Chapter Eleven
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Severus stepped out of the fire place of the Headmistress' office. The only light source was the sunlight streaming through the windows. He looked at Dumbledore's portrait. "Oh thank Merlin!" He let out the breath he had been holding when he saw that Albus was gone. He went to the desk and sifted through all the drawers. He jumped and spun around when he heard someone speak.
"What ever you are looking for, you better find it soon. Those rotten Gryffindors won't be gone much longer." Phineas Black watched him with a bored expression.
"I am only here to collect something of mine. I'll be gone before you can say 'candy addict.'" He moved his search to one of the bookshelves. "If you tell those nosey old coots I was here, I'll burn your portrait."
"Go right ahead. I still have the other one in Potter's house, the one he happens to share with that Weasley boy and Miss Granger." The corner of his mouth pulled up. "Anymore threats and I won't share what all I've seen over there."
Snape rolled his eyes. "Not knowing what happens in a house full of Gryffindors. However will I survive." His voice oozed with sarcasm.
"I thought the same as you, until I witnessed Miss Granger's new hobby." He chuckled. "Her amazing displays more than make up for her less than ideal partners." Snape looked up at him and he winked.
Severus' brow furrowed in confusion. A new hobby with amazing displays and less than ideal partners? He froze as he caught onto what Phineas was implying. He lost control of his mind as it wandered to inappropriate thoughts of the insufferable little know-it-all.
"I cannot think of a place in the house she hasn't held her activities. The things she does in the library." He hummed in satisfaction at the memories. "You'll never find a Slytherin girl as daring as her. Gryffindor princess indeed." Phineas smirked at Snapes dazed look.
Snapes thoughts had him imaging Hermione in various positions with her friends. He only stopped himself when he imagined her naked and writhing beneath him. He took a shuddering breath.
"I wish to share a secret with you, Severus." Snape looked up at the portrait with interest. "Walburga created a secret passage that led to a small space behind a bookshelf in the library, next to the painting of dancing house elves. It allowed her to spy on any guests she had, to insure that no one took any of her precious books. The entrance can be found in the back of her old closet. Tap the back wall with your wand three times."
Severus didn't speak and committed the instructions to memory. He whipped his wand out. "Accio my journal!" The thick, leather bound journal flew into his waiting hand and he rushed to the fireplace and disappeared in a whirl of green flames.
Phineas chuckled to himself. "This is going to be good." He pretended to be asleep when Albus slipped back into his frame. He'd have to wait until McGonagall returned to visit his other portrait.
Back in the cellar of the Hog's Head, Hermione sneezed. She dropped the little bronze coin they each had received and bent to pick it up. Why did I just sneeze? I hope I'm not coming down with something.
"You ok, Mione?" Harry asked in concern.
She rubbed her nose. "Yeah, just a little sneeze. I'm fine." She smiled reassuringly.
"I was told once, that whenever you sneeze for no reason, it's really because someone is talking about you." Luna said with a soft smile.
Hermione looked at the other girl in disbelief. "Ok Luna. I'll be sure to remember that." She dangled the coin in front of herself by the tiny silver chain it was attached to. "Are these what I think they are?" She smiled excitedly.
Luna nodded. "I got the idea from the protean charmed coins you made for DA." She stood up, gaining everyone's attention again. "We will be meeting at least once a month during the upcoming school year. These coins all have the protean charm, which will allow either me or our professor to send out the date, time, and location of future meetings. Once you put them on the notice-me-not I have placed on them will activate. The silver chains have also been charmed to stay on you and not fall off if say you were to hang upside down on a broom." She glanced at Harry, who blushed. "Only the wearer or myself can take them off." She slipped the chain over her neck and both items shimmered before becoming invisible. She waited until everyone had theirs on and sat down and pulled a quill from her bag.
McGonagall conjured quills and ink pots for everyone. "Now be sure to include everything you feel is important to your first list. We don't want anything overlooked." She refilled her tea cup and watched the students set to work.
Within thirty minutes, Minerva had everyone's papers stacked in a neat pile. She tapped the pile with her wand and produced a second pile. After she handed everyone their papers back she sorted the papers by house. Luna handed her a notepad and quill. "Let's start from the left. Slytherins." She looked over at Blaze and Draco then their lists. Seeing that their lists were identical and short, she hummed. "The first issue is about the lack of proper lighting in the common room." She made a note on her pad. Have Flitwick help update lights in Slyterin common room. "Next there's-"
"Hang on a minute!" Blurted Draco. "I thought you said we would address the issue and come up with a solution. Not announce the problem and leave it at that." He scowled.
"Mr. Malfoy, the problem is not a major concern. Professor Flitwick can have it fixed in under a minute." She stared at him over the top of her glasses then back at the list. "Not warm enough in the common room and dormitories. Hmmm. How bad would you say this problem is?" She perched her hand and quill over the pad, ready to write.
"It's probably from all their frozen hearts." Harry whispered in Hermione's ear.
"We have to bring two extra blankets and sleep wrapped in our cloaks in the winter. First and second years have been known to camp around the fireplace in the common room as well. It's rather dangerous in the mornings when someone trips over them on the way to breakfast." Blaze supplied.
Minerva couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That is a problem. I'll have to check that as soon as I get back to the castle. Any suggestions?" She looked around the table.