CLUES AND DUELS
It was a few days before Orion saw Harry again. He brought Ron and Hermione into the counseling office with him to meet her.
"Harry! How good to see you!" she said as she embraced him. "Ron Weasley! How wonderful to meet the bravest Weasley of them all. A true Gryffindor." Ron gave a nervous smile, but he appreciated being known for his actions, and not his red hair. "Oh, and if it isn't Hermione Granger. Simply brilliant you are! How I wish I had your brain back in my day. Come, sit all of you!" Orion was ecstatic. After Harry's visit she had a steady flow of students coming in to talk to her about their problems.
"I just thought I would introduce you to my best friends," Harry said as they sat down.
"And I'm so grateful you did. Has Snape given you any trouble after the other night?" she asked, knowing full well that Harry had told Ron and Hermione all about it.
"No, no trouble at all," he said.
"He seems a bit, stunned though. He's a lot quieter than before and he hasn't taken points from Gryffindor in almost a week." Hermione smiled.
"What did you do to him, Professor?" Ron wanted to know. Orion was grateful that Harry hadn't told them about the kiss.
"Just put him in his place, that's all. You just have to know how to handle him. Snape's very insecure inside, he's not sure what he wants or who he really is." And then it happened, just as it always happened. The door to Orion's office flew open and there stood Professor Snape.
"You three are late for class," he sneered, "So I suggest you get moving," he said an octave louder when he saw they didn't respond.
"Professor Snape, if you please. They are simply having a conference with me and I assure you that they are excused from class," Orion said as she got up and tried to push the door closed on Snape.
"Prove it," he said. As the two professors shot poisoned arrows at each other with their eyes, the trio decided it was time to leave after all.
"It's ok, Professor Avery. We should be getting back to class anyway," Harry said as they squeezed passed Snape. As they walked down the hall together Hermoine said, "Well, at least he didn't take any points from us." The boys nodded their head in agreement.
"And ten points from Gryffindor for tardiness!" Snape shouted down the hall. Ron shot a look at Hermione, who stared shamefully at the ground.
"Professor Snape, why on earth did you have to go and interrupt a session like that? We were only talking--"
"About me," Snape said as he pushed passed Orion and sat in the chair. "Insecure, am I? Have to know how to handle me? What am I? Just an animal to you?"
"Well when you crash a party like the one I was just having, yes, I'd say you qualify as a big dumb animal."
"Enough of this. Why do you play games with me, Miss Avery?"
"What are you talking about? I play games with everyone, you're no different."
"You know what I'm talking about."
"I'm afraid I have no idea."
"Why did you kiss me the other night?" Orion paused. The two engaged in a staring contest. Severus won. The woman got up from her chair, went over to him, and sat on his lap. He shook violently at her touch, as she smoothed back his hair to reveal the dark circles under his eyes.
"You really want to know?"
"Why would I ask?" She leaned in closer.
"Like really, really want to know?"
"Why would I bloody be here and ask the damn question if I didn't want to know!?" he screeched as he pushed Orion off him and stood up.
"Well it's not because I'm attracted to your temper," she said sarcastically. She proceeded to trap him in between herself and the door. Then she spoke in a whisper.
"Because we were not alone that night in the hall. And kissing you was the only thing I could think of to stop you from catching Harry. Though incredibly disgusting at the time, I think I rather enjoyed it. Would you like to kiss me now Professor?"
"How I loathe you," he said as he opened the door.
"How? Surely not any more than I loathe you?" A swish of his robes and Snape was off down the hall.
"Maybe some other time then?" Orion called. Several students looked up at her as they passed by, some snickering. 'Yes, it is quite funny, isn't it?' she thought as she closed her door.
***
That night Orion decided to take Black's dinner up to him herself. She needed someone to talk to now. He had long given up on her, and was merely a loyal and loving friend. He was sitting by the window, looking at the stars, when she came in.
"Hallo, Sirius," she said as she set his dinner tray on an end table.
"Orion, I'm glad you're here. Come look at this." She moved to the window and looked out at the night sky.
"A meteor shower, how wonderful." Her eyes twinkled.
"Yes, it is," he said with his mouth watering as he saw the tray she came in with. He pounced on it like a lioness on an antelope. Orion smiled.
"Has Harry come to see you?"
"Practically every other night it seems."
"Good. Listen, Sirius, I really came up here because I need someone to talk to about Professor Snape."
"Well, all you're going to get out of me is how much I hate him. Of course, we don't really need to talk about that," he said when he noticed her disapproving glare. "What has he done now?"
"I'm worried about him. He seems so unhappy here these days." Sirius looked up from his chicken wing. "I'm worried he'll go back."
"To what? Being a Death Eater? I highly doubt that, sweetheart. Snape may be described as every disgusting adjective in the dictionary but he wouldn't stoop that low just to be accepted."
"How are you so sure though? I mean, no one can get close enough to him to find out what he's thinking."
"If he goes back he will be killed. The Dark Lord hates traitors and is always more than happy to see them suffer. I think he knows he's better off here."
"I suppose you're right. Done already?" she asked as Sirius licked the last of his mash potatoes off his plate. "You eat like a dog." Both gave a mighty bellow.
Orion picked up the tray and headed toward the door. "Well, thank you for the reassurance, Sirius. You are such a good friend."
"As are you," he smiled, "Anything else?"
"Oh yes there is one more thing. Do you recall the conversation we had with Voldemort about Artemas and the Angeleye tree?"
"Yes, he said his servant failed to bring him the leaves. What about it?"
"Sirius, the only leaves from that tree that exist in the eastern hemisphere reside in Professor Sprout's greenhouse."
***
The next day Orion got bored with pacing around her office, waiting for someone to come to her with his or her problems. So she decided to wonder around her floor a bit. As she passed one of the dueling classrooms a shower of sparks flew threw the doorway. She peered in to see what was all the fuss.
"Very good Mr. Malfoy. Nice form. Good choice of spells." It was Snape. He and Professor Jones had joined classes for an advanced dueling session.
"Are you alright, Neville?" asked Nigel. Neville scrambled to his feet, his eyebrows scorched and his face black.
"I'll be fine Professor. Yes, I'm...just...fine," he passed out in Seamus Finnigan's arms. Snape and the rest of the sixth year Slytherins looked quite pleased.
"Seamus, will you and Mr. Weasley please take Mr. Longbottom to the Infirmary?"
"Yes sir." As Seamus and Ron carried out the unconscious Neville, the class' eyes fell on Orion, who was still standing at the door.
"Ah, Professor Avery. Do come and join us," said a cheerful Professor Jones. Snape looked less than thrilled to see her.
"Thank you, Professor," she said as she slid in next to Hermione and Harry.
"Well, would anyone else like to try to defeat Mr. Malfoy?" asked Jones to the class. Everyone looked down at the ground. Even Harry, who didn't much feel like using magic against anyone today.
"Good idea," said a voice in his head. It sounded a lot like--Harry shot his head up to meet Orion's smiling face.
"I didn't even think about that until you came in," he told her.
"Well, sometimes I have that sort of effect on people."
"Well, since no one will show any interest in dueling Draco, why don't we try someone different? Anyone care to go up against the person of their choice?"
There was a long silence, and then, "I wouldn't mind giving it a go." It was Snape, and he had an evil grin on his face.
"Oh Professor Snape. Ha. Well, that is a bit different. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see a professional wizard try his best at dueling. Who do you wish to challenge?" Snape looked at Orion, who was still looking at Harry.
"Ah, Professor Avery. Wonderful idea," Jones said, relieved that Snape hadn't chosen him. Orion jerked her head up. Snape formed a twisted smile with his lips. Both stepped up onto the platform in the middle of the room.
"Now, you will remember to bow," Nigel began. When he saw the look in both their eyes he said, "or not. Right then. Professor, aren't you forgetting your wand?" The woman looked at him. She forgot that these people didn't know that she didn't need a wand.
"Yes, Professor, your wand?" smirked Snape.
"Oh, yes, of course. My wand," she started to panic—she'd left her 'wand' in her office. Looking desperately around the room, she stopped at Harry. Ron had joined him. "Well you see...my wand is currently under repair. Does anyone have a wand that they could lend to me?"
"I do!" called Harry. He ran up to the platform and handed the professor his wand.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Well, this should suffice. Now where were we?"
"Honestly, Professor Avery. Using another wizard's wand?"
"Just start counting," Snape demanded as he and Orion raised their weapons.
"Very well. Good luck Orion. One. Two. Three!" It happened quicker than anyone thought it would. The duel was over in one swift motion made by the Enigma. She dropped her wand on 'Two' and had Snape's in her hand as soon as Jones spat out the first 'e' on 'Three'. The Potions Master was furious. Orion was quite pleased with the outcome, as the entire room stared at her.
"Well...that...that...was, uh, interesting," stuttered Professor Jones, "How did you, um--" Professor Avery held up Snape's wand.
"Right then, my turn to teach. As you can see, everyone, I clearly did not need a wand to disarm Professor Snape here. That is a very advanced magic, so no need to worry about that. Can anyone tell me the lessons learned here today?" Several hands shot up in the air.
"Never challenge Professor Avery to a duel because she'll kick your--"
"Yes, Mr. Finnigan, ha. That indeed is very true. Anyone else?"
"You shouldn't duel someone who doesn't use a wand?"
"Well, yes, Justin, that is true also. But I'm looking for something deeper. Yes, Miss Granger?"
"It is a very bad idea to challenge someone to a duel when you don't know the full extent of his or her powers," said Hermione quite satisfactorily.
"Yes, it is quite a bad idea indeed," she repeated, more to Snape than to the others watching them, "It is even a worse idea when you do know the full extent of his or her powers, and know that you are not nearly worthy enough for such a challenge." The whole class stared at Severus, who looked as though he was ready to kill Orion. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. "You didn't really think you could take me, did you?" She helped Severus up, who quickly pulled away from her.
"My wand, Professor?"
"Ah yes, of course. Silly to think such a skinny piece of wood could produce anything but paper," she said as she opened Snape's robes and placed the wand back herself. He grabbed her wrist and everyone in the room tensed up. She pulled away from his grasp and turned to direct them. "Well, I really enjoyed today's lesson," she said, winking at Ron, Hermione, and Harry, "but I really must be going." She hopped off the platform and proceeded to the exit.
"Well, thank you for that lesson, Professor Avery. It was very, um, interesting. Class, a thank you for the Professor." The class reluctantly clapped for her as she left. The famous trio, however, cheered.
***
"What the hell do you think you are doing!?" screamed Severus as he burst into Orion's office.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but you need an appointment." Snape took hold of her and threw her against the wall.
"Stop playing these Goddamned games with me Orion."
"Ah, so you feel you have the right to address me by my first name, eh?" Severus ignored her.
"You humiliated me in front of my own students by using your powers against me. Then you decided to rub it in my face by making a lesson out of it!"
"Well you should have known better. You knew perfectly well that I don't need a wand. What was I supposed to do? Stand there and let you have your way with me?" She had caught him. He did know better. She knew what he was thinking. He pressed her even harder into the wall. She was letting him.
"Even so, making a mockery out of me is not a very good idea. You think you are so powerful. Well I have my powers too, Miss Avery, and I am not afraid to use them."
"Is that a threat?" she asked through slits for eyes. He didn't answer. He left her office, still fuming from the day's events. Just seconds later Dumbledore entered her office.
"Uncle Albus! How good it is to see you," she said as she embraced him.
"Please, Orion. It's been several days. I've been meaning to talk to you about your relationship with Severus."
"Relationship? HA! What relationship?"
"Exactly," he scrutinized with cold eyes, "You have gone far enough with the tricks you've played on him. I'm tired of you toying with him and you two not getting along. It's childish and uncalled for."
"But Albus, I'm only having a bit of fun. You know how he is."
"I want it stopped, Orion. As your Godfather, I demand it. Either start getting along with him or you will not be invited back to Hogwarts next year." And he left Orion with her mouth hanging open.