Disclaimer:

All characters in the story are the property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling and a few supporting characters, who are my own creations. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers and no copyright infringement is intended.

By mentioning J.K. Rowling in this story I do not intend to present her as a fictional character or to imply that the Harry Potter books are not her own 100% original works.

Any opinions, political or otherwise, on world events, personages or governments expressed in these pages, are the opinions of the characters speaking them and not necessarily those of the author.

Chapter 18: Nora Has Her Say

"How goes the plot, then?" Nora asked, pleasantly. She had come up behind him as he hung up the phone and was putting her hands on his shoulders, rubbing the tension from nape of his neck gently with her thumbs. He closed his eyes and leaned back into her strong and soothing caress.

"It's going very well, I think" he said, turning to kiss her lightly on the lips but giving her a penetrating glance as he did so. He sensed that her mind was in a far greater turmoil than her words and demeanour belied.

"Remus and the Goodge Street people have come up with some excellent ideas for setting up a way to bring Voldemort through to the Mundane side," he continued. "I'm a bit worried about those people, though. Can they be trusted? How did they strike you when you met them?"

"You mean J. M. Walsh & Associates?" Nora said quizzically. "I think they're in the business of being discrete. I don't think they question who they work for, and I doubt they'd pass information on to anyone else."

He became aware that in her agitated state, random images of her visit to London with Remus floated to the surface of her memory. Could he exploit this to extract some information from her without her knowledge?

"But what were their offices like... did they seem like a fly-by-night operation or well-established?"

Nora pondered for a moment, and her mental image of the front of the building – complete with a numbered plaque – was his for the plundering. "They were in a very good district, nice building. It looked like they'd been there a while - like a law office or something, which I suppose is what most people think they are."

"Well, I suppose that's some comfort," Snape grimaced, inwardly jubilant that he had managed to get a street address as well as a business name from her ruminations. Now he had only to figure out the postal code and he was ready to correspond with them.

"So, then, are things are proceeding smoothly without you being there?" she added hopefully, continuing to rub his shoulders while facing him.

"Nora, why must we be at such odds on this issue? Both you and Lupin seem to act as though I have no idea how to protect myself. Besides, if I did go back, how much danger could I be in if I stay in Mundane London?"

"Well, we don't really know, do we? Do we know for an absolute certainty that there are no Death Eaters in Mundane London?"

"Remus hasn't seen or detected any, and after all, he has the wizard detector."

"Oh, yes, that magical-tag map-thingy. OK, granted you'd most likely be safe there, but I just know you wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to keep checking on things on the Magical side." Severus didn't answer this; he knew she was right. "So, darling, why increase your exposure? I can see that you'd want to be there when the time comes… but we don't really know what will happen if they manage to bring Voldemort through. He might be able to tap into some force we don't know about and become more powerful than ever!!"

"If that happens, none of us will be safe. Do you think I'd allow my fellow wizards to risk that kind of danger without my being present?"

"Of course not. You wouldn't want anyone to be in any danger you were unwilling to face on your own. But you do understand that you are probably in more personal peril than anyone?"

Severus grimaced in reply. It certainly wouldn't be the first time he had willingly placed himself in that position.

Nora took a step back with resignation. "I know you have to be there for the final showdown. Just promise me you'll hold out until the last possible moment."

He reached out to put his arms around her and draw her close. "Nora, know that I love you more than words can say. I have no desire to leave you, ever, if I had the choice. But my duty is clear. One day I will have to return and fight this battle."

"Yes. And I will return with you, when the time comes."

"No. No! You will remain here, safe and sound, until I return for you," he declared vehemently.

Nora shot him an ironic smile. "So what's sauce for the gander is obviously NOT sauce for the goose."   

"This is not your battle. I can't allow you to become involved."

"Once upon a time, you told me that what Voldemort could do might affect everyone in my 'pleasant little corner of the universe'. Don't you think I might want to help to stop him if I could?"

"I said that before I knew this dimension even existed. And tell, me, dearest, just how will you be able to help?" Severus asked her with a patronising smile.

Nora was suddenly furious. "You might recall, I'm not powerless in this dimension, unlike some of your fellow wizards who may lose their abilities when they cross over. I was born here! The forces I called upon to help fight the Death Eaters that day at Hogwarts are still at my disposal here, right here, inside me," she said, rapping her chest violently with her closed hand.

Severus blinked. Nora was right. She had been able to tap the dark side of her own healing power to manipulate the physical weaknesses of two of Voldemort's minions, causing their deaths, and had actually killed one man without even touching him. Such a witch would make a formidable weapon in the battle to come.

But at what cost to her? It has nearly torn her apart when she had realized that she had killed two men in the heat of anger, by using a power that was supposed to heal, not harm. And by coming with him, she would be exposing herself to unknown danger. He could not allow her to take the risk. When the time came to return to London, he would make sure he went alone. If that meant using subterfuge to prevent her following him, then so be it.

* * *

Poppy Pomfrey was having her lunch in the Great Hall when the owl arrived, along with several others bearing missives for Hogwarts professors now in residence at the school, in preparation for the coming term.

She knew even before seeing the return address that it was a letter from Nora: the very odd-looking air-mail envelope and the unfamiliar postage stamps, completely unnecessary for normal communications, told her the letter had come from outside this dimension.

She read the letter with great pleasure and interest. But she became very concerned when she read a passage that said Severus had a "bee in his bonnet" about wanting to return to London. "Dear, dear," she clucked to under her breath. "That simply will not do."

"What won't do, Poppy?" Albus asked, looking up from his bowl of chanterelle soup.

Poppy blushed without looking up, knowing that she would likely be betraying a confidence if she said anything further. "Oh, it's nothing, Albus. Pardon my muttering."

Headmaster Dumbledore glanced meaningfully at her over the tops of his half glasses. "What is that you're reading?" he asked. "Have you had a letter from our Miss Sterling?"

Doesn't miss a thing, Poppy thought ruefully, reading on and ignoring his query. Dear me, this was disturbing. I am very concerned about his safety and I don't want to see him leaping back into the fray, she read. Whatever did that mean?

Albus was still scrutinizing her. "You are frowning, Poppy. Is there some bad news?"

"No, not at all. Everything's going along swimmingly. Severus and Nora are very happy," she choked out.

"Pardon me, Poppy, but your expression tells me differently. And I'm afraid I'll be forced to do something totally against my principles, if you don't hand me that letter." Poppy continued to frown furiously and attempted to cover the note. Albus drew out his wand. "You leave me no choice; I must see it!" Waving his wand in the direction of the letter he incanted "Legibilis Atmospheros". The words of the letter literally floated off the page and streamed up and out in a glowing golden ribbon above Poppy's head. Reading the now airborne message with a grim look on his face, Dumbledore suddenly swore and banged his hand on the table so violently that chanterelle soup was splashed all down the front of his robe.

"Damn Severus! What the devil is that infuriating man up to NOW?"

NEXT: The Wrath of a Headmaster


A/N

Sorry, sorry, sorry, to take so long between updates. I have a REALLY good excuse, but you don't want to hear about my hard-drive crash, the week it took me to recover, all the (paying clients') work I've had to catch up on because of it, etc. etc. etc... I have not even had time to write any new chapers but because there are STILL people out there interested enough in this story to nag me to update, I'm posting two from my stash, even though I like to stay a few chapters ahead of what I've posted (In case I want to go back and change anything I've written...)

Thanks to those who are still with me.

- Grey Lady.