Squib Caretaker
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
A sequel to "Squib Puppet"
Chapter Nine: Fireside Chat
Everything really belongs to J.K. Rowling
"Perhaps I should go and see about putting up your new classroom
door, Professor," I said to Snape.
As I spoke, I puzzled over what he'd just told me. The Cold Potion
Spell; the one that he'd tried to use to create the Alchemist's Door,
had been lost for nearly a thousand years. And Severus had found it
somehow... with my help, and Azoth's.
But *how* had the little black tom and I aided him? I had no idea.
The Potions Master seemed to take a certain pleasure in my
confusion. A faint smile lingered around his mouth as he clutched the
steaming goblet in his hands and studied the bonfire before us.
"There's no hurry about my classroom door, Filch," he said,
hoarsely. "My office is still guarded by its own door, and by an
assortment of protective curses. There's nothing ...sensitive in my
classroom at the moment."
The sky above us was rosy with the setting sun. The day had been
warm, but now a cool breeze fanned the bonfire's flames. Shivering a
bit, Severus took a sip from the goblet and moved closer to the fire.
"All right. No rush, then. I'll get to it first thing in the
morning," I said. It had been a long day and I was tired. And my right
foot hurt.
Sitting down, I unlaced my boot so I could tug it off. The heavy
boot had prevented any serious injury, but my instep was bruised.
"Moody sent an owl. He wished to speak to me this evening,"
Severus said, still watching the fire. Taking a handkerchief from his
pocket, he blew his nose.
"I sent a reply, telling him to meet me here," he continued in a
muffled voice.
"Would you like me to stay with you?" I asked, gingerly wiggling
my toes. I realized that I sounded like a father asking a small child if
he wanted some company at his bedside, to keep away ogres and
nightmares.
"What I meant was, may I stay?" I amended quickly. "I have some
things that I want to speak to Moody about too. That is, if you don't
mind."
"No, Filch. I don't mind." The Professor said. Then he sneezed.
*******
The bonfire was blazing merrily when Hagrid and Sirius Black
accompanied Mad Eye Moody down the hillside towards us. Their reason for
escorting the old Auror was obvious. Fluffy, freed from his chain for
his evening exercise, was lumbering along behind them, right at Hagrid's
heels.
When the Cerberus saw the Potions Master, the right and center
heads immediately began growling. And the left head barked angrily.
"Stop that, Fluffy!" I said, very firmly. "It's all right.
Hagrid's here, and so am I."
The Cerberus obeyed!
I was so delighted that I didn't mind when the beast came close
enough for all three heads to drool on me. But then the center head
licked my face. (Eurgh!)
The monster settled on the ground right behind me, with a massive
thud.
Hagrid beamed at both of us, patted Fluffy's heads, and gave me a
clap on the back that would have knocked me down if I wasn't already
sitting.
The half giant noticed my latest bruise. He sat beside me and
pulled a bottle out of his pocket. Then he held it out, cheerfully.
"Here, Filch. Good fer what ails yeh."
I shook my head politely.
Sirius, who had sat down on Hagrid's other side, accepted the
bottle when it was offered to him. The Animagus leaned back against
Fluffy.
The two Gryffindors passed the bottle back and forth, while the
two Slytherins stood and glared at each other.
"Snape," Moody growled, finally. "I was coming here to pick up
that report I asked you for, months ago. Well, I know you haven't done
it. I'm granting you an extension. Black's just told me that Filch is
working on a form. You're going to fill one out and owl it to me, as
soon as they're ready."
The Potions Master nodded, coolly. Then he glared at Sirius Black,
who was mouthing, "You OWE me, Snape!" at him.
"Filch. I'm glad you're here," Moody said, turning his mismatched
gaze on me. "Albus tells me that you've taken Potter through Godric's
Door. And he didn't get sick."
The old Auror settled himself on the ground next to me. "When you
get those Door forms finished, you owl one to Potter too. Along with
instructions to send it to me once he completes it."
I nodded.
"What? Potter had no reaction? None?" Snape, who was the only one
still standing, stared down at me incredulously.
"That's right," I said. "Though it did seem to hurt his scar a
bit."
"Harry didn't tell me about that," Black murmured.
"He didn't want ter upset yeh," Hagrid said comfortingly, handing
him the bottle.
"It passed quickly enough," I reassured the Animagus.
"Do you or the Headmaster have any theories to explain WHY Potter
did not react in the usual manner?" Snape asked Moody, sharply.
"Yep. A few guesses." Moody said.
After a moment of silence it became clear that Mad Eye wasn't
going to elaborate further.
"Potter!" The Potions Master snarled the boy's name as if it was
an epithet. "Everyone else his age becomes desperately sick, but he
doesn't so much as gag! How typical! Even enchanted objects fall at his
feet in celebrity-worshipping adoration!"
Snape's voice trailed off into a barely audible rasp.
"Cranky git, aren't you?" Black observed.
The Animagus had looked very fierce when Snape had started
speaking. His anger had turned to amusement. Poor Severus sounded too
ill and fretful to be provoking.
"Our understanding of the rules governing the Doors' use is far
from complete," I said, to reassure the disgruntled Potions Master.
"Surely Potter's reaction will prove to be within the proper guidelines,
once we know what they are."
Snape paid no attention to me. He was glaring at Black.
The Animagus merely smiled, as he handed Hagrid the bottle. He
wasn't in the mood to argue, and he wasn't about to be goaded by a man
who could barely even speak.
Looking wryly amused both by Snape and Black, and by my abiding
faith in Rules, Hagrid passed me the bottle again. I accepted it and
took a sip before I realized what I was doing. Moody had distracted me
with a look of approval. I appreciated my teacher's regard, but I wasn't
exactly sure what I'd done to earn it.
When the old Auror spoke it was to Severus, not me.
"Nasty cold you've got, Snape. You need some Pepperup," Moody
said.
"Minerva and I tried to get him take some," I said. "He told me
it's not a cold. He said it's..."
I stopped. Professor Snape was skewering me with a deadly glare.
Clearly he didn't want anyone else to know about the Alchemist's Door.
Hagrid took the bottle from me and offered it to Snape. "Pour a
wee drop in yehr goblet, Professor?"
"No. Thank you," Snape said.
Hagrid shrugged and gave the bottle to Sirius.
"Come on. Join the party, Snape." Moody said, gruffly. The old
Auror had taken out his hip flask.
"I'll be leaving in the morning," Black said, coaxingly, passing
the bottle back to Hagrid. "Surely that gives you something to
celebrate..."
Snape's glower at Black was interrupted by a sneeze, followed by
the inevitable wince and clutch at his ribs.
Turning to me to hide his look of amusement, mingled with perhaps
a touch of sympathy, the Animagus said, "I've spent today working with
Mrs. Norris."
"What?" I asked, confused. "Why?"
"She was recommended to me by Crookshanks," he said. "He thinks
quite highly of her. In more ways than one. There's a matter that he and
I both attend to while we're here. Crookshanks is gone for the summer,
with Hermione, and I'm leaving too. Someone needs to keep a particular
eye on the rats around here."
I wasn't sure what to make of this. In recent months Black had
earned my trust time and again. Still, the image of him as a youthful
trickster was indelibly etched in my mind. What was he playing at?
Black's voice grew softer and more intense. No humor showed in his
voice or expression. "Wormtail could use a glamour to hide that silver
paw of his," the young wizard explained. "Beaky and I have been teaching
Mrs. Norris the scent of a Transfigured Animagus, and the scent of a
glamour."
"Pettigrew?" I exclaimed.
As grateful as I was to Black for having the foresight to guard
against a threat that I hadn't considered, I was worried for Mrs.
Norris.
"She mustn't attempt to catch him on her own," I said. "It would
be much too dangerous. I'll tell her to come to me at once if she picks
up that sort of scent on any rat!"
My voice hardened. "I'm sure that a trip through red-and-gold
wouldn't be much to Master Wormtail's liking. Hmm. I wonder which will
prove to be stronger, the Black Effect or the Snape Effect?"
The two young wizards exchanged a puzzled look. I supposed that it
wouldn't take either of them long to figure out what I meant.
Moody was regarding me with approval. "My galleons would be on the
Snape Effect. Try to capture Pettigrew alive, if you should encounter
him."
"Yes, please do!" the Animagus growled, his hands curling into
fists. Hagrid handed him the bottle and he took a long drink.
The Potions Master had finally taken a seat on the ground, closest
to the fire.
"Try to seal him up in a bottle, like a captive Djinn," Moody told
me. "Pettigrew might know where Voldemort is keeping the people he's
taken."
"I have been unable to discover their whereabouts," Snape said
hoarsely, dabbing at his nose. Bitterness and shame at his failure were
plain in his face. "Usually Lucius would have been able to learn more.
He might have inadvertantly revealed something to me. But Lucius is
still not himself, and both of us remain in disgrace."
"Lucius is still clawing up the furniture and shedding fur on the
carpets?" Black asked, making a visible effort to turn his thoughts away
from Pettigrew.
Snape nodded.
"Doesn't leave Lucius time for much else, I expect," Moody said,
giving the Potions Master a pointed look.
"Draco," I thought, realizing that Moody was attempting to cheer
Severus up. Lucius was bound to have other things on his mind now than
Draco's initiation into the Dark Lord's service. Hopefully, the tainted
Polyjuice had bought the boy some time.
Snape's expression remained unreadable. Moody changed the
subject.
"I'll need to see a preliminary version of your Door form, Filch.
I may want to add a question or two."
"I'll send you what I've got as soon as possible," I said.
"Good. One more thing. I've been told that you took Fluffy through
Godric's Door." The old Auror's eyes were filled with curiosity. "I want
to see a demonstration."
*******
My tongue-in-cheek remark to Minerva, about putting a saddle on
Snuffles and riding him through red and gold, turned out not to be so
much of a jest after all.
Though I didn't have the luxury of a saddle when I rode Fluffy.
Hagrid simply picked me up and put me down on the Cerberus's back, just
behind the massive shoulders.
The half-giant hadn't even given me a moment to put my right boot
back on! I clung to the center neck, not at all happy about this turn of
events.
Fluffy did not seem very sure if he liked this sort of thing
either. Still, the huge beast stood quietly enough while Hagrid spoke to
him gently.
"Good boy. Easy now. This won't hurt yeh, an' it'll only take a
minute."
I summoned Godric's Door. Once again, I missed seeing the tapestry
enlarge to admit the Cerberus because it happened just as Fluffy stepped
through. Though I did hear Black say "See?" Then there were exclcmations
of surprise from Moody and Snape, followed by a delighted shout from
Hagrid.
A heartbeat later, the Cerberus and I were in front of Hagrid's
hut.
Fang was asleep on the front steps. Mrs. Norris was curled beside
him. A casual observer might have thought her relaxed, but her ears were
wide and alert and her tail was fluffed in anxiety.
"I hear that you've had an interesting day, my sweet," I said,
clambering awkwardly down from Fluffy's back. "So have I..."
END OF CHAPTER NINE
Author's Notes:
Gramarye: Thank you!!
Alchemine: Thank you!! Ah, potty-training. I remember those days... it's
not an endless process, but it sure seems that way.
I really enjoyed Myrtle's role as one of Harry's helpers in Goblet of
Fire. As Hermione would say, it was lovely to see her out of the toilet.
(There's this scene that I've had in the back of my head for ages, but I
don't have a story to go with it. Myrtle has a chance to confront
Voldemort face to face. She tells him off, very rudely; addressing him
as `Tom.' When Filch tries to get her to be quiet for her own safety,
she says "What's he going to do... kill me AGAIN?")
Yes, I am in definitely in the Creepy-Stalker-Tom club. Tom's recitation
of the way that he entrapped poor Ginny still gives me chills whenever I
read it. "If I say it myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm the
people I needed." "Stupid little Ginny," he adds, so coldly. -Shudder-
Whether he was calling himself "Tom" or "Lord Voldemort," he's always
been a user. Many people would have been taken in by the handsome face,
the charming manner, the sharp and vivid intelligence. Even then he
probably had people who *knew* he'd use them and lined up for the
privilege of being used by him anyhow. But Minerva would not have been
one of those people.
Snape would glare and say that he does NOT have a cold. (Of course, he'd
be saying this between sneezes.) Sneezing is undignified, but not as
undignified as having smoke pouring out of one's ears.
Filch doesn't know it, but he practically handed Snape the instructions
for the Alchemist's Door.
Snape has multiple reasons for wanting an Alchemist's Door. Partly, it's
what AET referred to as "Door Jealousy." Partly it's because no one has
been able to make an Alchemist's Door for nearly a thousand years. (The
instructions were hidden away in a safe place where nobody would have
EVER thought to look.) Snape has other reasons too, some selfish ones,
and some noble ones.
Minerva understood Filch's desire to protect her. She felt an equally
strong desire to shield him from harm. She would have insisted that he
keep back when she tried Snape's classroom door, but she didn't want to
hurt Filch's pride as either a man or a Squib. She's relieved that he
did have to prudence to stay back when she said that she wasn't sure if
she could shield Snape and herself too.
I LOVE "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles!)" What a great song! I think that it
suits their relationship nicely.
Andolyn: Thank you!! I have a special affection for the ghosts too.
AET: Thank you!! Snape got to verbalize his "Door Jealousy" a bit this
chapter.
Saint Fool: Thank you!! The idea of Voldemort noticing Minerva gave
Filch the shivers too.
Sirius has already cast one of his Unforgivably Cheerful curses on poor
Snape once before. He's promised Harry that he wouldn't do it again.
Saphron: Thank you!! Snape wouldn't be Snape if he wasn't up to
something.
RADKA: Thank you for your comments on Chapters Seven and Eight!! Yes,
Snape did mention the invisibility cloak in front of Filch, didn't he?
Whoops, that's definite goof on my part. Hmmm.
(Ozma scratches her head in bemusement, wondering how to fix this. She
imagines a conversation taking place between Snape and Filch, the day
following the confrontation on the stairs in GOF:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Filch: (shocked) An invisibility cloak, Professor? But... those things
are so rare! They're on my List of Forbidden Objects, but I've never
seen anyone wearing such a cloak during all my years in the Castle!
Snape: Of course you haven't seen anyone wearing it, you idiot! That's
the whole point!
Filch: If Potter has an invisibility cloak then we must inform the
Headmaster at once!
Snape: (bitterly) The Headmaster knows all about the cloak. He has known
about it, ever since it belonged to James Potter! I wouldn't be
surprised if Dumbledore was the one who passed it along to the wretched
boy himself!!
Filch: (speaking very patiently, and giving Snape a look reminiscent of
the one the poor Potions Master got from Fudge, when the Minister
thought Severus was ranting crazily at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban)
Come now, Professor. You know as well as I do that the Headmaster would
never do such a completely irresponsible thing. Encourage TWO
generations of rule-breakers? It's quite inconceivable. No, it was
Peeves who dropped the egg on the stairs. And it was Peeves who was in
your office last night, just as I've been telling you all along! I've
already spoken to the Headmaster about *him,* so you needn't fret about
this any further.
Then Filch walks away, leaving Snape to glare after him in frustration.
Snape doesn't know whose head he wants to bang against a wall more; his
own or Filch's.
Snape: (growling to himself) I know! POTTER'S!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's the best "fix" that I can come up with at the moment...
Why did the Hat try to Sort Harry into Slytherin, if he's really the
Heir of Gryffindor? From what we've seen of the Hat, it doesn't like to
force people into Houses without a choice. Members of families don't
always end up in the same House. The fact that Harry was in Gryffindor
didn't stop a lot of people from thinking that he was really the Heir of
Slytherin.
Larania: Thank you!! Yes, Voldemort would be quite jealous, wouldn't he?
Besnaped: Thank you for all the individual chapter reviews!! And for
your comment on "Squib Wizard: To Comfort Gehenna!" I agree that a sense
of camaraderie with Snape is probably Filch's main reason for cheering
the Slytherins. Many of the Slytherins sense this too, they see Filch's
loyalty to the Potions Master.
You're welcome for the reviews!! Your writing is wonderful!!
McGonagall did know that Tom was more than just a handsome face. Besides
being handsome and charming, he was extremely intelligent, a Prefect and
Head Boy.
But, there was something about him that Minerva didn't like. He saw
other people primarily as tools to be used, and she noticed this. Not
the sort of boy that she wanted to be involved with, no matter how
handsome, charming or intelligent he was.
Thank you for the compliment on the Fimbul Charm/Cold Potion
Spell/Alchemist's Door!
Yes, Filch has been working with Moody, learning to identify many
different types of spells.
He's also worked with other Professors, as everyone tries to get more of
a "feel" for the sorts of things that can be expected from Callandra.
Poor Filch has a painfully good reason to remember the Insidiarum Curse
(ambush or trap.) That's the one that Snape usually loads up with
porcupine quills.
It was fun to let the Bloody Baron show off a bit. He intrigues me too.
Remus may eventually go through red-and-gold (that is, if I can ever get
my ideas on that story organized.) Remus's safety when he goes through
the Door may depend a great deal on what time of the month it is. When
he's under the influence of the full moon, he would definitely be
considered a potential threat to the Castle and those inside.
Even after their kiss, Filch and McGonagall still prefer to move slowly.
Yes, Azoth did rescue them from a moment of potential awkwardness.
Black and Snape are starting to develop a truce, but it's a fragile one
and no one around them wants to call attention to it, lest it be
shattered under the glare of too much attention.
Jelsemium: Thank you!! I had a lot in common with Moaning Myrtle as a
child, myself. I felt unlovely and unloved by everyone. Most people do
get a chance to grow beyond the unhappiest times of their lives, but
poor little Myrtle never did.
Yes, Filch is proving that it's never too late to grow up. And he's
learning to appreciate the person he is, rather than continuing to drown
himself in bitterness over the things that he'll never be able to do.
Poor Snape needs to learn to like himself a little more. It's much
harder for him than it is for Filch. Filch can learn to be more than
just a grumpy old Squib, but Snape has to learn not to see himself as an
irredeemable monster.
Yes, I picture Minerva as having been a lot like Hermione as a girl!
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! Filch is going to get a piece of the puzzle
regarding how he and Azoth helped Snape.
aniwda: Thank you!!
a Harry Potter fan-fic
by Ozma
A sequel to "Squib Puppet"
Chapter Nine: Fireside Chat
Everything really belongs to J.K. Rowling
"Perhaps I should go and see about putting up your new classroom
door, Professor," I said to Snape.
As I spoke, I puzzled over what he'd just told me. The Cold Potion
Spell; the one that he'd tried to use to create the Alchemist's Door,
had been lost for nearly a thousand years. And Severus had found it
somehow... with my help, and Azoth's.
But *how* had the little black tom and I aided him? I had no idea.
The Potions Master seemed to take a certain pleasure in my
confusion. A faint smile lingered around his mouth as he clutched the
steaming goblet in his hands and studied the bonfire before us.
"There's no hurry about my classroom door, Filch," he said,
hoarsely. "My office is still guarded by its own door, and by an
assortment of protective curses. There's nothing ...sensitive in my
classroom at the moment."
The sky above us was rosy with the setting sun. The day had been
warm, but now a cool breeze fanned the bonfire's flames. Shivering a
bit, Severus took a sip from the goblet and moved closer to the fire.
"All right. No rush, then. I'll get to it first thing in the
morning," I said. It had been a long day and I was tired. And my right
foot hurt.
Sitting down, I unlaced my boot so I could tug it off. The heavy
boot had prevented any serious injury, but my instep was bruised.
"Moody sent an owl. He wished to speak to me this evening,"
Severus said, still watching the fire. Taking a handkerchief from his
pocket, he blew his nose.
"I sent a reply, telling him to meet me here," he continued in a
muffled voice.
"Would you like me to stay with you?" I asked, gingerly wiggling
my toes. I realized that I sounded like a father asking a small child if
he wanted some company at his bedside, to keep away ogres and
nightmares.
"What I meant was, may I stay?" I amended quickly. "I have some
things that I want to speak to Moody about too. That is, if you don't
mind."
"No, Filch. I don't mind." The Professor said. Then he sneezed.
*******
The bonfire was blazing merrily when Hagrid and Sirius Black
accompanied Mad Eye Moody down the hillside towards us. Their reason for
escorting the old Auror was obvious. Fluffy, freed from his chain for
his evening exercise, was lumbering along behind them, right at Hagrid's
heels.
When the Cerberus saw the Potions Master, the right and center
heads immediately began growling. And the left head barked angrily.
"Stop that, Fluffy!" I said, very firmly. "It's all right.
Hagrid's here, and so am I."
The Cerberus obeyed!
I was so delighted that I didn't mind when the beast came close
enough for all three heads to drool on me. But then the center head
licked my face. (Eurgh!)
The monster settled on the ground right behind me, with a massive
thud.
Hagrid beamed at both of us, patted Fluffy's heads, and gave me a
clap on the back that would have knocked me down if I wasn't already
sitting.
The half giant noticed my latest bruise. He sat beside me and
pulled a bottle out of his pocket. Then he held it out, cheerfully.
"Here, Filch. Good fer what ails yeh."
I shook my head politely.
Sirius, who had sat down on Hagrid's other side, accepted the
bottle when it was offered to him. The Animagus leaned back against
Fluffy.
The two Gryffindors passed the bottle back and forth, while the
two Slytherins stood and glared at each other.
"Snape," Moody growled, finally. "I was coming here to pick up
that report I asked you for, months ago. Well, I know you haven't done
it. I'm granting you an extension. Black's just told me that Filch is
working on a form. You're going to fill one out and owl it to me, as
soon as they're ready."
The Potions Master nodded, coolly. Then he glared at Sirius Black,
who was mouthing, "You OWE me, Snape!" at him.
"Filch. I'm glad you're here," Moody said, turning his mismatched
gaze on me. "Albus tells me that you've taken Potter through Godric's
Door. And he didn't get sick."
The old Auror settled himself on the ground next to me. "When you
get those Door forms finished, you owl one to Potter too. Along with
instructions to send it to me once he completes it."
I nodded.
"What? Potter had no reaction? None?" Snape, who was the only one
still standing, stared down at me incredulously.
"That's right," I said. "Though it did seem to hurt his scar a
bit."
"Harry didn't tell me about that," Black murmured.
"He didn't want ter upset yeh," Hagrid said comfortingly, handing
him the bottle.
"It passed quickly enough," I reassured the Animagus.
"Do you or the Headmaster have any theories to explain WHY Potter
did not react in the usual manner?" Snape asked Moody, sharply.
"Yep. A few guesses." Moody said.
After a moment of silence it became clear that Mad Eye wasn't
going to elaborate further.
"Potter!" The Potions Master snarled the boy's name as if it was
an epithet. "Everyone else his age becomes desperately sick, but he
doesn't so much as gag! How typical! Even enchanted objects fall at his
feet in celebrity-worshipping adoration!"
Snape's voice trailed off into a barely audible rasp.
"Cranky git, aren't you?" Black observed.
The Animagus had looked very fierce when Snape had started
speaking. His anger had turned to amusement. Poor Severus sounded too
ill and fretful to be provoking.
"Our understanding of the rules governing the Doors' use is far
from complete," I said, to reassure the disgruntled Potions Master.
"Surely Potter's reaction will prove to be within the proper guidelines,
once we know what they are."
Snape paid no attention to me. He was glaring at Black.
The Animagus merely smiled, as he handed Hagrid the bottle. He
wasn't in the mood to argue, and he wasn't about to be goaded by a man
who could barely even speak.
Looking wryly amused both by Snape and Black, and by my abiding
faith in Rules, Hagrid passed me the bottle again. I accepted it and
took a sip before I realized what I was doing. Moody had distracted me
with a look of approval. I appreciated my teacher's regard, but I wasn't
exactly sure what I'd done to earn it.
When the old Auror spoke it was to Severus, not me.
"Nasty cold you've got, Snape. You need some Pepperup," Moody
said.
"Minerva and I tried to get him take some," I said. "He told me
it's not a cold. He said it's..."
I stopped. Professor Snape was skewering me with a deadly glare.
Clearly he didn't want anyone else to know about the Alchemist's Door.
Hagrid took the bottle from me and offered it to Snape. "Pour a
wee drop in yehr goblet, Professor?"
"No. Thank you," Snape said.
Hagrid shrugged and gave the bottle to Sirius.
"Come on. Join the party, Snape." Moody said, gruffly. The old
Auror had taken out his hip flask.
"I'll be leaving in the morning," Black said, coaxingly, passing
the bottle back to Hagrid. "Surely that gives you something to
celebrate..."
Snape's glower at Black was interrupted by a sneeze, followed by
the inevitable wince and clutch at his ribs.
Turning to me to hide his look of amusement, mingled with perhaps
a touch of sympathy, the Animagus said, "I've spent today working with
Mrs. Norris."
"What?" I asked, confused. "Why?"
"She was recommended to me by Crookshanks," he said. "He thinks
quite highly of her. In more ways than one. There's a matter that he and
I both attend to while we're here. Crookshanks is gone for the summer,
with Hermione, and I'm leaving too. Someone needs to keep a particular
eye on the rats around here."
I wasn't sure what to make of this. In recent months Black had
earned my trust time and again. Still, the image of him as a youthful
trickster was indelibly etched in my mind. What was he playing at?
Black's voice grew softer and more intense. No humor showed in his
voice or expression. "Wormtail could use a glamour to hide that silver
paw of his," the young wizard explained. "Beaky and I have been teaching
Mrs. Norris the scent of a Transfigured Animagus, and the scent of a
glamour."
"Pettigrew?" I exclaimed.
As grateful as I was to Black for having the foresight to guard
against a threat that I hadn't considered, I was worried for Mrs.
Norris.
"She mustn't attempt to catch him on her own," I said. "It would
be much too dangerous. I'll tell her to come to me at once if she picks
up that sort of scent on any rat!"
My voice hardened. "I'm sure that a trip through red-and-gold
wouldn't be much to Master Wormtail's liking. Hmm. I wonder which will
prove to be stronger, the Black Effect or the Snape Effect?"
The two young wizards exchanged a puzzled look. I supposed that it
wouldn't take either of them long to figure out what I meant.
Moody was regarding me with approval. "My galleons would be on the
Snape Effect. Try to capture Pettigrew alive, if you should encounter
him."
"Yes, please do!" the Animagus growled, his hands curling into
fists. Hagrid handed him the bottle and he took a long drink.
The Potions Master had finally taken a seat on the ground, closest
to the fire.
"Try to seal him up in a bottle, like a captive Djinn," Moody told
me. "Pettigrew might know where Voldemort is keeping the people he's
taken."
"I have been unable to discover their whereabouts," Snape said
hoarsely, dabbing at his nose. Bitterness and shame at his failure were
plain in his face. "Usually Lucius would have been able to learn more.
He might have inadvertantly revealed something to me. But Lucius is
still not himself, and both of us remain in disgrace."
"Lucius is still clawing up the furniture and shedding fur on the
carpets?" Black asked, making a visible effort to turn his thoughts away
from Pettigrew.
Snape nodded.
"Doesn't leave Lucius time for much else, I expect," Moody said,
giving the Potions Master a pointed look.
"Draco," I thought, realizing that Moody was attempting to cheer
Severus up. Lucius was bound to have other things on his mind now than
Draco's initiation into the Dark Lord's service. Hopefully, the tainted
Polyjuice had bought the boy some time.
Snape's expression remained unreadable. Moody changed the
subject.
"I'll need to see a preliminary version of your Door form, Filch.
I may want to add a question or two."
"I'll send you what I've got as soon as possible," I said.
"Good. One more thing. I've been told that you took Fluffy through
Godric's Door." The old Auror's eyes were filled with curiosity. "I want
to see a demonstration."
*******
My tongue-in-cheek remark to Minerva, about putting a saddle on
Snuffles and riding him through red and gold, turned out not to be so
much of a jest after all.
Though I didn't have the luxury of a saddle when I rode Fluffy.
Hagrid simply picked me up and put me down on the Cerberus's back, just
behind the massive shoulders.
The half-giant hadn't even given me a moment to put my right boot
back on! I clung to the center neck, not at all happy about this turn of
events.
Fluffy did not seem very sure if he liked this sort of thing
either. Still, the huge beast stood quietly enough while Hagrid spoke to
him gently.
"Good boy. Easy now. This won't hurt yeh, an' it'll only take a
minute."
I summoned Godric's Door. Once again, I missed seeing the tapestry
enlarge to admit the Cerberus because it happened just as Fluffy stepped
through. Though I did hear Black say "See?" Then there were exclcmations
of surprise from Moody and Snape, followed by a delighted shout from
Hagrid.
A heartbeat later, the Cerberus and I were in front of Hagrid's
hut.
Fang was asleep on the front steps. Mrs. Norris was curled beside
him. A casual observer might have thought her relaxed, but her ears were
wide and alert and her tail was fluffed in anxiety.
"I hear that you've had an interesting day, my sweet," I said,
clambering awkwardly down from Fluffy's back. "So have I..."
END OF CHAPTER NINE
Author's Notes:
Gramarye: Thank you!!
Alchemine: Thank you!! Ah, potty-training. I remember those days... it's
not an endless process, but it sure seems that way.
I really enjoyed Myrtle's role as one of Harry's helpers in Goblet of
Fire. As Hermione would say, it was lovely to see her out of the toilet.
(There's this scene that I've had in the back of my head for ages, but I
don't have a story to go with it. Myrtle has a chance to confront
Voldemort face to face. She tells him off, very rudely; addressing him
as `Tom.' When Filch tries to get her to be quiet for her own safety,
she says "What's he going to do... kill me AGAIN?")
Yes, I am in definitely in the Creepy-Stalker-Tom club. Tom's recitation
of the way that he entrapped poor Ginny still gives me chills whenever I
read it. "If I say it myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm the
people I needed." "Stupid little Ginny," he adds, so coldly. -Shudder-
Whether he was calling himself "Tom" or "Lord Voldemort," he's always
been a user. Many people would have been taken in by the handsome face,
the charming manner, the sharp and vivid intelligence. Even then he
probably had people who *knew* he'd use them and lined up for the
privilege of being used by him anyhow. But Minerva would not have been
one of those people.
Snape would glare and say that he does NOT have a cold. (Of course, he'd
be saying this between sneezes.) Sneezing is undignified, but not as
undignified as having smoke pouring out of one's ears.
Filch doesn't know it, but he practically handed Snape the instructions
for the Alchemist's Door.
Snape has multiple reasons for wanting an Alchemist's Door. Partly, it's
what AET referred to as "Door Jealousy." Partly it's because no one has
been able to make an Alchemist's Door for nearly a thousand years. (The
instructions were hidden away in a safe place where nobody would have
EVER thought to look.) Snape has other reasons too, some selfish ones,
and some noble ones.
Minerva understood Filch's desire to protect her. She felt an equally
strong desire to shield him from harm. She would have insisted that he
keep back when she tried Snape's classroom door, but she didn't want to
hurt Filch's pride as either a man or a Squib. She's relieved that he
did have to prudence to stay back when she said that she wasn't sure if
she could shield Snape and herself too.
I LOVE "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles!)" What a great song! I think that it
suits their relationship nicely.
Andolyn: Thank you!! I have a special affection for the ghosts too.
AET: Thank you!! Snape got to verbalize his "Door Jealousy" a bit this
chapter.
Saint Fool: Thank you!! The idea of Voldemort noticing Minerva gave
Filch the shivers too.
Sirius has already cast one of his Unforgivably Cheerful curses on poor
Snape once before. He's promised Harry that he wouldn't do it again.
Saphron: Thank you!! Snape wouldn't be Snape if he wasn't up to
something.
RADKA: Thank you for your comments on Chapters Seven and Eight!! Yes,
Snape did mention the invisibility cloak in front of Filch, didn't he?
Whoops, that's definite goof on my part. Hmmm.
(Ozma scratches her head in bemusement, wondering how to fix this. She
imagines a conversation taking place between Snape and Filch, the day
following the confrontation on the stairs in GOF:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Filch: (shocked) An invisibility cloak, Professor? But... those things
are so rare! They're on my List of Forbidden Objects, but I've never
seen anyone wearing such a cloak during all my years in the Castle!
Snape: Of course you haven't seen anyone wearing it, you idiot! That's
the whole point!
Filch: If Potter has an invisibility cloak then we must inform the
Headmaster at once!
Snape: (bitterly) The Headmaster knows all about the cloak. He has known
about it, ever since it belonged to James Potter! I wouldn't be
surprised if Dumbledore was the one who passed it along to the wretched
boy himself!!
Filch: (speaking very patiently, and giving Snape a look reminiscent of
the one the poor Potions Master got from Fudge, when the Minister
thought Severus was ranting crazily at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban)
Come now, Professor. You know as well as I do that the Headmaster would
never do such a completely irresponsible thing. Encourage TWO
generations of rule-breakers? It's quite inconceivable. No, it was
Peeves who dropped the egg on the stairs. And it was Peeves who was in
your office last night, just as I've been telling you all along! I've
already spoken to the Headmaster about *him,* so you needn't fret about
this any further.
Then Filch walks away, leaving Snape to glare after him in frustration.
Snape doesn't know whose head he wants to bang against a wall more; his
own or Filch's.
Snape: (growling to himself) I know! POTTER'S!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's the best "fix" that I can come up with at the moment...
Why did the Hat try to Sort Harry into Slytherin, if he's really the
Heir of Gryffindor? From what we've seen of the Hat, it doesn't like to
force people into Houses without a choice. Members of families don't
always end up in the same House. The fact that Harry was in Gryffindor
didn't stop a lot of people from thinking that he was really the Heir of
Slytherin.
Larania: Thank you!! Yes, Voldemort would be quite jealous, wouldn't he?
Besnaped: Thank you for all the individual chapter reviews!! And for
your comment on "Squib Wizard: To Comfort Gehenna!" I agree that a sense
of camaraderie with Snape is probably Filch's main reason for cheering
the Slytherins. Many of the Slytherins sense this too, they see Filch's
loyalty to the Potions Master.
You're welcome for the reviews!! Your writing is wonderful!!
McGonagall did know that Tom was more than just a handsome face. Besides
being handsome and charming, he was extremely intelligent, a Prefect and
Head Boy.
But, there was something about him that Minerva didn't like. He saw
other people primarily as tools to be used, and she noticed this. Not
the sort of boy that she wanted to be involved with, no matter how
handsome, charming or intelligent he was.
Thank you for the compliment on the Fimbul Charm/Cold Potion
Spell/Alchemist's Door!
Yes, Filch has been working with Moody, learning to identify many
different types of spells.
He's also worked with other Professors, as everyone tries to get more of
a "feel" for the sorts of things that can be expected from Callandra.
Poor Filch has a painfully good reason to remember the Insidiarum Curse
(ambush or trap.) That's the one that Snape usually loads up with
porcupine quills.
It was fun to let the Bloody Baron show off a bit. He intrigues me too.
Remus may eventually go through red-and-gold (that is, if I can ever get
my ideas on that story organized.) Remus's safety when he goes through
the Door may depend a great deal on what time of the month it is. When
he's under the influence of the full moon, he would definitely be
considered a potential threat to the Castle and those inside.
Even after their kiss, Filch and McGonagall still prefer to move slowly.
Yes, Azoth did rescue them from a moment of potential awkwardness.
Black and Snape are starting to develop a truce, but it's a fragile one
and no one around them wants to call attention to it, lest it be
shattered under the glare of too much attention.
Jelsemium: Thank you!! I had a lot in common with Moaning Myrtle as a
child, myself. I felt unlovely and unloved by everyone. Most people do
get a chance to grow beyond the unhappiest times of their lives, but
poor little Myrtle never did.
Yes, Filch is proving that it's never too late to grow up. And he's
learning to appreciate the person he is, rather than continuing to drown
himself in bitterness over the things that he'll never be able to do.
Poor Snape needs to learn to like himself a little more. It's much
harder for him than it is for Filch. Filch can learn to be more than
just a grumpy old Squib, but Snape has to learn not to see himself as an
irredeemable monster.
Yes, I picture Minerva as having been a lot like Hermione as a girl!
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! Filch is going to get a piece of the puzzle
regarding how he and Azoth helped Snape.
aniwda: Thank you!!
