Let's Do It Right This Time, Chapter 15: Dumbledore
Aurelius sighed internally and trailed after the headmaster, actually relieved when Snape sourly got up to follow them, as at least he knew how to handle his head of house. Besides, with Snape there he'd be less likely to lose his temper and say something he shouldn't, or perhaps hex Dumbledore into oblivion. Even if Snape wasn't trying to run interference, just his presence and his temperament should help.
Together they climbed the twisting staircase to the headmaster's office, Aurelius noting in annoyance that Dumbledore didn't even bother to use one of his inane candy-themed passwords, just told the gargoyle to move aside. Aurelius had always known that the password was not necessary (Dumbledore had to have other, real defenses;therwise anyone could just start listing candies at the gargoyle.) but it was annoying for him to be so blatant about it.
Come to think of it, why were defences necessary? Shouldn't the headmaster's door be open to anyone who needed him, not just by invitation? But this was no time to ponder Dumbledore's inanities.
"Do sit down. Lemon drop?'
"No," said Snape and Aurelius at the same time. Aurelius had to suppress a giggle, as this was probably the first time he and Snape had ever agreed on anything.
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes dimmed momentarily, and Aurelius remembered that Lily had said Dumbledore always laced his lemon drops with loyalty potion; Aurelius wondered fleetingly if that was why Snape always refused the sweets, and then decided he didn't care. Besides, Dumbledore was talking, and Aurelius was frankly curious as to what the man wanted.
"I must say that it is most marvellous to have a Gaunt at Hogwarts again," Dumbledore was saying. "How have you been fitting in?"
"Oh, it's great, sir," Aurelius told him, deciding that he would not mention the incident with Gabrielle Nott, as he couldn't really expect help from this quarter anyway. Surely Dumbledore hadn't called him in here just to inquire after his health?
"That is good, my boy."
Aurelius could scarcely refrain from telling him that he was not Dumbledore's boy in any sense of the word, and if he said that one more time he could stick his comments in an undisclosed location that did not receive much sunlight; instead he merely smiled and focused on shoring up his occlumency shields.
"Now Severus," Dumbledore said, turning to Professor Snape, "Surely you have more important things to be doing, such as brewing for Madame Pomphrey? Your presence is not required."
Alarm bells started going off in Aurelius's brain. "Um, can he stay?" Both professors turned to look at him. "I mean, it's not going to take that long, is it? I just...I mean..."
"I will stay. If you don't mind, Headmaster?" Severus's tone held just a hint of 'actually I don't care if you mind', but then, he was like that with everyone, just not as subtlely as he was with the headmaster. Cornered, as there was no reasonable objection he could make, Dumbledore acquiesced with carefully masked bad humor.
"So what was it you wanted me here for, professor?" Aurelius asked at last, when it looked like Dumbledore wasn't going to say anything.
"It is the matter of your phœnix." Dumbledore returned finally. "I am afraid that exotic pets are not allowed."
Oh. Aurelius seriously should have seen that coming. Of course Dumbledore would want to be the only one with a pet phœnix; he wouldn't look so good now that he wasn't the only one, and the 'Leader of the Light' would never submit to that peaceably. Besides, he speculated, Dumbledore couldn't paint all Slytherins as evil now that one of them was walking around with a rare, magical, Light-oriented bird. Damn, this would complicate things.
"Why not?" Aurelius had some understanding of the Hogwarts charter; in fact, he'd memorized it, even down to the obscure and obsolete bits that he'd dug up expressly to annoy Dumbledore. "It never says that you can only have an owl cat or toad anywhere except the letters; doesn't it actually say in the Hogwarts charter section 9.4 1-13 that all pets are allowed unless and until they harm a student or member of the staff? Doesn't Lee Jordan have a pet rosy tarantula? Didn't Percy Weasley have a rat for years?"
"It isn't so simple. A phœnix is not physically harmful, but it is very disruptive. Besides, a tarantula or a rat is one thing; this is a large magical animal, and caring for her will absorb time you need for your classes."
"Huh. Didn't the Governers allow Abraxus Malfoy a magical snow leopard? And since when have extracurricular activities, even caring for a magical animal, taken up all one's time if they're determined to excel?"
"That is not relevant-" Dumbledore began. Aurelius cut him off.
"It is, actually. Besides, doesn't the charter mention that on no account should a familiar be refused entrance to Hogwarts, so long as it can be controlled? Majestic is bonded to me. Besides, since she's a phœnix, I can't exactly keep her away if she wants to come to Hogwarts."
"The boy is right on several counts." Snape spoke up at this point. Aurelius jumped, having not remembered he was there. Snape could melt into a shadow and disappear like darkness itself! "You have no grounds to keep his phœnix from staying at Hogwarts. Besides, being bonded with a phœnix yourself, surely you understand how sacred their connection is."
Was it Aurelius's imagination, or did Dumbledore flinch?
"...administrative details shouldn't get in the way," Snape was saying.
Aurelius was amused to see Dumbledore's eye begin to twitch. "Of course." He said at last. I was merely worried that the Death Eater children in his house would cause trouble because he was bonded with a phœnix, and wanted to make it safer for him."
Sure you are, Aurelius thought cynically, although he said nothing but "I'll just have to deal with that when it comes. They already know, anyway," and "Sorry headmaster." He rather wished it was Dumbledore who was apologizing to him.
"Very well then," conceeded Dumbledore unhappily. "That will be all."
Aurelius smiled. "Thank you, headmaster," he said out loud. Internally, his thoughts were very different. Oh no, Headmaster, he thought angerly. This is not over. Not by far.