Professor Dumbledore leaned over the desk, reaching out with a china bowl. "Lemon drop, Severus?"

The scowling Potions Master snapped dryly, "Have I ever accepted?"

"Life is full of new and amazing things.", his elder remarked. "Anyone at any time may surprise you.

"Are we all settled then?"

Opposite Dumbledore directly was Professor Snape. But to his left was Professor Macgonnal and Madame Pince, and to his right was Professor Burbage. The all nodded politely in the affirmative.

"Well, then.", Dumbledore continued. "I have not held a conference like this so early in a student's career. However, there seems to be a uniqueness to the Freeman's - yes?"

"Well, at least with mine's language.", Macgonnal offered. "Every second word out of his mouth is this term /"

"pup bup bup.", Professor Burbage warned. When everyone turned to her she explained. "I believe that in passing that I have heard young Mr. Freeman use...the word in question. It really ought not be spoken by any one of us."

"Charity, you are acting as if this word is the name of...well, He Who Must Not Be Named. Or casting an Unforgivable.", Madame Pince stated. Obviously, they would have heard of such an incantation so dangerous.

"Well, many muggles believe it is.", the Muggles Studies professor continued. "And some feel that it is perfectly reasonable to use oneself but never others. However, there are some dark cabals most blackened which use the word to mark their next targeted strikes."

Snape cast her a sidelong stare.

"Really. This word has been most difficult to research. After all, my expertise lies more in electricity and the day to day household functioning without magic. But there are suggestions that the word...that word has been at the center of murders in the streets and wars of enslavement and riots worse than any dark revel."

"And you are telling me that one of my students is using it nearly every minute, on the minute.", Macgonnal sought to confirm.

Professor Burbage turned to her. "That's exactly what makes this so complicated. He obviously feels no compunction against using it to describe himself. So he must feel that he is of the type that should be allowed to use it freely."

"What group is that, Charity?", Dumbledore asked.

"Well, as far as I've been able to ascertain - those colored. A 'colored' people, if you will.", she answered.

"And what does that mean?", Pince continued. "Emotionally, such as those without a stiff upper lip? Some other form of charm?"

"Muggles refer to people with darker skin tones as 'colored' people.", Snape drawled.

The head of Gryffindor sat amazed. "You mean that this word has so much power that it can drive people, without any magic behind it, to sheer madness. And one of my students has been wielding it all over the castle. And if I said it aloud I might wreak havoc. But/" And here she waved her wand over herself to transfigure her skin into dusky titanium metal shell "if I do this, I can recite it as if it were a gentle lullaby?

"Preposterous."

Burbage nodded her head. "Well, it is my job to know."

Snapes eyes rolled so hard, Dumbledore feared they might fall out his head and scatter on the floor. "Minerva. Please?"

"Oh, of course, Albus.". The witch waved her wand again and resumed her normal fleshy appearance. "Well, I will certainly inform Mr. Freeman that his language is not for the wizarding world."

"If he is in this group of which I speak, he will likely view that as oppression.", Professor Burbage warned.

"So what solution do you suggest?", Dumbledore asked.

The woman shrugged her shoulders. "I wish I had an answer for you, sir. The muggle world has been struggling with this since time immemorial. Particularly the Americans, which is where Mr. Freeman is sure to have picked it up. And without a magical underpinning, it's not like we can ask Professor Flitwich for a counter cursing. We may be limited to simply making certain the other students do not spread it, for now? I will look into it."

"And Mr. Freeman the older?", the oldest wizard in the room asked.

Snape dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. "My Mr. Freeman hasn't used the word once."

Dumbledore nodded, ending the discussion. "Thank you for your expertise, Charity. We've taken far too much of your time."

Severus watched her go. He had an inkling that no one knew the totality of Dumbledore's talents for secret keeping were. The Muggle Studies teacher never suspected that the important conversation was about to begin.

Dumbledore now turned to the librarian. "Irma. You had a topic you wanted to raise."

"Yes, I do.", Madame Pince stated. "Huey Freeman came to the library today in pursuit of the Golden Book and anything else I could give him on blood purity."

Macgonnal turned to the headmaster. "You said that they did not know about their parent's/"

"I was informed by a very good friend that it has been kept from them. And will be.", Dumbledore assured.

The librarian continued. "Well, it very much looks like he was looking into his family roots. And if he digs far enough, he will find out. The information isn't exactly private, considering."

Snape's eyes finally shone in interest. "Perhaps, with your permission of course Headmaster, I should take to training them. Or at least initially, in case they don't share their parent's...aptitude. They seem to have the same disposition, if their holsters and wands are any clue."

"Oh, you would just love that, wouldn't you, Severus.", Macgonnal scolded. "Every year we have to keep you from the Defense of the Dark Arts post."

"I am the most qualified in the castle.", he replied.

"You know well and good why we keep you from it.", she snapped. "But now, another opportunity to show what you truly are and you're leaping at it."

"I am not leaping at anything, Minvera.", Snape said slowly. "I am trying to keep the collateral damage to a minimum. If I can interest them and then offer the fatigue that only long hours of extra study can produce, then it may circumvent future problems. Particularly if your Mr. Freeman is lacing the castle with a muggle incantation we cannot face."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. All fell silent.

"I have not noticed in any change in the castle as of late. Have any of you? Even in your house' dormitories?"

They shook their heads.

"Then I do not see any pressing reason why we should single them out in any given concern. Certain faculty wanted to make me aware of certain actions of certain students. They have. Perhaps it would be best to leave it at that for now, hm?"