Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 25: A Matter of Clarity
Remus was unsure exactly how he felt about the upcoming visit from one Nia Bellerose. She sounded interesting, and her field of study might make things easier for him and others like him but... she wanted to talk about something that had cast a dark pall over his childhood. He sighed and sat in his office, staring at his chess board. As though he had sensed his friend's somber attitude from all the way in his dungeon lair, Severus stepped out of the fire. "Care for a game Mooney?" he asked, sinking into the chair opposite Remus and toying with one of the black pawns. Remus gave him a wan smile and pushed one of his own pawns forward.
"Thank you, Severus," he said. Severus nodded, nudging forward an answering pawn. Having grown up poor in non magical homes both wizards preferred non-magical chess. It also made for a quieter game which suited their purposes, and personalities, perfectly.
"What has you so worked up?" Severus asked, eyeing the knight Remus had moved up warily. The wolf was always a cagey player, enjoying traps and ambushes, so one had to ever be on their toes.
"It's the meeting I set up with Ms. Bellerose," Remus admitted. "I'm unsure how I feel about her and her questions."
"She hasn't even asked them yet," Severus pointed out, causing his friend to sigh heavily. Remus ran a hand through his hair as he leaned forward, studying the board with only half his rather formidable mind. Out of courtesy, Severus focused on the board as well.
"No, but there's going to be something that sets me on edge, I just know it!" Remus growled, capturing one of Severus' pawns with unusual force. The Slytherin frowned, glaring at the board.
"If there is one thing I know about you, Remus, it is that you are exceedingly difficult to set on edge. You'll do just fine," Severus said calmly. Remus sat back slightly with a sigh, leaving the game completely for the moment as he stared at the shadows dancing on the stone ceiling of his sitting room.
"What if she brings up being near children? You know how much this job means to me. Even before the kids were here it meant the world to me," he said morosely. Severus nodded.
"I know that, most of Britain knows that, you just need to make sure this Bellerose woman understands as well. How did she contact you again?" he asked, eyes still fixed on the board. Remus had his pawns pinned and his knight on the run. Now how had he managed that? Cagey wolf...
"One of my former students," Remus answered, dragging Severus' attention back to the outside world. "Mentioned that we'd get on."
"Then you'll be fine. You may terrify the Firsties, and Defense Week terrifies us all, but by the time they graduate your students are singing your praises and only the meanest of spirits would wish you harm. I assume this alumni that forwarded the introduction was not one of the few malicious ones?" Severus guided before exclaiming in delight at having taken Remus' Knight. The Were gave the animagus a dour look and moved a Rook.
"No, he was one of those who, as you put it, 'sung my praises.' I just... worry," Remus said. Severus hummed, deep in thought. They sat there, staring at the board, or in Remus' case Severus. "Bartoc?"
"Shush~! I'm thinking," Severus hissed, eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed intently at the board. Remus smirked and sat back, picking up a glass of soda a House Elf so thoughtfully provided. Finally, Severus made his move and sat back for Remus to attempt to counter. The fact that Remus was a much better player than himself was largely ignored by the Slytherin. "Now Remus, it does no good to fret, you know that," Severus said, lacing his fingers together. Remus sighed and nodded, closing his trap. "HEY!" his opponent yelped, jerking forward to examine the predicament his troops were in. He hadn't even noticed the sly wolf's maneuvering.
"And you know you should never hyper-focus," Remus said smugly as he leaned back in his chair; fingers laced, legs crossed, and smirking in triumph. For such a humble and unassuming man, Remus Lupin was not to be underestimated, in battle or at chess, and he had one killer Smug Face. Severus growled at the man and remained glowering as the Floo flashed green. After sparing the fireplace, and the woman stepping out of it, a brief glance, Severus returned to glowering at his friend though there was a slightly disbelieving look to it now.
"You gave her your personal Floo address?" he asked, incredulous. Remus shrugged with a wry smile.
"I'm a Defense Master, I can handle myself," he said. Severus rolled his eyes and stood.
"Ms. Bellerose I presume?" he said, giving the young woman a gimlet eye.
"Yes. May I ask whom I'm addressing?" Ms. Bellerose asked, giving the Potions Master a politely curious look. Severus approved, even if he couldn't say so out loud. Not just yet.
"You may. I am Severus Snape, Professor of Potions here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, I am here as a friend. Between the two of us, Remus is a bit of a worrier," Severus said, casting a teasing look back toward the not-quite-fuming Ravenclaw.
"I grew up in fear, of myself and the self styled Dark Lord. Forgive me for being cautious," Remus snipped, giving his friend a solid Number Eighty as he stood before turning to Ms. Bellerose with a wry smirk.
"You'll have to forgive Severus. He sometimes allows his emotions to run away with him," the professor said, holding out a hand to his visitor. As the woman turned her attention to him, he froze while she gave him a shy smile. "Well. This is a surprise," Remus remarked. She chuckled.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Nia said. Severus looked from one to the other, then broke down and asked,
"You've met?"
"Ah, yes. She's the young metamorph from Diagon Alley. The one I ran into once we'd split up," Remus answered.
"Yep, that's me. Nia Konani Bellerose. Sorry, I realize I didn't introduce myself in the shop. My bad!" Nia said, chuckling slightly as she gave Remus' hand two firm shakes then stepped back. "So. Shall we get started? Professor Snape, you're quite welcome to stay, though I might rope you into the Q&A session as well. I'm sure a Potioneer of your skill and repute knows of a few potions used to help, or combat, Weres," she said, nodding to the mildly confused Potions Master.
"I do indeed," he said, turning a faintly amused look to his friend. "Honestly Mooney, I don't see why you were so scared of her, not when you have friends like Padfoot and Badger." Remus glared.
"That... is entirely different you bat," he snarled, baring his teeth slightly before turning back to Nia. "Now, I believe this was to be your show rather than us two bickering for your enjoyment," Remus said, easily turning the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Right. Well, I wanted to ask you how you view the treatment of Weres by the government. Is it too harsh? Are there things that could be handled better? Do the current policies perpetuate fear rather than diminish it? Are there safeguards in place?" Severus chuckled at Remus' poleaxed expression.
"Oh yes, you were right Mooney. Absolutely terrifying," the man drawled, earning himself a glare.
"If the both of you keep going on like this it is going to be a very long night and Ms. Bellerose might have to stay the night. Now, can you behave yourself, Severus, or do I have to call your godson to take you to task?" Remus drawled back. Severus shut up and gave him another Number Eighty. Or was it a Number Forty-Three? They were fairly similar, it was easy to mix them up. Oh yes, it was going to be a long night.
/*/
Peter wondered; just what was he doing? When had he decided to quit the Auror force and become a full time politician? Taking a look at the clock he decided it was the perfect time to pop in and ask to be reinstated as an active Auror. So, he flooed to the office and stalked right up to Madame Bones. "My mind," he said dramatically, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most slippery rat or the most intricate raid and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with these mindless filibusters. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave mental exhaustion. That is why I have chosen to return to my office, my lair, for I am The Badger." James and Frank, who had heard his arrival and peeked around their doors at the beginning of his speech, began to cackle. Madame Bones sighed, already handing him his old badge and pointing toward the office that still had his name on the door.
"No need to quote the greatest detective to me, Auror, just get to work. I'll have some of our tougher cases transferred to your desk," she said.
"Ooo~! Use the Greenies!" James called.
"James! That's terrible! Use the fresh Seniors," Frank countered.
"Ha! And you thought I was bad!"
"Yes. Your suggestion was terrible. Mine was horrible."
"GENTELMEN!" Madame Bones snapped, shooting two of her best Senior Aurors a scathing look.
"WORKING!" they chorused, ducking back into their offices and shutting the doors. Amelia gave a shuddering sigh and scrubbed her hands down her face.
"Merlin help me, there's three of them," she groaned. Peter just grinned, took his badge, and retreated to his office. Looking about he sighed happily.
"Ah, work, how I love you," he said, dropping his bag and rolling up his sleeves before attacking the dust bunnies who had decided to make their home in his office. Unsurprisingly, there was quite a number of them and it took him nearly an hour to make the place presentable, much less conductive to working. Stepping out to get a cuppa, Peter gave Madame Bones a dour look. "So, no-one in, no-one out since I more or less abandoned the place?" he asked, knowing she'd understand.
"Blame your friends for that. They made you into something of a legend. It made the younger Aurors turn the office into something of a shrine or 'sacred space.' Personally, I think they just wanted to make sure it was 'ready' for you when you came back," she answered. Peter snorted, smirking.
"Yeah, that sounds like them alright," he remarked, giving the two doors a look of fond exasperation.
/*/
Nia was on cloud nine. Not only was she getting insider information on how the UK treated weres, but she was also getting some quality entertainment. "Oh please, Remus, you know as well as I that should the Purebloods be given the opportunity to watch a werewolf play with an animagus with an animal form large enough to actually play with it they would either turn it down or realize that isolating the Werewolves is merely making the issue worse," Severus said.
"Ah but Severus, you are underestimating the sheer bloody-mindedness of the Pureblood society. Even if some took the chance and tried to fight against total seclusion of weres, and this is assuming they would, the rest of the Purebloods would dig in their heels and stand by their beliefs come hell or high water!"
"Yes, but I really think..." Severus said, but whatever it was he thought was lost as the door to the study opened and a rather bemused looking Petunia walked in.
"My my, I certainly hope I wasn't interrupting something," she remarked dryly.
"Petunia!" Remus greeted joyfully, standing and giving the other woman a warm hug. "We were merely discussing the treatment of Werewolves, Vampires, and other Cursed Creatures. Severus is of the opinion that if the Purebloods could see a werewolf playing with an animagus, granted they were about the size of a large dog or bigger, they'd push for revisions in the isolation laws." Petunia gave her husband a fondly disbelieving look.
"Ah. I do believe that's a Number Eighty-One, Severus," Remus remarked.
"Are you sure? Looks like it could be a Number Seventy," Severus mused.
"No, it's an Eighty-One," Petunia confirmed. "Just... not according to the definition in The Book. Severus, I do believe you are giving the Purebloods far too much credit."
"That's what I said! See? Petunia agrees with me!" Remus declared dramatically, grinning at his long time friend. Severus sighed and shook his head at the pair.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've been introduced," Nia said, standing and offering the slightly older woman her hand. "Nia Konani Bellerose. I'm here conducting an interview on the treatment and defense against Werewolves, Vampires, and other Cursed Creatures." Petunia considered the woman, then gave Remus a sly smirk and took her hand.
"Petunia Snape nee Evans, Professor of Non-Magical Living here at Hogwarts. I see you've come to the best. Remus is a wolf with a heart of gold and an excellent professor. Perhaps you could sit in on one of his lectures? I believe he'll be covering werewolves tomorrow with his Third Years, yes?" she said, giving Remus a pointed look. He frowned heavily at her but sighed and nodded.
"Indeed. It would be a pleasure to host you tomorrow," he told Nia. She beamed at him and accepted.
"Wonderful!" Petunia said, clapping her hands together and looping one arm through Nia's. "Come on then, you can bunk with me. Oh, the stories I could tell you about this one," she added, winking at Remus who flushed a rather fetching shade of red.
"Petunia!" he squeaked, giving her a rather more panicked version of Number Eighty with a bit of Sixty-Six thrown in for that 'kicked puppy' effect. Petunia just continued to smirk and lead Nia out the door and down the hall to her quarters, regaling the Hawaiian with tales of the Good Werewolf that had the metamorph laughing before they were even halfway there.
"I do believe we have witnessed the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Severus drawled, though his eyes gave him away. He was shaking in his boots.
"I'd like to quote you from earlier this evening, Bartok," Remus stated levelly. "Absolutely terrifying."
/*/
Aside from Nia and Petunia teaming up to embarrass and harass Severus and Remus, there were only a few things on the same level of terrifying. Peter 'The Badger' Pettigrew rejoining the Aurors and teaming up with not only Frank Longbottom but James Potter was one of those things. Of course, the Auror Department would argue that it was worse but... who's going to listen to a bunch of paranoid wizard cops? "So Pete, how's your first day back on the job?" James asked, slinging an arm around the shoulders of one of his oldest and greatest friends.
"Eh, just a lot of housekeeping," Peter answered. "I hear you have something to do with that?" he drawled pointedly as he gave his friend a side-long look. James grinned, completely unrepentant.
"Why Badger! I am wounded! Wounded I tell you! All I wanted was for my best mate to keep the office next to mine," he declared dramatically. Peter gave him a flat look.
"I just had to battle dust bunnies the size of my head and you're telling me you didn't have something to do with that?" he asked dryly. James continued to grin at him and the sandy blond shook his head with a sigh. "Right. Well. No-one' come to deliver those case files Amelia asked to be transferred to my desk so I thought I'd come looking for them. Any idea which ones she wants me to take?"
"A-ah! Are you... Auror Pettigrew?" a rather young looking wizard asked, holding a thick stack of papers and files and looking quite harried already. Peter smiled at the young man.
"That I am! So, I take it those are the files I came looking for?" he asked, nodding to the now wobbling stack.
"Ah, yes sir! Director Bones herself asked me to bring these to you! Only... you weren't in your office," the young wizard said. James snickered and Peter shot him a scathing look.
"I decided I needed some air after battling, I repeat, dust bunnies the size of my head," the Senior Auror replied, still glaring at his best friend as he relieved the now bemused wizard of his file stack.
"Just thought you'd like some fun, Badger!" James chirped, far too pleased with himself. Peter glowered at him.
"And how is that 'fun,' Prongs? I ask you, how? Those things nearly had a life of their own!" he snapped, turning to make his way back to his office.
"But they're so cute! How could you not play with them?" James asked. Peter glowered at the man then turned to the paper wizard, who for some reason was still lingering about even when he already knew that when James Potter was in this kind of mood, it was better to run.
"Ya see what I've had to put up with? I'm just glad I didn't have to spend seven years in a dorm with this nutter. Mighta gone mad and killed someone." He studiously ignored the affronted Potter behind him. "Thanks for bringing these by, mate. You watch yourself though, James isn't the only nutter on this floor." James gasped dramatically, laying a hand over his heart.
"Ah! Tis one blow after another! When will it end, I ask you? Shall you cut at me with your words til all that is left is but a sobbing wretch of a man with no wit to call his own?!" James wailed, following after Peter as the man made his way steadily toward his office.
"But... I thought he was calling me a nutter..." Frank muttered, blinking after the pair before realizing they were leaving him behind. "Oi! Wait for me!" They didn't.
"James, the only way you wouldn't have a wit to call your own is if you were cursed into a catatonic state and even then, I'm convinced that your raging insanity would convince you you were in Wonderland and should one attempt to bring you out you'd start asking where the talking caterpillar went," Peter declared. James stopped and watched his friend in stupefied silence.
"I am torn between being impressed and telling you that's not what wit means," he finally managed to get out. Peter gave him a smug grin over his shoulder.
"That was the point, Prongs," he said before expertly maneuvering his door using only his foot. Frank chuckled at the exchange and the flabbergasted look on James' face.
"So good to have him back, yeah?" he remarked.
"Frank... I'm thinking the next Office Wars is going to be fantastic," James told his friend and oftentimes partner in crime fighting. Frank chuckled and clapped a hand on James' shoulder.
"Oh, I'm sure it will be. I'm sure it will be," he said, grinning at Peter's office door and imagining all the glorious chaos they could cause now that he was back in the business.
/?/
A/N: Whoo! It has taken a long time to get this one hashed out. My muse ran away, I started University, and then I kinda forgot about this fic. Sorry! That said, I'd like to hear your thoughts on Neville seeing Petunia and Nia getting along as well as:
The next Office Wars
The Black Wedding
Something about the Dark's new movement(really want to play with The Hub now that it's built...)
Anything with the Cubs
A Very Marauder Christmas. May come out after Christmas as the Black Wedding needs to come first.