Chapter 7

Running back into her aunt's house, she bolted up the stairs and began digging through her trunk. What does a person wear to a meeting with Dumbledore? What does a person wear when arriving with Snape? Severus. It would take a bit getting used to his first name, but the syllables felt luxurious rolling off of her tongue. Severus. Shaking her head, she dug deeper into her trunk, asking herself over and over why she never thought to buy decent looking clothes when she was in Diagon Alley.

Reaching the very bottom of her trunk, her fingers ran across a piece of worn flannel. Pulling it out, it was threadbare and tattered, but still held the scent of her father. He rarely wore muggle clothing, but this was a shirt that her mother had given to him when they first met, before she realized that he was a wizard. He would wear it frequently, loving the smile that graced her face when she saw him in the simplistic clothing. Brushing the tear from her eye, she shoved the shirt back to the bottom of the trunk and began sifting through the clothes on top of her bed, scattered from post to post. Why did all of her jeans seem to either be faded or have holes in them? Why were all of her shirts bland? Fisting her hands through her hair, she checked her watch for the time. Though a charm would be easier, the watch was a gift from her mother the Christmas prior; it helped her keep in touch with her muggle side. Reading at six-thirty, she freaked out again. Settling for a pair of dark washed jeans (with only one hole in them) and black v-neck shirt.

Looking in the mirror she couldn't help but notice how young her wardrobe made her look. Running her fingers through her hair, she decided that the next book she bought was going to have some beauty charms in it, there honestly had to be something that she could do to her hair. The curls were unruly at best, but brushing them pulled them into an all out puff ball, making her look more like a Pomeranian than a human. Her eyes were a pale shade of green, surrounded by thick lashes, one of the few things she was proud of appearance wise. Looking at her watch again, she realized that she'd lost thirty minutes staring at the mirror. Seven o'clock. He would be here in thirty minutes. Would he knock on the door? Would he floo? Would he ask to speak to Aunt Contiga? Merlin, she hoped not. Aunt Contiga, should she tell her she was leaving? She wouldn't care, she'd prefer it actually. Picking up her clogs, she tip-toed down the stairs and snuck out the front door. Sitting on the stoop, she slid her shoes on and waited patiently for her knight in shining armor...or black dress robes.

Staring at her watch for the umpteenth time, she missed the silent approach of Snape, billowing robes following him as he briskly walked down the street to her house.

"I believe that I said seven-thirty."

"You did."

"Why are you sitting on the stoop at seven-fifteen?"

"I was waiting on you."

"On the stoop?"

"Yes, on the stoop. Can we leave now?"

Nodding in ascent, he reached for her hand, "I'll have to take your hand to apparate."

"Then take it," she said with a smirk, holding her hand out daintily in front of her.

Grasping her hand, they apparated to Grimmauld Place, landing directly on the door step. The door opened and he slowly lead her into the main hall.

"Miss- Meredith," he began, "I'll warn you that I am not a favorite amongst most people. Though I am a part of this mission, it seems the only one who truly believes me is Dumbledore."

"Then everyone else is stupid and I shall shun them for it."

"Hasty, hasty. Make your decisions once you've met them. It's no good to decide a person's character without first conversing with them."

From a corner unseen, Dumbledore walked out and joined the conversation, "That is rich advice coming from you Severus, though it is sage for our young Miss Vaderkroff."

Rolling his eyes, Severus did little to differ Dumbledore's comment.

"In saying this, Miss Vaderkroff, welcome to the Order."

Looking past Dumbledore's eyes, she followed his arm as it pointed to a door. Opening it, she walked in, followed by Severus and Dumbledore. There was a large table, set with some of the best smelling food she'd smelt since leaving Hogwarts. There were also a lot of people surrounding the table. She noticed and recognized Professor Lupin, her Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher from the semester prior, but everyone else was a stranger. Smiling and looking her way was a plump, middle aged woman with red hair. In one hand she held her wand, the other a wooden spoon; her apron was smudged with whatever food she was cooking. Her smile infectious, Meredith felt her lips twitching upwards too.

"Oh dear, you must be Meredith. Percy has mentioned you. Percy, he's our son, he graduated Hogwarts with you, Head Boy and all. We're quite proud." All of this was said while continuously nodding her head every few seconds. "Yes, yes. We must get you some food, you look terribly thin. What on earth have you been eating?"

Tilting her head down, she answered, "Uh...nothing really. I don't really take a lunch break at work, I'm trying to work all of the hours I can so I can move out in November, and well my aunt makes soup daily, but it's rather bland. I normally only struggle down a bowl for dinner. But I'm fine, really, healthier that I've ever been in my life." While struggling out the last of her sentence, she subconsciously pulled up her jeans that were falling off of her now bony hips.

"Dear heavens child, sit down and let me fix you a plate. I'm Molly, heavens how rude of me not to introduce myself."

"Yes," Dumbledore said as Meredith was sitting with a warm plate of food before her, "Introductions are in order. You obviously know Severus and Remus Lupin, both of whom have been your professors. This here is Molly, her husband Arthur, and Sirius Black."

"All of the other children are upstairs..."Molly began.

"Yes, but she is a graduated scholar, Molly. She is old enough and competent enough to be apart of our meetings. Don't you agree Severus?"

Nodding from his corner, he made eye contact first with Dumbledore and then with Meredith, eyes full of unsaid humor.

The meeting went on without a hitch. Everyone filled with Molly's delicious cooking and filled to the brim with Dumbledore's fantastical thoughts. The next meeting date was set, and everyone was saying their goodbyes with hugs, all including Meredith in the goodbye affection. Turning to leave, she smiled and reached for Severus' arm, which gained quite a few nastier looks from Molly and Sirius.

"Bye everyone!" she called as they stepped out onto the doorstep. Pulling out his wand to apparate, she tightened her grip on his arm to get his attention. "Must we be going home so soon, I really can't stand for my one night of freedom to be crushed by my dreadful Aunt Contiga."

Smiling, he began walking idly down a side street, keeping her hand resting in the crook of his arm. "I feel that you'd want to get home early, to prevent your aunt from worrying."

"No, Severus. I can stay out as long as I want, I promise that I won't even lose a shoe or have a pumpkin carriage."

"Muggle fairy tales," he muttered under his breath.

"Yes, are you familiar with them Severus."

"A bit. Don't tell anyone, but I'm a half-blood as well. Nothing I'm terribly proud of, my father wasn't much to talk about."

"I'm sorry about that." she hesitated, "Your father, not being half-blood. I don't understand what everyone's issue with blood purity is. I can do magic just as well as a pure blood. Heck, probably better than most of them. I don't understand why it matters."

Nodding, "Though I agree with your sentiments, this is a conversation for another day. I really must be getting you home before the hour becomes indecent."

"Yes, my prince." she joked, looking up at his dark eyes and feeling full of warmth as they gazed back at her.

"Ha ha," he chuckled, "Well princess, off we go." with that he apparated her to her door step. Standing on the stoop, she looked up at him again, waiting for something she wasn't even sure of.

"I suppose I'll see you again in a month," she murmured, looking down to her feet in defeat.

"Yes, I suppose so," he hesitated, "Unless you stumble by my home again around tea time, which is normally at two."

His apparation left her with a smile. Opening the door, she slid off her clogs and slid back up the stairs before her aunt even noticed her absence.