Don't own no nothing
Did not create the hit
J.K. Rowling does
Because she did
Andolyn
The Gathering
"For now, we better refrain from making the knowledge of her death public. Some people might handle this news badly- if at all."
Ari entered a large, beautiful circular office, filled with fascinating objects and more live paintings, mostly of sleeping old people. Silver alchemists tools were strewn all over the room on several spindle-legged tables. A blue-green fire burned under a beaker, connected to a host of other glass vials, spirals and condensers. An amber liquid dripped slowly from the end of a tube. To Ari's nose it seemed as if somebody was brewing a very refined whiskey.
A true bird of paradise stared at Ari curiously from a golden perch near the door. It was huge, easily as big as a goose or swan, with scarlet and golden feathers, and it radiated a sense of mild contentment. There was an enormous Victorian desk, claw footed and all. Behind it on a shelf lay a hat Ari immediately wished to remove from these wondrous offices, for it was ancient, tattered, out of place-
"Come along dear- they won't bite."
McGonagall ushered Ari to a another open door at the far end of the office. Behind it, Ari found a very large oval room. Again every bit of wall space was crammed with paintings. It was also crammed with the weirdest collection of people Ari had ever seen. Most of them were dressed in a variety of colourful robes, capes and pointed hats. There were at least thirty of them. The most frightening of them all had to be an old peg-legged man with a disfigured face, and one of the eyes spinning in it's socket like mad. He stood brooding in front of a cold medieval fireplace, turning slightly when she and McGonagall entered. A very little man dressed in lavender robes stood on a mahogany coffee table in front of the fireplace. He was fingering Snape's white bowtie, glancing a bit frightened in the dark wizard's direction, while the man himself had settled himself in a monstrous but extremely comfortable looking scarlet arm-chair. A bit to the side, Remus Lupin stared out of a window. But even in human form the werewolf gave the impression of pricking up his ears and not missing a word of what was said. A thin, balding redheaded man paced nervously, looking somewhat official and strained. Against a wall stood another man with a scrubby brown beard and sad eyes. A slender and beautiful white haired woman in sunflower coloured robes sat opposite of Snape, intently staring at him, apparently hanging on to every word. Two other men had pulled up chairs and listened as intently as the white hared woman. One of them wore a pink turban and a black beard like a Sikh. He had a gleaming scimitar tucked behind a broad pink band around his waist, and played idly with his wand, not noticing the occasional bright sparkle harmlessly escaping from it. Too dark of skin for a native born Brit, he had to be one of those people Mr. Dursley would have disliked so much. Ari shivered while the though of the poor devil of a man stole through her mind.
Half hidden by the open door, another singular character stood. An elderly man with a sour expression, eyes downcast, breeches, no beard, no robes. A scrawny greyish cat sat at his feet and eyed the tall humans suspiciously.
And in the middle of them all, on a sofa as ugly and comfortable looking as the armchair, staring into the nothingness behind the fireplace, sat the grandfather of all wizards.
Hunched, hands clasped together but dangling between his knees, the impressive silver haired man looked beaten. Long burgundy robes and a dark purple cape hid most of his body, but not his profile. Ari could see a crooked nose, half-moon spectacles, a beard like Methusalem and a tremendously sad expression.
Black, solemn and quite far removed from the grinning, joking figure Ari had climbed the stairs with, had laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and McGonagall hurried past Ari to sit at his side.
"Oh Albus-" she said, gently laying her hand over his intertwined ones.
Slowly, the man turned towards the witch and Ari wished he had not. He looked just as grief stricken and lost as her own grandfather had, the day they had lost her grandmother to an angry cancer.
His eyes had that over-bright shine of unwept tears and he slowly shook his head in disbelieve.
"Who was it, Albus." McGonagall asked, very gently, but firmly.
"Arabella." he said softly. "and," with a nod at Snape, "Harry's family."
Keeping one hand on the tightly clasped ones of the wizard, McGonagall put her other over her mouth, closed her eyes and slowly shook her head in disbelieve.
"Not Arabella. Does Harry know yet?"
Extremely serious, Black let go of the elderly gentleman's shoulder and turned towards Snape, who now sat cross-legged, looking away from the assembled crowd, elbow resting on the armrest, chin on fisted hand. Irritably drumming a quick rhythm with the slender fingers of his free hand. The only sounds in the room, for even the red headed man had stopped his pacing.
"Blown your cover, Snape?" Black asked in a low, worried voice.
Snape leant backwards and nodded.
"I might very well have- but I am not sure. I very much doubt the Death Eaters at Harry's house have seen enough of me to identify me- The Dementors would be able to identify me on scent, but I -know- they are not intelligent enough, op perhaps -willing- is a better word, to deliver me up to the Dark Lord." he rubbed his arm.
The man at the fireplace turned to Snape and nodded.
"You-Know-Who would claim your life. The Dementors would not get the chance again to take you. They are sicker than he is."
Suddenly the silver hared wizard shook off his apathy, straightened himself and stated harshly: "Voldemort. Don't you- not you! start to speak in childish innuendo about this man! He is a murderous, insane mockery of a man, but still -only- a man. Foolish enough to return in a man's body. For let us not forget, his renewed form may allow him to hold a wand and wield immense power, it also makes him vulnerable -and- destructible!"
"Until he remedies the condition." Ari had not seen who had voiced this.
The white lady in sunflower yellow spoke up. "Absolute power over both the magical community and the Muggles is only his means to an end. He has cheated death more than once. He desires immortality."
Suddenly the room went very cold and Ari felt the hairs on her arms stand up. The cat behind her meowed softly. Together with most of the wizards and witches Ari looked up, and saw two booted feet slowly sinking through the ceiling. Pearly white, slightly transparent riding boots were followed by swirling robes marked with streaks of silver blood and a skeletal face without expression. The eyes in the sockets where totally white and bulged a bit, as if boiled at one time. On touching down, right behind Snape who did not even -look- at the spectre, it spoke in a booming, distant voice.
"Immortality", it said, "is a state slightly overrated, I assure you."
The old wizard stood. "Good afternoon, Bloody Baron. Thank you for joining us." The spectre gave a grave nod, straitened and moved no more, even if he did seemed to drift a bit now and then.
Shivering Ari stared at the apparition. The ghost seemed to look straight through her and she drew herself up to whatever height she had, even if she was the smallest person in the room. Save the wizard on the coffee table that was. She wanted to run away and scream her lungs out. She wanted to call the Ghostbusters or that midget lady from Poltergeist. She wanted to run and hide in a fantasy where everything was nice and dandy and in control, not stand shivering in a room filled with scared people talking about some unknown horror, while treating a ghost, a real life dead ghost!, as if it was normal and the thing merely came for his afternoon tea!
Frozen, unable to do otherwise, Ari regarded the spirit they had called Bloody Baron. Looked at the silver blood on his robes, splattered in such a pattern it could not be his own. Joyless staring eyes- what could those eyes have seen that all that was left to them was this terrible, literally haunted stare. What tragedy could have coursed his haunting?
What would it be like to exist endlessly, the way such a ghost had to? Ari had read Gulliver's Travels, all of them. He had done more than merely visit the land of Lillyput. He had been with giants, and a place where horses were the civilised dominant race and mankind worse than monkeys. Gulliver had also been to an island where once every while an immortal child was born. Children doomed to grow so old, every friend's and loved one's death was experienced. They were forced to live among strangers whose language they no longer spoke, suffering every pain, disease and dementia old age brought. The people of that isle knew death for a blessing.
Fear gave way to pithy, while the room came back into focus and the voices of the living reached Ari's consciousness once more. She now noticed how used every body in the room seemed to be to the ghost. How they seemed to regard him merely as another person in their midst. It mattered little that their breaths turned to vapour when they stood near him, or that it had become necessary to light the fireplace against the chill. The creature loomed over the irritable Potions Master in an odd way- Protective, almost.
Ari could see no change in the staring eyes- but she could -feel- them focussing on herself. Ari's eyes flashed over Snape, who did not seemed to notice, back to the face of the spirit.
The eyes went down, just for one glance at Snape, came back and held Ari's. To Ari's astonishment, the spectre gave her a sleight nod and for a very short moment, smiled.
The friend of my friend is my friend. No words were spoken, but Ari got the idea. In this room filled with strangers, the first to accept her was the dead one.
Brilliant.
Ari had to bite the inside of her cheek not to burst out laughing, but she kept herself in check. At least she was not so afraid anymore.
McGonagall saw the Baron glance at the Potions Maser, looked the living man up and down and said quite matter of fact: "You are hurt, Severus. You should see Poppy for that cut."
The elderly wizard's gaze swept over Snape and he frowned.
"Must you be seen to?" he asked concerned.
Snape waved his question away.
"It can wait."
The silver hared wizard nodded, stepped round the coffee-table and stood for the now blazing hearth. His back straight, a grave expression in his eyes. McGonagall gestured Ari and patted the vacant spot on the couch next to her. Hesitantly, Ari took it, feeling all eyes suddenly rest on her. At least they were not whispering or pointing.
Ari sat down but tence and ramrod straight, watching the 'grandfather' wizard. He looked quite formidable, not denying his grief yet not allowing it to rule him either. The man looked at her and suddenly his blue eyes sparkled quite friendly and he smiled. Ari smiled back nervously. This man -had- to be the Headmaster. He was taking control -and- he gave her the feeling of being a child again the way only a real headmaster could. He was also making her feel safe and welcome. Slightly more at ease, Ari prepared herself for taking part in this meeting and learning more about her situation.
"Whom are we still missing?" Dumbledore asked.
Lupin changed his stance at the window somewhat so he turned to the gathering.
"Hagrid told us he expected Madam Hooch any moment. Mandam Pomfrey is tending to Harry and Hagrid is with them. So I guess it's just the representative from the house-elves who is unaccounted fo-"
Suddenly there was a loud crack that made Ari jump of her seat and every other person turn slightly so nobody really noticed her. A small fellow pushed himself from behind all the legs to the front of the room. He carried a large silver tray with steaming teacups of fine China, and deliciously looking buns and cookies and put it down besides the wizard on the table. There was a lot of scuffling from everybody who wanted some tea or a bun and there were a few apologies from people who stood on another person's toes while doing so. Finally, when everybody had his or hers food, Ari got to get a good look at the newest arrival. The creature was about as tall as the little wizard on the table, had bat-like ears, a very large nose and friendly, enormously brown bulging eyes. He was dressed in a lovely patchwork costume that seemed to be self-made out of numerous colourful handkerchiefs.
"Thank you, Smiley." Dumbledore said. "Please take a seat. Since this meeting is in part at least about the safety of the school, I have invited both you -and- the Baron to attend it."
The creature nodded solemnly and flopped down on the floor. The tray had somehow refilled itself with teacups and buns. Ari noticed Snape had not taken any. Since the tray stood at -her- side of the table and was a bit out of reach for him, she took a cup, nudged him with her foot and presented it to him. Snape stopped his inspection of the fire, looked at her, looked up at her shoulder where she suspected Black still stood, gave her one of his very blank gazes and accepted the tea. It was accompanied with Ari's very best 'help-me-out-here-you-bastard' stare and when Snape read that in her eyes, something of acknowledgement flashed in his own. Ari looked up at Black, who noticed and winked at her. She turned to the headmaster and saw the expression on Snape's face had gone resentful.
The door to the office opened again. In came Harry, fully clothed in the wizards regalia of rather plain black robes, save for the red and gold crest sewn upon it. He even wore a pointed hat. He was followed by a crouching Hagrid, who otherwise would not have been able to enter, and a woman dressed in bottle green robes. She looked a bit put off and not so friendly in Snape's direction. Ari thought she heard her mutter something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'amateurs!'.
McGonagall waved Harry over and the boy settled himself in-between her and Ari. The boy took some tea and a bun. The new arrival in green moved around the couch to Snape.
"Had a run in with some Dementors, I hear?"
Snape eyed the woman suspiciously and nodded.
"Then I expect you to report yourself to my ward, immediately after this conference."
"Really Madam, there is -nothing- wrong with me!"
Not listening, the woman took Snape by the chin, turned his face a bit and inspected the cut above his eye and the dried blood, paying more notice to the wound that to the man. Indignant, eyes blazing, the wizard shook free and tried to both wave her away and not to spill his tea. She caught his wrist, however, and started to check his pulse. Snape jerked his hand back violently, did spill some of his hot tea on his jeans and made a sound like a hiss.
"Immediately Professor! In the mean time, eat this." She held out a large chunk of deliciously looking dark chocolate.
Resigning himself to his fate, Snape snatched the chocolate out of her hand and took a vicious bite. The woman nodded approvingly and sought a place among the others.
Ari noticed Dumbledore followed the little discussion with open merriment. In the meantime, Hagrid had settled himself at the back of the room. Everybody quieted down again and faces turned to the Headmaster. He put his hands on his back and sighed. His gaze swept over the assemble and he started.
"My dearest friends-"
The door to the room was thrown open violently. The cat that had been sitting there, flew away hissing loudly and hid behind the couch. The man that had been lounging behind it gave a muffled scream that sounded like 'my nose!'.
In the door opening stood yet another witch. Her hat had slid to the side of her head, her robes looked dishevelled and her short grey hair stood to all sides. Her yellow hawk like eyes scanned the room fiercely. Her cheeks were red and she still held the broom in hand on which she apparently had just arrived.
Her gaze settled on the chocolate munching man at the far end of the coffee-table. He had stopped chewing and sat there, with a lump in his cheek, staring like everybody else at the wild woman in the doorframe.
She sighed as if relieved, composed herself and spoke the name of the man who had driven her to this state.
"Snape!"
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Juniper Holly, thank you for caring. You are paying me an enormous compliment with your review, because you are letting me know I have touched a nerve with my story. That is high praise. If I am reading you right, you are even telling me you've started to care about Ari- And that is truly wonderful.
Don't worry about JK's characters of the 'light' side, even the darker ones, to be purposely nasty towards Ari because she's a Muggle. Should they react I a bad way, than this would be because, well, they are just people, and people are not always as friendly to others as they should or wish to be. Don't take Snape's sarcastic car-conversation for gospel, it is just -his- point of view. He's been through a lot and has seen the worst side of his fellow wizards, represented by the Death Eaters and to me it seems, has become quite the misanthrope.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, Black, Lupin, Hagrid, The Gryffindors and even Snape are -no- and I repeat -no- racists in my story, will note become racists in my story, will not be depicted -as- racists in my story. They will not be warped in such roles because I do not believe they would be In Rowling's books, quite the contrarily.
The way they will react to Ari will be the way that comes (to my humble opinion) natural to them. If they are wrong, please trust my spunky Ari to set them straight.
Thanks for your reviews, Ice Queen (been reading Burning Brightly, nicely done!). slytherin girl (Hi slyterin girl!), Sassy (I Like the Movieverse of the X-Men, I've just started When You Wish Upon A Star- like it!), JJ (just wait until the hot scenes!), Strega Brava (me too!), Arya (thanks and believe me, you've got a lot of clicking coming with this tale!), Sophie W. (Hi Sophie W.!), Rynye (Oy! You -are- an author!), Elf-Cat (Yes, our poor 'Sev' will 'suffer' for that, I fear. Haven'had the time yet to read your stories, but will, promise!), asprosdracos (love the 'excessive wing span'comment myself), Rosmerta, (before, but it was double fun doubled when I learned Mr. AR would, and even better when I saw the movie. Thanks for the McGonagall-cat comment, it was fun to write), Me (did I make a mistake somewhere? Please let me know), ladyelectric, Auror Borealis (please tell me about the jarring bits, so I can correct them), Sayan, and cloudshape.
If I haven't said anything about your stories, I apologise. I will next time.
Helen, yes. It's him. But a cameo only. I have not mixed my Rickmans (yet).
Lataradk (1) -Small- review? Gosh, now I'm just hoping for you to write a -big- one (grin). Thanks!
Lataradk (2) Haven't red either, so thanks for the tip. Don't speak Norwegian, just showing off my great knowledge of an online translator (grin).
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Did not create the hit
J.K. Rowling does
Because she did
Andolyn
The Gathering
"For now, we better refrain from making the knowledge of her death public. Some people might handle this news badly- if at all."
Ari entered a large, beautiful circular office, filled with fascinating objects and more live paintings, mostly of sleeping old people. Silver alchemists tools were strewn all over the room on several spindle-legged tables. A blue-green fire burned under a beaker, connected to a host of other glass vials, spirals and condensers. An amber liquid dripped slowly from the end of a tube. To Ari's nose it seemed as if somebody was brewing a very refined whiskey.
A true bird of paradise stared at Ari curiously from a golden perch near the door. It was huge, easily as big as a goose or swan, with scarlet and golden feathers, and it radiated a sense of mild contentment. There was an enormous Victorian desk, claw footed and all. Behind it on a shelf lay a hat Ari immediately wished to remove from these wondrous offices, for it was ancient, tattered, out of place-
"Come along dear- they won't bite."
McGonagall ushered Ari to a another open door at the far end of the office. Behind it, Ari found a very large oval room. Again every bit of wall space was crammed with paintings. It was also crammed with the weirdest collection of people Ari had ever seen. Most of them were dressed in a variety of colourful robes, capes and pointed hats. There were at least thirty of them. The most frightening of them all had to be an old peg-legged man with a disfigured face, and one of the eyes spinning in it's socket like mad. He stood brooding in front of a cold medieval fireplace, turning slightly when she and McGonagall entered. A very little man dressed in lavender robes stood on a mahogany coffee table in front of the fireplace. He was fingering Snape's white bowtie, glancing a bit frightened in the dark wizard's direction, while the man himself had settled himself in a monstrous but extremely comfortable looking scarlet arm-chair. A bit to the side, Remus Lupin stared out of a window. But even in human form the werewolf gave the impression of pricking up his ears and not missing a word of what was said. A thin, balding redheaded man paced nervously, looking somewhat official and strained. Against a wall stood another man with a scrubby brown beard and sad eyes. A slender and beautiful white haired woman in sunflower coloured robes sat opposite of Snape, intently staring at him, apparently hanging on to every word. Two other men had pulled up chairs and listened as intently as the white hared woman. One of them wore a pink turban and a black beard like a Sikh. He had a gleaming scimitar tucked behind a broad pink band around his waist, and played idly with his wand, not noticing the occasional bright sparkle harmlessly escaping from it. Too dark of skin for a native born Brit, he had to be one of those people Mr. Dursley would have disliked so much. Ari shivered while the though of the poor devil of a man stole through her mind.
Half hidden by the open door, another singular character stood. An elderly man with a sour expression, eyes downcast, breeches, no beard, no robes. A scrawny greyish cat sat at his feet and eyed the tall humans suspiciously.
And in the middle of them all, on a sofa as ugly and comfortable looking as the armchair, staring into the nothingness behind the fireplace, sat the grandfather of all wizards.
Hunched, hands clasped together but dangling between his knees, the impressive silver haired man looked beaten. Long burgundy robes and a dark purple cape hid most of his body, but not his profile. Ari could see a crooked nose, half-moon spectacles, a beard like Methusalem and a tremendously sad expression.
Black, solemn and quite far removed from the grinning, joking figure Ari had climbed the stairs with, had laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and McGonagall hurried past Ari to sit at his side.
"Oh Albus-" she said, gently laying her hand over his intertwined ones.
Slowly, the man turned towards the witch and Ari wished he had not. He looked just as grief stricken and lost as her own grandfather had, the day they had lost her grandmother to an angry cancer.
His eyes had that over-bright shine of unwept tears and he slowly shook his head in disbelieve.
"Who was it, Albus." McGonagall asked, very gently, but firmly.
"Arabella." he said softly. "and," with a nod at Snape, "Harry's family."
Keeping one hand on the tightly clasped ones of the wizard, McGonagall put her other over her mouth, closed her eyes and slowly shook her head in disbelieve.
"Not Arabella. Does Harry know yet?"
Extremely serious, Black let go of the elderly gentleman's shoulder and turned towards Snape, who now sat cross-legged, looking away from the assembled crowd, elbow resting on the armrest, chin on fisted hand. Irritably drumming a quick rhythm with the slender fingers of his free hand. The only sounds in the room, for even the red headed man had stopped his pacing.
"Blown your cover, Snape?" Black asked in a low, worried voice.
Snape leant backwards and nodded.
"I might very well have- but I am not sure. I very much doubt the Death Eaters at Harry's house have seen enough of me to identify me- The Dementors would be able to identify me on scent, but I -know- they are not intelligent enough, op perhaps -willing- is a better word, to deliver me up to the Dark Lord." he rubbed his arm.
The man at the fireplace turned to Snape and nodded.
"You-Know-Who would claim your life. The Dementors would not get the chance again to take you. They are sicker than he is."
Suddenly the silver hared wizard shook off his apathy, straightened himself and stated harshly: "Voldemort. Don't you- not you! start to speak in childish innuendo about this man! He is a murderous, insane mockery of a man, but still -only- a man. Foolish enough to return in a man's body. For let us not forget, his renewed form may allow him to hold a wand and wield immense power, it also makes him vulnerable -and- destructible!"
"Until he remedies the condition." Ari had not seen who had voiced this.
The white lady in sunflower yellow spoke up. "Absolute power over both the magical community and the Muggles is only his means to an end. He has cheated death more than once. He desires immortality."
Suddenly the room went very cold and Ari felt the hairs on her arms stand up. The cat behind her meowed softly. Together with most of the wizards and witches Ari looked up, and saw two booted feet slowly sinking through the ceiling. Pearly white, slightly transparent riding boots were followed by swirling robes marked with streaks of silver blood and a skeletal face without expression. The eyes in the sockets where totally white and bulged a bit, as if boiled at one time. On touching down, right behind Snape who did not even -look- at the spectre, it spoke in a booming, distant voice.
"Immortality", it said, "is a state slightly overrated, I assure you."
The old wizard stood. "Good afternoon, Bloody Baron. Thank you for joining us." The spectre gave a grave nod, straitened and moved no more, even if he did seemed to drift a bit now and then.
Shivering Ari stared at the apparition. The ghost seemed to look straight through her and she drew herself up to whatever height she had, even if she was the smallest person in the room. Save the wizard on the coffee table that was. She wanted to run away and scream her lungs out. She wanted to call the Ghostbusters or that midget lady from Poltergeist. She wanted to run and hide in a fantasy where everything was nice and dandy and in control, not stand shivering in a room filled with scared people talking about some unknown horror, while treating a ghost, a real life dead ghost!, as if it was normal and the thing merely came for his afternoon tea!
Frozen, unable to do otherwise, Ari regarded the spirit they had called Bloody Baron. Looked at the silver blood on his robes, splattered in such a pattern it could not be his own. Joyless staring eyes- what could those eyes have seen that all that was left to them was this terrible, literally haunted stare. What tragedy could have coursed his haunting?
What would it be like to exist endlessly, the way such a ghost had to? Ari had read Gulliver's Travels, all of them. He had done more than merely visit the land of Lillyput. He had been with giants, and a place where horses were the civilised dominant race and mankind worse than monkeys. Gulliver had also been to an island where once every while an immortal child was born. Children doomed to grow so old, every friend's and loved one's death was experienced. They were forced to live among strangers whose language they no longer spoke, suffering every pain, disease and dementia old age brought. The people of that isle knew death for a blessing.
Fear gave way to pithy, while the room came back into focus and the voices of the living reached Ari's consciousness once more. She now noticed how used every body in the room seemed to be to the ghost. How they seemed to regard him merely as another person in their midst. It mattered little that their breaths turned to vapour when they stood near him, or that it had become necessary to light the fireplace against the chill. The creature loomed over the irritable Potions Master in an odd way- Protective, almost.
Ari could see no change in the staring eyes- but she could -feel- them focussing on herself. Ari's eyes flashed over Snape, who did not seemed to notice, back to the face of the spirit.
The eyes went down, just for one glance at Snape, came back and held Ari's. To Ari's astonishment, the spectre gave her a sleight nod and for a very short moment, smiled.
The friend of my friend is my friend. No words were spoken, but Ari got the idea. In this room filled with strangers, the first to accept her was the dead one.
Brilliant.
Ari had to bite the inside of her cheek not to burst out laughing, but she kept herself in check. At least she was not so afraid anymore.
McGonagall saw the Baron glance at the Potions Maser, looked the living man up and down and said quite matter of fact: "You are hurt, Severus. You should see Poppy for that cut."
The elderly wizard's gaze swept over Snape and he frowned.
"Must you be seen to?" he asked concerned.
Snape waved his question away.
"It can wait."
The silver hared wizard nodded, stepped round the coffee-table and stood for the now blazing hearth. His back straight, a grave expression in his eyes. McGonagall gestured Ari and patted the vacant spot on the couch next to her. Hesitantly, Ari took it, feeling all eyes suddenly rest on her. At least they were not whispering or pointing.
Ari sat down but tence and ramrod straight, watching the 'grandfather' wizard. He looked quite formidable, not denying his grief yet not allowing it to rule him either. The man looked at her and suddenly his blue eyes sparkled quite friendly and he smiled. Ari smiled back nervously. This man -had- to be the Headmaster. He was taking control -and- he gave her the feeling of being a child again the way only a real headmaster could. He was also making her feel safe and welcome. Slightly more at ease, Ari prepared herself for taking part in this meeting and learning more about her situation.
"Whom are we still missing?" Dumbledore asked.
Lupin changed his stance at the window somewhat so he turned to the gathering.
"Hagrid told us he expected Madam Hooch any moment. Mandam Pomfrey is tending to Harry and Hagrid is with them. So I guess it's just the representative from the house-elves who is unaccounted fo-"
Suddenly there was a loud crack that made Ari jump of her seat and every other person turn slightly so nobody really noticed her. A small fellow pushed himself from behind all the legs to the front of the room. He carried a large silver tray with steaming teacups of fine China, and deliciously looking buns and cookies and put it down besides the wizard on the table. There was a lot of scuffling from everybody who wanted some tea or a bun and there were a few apologies from people who stood on another person's toes while doing so. Finally, when everybody had his or hers food, Ari got to get a good look at the newest arrival. The creature was about as tall as the little wizard on the table, had bat-like ears, a very large nose and friendly, enormously brown bulging eyes. He was dressed in a lovely patchwork costume that seemed to be self-made out of numerous colourful handkerchiefs.
"Thank you, Smiley." Dumbledore said. "Please take a seat. Since this meeting is in part at least about the safety of the school, I have invited both you -and- the Baron to attend it."
The creature nodded solemnly and flopped down on the floor. The tray had somehow refilled itself with teacups and buns. Ari noticed Snape had not taken any. Since the tray stood at -her- side of the table and was a bit out of reach for him, she took a cup, nudged him with her foot and presented it to him. Snape stopped his inspection of the fire, looked at her, looked up at her shoulder where she suspected Black still stood, gave her one of his very blank gazes and accepted the tea. It was accompanied with Ari's very best 'help-me-out-here-you-bastard' stare and when Snape read that in her eyes, something of acknowledgement flashed in his own. Ari looked up at Black, who noticed and winked at her. She turned to the headmaster and saw the expression on Snape's face had gone resentful.
The door to the office opened again. In came Harry, fully clothed in the wizards regalia of rather plain black robes, save for the red and gold crest sewn upon it. He even wore a pointed hat. He was followed by a crouching Hagrid, who otherwise would not have been able to enter, and a woman dressed in bottle green robes. She looked a bit put off and not so friendly in Snape's direction. Ari thought she heard her mutter something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'amateurs!'.
McGonagall waved Harry over and the boy settled himself in-between her and Ari. The boy took some tea and a bun. The new arrival in green moved around the couch to Snape.
"Had a run in with some Dementors, I hear?"
Snape eyed the woman suspiciously and nodded.
"Then I expect you to report yourself to my ward, immediately after this conference."
"Really Madam, there is -nothing- wrong with me!"
Not listening, the woman took Snape by the chin, turned his face a bit and inspected the cut above his eye and the dried blood, paying more notice to the wound that to the man. Indignant, eyes blazing, the wizard shook free and tried to both wave her away and not to spill his tea. She caught his wrist, however, and started to check his pulse. Snape jerked his hand back violently, did spill some of his hot tea on his jeans and made a sound like a hiss.
"Immediately Professor! In the mean time, eat this." She held out a large chunk of deliciously looking dark chocolate.
Resigning himself to his fate, Snape snatched the chocolate out of her hand and took a vicious bite. The woman nodded approvingly and sought a place among the others.
Ari noticed Dumbledore followed the little discussion with open merriment. In the meantime, Hagrid had settled himself at the back of the room. Everybody quieted down again and faces turned to the Headmaster. He put his hands on his back and sighed. His gaze swept over the assemble and he started.
"My dearest friends-"
The door to the room was thrown open violently. The cat that had been sitting there, flew away hissing loudly and hid behind the couch. The man that had been lounging behind it gave a muffled scream that sounded like 'my nose!'.
In the door opening stood yet another witch. Her hat had slid to the side of her head, her robes looked dishevelled and her short grey hair stood to all sides. Her yellow hawk like eyes scanned the room fiercely. Her cheeks were red and she still held the broom in hand on which she apparently had just arrived.
Her gaze settled on the chocolate munching man at the far end of the coffee-table. He had stopped chewing and sat there, with a lump in his cheek, staring like everybody else at the wild woman in the doorframe.
She sighed as if relieved, composed herself and spoke the name of the man who had driven her to this state.
"Snape!"
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Juniper Holly, thank you for caring. You are paying me an enormous compliment with your review, because you are letting me know I have touched a nerve with my story. That is high praise. If I am reading you right, you are even telling me you've started to care about Ari- And that is truly wonderful.
Don't worry about JK's characters of the 'light' side, even the darker ones, to be purposely nasty towards Ari because she's a Muggle. Should they react I a bad way, than this would be because, well, they are just people, and people are not always as friendly to others as they should or wish to be. Don't take Snape's sarcastic car-conversation for gospel, it is just -his- point of view. He's been through a lot and has seen the worst side of his fellow wizards, represented by the Death Eaters and to me it seems, has become quite the misanthrope.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, Black, Lupin, Hagrid, The Gryffindors and even Snape are -no- and I repeat -no- racists in my story, will note become racists in my story, will not be depicted -as- racists in my story. They will not be warped in such roles because I do not believe they would be In Rowling's books, quite the contrarily.
The way they will react to Ari will be the way that comes (to my humble opinion) natural to them. If they are wrong, please trust my spunky Ari to set them straight.
Thanks for your reviews, Ice Queen (been reading Burning Brightly, nicely done!). slytherin girl (Hi slyterin girl!), Sassy (I Like the Movieverse of the X-Men, I've just started When You Wish Upon A Star- like it!), JJ (just wait until the hot scenes!), Strega Brava (me too!), Arya (thanks and believe me, you've got a lot of clicking coming with this tale!), Sophie W. (Hi Sophie W.!), Rynye (Oy! You -are- an author!), Elf-Cat (Yes, our poor 'Sev' will 'suffer' for that, I fear. Haven'had the time yet to read your stories, but will, promise!), asprosdracos (love the 'excessive wing span'comment myself), Rosmerta, (before, but it was double fun doubled when I learned Mr. AR would, and even better when I saw the movie. Thanks for the McGonagall-cat comment, it was fun to write), Me (did I make a mistake somewhere? Please let me know), ladyelectric, Auror Borealis (please tell me about the jarring bits, so I can correct them), Sayan, and cloudshape.
If I haven't said anything about your stories, I apologise. I will next time.
Helen, yes. It's him. But a cameo only. I have not mixed my Rickmans (yet).
Lataradk (1) -Small- review? Gosh, now I'm just hoping for you to write a -big- one (grin). Thanks!
Lataradk (2) Haven't red either, so thanks for the tip. Don't speak Norwegian, just showing off my great knowledge of an online translator (grin).
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