**As always ladies, and gentlemen, everything in this story (except Marzanne) belongs to J.K. Rowling. I bestow my congratulations on her recent marriage. Now that the honeymoon is over, when can we expect book number five? You are killing me! Anyhow, if you like my story, or better yet…if you hate my story please review. Criticism is great.**

The Staff Meeting

"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked worriedly. He was watching as Harry furiously tore through the contents of his trunk.

"Looking for my invisibility cloak," answered Harry shortly.

Ron was taken aback by Harry's tone but then came to a realization of what Harry was up to. "You're going to that staff meeting aren't you? Do you realize there are vampires about? You could get killed!"

"You sound like Hermione." Harry glared at Ron. He had found his cloak and had it draped over his shoulders.

"Well…" Ron wasn't sure how to respond. He was worried about Harry's safety, but he didn't want to be a total prude. "I'm going with you."

"No." Harry ordered as he walked over to his bed and pulled the curtains shut. "Stay here and cover for me. Tell anyone who asks that I'm asleep." Disappointment took over the expression on Ron's face giving Harry's gut a twinge of guilt. "Look, all the faculty will be there. It is easier for one person to sneak in under the cloak than it would be for two. I promise, I'll tell you everything when I get back." Ron watched as Harry threw the cloak over his head and quietly left the room.

Harry was tip toeing through the common room and noticed Professor McGonagall was just then leaving. He hurried a little to get behind her, and slipped through the hole before the Fat Lady portrait had a chance to swing shut. As luck would have it, he was able to follow her all the way to the staff room and through the door with no obstacle whatsoever. Most of the faculty were already in the staff room including Snape, Hooch, Trelawney, Flitwick, and Dumbledore. Harry squeezed himself in between a large cupboard and a wall so as not to be bumped into or nudged. As he made himself comfortable, the door burst open and Hagrid, Murphy, and Padfoot entered. "The castle is clear, Headmaster. Apparently, Thadius was the only vampire sent," Professor Murphy announced in solemn voice.

"We should take your word for it? After you were so useful in detecting this last one? That poor boy," sobbed Professor Trelawney.

"This? Coming from the most useless person as this school," Murphy snapped. "I suppose you saw this all in your crystal ball?"

"Please, if we fight amongst ourselves, we have already lost," Dumbledore politely chided. "Marzanne, Cybil is only frightened. As are we all."

"I'm sorry," Murphy was choking back tears. "It is my fault this happened. I wasn't expecting….I didn't know Thadius could morph. But what was I supposed to do? Attack a student?" Dumbledore walked over to Professor Murphy and held her in his arms.

"It was no one's fault. There is nothing any of us could have done. Although we are sad due to the loss of Dennis, we should be grateful there were not more." The teachers nodded their heads in agreement. Dumbledore led Murphy over to the couch where she took a seat and held her face in her hands. "I need to ask you, Marzanne, how plan A is coming along?"

Murphy lifted her head to face the staff who were looking back at her with anxious countenances. "Despite my best efforts, the potion only relieves the symptoms of the Cruciatus Curse for up to fifteen minutes." Harry saw the faces of the other professors droop with disappointment. "One day, I will have a cure. But that is no time soon, I'm afraid."

"We shall have to use Neville then," Dumbledore said gloomily.

"Longbottom?" Snape scoffed. "He is as useless as a skrewt!"

"We're doomed," agreed McGonagall.

"Do not insult that boy, either of you!" Marzanne scolded them, tears streaking her pink face. "Honestly, Severus. You go out of your way to pick on Neville, when Crabbe and Goyle are in your own house," a few of the professors let out small chuckles. "Really, they are an embarrassment." Harry accidentally let a laugh escape as well. He could have sworn Professor Murphy looked directly at him when this happened. Impossible of course, because he was invisible. "All Neville needs is a little one on one training. I have complete faith that he can do it. I still have to tell him what he has of course."

"You haven't told him yet?" Madam Hooch asked with an astonished look.

"No, I haven't, but there's time. How are you coming along with Narcissa?" Murphy raised an eyebrow at Hooch who quickly glanced at the floor in defeat. "Right, so don't get on my case then. I've had enough for tonight."

"So basically, it all comes down to time. We need more time," Dumbledore sighed. "It would help if we had more information as to what Voldemort is planning to do….Severus.."

"No! It is too soon," Murphy argued.

"Marzanne, Professor Snape agreed to go back to the Dark Lord as a spy," Dumbledore said softly.

"If he goes back to You Know Who now, they'll kill him. On sight. No questions asked. By not reporting immediately when he was first called, the Dark Lord will see him as anything but loyal. You won't get anything out of it but a corpse." She finished and was now standing with her arms crossed. Dumbledore, instead of being angry over being interrupted, seemed to be pondering over what she was saying.

"Surely, He Who Must Not Be Named wouldn't think of attacking until the end of the school year," reasoned McGonagall. "That is when we would be most vulnerable."

"You are right, both of you." Dumbledore said. He looked tired, Harry realized. The headmaster looked as if he hadn't slept all summer. The Ministry was probably keeping him very busy, not to mention running Hogwarts. "Tonight's events seem to have clouded my thinking. I think it best we conclude for now and repeat this meeting when we are all rested and have had time to grieve." The faculty silently agreed by slowly shuffling out of the staff room.

"You'll be alright, Marzanne?" Professor McGonagall had stood up next to the younger professor and place her hand on Murphy's shoulder.

"Yes, Aunt Minerva, thank you." Murphy patted McGonagall's hand in thanks. The older woman took her leave and exited, leaving Murphy, Snape, Padfoot, Dumbledore, and Harry.

"Albus, I can assure you, I have other ways of getting the details we need. I won't let you down." Professor Murphy declared.

"You never have," Dumbledore assured her and then rose to his feet. "Now, I have the sad duty of contacting the Creevys to inform them of their son's death. I had hoped days like these were long gone." He then gathered his robes from around his feet and left the room. The only other time Dumbledore had looked so sad was when Cedric Diggory was killed. When he was certain the Headmaster was completely out of the room, Snape spoke.

"I appreciate what you are trying to do, Marzanne. However, I will have to confront the Dark Lord sooner or later. You don't have to protect me."

"Someone has to. You are our ace in the hole. It would be foolish to send you now for reasons I thought I had made clear," Murphy retorted. "Besides, all of us have to face You Know Who, the trick is to come back alive." She sat back down on the couch and motioned for Snape to sit next to her.

"Truer words were never spoken," Snape agreed. "So when do you plan on getting this information?"

"Christmas Eve. There is a party down in Hogsmeade that I plan on crashing. Care to come?" She asked him innocently.

"You know people hate me. It wouldn't be good for you to be seen with me," Snape confessed somewhat sadly. He's never been more right about anything, though Harry.

"You know Severus, you are not as big and scary as you think you are. I'm sure you have plenty of friends you don't even know about." Harry wished he could have ripped out his eyeballs and missed what happened after this. It had to be the most disgusting event in wizarding history. Professor Murphy placed her had on Snape's cheek and kissed him softly on his lips. "Just think about it would you?"

"Of course," he promised quietly.

"Don't make me puke!" Apparently, Harry wasn't the only one who'd gone nauseous from seeing Snape all lovey dovey. Padfoot was now Sirius and he looked to be very angry. "Snape is finally right about one thing, it's not good for you to be seen with him. How long has this been going on? Of all the men in this world!"

"Are you still here?" Snape asked angrily. "Don't you have a tree to piss on or bone to dig up?"

"Don't start, you two. I don't have the patience this evening." Professor Murphy looked very annoyed as she walked over to Sirius and place her hand on his chest. "I'll explain what's been going on later. Now please quit acting like a child and go back to your loft."

"I'm not leaving you alone with that ugly git!" Sirius shouted.

"Please, Sirius. If you keep shouting, you'll wake someone." Murphy turned towards the cupboard. "Harry will you please make sure Sirius goes back to the loft?"

"Harry? Where?" Sirius asked in surprise.

"Potter?!" Snape got to his feet and began searching the room with his arms outstretched. Looking almost like a mummy, or a sleep walker. Panic came over Harry. How did she know it was him? There was no use in trying to make a run for it, however. He slid the cloak off his face staying in between the cupboard and the wall. Then he braced himself for punishment. Snape walked over and stuck his face in Harry's. "How long have you been there?" He asked dangerously.

With a gulp, Harry answered. "I've been here for the whole meeting." He closed his eyes waiting for an explosion from Snape, but it never came. Instead, he heard Murphy softly begin to speak.

"Detention, Mr. Potter. Tomorrow night, after dinner, in my classroom. Also, next time you use that cloak, I suggest you make sure you're entirely covered." She pointed at the ground and Harry saw the edge of his sneaker was sticking out from under the cloak. It seemed that when he squeezed himself between the wall and the cupboard, the cloak bunched up revealing that small area. But still, he wondered.

"How did you know it was me?" Harry bravely asked.

"I'm sure you know, Mr. Potter, that invisibility cloaks are very rare. In fact, I have only seen one once before. It was owned by James Potter. I put two and two together."

"Oh." He slowly came from the corner he was in and took a few steps away from Snape. Just in case Snape decided to choke him.

"Now Harry, why don't you escort our friend here to his room," she smiled through gritted teeth at Sirius. "I trust you to return to your dormitory afterwards."

"Shouldn't you be heading back to the room yourself?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth of his own.

"Actually, I'm meeting Hagrid down in Hogsmeade. I have had a rough evening and I intend to get good and drunk. If you boys will excuse me." She quietly left the staff room leaving the three men a bit stunned. Snape was the first to speak after Murphy left.

"You are fortunate she punished you before I had a chance to."

"You threaten that kid, and I'll break that nose of yours….again. You can stay away from Marzanne too, if you know what's good for you." Sirius slammed his fist into the palm of his hand. He looked quite menacing.

Snape walked up to Sirius and gave him a look so cold it could freeze a waterfall. "Mind your own business for once." He then turned on his heel and left the room in a huff. Harry was about to praise Sirius for putting Snape in his place, but then he saw that Sirius was still angry. Angry at Harry.

"What were you thinking?"

"I wanted to help. It's stupid to just sit around…" Harry began to explain.

"It is stupid," interrupted Sirius, "to meddle in business that you shouldn't meddle in. These people are trying to protect you. Pulling stunts like this only hinders what they are trying to accomplish. From now on, you do what you are told."

"Yes, sir." Harry agreed. He felt more guilty than ever. Sirius had never had reason to be angry with Harry before this. It was an awful feeling.

"Now let's head back to the loft," Sirius growled as he transfigured back into Padfoot and led Harry out of the staff room.