A/N: Hello everybody! I know it's been a while so before enjoying the chapter just remember that "italic"= thoughts. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: HP and Bleach aren't mine.
Chapter 6: Happy Halloween Miss Khan!
October went along with his colder temperature and rainy days, and who says October says return of Quidditch, trip to Hogsmead and of course Halloween! A true joy for the students, and a massive headache for the teachers and our dear student supervisor. Between the massive excitement, the increase of Slytherin/Gryffindor vendetta, the planning of the trip to Hogsmead implying added the security stuff, the papers of the 13th squad that were sent every day to her and the different pupils that came to her for various reasons; Miss Khan was slowly but surely walking into the direction of burnout. She was now sprawled on the couch in her chamber, a glass of Firewhisky in the hand, Minerva sitting beside her in one of the armchair, pouring herself some of the famous magical beverage. Once done she tilted her glass against Noemie's.
"To this damned organisation work and to our dear little devils."
"Yeah cheers."
They downed their drinks, releasing a sigh of contempt.
"I thought that all this organisation stuff would never end."
"Don't tell me, I'm very glad to have your help, usually the other Head of House help me a little but I'm mainly alone to manage all of it."
"Pleasure. Jeez this month was really hectic! I can't wait that Gryffindor and Slytherin play their damned match to have what looks like peace again!"
Minerva chuckled: "Yes, I can't wait to see my cubs smash Severus' snakes."
The shinigami let out a desperate sigh and lit on a cigarette "Yeah yeah yeah, but please don't pull me again in your war of House pride, I'm neutral."
Minerva smiled, reminding the puzzled face of the shinigami the same morning, while her and Severus tried desperately to put her at their respective House's side.
"Are they some students that will remain at the castle beside the first and second year?"
The witch shook her head "I couldn't tell, the trip to Hogsmead isn't an obligation."
"And Harry Potter?"
Minerva stiffed at the mention of her Seeker. The shinigami looked at her, serious as hell.
"Please Minerva I'm not stupid, and it's my job to know everything going on about the student safety."
"So you know the whole story…" asked the witch, unsure of where she was going to put her foot.
She never liked telling that story, it pained her too much to remember how the once mischievous four little cubs she knew, ended. To her relief the young woman nodded.
"Yes I do. However, some details are bothering me. I'm meeting the Head of the Department of Law Enforcement tomorrow, I hope she will be able to enlighten me."
The Head of the Lions frowned, intrigued. "What did you discover?"
Noémie sighed and took a breath of blueish smoke to exhale it seconds later, weighting if she should tell her all the stuff or wait to be sure. The look in her eyes sealed her decision.
"I don't want to tell you before I can be 100% sure I'm not wrong in anything. I will tell you once my investigation is over, I promise."
Minerva sighed frustrated. However, she understood the intention of the younger women to protect her, not giving her false hopes or things like this. She leaned against the back of her armchair, thoughtful. "I remember that Amelia was always impartial, that's why we choose her as Head Girl and that she came to the position where she is. I really despise Black for what he did, because even if he is innocent for James and Lily's death he still abandoned his godson to kill one of his best friends. On the other side even Bellatrix Lestrange got a trial before being sent to Azkaban."
"Sure, and if my suppositions are correct it's even worse."
Minerva straightened and looked her deep in the eyes, with her 'you-better-tell-me-everything' look. "How could it be?"
The shinigami gave her a knowing look, she was not stupid enough to fell in such a trap. Minerva groaned, frustrated.
"Please Noemie, he was a student and later a friend and brother of arms. I understand you don't want to tell me everything because you are unsure, but at least tell me how this situation could even be worse!"
The shinigami exhaled smoke and crushed her ending cigarette.
"Fine! I have good reasons to think that this idiot didn't kill Pettigrow, or failed to kill him. What implies a lot of things like Pettigrow may be the traitor, like Black may have spent more than a decade in a hellhole for nothing, like that this bloody idiot still had left his godson to be jailed for nothing, like he was jailed for nothing and the damn Pettigrew still lives free as a bird in all that shit. Happy now?"
Minerva looked deadpanned. Past the shock a few minutes later she clenched her jaw. "If you're right that helpless mutt better not cross my road because I will hex him into next century and back!"
Noemie made the mental note to never infuriate the witch, she really didn't envy Black for having an enraged Minerva after him.
OoO*oOo*OoO
The next day was the big day. From the top of Lakotah, Datenshi no Kyuushi fixed behind her back, Noemie was watching the students get in line to lead them to Hogsmead.
"Too lazy to walk Miss Khan?"
She turned her head to see the Master of Potions pet her gentle mare, and smiled to him.
"It's a beautiful day to ride, and you have a better sight when you're a little higher. But if you want you can climb behind me. Lakotah is strong enough to carry two adults."
"No thanks, I was born with legs so I can walk."
"True. Tell me, did you miss the sun to leave your dungeons? No offense but you're right to do so, you're as white as a shit of paper."
The Potion Master smirked to her.
"With Black outside I can't miss the occasion to have the opportunity to catch him and have a part in what is left of his downfall."
"Wow you seem to have quite a history with the guy."
"It's a euphemism."
"Well I hope for his sake that he will cross neither of us, Datenshi and I are quite bored and a good fight would do us good."
She saw that all the students were gattered, nodded to Snape and sent her mare in a gentle gallop to stop at the head of the student's troop.
"Hey guys it's time for fun! We're leaving!"
A cheer echoed her and the troop began her march. She let her mare walk slowly to the side of the students. She saw the two friends of Potter at the end of the troop… without him. She frowned and slowed Lakotah until the two arrived at her level.
"Hello you two, where is the last member of the trio? Is he alright?"
"Hello Noemie-san! Harry is as well as can be, he is not allowed to visit Hogsmead since his uncle didn't signed the authorisation. So he is still at the castle."
"Oh I see… I hope that he will find somebody at the castle to have some company and still have a nice day."
"We too, we offered to stay with him but he insisted that we enjoy for him."
"That's nice. See you later guys!"
She sent Lakotah in a gentle trot toward the head of the troop just to jump of Lakotah at the side of Minerva who stiffed, surprised, making the shinigami and a couple of students to chuckle.
"Merlin Noémie, don't surprise me like that!"
She gave her a mischievous grin "Couldn't resist, sorry."
Lakotah who kind of liked Minerva rubbed her forehead to her arm to excuse herself, earning a gentle pet from the witch.
"Don't worry lass, it's your mistress that is quite infuriating sometimes."
"Hey that's mean!"
Minerva smiled to her and then frowned.
"Noémie, the Dementors."
The shinigami looked up. They were arrived in sight of the gate of Hogwart ground's and the damned creatures didn't seem too keen to let them pass… at least without a little snack. She growled and jumped on Lakotah.
"Prepare your Patronus, I go ahead!"
Lakotah run toward the gates while the shinigami was mumbling an incantation, a hand raised before her while holding the handle of Datenshi with the other, her reiatsu emerging as golden and black smoke around her.
"Sanzai suru, kemono no hone ! Sentō, kōshō, kōtetsu no sharin. Ugokeba kaze, tomareba sora. Yariutsu neiro ga kōjō ni michiru!Hadō no roku jū san : Raikōhō!"
And a giant lightning bolt fired from her raised hand toward the bunch of evil beings, banging the gates open and making the Dementors flea out of the shinigami's reach. She stopped her mare outside the gates while throwing Datenshi out her shelter, her reiatsu still surrounding her, daring the awful creatures to approach.
The creatures, seeing the eyes of the upset goddess of the death turn from upset brown to wild gold, choose to remain where they were. The shinigami makes a sign to Minerva to continue the walk. She stayed there with an agitated Lakotah, waiting the long line of students to pass the gates, protected by the teacher's Patronus charms. She let them a little advance, making sure the creatures didn't follow, before letting her mare gallop to join the end of the troop. She couldn't blame her character; she neither was comfortable around these nasty things. She sheltered her sword and lowered her reiatsu before arriving at the level of the students, with the hope that it will be the last problem in that kind she would have to deal with this day.
OoO*oOo*OoO
Amelia Bones entered the Three Broomstick, greeted by the joyful noise of students and the good smell of food and Butterbeer. It has been a while that she didn't put a foot in there, but everything reminded her young years when she was attending Hogwart.
"Madam Bones! It has been a while! How are you?"
"Hello Rosmerta, I'm fine. I have a meeting here with Miss Noémie Khan, do you know if she has arrived yet?"
"Yes she is here, follow me please."
Amelia nod and follow the owner of the pub upstairs. They stop in front of a door and enter after have knocked. The room was a cosy living room with warm armchairs and a cosy sofa in front of a roaring fireplace. A young woman with curly dark brown hairs, clad in a warm crimson pull-over and black slim jeans, feet clad in black and crimson patterned western boots, was sitting on the edge of one of the window of the room, smoking a cigarette. She smiled when she saw the two women and crushed the rest of the cigarette in a cendar.
"Thank you for bringing my guest here Rosmerta. Madam Bones, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Miss Khan I suppose; the pleasure is shared."
They share a firm handshake and smile to each other.
"Shall I bring you anything ladies?" asked gently the inn-keeper.
"A plate of salmon sandwich with a bowl of your delicious stew, and a glass of elfic whine for me please." Gently asked the shinigami.
"A plate of sandwich and a butter beer would be enough for me please." Chose casually the witch
The attractive witch nodded with a smile "Alright, I will be right back."
Once Rosmerta left Noémie invites Amelia to sit.
"I really appreciate that you have chosen a private and discrete place for our meeting."
The shinigami smiled to the witch. "Well we don't want students eavesdrop the Student Supervisor discussing about the case Sirius Black with the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, don't we?"
The witch returned the smile to the shinigami. "Surely not. I'm glad that Dumbledore hired a competent person for maintaining the security of the students."
"I appreciate the compliment. But I wonder, are you related to a certain Susan Bones in third year Hufflepuff?"
The witch nodded. "She is my niece, I raised her since my brother and his wife were killed in the previous war."
Noémie smiled "She seems to be a fine girl. Fortunately, I didn't have to summon her in my office."
The Head of DMLE returned chuckled "I hope so; she is my pride. When I saw your name on the letter I first thought something happened. Do you have any children Miss Khan?"
"No I don't, but I hope that one day I will be gifted by one or two." The shinigami chuckled. "But for now, I have more than enough children to care about."
Amelia chuckled. "Indeed."
At that moment Rosmerta showed herself with the drinks and the food. To the surprise of the shinigami she brought a full bottle of wine.
"Here I am ladies, I wish you Bon appetite and if you need anything don't hesitate to call."
"Thank you Rosmerta, but you can bring the bottle back with you, I'm on duty remember."
Rosmerta waved her hand. "Nonsense, it's nothing you can't handle I saw you drink. It's on the house, consider it a little thank you for kicking out the two prats the other night."
The shinigami rubbed her head and smiled a little embarrassed. "My pleasure, but you already thanked me."
The inn-keeper frowned. "And my pleasure too young lady, it's my last word! See you later!"
Amelia sent her an intrigued look and amused smile.
"Well I didn't think that the School Supervisor was so keen to hit the pubs."
The shinigami blushed a little embarrassed.
"It's only the third time I'm here, we use to do some girls night here with the female member of the staff, and the other night two drunken gits began to duel and to destroy the place. I kind of gave a little help to stop them."
She took a sandwich and began to eat too close the subject, a little embarrassed, under the amused look of the DMLE chief.
"So now that we are sure to not be interrupted, let's begin with the business. What did you discover that we don't know?"
The shinigami swallowed here bite and took a little sip of whine. "Before I reveal it you must swear that what I will say will be strictly confidential and stay between you and me."
The witch nodded and took her wand out. "I swear it on my magic. I am not the enemy of Sirius Black. I tried years long to get him a trial but nobody took it seriously. I was a new worker at the ministry and he was caught doing the crime, so nobody took me seriously because they didn't judge important to follow the procedure of a trial that would likely prove his guilt at the end."
The shinigami looked at her above the bowl of stew she was sipping. "I believe you."
Amelia looked at her surprised "Just like that?"
The young woman rested the bowl on the little table. "You are reputed impartial and known to respect laws and procedure to the letter. So I believe you. Plus, if you were lying to me I would have knew it by your body language... and immediately felt that you lost your magic… So let me tell you about my discoveries."
She began to explain her how she analysed the case and what suppositions she made out of it. The witch was really surprised by the critical mind of the shinigami.
"I'm impressed… Our dear Aurors should take you as an example."
A shadow passed in the eyes of the shinigami. She took her glass, turning the dark beverage.
"If you knew how I learned them and what I have done to gain those skills, you wouldn't put me as an example. I don't want to be one."
She took it to her lips and finished her drink in one gulp. The witch nodded respectfully.
"I want you to owl me as soon as you meet Sirius. If you find out that your suppositions are right, I can manage to arrest him myself with a team of trusted Aurors, and then question him under Veritaserum to prove him innocent."
Noémie nodded, but a shadow in her eyes "But if I was wrong after all?"
Amelia paused, thinking a moment. After a moment she looked at her, determined "Then Merlin help him. I saw that you are allowed to kill if needed to protect the castle?"
The Student Supervisor nodded, knowing where it would lead "Yes."
The Head of DMLE sighed "It's not a special command, but…. if you were to arrive at this kind of situation..."
The shinigami hold her hand to interrupt her "I'm a warrior Madam Bones, it's something I'm prepared for. Not everybody is made for dirty work and I don't blame you for asking me such thing. When I accepted this mission two month ago, I swore on my honour to protect the students and professors at any cost. If it means killing a dangerous man that endangers one of my colleague or one of the kids, so be it."
The witch nodded, a bit relieved to not be judged by her lack of humanity "Well it would be a more human death than being kissed by a Dementor." She relaxed a bit, the young woman was skilled and professional, she can trust and rely on her "Good."
She took a sandwich of the untouched plate before her. "Do you mind if I stay and keep you company the time I eat my lunch?"
The shinigami chuckled, understanding that the formal part was over "Be my guest! You're my ally and I invited you after all. Tell me about the Ministry, what is it like to work there?"
"Well it's like any office and institutions I suppose." She paused to eat a little bit. "Don't tell a soul but to be honest, I welcomed your offer to meet here, it is nice to cut a little from the place at lunch time."
"I understand that, as Lieutenant I have a lot of paperwork to do and I need to break from the office at lunch. I'm lucky to live close from work or we have some nice gardens in our Squad that are enjoyable to pick nick."
"You have luck; I hardly have the opportunity to leave the office to do that."
"To be honest usually I wouldn't, but I prefer to stay an hour later at the end of the day than skip that break. I'm not made for office work, basically I'm a field worker."
Amelia chuckled "I doubt anybody is humanly made for office work, they are just the crazy ones that adjust to it."
The shinigami followed her in her chuckle "I couldn't have said that better."
They continued to eat in pleasant conversation before Amelia had to leave.
"Thank you for the lunch Lieutenant Khan, it was a pleasant and rewarding moment. I will wait your owl, if you discover anything else don't hesitate to send me a letter." Said the witch rising from her seat.
The young woman smiled "My pleasure, but wait a second."
The shinigami rose and pulled out a Japanese dagger, the witch pulled out her wand to defend herself. The young woman gave her a reassuring smile "Relax I just need a sample of your blood, it's for a special seal that will allow nobody except you to open and read my letters. When you receive one of my letter drop a little bit of your blood on the letter and it will open for you."
Amelia looked at her clearly surprised and impressed "Clever."
She pressed one of her finger on the sharp edge of the dagger and let some drop into a small vial. The shinigami healed her wound and nodded to her with respect, and gratefully "Thank you Madam, and thank you for considering my words."
The witch smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, handing her the other "You're welcome Miss, be careful and protect our young wizards."
Miss Khan took the offered hand with a smile and shook it. "I will."
OoO*oOo*OoO
After a joyful day at Hogsmead and a marvellous feast, Miss Khan was happily joining her quarters. She needed a good relaxing bath before going to the little staff party, organised later in the staff room. Her quick shower before the feast wasn't enough to relax her, not after having passed nearly the whole afternoon watching the happy students in the cold autumn wind. Hands crossed behind her head, she was humming "This is Halloween", when she spotted a crowd before the entrance of the Gryffondor Tower. She stopped humming, frowned and joined the top of the stair case in a shunpo when she heard the Wesley Prefect.
"Hey what happens here!?" her eyes opened wide when she spotted the destroyed painting guarding the entrance of Gryffindor Tower. "Oh my God… who did that?"
"Miss Khan! I'm glad you're here! I don't know, I just arrived and sent somebody searching the Headmaster. Oh Professors you did fast!"
The shinigami saw that Dumbledore just arrived, crossing threw the students like Moses across the Sea. He turned to Minerva, Severus and Remus that just arrived.
"We need to find her. Miss Khan as you are the fastest here can you please fetch Filch and tell him to search the Fat Lady in all the painting?"
"You'll be lucky if you find her!"
They all turned to Peeves, floating above the student crowed, strangely happy.
"What do you mean Peeves?" asked calmly the Headmaster.
The Poltergeist erased his smile, he didn't dare to make fun of the Headmaster but didn't change his infuriating sweat and cackling tone.
"She is ashamed, Mister the Grand Headmaster. She doesn't want to be seen. She is in a dreadful shape. I saw her running through the landscape of the Third floor hiding behind the trees. She was crying all the tears out of her fat body. The poor one…"
"Peeves stop playing the idiot and go straight to the point. Who did this?"
The Poltergeist bleached when he spotted the shinigami, arm crossed and not in the most patient mood. However; he didn't quit his irritating smirk. "He has a damn temper, that Sirius Black."
The shinigami groaned "Shit… Bye bye dreamy hot bath… Black if I catch you, you will regret to be born."
Dumbledore silenced the students that were at the edge of panic and sent them to the Great Hall under the Prefects supervision.
"Minerva, Filius, come with me to the Great Hall. Miss Khan, Remus, Severus go fetch the other Professors, the ghosts and search the castle."
The shinigami nodded and created Hell Butterflies to send to each of her colleagues, telling them that she will take the upper floors and the park with Remus.
"I will take the dungeons as I know them better than anyone. Don't get yourself killed by the psycho Miss Khan, it would be dreadful for a soldier of your rank."
The said Miss Khan smiled to him "I know you would miss me Snape. Don't worry I intend to enjoy my afterlife teasing you, and that a long time before being killed again."
The Potion Master huffed and disappeared in a swirl of his robe. The werewolf and the shinigami both sighed in relief: their hunt could now begin.
"Good riddance, well done Noemie. Do you think we can find him tonight?"
The young woman shrugged "It's not a question of if we can, we must find him tonight. Let me try something."
She closed her eyes, visualising all the energies around her, the prints left by them… and growned when she couldn't find a hint of the dog's energy as the whole place was polluted by all the energies the crowd left. She tried a tracing kido charm, who failed from the lack of precision, her being estranged to Black. Even by searching a dog's energy mixed with human, it was fruitless. She greeted her teeth.
"Let me try. Point me Sirius Black." Said the werewolf, his wand flat in his hand. The wand turned and turned five good minutes… and Remus chose to stop the charm. "Point me Padfoot." He tried, but it seemed to be as much pointless.
The shinigami bit her nail, thinking how they could trace that stupid dog… dog?! "Remus! Do you have any animal traits like being able to smell peoples smell?
"Yes, but not powerful enough to be able to distinct a smell with all these left by the students."
She raised an eyebrow "I don't speak of human smell."
He raised both, understanding the hint "Oh right!"
The werewolf concentrated, and begin to walk and go down the stairs. The portraits and doors seemed to pass in a blur as they walked in a fast pace, concentrated. The young shinigami followed him to end in front of the entrance of the castle, as shut and locked and charmed as can be. Noémie was slowly but surely losing patience.
"How didn't I thought about it before! It's so obvious that nobody thought about it! And now that damn the door is as locked as can be!"
"It didn't seem to stop you before…" teased the werewolf
"If I break the door again Minerva will skin me alive, and in such an emergency context it will create a bloodier mess than it is already!" she argued annoyed.
"A problem Miss Khan?"
The shinigami almost jumped out of her skin and turned to see a concerned Headmaster.
"Damn old man! Don't do that again! I almost got a heart attack!"
The old man smiled. "Sorry Miss, I thought you felt me approaching. What is the matter with the door? Did you found anything?"
"Yes we have a track and it goes outside of the castle." Explained the werewolf.
"Using your flair? Clever Remus. Miss Khan couldn't use hers?"
The shinigami stiffed and glared to him "I don't know what you're speaking about Sir."
The old man sighed. "Relax I'm not your enemy Miss."
In a flick of his hand the door opened… on a heavy rainy night. The shinigami felt her anger rise and hit hard the wood of the door with her fist.
"Kuso! They are no way we can find him! All traces are washed away now!"
The headmaster put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't desperate dear, did you tried tracing spells?"
The shinigami huffed, deeply frustrated "Of course we did! It was the first thing we tried! Both magical and spiritual failed! Kami-sama if I catch that damn Black he will wish his mother never gave him life!"
The old man silently vowed to never push the young woman too far; he grew old he didn't want to stop aging because he had the misjudgement to annoy her a little too much.
"I see. Remus join the others to see if there is any other track you can spot. You know as well as me that he is a smart one. Miss Khan I know that you want to help your colleagues but I need you to stay with the students in the Great Hall, it will comfort everybody to know that somebody strong is here to protect them."
The shinigami refrained from sighing "Yes Sir."
And she turned annoyed heels to enter the Hall. She was greeted by a slightly worried Percy, and cut the question he was about to ask.
"No we haven't found him yet. The Headmaster asked me to stay here to watch over you all. Go to sleep boy, you seem to need it."
The prefect nodded "I'm fine, I will not be able to sleep as long as the search is not over Khan-sensei. Do you mind if I keep patrolling around the students?"
"Not at all."
She sat on the floor next to the door, pulling Datenshi out of her belt to let her rest against her left shoulder. She looked at the ceiling, the rain stopped and the stars were slowly showing themselves. She greeted her teeth at her lack of luck. She felt a heavy pawn landing gently on her lap and a massive fluffy feline head nudging her arm. She turned to see Mahes looking at her, concerned.
"Calm down little lioness, you will find him."
The shinigami sighed "I don't know Mahes, this guy is as difficult to catch as the wind is and has a damn luck."
"Use me."
"I can't, not unless risking to show what I am and that you live in me. It's a relief that nobody except me can see you, you would create quite a mess right now."
The black Lion chuckled "I can show myself if you want. It could be fun and I'm sure that the little cubs in red and gold would be thrilled to have a mascot."
She smiled and gave him a little flick on his huge lion nose. "Don't you dare fluffy thing, or you'll be the mascot of my chamber's floor."
The lion let an amused growl before lying his head on her lap and against her belly. The young woman smiled and hid a hand in his warm and smooth black mane. As feared and terrible as could be the son of Sekhmet, he always managed to bring her peace and comfort when she was upset.
Her gaze left the ceiling to travel across the lying forms of the students, some prefects were still up to walk among them to hush the rebels that kept talking. She spotted Harry and his friends in a corner. Judging by their breathing she could say that they weren't sleeping. She sighed and returned back to the contemplation of the ceiling, letting her reiatsu wander among the students, searching for the more worried. After a moment she gently pushed Mahes from her lap and rose to comfort some of the more upset, the Lion on her heels and kneeled beside a group of first years that were rather stiff and couldn't stop to talk to each other to reassure themselves.
"Don't worry guys, I'm pretty sure that he is far away. The other Professors are just looking to be sure all is fine."
"What if he isn't?"
"What if he comes here?"
She bowed toward them, held her hand against her mouth and whispered in a conspiracy way. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Sure!"
"I made a sign "Beware angry over-protective shinigami in there, danger of death" and posted it on the door. And if he's still stupid enough to enter, I'll kick him into next century before a quick violent introducing to my dear Datenshi." Said the shinigami taping the hilt of her zanpakuto. The kids giggled, a little bit more confident. "No seriously, I will not let him arm any of you, he will need to kill me first and considering that I already died I wish him good luck."
The young wizards and witches nodded with a smile. She returned the smile. "Are you better now?" They nodded. "Get some sleep, you're growing kids you need to rest. If you can't, look at the ceiling it may appease you. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Khan-sensei!"
She turned to continue on her way to meet an impressed Percy.
"How did you do that? I was trying to shush them for hours…"
She smiled to him. "They were worried, they just needed to feel safe. You're an excellent prefect Percy, but you need to learn that being in position of authority doesn't mean you have to avoid to be kind and human. They are first years, barely teens and still children that left their home and parents since two months to a place they thought safe. And now they learned that a maniac managed to enter that safe place. I don't think I would be able to sleep too if I was at their place."
He looked at her and nod. "You are right; I will remember it. Thank you Khan-sensei."
She smiled to him. "You're welcome."
The shinigami continued her tour and calmed a few students to stop at the three little lions that still faked to sleep. She sat next to them, Mahes lying behind them.
"I know you're still awake."
They stiffen and the young woman chuckled. "Relax I didn't come to shout at you, I think the few that are asleep will not appreciate being awaken by my angry shouts. Talk a little with me, it will help you think at something else."
Harry turned a little bit to meet her brown eyes with his emeralds. "Is he still in the castle?"
"To be honest I think that he fled since hours now, but my colleagues prefer to check the whole castle to be completely sure."
"Why are you here? Aren't you searching with them?"
"The Headmaster asked me to stay with the students. I think he would be less worried knowing that you're all under good protection, and to know that there is somebody able to reassure them."
"Noemie-san, is he really after me?"
She sighed and was about to retrieve a cigarette knowing that it would be a long talk, when she reminded that she couldn't smoke next to kids. "Tox'!" "Shut up bloody angel…". She sighed again and since she doesn't have nicotine to calm her, decided to make it short.
"Pay me a visit at my office tomorrow after dinner."
The young wizard nodded and lied back. Hermione looked at her, thoughtful.
"You're not like the other adults Noemie-san, you don't consider us stupid because we are young."
The young women chuckled. "That sweetie, is because teens are everything but stupid even with the entire hormones stuff, they just understand things in another way that adults do? So I think it's my adult duty to give you another view of the event and stop you from doing something foolish because you may have understood it differently. Or maybe it's just because I died young and didn't get over my Peter Pan Syndrome which allows me to understand those close of my mental age better. However, I know another one that didn't get over his Peter Pan Syndrome yet and considering his advanced age, I think I have still some time left before considering it an issue." She said thoughtful and passing her hand along her chin like she had an imaginary long beard. The three chuckled understanding the reference and she winked to them. "But hush, it's a secret. Now sleep young Padawan, you're safe here the bad guy is not going to kill you in your sleep with me beside you."
They nodded and closed their sleepy eyes. The shinigami smiled and leaned against the huge stomach of the lion behind her, humming a lullaby.
"I'm proud of you little lioness."
The shinigami smiled and relaxed against the warmth of the divine animal. The relax was not long as she heard the door open, she grabbed Datenshi, ready to strike, and relaxed when she recognized the Headmaster heading to Percy. She stood and joined them, the Lion staying behind the trio. He seemed to have a soft spot for the three cubs.
"Is everything ok here?"
"Yes we have the situation under control, Sir. Khan-sensei helped to calm down the students."
"Well done. It will be unnecessary to send them back to their dormitories, I have found somebody to temporary replace the Fat Lady. You may bring them back in Gryffondor Tower tomorrow."
While distractedly listening the two speaking about the Fat Lady she heard the door again and was about to strike again when she recognized the energy of the Potion's Master.
"Headmaster? The second floor has been completely searched. He isn't there and in the dungeons neither."
"What about the Astronomy Tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The owlery?"
"Everything has been searched."
"Well done, Severus. I didn't expect that Black was hanging around."
"Do you have an idea about how he came in?"
Noemie heard Harry move, the boy wasn't asleep.
"I have a lot and they are as unbelievable as each other."
Noemie's eyes crossed the green eyes of the young wizard. She sighed.
"Do you remember the talk we had, just before the… the start of the term?"
The shinigami's head snapped to stare at the two adult. "What the hell are they talking about?"
"I remember, Severus" The hint of warning in his voice increased the curiosity of the shinigami, making her frown.
"It seems… almost impossible that Black might have been able to enter the school without any internal complicity. I told you about my worries when you nominated…"
"I don't believe that somebody in that castle would have helped Black to enter."
Noemie almost sighed in relief at the definitive tone of the Headmaster that shut Snape off. How these two idiots could talk about some stuff between students that weren't all asleep was over her comprehension.
"I need to see the Dementors. I told them that I would inform them when our research would be done."
"Didn't they offer their help Sir?"
"Oh they did. But I can affirm you that no Dementor will cross the school grounds as long as I am Headmaster." Said coldly the Headmaster before leaving, startling Percy.
The Potion master was bitter, Noemie land a hand on his shoulder to draw his attention. He looked at her half surprised half curious. She came closer and whispered to him.
"I know it is late, but may I have a word with you?"
He nodded and they went out of the Great Hall. He followed her to her office at the first floor. After a month and a half, the shinigami had had enough to have only her rooms and the Staff room as retreat and asked an office to meet students and be able to do her paperwork in piece without having to climb all the castles' stairs every time.
The room was painted in beige, the wall at the left was covered of chocolate shelves full of books, papers, records, some plants. A dark brown desk covered by a pencil pot, ink bottle, a stack of papers covered by Japanese ideograms and a blossoming crimson orchid sat in parallel of the shelves and edged the window. A chiselled bright red maple bonsai sat on the window sill next to it. Between the two windows was a calligraphy of a few Japanese Ideograms followed by the symbol of the shinigami's squad "Probably the motto of her Squad" thought the man. The right wall welcomed a warm fireplace she lit with a wave of her hand, faced by a chocolate two place couch and a coffee table, surrounded by two matching armchairs. On the mantle lied an empty black wooden katana support, surrounded by two photos: one of the shinigami doing a dressage figure with a beautiful black/grey horse, another with her Squad and a white-haired man that seemed to be her Captain Between. Above it a beautiful painting in black ink of a horse galloping under a red maple seemed to be alive in the wavering light of the fire. Between the window and the fireplace hang a target where the picture of a man was riddled by throwing knifes; a punching bag with the matching picture was waiting to be hang sat in the corner next to it, protection bands neatly rolled on the window sill. He wondered what the guy did to inspire such anger from her toward his person.
He was surprised by the simplicity of the room, appreciated the neat and zen atmosphere of it, the subtle limit between personal and formal. He understood why his snakelings enjoyed paying visits to talk with the Students Supervisor, you easily felt comfortable in there.
"Please make yourself comfortable, may I offer you some drink? Tea, coffee, Firewhisky or whine?"
He sat in an armchair. "Firewhisky, please."
She rested her sword on the mantle and went behind her desk to pull out a bottle of Firewhisky and two tumblers before settling on the couch. Once served the Potion's Master downed his glass in one gulp.
"So what do you want woman?"
She frowned at his attitude "I'm just curious about your insinuation, who where you talking about?"
"Either you're really stupid and paid too much for your job or you're damn lazy for not having documented enough about Black."
The brunette inhaled deeply and exhaled deeply "Calm down… Gentleness and Restraint...". Suddenly it hit her! She rose, knowing how to prove him her worth and definitely shut his damned mouth. She picked up a heavy record in her desk and let it fall on the coffee table in front of Severus with a smirk.
"Be my guest and see if I forgot something. It's true that I was rather stupid not asking you about him, since you went to school together. Do you mind if I smoke?"
The Potion's Master rose an eyebrow and fetched the file and began to read. She smiled and grabbed a book to patient until he was done. She lit a cigarette and relaxed, inhaling and exhaling the toxic smoke. Twenty minutes later he put the file down. She looked at him: he seemed to look a little impressed by her work. Grasping the bottle of liquor, she poured him another shot. It was her turn to raise an eyebrow as she saw him pulling a cigarette out and lighting it with his wand.
"You know I would have offered you one I you would have asked."
"I can pay for my own cancer Miss Khan, thank you."
"It's not pity its hospitality, nuance. So any comments?" she grabbed a shit of blank paper and a pen.
"Your annalistic skills are good. I now understand your question."
She looked straight in his eyes, beginning to lose patience. "Perfect, and thanks for the compliment. So would you care to enlighten me? I'm supposed to protect the castle and I'm quite furious that that damn dog managed to escape me. So if you know anything that could be a way to catch him I want to know. I listen."
The wizard looked at her. "Why would I tell you?"
Her eyes narrowed him "Because, Severus Tobias Snape, I hate people that keep crucial information from me, and I'm losing patience."
The wizard snorted inhaling some smoke "And what are you doing to do? Torture me?"
The Students Supervisor looked at him in a way that raised an alarm inside his mind "Worse, I will psychoanalyse you."
His smirk definitely died on his lips. The fiery determination mixed with a start of anger and something feral disturbed him. It was like the calculating glare of the predator that seeks the weak point of his prey. "Damn, you need to play it smooth old chap. Fuck your pride, there will be more of it left if you cooperate than when she will be done with you"
He sighed "Fine! I suspect that damn wolf to help Black! Happy?"
The shinigami rose her eyebrows. She didn't know if she was more surprised by the sudden surrender of the man, his fear of being psychoanalyzed, or his stupidity, or his lack of judgement. She frowned as she began to be very, very angry. She was damn tired, sore, frustrated, and that idiot had almost created more confusion inside the already confused teens heads… because what? A damn jealousy and a decades old bitterness?
No, she was definitely angry now. She crushed her cigarette in the ashtray and crossed her arms, glaring daggers at him.
"To be honest Master Snape, no, I'm not happy at all. You insulted my intelligence but you better look at yourself before looking to others. I thought you were cleverer than that or at least had some really good reason to insinuate things! I don't give a shit about your grudge for some people, nobody does it's your own damn problem! The students are enough scared/disturbed/whatever you want with the entrance of Black, they don't need to hear that the staff doesn't trust each other! If you want to play the Slytherin snake play it rather black mamba than rattlesnake, thank you. And leave our dear wolf alone, he wants as much Black in jail than anybody. Remember that he lost two friend and now the son of his friend is tracked by the same guy."
No, she couldn't definitely stay gentle and restraint.
"BLOODY HELL! DIDN'T IT CROSS YOUR DAMN SUPPOSED BRILLIANT MIND THAT SOME STUDENTS MAY NOT BE ASLEEP WHEN YOU STARTED IT? TO YOUR INFORMATION SOME WEREN'T!" She paused and leaned forward, hissing toward him "I warn you bloody wizard, if tomorrow I'm unable to relax because crowded by students that are sure that a member of the staff helped Black to enter -and that because you are a stupid judgemental idiot- I will drag you by the ear from your dungeons to the Headmaster's office, and believe me he will not be pleased by the reason of our visit."
She inhaled deeply and managed to gather herself. But in the wizard opinion, seeing her bottle her deep anger and all the emotions of the day after letting it flow, was more scaring than seeing her shouting. "Damn that woman is scarier than Bellatrix in her periods…" The wizard was loss at words. It pained him to admit it but she was right, and damn scary. Energy full of anger oppressed him. He downed his drink and rose.
"I shall remember it. Goodnight Miss Khan."
"Goodnight."
He fled her office and she sipped the magical alcohol, half satisfied by having taught a lesson to the man and still frustrated by the whole situation. She had just lit a cigarette when she heard a light scratch on her door. The shinigami rose to open, finding a grey tabby cat in front of it. She sighed.
"What happened so that you aren't sleeping in your comfortable bed after all that night my dear tabby cat?"
The cat passed her to enter and jumped on her usual spot on the couch, switching back into human.
"As I came back from checking the cubs at the Great Hall, I saw Severus quitting your office. He seemed disturbed and a little angry. What happened?"
The shinigami sighed. "Oh so he passed the shock? I gave him a piece of my mind for insinuating inappropriate things before awaken students; and for being a stupid, judgemental, idiot. Can't wait to be tomorrow to see what marvellous vendetta he will put on especially for the occasion, Yay…"
The elder witch chuckled. "Seems you need some rest too, my dear." She patted the place beside her and the shinigami gladly sat and served her guest a Fire-whiskey. She finished hers as well as her cigarette, then put a pillow against the lap of Minerva and lied so on the couch, resting her head on the pillows and spreading her long legs to the nearing armchair. Minerva shook her head disbelievingly, in a flick of her hand extended the piece of furniture and conjured a blanket for the young woman. Usually the shinigami would have groaned something about over-maternal lioness, but this time she smiled and whispered a small thank you as her eyes were closing slowly.
"You're welcome dear. Tell me, now that you are comfortable, may you explain me why the hell was a Son of Sekhmet sleeping behind Miss Granger, Mr Potter and Weasley? And why is he now sleeping like a giant lazy cat in front of the fire?"
The eyes of the shinigami shot open. They went from Mahes, indeed lying full spread on the cream fluffy carpet in front of the fire, to a raised-eyebrow Minerva. "What? How the Hell…"
Feeling a headache coming if she pushed her neurons a millimetre farther, she closed her eyes and pinched the edge of her nose, groaning. "Nobody except me is supposed to see him. Why and how the Hell are you able to?"
It was the Scot's woman turn to look surprised. The shinigami yawned "But now I'm too tired for brainstorming. Shall see that 'morrow." She settled her face in the pillow and closed her eyes.
"'night Minerva."
The witch blinked her eyes, then chuckled "That girl really got some nerves"
"Indeed she has, I wouldn't have chosen her if it wasn't the case. Now sleep mistress lioness, you need to rest too."
The witch turned her head to the lion who was looking at her, glints of mischief and tenderness in the eyes. She couldn't help but smile to him. Strangely the huge animal appeased her and made her feel safe. She slowly felt her eyes close and quickly transfigured the couch in a bed, her robes in a night gown and slipped under the covers beside the shinigami. As soon as she closed her eyes she felt a fluffy mane tickling her nose, and drifted into sleep the smile on her lips.
A/N: Thanks guys for reading my work, for the few that follow me I hope you aren't too disappointed of it after these months of silence. Any way it's nice of you guys thanks a lot! The same for my few reviewers, even if you're not a crowed I'm always happy to read your impressions about my work. I don't know when I will post the next chapter, but I will try before Christmas, promise.
Take care guys!
Pleasure,
Naomi-chan
PS: I almost forgot the translation of the kido spell Miss Khan cast to the Dementors! Sorry sorry here it is: "Scattered beast bones! Spire, Crimson Crystal, Steel Wheels! The wind if it moves, the sky if it stops, the tone of the spear striking fills the lone castle! 63th Way of Destruction: Roaring Thunder Canon"
