AN: Teaser for Part 2: Adrian Pucey and the Meddling Ministry; the OOTP-era sequel is up and complete.
o - o - o - o - o
"Why did you lie to me?" Octavia asked from the threshold to the lab, her tone accusing and weary at the same time. "An entire year, Severus, I could have sent my sons away."
Snape did not pause stirring the contents of the cauldron, did not look up at her. "What lie are you accusing me of?"
"He is back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Snape looked up at her, raised both eyebrows. "How fortunate that your son flooed home," he observed calmly.
"I am grateful for it," she replied coolly, pressed her lips into a firm line.
Snape took out the stirring rod, wiped it clean, placed it away. "Word of the Dark Lord's return has been around for the last year."
"You'll excuse me if my faith in Dumbledore is not as firm as yours," she said, not without a hint of unkindness.
Snape scowled lightly at the potion. "I did not lie to you," he said softly.
Octavia sighed lightly, moved to a simmering cauldron at the other end of the table. "Who is with Potter?" she asked as she watched the potion.
"Hermione Granger. The two youngest Weasleys. Longbottom. Lovegood," Snape answered in a monotone.
"Xenophilius will not take this well," she said, more to herself, rubbing at her forehead. In fact, keeping him in the dark entirely seemed like a better idea to Octavia.
With a glance at Snape, she shrugged off her cloak, tossed it into a nearby stool, took over the brewing of the Calming Draught.