Thank you guys so much for waiting so long; I finished this chapter about a week ago but my extended family's home has the worst wifi in history, I think. So as soon as I got home, which was about ten minutes ago, I posted this chapter.
I want to thank my wonderful reviewers; when I wrote that message, I never expected such a big reaction! I have to comment on one review; when I was writing that note, the thought that Sophie and Severus had the same initials did cross my mind; I hope that clears that up for some of you. And Remus is in love with Sirius… well, I guess that wasn't too much of a mind-boggler.
I'm also getting into uncharted territory with these Roman numerals, so if I get them wrong, please tell me!
Thanks again, and please enjoy!
Sweet Disorder
Chapter IX
"He's getting closer."
Minerva sighed deeply, passing the paper around the table. Dumbledore had called a staff meeting to discuss Sirius Black's progress... and some other important orders of business.
"Now that we've laid down alternative measures of security in the case that Sirius Black does break into the castle," the Headmaster began, "we need to talk about Christmas decorations, and of course, the mistletoe. Any leads on that?"
Remus and Rolanda Hooch exchanged mischievous glances. Four days ago, ever since most of the students had left for break, random mistletoe sprigs had begun appearing all about the castle. Luckily, no one had seemed to realize that most of it popped in over Minerva and Albus. On the other hand, it didn't help the perpetrators' efforts because both the wizard and witch were too powerful - they simply blasted the mistletoe to smithereens.
"None, Headmaster," Severus drawled, pushing back his chair and retreating to the door gracefully. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must leave. Miss Stromwell-"
"-Sophie," Remus interrupted, rolling his eyes. "We all know you call her by her given name in her presence, Snape."
Rolanda snorted. "Probably doesn't want to risk her wrath," she quipped.
"Rolanda," Minerva warned quickly.
But it was too late. Snape was already gone, and judging by the audible stomping and random points off Gryffindor, he was incensed.
There was an extremely awkward silence in the staff room, before Albus waved his hand to shut the door and Minerva added back a hundred points to Gryffindor.
"Speaking of, where is our dear little muggle?" Rolanda asked.
"I believe she's spending some quality time with Diana," Albus replied. Oddly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Poppy jump a little. Exchanging glances with Minerva, he made the decision to ask the mediwitch about her reaction later. "This meeting then, as they say, is a wrap. Minerva, Poppy, will you see me in my office in fifteen minutes?"
Both the witches nodded, and the room almost instantly emptied. Rolanda and Remus, however hung back, the latter taking a small piece of parchment out of his robe pocket. With Rolanda watching eagerly over his shoulder, he wrote one word: 'now'.
In another part of the castle, Sophie put Diana down and wrote a word on her own parchment: 'okay'. She smiled at the girl. "You ready, Ana? Prepare for Minerva McGonagall's famous raging temper."
"I calm her down," Diana said proudly. Sophie smiled, picking her up and swinging her around.
"Yes, well, we might need your cute face after this one," Sophie told her laughingly.
Still holding Diana, she patted the wall. "You know what to do," she whispered.
"Yay Hogwarts!" the five year old shouted, and the two girls jumped about the room excitedly before bravely heading downstairs.
Most of the staff ran off as soon as the meeting had stopped, either teaching classes or grading papers. It was about an hour before dinner, and everyone was finishing up their day before heading to the Great Hall.
Minerva was trailing behind the Headmaster, figuring that in since she had nothing to do before their meeting, she might as well go ahead to his office.
Remus and Rolanda were walking slowly a bit behind the two 'lovebirds' when Sophie ran up with Diana in her arms. She almost went past them, but Remus held her back with one arm around her waist. "Act natural," he whispered. The young woman nodded, and Rolanda began talking incessantly about her favorite Quidditch team while keeping a close eye on the couple in front of them.
They were on the last staircase when it happened. The castle made the last step disappear, making Minerva trip and fall... directly onto Albus. They simply laid there for a few moments, the witch flat on top of the wizard, staring at each other. The four at the top of the stairs were watching with bated breath. That is, until Diana sneezed.
"Dammit," Rolanda said under her breath, "we're dead."
At the noise, both the Headmaster's and his Deputy's heads popped up and looked straight at the group above them.
Sophie laughed nervously. "Uhhh... Bad castle?" she squeaked, softly punching the wall next to her. Minerva's eyes narrowed into slits.
"I am going to assume none of you had anything to do with that," she whispered dangerously.
The Flying Mistress looked like she was about to reply, but Remus nudged her hard in the ribs to shut her up. After glaring hard at them for a few more moments, Minerva turned on her heel and made for Albus' office at the end of the hall. She practically shouted the password, disappearing behind the gargoyle statue.
By then, the Headmaster had stood, shooting them a penetrating stare. "I believe I must go change the password to my office," he commented evenly. "Sophie, Severus is waiting for you?"
Sophie nodded. "Of course, Albus." She turned to leave. "Come on, Ana," she whispered to the toddler.
Diana fixed Albus with a curious gaze. "Is Mr. Albus angry?" She questioned of Sophie as they traveled down to the dungeon.
"I don't think Mr. Albus could ever be truly angry," Sophie replied amusedly. Diana giggled softly.
Little did she know how much the coming months would prove that wrong.
HPHPHP
"I don't understand, Albus! Why are these things happening to me? First the mistletoe, then the stair…" She trailed off.
"Someone just decided to play an abundance of pranks this holiday, Minerva," Albus answered absentmindedly from his ornate chair as his Deputy paced restlessly in front of his desk. "Try not to take it too personally, my dear."
Minerva calmed instantly at his words; for some reason, she could never stay terribly furious when she was around him. "I will try," she sighed. "On the other hand, what do you think Poppy has on her mind? She was particularly jumpy at today's staff meeting."
"I don't know," Albus admitted. "Hopefully, she will enlighten us."
Minerva suddenly became confused. "Why did you need me here, Albus? Could you not find out what is bothering Poppy on your own?"
Albus reached out an arm and wrapped his long fingers around her wrist, effectively halting her pacing and shooting a tingling sensation up both their arms. She turned her head, and he smiled softly at her. "I find that your presence soothes me," he told her lowly. "And sharing burdens is far too addictive."
She blinked in surprise. "I'll always stand with you, Albus. Never be afraid to share anything with me."
"I will not anymore," he replied. Trying to insert some levity into the situation, he grinned. "And trust me, the secrets only grow deeper and darker and dirtier."
Minerva snorted. "Alliteration. How clever."
Interrupting their little 'moment', someone knocked on the door. Dumbledore called for them to enter, and Poppy shuffled in slowly. "You… needed to speak with me, Headmaster?"
"Why so nervous, Poppy? Guilty conscience?" Albus teased.
Minerva, thinking Albus was being a bit harsh, spoke up. The mediwitch looked genuinely anxious. "Albus is just teasing, Poppy," she soothed. "We only noticed you seemed a bit… jumpy at today's meeting."
"Oh… that," Poppy began, "well, I've been thinking a lot lately, and it's just that…"
"Yes?" Albus encouraged. Minerva hit him on the arm.
"It's just that I realized that Sophie can't really be Diana's formal guardian, and I was wondering if maybe I could… become that guardian?" At the two's looks of shock, she began to ramble. "She can still have the same living situation, and Sophie can take care of her, but the girl is only in her early twenties and I'm sure she won't want to have to take care of a child at such a young age… What do you think?"
Albus' look of shock transformed into a full-fledged grin. "Why, that is a wonderful idea, Poppy! I'm sure Sophie will agree."
"I must concur with Albus," Minerva cut in. "It was completely not what I was expecting, but it is an absolutely magnificent thought." She paused. "Only, are you sure? This child is a muggle, and you are a witch. It could be awfully difficult at times."
It was obvious that if Poppy didn't have to behave like a mature adult, she would be jumping around excitedly. "Of course, Min! I'm up to the challenge. If you will excuse me now, I will go look up the adoption laws." Poppy practically pranced out of the office, and Minerva wasn't even able to berate the mediwitch for calling her 'Min'.
"It seems as though things are falling into place, my dear," Albus observed from behind her. "Hogwarts is now left with only three minor problems: Sirius Black, Voldemort and Harry, and whether or not you will join me for dinner tomorrow evening… Of course, the first two pale in comparison to the latter."
Minerva smiled and blushed, though he couldn't see it. It didn't really matter, however; he always seemed to know how she felt anyway. "Your list can be shortened to two things, Albus," she replied, "I would be delighted to join you for dinner tomorrow." They spent a few more minutes discussing Black and a few problematic students, then Minerva excused herself to mark essays.
Albus reluctantly returned to his tedious stack of paperwork, attempting to ignore the abnormally light sensation in his stomach.
HPHPHP
"Severus! Where do you keep your werewolf blood?"
The Potions Master rolled his eyes. "My storerooms are in alphabetical order, Sophie," he called back irritably. "Surely it cannot be that excruciating to work out."
Just then, the raven-haired girl in question came running out, holding out the small purple flask. "Excuse me for not being graced with your perfect sight," she shot back.
"Don't rejoice too much, but this is the last ingredient of the day," Severus mentioned. Sophie took the werewolf blood back to the storeroom when he was done with it, skipping as she went at the 'happy' news. As he had done constantly during the past two hours, he glanced quickly at Diana, who was playing with some magical goo that Albus had given her. He shrugged; at least she wasn't interfering with his potion making.
Sophie was gathering her things together when Snape called her back. Quickly picking up Diana, she followed him as he led her into his office, pulling out what looked like a circular dish of water. Alleviating her curiosity, he explained:
"This is a Pensieve. It allows witches and wizards to review their memories over and over again, or to store specific memories if you wish it. They are very precious to people like the Headmaster and myself."
Sophie nodded. "That would make sense, but why are you showing me this?"
"I never thanked you for the painting," he told her, his eyes focusing on a spot behind her where, low and behold, hung her artwork. "I have seen your efforts with the Headmaster and McGonagall, and will show you this memory of earlier this year in hopes that you can use it."
Diana and Sophie watched in awe as the wizard pulled the long, glowing, blue strand from his temple and flicked it into the bowl. He beckoned them forward, and Sophie followed his example of sticking her head in the water. She carefully brought her young charge into the same position so that she could watch the memory also.
It was a game of Quidditch, which was obvious to Sophie, and someone had just flew past in red and gold so Gryffindor was certainly one of the teams. While the three of them weren't really there, they were watching from the Faculty Box and Sophie noticed Albus and Minerva in front of her. It was pouring rain, and extremely cloudy, and the young muggle could've sworn she had seen black bobs floating in the near distance. She turned to Severus, who pulled her and Diana into the middle of the field. Both girls were amazed that they could float.
"Better view," he whispered. She nodded, waiting for something to happen.
As soon as she had thought that, it did. A red and gold ball came shooting down out of the clouds, and Sophie heard a voice scream out "HARRY!" and before she could comprehend it, both the Headmaster and his Deputy were on their feet, Minerva's hand wrapped tightly around Albus' upper arm. Absolutely in sync, their wands were out.
"Arresto Momentum!"
"Expecto Patronum!"
Dumbledore's spell had nearly stopped Harry midair, and he was slowly levitated into Hagrid's waiting arms. Everyone's eyes, however, were on Minerva's patronus.
At least, that's what Sophie thought it was. It looked nothing like Remus' docile patronus; it was gigantic and all-encompassing. The entire stadium was lit up an eerie blue, and thousands of what Sophie had now identified as Dementors were completely blown away. Minerva herself looked like the most powerful witch of the age; her hat had been knocked off with the force of her spell and her hair was hanging in a loose bun. From Sophie's perspective, she could see her elder witch's emerald eyes glittering brightly and wave upon wave of Dementors was practically washed away until there was none left. The entire stadium was hushed until they realized Harry Potter was passed out on the field below.
Suddenly, Sophie felt a tugging sensation in her navel and she felt like was being yanked out of a pool. She stumbled a little and Severus righted her; he looked perfectly at ease, telling her that he had done this many times before. Shifting Diana in her arms, she reached up and threw her arms around the Potions Master's neck, giving him a quick hug. "Thank you," she murmured. Severus didn't say a word, completely speechless. Sophie had been gone for at least five minutes before Snape pulled himself out of his stupor, shaking his head and sitting down to begin grading fourth year homework. 'It's been a long time since I've been hugged,' he thought, before focusing on the abysmal essay about the twelve uses of dragon's blood.
HPHPHP
So there; I figured we (and Sophie) needed to see a bit of the full extent of Minerva's power before we continued. It's a bit of deviation from the original POA plot, but I think I'm going to have a lot of those before I finish this story.
Poppy is sweet, don't you think? Hopefully she can manage to get custody of Diana, who is going to begin playing an interesting part in this story next chapter by talking to strangers…
Please comment!
~lala~
