Chapter 9: Best Behavior
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Once again, pacing across the worn stones of an aged neighborhood, Severus Snape sighed to himself. He, along with the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix, had been called to headquarters to initiate their new weapons against Lord Voldemort. He was alerted four hours prior by that overly bubbly auror/former student, and that invitation only added to his unease.
The experienced potions master stepped around the surrounding block of houses and entered the darkened street his destination rested on. Up ahead, he noticed a familiar figure. Kingsley. Seconds later, Severus had joined Kingsley along with Minerva and Elphias.
Soon, Severs was among many others beginning to pile into the headquarters's kitchen.
"Everyone, take your seats," Molly ordered kindly. She looks a little shaken, Severus noted.
She caught him staring at her and he cleared his throat and straightened his black robes before sitting down.
"Tonks, how about gathering our guests from upstairs?" Molly asked, her grip tightening around her wand just a little.
"Gladly," the unnecessarily cheery witch chirped back. On her way out of the doorway, she swiveled around until she faced the long dining room table. "Everyone, may I ask for your attention?" Once she received some nervous and impatient looks, she began, "Now, we unfortunately have several differences between the Charmed Ones and us, be it magical, cultural, or, er, magical... again. Erm, we did have an unfortunate incident occur today, but I ask all of you to look past the accidents and the differences and treat these witches kindly. Like my mum always said, 'treat others politely, unless they disown you and burn your face off the family wall.' Not that they're going to burn our faces off or anything. I think that was just a Black family dilemma from my mum's past. Anyways," Tonks shook her head, realizing she was straying from the point, "remember all I just said, minus the face-burning wall-treatment point."
"Just go," Remus begged lightly.
"Okay, I'm off!" Tonks skipped out. Severus cracked his neck out of habit. This was going to be an unreasonably painful evening, he could tell.
"Excuse me for asking," the soft and alluring voice of Fleur Delacour called from the far side of the table. Severus turned to look at her, as did everyone else, except Molly; she was busy performing the finishing touches on the meal. "What incident occurred?"
Harry soon found all eyes on him. "Why is everyone looking at me?"
"You kind of are a magnet for... unfortunate events, Mr. Potter," Minerva explained gently.
"Oh... right."
The few members and teens present during said incident held their tongues, thankfully taking in Tonks' strange but wise words.
Remus smiled and said, "One of them really can cast reductos from their hands. Let's just leave it at that."
Fleur's beautiful, deep blue eyes expanded, and she turned to her fiance for what Severus assumed was confirmation. Bill simply nodded.
"Maudit*."
"It appears we are all in one piece," Kingsley spoke up, bearing a grin. "It can't be all bad if we still have our arms and legs."
"...you could say that," Hermione mumbled as she sipped her goblet of water.
No one could further avoid the truth of the matter: the idea to bring the Charmed Ones to their world was tricky, and suddenly becoming a very foolish endeavor. Yes, the magic they practiced and the supernatural world the lived in held several differences. But Severus thought back to the day he learned of Voldemort's intervention within the Charmed world and their own. He's not fool enough to ask Voldemort why and how he got his hands on season box sets, a DVD player, and a telly. He can only make inferences with a practiced and patient eye as of now. Of course, horcruxes had to be involved somehow.
Several pairs of footsteps alerted Severus and released him from his thoughts. Everyone watched the doorway.
"They're all in here," Tonks voice floated in a little shakily from outside the room.
"Let's do this." Severus tried to place that voice. Was it the psychic sister, Phoebe?
No sooner than he pondered that, Tonks entered the room, trailing behind her the outsiders. The one known as Paige Matthews was right behind Tonks, wearing a nervous smirk, but still retaining a kind glow. Next was Piper, the oldest sister as of season four. From the show, Severus knew she was usually the outspoken, brave sister, but now she appeared almost timid and perhaps more nervous than Paige. Phoebe arrived next, looking somewhat at ease even though she was apart of the center of attention. Lastly, a young blonde woman strolled in and stood next to Phoebe. Severus narrowed his eyes... she didn't look familiar.
Kingsley stood from his chair and smiled politely. He glanced at the other table mates, and they all joined in. Severus bowed his head when the witches made eye contact with him. The others waved or did the same.
"This is everyone," Tonks stepped over to an empty chair by Remus. She introduced the three Charmed Ones and the new blonde witch named Billie Jenkins to all of the Order Members. On the left side of the table, the side opposite of Severus and Tonks, there were vacant chairs at the end next to Minerva. Paige made her way through first and sat down next to the transfiguration professor, smiling kindly at her, receiving a polite grin. Her sisters and... family friend... took their seats.
"Now, is everyone hungry?" Mrs. Weasley sounded a bit strained under her usually chipper exterior. Within seconds, the food was magically serving itself in front of all the guests, leaving Molly to take her seat next to Arthur and their family.
Severus peeked down at his full plate, hiding a smile of gratitude at a simple but filling baked chicken and vegetable dish. He quickly noticed that most of everyone was keeping to themselves or quietly chatting to those next to them. The new witches were engaged in a conversation with Tonks and Remus, at least. Severus detected that those two were trying extremely hard to include the new witches. However, after scanning the minds of the Golden Trio and those who had arrived early, he basically learned why Hermione discreetly glared at Piper and Fred and George were silently making jokes about their youngest brother walking into mysterious crossfire.
"Mum, what's for dessert?" Ron piped up first when everyone's plates were cleared.
"A nice, heaping serving of Order meeting," Molly replied jovially. She didn't miss Ron's eye roll, but she didn't do anything except glare back at him momentarily.
"Lovely dinner you prepared." The whole room died down as soon as Phoebe spoke. Still, she kept her cool and polite demeanor towards Mrs. Weasley under all the eyes on her.
"Thank you, dear."
"I was right!" Severus heard Tonks mentally proclaim. It turns out she was hoping dinner would get everyone better acquainted.
Soon, the table was cleared of dirty dishes, leaving just goblets of water or firewhiskey.
"Let's get down to business." Kingsley said from the head of the table, catching the eyes of the Charmed witches. "The Order of the Phoenix's goal is to destroy Lord Voldemort. Originally, that would have been a tricky task to take on. At the current moment, it is impossible. Severus," Kingsley called, distracting Snape from observing the witches, "how about you explain your theories and observations?"
"Of course." Yes, put me in the spotlight, Severs mentally grumbled. "I am a spy for the Order of the Phoenix; I pose as one of Voldemort's faithful followers. I have more knowledge of you three than any other Order member present and not." The four witches appeared to be listening intently at that. Severus continued on, "Lord Voldemort has somehow gotten hold of a telly, a, I believe it was named 'Sony DVD player', and your season box sets."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, that evil bald guy has been watching us?" Piper's bluntness caused Fred and George to snicker. "How the hell did he do it?"
"I don't know yet... I don't know if I ever will. But that's why you were summoned here. Have any of you ever come across the term 'horcrux'?"
"Oh, yeah!" The blonde witch straightened up in her chair, her eyes alight. "Voldemort split his soul into six objects he holds dear to him."
"Wait," Harry Potter spoke up for the second time since Severus' arrival, "how did you know that they might have heard of horcruxes?"
"Anyone who has finished book six knows about them," the blonde replied. Harry looked at her.
"What book?"
"Harry Potter," said Paige.
"There're books named after me – after my life?"
"Hey, you're not the only one objected to the media! We're in a TV show." Piper clarified that and crossed her arms, looking back at Severus. "But back to Harry's question, how did you know that the Harry Potter books exist?"
"I was just trying to find out what you already know before delving into the meat of the conversation." Already these new people were starting to get on his nerves. He wouldn't dare mention, at the risk of causing another argument, that he had actually witnessed a Harry Potter reference in season four of Charmed. "Are we all settled, now?" Severus drawled. The Golden Trio and the Power of Three nodded or voiced their agreements. "As I was saying, a horcrux is indeed fragments of a soul purposefully placed into material objects that in turn tether the owner of the soul to earth as long as the objects remain in tact. This goes back to you four... I believe, with Voldemort's new level of confidence and ownership of your season box sets, that he must have accessed other universes like you four have done this afternoon." He paused for the sake of letting that sink in. The Charmed witches still intently watched him. The other Order members simply stared at the table or exchanged looks with one another. This was all just a review for them.
"Go on, please," Phoebe said.
"Yes... now, since we know nothing of Harry's books, it should be certain that you know nothing of your own series as well, correct?"
"Not exactly."
"Yeah," the other witches agreed with Piper.
Well... this was new to Severus. "How so?"
"We kind of caught on when most of the action occurred through September to May, with 'How Soon is Now' playing once a week, and with our world's lack of continuity."
"Virtually nothing significant happened during our summers," Phoebe supplied. "It's the damnedest thing."
"Hold on a second," Harry began again. "How come we didn't get a chance to know about... my books?"
"Because your world is more structured." Billie said that as if she was stating "the sky is blue."
Harry shook his head and sent a desperate look to Severus, who just narrowed his dark eyes.
"But," Severus continued, hoping to gather a hold of logic in all of this, "you don't have access to Sony DVDs with your show on them, right?"
"I didn't see any last time I was at Target. Or Walmart, for that matter," said Billie.
"What she's trying to say," Phoebe began, "is that we can know that our lives are based on a TV show, we can't watch ourselves on TV or DVD."
"Good, that brings me to my next point. I believe Voldemort must have placed a horcrux in either the universe he attained your season box sets, or in the one you live in."
There was another gap of silence, and this time Harry, Ron, and Hermione met the eyes of Paige, Piper, and Phoebe.
Billie interjected, "So that's how we're connected? It sounds like all we have to do is get Voldemort to spill about how he found our show and which universe his seventh horcrux is in."
"And there's our problem," Remus added. "How can we capture, let alone force, Lord Voldemort to tell us his secret to immortality? And already our own world is suffering under his return."
"It has been reported that all around magical and non-magical England areas that several 'accidents' are happening and innocent people are going missing," Kingsley spoke up with worry thick in his tone.
"Oui, ze accidents are also spreading around ozher** European areas," Fleur added.
Severus noted the concern in both his fellow Order Member's faces as well as in the Charmed Ones and Billie's expressions. Deep down, he felt a bit of relief knowing that they sincerely cared for helpless and innocent bystanders to the chaos that is magic without control. On the outside, though, he remained stoic and steady.
Phoebe cleared her throat. "I believe our friend Tonks told us you're all planning on sending us to Hogwarts. Can we finally get the answer to why?"
"Phoebe, is it?" Minerva asked. She nodded, and Minerva continued, "Hogwarts will be your safe haven in your stay here. The reason is the four of you must learn our magic quickly and efficiently in order to help us and defend yourselves against Death Eaters and such. We've also agreed that you all bearing the Hogwarts' crest and protecting the students that attend there shall weaken Voldemort's pride and confidence."
"Oh." Phoebe lamely replied. "I mean, thank you."
"Wait a second, I have a question." Billie raised her hand. Piper braced herself for stupidity to follow.
"Yes?" Tonks asked.
"It's kind of for Snape, actually." She looked at him, then, and shyly smiled. She gathered, and discreetly told Paige during dinner, that Snape couldn't have killed Dumbledore in this timeline because he was still considered a loyal member to the Order. That still didn't answer one question that kept bothering her just minutes ago when she learned that Voldemort has been watching Charmed.
"Go on," Severus urged.
"Does Voldemort's hand ever... wander down when he's watching us?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, although he had a sinking feeling he knew the context of the question. The other witches appeared to have undergone similar conditions. Already they had started to pale.
"Do you ever see him start to touch, you know, his–"
"Billie!" All three Charmed Ones shouted at once. By now she was so used to hearing her name being screeched that she didn't even flinch in the slightest.
"I was just wondering if I should be more disturbed by this, that's all. And I feel like other people who have watched us have probably... you know. But then again, I'm only in one season, so the rest is on you three."
Fred and George were having a difficult time controlling their chortles, both receiving disapproving looks from their parents. Harry, Ron and Hermione all exchanged disgusted looks and then put their attention back to Severus.
Severus cleared his throat and inhaled. "I try not to risk looking at him too much when I'm there. I can tell you this: he is very absorbed in your lives. Him being an excellent learner, he most likely knows every little detail about you. More than I, and I know a lot so far."
"I have a question, and this one is appropriate," Piper sneered at Billie, but then sent a questioning glance to Snape at the other side of the table. "Can all of you teleport by that weird cracking sound?"
"You mean apparate?" Hermione questioned, although Piper sensed a challenging undertone.
She nodded carefully, "Sure, that."
Hermione answered, "A witch or wizard can apparate and disapparate as long as they have a wand."
This time Piper nodded and worriedly stared off at the table.
"Something wrong?" Tonks asked lightly.
Both Paige and Piper looked at each other before Paige answered. "We think we heard that weird crack sound thingy right before we walked through the portal to here."
The room quieted completely after that. Most Order members stared at Severus, whereas others were still gawking at Paige.
Suddenly, bright blue and white lights appeared above the youngest Charmed One, and some large, rectangular object plummeted out of the cluster of orbing lights. It landed right in front of Paige, who sat appalled and frozen along with Minerva and Phoebe who sat next to her.
"Um... that's our coven book," she whispered before clutching the Book of Shadows protectively.
()(/)()
Having another dangerous object nearly bludgeon people was not the most preferable way to carry on an important meeting on the broken laws of nature. But, it did prompt the discussion towards undefined laws of magic, such as lag from universe to universe. All dinner guests learned that Paige had called the book to their world just two hours ago. That said, it was now obvious that their worlds were connected in more than one way – especially if someone presumably from Harry Potter Land had apparated into the manor as the witches had left. All in all, the group felt more comfortable in their still-awkward situation while more mysteries were coming to light.
The meeting ended shortly after, another one set the week before Hogwarts began. The members not residing in Grimmauld Place said their goodbyes to Harry Potter characters and Charmed witches alike before setting off to their homes. Bill and Fleur decided to disapparate to Shell Cottage for the night, leaving the rest of the group to sleep and absorb all the information exchanged that night.
As the house was cleared with extra guests, Piper walked up to Mrs. Weasley. The redheaded mother of several looked away from Arthur cautiously.
"Mrs. Weasley, right?"
"Oh, call me Molly."
"Alright, Molly." Piper spared a nervous glance to Arthur before looking down at the floor of the living room and back up to Molly. "I was hoping to speak to you and Ron for a minute." Piper caught Molly's eyes noticeably darken.
"Sure," she nodded nonetheless. A minute later, the lanky teen and his mom were stood alone in the kitchen with Piper
"I need to apologize to the both of you for what happened earlier."
"It's okay," Ron said.
The look his mother gave him said otherwise.
Piper sighed, knowing she didn't need Phoebe's empathy powers to know what Molly was feeling. "I have two sons of my own, Molly. I understand what it's like to see them in danger, or to see them hurt. I honestly did not mean to blow up the door or anybody. I'm just... frazzled with all that's going on. Really, I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."
A moment of silence hung between the three of them. Ron was already convinced that the American witches of Charmed meant no harm and that his accident was merely an... accident. He knew that his mother wasn't entirely placated yet. The woman in question appeared to be studying Piper for a long time. She was good at reading people; she saw a good, sincere person. She couldn't ignore that fact over the silly incident that has been played out for way too long.
"I forgive you, Piper. I'm sorry this happened, too."
Piper smiled a dazzling smile. "Thank you. I'm going to go to bed now. See you both tomorrow."
Piper left the two Weasleys behind to silently agree that everything was cool for the moment. Until...
"Mum, do we have any leftovers?"
"Ronald, you had three servings of supper – and the leftovers on Hermione's plate."
"I'm still a bit peckish, though."
Mrs. Weasley rested her hand on his shoulder. "Drink a few goblets of water. You'll survive until breakfast tomorrow."
"Alright, alright."
()(/)()
Malfoy Manor, that same evening
Bellatrix Lestrange sauntered into Malfoy Manor's large dining room with the ridiculously long table and several chairs, which were occupied by ridiculously dressed people. Looking none-too subtle herself, clad in her custom black dress and corset combo, she towered over the chair that overlooked the whole room.
"Pleasure to see you all," she began gently.
"Where's our Lord?" a generic death eater asked from down the line of chairs. Bellatrix's left eye twitched, and the person who asked shivered and recoiled in his chair.
"Busy," she said shortly. At the current moment, if she was remembering right, he was re-viewing the last episode of season three of Charmed. He was indeed very busy... very busy crying over one of those stupid witch's death. He had claimed he was laughing (because laughing and crying can kind of sound the same), but she actually saw some tears glisten down his unnaturally pale face before he shooed her out. She took that time to call a long overdue Death Eater meeting. The sad part was there was no interjection from her Dark Lord for doing so.
She currently stood watching her fellow followers look up at her with wondering eyes. She was at center stage, and they were all hers...
"Now, you're all probably wondering why our Lord is not present with us." To that, she received several nods of agreements. "Well it's none of your bloody business what he does with his life!" Her shrill voice once again simultaneously scared the living daylights out of people as well as caught their full attention. She straightened up, placing her pale hands upon the top of the chair she stood over. "I've taken it upon myself to – "
About eight chairs down from her, left side of the table, a hand rose above all of the heads. The owner leaned forward, revealing none other than her "favorite," Yaxley. His fellow Death Eaters stared at him.
"Yes?" Bellatrix asked through gritted teeth.
"I've heard rumors about our Lord."
Bellatrix curved her lips into a daring smirk, her left hand sliding undetected from the chair and to her side. "Oh?"
He nodded, his stupid hand still in the air. "I heard he's been doing something we're not supposed to."
"Did he hug an attractive blonde boy?" Another piped from the other side of the table.
"No, but that might be next!"
Draco visibly stiffened at that next comment.
The room erupted into arguments and agreements, concerned comments and ones of pity, until Bellatrix drew her wand. Not all Death Eaters were as whipped as she would have liked, but they all hushed immediately upon seeing her curved weapon of torture.
"Enough." Her voice was soft and full of lulling deception. "None of you shall talk ill of our Lord. The fact that I have to remind you all is ridiculous." The comforting tone contorted into a dangerous hiss. "I've taken it upon myself to salvage our Lord's reputation using any means necessary... even if that means 'tending' to my own, disloyal kind." Her trademark dark, disturbed eyes roamed over the motionless group of evil witches and wizards before her. They softened only when they met the eyes of her sister and nephew next to her. Still, the two remained stiff with apprehension caused by her.
"I'm giving orders now until told otherwise by our Lord." She paused, daring anyone to challenge her when she had her devious wand ready. "Good. Now then," her lips curled into a sick smile, "let's discuss spies."
Cue dramatic music! No, don't. It's okay. It has been awhile. Sorry for the several months wait. I swear, I will never again post an in progress story.
In other news, I've come to terms with my amateur knowledge of Harry Potter. That's more of a declaration to allow me to accept this and let any readers know this.
I have a few ideas for the next chapter (which will hopefully be up by the end of this month or early next month), but I've almost given up on this story to pursue other projects. Just a warning, this is no longer my main priority, but it's still on my writer's mind.
Thank you for reading and for your patience :)
*Maudit supposedly means "damn" in French. I had to use Google Translate...
**Ozher is supposed to be Fleur's pronunciation of "other"