Chapter 22: M is For the Million Things She Gave Me.
Forehead, cheeks, then lips he kissed. Rose clung to him, returning the sweetness. Resting her head on his chest, she whispered, "Just like my dream."
Severus looked down into her half-closed eyes. "What dream is this?"
"Last night, I dreamt I was in a grove of elms in autumn, and a woman dressed in green, wearing an emerald pendant, and with curly black hair touched me, told me her name was Elizabeth, and asked me if I loved her son. She vanished and you appeared and kissed me just as you did now."
Severus held her closer. "How did you answer her, Rose?"
"I didn't answer, really." Rose had been broken of bad habits, like wearing one's heart on one's sleeve, and besides, she didn't know the answer, not yet. Still, she didn't let go of him, but held him tighter. She felt the need for some comfort.
There was a loud whooshing noise from the sitting room. Severus released Rose with a sigh and went to investigate. Rose followed him in. A ghostly green fire was dying on the hearth, and a piece of parchment, folded and sealed, lay before it.
"The old man has excellent timing, but refuses to tell me how he does it," Severus remarked, to himself. He picked up the missive, opened and read it, then, drawing a ballpoint pen from his pocket, wrote a reply on the back. From a pottery jar he took a pinch of dust, threw it on the hearth, then tossed in the parchment, which vanished with a flash of that same green fire.
"Would you be willing to meet my Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, Rose?" He loved to say her name. "He wants a report from me in person."
Rose blinked. Too much novelty in too little time was beginning to
dull her wits. "Where do we go? How long will it take us to get to him?"
"He's coming here, now," said Severus, briefly, as the fireplace blazed alight again, and Dumbledore stepped out into the room.
"Headmaster, may I present Rose Mallorn, who has been so helpful in my exploration of the Muggle side of London? Rose, this is Albus Dumbledore."
Rose held out her hand, and Dumbledore clasped it firmly. His hand was still warm from the Floo powder. "Rose is also Hermione Granger's godmother, and as such, had previous knowledge of our existence." Although I was ignorant of that fact for weeks, he added to himself.
"Miss Mallorn, it is indeed a pleasure. You have been invaluable." Albus gave her his patented, brightest twinkle. " I hope I am not disrupting your schedule, Severus."
Professor Snape just gave Albus the Look. On this occasion, however, Albus had the grace to look abashed.
"There's been an incident in Hogsmead. I am in need of your assistance. Madame Pomfrey has matters well in hand, and there are no casualties, for which we are all grateful. I have recalled Mr. Potter and Miss Granger already, and notified the Ministry. How soon can you leave?" Albus wasn't twinkling any more.
"Rose must come also, Albus. She will need to be protected." More than that which was said aloud passed between the two wizards.
"Very well, then. Miss Mallorn, through your association with wizards, you may have been spotted and targeted by one of the few surviving opponents of our late war. Your life and safety are imperiled. We would be able to protect you at Hogwarts, if you would be willing to come. You will not need to bring anything with you. You will be leaving directly."
"What about the Grangers?" asked Rose.
"The Grangers have already gone to Hogwarts. You can keep company with them." Albus was all business. "Shall we?"
"How do you expect Rose to travel, Professor? Surely not by Floo?" Severus was looking angry.
"Do you think you two could Apparate together? That would be the least upsetting method for a Muggle. It's best we assume you have been located already, and that returning to the Leaky Cauldron would not be advisable. You will leave from here. I will meet you at the gates." And with this, Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts via the flames.
Severus drew his wand, set the strongest wards he knew upon the premises, then turned to Rose. "All you need to do is hold on and not panic. Do you think you can manage?"
"If you think I can," she said. She clung to him again and shut her eyes; he dropped a quick kiss on her head, then gave the command to return to Hogwarts.
*********************************************************************
Author's Notes
I started this work of fiction as therapy for myself; I am gratified that others are getting pleasure out of it. Your reviews have all been warm and generous and encouraging. Thank you for reading! Please continue to read, and feel free to comment on any aspect.
Specific responses to readers:
Nataly Ravenlock: Here comes some more!
Ruth: Thank you. Hope the quality holds up.
Amber-and-Ash: Thank you for the kind words. I just didn't want to give everything away in the summary description, mostly because I wasn't sure what was going to happen once I got started!
Sinj: I conferred with Francesca Oldham concerning your point, and this is what she had to say:
"My dear, I've been called Fanny for over 80 years now, and I'm too old to change now. Let the boors laugh at it if they will; Aidan will handle them."
And Aidan Oldham added: "Fanny is a classic, let no one sneer at her or her name, or they will answer to me!"
Excessivelyperky: I agree that there is nothing like torture by in-laws, especially the friendly ones, but we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. Both individuals in question have been badly damaged, and getting them together is giving me massive fits. But since I'd much rather stay up nights working out their problems (as opposed to my own, which seem insoluable), there should be some progress soon.
Innermost Thoughts: That is the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me: Thank you!
Wytil: Sorry, Rose is as Muggle as they come; still, she could take on a partner in the business.
Samson: Thank you, hope the wait isn't too long.
Lillinfields: Hair does grow back; don't worry!
N snape: More on the way.
Forehead, cheeks, then lips he kissed. Rose clung to him, returning the sweetness. Resting her head on his chest, she whispered, "Just like my dream."
Severus looked down into her half-closed eyes. "What dream is this?"
"Last night, I dreamt I was in a grove of elms in autumn, and a woman dressed in green, wearing an emerald pendant, and with curly black hair touched me, told me her name was Elizabeth, and asked me if I loved her son. She vanished and you appeared and kissed me just as you did now."
Severus held her closer. "How did you answer her, Rose?"
"I didn't answer, really." Rose had been broken of bad habits, like wearing one's heart on one's sleeve, and besides, she didn't know the answer, not yet. Still, she didn't let go of him, but held him tighter. She felt the need for some comfort.
There was a loud whooshing noise from the sitting room. Severus released Rose with a sigh and went to investigate. Rose followed him in. A ghostly green fire was dying on the hearth, and a piece of parchment, folded and sealed, lay before it.
"The old man has excellent timing, but refuses to tell me how he does it," Severus remarked, to himself. He picked up the missive, opened and read it, then, drawing a ballpoint pen from his pocket, wrote a reply on the back. From a pottery jar he took a pinch of dust, threw it on the hearth, then tossed in the parchment, which vanished with a flash of that same green fire.
"Would you be willing to meet my Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, Rose?" He loved to say her name. "He wants a report from me in person."
Rose blinked. Too much novelty in too little time was beginning to
dull her wits. "Where do we go? How long will it take us to get to him?"
"He's coming here, now," said Severus, briefly, as the fireplace blazed alight again, and Dumbledore stepped out into the room.
"Headmaster, may I present Rose Mallorn, who has been so helpful in my exploration of the Muggle side of London? Rose, this is Albus Dumbledore."
Rose held out her hand, and Dumbledore clasped it firmly. His hand was still warm from the Floo powder. "Rose is also Hermione Granger's godmother, and as such, had previous knowledge of our existence." Although I was ignorant of that fact for weeks, he added to himself.
"Miss Mallorn, it is indeed a pleasure. You have been invaluable." Albus gave her his patented, brightest twinkle. " I hope I am not disrupting your schedule, Severus."
Professor Snape just gave Albus the Look. On this occasion, however, Albus had the grace to look abashed.
"There's been an incident in Hogsmead. I am in need of your assistance. Madame Pomfrey has matters well in hand, and there are no casualties, for which we are all grateful. I have recalled Mr. Potter and Miss Granger already, and notified the Ministry. How soon can you leave?" Albus wasn't twinkling any more.
"Rose must come also, Albus. She will need to be protected." More than that which was said aloud passed between the two wizards.
"Very well, then. Miss Mallorn, through your association with wizards, you may have been spotted and targeted by one of the few surviving opponents of our late war. Your life and safety are imperiled. We would be able to protect you at Hogwarts, if you would be willing to come. You will not need to bring anything with you. You will be leaving directly."
"What about the Grangers?" asked Rose.
"The Grangers have already gone to Hogwarts. You can keep company with them." Albus was all business. "Shall we?"
"How do you expect Rose to travel, Professor? Surely not by Floo?" Severus was looking angry.
"Do you think you two could Apparate together? That would be the least upsetting method for a Muggle. It's best we assume you have been located already, and that returning to the Leaky Cauldron would not be advisable. You will leave from here. I will meet you at the gates." And with this, Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts via the flames.
Severus drew his wand, set the strongest wards he knew upon the premises, then turned to Rose. "All you need to do is hold on and not panic. Do you think you can manage?"
"If you think I can," she said. She clung to him again and shut her eyes; he dropped a quick kiss on her head, then gave the command to return to Hogwarts.
*********************************************************************
Author's Notes
I started this work of fiction as therapy for myself; I am gratified that others are getting pleasure out of it. Your reviews have all been warm and generous and encouraging. Thank you for reading! Please continue to read, and feel free to comment on any aspect.
Specific responses to readers:
Nataly Ravenlock: Here comes some more!
Ruth: Thank you. Hope the quality holds up.
Amber-and-Ash: Thank you for the kind words. I just didn't want to give everything away in the summary description, mostly because I wasn't sure what was going to happen once I got started!
Sinj: I conferred with Francesca Oldham concerning your point, and this is what she had to say:
"My dear, I've been called Fanny for over 80 years now, and I'm too old to change now. Let the boors laugh at it if they will; Aidan will handle them."
And Aidan Oldham added: "Fanny is a classic, let no one sneer at her or her name, or they will answer to me!"
Excessivelyperky: I agree that there is nothing like torture by in-laws, especially the friendly ones, but we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. Both individuals in question have been badly damaged, and getting them together is giving me massive fits. But since I'd much rather stay up nights working out their problems (as opposed to my own, which seem insoluable), there should be some progress soon.
Innermost Thoughts: That is the nicest thing anybody has ever said to me: Thank you!
Wytil: Sorry, Rose is as Muggle as they come; still, she could take on a partner in the business.
Samson: Thank you, hope the wait isn't too long.
Lillinfields: Hair does grow back; don't worry!
N snape: More on the way.