"Your lips feel warm to the touch
You can bring me back to life
On the outside you're ablaze and alive
But you're dead inside"
-"Dead Inside", Muse
Drones
Chapter Two
A/N: Hello everyone! Winter break is here, and so I have time to update! Hopefully I will be able to put out one or two more chapters after this before the break is over. But even if I can't, it's okay because I'm starting to put a lot more in my stories and making the chapters longer! Please make sure to follow this story if you haven't already because I have a LOT planned! Also please make sure to review! I love reviews they keep me alive! Enjoy!
"But that's outrageous," Ophelia said, looking around the table for everyone else's reactions.
She was seated at a small table with many of her friends and colleagues. At her right, Severus sat, tense and rigid. They had been holding hands earlier, but had stopped when Minerva had shared the news. To Ophelia's left, Harry sat. He was rubbing at his forehead in frustration.
"Minerva, did you know about this?" Severus asked. He didn't seem angry, but shocked and upset. Just how Ophelia felt.
Minerva stood and paced around the room. They were holding their meetings in Dumbledore's office- well, Minerva's office now. Usually it would just be the heads of houses and the Headmistress, but this meeting called for everyone to be there.
After the war, Slughorn had officially retired, leaving Severus to be the head of Slytherin house and the Potions teacher. For the time being, Bill Weasley was serving as head of Gryffindor house and the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick were also present. Ophelia had been asked as Hogwart's matron, and as a veteran of the war to attend. She'd brought Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville with her. Though they were students, they were all of age and more than prepared to handle whatever news Harry and Ron brought with them from the Ministry of Magic.
"I'd heard rumours," Minerva admitted, "but I didn't want to say anything until I was sure…Potter, Weasley: tell me everything that happened."
Harry and Ron had just started their internship with the Auror department at the Ministry. But they'd returned to Hogwarts barely two weeks into the school year to discuss something very important.
"Well normally interns aren't allowed at these kinds of meetings," Ron boasted, " but Harry and I got to sit in on this one."
Hermione gave her boyfriend a pained look, but Ron continued.
"Apparently people were wondering whether The Triwizard Tournament would be held this year. I mean…it has been four years since the last one."
"Don't remind me," Harry shook his head, "People- parents, Ministry workers, and members of the public have been talking about it for some time now. So, of course, we had to address it before it got out of hand."
"What does Kingsley think about all this?" There was desperation in Minerva's voice but she tried to act relaxed as she sat back down in her chair.
"Well Kingsley's only acting Minister," Hermione supplied, "he hasn't been elected yet. So doesn't that mean something like this would have to be voted on?"
As usual, Hermione was right. Harry confirmed this with a nod of his head and then there was silence.
Ophelia could no longer keep quiet.
"So the council members decided that they do in fact want to hold the tournament? After everything that's happened these past three years?"
Severus put a calming hand on Ophelia's shoulder, but she shook it off.
"I'm sorry but I'm not okay with that."
"It isn't up for us to decide," Luna spoke up, her voice soft and sad.
"But Minerva you must have some say," Ophelia protested, "I mean you're the Headmistress. It's not like Umbridge is around anymore!"
"No," Minerva agreed, "Times have changed indeed. But that doesn't mean that I have all control. The Ministry is trying to get things back to the way they were- and that means that this is just out of my jurisdiction. I'm sorry."
Ophelia stood up and walked over to the window. Rain pattered against the glass and the sky was dark and gloomy.
"These kids are still dealing with trauma and loss," Ophelia continued to look out the window, "do you think the students in my hospital ward are all sick or injured? It's the first month of school, and I see dozens of children. They're upset- especially the younger ones. They're trying to find a way to cope with what's happened."
Everyone was still silent, uncomfortably shuffling their feet or staring at their hands. Ophelia wasn't usually the outspoken or aggressive one.
"But the argument is," Ron spoke up, "that the Tournament could help the kids. I mean…as Hermione always said, it's about international cooperation: making friends."
"Yes, uniting the children. It's a fair point, but Ophelia is right," Minerva ran a hand through her greying hair.
"But what about everything that happened last time!" Hermione said. "I mean, Harry nearly died, and Cedric did die."
"But Voldemort is gone," Neville looked nervously around the room, as if he was looking for someone to confirm this.
"Yes, but the Malfoys are still are at large, as are many other death eaters and supporters."
"The Malfoys are not a threat," Severus cleared his throat.
"As it is," Minerva sighed, "there is nothing we can do. We'll have to just accept that it's happening and plan for the very best outcome."
"Will it be the same schools this time?" a look of concern passed over Bill Weasley's face as he spoke up for the first time. Perhaps he was considering the possible involvement of his wife's younger sister, Gabriel, who attended Beauxbatons.
"No, it looks like we have a new set of schools. I don't think we can argue this any further. You three," Minerva pointed at Ginny, Neville, and Luna, "off to bed. You have classes early tomorrow."
The three students quickly complied, no doubt eagerly running off to discuss the meeting.
Clearly Minerva had forgotten that Hermione was a student too. Professor Sprout and Flitwick bid everyone goodnight and cleared out.
"Sometimes I wonder what Albus would think about this," Minerva pondered. Everyone turned their eyes to Dumbledore's portrait, but the man was asleep, a slight smile on his face.
Ophelia thought about Dumbledore too. Nearly every night she dreamed of her and Dumbledore sitting on that cliff, while the ocean waves crashed, and she fell to her death. What did it all mean? That dream left her with a sick feeling of guilt. Why did she feel so guilty? She hadn't killed Dumbledore and she'd hardly known the man.
Harry put a comforting hand on Minerva's shoulder, and she smiled gratefully.
"Alright I think it's off to bed with all of you, even you Severus," Minerva gave them a stern but playful look, and everyone filtered out.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron and I are off to talk for a bit," Ophelia told Severus as they walked down the corridor, "do you mind?"
"Not at all," Severus kissed the top of Ophelia's head, "but wake me up when you get in, hmm?"
"Of course."
Ron flicked a piece of pita bread and hummus at Ophelia, who caught it just in time and gave him a sour look.
Hermione laughed and clapped her hands together.
"Well I'm glad someone is enjoying the hummus I made."
"Aw 'Mione, Harry and I live off of this stuff. I mean you gave me nearly five pounds of it."
Hermione blushed, "well, I wanted to make sure you boys are properly nourished. I mean, living on your own at Grimmauld Place, you probably just live off of cauldron cakes and butterbeer."
Harry and Ron exchanged a furtive look, and didn't deny this accusation.
The four friends were sitting on a warm shagged carpet in front of a fireplace in the Room of Requirement.
Ophelia had a glass of red wine in her hand, which she was sipping at cautiously. She could still remember her hangover from the last time all four of them- and Ginny- had been together.
"So what's it like, now that you and Snape are public?" Harry asked.
Ophelia shrugged, and swirled her wine.
"I think some people always knew something was up. As for those who didn't…well after everything that's happened, people have the respect not to make a big deal of it. Well most people anyway. We get some stares. Especially from the first years who are terrified of him. But I think maybe I tone down his scariness."
"Hard to be the big scary Snape when you're sweet on the lovely Ophelia," Hermione teased.
They laughed and were quiet for some time, sipping at their drinks and snacking on cheese and crackers.
"This whole thing with the Tournament is bloody wrong," Ron said, frowning into his butterbeer.
"I know Ron, but there is nothing we can do," Hermione sighed, "we'll just have to do our best to support McGonagall through all this."
Harry and Ophelia nodded solemnly in agreement, but Ophelia was restraining herself. She was so angry about the situation, but Hermione was right. There was nothing she could do.
"Well I better head off," Hermione said.
"Yeah, it's late."
"Oh I'm not going to sleep. No no way," Hermione shook her head, "I've got lots of studying to do! Some of us want to get our NEWT levels done, you know. Not all of us can sneak into a Ministry internship without graduating."
Harry and Ron chuckled and stood up.
"Yeah we've got to be at work early tomorrow. What about you, Ophelia? What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Hmm?" Ophelia had been lost in her drink, thinking about the tournament, "Oh, I'm meeting up with Aberforth for a bit, and then I'm back at the Hospital Wing. Like I said…I'm very busy there."
"Aberforth?" Harry frowned. He looked to Ron as if to say what's that all about?
"Yes, they have become quite the pair lately," Hermione said, "ever since the war ended."
"We're not a pair," Ophelia corrected, "We just happen to enjoy each other's company. Severus has been busy with teaching, and every now and then I like to visit the man. I see no problem with that."
"Yeah but why does he enjoy your company?" Ron sneered, "don't you find it a little suspicious? An old man hanging around a pretty young woman? Does he not have any other friends?"
Hermione cocked a challenging eyebrow at her boyfriend, and he blushed.
"Well y'know…objectively pretty and all."
Ophelia shook her head, ignoring this commentary.
"No, he doesn't have any friends. That's what I'm saying. The man's only living relative died a year ago, in case you've forgotten."
"I'm sorry, Ophelia," Harry said softly, "we didn't mean to tease. We were just surprised."
"It's fine," Ophelia shrugged. But she bit her lip, thinking about how Severus had the same reaction. And she'd promised she wouldn't see the man again. As much as Ophelia loved Severus, she couldn't hold every promise she made.
Ophelia's hospital wing was empty for the first time in days. She sighed as she looked around the room. She'd cleaned it twice today and was running out of things to do. Her visit with Aberforth had been shorter than expected, after he'd excused himself. Ophelia thought the man was acting rather odd and impolite- not what she was used to with their visits. It was as though their light conversation had suddenly made him uncomfortable.
For a moment, Ophelia considered what Ron had said about Aberforth's decisions. Sometimes Aberforth did look at Ophelia in a strange way, like was trying to read something that wasn't there. But Ophelia shook away Ron's nonsense. Aberforth was eighty years old, if not older. He was certainly not pining after a young woman like Ophelia.
"There you are," Ophelia turned to find Severus in the doorway.
"Here I am," Ophelia agreed, "want to come in, or do you need to be invited?"
She'd meant this as a playful comment, but her boyfriend frowned and didn't move.
"Where were you this morning?"
"Hogesmeade," Ophelia shrugged, sitting on one of the hospital beds. This wasn't necessarily a lie.
"So you were with Aberforth. Even after you promised," Severus approached her and sat on the bed across from her.
"Severus you're not in charge of me. I can visit who I want."
"I know. I'm not trying to control your life, Ophelia. But I thought you'd have the decency to understand my discomfort about this situation. You spend all this time alone with an old man- why? He never invites me, or any one else for that matter, along to your little meetings. What's with that?"
"He's a very private man," Ophelia said, "I don't know. I think he's lonely and wants a friend. That can't be so bizarre, can it?"
"I don't know," Severus sighed, "I just wish you'd told me. Lies don't exactly work well in our relationship."
"I know. I didn't mean to hurt you Severus. But you know me, I'm a helper. I like to help people. Some people look at Aberforth and see an eccentric old man. I see a man who's been abandoned by everyone in his family and wants some company. Besides, he has a chronic sore throat that I'm helping him treat."
Severus grunted in some sort of non-verbal recognition, and looked down at the floor.
"I know why you don't like Aberforth," Ophelia decided, "it's because you're so loyal to Dumbledore. You loved him, and you know that Aberforth wasn't his biggest fan. This is your way of defending him, even after he's dead."
"I didn't love Dumbledore," Severus rolled his eyes, "he was my employer."
"He was a father figure for you."
"What are you a psychologist now?"
"I might be."
"Ophelia, the only one I'm protecting is you. I just don't want you to get hurt."
They were both silent for a while, soaking in what they'd each said.
"Well then maybe you should have been around when I was pregnant. Or when Yaxley nearly attacked me. Or when…it doesn't matter, Severus. It's not a battle you can win. There's no point fighting anymore."
Ophelia said this, but she made no move to comfort her boyfriend or make up with him. She just sat on her hospital bed, staring at her shoes.
They'd won the war, but things weren't back to the way they were. The question was: could they ever be?
Ophelia and Severus sat next to each other. Normally, in her frustration, Ophelia would have joined her friends at the Gryffindor table, but apparently tonight was a very special dinner.
"Settle down everyone," Minerva spoke up, silencing the staff and students, "Tonight, we are going to be joined by some very special guests."
Muttered excitement spread throughout the room.
"Many of you are aware that the Triwizard Tournament will indeed be taking place this year. So, please give a warm welcome to…"
A/N: Okay! The reason I ended the chapter there is because I'm going to be holding a big of a contest for a chance to feature your original characters in my story! I will be putting up the details soon! For now, please please please review and follow for more updates!
