn.  I think that I have made myself quite clear on this topic," Severus said.
 
"Good.  You and I will discuss it further this evening.  I would like some more background information about Sebastian Renard before I meet him.  As his former Head of House I'm sure that you can supply plenty,"  she said pointedly to Severus.

"I will give you all of the information that I have, but before you embark on this fool's errand you should do some research on your own.  Look up the names of Malfoy, Nott,  Lloyd-Jones and Renard during the era preceding the First Wizarding War through the Second One.  As a historian you should find the information to be very interesting."

"I'm looking forward to it!  Goodbye Minerva.  I will be in touch.  Thanks for sharing your concerns about Vinnie's future.  You know how much Severus and I care about her."

"Too much, I'm afraid," Severus sighed.  He frowned as he watched Evelyn exit his office, staring at the door long after she had closed it.