That night, the first snow of the season slowly fell to the ground, coating everything in a thin white veil. The cool night air felt good against Paige's still warm face. Her body still feeling achy and sore sitting up in her usual tree branch. She was praying for nothing to happen tonight so she could just rest up in her tree all night.
She only perks up when she sees a familiar lantern approach in the distance.
Severus already got to the tree before she manages to slowly climb down
"You should have taken some days off to rest." He says, seeing how much pain she was in climbing down from the tree.
"I'm okay, just a little sore." Paige says smiling.
"How's your head?" He asks, looking at the stitches on her forehead. "Still have a headache?"
"Only a little, but it's fine." Paige says, brushing it off.
"And your ear? Any more pain or more hearing loss?" He asks concerningly.
"Ear is fine, Severus, really. I'm good." Paige says exhausted, not wanting him to fuss over her.
"Okay." He replies as he steps closer to her.
Paige's body goes numb like it always does when he gets this close to her. He lightly brushes smaller hairs that wouldn't fit in her bun behind her ear.
"So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow night too if you're feeling that good." He whispers to her.
He presses his lips against hers before she could reply. This kiss felt different. There was a different undertone this time. Her thoughts are interrupted when she remembers about the meeting tomorrow. She pulls away from him.
"I have a meeting with Colonel Andrews tomorrow afternoon to discuss the situation that happened." Paige says nervously.
"Okay." Severus replies in confusion.
"It's usually not a good sign when he comes out to a mission for a visit." Paige explains. "He could pull us out if he really felt like it was necessary."
"Well, I better give you this tonight then." Severus says as he reaches into his inside cloak pocket. "I was going to wait until you were feeling a bit better."
He pulls out a small black box from his pocket and hands it to her.
"What's this for?" She asks him, taking the box.
"Just thought of you when I saw it." He says, looking at her intently.
Paige opens the box. Her body flushes even warmer than before when she sees a silver and blue butterfly pendent on a silver chain. She was speechless at the sight of it, it was so beautiful.
"Here, let me put it on." He says, grabbing the necklace out of the box.
He reaches behind her neck and clasps the necklace for her.
"Do you like it?" He asks her, moving his hands away, leaving the necklace around her neck.
Paige still didn't have any words to say. All she could do was grab the front of his cloak, pulling him into her and kiss him.
Paige arrives early like always, to the meeting taking place in Dumbledore's office. She knocks on the door.
"Enter." She hears from the other side of the door.
She opens the door and enters Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore is alone, sitting behind his desk, looking at a stack of papers in front of him.
"Captain Asher, you're early." Dumbledore says, standing up from his desk with a smile.
"I'm sorry, it's a force of habit. I can come back in a little bit." Paige says embarrassed.
She turns to leave, but he stops her.
"No, please. It's fine." He says to her. "Stay."
Paige turns back around and slowly walks further into his office.
"Please, take a seat." He says, waving his hand to the chair in front of his desk.
"I would rather stand, sir. Still a little sore and I fear I would struggle to stand up from a chair right now." Paige admits with a smirk.
"So, you don't want to show weakness in front of Colonel Andrews?" Dumbledore asks her with a raised eyebrow.
"No, sir." Paige says.
"To feel pain from a traumatic event is a sign of weakness?" Dumbledore asks as he moves away from his desk and closer to Paige.
"Yes, sir." Paige replies quietly.
"Interesting." She hears Dumbledore mutter to himself.
Paige shuffles uncomfortably.
"You're feeling better though?" Dumbledore asks, the onslaught of questions still rolling in.
"Yes thank-you. I'm glad you and Professor Snape were around." Paige replies, her face feeling flush.
"I'm grateful you and your team were here; that could have been a much different situation if you weren't there." Dumbledore says as he looks her in the eyes.
"Any idea who he was working for?" Paige asks, hoping to get some answers.
"Nothing. He wasn't a Death Eater."
"How can you tell?"
"He didn't have a Dark Mark."
"Could just be undercover. Doesn't get one to blend into a crowd."
"Death Eaters are proud to be Death Eaters." Dumbledore says, moving closer to her.
Paige's thoughts go back to Severus showing her his Dark Mark.
"I've requested extra support from the Ministry of Magic for the second task." Dumbledore say, turning away from her, leaving her to her thoughts of Severus' arm "Hopefully, the overwhelming presence of Aurors will deter any further attacks."
"I just wish I knew a motive." Paige says quietly as her focus comes back to the situation.
"We may never know, but at least for now we can prepare for the next time." He says in a comforting voice.
"Why attack Hogwarts in the first place?" Paige asks. "They wouldn't stand a chance with you here."
"Perhaps its not to cause destruction. It's…" Dumbledore starts to say but was cut short by a knocking at the door.
Paige stands up straighter as Dumbledore crosses his office to open his office door.
"Good afternoon, Colonel Andrews. I hope you had a pleasant trip." Dumbledore says as Coronel Andrews walks into the office.
"Quite." He responds curtly.
He notices Paige standing near Dumbledore's desk.
"Ah, as she lives and breaths, Captain Asher." He says to her as he approaches Paige. "Heard you had a narrow escape the other day."
He grabs her face roughly and turns her head to the left, getting a look at her damaged ear. Paige didn't fight him even though his grip hurt.
"Told you I would send you my best, didn't I Dumbledore?" He says, letting go of her face.
"I was just telling Captain Asher here how fortunate that the school is to have her and her team here this year." Dumbledore replies smiling.
"I thought I told you I needed them back in one piece." Colonel Andrews remarks, pointing at Paige's ear.
"Collateral damage sir, nothing major." Paige says, trying to defend Dumbledore.
"Captain Asher, was I speaking to you?" Colonel Andrews snaps at her.
Paige stares ahead of her, not saying anything back.
"We have big plans for Captain Asher on her return back to the States, Dumbledore. She's not expendable." Colonel Andrews says, turning his conversation back to him.
"I do very much appreciate you lending us such an outstanding Auror." Dumbledore replies, walking back over to his desk and taking a seat.
There was another knock at the door.
"Come in." Dumbledore yells from his desk.
Severus and the rest of Paige's team enter the office.
"Ah Professor Snape good timing. This is Colonel Andrews here from MACUSA, coming to check in with the American Aurors." Dumbledore says to Severus, nodding slightly towards Colonel Andrews.
Colonel Andrews nods his head at the group that just entered before turning his attention back to Dumbledore.
"As I was saying, the Department of Aurors are getting anxious to have Captain Asher back. They want to see what she is capable of in her new role." Colonel Andrews says as he leans back in his chair.
Paige looks up at the ceiling and prays for another bomb to go off, preferably right under her. Dumbledore stares at Colonel Andrews intensely.
"I thought you said you would lend me their services until I no longer required their assistance." Dumbledore says, folding his hands together on top of his desk.
"Listen Dumbledore, I told you I could lend you a team to observe and report. What am I going to tell the Senate when I must go before them and explain how our Aurors got killed over seas?" Colonel Andrews says, raising his voice. "I had to pull a lot of my own strings and call in a lot of my own favors just to make this happen."
"Your team are heroes. There's no telling what damage would have been cause if it weren't for them. I need them here for the rest tasks." Dumbledore says to him, keeping his voice calm.
"You don't think I don't know they're heroes Dumbledore? They very team saved the lives of many children who were going to be transported down to Mexico for reasons I'm not going to discuss, only three days before coming here. You don't think their skills and talents aren't being wasted here supervising your grounds?" Colonel Andrews asks Dumbledore, raising his voice even more.
"Are the children at this school not as important to you Coronel?" Dumbledore asks calmly.
"That's not what I said." Colonel Andrews replies leaning forward in his chair now.
"It's what you meant though. You said I could use your team for the entire school year. Are you going back on your word Colonel?" Dumbledore asks him.
"It's a waste to have an expert team here babysitting children." Colonel Andrews argues, getting more frustrated. "There is no immediate danger."
"What about the bomb then? What would have happened if he reaches the Champions, or the crowd or heaven forbid killed the Minister of Magic who was there spectating." Dumbledore says trying to convince Colonel Andrews.
"It seems like we've come to a crossroads then Albus. I know I said I owe you a favor, but my ass is on the line here if something happens to any of them." Colonel Andrews says standing up from his chair.
"Should I remind you in front of everyone in this room why you owe me such a favor?" Dumbledore snaps at him, standing up from his desk.
The room was so quiet, Paige could hear the pulse in her neck beating.
"Damnit Dumbledore, you're putting me in a tough position here." Colonel Andrews says, sitting back down in frustration.
"I just need them until the end of June, that's when the last task is scheduled for." Dumbledore says calmly again, sitting back down as well.
Colonel Andrews pauses, deep in his thoughts. Paige's eyes dart between Dumbledore and Colonel Andrews, waiting for his response.
"I want it writing Dumbledore that it's you who will have to deal with the Senate and not me." Colonel Andrews says, breaking the silence.
"Of course, I'll do whatever helps put your mind at ease." Dumbledore says smiling.
"And I want one of your staff available to the team at all times if they need to get an urgent message back to you." He adds.
"I've had Professor Snape work with Captain Asher before. I'm sure we can organize something between them since they are familiar." Dumbledore says, omitting the fact that he already had them meeting every night.
Colonel Andrews sits in silence again, deep in his thoughts.
"Did they do it yet?" Colonel Andrews vaguely asks Dumbledore.
Paige's heart starts racing and the ringing in her ears intensified. She glances over at Ripley whose jaw drops. She closes her eyes tightly, trying to manifest an explosion.
"I'm sorry?" Dumbledore asks him with one of his eyebrows raised.
"The second task, did the Champions do the second task yet." Colonel Andrews asks again with more clarity.
Paige's legs almost give out from underneath her.
"No, end of February." Dumbledore says with a smirk.
"I think the team might take short break before the second task." Colonel Andrews says leaning back in his chair. "They've been working long hours. I'll leave you one or two over the holidays if they volunteer, but I don't want them engaging with anything unless they have back up from the Ministry."
"I'll volunteer." Paige says immediately after he was finished his sentence.
"Me as well." Ripley says.
Hernandez shuffles his feet uncomfortably.
"See what I mean Dumbledore. A true solider and leader right here, almost gets blown up and takes on extra hours the next day." Colonel Andrews says standing up from his chair and walking over to Paige.
Paige tries to hide her pain as Colonel Andrews claps her shoulder hard.
"Try not to lose any more pieces, will you." Colonel Andrews says to her. "You have remarkable things waiting for you back home. Including that promotion."
"Yes sir." Paige replies.
Colonel Andrews turns back to Dumbledore.
"End of June Dumbledore. Then my debt to you is to be wiped from your ledger." He says as both him and Dumbledore walk to the door.
"Understood Colonel and thank you for understanding." Dumbledore says as he opens the door for him. "Safe travels home."
Colonel Andrews takes one last look at Dumbledore before leaving his office, not saying another word. Dumbledore turns back to the room, turning his attention to Paige's team.
"Thank you to the two of you that volunteered to stay behind, to the other three, I hope you have a great holiday." Dumbledore says cheerfully.
Bobcat and Yankis smile and walk towards the door, excited to be heading home for a bit. Hernandez gives Ripley a glaring look before following the other two. Ripley glances over at Paige before sighing and following behind Hernandez out of the office.
"Just let me know if you need anything, Captain Asher." Severus says with a smirk as he walks to the door as well.
"Thank you, Professor Snape." Paige says with her own smirk as Severus exits Dumbledore's office.
Paige starts to walk towards the door, but Dumbledore closes it on her.
"Your dedication to your work is endearing Captain Asher." Dumbledore comments, turning to face her.
"Thank-you, sir." Paige replies as she looks at the floor to avoid eye contact with him.
"No loved ones to go back to over the holidays." He asks, slowly walking towards her.
"Not sure if Theodard counts, but I'm sure he will understand." Paige says, trying hard to focus on a loose nail in the floorboard, trying hard to block out any thoughts from her head about her and Severus together in case he tries to read her mind.
"So, no other reason for you wanting to stay behind instead of going home to rest and recover?" Dumbledore asks, stepping even closer to her.
"Just really love my job, sir." Paige whispers in a panicked tone as Dumbledore steps directly in front of her, breaking her eye contact with the nail.
Paige thinks back to the pain she endured after the bomb and would gladly experience that all over again just to be able to leave this conversation right now.
"You and Lieutenant Ripley may take the night off if you wish. Colonel Andrews is correct in saying you've worked long hours." Dumbledore says to her, still standing uncomfortably close to her, her only thing to stare at is his long white beard. "But if you could meet with Severus tonight to discuss the second task at some point that would be great."
"Much appreciated, sir and will do sir." Paige strains to say as she feels the air getting heavy in the office.
"I should have asked you." Dumbledore says as he gently places his finger under her chin and lifts up her head to make eye contact with her. "It won't be a problem spending more time with Professor Snape, will it?"
Paige stares intensely into his bright blue eyes. Internally fighting with everything to not think of being with Severus. Not wanting to reveal to him her true intentions for wanting to stay. Struggling so much to block her memories of being with him that in this moment she wishes that the bomb had killed her instead. She manages to shake her head no.
"Excellent." Dumbledore says cheerfully, moving his hand away from her chin and walking back over towards his desk.
Paige exhales in relief that he moved away. She looks back down at the ground smirking, thinking she's just outsmarted Dumbledore.
"You may go Captain Asher, I'm sure your head must still be pounding." He says to hear with a smirk. "Almost like having another annoying voice in your head."
"Thank-you, sir." Paige says to him turning to the door, excited to get the hell out of there.
"What an odd way to phrase it. Another annoying voice." Paige thinks to herself as she moves towards the door to make a break for it.
She suddenly remembers Otakemaru and that Dumbledore could read his mind as well. She turns back to face Dumbledore, her eyes wide.
"Have a good evening." Dumbledore says with a wink.
Paige closes her eyes and prays for any kind of death to come to her in that moment.
As Paige exits the castle, Ripley is leaning against the wall waiting for her. He stands up and starts walking beside her when she passes him.
"Juan is pissed." Ripley says to her as they start walking side-by-side back to Hogsmeade. "He wanted me to meet his parents and he was pretty excited to spend the holidays with me."
"They why did you volunteer?" Paige asks him.
"Like I'm going to leave you alone to take on another bomb." Ripley says with a smirk.
"I'll be fine, look I'll just tell Dumbledore I decided to send you home?" Paige replies as she turns around to go back to castle.
Ripley grabs her arm to stop her.
"Look, I don't think I'm ready to meet his parents right now, okay. Let me stay." Ripley pleads with her.
Paige sees the desperation in his eyes.
"Fine, but you're going to have to feel the wraith of Juan Hernandez." Paige says as she starts walking back towards Hogsmeade.
"Don't worry about him. I know how to cheer him up." Ripley says with wink.