"We can't stay in here forever. The Tin-Tinkles will get to us sooner or later."
Hermione gave Ginny a tired look. "Do I even want to know?"
"Oh, why not?" Ginny said with a sigh. "What are Tin Tin-Tinkles, Luna?"
"They hide within the nooks and crannies of ancient magical items," Luna said seriously. "There are probably thousands in this room. The tickle the brain and addle the senses."
"Well, they haven't gotten to Dumbledore. I shouldn't think we need to be worried." Ginny said, a tension line starting to form between her eyebrows.
"There's probably some debate about that," Hermione remarked.
"I assure you, there are no Tin-Tinkles in here," Dumbledore said in a reassuring voice as he entered the room; Severus, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout in tow. "I perform an enchantment once a month to make sure I don't get any little creatures nesting in here."
"Well, that's a relief." Luna settled into her chair. "I was going to start worrying about doxies next."
"I'd think you'd know about why there aren't any doxies, Miss Lovegood," Dumbledore said with a surprised voice. "They're quite the delicacy for House Elves. Any that find their way in here wouldn't last the day."
"I didn't know that," Luna said, impressed.
"Well, now that we do," Severus said in an irritated voice, "can we talk about the knife stuck into the statue in front of my quarters?"
"Well the good news is that's it's obviously an enchanted blade," Flitwick offered up. "So we're not worrying about a magically advanced student."
"Just a student with a store of enchanted weapons," Severus said stonily. "Well, that's obviously much better."
"A store of weapons can be discovered and destroyed," McGonagall said in an annoyed tone of voice. "Without having to take down a student by brute force."
"How would they get weapons into the school?" Hermione asked.
"I think we're beginning to realize things have been hidden away in the castle for generations," Dumbledore said grimly. "I think we might have to bar entrance to the Room of Requirement."
"We should have barred it to begin with," Severus said scornfully.
"Perhaps we can use it for another reason," McGonagall said with pursed lips. "Make it into a classroom."
"I could use more storage space," Sprout said excitedly.
"We're not going to do anything right away." Dumbledore shook his head. "We need this person to come to us."
"I say we put up silent alarms and traps," Severus suggested. "I'm sure it will uncover all sorts of interesting things."
"We don't want to lock up the whole school, Severus," Flitwick said wearily. "We're after one student."
"Or a group," McGonagall added.
"Not every sixth year that wants a little privacy to pull one off," Flitwick said grumpily.
Ginny, Hermione, and Luna burst out laughing, causing the tiny man to blush a deep red.
"Filius, really!" McGonagall scowled at him.
"I'm sure we can all come upon a reasonable agreement," Dumbledore said as he walked over to his desk. He picked up a quill and began scratching out a message on a piece of parchment. "Until then, one of these girls is in grave danger."
"My family has the resources to harbor them," Severus said with a tone of finality.
"Which is exactly why you're not to involved them at all."
Severus' eyebrows went together and he took a deep breath.
"He's right." Hermione gave him a pained look before he began shouting. "We don't need anyone bothering your family. They're pure-bloods. No one will go bother them if we're somewhere else."
"You don't know that!" Severus protested.
"That's why they're going to stay with the Amazons," Dumbledore said firmly.
"What about Halloween?" Luna asked.
"I'm not leaving you here!" Hermione crossed her arms stubbornly.
"What about the ball?" Ginny blurted out.
Dumbledore gave them all a weary look.
"I'm sure we can come up with some arrangement. Severus, I can see why Hermione would be worried. We don't know who that dagger was meant to threaten." Severus looked startled at the idea of a student threatening him. "If I didn't think you'd kill yourself trying to break back into the school I'd send you off to the Mystic Brotherhood's stronghold." Hermione giggled and Severus threw her a dirty look as Dumbledore gave her an amused one.
"Miss Weasley, I'm sure that a function with all the major dignitaries of Europe attending will have incredible security." Dumbledore reassured her.
"Just a local thing?" Severus couldn't contain himself and glared at his wife.
"I said 'relatively,'" Hermione grumbled as Flitwick began silently shaking from suppressed tittering. "Now I can see why your mother wanted to make your agreement into an Unbreakable Vow."
"Severus, I'm sure it will be fine and the more you're seen in public together, the quicker people will stop talking about you two," McGonagall assured him.
"And we can transfigure you into a decorative centerpiece from time to time if you're really that worried about being bothered by certain people," Sprout said, rolling her eyes. "You're not getting out of this one. Your mother even contacted me."
"What?" Severus looked appalled. "Whatever for?"
"She wanted to know if there were any herbs that would make you more agreeable—"
"I cannot believe that woman!" Snape burst out. "Of all the inappropriate—"
"Severus, you can't blame your mother for acting like one," Dumbledore said with a sigh as Severus seemed to steam in his own anger. "Miss Lovegood, I'm not sure what we can do with Halloween. We'll just have to see."
Luna nodded solemnly. "I understand the Amazons have advanced knowledge of magical creatures. I'm sure we'll have enough to keep us up with our studies."
"Except for Hermione," Ginny chimed in.
"I'm always up for learning something new," Hermione shrugged. She heard Severus try to hide a burst of sound with a fake cough and her cheeks burned red. She clenched her teeth. "I'd still feel better if he were somewhere else."
Anywhere else, if he was going to act like a pervert.
"I know this little bed and breakfast—" Flitwick was jostled as Sprout bumped into him to stop his teasing.
"I'm sure you do," Dumbledore said in an amused tone. Hermione decided it was best not to think about it. "However, we're talking about safety, and a nice bed and breakfast isn't very safe at all."
"How long will it be before we leave?" Ginny sighed in resignation.
"As fast as we can get you out," Dumbledore said regretfully. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay in here." He waved his wand and a platter of sandwiches and fruit appeared on his desk. "If you have to use the water closet, it's behind the grandfather clock. It swings out if you pull on the right side. I'll let you use your own judgment before concerning the beverages you find in the cabinet."
The girls thanked him and the Headmaster left with the Heads of House in tow.
"So now we're independent study students?" Ginny's voice wavered.
"It will be an amazing opportunity," Luna said as she smiled serenely. "Harry will have to wait to see you, but I think he'll manage."
"What?" Ginny squeaked out.
"You've been leaving the castle?" Hermione breathed in. "You could get into a lot of trouble!"
"How did you know?" Ginny demanded.
"Sir Cadogen," Luna admitted. "Sometimes he does his own bed checks at night."
"That little pervert!" Ginny squealed.
"He's actually been worried you aren't getting enough sleep," Luna assured her. "I don't think he's the type to run about gossiping."
Ginny groaned. "Well, I'm not going to be doing it anymore. I wasn't even if I stayed."
"Really?" Luna looked at her curiously. "Why not?"
"I really like sleeping." Ginny looked sheepish.
Hermione laughed and there was a small 'pop' as a house-elf appeared near Dumbledore's desk, jumping as it saw the girls.
"I'm sorry, Mistresses!" It cried out. "Fuzby didn't know anyone was in the Headmaster's Office!"
"Then where did the sandwiches come from?" Luna asked the elf, tilting her head as she looked at him.
"I didn't come from the kitchens, Miss." The elf bowed at her. "I just finished the Transfigurations classroom. Now I do the Headmaster's Office, then the boy's bathroom near the Astronomy Tower, and then I scrub down before helping with dinner." He beamed proudly.
"That's certainly a lot to do," Luna remarked.
"It is." Fuzby nodded vigorously. "Fuzby has very important jobs."
"Say, Fuzby," Ginny looked thoughtful, "when you're doing your work have you been noticing anything strange?"
"Strange?" His brows knitted together. "Like what?"
"Anyone skulking around at night that shouldn't?" Hermione encouraged.
"Some of the elves say they see a shadow at night." Fuzby shuddered. "But Fuzby hasn't ever seen it."
"A shadow?" Luna asked.
"Does the Headmaster know this?" Hermione asked.
"He does." Fuzby nodded again. "We've been told to hide if we see it."
"I think that's a very good idea," Hermione agreed. "Keep yourself safe. Can you use magic against them?"
"Fuzby doesn't have that authority." A deep blush spread over his face, to the tips of his ears. "Fuzby is only a third-generation elf."
"How does that work, Fuzby?" Hermione's interest was piqued. "What do you mean third-generation?"
"Fuzby's grandmother was the first in his line to be born at Hogwarts," the little elf explained. "Only fifth generation and up are allowed to use magic for the benefit of the school."
"That's very interesting, Fuzby," Ginny said firmly. "Thank you. Now, if you could leave us?"
"Of course!" Fuzby bowed deeply before he disappeared.
"What did you do that for?" Hermione asked her in an annoyed tone.
"Stopping you before you evoked your faculty privilege and granted him the ability to use magic." Ginny folded her arms. "I'm not going to be responsible for you granting magic on any random elf that pops into the room. I know you're nerves are frayed."
Hermione drew in a breath, but Luna cut her off.
"You should look at all this," she called out from the cabinet of drinks.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"What isn't it?" Luna sounded surprised so the other girls decided to investigate.
"I think he might have every soft drink known to man," Ginny said in astonishment.
"What's Teddy Tendergrass's Bug Oil Tonic?" Hermione read off one label.
"I don't know," Ginny said, bewilderedly. "What's Admirals Salt Water Slush?"
They had settled back in their seats and were eating the sandwiches that had been summoned for them and drinking down an all-natural orange soft drink when the door to the office opened and Dumbledore and Snape marched in, trailed by Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.
"It looks like you'll be seeing mother after all," Severus said grimly.
"It appears that the Brotherhood and the Amazons have been having some smaller, technical meetings at the Snape Estate." Professor Dumbledore sounded strained. "The enhanced security should be enough to keep out nearly anything or anyone."
"Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall beckoned to her. "There are a few things we have to go over before you leave."
"As do I, Miss Lovegood." Flitwick cleared his voice and the girls paired off with their respective Heads of House.
"Why do I get the impression that the meetings aren't good news?" Hermione asked as soon as the others were out of earshot.
"The meetings are fine," Severus snorted. "Their location has a lot to be desired."
"How?" Hermione asked curiously.
"They're too close to family." Severus' lips were pressed tight.
"Well…" Hermione hesitated. "At least they'll be keeping an eye on your parents."
Severus rolled his eyes at her.
"And we'll be able to keep an eye on each other," Ginny offered.
"Heaven help us," Severus groaned.