Chapter 8: One Is the Loneliest Number
After a night of tossing and turning, in spite of the Silencing Charm with which he insulated the flat, Severus rose with the dawn, determined to have it out with Dumbledore. After deciding he was too cranky to floo, Snape sent a politely written invitation suggesting that the Headmaster come down to London and tour the arrangements and stay for lunch and conversation. Albus Dumbledore cordially wrote back that he would be Apparating at 1 pm.
So with tea and scones and the Sunday newspapers Hermione had procured for him, Severus began to catch up on the Outside world. He read of the politics, economics, arts and fashions. He read the advertisements for clothing, cars, and personal ads. He took notes, preparing for this meeting with the Headmaster as if for the most rigorous of oral examinations. Then he prepared a luncheon, using magic for the most part, including Albus' favorite cucumber sandwiches.
"Well, Severus, this is a comfortable little flat you have set up." The Headmaster had examined the accommodations in every detail, including the magical ones. "Quite domestic. This luncheon looks delicious." They sat at the tea table on amply cushioned wing-backed chairs before the fire that Severus had ignited after Dumbledore's arrival, and Dumbledore proceeded to steadily consume more than half of the fare, while Severus made only a half- hearted attempt at eating.
"Headmaster, I realize that 24 hours are not sufficient to make a complete study of the Muggle world, but I have some general observations that must be figured into this project in order that time and resources are not squandered. I would like to give you a brief report, before anyone decides the next steps to take."
"Very well Severus, what have you observed?" Dumbledore dabbed at the corners of his mouth politely and leaned back in the winged chair. Severus gave a detailed report on his actions of the previous day. Then he summarized his observations:
"The Muggle world is dominated by the buying and selling of everything: goods, services, power and influence, even sex. If that were the only interaction between Muggles, we might be able to arrange some trade, if we had need for any of their goods and services. But there is a major flaw in this system. Those who have nothing to sell cannot buy, and either resort to begging, or violence, or merely die, especially the weakest among them. The means for self-sufficiency do not exist for most Muggles. Still other Muggles, rather like Dark wizards, resort to violence as an abuse of power. I do not think there is anything we can learn from this culture that is worth knowing, except perhaps how to protect ourselves in the event they become aware of us, and decide we are a threat or a source of ill-gotten gain. They have tremendous powers of destruction, global and crude. I cannot imagine forming any kind of alliance with Muggles." Severus was pacing the floor in his agitation, running a hand through his neatly trimmed, still unfamiliar new hairstyle.
"Whereas the Magical world is all sweetness and harmony?" Albus Dumbledore was not twinkling now. "The temptation to abuse power is on both sides: Muggle and Magical. We have a code of laws and a code duello, and a strong social structure to enforce them both. And yet Cornelius Fudge in his madness was prepared to dismantle all of it in his own lust for power. A lot of people died to stop both Voldemort and Fudge. Although Fudge only tried to kill public spirit with his abusive decrees, he was more of a danger to us all than Voldemort. Voldemort tortured and killed and corrupted the susceptible; Fudge sought to deform, disarm, disable and deflect all of us from living self-sufficient and useful lives and from fighting Voldemort, while he himself ignored the threat Voldemort posed to his puny power-mad goals."
"Severus, you are the first in a series of explorers. We are in the first stages of identifying, contacting and negotiating with those Muggles who are against destruction, who work for a better world. We seek the teachers, the healers, and the leaders who work to mend the hurts in their society, to learn what they already know about such mending, and share with them what we know. You must look in the quiet corners of Muggle life where people are pursuing knowledge, skills, and social connections. Start small. Find a few groups that appear to be functional and worthy of contact, that do good works, or merely avoid doing bad works. Talk to Hermione, she has a list of possible starting points."
"Now, what are your plans for this evening?"
Severus felt drained by recounting the horrors he had seen and by the magnitude of the project he had been selected to start. "I think I had best return to Hogwarts so I can get one good night's sleep. I am unaccustomed to the level of noise from the traffic in the street. I should also prepare for Monday's classes." He sighed. "It is no small task, Albus. I will consult with Granger to plan for the next weekend. I hope no one is expecting instant results."
"Of course not," Dumbledore was twinkling again. "One thing, though. Do try to have some fun while you are here in London. That may be your best guide to the kind of people we are trying to reach. Consider it a vacation opportunity. The restaurant and the cinema were good starts, even if the particular performance you saw was so offensive that you could not enjoy it." He rose. "Before I go, could you show me this Internet computer thing you were describing? Young Ethan Smythe was describing a Muggle game called Magic that he played before he got his Hogwarts letter. It sounded very interesting."
After a night of tossing and turning, in spite of the Silencing Charm with which he insulated the flat, Severus rose with the dawn, determined to have it out with Dumbledore. After deciding he was too cranky to floo, Snape sent a politely written invitation suggesting that the Headmaster come down to London and tour the arrangements and stay for lunch and conversation. Albus Dumbledore cordially wrote back that he would be Apparating at 1 pm.
So with tea and scones and the Sunday newspapers Hermione had procured for him, Severus began to catch up on the Outside world. He read of the politics, economics, arts and fashions. He read the advertisements for clothing, cars, and personal ads. He took notes, preparing for this meeting with the Headmaster as if for the most rigorous of oral examinations. Then he prepared a luncheon, using magic for the most part, including Albus' favorite cucumber sandwiches.
"Well, Severus, this is a comfortable little flat you have set up." The Headmaster had examined the accommodations in every detail, including the magical ones. "Quite domestic. This luncheon looks delicious." They sat at the tea table on amply cushioned wing-backed chairs before the fire that Severus had ignited after Dumbledore's arrival, and Dumbledore proceeded to steadily consume more than half of the fare, while Severus made only a half- hearted attempt at eating.
"Headmaster, I realize that 24 hours are not sufficient to make a complete study of the Muggle world, but I have some general observations that must be figured into this project in order that time and resources are not squandered. I would like to give you a brief report, before anyone decides the next steps to take."
"Very well Severus, what have you observed?" Dumbledore dabbed at the corners of his mouth politely and leaned back in the winged chair. Severus gave a detailed report on his actions of the previous day. Then he summarized his observations:
"The Muggle world is dominated by the buying and selling of everything: goods, services, power and influence, even sex. If that were the only interaction between Muggles, we might be able to arrange some trade, if we had need for any of their goods and services. But there is a major flaw in this system. Those who have nothing to sell cannot buy, and either resort to begging, or violence, or merely die, especially the weakest among them. The means for self-sufficiency do not exist for most Muggles. Still other Muggles, rather like Dark wizards, resort to violence as an abuse of power. I do not think there is anything we can learn from this culture that is worth knowing, except perhaps how to protect ourselves in the event they become aware of us, and decide we are a threat or a source of ill-gotten gain. They have tremendous powers of destruction, global and crude. I cannot imagine forming any kind of alliance with Muggles." Severus was pacing the floor in his agitation, running a hand through his neatly trimmed, still unfamiliar new hairstyle.
"Whereas the Magical world is all sweetness and harmony?" Albus Dumbledore was not twinkling now. "The temptation to abuse power is on both sides: Muggle and Magical. We have a code of laws and a code duello, and a strong social structure to enforce them both. And yet Cornelius Fudge in his madness was prepared to dismantle all of it in his own lust for power. A lot of people died to stop both Voldemort and Fudge. Although Fudge only tried to kill public spirit with his abusive decrees, he was more of a danger to us all than Voldemort. Voldemort tortured and killed and corrupted the susceptible; Fudge sought to deform, disarm, disable and deflect all of us from living self-sufficient and useful lives and from fighting Voldemort, while he himself ignored the threat Voldemort posed to his puny power-mad goals."
"Severus, you are the first in a series of explorers. We are in the first stages of identifying, contacting and negotiating with those Muggles who are against destruction, who work for a better world. We seek the teachers, the healers, and the leaders who work to mend the hurts in their society, to learn what they already know about such mending, and share with them what we know. You must look in the quiet corners of Muggle life where people are pursuing knowledge, skills, and social connections. Start small. Find a few groups that appear to be functional and worthy of contact, that do good works, or merely avoid doing bad works. Talk to Hermione, she has a list of possible starting points."
"Now, what are your plans for this evening?"
Severus felt drained by recounting the horrors he had seen and by the magnitude of the project he had been selected to start. "I think I had best return to Hogwarts so I can get one good night's sleep. I am unaccustomed to the level of noise from the traffic in the street. I should also prepare for Monday's classes." He sighed. "It is no small task, Albus. I will consult with Granger to plan for the next weekend. I hope no one is expecting instant results."
"Of course not," Dumbledore was twinkling again. "One thing, though. Do try to have some fun while you are here in London. That may be your best guide to the kind of people we are trying to reach. Consider it a vacation opportunity. The restaurant and the cinema were good starts, even if the particular performance you saw was so offensive that you could not enjoy it." He rose. "Before I go, could you show me this Internet computer thing you were describing? Young Ethan Smythe was describing a Muggle game called Magic that he played before he got his Hogwarts letter. It sounded very interesting."