Chapter 9
Severus awoke the next morning feeling tired. He hadn't slept well and was particularly annoyed by the way his evening had ended the previous night. He got out of bed and made his way into the shower. He found himself shortly after making his way to the great hall for breakfast.
"Good morning Severus." Dumbledore was beaming at him.
"Good morning Headmaster." Severus nodded.
"Didn't sleep well I take it?" Dumbledore was looking at him with a twinkle in his eye.
"Not particularly, no." Severus began eating his porridge as Dumbledore watched him.
"I had a visit from Remus last night."
"Hmm." Severus was still eating.
"He spoke with me about the conversations you two have had in the past few days." Dumbledore sat back in his seat and stared up at the ceiling.
"Did he?" Severus stated.
"Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a meeting this evening in my office. We can clear the air." Dumbledore made a waving motion with his hands.
"Headmaster," Severus wiped his mouth with his napkin. "I am not particularly fond of the wolf. Now, I am more than civil to him given our… history."
"I know that you do not forget and forgive easily Severus. I am just asking that you give it a chance. Remus is a lovely fellow who only wishes to make amends for his past transgressions."
At this, Severus noticed that Lupin was peering at him while having a conversation with Minerva farther down the staff table.
"Very well." Severus sighed.
"Wonderful! I expect this evening after dinner would be best for both of you, hmm?"
"I am free after dinner. As to his schedule I have no idea when he is free." Severus returned Lupin's glance and Lupin quickly looked away.
"I will confirm the time with him after breakfast. There was one other thing I wanted to discuss."
"Yes?" Severus had finished his porridge and sat back and crossed his legs.
"I wanted to speak with you about Miss Granger."
"Oh?" His eyebrow raised.
"Remus had mentioned to me that he would like to teach Miss Granger advanced defense. He supports her proposal to the Ministry. He has been trying to convince Minerva to allow him to extend the invitation but she seems rather hard pressed to agree. She fears that the strain would be too much for Miss Granger, especially since she has advanced potions with you three nights a week already."
"What are you suggesting Headmaster?" Severus inquired.
"I am merely making conversation Severus. I am not sure what would be in Miss Granger's best interests. If we allow her to take more advanced classes, she may spread herself too thin like in her 3rd year."
"She may be an adult in the eyes of the Ministry Headmaster but she is still a student of this school. Therefore, you have the ultimate say on her academics until she graduates." Severus stated matter of factly.
"Yes, this is true. I am toying with the idea of allowing Remus to extend his invitation nonetheless. Even if nothing comes of her proposal to the Ministry, I daresay the extra lessons will be useful in the years to come." Dumbledore looked over the house tables and Severus followed his gaze. It landed on her. Sitting at the Gryffindor house table eating with Potter and Weasley.
"If that is your decision Headmaster." Severus broke his gaze and looked at the old wizard sitting next to him.
"She can always decline the offer."Dumbledore glanced down the staff table to look at Lupin and Minerva.
"We shall see."
"Well," Dumbledore got up from his seat. "I will see you this evening Severus." And he walked out of the great hall.
Severus sat there for a moment longer. He watched the students milling about, eating, laughing and reading their morning mail. He caught a glimpse of her and he thought he saw her looking at him. He chanced a look at her but her attention was on Potter.
"Hmph." He got up and made his way out of the great hall and down the stairs to the dungeons.
The remainder of his day wasn't anything special. He taught his 6th years a new potion and they managed to brew it in the time period allotted. He went to lunch and ate in relative silence except for the constant hum of conversation around him.
His afternoon classes had gone by just as the morning ones had. He didn't have any 5th years today so he wouldn't be seeing her.
Dinnertime came so Severus made his way to the great hall. He ate his roast chicken and potatoes and then made his way to Dumbledore's office.
He spoke the password "Pumpkin pasties." And the gargoyle came to life, jumping out of his way to allow passage to the spiral staircase. Once at the top, Severus knocked on the door.
"Enter." Came the old wizards voice. Severus opened the door and saw Dumbledore at the window staring out into the night.
Severus cleared his throat. "Ah Severus." Dumbledore turned smiling. "Please sit." He indicated an armchair in front of his desk. "Care for a lemon drop?" He indicated the bowl of sweets on his desk.
"No, thank you Headmaster." Severus shut the door and made his way to the armchair to sit down, legs crossed.
"I think I might have one then." Dumbledore plucked a lemon drop from the dish and popped it into his mouth. "Sour! But so tasty."
Severus sat in the armchair and looked around the room. It never changed much, except for a new trinket here or there.
A knock at the door caused both wizards to look up. "Enter." Dumbledore stated to the door.
Lupin came in and shut the door behind him. "Hello Headmaster. Hello Severus." Lupin smiled wide as he made his way over to the other armchair.
"Hello Remus. Please sit. Care for a lemon drop?" Dumbledore indicated the bowl of sweets again.
"Yes, thank you Headmaster." Lupin sat down and then reached for a lemon drop from the bowl. "These and licorice wands are my favorites." Lupin popped the candy into his mouth and smiled again.
"I am a fan of the fizzing whizbees as well." Dumbledore beamed.
Dumbledore sat in his chair and faced the two other wizards. "Now, we have met this evening to discuss a few things. I was hoping to start with the rift between you two." He stated indicating them.
"I would like to remedy the damage I did in my youth. I am truly sorry for everything Severus." Lupin was looking at him.
"So you said Lupin." Severus did not look at him.
"Wouldn't it be better for you two to get along?" Dumbledore inquired.
"I thought we were." Stated Severus.
"I would hardly call this friendly behavior." Lupin frowned.
"Considering our past," Severus began through gritted teeth. "My behavior toward you is friendly."
Dumbledore gave a faint sigh. "I know the torment you suffered Severus. But Remus is adamant about apologizing and fixing his mistakes. Beyond that," Dumbledore laced his fingers together and rested his hands on his desk. "The Order needs all of its members to get along and communicate."
Severus bit back with venom. "It is my job to serve the Order. As long as I do my job how I do it should not be of concern."
Dumbledore sat back in his chair. "It would be nice to have a pleasant conversation now and then, would it not?"
"Exactly my point!" Lupin scooted forward in his seat and turned his body to Severus. "I think it would be wonderful for both of us to get along, despite our history."
Severus had been staring transfixed at a spot on the wall behind Dumbledore. At this, he broke his gaze and chanced a look at Lupin.
"I will not make any guarantees." He spat.
"Can you at least be more cordial?" Asked Lupin exasperated.
Severus glared at Lupin. "I will not be your little pet project on finding redemption Lupin." He spat. "I am tolerant of you. At this point I would consider that better than how I regarded you during our time at school." Lupin looked affronted.
"I think perhaps," Dumbledore started. "That this may take more time and effort. One day, you two might call yourselves friends. But I am afraid that day is not today."
Lupin sighed.
"Remus," Dumbledore turned to look at him directly. "Given your history with Severus I daresay he is right. His attitude toward you is much better than when you were young. Progress of any kind is positive. Is this something you can accept? That you will walk out of here today no better but with hopes that the future may yet change?"
Lupin looked at Severus. "I suppose I can."
"Severus?" Dumbledore regarded him.
"Yes." He said through gritted teeth.
"Wonderful. Now, to the other matter." Dumbledore waved his wand and a sheaf of parchment appeared on his desk. "I would like to discuss Miss Granger."
Severus straightened in his chair.
"As I am sure you both are aware, Miss Granger has started a proposal to the Ministry requesting they allow her to taker her N.E.W.T.s a year early."
Both Severus and Lupin nodded.
"However," Dumbledore laced his fingers together and looked up at the ceiling. "I have advised Miss Granger against using the time turner for any reason, as this would cause her age to change again."
Lupin leaned onto the arm of his chair.
"Minerva was concerned for Miss Granger in regards to furthering her studies this year. While she is glad Miss Granger will not use the time turner, she is still worried that Miss Granger will spread herself too thin."
Severus crossed his arms.
"Minerva and I agree that Miss Granger will be allowed to take advanced lessons from her teachers but only as long as she does not stretch herself too thin." Dumbledore looked at the two wizards sitting before him.
"This means that Miss Granger may only take on three advanced classes this year. Whether she does this three at a time or all at once, she may only choose three subjects to study. Our hope is that she will spread these out throughout the year as to not overload herself."
Lupin cleared his throat. "Which subjects have been chosen for her Headmaster."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, that is up to Miss Granger."
"Sir?" Lupin looked puzzled.
"Miss Granger has the power to accept or decline an invitation from a teacher who offers her advanced lessons." Dumbledore stated matter of factly.
"We had originally thought to offer her advanced potions, transfiguration and defense against the dark arts." Dumbledore stared out of the window.
"However, Minerva believes that it should be up to Miss Granger what areas of advanced study she chooses and I quite agree with her." Dumbledore smiled and turned back to them.
"Seeing as how her first offer of advanced study came from Severus, there are only two other subjects she may pursue this year. That is, if she so wishes."
"I was not aware of this when I had originally assigned her detention." Severus raised his eyebrow.
"Which is why it came at such a wonderful time. Minerva and I had just been discussing the terms of this very subject that same morning. When Minerva asked you to rescind her detention it gave me a thought. If Miss Granger chooses to pursue advanced classes, why not give her the option to do so? I wanted to see how she responded to your offer." Dumbledore beamed at him.
"So now, two more teachers may offer her advanced studies as well." Dumbledore looked at Lupin.
"So, I may extend my invitation to teach her advanced defense?" Lupin was starting to smile.
"Yes Remus, you may." Dumbledore nodded politely.
"Thank you Headmaster." Lupin's smile widened.
"Were there any other matters that either of you wanted to discuss?" Dumbledore looked between them.
"No." Severus uncrossed his legs.
"Nothing from me." Stated Lupin plainly.
"Wonderful. I wish you both a delightful evening. Goodnight!" And with that, Dumbledore reached for a letter on his desk and began to read it.
Both wizards got up from their chairs and made their way to the door. Severus went first and Lupin was right behind him. They got down to the stone gargoyle and it jumped back into place as the last of their steps left the alcove.
"Well, thank you for coming to the meeting Severus." Lupin smiled at him.
"Hmph." Severus was not going to say thank you.
"Well, I will see you later then. Goodnight." And Lupin turned and walked away.
Severus made his way to his chambers and went straight to bed.