Thirty-Six
Caught in a Net
Laura woke up the next morning to a quiet room and a house full of people. It was Ambrose who suggested they all stay when it started to get late, insisting she take her bedroom while the rest of them transfigured cots or sleeping bags and settled in the salon. Even after Laura gave up on them and went to bed, Lucky and Dale were talking quietly into the night, making it hard at first to get to sleep. But finally, she managed to get a few hours sleep before dawn, and then woke up to snoring again.
As silently as she could, she pulled on some clothes and slipped into the hallway, noticing a faint light coming from the kitchen and the smell of coffee. Frowning, she took the time to slip into the bathroom to freshen up. Then she stealthily made her way past her sleeping friends, passing through a sound muting spell on the doorway to the kitchen. Lucky sat at a small table with a paper cup of coffee in hand and a large group of takeaway bags in front of her.
"You're up early, Lucky, especially considering you two were up half the night talking," Laura observed.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Lucky said, sheepishly. "We hadn't seen each other in days so we were catching up. See, in college the whole idea of a 'finals week' is a bit of a joke... it's more like two or three weeks. Longer if you have research papers due," she explained.
"And yet you both found time to come here," Laura noted.
"I turned my last paper in just before I came here, so I'm done. Dale only has one more to do and it's one of his sound tech classes, so I doubt he's worried about it," Lucky shrugged.
"Okay. But that doesn't explain why you're here, does it? Did Lindsay say something to you?" Laura asked.
"Nah, it wasn't Lindsay," Lucky said, handing Laura one of the cups of coffee and began going through the bags.
"All right, then who told you?" Laura demanded, irritated with her hesitation.
"It was Dad," Lucky admitted, handing her a warm container. "He's been plotting this rescue for months. And my advise is to let him have his way and give in to his schemes, 'cuz going against them is always a bad idea. It'll do more harm than good, trust me."
"Snape?" Laura asked in shock.
"Yep," Lucky confirmed, getting some silverware out of the drawer. "I went to the Kingler's and Co. last night to get breakfast. Don't worry, I put a spell on it to keep it fresh and hot. Try it, it's good."
"Plotting a rescue? I didn't need rescued," Laura said, not letting her change the subject.
"Sure you did. From yourself," Lucky said, handing her a fork. Laura frowned, unable to think of anything else to say. Sighing, she took the fork. "Mind if I let Dale in? He looks hungry."
Laura looked over at the doorway to see Dale standing on the other side of the barrier, waving at them.
"Yes, alright," Laura said, and Lucky got out her wand, poking the shield with it like she was popping a bubble.
"Good morning," Dale said. "Is it safe to come in?"
"Define safe," Lucky suggested. Dale simply smiled at her, grabbing a coffee.
"The others are starting to stir as well. Ambrose turned over twice when I got up and Lindsay stopped snoring," Dale reported, pulling the table out wider so that he could sit down.
"Did her snoring wake you up?" Laura asked.
"Nah. I'm used to it," Dale said cheerfully. Lucky glared at him, but he made a point not to look in her direction. "So how are you feeling today, Laura?"
"Who knows? Nobody is giving me time to think," Laura snapped.
"That's good," Dale decided, then found Laura was glaring at him as well. "It's going to take time, Laura, and a lot of soul searching. This is no time to make rash decisions, and lately, you've made quite a number of them. Be patient with yourself and let your mind rest for now. Let those feelings come out when they will, and let your friends and family support you when you need it."
"What the hell's up with that speech? You sounded just like Dad," Lucky criticized.
"Yeah, well, who do you think told me to say it? I just memorized it," Dale said. Lucky snorted.
"It figures."
"He came to my dorm room and scared the bajeezus outta me," Dale explained.
"Yeah, he's done that to me before," Lucky smirked.
"But why did he do that? Why did he go out of his way to set this whole thing up?" Laura said.
"It's his way," Lucky shrugged.
"I guess you'll just have to ask him that question sometime," Dale suggested.
"Maybe it's because of who my father is?" Laura wondered.
"That would make sense for Harry, or even Sirius. I don't know if it makes as much sense for that to be Dad's reason," Lucky mused.
"All I know is, when Headmaster Snape suddenly appears before you and asks you to step up for a friend, you tend to take it seriously," Dale said.
"Right, true," Lucky agreed. "Hey you two, no hovering! Come in and get your breakfasts," she called out to Ambrose and Lindsay. Ambrose stepped in.
"Great! I'm starving! Mind if I take mine to go? I need to open the shop," Ambrose explained.
"Packed and ready," Dale said, nestling a drink securely in Ambrose's bag before handing it to him.
"Make sure you stop by Toby's Trinkets before the holiday, Laura," Ambrose said.
"Thanks, Ambrose, I will," Laura said.
"See you. Oh, it's raining again... and who's out on the porch?" Ambrose wondered.
"Oh, no. What next?" Laura said with such exasperation that Lucky smirked.
"If you're thinking about trying to escape out of Dad's safety net, don't bother. You're not getting out until he lets you out," Lucky warned.
"The voice of experience," Dale commented.
"You know it," Lucky agreed.
"Hullo! A bit soft isn't it?" came Connie Weasley's voice from the next room.
"We made it just in time! Our parcels aren't soaked through!" Helena agreed. On hearing their voices, Laura propped her head up in her hand.
Severus woke up to find he had an appointment with Remus before first bell. Sending Quintin downstairs with Jennifer, he was just putting a tray together when Remus arrived.
"Good morning, Remus. Exams are all ready, I trust," Severus greeted casually.
"Of course they are, but I'm not here to talk about that. What do you know about what's going on with Laura? I've sent her countless Owlposts in the last two days and she's not replied to a single one," Remus complained.
"Oh, that. I believe they're scheduled to get there today, actually. At three o'clock," Severus answered calmly, glancing at his journal. "Yes, that's right."
Remus frowned at the appointment journal, but the only thing written at 3:00 pm was: "Give out Runes I Test to twenty complacent students plus four serious students."
"Do you mean she hasn't gotten them yet?" Remus asked with a scowl.
"She hasn't," Severus confirmed. "But Delia will find her 'waylaid' mail while visiting her father at the Postmaster General's office and will make sure that they're delivered."
"You had Delia waylay the post? Isn't that a Ministry offense?" Remus asked flatly.
"Well, yes, but she owed me a favor," Severus shrugged. "Laura wouldn't have been ready to handle your frantic rants two days ago, Remus. Give the girl some time to adjust."
"They weren't frantic rants!" Remus said. Severus gazed at him critically. "At least, they weren't all frantic rants. Some of the last ones were desperate pleas," he admitted sheepishly.
"Hm. Maybe I should have Delia vet all of those letters first," Severus decided, writing a quick note.
"What gives you the right to do that?" Remus growled.
"Do you mean who gave me that right? You did, of course, when you asked me to look after your daughter," Severus said bluntly. "And since I agreed to take care of the matter, do be good enough to let me do my job. I only have her best interests in mind, you know."
"I haven't seen you do much of anything since it happened. You've been here sitting on your ass the entire time. You haven't even been to the Ministry!"
"No, I asked Harry if I could go back to my weekend only schedule. Most of the interviews concerning that phony Stone business are done anyway, and they don't need my opinion on the other case. Harry is well aware that I have my hands full. Besides, I can do much more for her here. Right now, her friends are looking after her."
"Yes, I heard from Sirius already about your little plan to keep her occupied, but I was expecting more direct intervention than that," Remus said. "From you, specifically. The person I had a deal with."
"And I am certain there will come a time when I can intervene directly," Severus reassured him calmly.
"Just when will that be?" Remus asked irritably.
"That's her decision," Severus replied, turning his attention back to the tea.