Chapter Fourteen Operation: Separation
"You want me to do what exactly?" Morgain asked Harry.
"Kiss me in front of a reporter, just on the cheek, but you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I could find someone else."
"Boy, you are sure of yourself."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"You understand that after we do this rumors will fly around the wizarding world. What will everyone think?" Morgain was pacing across the room, racking her brain to come up with every reason not to go along with this.
"That's kind of the objective, but I understand if you don't want to do it." Harry sounded dejected. "It's just, if rumors had to fly about me and a girl, I wanted it to be with someone I can at least stand to be around." He looked sheepishly through his bangs that had again grown too long.
"You sure know how to charm a girl. Well, if it's for the good of the witch kind" she proceeded cautiously "I guess I can't refuse." Harry smiled nervously and then ran off to tell Sirius he has procured a 'girlfriend'.
Morgain played her role very believably, stealing obvious glances at him during Potions so the Slytherins were sure to see. Compiled with the fact they still ate breakfast in the snidget tent most mornings, rumors did indeed spread through the school. And where there are rumors about Harry Potter's love life there is usually a reporter near by.
Sunday morning Rita Skeeter arrived at the school under the pretense of doing a follow-up interview with Snape, who was giving her a tour of the grounds. Colin Creevy, a great fan of Rita Skeeter, tagged along taking pictures of her and the grounds.
Behind the Greenhouses, Rita and Severus heard suppressed giggles and given her curiosity and his general animosity toward anything frivolous it was only natural for them to investigate.
"Oh Sirius, it will be a little vacation. Just the four of us. No one will know we were gone." Genevieve pleaded; looking over his shoulder to make sure Rita was within ear shot.
"Yeah. I want to show London to Morgain. We could really paint the town and be back before class tomorrow." Harry added on cue. Rita borrowed Colin's camera and crept forward.
"Ok, but only this once." Sirius conceded once satisfied that the reporter was in the right position. Genevieve put a traveler's watch around both herself and Sirius, while Harry draped one between himself and Morgain.
Morgain leaned forward to kiss Harry on the cheek as Rita focused the camera. At the instant the flash flooded the scene with light the four of them did their best to hide the watches. Rita scurried up to the castle with her prize on film.
After congratulatory handshakes, the four of them dashed after her in mock panic, only catching up with the reporter in the entrance hall.
"If you publish that picture I'll tell everyone about you being an unregistered animagus." Harry threatened in Rita's ear. Hermione and Ron came to add the look of force.
"Too bad dearies, but that won't work now." Rita said smugly filling her quick quotes quill with ink. "I guess you haven't heard. I spent the last year training to become an animagus, it was in the newspaper." She added a melodramatic tone to her voice. "It was so difficult, but eventually I got the hang of it, and now I'm registered."
"But you were one before then." Hermione testified.
"Prove it." Rita said in her cocky way. She positioned the pen on a scrap of parchment before continuing. "Now, if you would care to make a statement about what I just saw."
Harry groaned in anger and stalked off, the others mimicked his behavior, leaving Rita to write the story as only she could.
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"Well, Harry. We are front page news." Sirius said plunking Monday's Daily Prophet down on the breakfast table. The headline "Harry Potter In Love" blazed across the top. The secondary headline "Creature and Convict Cavort at School" shared the same picture as the top story. The image displayed Harry and Morgain, at the point of nearly kissing, turn to cover up the previously exposed travelers watch. Genevieve and Sirius' behavior in the background was similar with scowls instead of embarrassment on their faces.
"Not very positive publicity, but I must say it gets the job done" Harry appraised the photo and read about the planned romantic getaway Rita had over heard. Of course the unscrupulous reporter had a way of stretching the truth to sound like the couples were running off to elope.
Harry squeezed Morgain's hand before going off to class, content that phase one was complete.
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Harry's name was constantly in the papers for the next few weeks. The Life and Love of Harry Potter, Harry Potter seeks Potions tutor with a picture of he and Morgain sharing a cauldron in addition a continual reprinting of the first picture Rita took. As February arrived he was still frequently featured, but usually near the back.
Severus Snape enjoyed throwing the media hype in Harry's face every chance he got. During potions he made of point of separating the two 'love birds', then demanded that they brew a contraceptive potion 'just in case'. Draco snickered with the Slytherins as each public insult was heaped upon the couple, though he had not initiated any conflicts since Christmas.
Snape had more than one reason to berate Harry. In addition to his general loathing of the green eyed Gryffindor, Snape was tired and frustrated. Ever since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had regained a body and recalled his followers Snape had been trying to infiltrate the inner circle. But despite Snape's advantageous position at Hogwarts and unparalleled knowledge of potions the Dark Lord had kept him at bay. Snape was forced to start his career of darkness from the beginning, attending late night meetings and proving himself by following simple orders without knowing the grander scheme. Most of which was grunt work he thought even Neville Longbottom could have handled. Nearly a year and a half of this was beginning to grate on his nerves, especially with the knowledge that time was growing short.
Thursday night, as was his custom, Snape snuck out of the castle to attend a meeting in Hogsmeade. He slinked down to the town and gave the password to a life size wooden Indian holding a box of cigars. It bowed aside uncovering a slim hole in the wall of the apothecary, through which he slipped. Nearing the conference chamber he heard sounds of a fight, breaking glass and loud thumps. He ran forward and found that the death eaters were chasing a pixie around the room. A clumsy oaf named Hansen was standing on the table grabbing toward the illusive humanoid when the table collapsed under his weight. A dust cloud concealed everything for a moment, until it settled and a new figure stood in the rubble. Lord Voldemort.
Death Eaters, in their various states of disarray fell to their knees out of fear. Severus bowed out of duty to Dumbledore but Voldemort couldn't tell the difference.
"Must I always be surrounded by bumbling fools" Voldemort shouted rhetorically. He glanced up at the pixie hiding behind the chandelier. "A pixie. If not one among you could catch a pixie, tell me how you are going to get your hands on Harry Potter." Snape lazily pointed his wand at the light fixture and muttered a simple spell. Seconds later the ball of blue light fell from the ceiling unconscious.
"Severus Snape, the potions master." Voldemort walked around the kneeling figure appraisingly. "I may be able to use you to further our cause after all. Are you willing?"
"Yes, my lord." Snape's senses were on fire, this was a better break than he had hoped.
"Very well, follow me."
Snape followed in the wake of Voldemort's billowing cloak into a smaller conference room. As soon as the door was shut behind them Voldemort tossed a well worn newspaper onto the table. The people on the front page picture were scrambling about, trying to hide something. Voldemort waited while Snape surveyed the paper with a confused face.
"This is Harry Potter's latest love life saga, but I do not understand the significance it holds for you" said Snape solemnly. Voldemort's mirthless voice was icy cold.
"The question I am frequently forced to ask myself is why I am limited to only one jump."
"Master?" Snape feigned ignorance to get more information.
"If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?" It was a loaded question that Snape new better than to answer. He waited with a shrug before a wicked smile crossed Voldemort's face.
Pointing his wand at the newspaper, Voldemort froze the image of Genevieve before sneering the correct answer, "More wishes of course." There clutched in the woman's hand was a clear image of the travelers watch.
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The White Warriors, as they had taken to calling themselves, were in full attendance in Dumbledore's office the next evening. Their roster included Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Professor Flitwick, Arabella Figg, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Genevieve Carrington, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Meetings were usually brief, so their absence wouldn't be noticed by the student body, and consisted of progress reports of Operation: Separation. Dumbledore always dispersed the information he'd collected from every one else for sake of time.
"Snape tells me that Voldemort has taken the bate, and has been promoted with in their organization. Well done. We're ahead of schedule. Rebecca and Genevieve have procured the Japaneze nettles and unicorn blood for the potion."
"Where did you get the Unicorn blood." Snape interrupted. "If from the black market, you can never be sure it is pure."
"It's pure, we got it from the source." Genevieve informed him.
"How?"
"It's amazing what a Unicorn will do if you ask nicely." Genevieve felt smug, held up a beaker of thick silvery liquid and tapped it with her fingernail. Snape's mouth was open in surprise, but before he could ask another question Dumbledore continued the meeting.
"As everything is going as we anticipated, the potion is nearly complete and everyone in place, I extend my hearty congratulations. We will meet one week from Sunday in the dungeons at ten p.m. to perform the first half of the enchantment, so be prepared." One by one the White Warriors inconspicuously left Dumbledore's office.
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Quidditch was the only thing on Harry's mind Saturday morning. Ravenclaw had flattened Hufflepuff in their match after Christmas and today Slytherin was playing against Ravenclaw to see who would go against Gryffindor for the Quidditch Cup. This was the most exciting Quidditch got for Harry when he wasn't playing. He loved to watch the teams, pick up pointers and most importantly learn the weaknesses of his opponents.
Ron, Hermione and Morgain had saved him a great seat in the stands after Harry had run back to Gryffindor tower to get his omnoculars. He settled into the bench, breathing in the fresh crisp air February always brought, and found himself content for the moment. But as is the case during dark times, periods like this are few are short lived. The game was fast paced and when, three hours later, Malfoy punched the Ravenclaw seeker and caught the snitch, the 'boos' emanating from the crowd denoted both disgust at Draco's behavior and sadness that the entertainment was over.
Were it not for Hermione, Harry and Ron would have forgotten to study completely. She was a good task master keeping them up until past midnight if necessary to get their homework done and study for their OWLS. On one such night Harry found it hard to concentrate because his stomach kept growling.
"I'm going to the kitchen for a snack. Want me to bring you back anything?" Harry asked stretching away from the scrolls he'd been pouring over.
"Yes please" said Ron rubbing his stomach.
Hermione gave him a reproving look before agreeing. Harry's rumbling stomach had been distracting her as well.
He ran up to his dorm room to retrieve his invisibility cloak, so as not to be caught out after hours and scurried to the kitchen underneath the great hall. Stealthily he tickled the pear that would grant him access and didn't take off his cloak once inside when he heard two non-elf voices.
"Careful, it's hot." Genevieve pulled a pan out of the oven and put it on the table in front of Draco Malfoy. "I decided against frosting because there is enough chocolate in here to keep a resident of Azkaban sane." She busied herself around the kitchen while he sat back admiring the chocolate cake.
"Professor Carrington."
"Oh, I know it's not really my title but just for tonight call me Aunt Genevieve."
"No way, because that would practically make me cousins with Harry." Draco cringed at the thought. "Speaking of Azkaban residents, how are things going with Mr. Black anyway?"
"Whose to say. We're both a bit more focused on the future of the wizarding world than our personal relationship."
"I hope you kill Voldemort, slowly and painfully for what he did to my father." Draco's voice was venomous and cold.
"You have an overdeveloped sense of revenge. A trait that will get you into trouble someday..but in this case I agree." She continued looking through drawers. "Sorry, I can't find any candles, but do make a wish anyway."
Draco closed his eyes for a minute before speaking again.
"I can't believe that out of everyone at this school you were the only one to remember my birthday."
"Not even Crabbe and Goyle?"
"They couldn't remember their own birthday's let alone mine."
"Well, let's see," Genevieve stood and took on a theatrical air that made Draco laugh. "How could anyone forget that auspicious occasion seventeen years ago in which Draco Malfoy was brought into this world. I remember it as though it were yesterday. A meteor shower over London proclaimed that special day and everyone cheered to know that the long awaited Dragon Boy had made his appearance."
"Really?"
"No, I was gone by then, in America.somewhere. Wait, I can tell you exactly where. Los Angeles California. I'd never been alone before and had no clue how to take care of myself so I was living on the streets digging through dumpsters."
Draco pulled a face to show his disgust.
"Why not just magic yourself something to eat?"
"I was a fugitive, the ministry wanted my whole race dead, so didn't want to risk being found. It wasn't until I met Elden and learned how the laws worked that I was able to go around them. Getting married and changing my identity helped too. But enough about me, this is your birthday and your time."
Draco sat watching the fire quietly for a while before letting his thoughts flow freely.
"Everything I thought was true was a lie. I'm not sure who I am or how to deal with all of this. Even if my father were alive, well, he was never one to give out paternal advice."
"You are not alone. That may sound corny, but everyone goes through a trial period, during which they challenge what they were taught. Some come to find that what they were brought up with is right for them, others find a different path. Now is a time to find out where you stand as you can't walk the fence forever. A time will come when you can't lean on the knowledge, power or beliefs of others. You are an individual. Sorry, for my little spiel, but that is sort of my soap box theme."
"That's alright, it's all true. Just hard to put into practice" said Draco.
"I remember."
"When did you go through it?"
"The first time or more recently?" Genevieve sighed. "The first time was when I challenged my parents authority to come to Hogwarts against their wishes."
"That was good wasn't it?"
"Only if bringing our existence to the attention of the public, causing a general out cry of panic, forcing the ministry to respond irrationally, resulting in the extermination that killed my cousins, siblings and parents is a good thing."
"Oh, and more recently?" Draco proceeded haphazardly.
"Picking through those trash cans in LA. I had to re-evaluate the way my life was going and make a change. I hope you are ready to do that, with out having to go through what I did."
"Me too." Draco sounded reflective and let a few moments pass that way before lightening the mood. "So what about my presents?"
"Presents?" Genevieve mocked surprise. Harry noticed these two shared a propensity for sarcasm. "Weren't the 'pearls of wisdom' I just imparted presents enough?"
"The letter summoning me here in the dead of night said you had a present for me."
"So the truth comes out. The only reason you are sitting in a dingy kitchen with such a loathsome creature is to get your present." Genevieve tilted her head back, placing the back of her hand on her forehead. The melodramatics almost made Harry laugh.
"Yes." Draco matched her sarcasm.
"Then, will these do?" She handed him a black felt jewelry box in which two perfect pearl cufflinks were nestled on a satin pillow.
"W-what can I say." They have to be nice for Draco to be speechless, thought Harry.
"You can start with 'Thank you Genevieve' and then tell me they are more that you ever expected."
"Thank you, this is so much more than I ever expected." Draco said sincerely.
"You are quite welcome."
Harry looked around wanting a way to leave, but still needed to get the food for the study group. He back out of the room slowly, took off his invisibility cloak then made a grand entrance.
"Hello, house elves. I'm looking for some study snacks." Dozens of little creatures rushed forward eagerly with trays of éclairs, ham sandwiches, cheese rolls and an assortment of candies from which Harry fill his back pack.
"Harry, what a pleasant surprise" said Genevieve, "I still have some Evan's Enchilada's and I'm sure Draco won't mind sharing a slice of birthday cake." Draco's face said the exact opposite and Harry was going to decline until.
"Evan's Enchilada's as in my mother?" Harry's curiosity got the better of him and he approached the private birthday party.
"Actually it was her mother's recipe so it may taste familiar to Petunia's cooking."
Harry took a bite and then another, until he nearly cleared a whole plate full.
"Aunt Petunia's never tasted this good."
"That right, I remember. She doesn't like to put vanilla in hers, and was always a bit heavy with her spices."
"How do you know that?" asked Harry, refilling the plate.
"After James proposed to Lily her whole family stayed with us to plan the wedding. That little prick almost ruined everything with her prejudice against magic." The memory got Genevieve worked up so she took a few breaths to calm down. "My parents and I took her aside and threatened to tell everyone she knew that her sister was a witch unless she behaved and let the rest of us enjoy the wedding. An empty threat of course but effective nonetheless. Needless to say I'm not one of her favorite people."
"No wonder she freaked out when we arrived on her door step last year."
"I felt guilty and made it up to her." Genevieve said starting to gather the dishes.
"How?"
"It's a long story, but the simplified version will do. Petunia's parents were so upset with her when she threw the fit at the wedding that they gave the antique locket she wanted to Lily. Your mother had planned to give it to Petunia on Christmas and gave it to me to care for all those years ago, but we both forgot about it when I left for the states. That's what I gave her last year. It did seem to mellow her out a bit."
"That's for sure" agreed Harry.
"Yes, well." Genevieve blushed. "You had better sneak back upstairs with your loot. I'd hate to explain to Filch why two students were with me in the kitchens at this hour."
Harry turned to leave and saw Genevieve give Draco a maternal hug out of the corner of his eye before both boys disappeared through the door.
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Though the meeting wasn't until Ten O clock, Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting in the dungeons classroom alone at Nine. They had decided it would be easier to come down early, before curfew, than to sneak out under the invisibility cloak after hours. Hermione used the time to finish the potion she had started in class and prepare the ingredients she could for tomorrows lesson. Ron and Harry talked about the Quidditch match and how well Ravenclaw had been able to dodge Slytherin's bully tactics, except of course the last one.
A happy shriek echoed through the corridor outside and three female voices raced at breakneck speeds, blurring them together. The door burst open to reveal Veronica in a traveling cloak covered in dust, flanked by Genevieve and Rebecca. They hadn't noticed the students already there and kept chattering. From what Harry could make out, which admittedly wasn't much, Veronica had been in America but came back at Rebecca's insistence. They talked about how plans were progressing for Becca's wedding, the colors and guest list and other such surface topics, until they momentarily ran out of inconsequential things to say. Veronica was the first to bring up a serious topic, and as it happens it was the one no one had been willing to speak of for some time.
"I understand that the Segregare a' victorium will be performed tonight." Her friends nodded.
"You're welcome to watch. Dumbledore has arranged for us to use the observation dungeon." Genevieve pointed to a set of heavy black curtains at the back of the room. She drew them aside with a wave of her hand to show the enclosure behind. The sound proof room was only big enough for three people, separated from the room they were now in by a glass wall. The other three walls were white and gave off a subtle light. On the floor, boiling merrily was the potion in a large cauldron. Harry knew that soaking in that silver liquid, attached to chains hanging out of the cauldron, were the objects that would soon capture the life essences of two people.
"I was hoping to do a little more than watch." Veronica said, glancing at the white room.
"There is only room for three. Dumbledore is supervising, Rebecca is casting, and," Genevieve stopped short with a shrug.
"I take it you have volunteered for the hard task as usual" sighed Veronica.
"Our options were limited. None of the adult's could do it, they have spent to much of their life essence living, besides even a young wizard's might not be long enough to counter act what Voldemort has done to postpone death. Boggarts live at least five times as long as wizards, so I'm the next logical choice." Her voice held no regret or malice, only logic as though she were explaining a simple arithmetic equation.
Veronica embraced her friend intensely, as though for the last time, pulled away but kept her hands firmly on Genevieve's shoulders. Veronica was staring at the top of her friends head, as Genevieve kept her gaze locked to the floor.
"I'm sorry my friend, but with a Vampire's immortality I have you beat." Genevieve looked up in time to see Veronica's fist fly toward her, seconds before being knocked unconscious.
Hermione ran forward to the slumped body, alerting Veronica and Rebecca to the student's presence.
"Hello Harry. My, it's been a long time." Veronica's voice was calm and friendly.
As the clock struck ten, the collection of professors following Dumbledore coming into the potions classroom were struck with a peculiar scene. Genevieve was out cold on the dingy floor with a bit of blood trickling down her lips. Hermione and Rebecca were tending to the injuries with some rags, apparently she'd hit the stone floor hard enough to split her elbow open, while Harry and Ron stood in the corner looking concerned and confused. In the center of it all Veronica was the pillar of strength, her hands on her hips, eyes determined and jaw set in stubbornness.
"Hello Dumbledore." She acknowledged the other teachers with a nod. "I've come to offer my assistance."
At that moment, Dumbledore understood what had happened in the moments before he arrived and accepted Veronica with a handshake.
Dumbledore, Rebecca and Veronica stepped into the small white chamber. It was a somber occasion that did not necessitate long speeches or explanations that would only serve to prolong anxiety. So it was that Rebecca slipped on a pair of dragon hide gloves and retrieved a golden key attached to a bronze clasp from within the cauldron.
She washed it thoroughly before removing the gloves and began to rub it. The metal grew warm between her fingers and she chanted out loud. Harry chanted along in his mind. As it was unclear who would be performing it on Voldemort, he and the others had memorized it. Rebecca put the key on the floor, and intensified her concentration on it until a glimmering whirlpool grew from the key. When Dumbledore gave the signal it was big enough Veronica stepped into the swirling glow.
Instantly her face became rigid and her eyes glazed over. A haze grew from her feet and began to envelop her. Those watching held their collective breaths as the ceremony progressed. Professor McGonagall didn't hide the solitary tear running down her cheek, while Flitwick made a few gulping noises, watching the ultimate sacrifice willingly given. Snape stared stoically in the back with his arms crossed over his chest at the woman he had once loved, until she betrayed him, an unpardonable transgression in his mind, even in death.
A groan from Harry's right alerted the spectators that Genevieve was rousing. They considered hexing her but it was too late. She saw what was going on in the adjoining room and leapt to the glass. The haze was up to Veronica's neck and still rising. Genevieve frantically pounded on the partition, to no effect. Her face fell against the cool smooth surface and she slid down to the ground weeping openly.
Veronica was completely shrouded by the smoke for a second before it receded into the key from which it came. No longer supported by magic, her body fell limp to the ground. Rebecca was completely drained from casting the spell, so when Dumbledore opened the door and Genevieve ran sobbing into the room she could not spare any energy to comfort her friend. Grief- stricken Genevieve cradled the life-less form in her arms, rocking her back and forth howling.
Sirius stepped forward, tentatively setting a comforting hand on her shoulder. They stayed like that, with the others watching for nearly ten minutes.
"She wanted you to have this," Sirius said slipping a parchment into her pocket. Genevieve merely nodded before picking up the body and carrying it past the spectators. Moved by the intensity of emotion , the group was compelled to follow her out of the dungeons and through the front door of the castle. The procession continued into the forest a little ways but remained in the trees as Genevieve and her load ventured into a small clearing. She tenderly released the grip on her deceased companion for the first time and kneeled before the head stone of her son, buried here last year.
Genevieve dug the grave alone, unaware that people were watching, and carved a headstone out of a near by boulder. By the time Veronica was laid in her last coffin, the sky had begun to lighten and birds were singing, letting them know a new day had arrived.
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No one could persuade Genevieve to leave her makeshift grave yard - though not for a lack of trying. As she was not critical to the next stage of the operation Dumbledore suggested everyone give her the room she needed to fully grieve, sending house elves with food to keep watch over her.
She was still absent when Monday's three o clock class rolled around. The question of who would substitute answered as they walked in the door and were barked at by Snape.
"Oh no" Ron groaned.
"Oh yes, Mr. Weasley" said Snape. "Please take your seats quickly so we may begin."
"Where is Genevieve?" Crystal asked.
"You mean Professor Carrington." Snape corrected. Crystal shrank back from the potion professor but Harry came to her defense.
"She said we could call her what ever we wanted, Professor Snape."
"Is that so?"
"Yes" Harry held Snape's furious gaze with one of his own.
Draco smugly watched the power play between these forces of nature until Snape changed the subject and called on him.
"Mr. Malfoy, would you please demonstrate the last lesson you learned in this class."
Draco gulped. They had been practicing advanced transfiguration, without wands, and thus far he had been unable to do it. He tried to shake off the question but Snape was short on patience.
"Mr. Malfoy."
"I'm sorry sir, I have not quiet managed it yet."
"Then I doubt anyone can if the most talented among you is unable to."
Neville couldn't help it, he tried to hold it in because it was against his nature to laugh at other's misfortune but a giggle, ever so small, got past his defenses.
"What is it Mr. Longbottom, that you find so funny?" Snape rounded on him.
Neville couldn't think of how to answer that so he raised his palm over the candle by his desk, turned it into a fairy and back into a candle. Snape was stunned. His classmates were impressed and for once, their outburst of congratulations in front Snape did not cost them house points.
Snape went to the fire place in the class room and threw in a pinch of floo powder.
"Mr. Black." Sirius' head appeared in the fire. "Is Lupin done with his class yet?"
"Just finishing up now," Sirius looked sour having to talk to Snape, but gave a wink to Harry across the room. "What can I do for you?"
"Please come to the HOME classroom at your soonest convenience." It hurt Snape to be acting so polite when he really wanted to kick the head in the fire or better yet let the fire burn him, but he had promised Dumbledore to be civil.
Sirius' head disappeared for a moment then reemerged with a body attached to it, Lupin close behind.
"Today we will be going over defensive tactics with wandless magic." Snape said once the other adults had arrived. "As with everything else in this class, it utilizes the same spells as you've learned elsewhere, applied to the techniques you've been taught here." Snape's voice stumbled over the words like they were not his own, and Harry realized he had probably memorized Genevieve's notes for the class.
They were put in pairs around the room. Harry and Neville, Ron and Roger, Crystal and Morgain (who were both inexperienced duelers), Ginny and Hermione, Snape and Draco, Remus and Sirius. Snape showed them the proper hand placement for blocking curses.
"With your palm facing the curse, your right hand should be turned at a forty five degree angle outward. Your left hand, slightly over the right thumb is straight up. Reverse that is you're left handed." He walked around fixing the positions before performing a curse on each one of them to practice. Harry was surprised that he used wandless magic to do this, until he remembered that the teachers had been taking a class similar to this one all year.
Facing their partners they practiced the rest of the hour, throwing and blocking curses. Toward the end Neville made a startling discovery. Harry had thrown a jelly-legs curse harder than intended and when Neville blocked it his hands came together catching the curse. He then sent the same curse back to Harry, amplified. Unable to block it, Harry's legs danced involuntarily around the classroom. Sirius counteracted the curse and congratulated Neville.
"Great job, Mr. Longbottom. Genevieve didn't show us how to do that until we were a month into our dueling section." Neville smiled sheepishly and apologized to Harry, who waived any fault away in favor of asking how it was done.
After class, Sirius, Remus and Harry were the last left in the room.
"How is she really, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Better.a little bit anyway. She's stopped screaming 'It should have been me' in favor of quiet sobbing. Any time now I expect she'll move on to the anger portion of the grieving process. I would hate to be a death eater in her path when she does."
"She's really taking this hard. Even worse than last year when it was her son."
"I don't think this is just about Sunday night. It seems to encompass everyone she's ever lost to death, and there are a lot of people on that list for her."
"So, is the next stage set?" Harry asked, referring to the operation.
"You-Know-Who just needs to ask Snape one question, and we're a go."
"Sirius," Harry paused. "If this doesn't work, does it mean Veronica died for nothing?" Sirius pulled Harry close and tossed his messy black locks.
"This is going to work, it has to."
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Authors Note: I realize I haven't always sourced my movie quotes. We've got some Princess Bride above. One of the greatest movies of all time, if you haven't seen it.go to Blockbuster, get the movie, grab a date, pull up a chair and prepare to be entertained.
"You want me to do what exactly?" Morgain asked Harry.
"Kiss me in front of a reporter, just on the cheek, but you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I could find someone else."
"Boy, you are sure of yourself."
"I didn't mean it that way."
"You understand that after we do this rumors will fly around the wizarding world. What will everyone think?" Morgain was pacing across the room, racking her brain to come up with every reason not to go along with this.
"That's kind of the objective, but I understand if you don't want to do it." Harry sounded dejected. "It's just, if rumors had to fly about me and a girl, I wanted it to be with someone I can at least stand to be around." He looked sheepishly through his bangs that had again grown too long.
"You sure know how to charm a girl. Well, if it's for the good of the witch kind" she proceeded cautiously "I guess I can't refuse." Harry smiled nervously and then ran off to tell Sirius he has procured a 'girlfriend'.
Morgain played her role very believably, stealing obvious glances at him during Potions so the Slytherins were sure to see. Compiled with the fact they still ate breakfast in the snidget tent most mornings, rumors did indeed spread through the school. And where there are rumors about Harry Potter's love life there is usually a reporter near by.
Sunday morning Rita Skeeter arrived at the school under the pretense of doing a follow-up interview with Snape, who was giving her a tour of the grounds. Colin Creevy, a great fan of Rita Skeeter, tagged along taking pictures of her and the grounds.
Behind the Greenhouses, Rita and Severus heard suppressed giggles and given her curiosity and his general animosity toward anything frivolous it was only natural for them to investigate.
"Oh Sirius, it will be a little vacation. Just the four of us. No one will know we were gone." Genevieve pleaded; looking over his shoulder to make sure Rita was within ear shot.
"Yeah. I want to show London to Morgain. We could really paint the town and be back before class tomorrow." Harry added on cue. Rita borrowed Colin's camera and crept forward.
"Ok, but only this once." Sirius conceded once satisfied that the reporter was in the right position. Genevieve put a traveler's watch around both herself and Sirius, while Harry draped one between himself and Morgain.
Morgain leaned forward to kiss Harry on the cheek as Rita focused the camera. At the instant the flash flooded the scene with light the four of them did their best to hide the watches. Rita scurried up to the castle with her prize on film.
After congratulatory handshakes, the four of them dashed after her in mock panic, only catching up with the reporter in the entrance hall.
"If you publish that picture I'll tell everyone about you being an unregistered animagus." Harry threatened in Rita's ear. Hermione and Ron came to add the look of force.
"Too bad dearies, but that won't work now." Rita said smugly filling her quick quotes quill with ink. "I guess you haven't heard. I spent the last year training to become an animagus, it was in the newspaper." She added a melodramatic tone to her voice. "It was so difficult, but eventually I got the hang of it, and now I'm registered."
"But you were one before then." Hermione testified.
"Prove it." Rita said in her cocky way. She positioned the pen on a scrap of parchment before continuing. "Now, if you would care to make a statement about what I just saw."
Harry groaned in anger and stalked off, the others mimicked his behavior, leaving Rita to write the story as only she could.
**********************
"Well, Harry. We are front page news." Sirius said plunking Monday's Daily Prophet down on the breakfast table. The headline "Harry Potter In Love" blazed across the top. The secondary headline "Creature and Convict Cavort at School" shared the same picture as the top story. The image displayed Harry and Morgain, at the point of nearly kissing, turn to cover up the previously exposed travelers watch. Genevieve and Sirius' behavior in the background was similar with scowls instead of embarrassment on their faces.
"Not very positive publicity, but I must say it gets the job done" Harry appraised the photo and read about the planned romantic getaway Rita had over heard. Of course the unscrupulous reporter had a way of stretching the truth to sound like the couples were running off to elope.
Harry squeezed Morgain's hand before going off to class, content that phase one was complete.
*******************
Harry's name was constantly in the papers for the next few weeks. The Life and Love of Harry Potter, Harry Potter seeks Potions tutor with a picture of he and Morgain sharing a cauldron in addition a continual reprinting of the first picture Rita took. As February arrived he was still frequently featured, but usually near the back.
Severus Snape enjoyed throwing the media hype in Harry's face every chance he got. During potions he made of point of separating the two 'love birds', then demanded that they brew a contraceptive potion 'just in case'. Draco snickered with the Slytherins as each public insult was heaped upon the couple, though he had not initiated any conflicts since Christmas.
Snape had more than one reason to berate Harry. In addition to his general loathing of the green eyed Gryffindor, Snape was tired and frustrated. Ever since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had regained a body and recalled his followers Snape had been trying to infiltrate the inner circle. But despite Snape's advantageous position at Hogwarts and unparalleled knowledge of potions the Dark Lord had kept him at bay. Snape was forced to start his career of darkness from the beginning, attending late night meetings and proving himself by following simple orders without knowing the grander scheme. Most of which was grunt work he thought even Neville Longbottom could have handled. Nearly a year and a half of this was beginning to grate on his nerves, especially with the knowledge that time was growing short.
Thursday night, as was his custom, Snape snuck out of the castle to attend a meeting in Hogsmeade. He slinked down to the town and gave the password to a life size wooden Indian holding a box of cigars. It bowed aside uncovering a slim hole in the wall of the apothecary, through which he slipped. Nearing the conference chamber he heard sounds of a fight, breaking glass and loud thumps. He ran forward and found that the death eaters were chasing a pixie around the room. A clumsy oaf named Hansen was standing on the table grabbing toward the illusive humanoid when the table collapsed under his weight. A dust cloud concealed everything for a moment, until it settled and a new figure stood in the rubble. Lord Voldemort.
Death Eaters, in their various states of disarray fell to their knees out of fear. Severus bowed out of duty to Dumbledore but Voldemort couldn't tell the difference.
"Must I always be surrounded by bumbling fools" Voldemort shouted rhetorically. He glanced up at the pixie hiding behind the chandelier. "A pixie. If not one among you could catch a pixie, tell me how you are going to get your hands on Harry Potter." Snape lazily pointed his wand at the light fixture and muttered a simple spell. Seconds later the ball of blue light fell from the ceiling unconscious.
"Severus Snape, the potions master." Voldemort walked around the kneeling figure appraisingly. "I may be able to use you to further our cause after all. Are you willing?"
"Yes, my lord." Snape's senses were on fire, this was a better break than he had hoped.
"Very well, follow me."
Snape followed in the wake of Voldemort's billowing cloak into a smaller conference room. As soon as the door was shut behind them Voldemort tossed a well worn newspaper onto the table. The people on the front page picture were scrambling about, trying to hide something. Voldemort waited while Snape surveyed the paper with a confused face.
"This is Harry Potter's latest love life saga, but I do not understand the significance it holds for you" said Snape solemnly. Voldemort's mirthless voice was icy cold.
"The question I am frequently forced to ask myself is why I am limited to only one jump."
"Master?" Snape feigned ignorance to get more information.
"If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for?" It was a loaded question that Snape new better than to answer. He waited with a shrug before a wicked smile crossed Voldemort's face.
Pointing his wand at the newspaper, Voldemort froze the image of Genevieve before sneering the correct answer, "More wishes of course." There clutched in the woman's hand was a clear image of the travelers watch.
************************
The White Warriors, as they had taken to calling themselves, were in full attendance in Dumbledore's office the next evening. Their roster included Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Professor Flitwick, Arabella Figg, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Genevieve Carrington, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. Meetings were usually brief, so their absence wouldn't be noticed by the student body, and consisted of progress reports of Operation: Separation. Dumbledore always dispersed the information he'd collected from every one else for sake of time.
"Snape tells me that Voldemort has taken the bate, and has been promoted with in their organization. Well done. We're ahead of schedule. Rebecca and Genevieve have procured the Japaneze nettles and unicorn blood for the potion."
"Where did you get the Unicorn blood." Snape interrupted. "If from the black market, you can never be sure it is pure."
"It's pure, we got it from the source." Genevieve informed him.
"How?"
"It's amazing what a Unicorn will do if you ask nicely." Genevieve felt smug, held up a beaker of thick silvery liquid and tapped it with her fingernail. Snape's mouth was open in surprise, but before he could ask another question Dumbledore continued the meeting.
"As everything is going as we anticipated, the potion is nearly complete and everyone in place, I extend my hearty congratulations. We will meet one week from Sunday in the dungeons at ten p.m. to perform the first half of the enchantment, so be prepared." One by one the White Warriors inconspicuously left Dumbledore's office.
******************
Quidditch was the only thing on Harry's mind Saturday morning. Ravenclaw had flattened Hufflepuff in their match after Christmas and today Slytherin was playing against Ravenclaw to see who would go against Gryffindor for the Quidditch Cup. This was the most exciting Quidditch got for Harry when he wasn't playing. He loved to watch the teams, pick up pointers and most importantly learn the weaknesses of his opponents.
Ron, Hermione and Morgain had saved him a great seat in the stands after Harry had run back to Gryffindor tower to get his omnoculars. He settled into the bench, breathing in the fresh crisp air February always brought, and found himself content for the moment. But as is the case during dark times, periods like this are few are short lived. The game was fast paced and when, three hours later, Malfoy punched the Ravenclaw seeker and caught the snitch, the 'boos' emanating from the crowd denoted both disgust at Draco's behavior and sadness that the entertainment was over.
Were it not for Hermione, Harry and Ron would have forgotten to study completely. She was a good task master keeping them up until past midnight if necessary to get their homework done and study for their OWLS. On one such night Harry found it hard to concentrate because his stomach kept growling.
"I'm going to the kitchen for a snack. Want me to bring you back anything?" Harry asked stretching away from the scrolls he'd been pouring over.
"Yes please" said Ron rubbing his stomach.
Hermione gave him a reproving look before agreeing. Harry's rumbling stomach had been distracting her as well.
He ran up to his dorm room to retrieve his invisibility cloak, so as not to be caught out after hours and scurried to the kitchen underneath the great hall. Stealthily he tickled the pear that would grant him access and didn't take off his cloak once inside when he heard two non-elf voices.
"Careful, it's hot." Genevieve pulled a pan out of the oven and put it on the table in front of Draco Malfoy. "I decided against frosting because there is enough chocolate in here to keep a resident of Azkaban sane." She busied herself around the kitchen while he sat back admiring the chocolate cake.
"Professor Carrington."
"Oh, I know it's not really my title but just for tonight call me Aunt Genevieve."
"No way, because that would practically make me cousins with Harry." Draco cringed at the thought. "Speaking of Azkaban residents, how are things going with Mr. Black anyway?"
"Whose to say. We're both a bit more focused on the future of the wizarding world than our personal relationship."
"I hope you kill Voldemort, slowly and painfully for what he did to my father." Draco's voice was venomous and cold.
"You have an overdeveloped sense of revenge. A trait that will get you into trouble someday..but in this case I agree." She continued looking through drawers. "Sorry, I can't find any candles, but do make a wish anyway."
Draco closed his eyes for a minute before speaking again.
"I can't believe that out of everyone at this school you were the only one to remember my birthday."
"Not even Crabbe and Goyle?"
"They couldn't remember their own birthday's let alone mine."
"Well, let's see," Genevieve stood and took on a theatrical air that made Draco laugh. "How could anyone forget that auspicious occasion seventeen years ago in which Draco Malfoy was brought into this world. I remember it as though it were yesterday. A meteor shower over London proclaimed that special day and everyone cheered to know that the long awaited Dragon Boy had made his appearance."
"Really?"
"No, I was gone by then, in America.somewhere. Wait, I can tell you exactly where. Los Angeles California. I'd never been alone before and had no clue how to take care of myself so I was living on the streets digging through dumpsters."
Draco pulled a face to show his disgust.
"Why not just magic yourself something to eat?"
"I was a fugitive, the ministry wanted my whole race dead, so didn't want to risk being found. It wasn't until I met Elden and learned how the laws worked that I was able to go around them. Getting married and changing my identity helped too. But enough about me, this is your birthday and your time."
Draco sat watching the fire quietly for a while before letting his thoughts flow freely.
"Everything I thought was true was a lie. I'm not sure who I am or how to deal with all of this. Even if my father were alive, well, he was never one to give out paternal advice."
"You are not alone. That may sound corny, but everyone goes through a trial period, during which they challenge what they were taught. Some come to find that what they were brought up with is right for them, others find a different path. Now is a time to find out where you stand as you can't walk the fence forever. A time will come when you can't lean on the knowledge, power or beliefs of others. You are an individual. Sorry, for my little spiel, but that is sort of my soap box theme."
"That's alright, it's all true. Just hard to put into practice" said Draco.
"I remember."
"When did you go through it?"
"The first time or more recently?" Genevieve sighed. "The first time was when I challenged my parents authority to come to Hogwarts against their wishes."
"That was good wasn't it?"
"Only if bringing our existence to the attention of the public, causing a general out cry of panic, forcing the ministry to respond irrationally, resulting in the extermination that killed my cousins, siblings and parents is a good thing."
"Oh, and more recently?" Draco proceeded haphazardly.
"Picking through those trash cans in LA. I had to re-evaluate the way my life was going and make a change. I hope you are ready to do that, with out having to go through what I did."
"Me too." Draco sounded reflective and let a few moments pass that way before lightening the mood. "So what about my presents?"
"Presents?" Genevieve mocked surprise. Harry noticed these two shared a propensity for sarcasm. "Weren't the 'pearls of wisdom' I just imparted presents enough?"
"The letter summoning me here in the dead of night said you had a present for me."
"So the truth comes out. The only reason you are sitting in a dingy kitchen with such a loathsome creature is to get your present." Genevieve tilted her head back, placing the back of her hand on her forehead. The melodramatics almost made Harry laugh.
"Yes." Draco matched her sarcasm.
"Then, will these do?" She handed him a black felt jewelry box in which two perfect pearl cufflinks were nestled on a satin pillow.
"W-what can I say." They have to be nice for Draco to be speechless, thought Harry.
"You can start with 'Thank you Genevieve' and then tell me they are more that you ever expected."
"Thank you, this is so much more than I ever expected." Draco said sincerely.
"You are quite welcome."
Harry looked around wanting a way to leave, but still needed to get the food for the study group. He back out of the room slowly, took off his invisibility cloak then made a grand entrance.
"Hello, house elves. I'm looking for some study snacks." Dozens of little creatures rushed forward eagerly with trays of éclairs, ham sandwiches, cheese rolls and an assortment of candies from which Harry fill his back pack.
"Harry, what a pleasant surprise" said Genevieve, "I still have some Evan's Enchilada's and I'm sure Draco won't mind sharing a slice of birthday cake." Draco's face said the exact opposite and Harry was going to decline until.
"Evan's Enchilada's as in my mother?" Harry's curiosity got the better of him and he approached the private birthday party.
"Actually it was her mother's recipe so it may taste familiar to Petunia's cooking."
Harry took a bite and then another, until he nearly cleared a whole plate full.
"Aunt Petunia's never tasted this good."
"That right, I remember. She doesn't like to put vanilla in hers, and was always a bit heavy with her spices."
"How do you know that?" asked Harry, refilling the plate.
"After James proposed to Lily her whole family stayed with us to plan the wedding. That little prick almost ruined everything with her prejudice against magic." The memory got Genevieve worked up so she took a few breaths to calm down. "My parents and I took her aside and threatened to tell everyone she knew that her sister was a witch unless she behaved and let the rest of us enjoy the wedding. An empty threat of course but effective nonetheless. Needless to say I'm not one of her favorite people."
"No wonder she freaked out when we arrived on her door step last year."
"I felt guilty and made it up to her." Genevieve said starting to gather the dishes.
"How?"
"It's a long story, but the simplified version will do. Petunia's parents were so upset with her when she threw the fit at the wedding that they gave the antique locket she wanted to Lily. Your mother had planned to give it to Petunia on Christmas and gave it to me to care for all those years ago, but we both forgot about it when I left for the states. That's what I gave her last year. It did seem to mellow her out a bit."
"That's for sure" agreed Harry.
"Yes, well." Genevieve blushed. "You had better sneak back upstairs with your loot. I'd hate to explain to Filch why two students were with me in the kitchens at this hour."
Harry turned to leave and saw Genevieve give Draco a maternal hug out of the corner of his eye before both boys disappeared through the door.
****************
Though the meeting wasn't until Ten O clock, Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting in the dungeons classroom alone at Nine. They had decided it would be easier to come down early, before curfew, than to sneak out under the invisibility cloak after hours. Hermione used the time to finish the potion she had started in class and prepare the ingredients she could for tomorrows lesson. Ron and Harry talked about the Quidditch match and how well Ravenclaw had been able to dodge Slytherin's bully tactics, except of course the last one.
A happy shriek echoed through the corridor outside and three female voices raced at breakneck speeds, blurring them together. The door burst open to reveal Veronica in a traveling cloak covered in dust, flanked by Genevieve and Rebecca. They hadn't noticed the students already there and kept chattering. From what Harry could make out, which admittedly wasn't much, Veronica had been in America but came back at Rebecca's insistence. They talked about how plans were progressing for Becca's wedding, the colors and guest list and other such surface topics, until they momentarily ran out of inconsequential things to say. Veronica was the first to bring up a serious topic, and as it happens it was the one no one had been willing to speak of for some time.
"I understand that the Segregare a' victorium will be performed tonight." Her friends nodded.
"You're welcome to watch. Dumbledore has arranged for us to use the observation dungeon." Genevieve pointed to a set of heavy black curtains at the back of the room. She drew them aside with a wave of her hand to show the enclosure behind. The sound proof room was only big enough for three people, separated from the room they were now in by a glass wall. The other three walls were white and gave off a subtle light. On the floor, boiling merrily was the potion in a large cauldron. Harry knew that soaking in that silver liquid, attached to chains hanging out of the cauldron, were the objects that would soon capture the life essences of two people.
"I was hoping to do a little more than watch." Veronica said, glancing at the white room.
"There is only room for three. Dumbledore is supervising, Rebecca is casting, and," Genevieve stopped short with a shrug.
"I take it you have volunteered for the hard task as usual" sighed Veronica.
"Our options were limited. None of the adult's could do it, they have spent to much of their life essence living, besides even a young wizard's might not be long enough to counter act what Voldemort has done to postpone death. Boggarts live at least five times as long as wizards, so I'm the next logical choice." Her voice held no regret or malice, only logic as though she were explaining a simple arithmetic equation.
Veronica embraced her friend intensely, as though for the last time, pulled away but kept her hands firmly on Genevieve's shoulders. Veronica was staring at the top of her friends head, as Genevieve kept her gaze locked to the floor.
"I'm sorry my friend, but with a Vampire's immortality I have you beat." Genevieve looked up in time to see Veronica's fist fly toward her, seconds before being knocked unconscious.
Hermione ran forward to the slumped body, alerting Veronica and Rebecca to the student's presence.
"Hello Harry. My, it's been a long time." Veronica's voice was calm and friendly.
As the clock struck ten, the collection of professors following Dumbledore coming into the potions classroom were struck with a peculiar scene. Genevieve was out cold on the dingy floor with a bit of blood trickling down her lips. Hermione and Rebecca were tending to the injuries with some rags, apparently she'd hit the stone floor hard enough to split her elbow open, while Harry and Ron stood in the corner looking concerned and confused. In the center of it all Veronica was the pillar of strength, her hands on her hips, eyes determined and jaw set in stubbornness.
"Hello Dumbledore." She acknowledged the other teachers with a nod. "I've come to offer my assistance."
At that moment, Dumbledore understood what had happened in the moments before he arrived and accepted Veronica with a handshake.
Dumbledore, Rebecca and Veronica stepped into the small white chamber. It was a somber occasion that did not necessitate long speeches or explanations that would only serve to prolong anxiety. So it was that Rebecca slipped on a pair of dragon hide gloves and retrieved a golden key attached to a bronze clasp from within the cauldron.
She washed it thoroughly before removing the gloves and began to rub it. The metal grew warm between her fingers and she chanted out loud. Harry chanted along in his mind. As it was unclear who would be performing it on Voldemort, he and the others had memorized it. Rebecca put the key on the floor, and intensified her concentration on it until a glimmering whirlpool grew from the key. When Dumbledore gave the signal it was big enough Veronica stepped into the swirling glow.
Instantly her face became rigid and her eyes glazed over. A haze grew from her feet and began to envelop her. Those watching held their collective breaths as the ceremony progressed. Professor McGonagall didn't hide the solitary tear running down her cheek, while Flitwick made a few gulping noises, watching the ultimate sacrifice willingly given. Snape stared stoically in the back with his arms crossed over his chest at the woman he had once loved, until she betrayed him, an unpardonable transgression in his mind, even in death.
A groan from Harry's right alerted the spectators that Genevieve was rousing. They considered hexing her but it was too late. She saw what was going on in the adjoining room and leapt to the glass. The haze was up to Veronica's neck and still rising. Genevieve frantically pounded on the partition, to no effect. Her face fell against the cool smooth surface and she slid down to the ground weeping openly.
Veronica was completely shrouded by the smoke for a second before it receded into the key from which it came. No longer supported by magic, her body fell limp to the ground. Rebecca was completely drained from casting the spell, so when Dumbledore opened the door and Genevieve ran sobbing into the room she could not spare any energy to comfort her friend. Grief- stricken Genevieve cradled the life-less form in her arms, rocking her back and forth howling.
Sirius stepped forward, tentatively setting a comforting hand on her shoulder. They stayed like that, with the others watching for nearly ten minutes.
"She wanted you to have this," Sirius said slipping a parchment into her pocket. Genevieve merely nodded before picking up the body and carrying it past the spectators. Moved by the intensity of emotion , the group was compelled to follow her out of the dungeons and through the front door of the castle. The procession continued into the forest a little ways but remained in the trees as Genevieve and her load ventured into a small clearing. She tenderly released the grip on her deceased companion for the first time and kneeled before the head stone of her son, buried here last year.
Genevieve dug the grave alone, unaware that people were watching, and carved a headstone out of a near by boulder. By the time Veronica was laid in her last coffin, the sky had begun to lighten and birds were singing, letting them know a new day had arrived.
***************
No one could persuade Genevieve to leave her makeshift grave yard - though not for a lack of trying. As she was not critical to the next stage of the operation Dumbledore suggested everyone give her the room she needed to fully grieve, sending house elves with food to keep watch over her.
She was still absent when Monday's three o clock class rolled around. The question of who would substitute answered as they walked in the door and were barked at by Snape.
"Oh no" Ron groaned.
"Oh yes, Mr. Weasley" said Snape. "Please take your seats quickly so we may begin."
"Where is Genevieve?" Crystal asked.
"You mean Professor Carrington." Snape corrected. Crystal shrank back from the potion professor but Harry came to her defense.
"She said we could call her what ever we wanted, Professor Snape."
"Is that so?"
"Yes" Harry held Snape's furious gaze with one of his own.
Draco smugly watched the power play between these forces of nature until Snape changed the subject and called on him.
"Mr. Malfoy, would you please demonstrate the last lesson you learned in this class."
Draco gulped. They had been practicing advanced transfiguration, without wands, and thus far he had been unable to do it. He tried to shake off the question but Snape was short on patience.
"Mr. Malfoy."
"I'm sorry sir, I have not quiet managed it yet."
"Then I doubt anyone can if the most talented among you is unable to."
Neville couldn't help it, he tried to hold it in because it was against his nature to laugh at other's misfortune but a giggle, ever so small, got past his defenses.
"What is it Mr. Longbottom, that you find so funny?" Snape rounded on him.
Neville couldn't think of how to answer that so he raised his palm over the candle by his desk, turned it into a fairy and back into a candle. Snape was stunned. His classmates were impressed and for once, their outburst of congratulations in front Snape did not cost them house points.
Snape went to the fire place in the class room and threw in a pinch of floo powder.
"Mr. Black." Sirius' head appeared in the fire. "Is Lupin done with his class yet?"
"Just finishing up now," Sirius looked sour having to talk to Snape, but gave a wink to Harry across the room. "What can I do for you?"
"Please come to the HOME classroom at your soonest convenience." It hurt Snape to be acting so polite when he really wanted to kick the head in the fire or better yet let the fire burn him, but he had promised Dumbledore to be civil.
Sirius' head disappeared for a moment then reemerged with a body attached to it, Lupin close behind.
"Today we will be going over defensive tactics with wandless magic." Snape said once the other adults had arrived. "As with everything else in this class, it utilizes the same spells as you've learned elsewhere, applied to the techniques you've been taught here." Snape's voice stumbled over the words like they were not his own, and Harry realized he had probably memorized Genevieve's notes for the class.
They were put in pairs around the room. Harry and Neville, Ron and Roger, Crystal and Morgain (who were both inexperienced duelers), Ginny and Hermione, Snape and Draco, Remus and Sirius. Snape showed them the proper hand placement for blocking curses.
"With your palm facing the curse, your right hand should be turned at a forty five degree angle outward. Your left hand, slightly over the right thumb is straight up. Reverse that is you're left handed." He walked around fixing the positions before performing a curse on each one of them to practice. Harry was surprised that he used wandless magic to do this, until he remembered that the teachers had been taking a class similar to this one all year.
Facing their partners they practiced the rest of the hour, throwing and blocking curses. Toward the end Neville made a startling discovery. Harry had thrown a jelly-legs curse harder than intended and when Neville blocked it his hands came together catching the curse. He then sent the same curse back to Harry, amplified. Unable to block it, Harry's legs danced involuntarily around the classroom. Sirius counteracted the curse and congratulated Neville.
"Great job, Mr. Longbottom. Genevieve didn't show us how to do that until we were a month into our dueling section." Neville smiled sheepishly and apologized to Harry, who waived any fault away in favor of asking how it was done.
After class, Sirius, Remus and Harry were the last left in the room.
"How is she really, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Better.a little bit anyway. She's stopped screaming 'It should have been me' in favor of quiet sobbing. Any time now I expect she'll move on to the anger portion of the grieving process. I would hate to be a death eater in her path when she does."
"She's really taking this hard. Even worse than last year when it was her son."
"I don't think this is just about Sunday night. It seems to encompass everyone she's ever lost to death, and there are a lot of people on that list for her."
"So, is the next stage set?" Harry asked, referring to the operation.
"You-Know-Who just needs to ask Snape one question, and we're a go."
"Sirius," Harry paused. "If this doesn't work, does it mean Veronica died for nothing?" Sirius pulled Harry close and tossed his messy black locks.
"This is going to work, it has to."
********************
Authors Note: I realize I haven't always sourced my movie quotes. We've got some Princess Bride above. One of the greatest movies of all time, if you haven't seen it.go to Blockbuster, get the movie, grab a date, pull up a chair and prepare to be entertained.