Disclaimer: All characters, with exception of Setha Stuart, are not my invention but J.K. Rowling's. I'm not writing to make any profit but for writing's sake, and because I love the HP books.

-----------------------------------------------

A Love Lost - and Refound?

Chapter 12 - Meetings

Harry was pacing the floor in front of the gargoyle that bared the entrance to the headmaster's office. He had seen Professors McGonagall and Snape emerge a few minutes ago. So Setha was alone with Dumbledore now. He needed to talk to her, needed to find out more about the port-key business.

He heard heavy footsteps behind him and turned around, wand at the ready. Draco Malfoy and his two cronies came striding towards him, that is Draco was striding, Crabbe and Goyle where having a hard time trying to be as quiet as possible.

Draco shook his head, "Look whom we have here. Potter, shouldn't you be hiding somewhere. You've just escaped the Dark Lord ... narrowly I might add." He snickered, obviously enjoying himself. "Sod off, Malfoy," Harry's eyes were flaring at his archenemy. "Language Potter!" Crabbe and Goyle chuckled stupidly while Draco shot a menacing look at Harry.

Suddenly the gargoyle sprang to life and Setha almost collided with the young Gryffindor. "Potter! Malfoy! What's the meaning of this?" And with an evil smile she added. "Mr Malfoy, 10 points will be taken from your house ... you heard the headmaster didn't you? You are supposed to be in your dormitory!" Draco just pointed at Harry, speechless. "Yes, I asked Mr Potter to meet me here once my meeting with Professor Dumbledore was over." Draco knew that this was a lie, but there was nothing he could do if he didn't want to loose more points.

Cursing he turned on his heels and growled at Crabbe and Goyle, "Let's go."

Setha smiled warmly when she turned to Harry, "I know why you're here. Harry, I wish I could tell you that it was just a coincidence, but you'd know I was lying. It's clear that this was aimed at you. I could curse myself for not realizing it before." - "Professor, it's not your fault that Voldemort wants to see me dead." Setha sighed, "But I should have realized the presence of a Death Eater around me. I did, but then I thought it was your friend's," she turned her head into the direction Malfoy had turned to, "you dearest friend's father."

"You think it wasn't Mr Malfoy?" Setha shook her head, "No Harry, I wish it were this simple. But Lucius, ehm, Mr Malfoy had no chance to hex the Snitch. And I can feel an evil force around me, and no matter what Draco says about his father, he isn't that strong. And there's something else, grief and hurt." Harry looked at his professor, his eyes suddenly gleaming, "You have a suspicion, don't you?" Setha smiled to herself, he was so much like James. "I do indeed, but I can't speak about it as yet."

Setha sighed deeply and motioned Harry towards the staircase that led up to the Gryffindor common room. "You better go to your friends, Harry. Oh, and you may tell Mr Weasley that the match will be rescheduled. And another thing ... I'm not out of my mind, would you tell him that as well?" More seriously she continued, "Watch yourself Harry, as long as the culprit isn't caught your life is in grave danger, but that of course is nothing new to you. Oh Harry, I wish it was, I wish it was."

Then she did something unexpected. She leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead. "Go now, and if ever you need help, you know were you can find me. Your parents once asked me to be your Godmother, but I refused. Still, I would feel honoured if you would see something like that in me." Harry was startled; she had been supposed to be his Godmother? "But why..." - "Why didn't I accept? Well, I'm not sure that Sirius would have been too happy about it at that time. And then, there was the curse, and I wasn't sure how I would react if I saw Sirius again." She smiled wickedly, "I might have tried a few curses I had just come up with on him."

---

Harry had left her and Setha turned towards her own office. She wasn't surprised to find it occupied by someone, still, she hadn't expected him to sit there as calm as he did. "I was wondering if you'd come to see me." Lucius Malfoy stood and closed the space between them. "Why? Why did you do it? Because Draco was about to catch..." Setha burst into laughter much to Lucius' annoyance. "Draco catch the Snitch? Lucius, have you been asleep during the match? Harry was about to catch the Snitch, not your beloved son."

Lucius growled at her but remained silent. "And why did I do it? Because the Snitch was nothing less than a port-key. And now you may guess where it would have taken Harry. Let me ask you Lucius, where were you before the match started?" She passed the blond wizard before her and sat down behind her desk. "Why should I tell you?" Setha smiled innocently, "Oh, because even though your dearest Lord has risen again there is still a bit of law and order in the wizarding world. And believe me, every Auror would just love to catch you red-handed. But don't worry, I don't think that it was you..."

"Well I'm so glad," the fabled Malfoy arrogance was clearly audible, "I wouldn't want you to think bad of me." - "Who said I don't? If I remember correctly, it was you who let something slip in front of Sirius. And believe me, I shan't forget that." Lucius glared at her, "Your so called romance with Severus had gone on for too long already. I could not allow a Gryffindor to take advantage of the foolishness of a Slytherin..." Setha snapped, "So you would have rather seen your Slytherin friend dead than with me. Interesting."

"He was making a fool of himself over you. Did you really believe that I would remain silent once I had found out?" Setha's eyes flashed with anger, "He was your friend! I never expected you to approve of his decision, but at least you could have tried to respect it. What is that with you Malfoys, always meddling in things that are none of your business? Your son's no better than you, but I might be able to change that yet." An evil grin formed on Setha's features.

"Yes, I meant to talk to you about this as well. If you take another point off Slytherin..." Setha interrupted him, "Who are you to threaten me? You're not a school governor anymore, and by the way, the Headmaster approves of my actions..." - "Dumbledore's a fool, and he sees something like a daughter in you. He always favoured you." Setha stood abruptly, almost knocking her desk over. "Don't you dare speak of Albus Dumbledore this way in front of me. You might find yourself in deep trouble if you do so. Don't underestimate me. That was always your big mistake, underestimating people. Another nice treat you passed on to your son."

Setha's eyes sparkled and shot arrows at Lucius. He retorted in a cold voice, "You have been warned. It won't be long until Hogwarts will be no more than a memory. Voldemort is back, and he will know how to deal with the likes of you." Setha pointed at her office door silently. "We shall meet again, Setha. We shall meet again." Robes waving behind him, he went over to the door and swept out of the office.

Setha fell back into her chair. No matter what Lucius had said, it hadn't been him. No, it had been someone else, why wouldn't Dumbledore see it? She sighed deeply, 'What if he took this way because of you? What if he indeed cares about you still?' She brushed the thought aside. No, she would not be the one to be blamed. He had chosen this path years ago, and back then she had tried everything to stop him, or had she?

'I will find the evidence you asked for, Headmaster. And much more. And if it's the last thing I'll ever do.' She closed her eyes and leaned back, this would take all her strength and cunning. But she would succeed and finally she would be able to rid herself from the shadow that lay upon her.