Chapter Twenty-Nine

Trial By Fire

Dale tore off his earphones and cracked his neck, watching as Rick got up from the stool and tried to move around. In the booth, Dale's father was tapping his fingers in a rather irritating sort of fashion. Myrine said a something to him and he seemed to calm down again, but stuck a tongue out at her as she went to open the sound door.

"All right, boys, break time! Come on out for a bit so the crew can have some lunch," Myrine said.

"At least you don't make the pretense that we're going to get any lunch to speak of," Tango said grumpily.

"Then stop gaining weight," Myrine said primly. "We wouldn't have to restrict your diet at all if you didn't keep sneaking alcohol in your drinks."

"What are you talking about? I haven't had anything in months! Hey, where's my water bottle?" Tango asked, combing over the table while the others either shook their heads or ignored it all together.

"So what's our appearance tonight anyhow? I've lost track," Julian admitted, grabbing a Red Bull.

"Online Q and A," Myrine said, glancing at her chart. "We're just going to set up a room in the back for that, actually, we have five computers and webcams set up already."

"Thank god we don't have to go anywhere," Kid said.

"And don't you dare start opening up fifty private messages to your friends the moment you get on either, Kid...that goes for you too, Rick. Pay attention to the fans asking you questions, you know most of our mainstream sales are digital now. Maybe these little net chats will encourage them to buy it through us instead of trying to go around the company to get it," Myrine said.

"Fat chance of that," Rick snorted, but Myrine squinted at him. "Fine, I'll try to pay attention."

"And Kid, no going off the script when it comes to questions about Duffy Dakota. Her publicist isn't going to be here, and I really don't want to hear them threatening lawsuits again," Myrine warned, walking back towards the studio. "I'll be back in a few minutes, I'm going to go check the tracks."

"Man, I hate being dictated about what I can and can't say about that. Not that it's anybody else's business, but I don't think my life should be scripted. If she wasn't so hot, I think I'd ditch her on the basis that I didn't know I'd be dating her publicist as well," Kid complained.

"Better you than me," Dale chuckled, tapping some powdered drink mix into a bottle of water.

"Well, if you are going to ditch her, have the decency to wait until after our the summer tour is sold out so we don't get any backlash from it," Julian advised. "Besides, Bert would flip out again."

"No, all I'd have to do is get some 'mystery girl' to flatten me at the end, isn't that right, Dale?" Kid taunted him.

"You'd have to one-up it, though. I know... get the 'mystery girl' to hit Duffy this time," Tango suggested.

"Oh, cut it out, guys. You know how much I hate the media hounding Lucky like that, she's not used to it," Dale protested.

"Then you'd better give her a crash course in it, because she just hit the tabs again today," Julian said, pulling out a paper from beside the drink cart.

"Oh great, what now?" Dale said, putting down his drink and going over to the paper.

" 'Recent reports from New York have come out that Dale Chance's alleged girlfriend, Lucky Snape, is actually an American citizen instead of British as previously reported. Birth records have been found linking her with the name Fortuna Conejo, born in Long Island, and whose last name seems to have been the recent result of her adoption into a British family through the embassy. The embassy declined to comment, stating confidentiality reasons,'" Julian read.

"Damn it!" Dale said, grabbing the paper out of his hand before bursting in to where his mother was working, and thrusting the paper in front of her. It took her a moment to find it and read it, taking off the headphones.

"Bert, have you seen this?" Myrine said. Bert stood up from where he was leaning talking to the mixing artist and walked over.

"Hm? Oh, yes, that came out this morning, actually," Bert agreed distractedly.

"Well, you could have mentioned it to me," Myrine said irritably.

"I am sorry, Myrine. I was planning to, but with everything going on, I just forgot," Bert admitted and then went back to what he was doing.

"Am I the only one who sees this as a problem?" Dale asked.

"Give me a couple of minutes and I'll send an Owl to Jennifer, Dale. With any luck, she can get a hold of Vallid to make sure it doesn't go any further," Myrine said. Dale nodded unsurely.

"Maybe Lucky was right all along. Maybe this was a bad idea," Dale said, walking out of the room. Myrine looked after him thoughtfully for a moment, uncertain of what to say. With only a quick word to Bert, Myrine went to send off the Owl, having no idea that it was already too late.


It was nice to get back to the quiet of the Headmaster's Study after the Yule 'holiday.' Work seemed much preferable to the hectic Yule, and he was more than glad to return to paperwork for a few days, perhaps even get a second wind before Natalie's birthday party on Christmas Eve.

He was, in fact, in the midst of preparing his overview for the second half of the term for the board when a small grey owl flew in he recognized at once as Eric Dalance's, so he paused to accept the folded note and open it.

To the Headmaster of Hogwarts ~ Abraxus Coventry has demanded an emergency meeting of the board of governors over the article in this morning's Oracle, a meeting which will be closed to everyone. Please be aware that a flurry of inquiries by parents have also been sent to us complicating the matter, and although I do not think Coventry will get the support he would like for this to be a full board decision, it is not likely the only avenue he will try.. Be wary, my friend, and no matter what it might occur, you, your daughter, and the rest of your family have my full support. ~Eric.

"What in blazes was that all about?" Severus said out loud, and then began sifting through the papers on his desk. "Steadfast, would you mind asking one of the school owls to go fetch me an Oracle before you return?" The grey owl stretched one of his wings in an obliging manner before taking off. But a few minutes later Dodger appeared in the window with a paper of his own; a copy of the Sun, and he stared at the headline, Troubled Past of Mystery Girl Revealed!

Cursing softly to himself, Severus scanned the article, unsurprised to find that somehow they had gotten confirmation of the name from the welfare system, but that wasn't what he was concerned about. Then he saw it; the short but unquestionable mention that Lucky had been the lone survivor in a devastating fire of a 'suspicious nature.' Quickly he scribbled out a note to Jennifer and send Dodger back out, rereading Eric's letter over carefully. He knew before the Oracle arrived what it would read.


Dale and the rest of Second Chance had gotten up early that morning for makeup and a photo shoot, but at least that meant they would be able to rest their voices that morning. It was just as well, for Julian woke up sounding quite hoarse.

"You need to stop guzzling down all those high caffeine energy drinks," Myrine scolded him.

"How else are we expected to keep up?" Julian rasped.

"I know it's a rough schedule," Myrine said with a sigh, moving out of the way so that the makeup artist could get around her. "But it's almost Christmas, and then you can unwind for the day."

"Dear Father Christmas. Do you know what I would like the most for Christmas?" Kid said in a squeaky voice.

"Sleep," they all said at once, and then chuckled.

"They do have a point, Myrine," the makeup artist said. "The other boys have circles under their eyes this morning even deeper than Tango's... oh, and Tango's teeth need another one of your special fixes, ma'am," she added with a wink. Myrine frowned at him, checking to make sure the door was shut before pulling out her wand.

"You want to tell us exactly what else you're on?" Myrine asked him bluntly, the other four exchanging glances as she cast a cosmetic spell on his teeth.

"Nothing! Okay, so I take a drink now and then, fine, it's legal here, after all... and besides, the media is more concerned about Dale's love life these days than my drinking anyhow."

"Time to go on another bender, Tango," Dale suggested.

"Don't encourage him," Myrine scowled at her son. "Look. After the shoot, you boys have two hours to get ready before tonight's commitments, so how about I set you up with some rides to our condo and you can crash or just relax for a bit."

"That sounds great," Rick said enthusiastically.

"Then I know I can count on you guys to not clown around and get this thing done, right?" Myrine said with a thin smile.

"Yes, ma'am," Julian agreed, the promise of relief going a long way to improve morale among the five boys.

But the morale boost, it seemed, would be short lived, for as they were finishing up the morning session, Bert walked in with papers in hand, forcing a strained smile on his face that made Dale do a double take, wondering what was wrong.

"Ah, finishing up? Good! Dale, I need you right after for a press conference," he said, and everyone started to groan. "No no no, just Dale, the rest of you can relax."

"Me? Why just me? I thought we were doing all group stuff this week," Dale asked.

"Oh...um... well, this is a personal matter, actually. I'll be in the lobby when you're done," he said. Myrine frowned and glanced at her son, who had the same concerned expression on his face, before following her husband out.

Almost immediately an argument broke out between them. It was loud enough that the photographer decided to turn up his music to drown it out, but he had a very hard time getting the last couple of shots he wanted when it was obvious Dale wasn't paying attention anymore. At last he finished and Dale hurried out, not even bothering to change.

"What's going on?" Dale demanded when his parents immediately fell into silence.

"Um... first... Dale, there's something you really ought to know about Lucky," Bert began.

"Never mind what I know! What do they know?" Dale demanded.

"When they got a hold of her name, they must have done some sort of newspaper research," Myrine interrupted. "Because they found the original report printed in the newspaper about the stand off between Conejo and the police and the fire that followed, including a statement by one of the officers saying that it looked as if he 'spontaneously combusted.'"

"And they've dug up other old articles stating the suspicious nature of the fire, all the while downplaying the part that it was ruled 'accidental,'" Bert said with a sigh.

"What about our papers?" Dale demanded.

"They know," Myrine said evenly. "Apparently theirs came out with this story this morning too." Dale turned to rush out the door, Bert swiftly catching them.

"Don't go out there yet! There's an army of reporters out front!" Bert warned him.

"Then I'll Apparate! I'm going to see Lucky!" Dale snapped.

"They already know you're in here! It'd look suspicious, and besides, I already told them we would give them a statement," Bert admitted. "I've already written it out, all you have to do is read it. Once the initial damage control is done, then you can use the downtime to visit her if you like, just don't forget we have another appearance in a couple of hours. Come now, Dale, the sooner you get it over with, the sooner you can go."

"This is insane. There is no way they could have found this stuff out in twenty-four hours without help. I can't believe anyone would do this to her!" Dale said angrily. "And those vultures out there don't even care who they're hurting by following up on it!"

"I know, and I agree. This entire thing is out of control," Myrine said. "But right now you need to stay calm so that things don't get even worse."

"Fine. Dad, give me the statement so I can look it over before I get out there..."

"There's no time for that! Just read it!" Bert said, nudging him out towards a makeshift podium that had been set up just outside, a crowd of reporters all talking at once as he found himself stepping up to it and a paper shoved in his hand.

But there was no way that Dale had any intention of reciting any sort of statement without reading it first, ignoring his father's hisses of impatience as he scanned it. He wasn't surprised when it contained a complete denial that he never knew her. He had actually been expecting it; he knew his father well enough to know that he tended to take the extreme when he was forced on the defensive. But when he got to the part implying that Lucky was simply an overzealous fan that had been stalking him over time, his blood began to boil. It was then even as the press began to settle down that he realized he had had enough.

"I was actually given a statement to read, but I'm not going to insult either your or my own intelligence by reading it," Dale said. Bert tried to step up, but Myrine blocked him with a single hand. "Yes, it's true that Lucky Snape is a schoolmate of mine, but whether or not she's more than that isn't my place to say; it's hers. I don't believe in speaking for other people when they're not around, and I am also not going to comment on media allegations when she and her family aren't here to defend themselves. I will say that I am quite sick and tired of the media feeling they have the right to expose every nuance of my life and the lives of people around me, and I'm tired of my agent egging it on," he added, Bert blinking in surprise. "You want a real story? Fine. I'm quitting the band effective immediately. Find some other sap to take the heat for a change. Oh... and Dad... you're fired," he added, and turned around as the reporters burst out into questions and started taking pictures all at once.

"That's a breach of contract!" Bert sputtered out, too surprised to come up with a better argument.

"Sue me, Dad," Dale said curtly and walked back in, Disapparating the moment he was out of the media's sight.

Ben looked up as Lucky jumped up off the couch the moment it cut back to reporters, Aurelius getting up right after her.

"Where are you going?" Ben asked.

"I'm gonna go find Dale," Lucky said.

"Wait, Lucky. Let's find out what how Father wants to handle this first," Aurelius advised, but Lucky wasn't about to listen. She grabbed her coat and was halfway down the front steps when Dale Apparated in front of her. They stared at each other in surprise for a moment and then he hugged her, getting a slap on the shoulder for his effort.

"What, are you stupid? What were you thinking, leaving the band like that?" Lucky scowled at him.

"What? After what they did?" Dale said.

"The band didn't do it, the media did it!"

"My father had something to do with it too."

"Okay, him you can fire..."

Aurelius cleared his throat and the two of them looked up.

"Do you mind fighting inside? Our world knows about this too, you know. We might get visitors," Aurelius pointed out.

"Come on," Lucky said, pulling him inside.

"Lucky! Not in your room," Jennifer called out before Lucky had a chance to get farther than the entry hall. "If you need to talk in private, try the library. I'll have Mercy send up some drinks," she added.

"It's this way," Lucky said, leading him down the hall.

Dale got only a glimpse of the kitchen before she turned down the corridor and led him up the back stairs into the library. It was the first room since they entered the house that Dale actually got a real look at, and he couldn't help but think from the tall mahogany bookshelves to the red wall paper to the ornate rugs beneath their feet that it did seem to be very much like a room the Professor himself might want to relax in. Lucky grabbed all the pillows and tossed them on the ground next to the fireplace and then demanded that he tell her everything that happened, sitting on the floor across from him.

A few minutes later, a pair of cups and saucers appeared on the brick hearth, and the two of them grew quiet as they stared into their steaming cups of cider.

"You're right, Lucky. Maybe I shouldn't have blown up in front of the media like that, regardless of how mad I was. But at least my reaction is bound to get the Muggle media off your back."

"I don't care about any of that!" Lucky snapped. "I just didn't want to drag you down with me when all of this came out!"

"It shouldn't have come out at all!" Dale snapped back. "And it wouldn't have, had it not been for me." Lucky sighed and shook her head.

"I think it would have come out anyhow," Lucky said quietly. "Yeah, it might not have helped your being in the press already and all, but sooner or later, somebody would've found out and tried to turn it against the Professor. Nobody would have let me into Hogwarts, you know, if they had known about it. That's why the Professor took me as his ward in the first place, because none of the other schools wanted to take a chance that I'd get mad and blow up the school or something. I wish it would've waited another two years."

"Don't worry, Lucky. You know as well as I do that there is no way the Professor will let anyone take you out of that school as long as he's Headmaster," Dale said.

"It's not me I'm worried about," Lucky admitted, pulling her knees up to her chin while Dale rubbed her back comfortingly.


Norman Balmweed paused at the landing of the fourteenth floor, using the excuse to wait for Nelson to catch up to take a moment to dot his brows with his handkerchief.

"Really, why did the board pay for a Door Lift for this castle when the damned thing never wants to work?" Abraxus said irritably, waiting at the top of the fifteenth for the others. "I swear the thing is personally biased against me!"

"Knowing Snape, I wouldn't doubt it," Nelson said as he and Balmweed joined him. "Let him have his stall, Coventry. It isn't going to help him any, considering what we have to say."

Despite the apparent snub, the three men found the way to the spiral staircase open as well as the doors above it. Severus stood up as they came in, his black eyes immediately fixed on Nelson.

"What are you doing here? You know perfectly well that you are not permitted in this castle," Severus said crisply.

"I'm here on legitimate business, Snape," Nelson said curtly.

"I would not suffer to conduct any business with you, Nelson, legitimate or otherwise," Severus retorted.

"You already do conduct it, Severus, although you may not realize it yet," Abraxus said. "Byron is the principle stockholder and chairman of Coven River Insurance and Investments." Severus squinted.

"Isn't that one of your companies, Abraxus?" Severus asked flatly.

"As a matter of fact, it was one of my family's yes, but not one I've ever had much interested in. Nelson has been on the board for some time now, so I had no qualms with selling him my majority to free up some assets for the campaign," Abraxus said. Severus shifted his gaze towards Nelson again.

"You really are becoming more like your brother-in-law by the day, aren't you?" Severus said. A flash of intense anger crossed Nelson's eyes, but he forced a very unpleasant smile across his face.

"Lucius craved blood, vengeance and power, Snape. I crave only money," Nelson said through the plastered smile. "Consequently, I like to protect my investments, and I am very concerned right now about the risk my company is taking covering this school."

"I don't see how you're taking more risks now than any other year, especially considering that the insurance plan the board has been 'recommending' in recent years has more loopholes in it than a goblin contract," Severus said expressionlessly. "Such as writing off the lab explosion as 'faculty neglect.'"

"It isn't our fault that your Potion's Master doesn't take the time to put dangerous chemicals away properly, no. Of course, you do have full liability coverage, so if anyone had sued the school for the injuries after that incident, you would have been covered," Nelson said.

"Yes, that's very reassuring. Now, if you don't mind, would you get to the point? Because otherwise I have a lot of work to do," Severus said, sitting back down at his desk again.

"I believe you already know why we're here, Severus," Abraxus said solemnly. "You have been housing a Pyro at the school."

"Fire sensitive," Severus corrected with a sigh.

"I am not going to play the political correctness with you," Abraxus said curtly back. "I should have known something wasn't right when you went to such lengths to bring the girl here, and now it comes out that she murdered her entire family..."

"That may be the popular rumor, Abraxus, but may I remind you that it's only newspaper speculation? I can assure you that's not what happened, and although I admit Fortuna didn't have a perfect record when I brought her over, she has now been at Hogwarts for five years without incident," Severus said.

"Without incident? What of that odd fire that happened in your son's Defense classroom last year? Do you think we've forgotten that?' Abraxus said. "Your daughter was involved in that, as I recall."

"That was a private matter, Abraxus, and one that didn't involve any other students," Severus said.

"But the point is it very well could have!" Abraxus snapped. "You know perfectly well that girl has a temper, and if it got out of hand once, it can very well happen again! And considering how often she picks on my Donald, I think I have a right to be concerned!" Severus blinked.

"Do you actually believe what you're saying?" Severus asked incredulously.

"Severus, I'm afraid this time he has a point," Norman interrupted. "Ever since the Oracle came out this morning, we've been getting Owl after Owl from worried parents who are simply horrified to hear there's a fire sensitive in the school with a questionable record. Some of them are even threatening to pull their children out until she's gone."

"Then they would have to wait two and a half years to return, because I have no intention of pulling Fortuna out of Hogwarts," Severus said evenly.

"That might get expensive," Nelson ventured. "Considering the risk to the school, it will have to be added to the policy."

"I don't see how her talents are any more or less dangerous than any of the others that go in and out of this school," Severus snapped. "You're not about to get me to change my mind by way of money in any case. I'll pick up the difference myself if I have to."

"It would be a lot better for everyone if you simply removed her from school and had her tutored, Severus, and I am not the only one who thinks so," Abraxus said, pulling out a paper. "This is a request from a majority of the board members that she be removed from the school at once."

"There are only seven names on this 'request,' Abraxus. You'll have to do better than that," Severus said.

"I can, actually, if you keep being obstinate," Abraxus said. "I can simply call a board hearing to have you reviewed for misconduct for sneaking in such a student in Hogwarts to begin with. You intentionally enrolled her knowing both the danger and her past record without informing the board, and in the process put the entire student body at risk. There will be a very thorough investigation in both your part of this and what you intentionally overlooked, and I expect we'll be calling on the American authorities to release any and all information they have on the girl. But if you don't mind being put under a magnifying glass, go right ahead and insist she stay."

"Attempt to move her from this school, Abraxus, and I will sue the board for discrimination based on magical talent," Severus warned. "And considering who my counselor is, I'd be very worried about taking that route, if I were you."

"You can't sue the board, Severus," Abraxus snorted. "It would go against your contract. It's not within your rights to do so..."

"It is within my rights as a parent!" Severus snapped.

"Not while you're Headmaster it isn't," Abraxus said.

"Easily remedied!" Severus said, going over to the desk and pulling out a parchment. "If resigning is what it's going to take to keep Fortuna here where she belongs, so be it!"

"Resigning?" Balmweed said with alarm. "You can't be serious!"

"He's bluffing, Norman, he wouldn't really quit," Abraxus said.

"I'm not quitting, I assure you. I've only just begun... I simply think it's time to change battlefields. I will not now nor will I ever allow the board to bully me into sacrificing the needs of any student, let alone my daughter, for the board's own selfish pursuits. I refuse to play by your rules any further, and I refuse to allow you to pick at my daughter's past, which frankly isn't any of your businesses. Now, get out! And don't be surprised when the board gets served papers along with my resignation by tomorrow!" Severus snapped.

His face seemed strangely shadowed in a way that convinced Norman it was time to go. But the other two were still standing by the desk, staring warily at Severus as if attempting to discern whether or not he was serious.

"If you really think your threatening to resign is going to make a difference in this, Severus, you are making a mistake," Abraxus said evenly. "These idle threats of yours won't accomplish anything but land you out of a job."

"All I am doing is putting the needs of my child in front of my own, Abraxus, but that isn't something I expect either of you or Nelson to understand," Severus said.

"As you will, I suppose, although I don't think it's going to do you any good," Abraxus said with a shrug. "She will still be out of school come January if I have anything to say about it, and I assure you, Severus, if you resign, you will not be allowed to come back to Hogwarts as long as I'm on the board."

"What a very reassuring thought," Severus retorted, watching them as they went to join Balmweed by the Door Lift and went through it. After a quick look at the map to make sure they had left, Severus began going through his desk.