Disclaimer. Not my characters. Don't own them. Thanxs for reading. I'm amazed anyone is. :)
Fred and George serve their detention, and realize that they've been outsmarted by the Unholy Trinity.
Fred and George, George and Fred Weasley, Red Headed Masters of Mayhem and possessing only one brain twixt the two of them, arrived for detention on the very moment they were due. Severus gave them his best intimidating glare and growled, "Where's your deadly box of Mayhem?"
"We Reducio it," Fred explained.
"So Umbridge wouldn't notice," inserted George.
"Professor Umbridge," Severus reminded them. "Now put it on that table and return it to full size. You will them take your seats where you will write for me until I tell you to stop."
The twins quickly did so, and he handed them both books. "Start writing out potion number seventy three. You will repeatedly write that potion until it sinks into your little empty heads. It may take all evening."
He then turned on his heel and walked away from the boys. He didn't even crack the smallest part of a smile when he heard the twins whisper about WHAT potion they were destined to write for the next thirty minutes. It was an anti-emetic potion and the one that they had thoroughly botched.
"SILENCE!" Severus roared. "Did I give you permission to talk?"
Severus sat at his desk for a few minutes, intently watching the Weasley twins chicken scratch their way through learning the potion when he realized anew that he was hosting the House Heads and Poppy in the dungeon for a meeting. Perhaps he should be a civilized host and offer them something. He snapped his fingers and a bloody House Elf appeared.
"Master Snape is needing something?"
The House Elf was fortunately one he had dealt with before, so he was blessedly quiet and less hysteria prone that most of the House Elves. But what the bloody hell was the House Elf wearing? Was it a tea cozy? And socks? SOCKS?
"Tea Service for five. Something sweet to nibble on and… a vat of Hot Chocolate, please."
"Dobby is delighted to serve!"
With a crack he was gone. Severus shook his head at the idiosyncrasies of House Elves, and returned to his personal storeroom. There were a few potions that would be necessary for when the Weasley Twins began their little exhibit.
By the time Dobby was back with a few other house elves, loaded down with enough food to feed a dozen or so people, the other instructors had begun to meander in. The twins became paler and paler when they kept noticing the new arrivals. Filius' arrival had them shaking their heads but Minerva McGonagall's regal entrance had them in a state of panic.
"Stop writing," Severus ordered. He flicked his wand and the dungeon door closed with a loud bang. The twins jumped in an all too satisfying way. "It appears that Mr. and Mr. Weasley have been up to no good. Shocking, I know."
He paused, enjoying twisting the knife ever so slightly.
"Mr. and Mr. Weasely, you will now demonstrate your Wizardly Wheezes for us. I will remind you that you are responsible for cleaning up the mess."
And so the demonstration began.
The Weasely's exhibition went far better than he had anticipated. Filius Flitwick was biting his lip so not to laugh, Poppy looked horrified, Pomona was amazed and Minerva… Minerva was shaking her head in disbelief that her bloody house had produced these two tricksters.
He on the other hand, was quite busy, pouring assorted potions such as the Anti-emetic, the Blood Clotting and Replenishing Potion, the anti-fever potion and many others down their throats while attempting to keep from getting splashed by various body fluids.
But when the twins turned themselves into two human sized, scarlet feathered Canaries after eating a Canary Cream, he had to admit that he had met his match. He was utterly defeated by two Scarlet Canaries.
"Filius? I don't have anything that will change them back. Should we leave them like that? Some may say that it's an improvement."
The two twin birds twittered their annoyance at his rather cavalier attitude and Filius began to laugh. Quietly at first, but soon the diminutive Charms Instructor was roaring so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Naturally, Minerva whipped out her wand and transfigured them back to normal.
"I think we've put them through their paces tonight," she primly stated.
"But Minerva, they've got FIREWORKS!" Pomona exclaimed, and Severus marked her as a secret pyromaniac. "I love fireworks. Severus, can't we see the fireworks? Please?"
"Pomona, I do not believe that Severus will allow us to set off FIREWORKS in his classroom," Minerva retorted.
She was bloody correct. Fireworks would NOT be set off in his dungeon!
"We can use the Great Hall," inserted Filius. "We can't shoot them off in the Quidditch pitch, but we can Reducio them and set them off in the Great hall some night. We'll have to keep it quiet."
"Yes, fireworks in the Great Hall must be done quietly," Severus drawled. "We'd hate for the entire school to know that we're setting off fireworks in the Great Hall."
"Silencing spell, Severus. A shield charm, possibly three levels to protect the hall, a dampening spell, fire retardant spell… don't worry, I'll handle it. So, I take it that we five are in agreement on the Weasley's Wizardly Wheezes?" The Senior House Head questioned.
All four teachers and the Medi-witch nodded their heads.
"Oh no, George. We're getting expelled," Fred whispered to his brother.
"Mom will not be happy," George stated the obvious.
"Your products are dangerous, lads. As instructors, we can not let you sell these products to your fellow students as is. Therefore, it behooves us to make them as safe as possible. We'll make suggestions on how to improve your products. In return… we will get a percentage of your profits. Also, you will swear a wizarding oath that you will not allow these products to be use in OUR classes. By all means, feel free to use them in Dolores Umbridge's classes," Filius announced before nastily smiling at the twins.
"WICKED!" yelled the twins.
"Not so fast. I'll write up the contract…You will also be bound to secrecy, as our involvement can not be made known to ANYONE," Filius continued. "And the price for the assistance of each instructor and Poppy will be ten percent net profit... APIECE, PER ITEM SOLD."
The twins' smiles faded quickly, as they heard the sound of Galleons, Galleons and more bloody Galleons sliding into the instructors' purses.
"After you sign it, you will receive information on how to fix your products' side affects. Professor Snape, as a sign of our good faith, has given you information on how to solve the ceaseless projectile vomiting issue. When shall we meet again?"
"Thursday?" Severus suggested.
"That's the Gryffindor night to practice Quidditch," Minerva protested.
"Really, Minerva. What are your priorities? Quidditch? Or saving the lives of a few dozen students?"
Minerva growled at him, and he couldn't help but smile. FIVE POINTS to Severus Snape, and minus TEN from Minerva for actually baring her teeth at him.
"Thursday's bad for me," Filius inserted. "And I can't trust the children without adult supervision."
The look he gave Severus and Minerva plainly meant that he was talking about them, not the Weasley twins.
"So next Monday. I'll need the time to examine the products. But a portable swamp, that's amazing! Can you imagine if they set it off in her office?"
"I need to talk to you two," Minerva advised Filius and Severus after everyone had left. "I didn't want to mention this in front of Poppy and Pomona. It's Dolores Umbridge… she's using a blood quill."
Filius' mustache twitched in anger. "A blood quill… that's barbaric!"
"She's using it on the students," Minerva repeated. "I need your help. Severus, Filius, what can be done?"
Severus sat down at his desk and began to think.
"I'd have to create a charm, Min. Might take a few days," Filius admitted. "Plus, it's NEWT Level Charms, Severus?"
"Tincture of Murtlap," he suggested.
"How long will it take to make?" Filius questioned. "How complicated?"
"Three weeks. It's a Masters Level potion, Filius."
"Too long, and I need something that a student can make," Minerva explained.
"I can make the potion simpler and quicker to make, but it won't remove the scars," Severus protested. "Who do you plan on making the potion? If I know their skill level…"
"Hermoine Granger…" Minerva admitted.
"She'll be looking in the potions books in the library," Filius inserted. "I know her. She's probably there right now. But the scars, Minerva? Blood quills leave scars."
"Merlin's bloody beard, they'll have to deal with the scars, I'm afraid. Even a witch as thick as Dolores Umbridge will notice that there are no scars on Harry's hand. It's the pain and infection I'm mainly worried about."
"Potter?" Severus sighed.
"Potter. He refuses to lie about He Who Must Not be Named, so Dolores is having him write "I will not tell Lies" with a blood quill."
"Filius, I need you to pull the following books from the library. Get them here, and I'll work on dumbing down the Tincture of Murtlap into something Granger can make. Since she was making Polyjuice Potion during her spare time, I think I can make this work," Severus paused, and then mentioned several books. "Minerva, you'll need to transfigure one of my quills into a Blood quill. We'll have to test the potion, possibly several times, so make it very sharp."
"Give me the quill," Severus ordered. He placed a bowl of liquid near his left hand.
"I'll do it," Minerva insisted.
"No, I will. I'll be able to figure out how to modify the potion based on what I'm feeling. It's better if I do it."
Filius took the quill from Minerva's hand and handed it to Severus. "I don't approve, but I understand the necessity, Minerva. Go ahead, Severus."
"Did you sharpen it?" Severus asked.
"Yes. Each sentence will be equal to roughly five hours of writing with the pen."
Severus grimaced in disgust, and he began to write. Minerva watched as the skin of his left hand turned red and began to ooze blood.
Severus Tobias Snape.
The blood began to run freely from his hand.
Severus Tobias Snape.
He inhaled once before he began to write again.
Severus Tobias Snape.
He bit his lip, not wanting to voice the agony he was feeling.
Severus Tobias Snape.
The blood was pouring from his hand and Filius grabbed the pen.
"That's more than enough, lad." Minerva chastised as she put his hand into the bowl. "Well?"
It wasn't bad, as it eased the pain, but it could be better, Severus decided. After all, he had a reputation to maintain.
"Needs to boil for longer. The compounds haven't completely blended so it needs a few more anticlockwise stirs during the simmering stage. Filius, I need you to place this recipe into the books."
Filius snapped his wand, and the three books opened to roughly the middle of their contents. A blank sheet of paper was waiting anxiously to be filled.
"Needs to go into the index, don't forget," Severus reminded Filius.
"Thank you, laddie. I would never have remembered," snarked Filius.
"I think I'm rubbing off on you," Severus grinned.
"Huzzah for me," retorted Filius. "Merlin knows that you've failed to pick up any of my good habits through our long association."
The two men laughed, and Minerva rolled her eyes. "The potion, Severus?"
"Very well. Essence of Murtlap. A solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, yellow in color. Soothes and heals cuts and other wounds. A murtlap is a seashore-dwelling rodent native to Britain. A ratlike creature has on its back a growth resembling a sea anemone, which when pickled can be used to promote resistance to curses. Potion Level Ability: OWL Level. Estimated time to completion. Two Hours."
"New paragraph. Ingredients for Essence of Murtlap."
Severus closed his eyes and began rattling off what ingredients Hermoine Granger would need. He knew exactly how she worked in Potions, her strengths and her weaknesses, her inability to go beyond what was written, so he tailored the instructions to her ability. When he was done, he nodded his head, and Filius then returned the books to the library with a quick snap of his wand. Then Flitwick took his wand and made a circular gesture over the counter top. He peered into it, and began a running commentary.
"That's it, Granger. You're wondering why you didn't see that book before. Take it… take it back to the table. Quickly now, Granger… it's almost time to go back to the dorms."
The three of them sat in silence for a bit, and then Filius smiled.
"She has the book, and she's opening the page. She's looking at the index… That's it, Granger…keeping looking. It's under M…. She's found it. She's flipping through the pages. She's reading it. Yes... yes... it's exactly what you need, Granger. Quick, copy it, Granger."
Filius snapped his fingers with a sharp crack.
"And it's done! Ten points Gryffindor!"
Severus felt someone touching his left hand, and he saw Minerva was examining it. She had a look of disgust as she peered at the Severus Tobias Snape scar.
"Filius, you're better at charms then I am, can you remove the scar?"
Filius tapped it once with his wand, and a gentle warmth ran from his hand to his shoulder.
"Much better," whispered Minerva. "This is truly killing me, that we're reduced to working through the students. The Weasley Twins? Hermoine Granger?"
"Aye, Min. I quite agree with you, but if it's a choice between students or not doing a damn thing, what choice is it?" Filius questioned.
And Minerva wouldn't answer.
Flitwick flitted away to his quarters after giving her a rather intense glare that Severus never saw.
"Be gentle with the boy, or you'll deal with me, m'dear."
Naturally, she glared back. It was though Filius believed that she'd be deliberately cruel to the boy. Well… crueler than she had been.
Severus was trying mightily to ignore her, as he was industrially waving his wand, intent on putting his classroom back to rights after the Weasley's not-always very successful attempts at demonstrating their Wizardly Wheezes. There were even several scarlet feathers that were deliberately avoiding being captured as though they were sentient. She patiently watched him work in silence for some time, wondering if she should offer assistance and finally the witch cleared her throat.
"Hem hem."
The Potions Master ceased his compulsive straightening and arched one eyebrow at her.
"Dolores? Fancy seeing you here in the dungeon. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"We need to talk, lad. You've been avoiding me since Saturday afternoon. An apology is in order."
"You're quite correct. I sincerely apologize for my rather presumptuous actions. I also should not have hexed you. There. We've talked, and we both agree that I'm completely to blame. Now go. I have an early class tomorrow and I must finish my marking."
His voice was perfectly calm, which meant he was still quite upset about the situation, wished her to leave or die, it didn't matter as long as she just completely disappeared from his life, so he could lick his wounds in private.
"Merlin's bloody garters, Snape. I want to talk to you about Saturday… You said something and I think we need to discuss how that affects our work relationship… Now…"
The boy interrupted her quickly with a soft," You need not worry about that. I kept my thoughts pure. I didn't dishonor you."
Now it was Minerva's turn to arch her eyebrow in confusion.
"Beg your pardon?"
Severus Snape, the Professor voted as the Scariest Menace on Campus, looked visibly uncomfortable.
"I know you must be concerned about…" He paused, swallowed once. His posture was ramrod straight, head held high but she could see the minute cracks in his façade as Severus was struggling to retain his emotional control. "But I kept my thoughts pure. I never thought of you in that way."
"What way?" Minerva questioned. She wasn't trying to inflict more pain on him; Minerva just couldn't grasp what he meant.
She nearly blushed when Severus Snape looked her in her eyes and then proceeded to demonstrate an outstandingly obscene gesture with his rather graceful hands.
"Never thought of you… like that… with me… Never…I so swear."
For first time in decades, Minerva McGonagall found herself at a complete lost for words. It was rather… charming… that Severus was so terribly worried that she'd be alarmed at being the insubstantial day dream victim of his lustful fascinations… but on the other hand… considering the boy had been carrying a torch for her over the last few decades, the witch hoped that she would had engendered a naughty thought or three.
It was rather ego-crushing to know that the boy had firmly kept her on a bloody pedestal wearing her flannels for the last twenty odd years. No doubt he had steadfastly kept her spectacles and her witch's hat on also.
"I would never desecrate you with my touch."
Oh lad, you've got it so bad. I should take you to my bed so I could shag you all night long, and then you'd get this unholy infatuation with my old carcass out of your system.
"Severus… I need to apologize to you. I never suspected you felt anything towards me. I'm old enough to be your mother," Minerva commented with a dry laugh.
"I don't see you like that," Severus retorted. "When I look at you, I still see the beautiful woman that licked fudge off her fingers in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. You haven't aged at all, Mineva, while my soul has significantly aged. If anything, I believe that I am far older than Filius."
Oh Merlin, what could she say to THAT?
"As you are aware, Filius had asked me to befriend you."
"You correctly stated that I would not accept. After Saturday, I do not desire your friendship. Minerva McGonagall. One time, I would have been… honored… by your offer, but now, it would be nothing more than a constant reminder of a rather painful humiliation that I would prefer not to relive over and over again."
"What happens to you if Albus is gone? Who will you turn to if Filius is not here?"
Severus didn't even pause for a second when he shrugged his shoulders and admitted, "I'll have no one, Minerva. But I will persevere with my given tasks until I am no longer able."
He calls himself the Man that Dies, Min. There's two sides to the Harry Potter coin, Min, the Boy that Lives, and the Man that Dies. How can one man be so without hope and still stay sane?
"You could Obliviate the memory. I'll let you do it."
"I am not that preening peacock Lockehart, Minerva." Severus dryly retorted.
"No, Lockehart dressed much, much better as he wasn't emotionally attached to monochromes. Now give me a vial, Severus, and I'll give you the memory myself. Then you take your own memory or not, and I will again offer to be your friend."
He spat his answer with his usual venom. "I don't desire your friendship, Minerva. As this episode successfully proved, my fears about your reaction were well deserved."
"Albus has decided in his infinite wisdom to have the two of us work on Filius' party, and we need to move on from what happened…"
Minerva walked over to him, and stood in front of him. She pointed her wand at her temple and stared at him. "Get a vial, and I will give you my recollections. Or don't give me a vial, and I'll still give you my memories."
"Bloody Gryffindors. Always being so damn noble."
"I'm offering to do it, not out a sense of nobility, but because inadvertently I humiliated you. You won't accept my apology, so maybe this will convince you of my sincerity."
He turned his back on her and she remained positioned where she was. Severus continued to tidy his classroom for several minutes until he returned back to where she was standing, her foot resting on the very last scarlet feather. Minerva bestowed a challenging look upon him, and he sighed.
"Very well, I'll get a vial."
"Thank you, Severus," Minerva graciously stated. "I'm glad you agreed."
"Not like I had a chance. Your Bloody Gryffindor pride would probably ensure that you'd be standing in that very location until I consented. Everyone would demand to know the reason why Minerva McGonagall had decided to retake Potions."
She laughed, and Severus Snape gave her a slight smile.
"Well… at least I got a kiss or three," he admitted with a rusty laugh. "Far more than I had ever dared to hope."
Two kisses on his cheeks and that shy one where their lips had touched.
"Those weren't real kisses, lad. If we're both removing our memories…at least have a real kiss to loose. May I?"
She leaned toward him, not sure if he'd actually stand still for this. To prevent the boy from fleeing the scene, Minerva gently cupped his face with her hands. To her surprise, their lips did touch. It was remarkable that such a sarcastic, acidic git had such soft lips, she thought. Severus smelled of his potions compounds, a surprisingly agreeable mix of assorted musks and oils.
Slow, gentle and yes, extremely hesitant closed mouth kissing led to more intimate kissing that swiftly turned heated. To her surprise, she found herself holding onto to Severus as the boy… no… the man… had pulled her body closer against his, almost crushing her against his chest. There was no doubt in her mind that Severus Snape wanted to devour her.
To find someone who felt such passion for her at her age truly astonished Minerva.
Remus had been her latest lover, a dear friend who made her laugh. Their intimacy had been trouble-free and delightful. And so when they had both known their liaison was over, they had both accepted it with an easy grace. She and Remus had been deeply grateful that their friendship had endured and had in fact become even stronger from their intimacy.
To couple with Severus would be dangerous. And dare she admit this? Even to herself?
It would be Invigorating.
They were still kissing, and sweet sanity only returned when she bumped into Severus' desk. Brigit! How did they get all the way to Severus' desk without her noticing? The shock of realizing that the current issue between her and Severus had not been resolved, but in fact, had fired up a few notches made her push him away.
"We need to stop," she whispered, even as the boy was covering her face with kisses.
When they finally broke apart, Severus was still supporting her.
"Merlin's bloody beard, Minerva. I am truly astounded you haven't killed anyone with one of your kisses."
His voice sounded like a heady mixture of dark chocolate and sex, and it took a moment for her to compose herself enough to respond.
"Fortunately, my lovers have always been strong of body as well as sturdy of heart, Severus." Her voice sounded winded and her heart was racing, and she had to blame the boy….. no, he was most assuredly not a boy, Severus… for that.
"Else Hogwart's very own Pallas Athena would have a thousand mauled and damaged lovers cast behind her wake."
Severus's voice was silky smooth, with a trace of dry amusement. But… A thousand lovers? Did the boy think she was a trollop, slipping out of her robes for just anyone?
Instinctively, she retorted, "I'm not a whore, Severus."
The slight half smile faded from his face and she stumbled as he stopped holding her. His black eyes were dead, as he instinctively began straightening his coat.
Oh damn it to the seventh circle of hell; Severus had attempted to make a joke. He had tried to jest about her Goddess like stature affecting those around her, and she straight away had made a comment about prostitutes.
"No… you are not a whore. I am intimately familiar with the various peccadilloes of whores, Minerva. I am far more comfortable dealing with them then I am with a witch of your virtue and reputation. For with the whores of Knockturn Alley, I always know what they want."
Snape's voice was ice.
His coat impeccable, he had crossed his arms. It was a defensive gesture, and Minerva noticed that his fists were clenched.
"What do you want from me, Minerva McGonagall? The whores want money…and sometimes they crave a hint of consideration from their punters."
Minerva sighed, and stretched her aching neck.
"That comment of mine was uncalled for and completely inexcusable. I do sincerely apologize for it. Please accept my apology, Severus."
"Godric Gryffindor must be spinning in his grave. Two apologies today from the Head of Gryffindor House to the Head of Slytherin?"
Severus' tone was dry and acidic, and Minerva felt as though he had slapped her. She bit her tongue, recognizing that Severus was paying her tit for tat.
"You never can make anything easy, can you, Severus?"
"Such is life, Minerva. I asked you what you want from me, and you still have not answered."
Filius. I'm only attempting this for you.
"Filius." Minerva decided to be truthful, or quasi truthful to Snape, ignoring the squicky sensation that she was manipulating him. "I'm reaching out to you for Filius' sake. He is almost one hundred and eighty one years old, Severus. He's extremely worried about what will happen to you if he's no longer available for you."
"Master Flitwick concerns himself needlessly," retorted the Potions Master. "I fully expect him to outlive me."
"Lately, his mind is full of dark remembrances of the incident in Mumbai." Minerva cautiously offered that scrap.
"Mumbai? He speaks of the Kali Massacre to you?" The boy's voice was startled.
Severus' hands had unclenched and he seemed somewhat calmer then he had been.
"There are three people in Hogwarts that he trusts enough to speak of Mumbai to them. Albus. You. Me. You know he condemns himself for not saving more of the students, Severus."
"There are few wizards that could have saved as many students as Filius did," Severus stated. "Are the old nightmares breaking through his Dream Catcher Wards? I will start working on a potion tonight. Damn the man for not telling me. How long has he been suffering?"
"He takes his responsibilities toward the students very seriously. No matter how old they are, Severus, Filius desires to protect them all. Therefore, it is not surprisingly to me that when Filius Flitwick's night terrors returned to haunt him, one of the students that he was trying to guard was you. Filius won't tell me what happened to you in his dream, but haven't you noticed? He's been extremely protective of you recently."
Severus was perfectly still, except for his hands that were clenched together. One thumb was rubbing the other hand, compulsively.
"I know you're not pleased with this. I haven't made it very easy for you, but damn it, Severus, Filius is getting old. He can't manage the burden alone any longer. Let me help you. Let me ease Filius' responsibilities."
The dark haired Slytherin said nothing, and after a few minutes of profound silence, Minerva McGonagall was willing to strategically retreat but Severus nodded his head.
"You are willing to share all of Filius' responsibilities toward me?" He softly questioned her. "Do you truly know what they are?"
"Yes," Minerva blithely assured him.
"I will ask you the same questions I asked Filius Flitwick. As my executioner… will you kill me quickly? Painlessly? If you are the one to execute me, will you promise me that I will not die alone? You'll be there… won't you? Don't leave me to die alone, unmourned, like a stray dog in the street, Minerva McGonagall."
Oh sweet Brigit. What the hell else had Filius Flitwick forgotten to mention to her?
Minerva McGongall cupped Severus Snape's face in her hands. Then, as she looked him in the eyes, she swore a Wizard's Oath that she would give him a quick and painless death, and that she would not let him die alone.
Then Severus pinched the bridge of his hooked nose. He seemed to be in the midst of an internal conversation and then he rubbed his head.
"It appears then that I have to agree to this. You offered to remove your memories of Saturday morning… and my other lapses. I will find a suitable vial so you could put them in it."
"You will remove your memories first," he explained. "And you will put them in the vial. I will then ask you to remind me to destroy the vial after I remove my memories."
The silvery strands of her memories were soon in the vial, and before long, Snape's memories had joined them. He stared, transfixed, at the quicksilver liquid in the bottle
"I wonder what's in there," Snape softly questioned. "For both of us to be doing this."
"Destroy the vial," Minerva insisted. "You told me the container needed to be destroyed."
"Don't you wonder?" He queried. "What's in the vial?"
"No. I don't have any idea what might be in that vial." Minerva lied, for she had not removed the memories from her mind. No, instead Minerva had kept them, replacing them with a few daydreams.
It was a lie, pure and simple, and her conscience was already nagging her. But she had developed a greater understanding of who Severus Snape truly was since Saturday, and she was loathe to lose it.
Snape put the vial on the floor, and then he stamped hard on the vial with the heel of his shoe. For Minerva, the breaking of the glass sounded like the shattering of the young man's heart. She waved her wand over the broken glass and destroyed memories and sent them to oblivion.
Merlin knows you deserve someone far kinder than me, lad.
The moment was awkward so Minerva decided that something needed to be said.
"Have you managed to locate the India School of Magic?"
"One would hope that the India School of Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry is located somewhere in India," Severus snapped. "Else the name would be badly chosen and wildly inappropriate. Does Albus have any idea on how to contact them?"
She was watching his blackboard, so she didn't respond. Minerva quietly observed as India School of Magic, Witchcraft and Wizardry appeared in a very ornate script on the board. Not content with that, a rather elaborate sigil of a flying eagle was drawn in by an unseen hand.
"Minerva?" He prompted. "I'm waiting for a response. Usually one expects an answer to a question."
"Severus? Is your black board enchanted by chance?" Minerva questioned. "Do you write on it? Or does it just appear?"
"It appears when I wish it to do so," Severus shortly explained.
"That isn't your handwriting is it?" The witch asked. "I don't believe it is. It's quite legible for one."
The unseen hand continued to write.
Praņām.
Kritika Veerasundari Mukhopadhyay courteously salutes Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Professors Severus Tobias Snape and Minerva Marsaili McGonagall. She respectfully requests that the Honorable Professors enlighten her on the reason why they desire to converse.
"Can you hear us? Or do we need to write back?" Minerva questioned.
Regardless of method, your response will be known. You may choose which ever method you prefer.
Severus and Minerva exchanged glances, and Severus motioned for Minerva to speak.
"We desire to invite you to a gathering to honor Filius Flitwick. The gathering will be held at Hogwarts," Minerva began. The witch paused to gather her breath for a no doubt long winded spiel when the handwriting began scrolling on the blackboard.
This matter requires further discussion. Contact will only be made again if a consensus has been obtained.
Namasté.
Kritika Veerasundari Mukhopadhyay
The handwriting slowly faded from the black board, and Severus waited for several minutes after the last bit had disappeared.
"Right, friendly bunch, aren't they?" He quipped.