Chapter Twenty

Reality Check

Dale Chance woke up the next morning in a brilliant mood. He hopped out of bed then got a jolt of pain from his stiff arm, having momentarily about injuring it. Dutifully he checked for swelling, threw on a shirt and tied it up. He glanced over at Bobby's bed, but it was already made and his books were gone. It was rather unusual, for Bobby was normally a late sleeper, but Dale shrugged it off and finished getting dressed so he could go down to breakfast.

When he got to the Great Hall, he gazed over at the Gryffindor table but didn't see Lucky anywhere. She would be having trouble getting around, he mused, walking over to find a seat. Immediately he received a barrage of questions from the first year side of the Ravenclaw table.

"I left to do some studying," Dale explained, taking a seat across from Laura, who gazed at him skeptically.

"How did you hurt your arm if you were studying?" Laura asked.

"That happened afterwards, actually. I'd rather someone else told you about that… in the Owl Room at lunch or something, maybe. Where's Bobby?" Dale asked.

"Trying to avoid you, most likely," Laura said with a shrug.

"Why would he do that?" Dale frowned.

"Oh, you must not have heard, then. Bobby and Lindsay broke up last night," Laura said.

"Oh, wow. He must have heard about Lindsay asking me," Dale said with a groan.

"Well, that's what started the fight, yes, but that's not what ended it," Laura said. "When he started yelling at Lindsay, Lucky ran over and told us that Bobby asked her out." Dale stared at her as if he had just been slapped.

"He what?" Dale said, stunned. "Lucky didn't tell me about that."

"Well apparently he did ask her, because he admitted as much, and that's when they broke up," Laura said.

"I think I'd better hear it from one of them," Dale said, trying to control his temper. "I'm going to try and find Lucky." Laura nodded to him and Dale got back up, walking over to the Gryffindor table and looking at who was there until he spotted Connie and walked over. "Where's Lucky? I really need to talk to her."

"Gone," Connie said.

"What do you mean, gone?" Dale frowned.

"I don't know. Something happened last night, because the Professor came up to our room while we were sleeping and made her get dressed and they left, something about a family emergency," Connie explained.

"Not just Lucky," Emily said from a few spots away, and they looked at her questioningly. "Professor Weasley came and got Natalie this morning and said she was going home for a few days."

"Strange," Dale murmured with a frown, and then glanced at Gary. "If you see your brother before I do, let him know that I'm looking for him."

"Can I check to make sure he included me in his will first?" Gary asked.

"It might not be a bad idea," Dale agreed before he walked to the Hufflepuff table, glancing around to see who was there. "Anyone seen Lindsay?"

"She had to leave," Delia said, Dale blinking in response. "I think she's at the hospital with the rest of them."

"Why, what's going on?" Dale asked.

"Didn't you hear?" Delia said in surprise, as if it were common knowledge. "Auror Snape is in the hospital and is gravely ill. Anyone even remotely related to him has left the school, so get ready for a bunch of substitutes," she warned.

"What?" Dale said.

"It's true, Dale. I got a letter from my mother about it," Ambrose said somberly. "Maurice left last night as well."

"Ambrose and I are on standby," Winnie said quietly. "Our parents plan to pull us out of school as well if he doesn't make it."

"Oh, wow," Dale said in shock. "Wow, I hope it turns out all right."

"Don't we all," Ambrose sighed.

Dale's day of substitutes started from the very beginning, as he and his small class of Advanced Muggle Studies students went over to the farm for the morning and found an elderly pastor with thin grey hair and an infectious smile waiting for them on the porch.

"Good morning, class! Lovely day, isn't it?" he welcomed them as they stepped onto the porch and found chairs and benches waiting for them. "The clearest and warmest day we've had in a while. God must have realized we needed a bit of comfort," he said, the students looking at each other unsurely. "My name is Pastor Pachem, or Father Pachem as I am mostly called by my congregation, and I am presbyter of the Haven's Ridge church in Hogsmeade, and the Headmaster of the Haven's Ridge school of Hogsmeade. And just in case you haven't guessed it from that, yes, I am a Muggle," he smiled. "And I will be looking after Madame Black's classes while she is away due to a family concern.

"I understand this particular class has been learning basic Muggle farming skills, which is something I know a great deal about, being brought up in the farming community of Haven's Bluff. And I believe you were working on Muggle methods of storing and preservation, which we'll be continuing today with pears and apples, and tomorrow with pumpkin. And, since the first order of the business is peeling, I thought it'd be nice if we did that chore out here so we're comfortable. You may all spread out into groups of two or three. Grab a bucket for your peels and cores and a mesh basket for your finished apples so they can be washed. While we're working, we can discuss anything you like, except for religion," he said, holding up a finger. "If you want to hear me on that topic, you'll have to come visit me at church. Other than that, since this is such a small class, feel free to speak up informally if you have a question or want to say something. I'd rather you mind your knives, peelers and neighbors rather than attempting to raise your hand while doing this sort of work. Very well, go ahead and gather your things and get settled."

"Don't Muggles make electric peelers for this sort of thing?" Bindy asked, scrunching her nose when she looked on the tray and got out a safety peeler.

"Oh, they make them, yes, but not everyone has one. In fact, most kitchen's don't," Pachem explained. "Although some have a clever little crank operated one… we have one inside that I will show you later. It fits to the side of the table when you're working on them. But most generally use a peeler and a knife, because generally one must consider space and cost, especially on an item like that where chances are a normal household isn't going to use it that much. It would be like buying one of those large Dragonbone Marrow extractors for your home lab when it'd take you years to use up all the Poxnix potions that you could make with one extraction."

"How is it that you know about things like Poxnix potions? I didn't think Muggles understood any of that," Dirk asked.

"Well, most of the Muggles in Hogsmeade have taken at least one class in proper handling of potions, and it's also taught once a week at my school, along with magical devices and basic magical herbology. It's a way for them to adapt to their surroundings, help them connect with their magic neighbors, and promote understanding between the two cultures in the same way that you students take this class to learn about Muggle culture," he smiled.

"But why try to adapt? Wouldn't you be more comfortable surrounded by other Muggles?" Dirk asked.

"How so?" Pachem asked, nibbling on an apple peel.

"Well, doesn't it make you feel… well… inadequate… to be around wizards all the time?" Dirk asked carefully.

"No," Pachem said, completely unoffended. "Why should it?"

"Because we can do so many things that you can't," Dirk said.

"So? I'm sure there are a lot of things I can do that you can't," Pachem said calmly.

"Like what?" Dirk challenged him.

"Can you drive a car?" Pachem asked, but was aware that Dale and a couple of the other students were nodding, while many of the others were shaking their heads.

"No, but I don't need to," Dirk shrugged.

"Can you fix a telephone?" Pachem asked, and only Dale nodded that time.

"We don't use them," Dirk pointed out.

"Can you fix an electric wireless?" Pachem said, and Dale nodded again.

"No, but our wireless doesn't break down," Dirk said.

"Can you completely peel an apple in a way that the skin comes off all in one strip?" Pachem asked, holding up his peeled apple and the curly skin to show them. Dirk pondered that.

"I'm sure I could if I wanted," Dirk said, quickly finishing his apple so he could try. Pretty soon they were all were trying it and Pachem chuckled softly, going back to his own pile.

Dale had no luck finding Bobby at lunch, checking in both the Owl Room and the Great Hall. Finally he gave up and went to Ancient Magic to see that Bobby was already sitting at his seat. Putting his notebook on his desk, he then walked over to Bobby.

"You and I need to talk," Dale said quietly.

"About?" Bobby said, pretending to be distracted by his notes.

"I want to hear from you what happened last night," Dale said. Ambrose came in and cringed at what was going on, very glad that he sat in the back row now. "There are a lot of rumors floating around, and I'd like to hear from you what went on."

"Why don't you ask Lucky or Lindsay?" Bobby said.

"Obviously, because neither of them are here," Dale said.

"Oh no, you're not going to fight, are you?" Pimra asked worriedly. "You're going to get in trouble."

"I'm not going to fight in class. I simply want to know the truth," Dale said.

"Look, I'm not the only guilty party here, Dale," Bobby said.

"I never said you were," Dale said. "Both of you have been restless for a while now. It was obvious at least to your friends it wasn't working, but just because your having problems with your girlfriend, that doesn't give you the right to move in on mine."

"Yours? Give me a break, just because you have some crush on her doesn't mean I don't have the right to ask her, especially considering how many times she's turned you down. I have the right to ask whomever I like! Don't blame me if you keep falling up short, all's fair in love and war," Bobby said. "Besides, what are you worried about? She said no, didn't she?"

"I wasn't worried, just disappointed, that's all," Dale said. "I didn't realize until now that our friendship meant more to me then it did to you." He took his seat then, ignoring the murmurs that began in the classroom after he sat down.

A moment later, Mike Coventry came in, scrambling to get to his seat. Delia came in right behind him, glancing around the room as if quite certain she had missed something she would have liked to have seen.

"Oh, get out of my way, you stupid cow," Don said, pushing his way past on his way to the front. Delia sighed and let him pass before taking her place at the front of the row. "I don't know what we're even doing here. Snape's not even in the castle, and nobody else can teach this class. Wasn't there some sort of note on the door or something?"

"When I spoke to Madame Brittle earlier, she said that all the classes that needed one had a substitute," Dirk told him, opening his notebook.

"Fine, I'll deal with it. It can't be any worse than that old bat of a dressmaker they have in Transfiguration. If she thinks I'm really going to sit detention with a sub she has another thing coming, because I have every intention of writing my father," Don said. Mike sighed softly. "What? Don't tell me you have something to say about it?" Don challenged his brother when he heard it.

"Only that you might have been better off not trying to test her like that," Mike said.

"Oh, please! I'm not putting on my best behavior just because we have a sub, especially one who should have done us all a favor and stayed in retirement. Honestly, if this is the best they could do, Snape and the others should have stayed. It's not like they can do anything at the hospital but watch him die anyway," Don said, receiving several icy stares in his direction.

"Well, we're in rare form today, aren't we?" Bobby said. "You know, just because you can't be sent to the Professor's office right now doesn't mean Professor Weasley won't rake you across the coals if she finds out you're trying to take advantage of his absence."

"The only absence in here is that space between your ears," Don said.

"Ah, space," said a man's voice from the doorway, and everyone looked around in surprise to see Toby standing there. "The final frontier… or so I've heard," he added mischievously, walking up to the front of the room. Most of the class seemed quite stunned to see the old tinker, except for Ambrose, who was beaming; and Don, who looked utterly and completely unimpressed.

"And now we're stuck with a toymaker? Snape is scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to put asses in teacher's chairs today," Don said. "Is half of Hogsmeade shut down to make up for it?"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Coventry. My goodness, but you grow more like your father every day," Toby said as he passed by. And although it was said in a polite tone, there was something in his tone that made the majority of the classroom wonder if it was truly meant as a complement. Toby then glanced at the rest of the class with a smile.

"I would introduce myself, but as I look around, I do believe I already know everyone here. Please, you may still refer to me as Mr. Toby during the class. And for the record, I do have quite a bit of teaching experience, thank you, although most of that is on a one-on-one basis. But I promise that I will do my best, and hopefully you will aspire to do your best as well," he said with a smile. Don rolled his eyes.

"Now, I do have my own agenda, so you can put your notebooks aside until Professor Snape gets back; I prefer other methods. Don't get me wrong, memorization has its place, but I find it's more effective to simply teach lessons that students will remember. So! Today, I am offering a lesson in philosophy, which I hope will help you understand certain concepts of ancient magic later. It is a very simple lesson, really, but one very few people seem to be able to grasp," Toby said, glancing around. "Isn't anybody going to even ask me what that lesson is?" he frowned, looking somewhat disappointed. A hand shot up in the back row, and Toby's lip curled and he nodded to Ambrose.

"What's the first lesson?" Ambrose asked helpfully.

"Well, the first lesson is, simply enough, that reality as you know it doesn't exist," Toby said. "Or to put it another way, never take what you perceive to be true for granted, for our concept of reality is dictated by our own limitations." Everyone in the class stared at him.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Don asked impatiently.

"Thank you, I'm very glad you asked that," Toby smiled, despite Don's wary gaze. "As I'm sure you're all aware by now, Humans are not… no offense intended… all powerful. There are many species even on this planet who can see things we cannot, hear things we cannot, and smell things we cannot. There are some that sense even the tiniest of vibrations that we wouldn't notice even sitting still. If someone plops a coin in the lake a mile away, are you going to feel it when you're going out for a swim? Many species even taste things better than we do, snakes for example, and that's not even getting into conditions of the esoteric. Our sense of the spiritual world and our sense of magic is not second nature to us, where to other beings, it's their primary nature and their way of understanding their world. Humans, however, are not quite so specialized as far as senses go in general; we're more of a jack of all trades sort of species when it comes to that. We see everything in the middle," he said, putting up his hands to show its extent.

"The mistake we make is thinking that that is all that there is, when what is truly out there extends vastly past our senses, and in all directions. This is why so often Ancient Magic seems to work outside the rules. That is not so; it simply works outside the human's natural scope. Our concept of reality is nothing more than a safety net, really, convincing us that what we perceive is all there is, protecting us from the vast information that is out there that we cannot handle. It's true there are ways to get glimpses past this wall through magic or science, but for the most part, what we see is what we get. But what we see is not truly the real world, and therefore, reality as we know it does not exist."

"But that's just stupid!" Don said in a tone that made Dale shake his head and Mike pretend they were not related. "Just because we don't sniff out coneys like a hound doesn't make our world a fantasy."

"Oh, you think not?" Toby asked quietly. Don knocked on his desk.

"A desk is still a desk. A door is still a door. And you are nothing but a crotchety old bore!" Don said. Ambrose blinked and looked at his father, wondering if they were going to see fireworks. But Toby seemed completely calm and unperturbed.

"Nice rhythm," Toby mused. "Passable rhyme. But what makes you so certain I'm not right?"

"My proof is all around us," Don said evenly. "I have a better question. Where's yours?"

Suddenly, the world seemed like it was melting away, colors in front of their eyes seeping into each other like blotches of multicolored paint spraying out in front of them.

Then things began to take some sort of shape although hard to identify, for white was not longer white but variations of color mixtures and what was black was dark blues and the air itself was tinged with red. They heard their heartbeats and breath; they heard each other's heartbeats and breath…curiously able to discern each one by beat, rhythm, and direction. They could detect a unique smell identity in each individual surrounding them, partially diluted by the smells of what they had for lunch. They were aware of the walls of the class from their hearing; they could hear its density and its dimensions and taste its components as easily as they could taste the dust in the air in front of them and discern its different makeup. And through the walls, through glass more liquid than matter, they could see the sky, the true sky, masked by the atmosphere; they could see the moon masked by the light of the sun. Even the other the stars and the planets were easily felt and easily distinguished by the subtle magnetic effects they had on the solar system…

The only thing that hadn't changed in the entire scene was Toby. He stood in the center of the madness apparently unaffected by it, looking little different than he had before, carefully watching the class with a dark, intense look in his blue eyes. At the first sign of stress, the world as they knew it seemed to turn back to normal, and the students found themselves still at their desks. And although it had seemed like an eternity because of all the information that had passed through them, only three seconds had passed.

"That was my second lesson," Toby commented to the stunned class. "Which is, you may ask me to prove anything I say if you like, but do so at your own risk. Any questions about that lesson?"

No one said anything. Even Donald seemed quite subdued.

"Very well! We will then take a short break for those who need a respite to go to the restroom or freshen up as need be, and then we will get back to the topic at hand. Unless there are any other objections?" Toby asked, unsurprised when there weren't any. He also wasn't surprised at the number of students that took him up on his offer and excused themselves from the room.

It was early that morning when Molly Weasley arrived with a steaming pot in her hand and Heather and Penelope coming in right behind her with their own covered dishes as an invasion of Weasleys came into the hospital.

They had sent Lindsay, Lucky, and Maurice to Baker Street for a few hours rest, but a weary Jennifer was quite grateful for the gesture of breakfast, for more than just immediate family had stayed through the night. Arthur was quick to slip to the back to see Aurelius, while Molly sat with Jennifer and tried to comfort her; an effort that wasn't entirely successful due to the fact that Molly was nearly as aggrieved about it as Jennifer was. Bill and Percy settled in and were quietly talking to Andrew and Alex, while Charlie sat talking shop with Halbert, who was taking up two of the lobby seats unintentionally.

It was not long after Molly had gotten the food set up and the coffee pot was passed around that Ron walked in with a paper under his arm. Spying Harry standing with Tonks and several other Aurors, Ron nodded to him and Harry excused himself.

"You put it in the paper, didn't you?" Harry said, not sounding very thrilled about it.

"At least I had the decency to put it in local interest. I hear the Oracle put it on the front page," Ron said, handing him a copy.

"Which means that every dark wizard Aurelius has been chasing over the past year is going to be dancing in the streets," Harry said with annoyance. "You realize how much work this is going to make for me? They'll think they're off the hook now and will start popping out of the woodwork to make trouble again."

"Well, on the bright side, if they're up to no good instead of hiding out, they will be easier to catch, and it isn't as if you hadn't already put him on leave anyhow," Ron murmured softly back.

"It's not like I wanted to be a man down, Ron. I simply thought it was what was going to be best for the department in the long run if he took a few days off," Harry said quietly back. "I certainly didn't expect this."

"I find that surprising that you thought it was best for the department, considering all I've heard from you for months now is how there's not enough Aurors for the workload, Harry. I know, maybe you ought to run some sort of add campaign…'Come experience the fun of a low paying-high risk job! Includes enemies, stress, and the occasional scar. To qualify, you must work a hundred hours a week, put up with laughable benefits, and also put up with Ministry officials unrelated to your profession telling you how to do your job when they haven't got a clue.'"

"All right, very funny, Ron," Harry said. "Although it'd be funnier if it weren't true. Why do you think I'm having such a hard time getting trainees? It's like everyone seems to be in it for themselves these days. Nobody seems interested in a job whose main benefit is the fact you can sleep better at night because you got someone off the street that day who shouldn't have been out on it. Aurelius understands that," he murmured. "In fact, he's probably the only Auror beside myself in the whole department right now who'd be willing to work for free just to make sure the job gets done. God, I hope he pulls himself out of this."

As Harry was looking off in a daze, his eyes focused on some ornate black robes and he brought his focus back in, glancing at Ron before walking over as Snape appeared out of the back hall looking quite somber and tired.

"Hi, how is he doing?" Harry asked softly.

"No change," Severus murmured, but then glanced around to check for Jennifer. "He opens his eyes now and again but as if he's in a catatonic state. Jennifer says she can't read him… he has blocked himself off completely from the world, lost in his despair and not wanting to face the reality of having to go on. Bliant believes that the infection is spreading but nothing is working on it, simply for the fact that Aurelius doesn't want the potions to work. He doesn't want to fight it."

"That doesn't like the Rel I know," Harry whispered back.

"Part of him is gone now," Severus said, gazing at Harry solemnly. "Part of him died with Pali, and I seriously doubt Aurelius would ever want to reclaim it. Even if he recovers, he will never be the Rel you knew again."

Just then, there was movement by the door, and Severus noticed Jennifer walking over to receive a hug from Tonks, the two of them then walking down the hall to see Aurelius, while Eric walked over to where he and Harry were standing.

"Sorry to hear about your son, Severus. How is he?" Eric asked.

"No change," Severus said evenly.

"Did you need me to cancel the board meeting?" he added. Severus frowned, having forgotten about it.

"Tonight was the night you were going to vote for that hiring policy proposal, wasn't it?" Severus said flatly.

"Ironically enough," Eric said with a nod, and Severus brooded a moment.

"No, do not cancel it," Severus said at last. "If he remains unchanged or improves, I will be there, and if things worsen, I'll send someone. I simply ask that anything you need me for be handled right away so I can get out of there as quickly as possible if I need to."

"Fair enough, Severus, but let me know if you change your mind," Eric said solemnly, knowing that he wouldn't.

Just then there was another rumble by the door, and everyone looked up to see Draco standing just inside the lobby with his hands on his hips.

"So this is where everyone is? I should have known!" Draco said irritably, looking around. "Two Ministers and two department heads, and my head receptionist all taking the day off and what do they leave me with? One assistant, one daughter, and a bunch of clerks!"

"Two Ministers?" Ron repeated, wondering who else was here other than Thomas.

"They are excused. What's your excuse, Potter?"

"Aurelius is my assistant, and my godson, not that I should have to explain that," Harry retorted.

"What about you, Weasley?" Draco said, turning on Percy.

"Aurelius is a friend of mine, and when Penelope decided to come help Mum, I decided I'd come along as well for support," Percy explained calmly.

"Whether he is sick or not, lives or dies, your butt in that chair isn't going to make any difference, Weasley… and what are you doing here?" he said as he noticed Ginger Davidson trying to tip-toe past him with a large tray.

"Lunch break," Ginger explained evenly. "Just decided to eat here, is all."

"Fine! I give up," Draco said with exasperation. "I should have just told everyone to go home, but I doubt St. Mungo's has the room. It's crowded enough in here as it is. Where is Craw?"

"In the cafeteria, I believe," Severus said.

"I think I'll go see how he's doing then," Draco said, instantly subdued. "Holding up better than you look, Severus?"

"I have no idea," Severus admitted. Draco simply nodded in understanding and strode down the hall.

"Was there a point to that?" Tonks chuckled.

"He was just showing his support. I think," Percy said.

"How can you tell?" Ron asked with a snort.

"He didn't fire anyone," Percy said.

Severus wasn't about to even attempt to clean up for the board meeting that evening. He came as he was, still dressed in this robes from the night before, rumpled from sleeping in a chair, and the lines in his face accentuated by the fact that he had little rest at all. Some of them did a double take when they saw his state, but not one of them commented upon it.

"Good evening, Severus. How is your son?" Norman commented.

"Not well, so if it's all the same, I'd rather skip the pleasantries and formalities and simply get this over with," Severus said bluntly.

"Of course, Severus," Eric agreed.

"There's something I would like to bring up first, if you don't mind," Abraxus interrupted and Severus rolled his eyes. "It's about your choices in substitutes today."

"Abraxus, before you start in on my judgment skills again, Hermione was kind enough to fill those positions… and she successfully filled them all, I might add. I have no objections to any of her choices," Severus said.

"None of them, Severus? Not even the fact she picked a tinker with questionable morals to teach your Ancient Magic classes in your place?" Abraxus challenged him.

"Toby the Tinker taught Ancient Magic?" Eric said incredulously, and Abraxus nodded curtly. "Wow, I wish I could have been a student in that classroom."

"Well, my boys were, Eric," Abraxus said, very annoyed by Eric's reaction. "And to say the least, they were not impressed. In fact, they said he wouldn't stay on topic and didn't teach them anything at all but mumbo jumbo, and when one of my son's tried to question him about it, he cast a spell on the room and terrified the living daylights out of them, before continuing as if nothing had happened. From what I was told, he knew nothing of Ancient Magic at all and was simply using parlor tricks and fancy wording to fake his way through it."

"Abraxus," Eric said, pausing to calm the chuckle in his voice. "Regardless of what you heard, I would like to say in Severus' defense that I know for a fact that Mr. Toby is, if anything, overqualified to teach Ancient Magic. Are you certain that Donald wasn't simply overreacting because he wasn't happy about having any sort of substitute?"

"No, I don't. It sounded to me as if he were quite incompetent… and I never said it was Donald," Abraxus said irritably.

"I'm certain if there are any problems with the substitutes that Hermione will handle them, Abraxus, and in any case, that sounds more like a parent complaint then an administrative complaint. Perhaps you ought to Owl Hermione with your concerns," Eric suggested. Abraxus squinted. "I'm sure if there were a real problem, I'd have more complaints than one, Abraxus, and I didn't even know he was even teaching that class until just now. Either way, I'm certain that Hermione and Severus can handle the matter. Who were the other substitutes, out of curiosity?"

"Danny and Hermione filled in for Potions, Madame McGonagall taught Transfiguration, and Headmaster Pachem from the Haven's Ridge school taught Muggle Studies," Severus said.

"Any other objections? Not that it's really our place to say as long as their qualified, even if this silly policy change passes," Eric said, Abraxus glaring even more. "Anyone? Then perhaps we ought to go ahead and take this little vote. I doubt we need any more discussion on it than what we've had the last two meetings. All in favor in amending our hiring policies?"

Immediately, Abraxus threw up his hand, but his face darkened when only Balmweed and two others had their hands up, for neither Stella Hauk or Caitlyn Shea had put their hands up.

"All opposed?" Eric said, Tonks being the one to get her hand up first, but Caitlyn nodded to the headmaster with a curled smile when she raised hers; there was little doubt that the recent events had changed her vote.

"Well, that's that," Eric said cheerfully. "Any budget or other concerns you need brought up, Severus? If not, the rest can wait until when we go over the balances right before the holiday."

"No, the only upcoming maintenance project will be the football stands, and from what Hermione has told me, they have already succeeded in reaching their goal in covering the material costs, and letters have gone out letting their parents know that the students are planning to chip in labor, in case there are parental objections."

"Thank you, Severus. I suppose we'll see you next month then," Eric said, but Abraxus cleared his throat.

"And would you have any estimates just how long you and the others are going to be gone from the school this time, Severus?" Abraxus asked. This time, even Norman had to turn and stare at him.

"God only knows," Severus murmured, but then paused. "Then again, why don't you try asking your son, since he seems to have the definitive answer on everything," he suggested as he left the room. Abraxus growled angrily. Tonks opened up a small black book she kept on her and wrote another tally by Snape's name.

"The nerve of him! He has no respect whatsoever of this board or anything else, and all of you simply let him walk all over us!" Abraxus said angrily. "He does whatever he likes and gets away with it, and none of you seem to care, and you refuse to do anything to curb him and his family lording over everything! Not even the Ministry makes a move these days where there's not a Snape involved in some fashion!"

"Calm down, Abraxus, I highly doubt anybody has Minister Malfoy on the payroll. He's the best Minister of Magic we've had in centuries, and you well know it, and I don't doubt you voted for him," Eric said. "As for the board, I think he does treat us with respect, even you, Abraxus. He's just not so fond of your parenting skills, that's all." Tonks got out her black book again, but when Eric shifted his gaze sideways to look at her, she decided to wait and update it later.