After a few weeks of Arabella's presence at the school everyone was getting quite agitated with her. Fred and George had tried their best tricks on her but unfortunately she always just smiled and pinched their cheeks saying, "Boys will be boys." The two of them being 18 year old boys had finally had enough and started pinching back, them contemplated the humorous sight it would be if they make her just the as she had always done to Professor Snape. Then they cringed of even toughing her there afterall she was the same age as their mother.
As for the other children, Ron was now sporting bruises on each side of his face, Ginny's hair was always a ruffled mess, once she found out who Jamie was she started in on him but he and Harry, as he warned his father, started loosing house points for slapping her hands away everytime she came near them. There were even a few times that one of the two boys would yell loud and clear for her to keep her frilling hands off of them which resulted in detentions with Filch. By the end of the week Severus had had enough and decided to take it to the acting Headmistress. "Minerva, you have got to do something about that woman."
"I know she's a bit of a touchy person, Severus, but she has not harmed anyone."
"Doesn't harm anyone? Have you looked at Mr. Weasley's face lately? She is continuously deducting points from Harry and Jamie for merely defending themselves and, as for Ann Marie and Bria their grades in her class have dropped tremendously. Not to mention the disrespect she continues to show all of the male staff."
"What pray-tell do you expect me to do, dismiss her?"
"Yes, if she cannot conduct herself in a professional manner then by all means do so."
"You of all people know how much she is needed her at this time. Until Albus is released from the hospital we need her assistance."
"Couldn't you have found anyone else but her? Your duties as Headmistress are not that time consuming that you wouldn't still be able to teach and there are others here that could fill in as head of the Gryffindor house instead of someone who wasn't even a member of it to begin with."
"Who would you suggest I put in her place? Albus had a hard enough time getting not only the Ministry but the parents to agree to Remus coming back, how do you think they would feel about him being head of a house as well? Besides he has enough to do with the upcoming ceremony and the training you three insist on subjecting your children to against Albus' wishes I might add. Then there is Sirius, he may have aged but he is still no better than the Weasley twins are and I do not need him encouraging them any more than he already has, not to mention he has two children to also tend to."
"Well you need to do something with her, this cannot continue."
"Arabella has always been that way, don't you remember?"
"I remember all to well. One thing you need to realize spring holiday is coming soon. How do you think Molly will react to seeing the bruises on her son's face? You have no doubt heard the howlers she has sent to the boys over the years, imagine the one you would receive from her regarding this."
"She has already sent me one I'm afraid. I received it only this morning although, some of the things that she mentioned did not sound like her at all."
"For instance?"
"She seems to be under the impression that the boys backsides were being touched by her. I was also informed that if I didn't make this cease then she would be forced to send me an endless song that would follow me forever."
"Endless song?" Severus smirked, "Are you sure it was from Molly Weasley?"
"You yourself have told me that her boys are receiving the majority of the pinching. There isn't a name on it but it did refer to 'her boys' so I could only assume."
"Although I do admit you could never mistake the high pitched screeching that Molly can have when she is furious along with the many original threats that she would use on the boys, she was never one to threaten singing."
"No matter who it was that sent it, after your complaint against her I will not only go over the girl's assignments again but I will have a talk with Arabella just so that I do not receive another one like this. I really do not know how Albus put up with receiving them all the time."
Deep down inside Severus had a sinking feeling he knew exactly who was behind the howler but how they would have done it was beyond him. He just enjoyed the idea that everyone's pain would soon come to an end and he would once again be able to sit down without dreading any sort of discomfort he had experienced over the past few weeks. "Very well then, please make sure you speak with her soon," he said as he turned to leave.
"Severus, one more thing."
"Yes Minerva?"
"When you go with the students to Hogsmeade next weekend would you mind stopping by to visit with Albus? It would do him some good."
"I thought the doctors said that the stroke had put him into a coma? How would any visit from me be any good to him?"
"Before the attack he told me about what he did. Although I do not agree with his actions in the past, I do feel that he believed in some way he was doing the right thing. I'm not asking you to forgive him for I know that if I would be unable to if I were in your position. Just go there to let him know that you do care."
"I don't think I can for I really don't know if I do care. If you were in my position Minerva, I don't even thing you would either." Severus said before he left the office without waiting to hear another word.
Neither one of them noticed the sprits that were lurking up on the second floor of the office. "Thank you for your help with the howler Peeves."
"No problem little lady, but it's a shame she gave in ao easily. I was hoping that I could join you in singing again. It's no fun by myself."
As Severus descended from the stairs he immediately turned and started back towards the dungeons "Dad, did you talk to her?"
Although he didn't show it, Severus was at first startled since he didn't notice that Harry was lurking on the opposite side of the gargoyle. "Yes I spoke to Professor McGonagall, she said that she will speak with her today."
"How can you be certain it's going to end?"
"I don't quite know how she did it but I believe your mum has stepped in. She always could be quite persuasive."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks for he was at a loss for words, "Did you say mum?"
Severus turned around and looked at the boy. "Matter of fact I did. Don't even ask how she got her way because that is one thing I don't miss. Now come along or you will be late for class."
A group of Death-eaters were gathered in front of their master's throne, "Bring him to me now." Voldemort commanded.
Everyone watched as two cloaked men drug in a much paler and beaten looking Lucius and dropped him between the crowd of onlookers and the throne that sat at the head of the room. "Good to see you have survived your punishment Lucius, unfortunately I must inform you that your wife was not as fortunate as you. One would have thought that after a lifetime with you she would have been much stronger of a woman than she was."
Lucius' throat was sore and dry to the point that he was not able to express his anger for his master. Instead all he had the strength to do was lift his head and glare into the red eyes.
"Due to your disloyalty to me I have decided that you shall now assist in training the children for I feel we shall have some new students all too soon."
"My Lord, forgive me but the reports state that the children have continuously improved so Severus has succeeded to this point."
"Send word to your contact to have her inform that their testing will take place very soon. I want to judge for myself how unsuccessful he has been in his task."
"Yes my Lord at once." she said as she bowed then left the room while Crabbe and Goyle drug Lucius after her.
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Later that evening during dinner the students noticed that the professor that some of them were learning was more dreadful than Snape on a bad day seemed quite a bit distressed but it still did not keep her from constantly looking over in Severus' direction. "Harry, looks like you father actually has an admirer. Is she the reason that he's been walking funny the past few weeks?" Draco joked
Harry just glared at his dorm-mate. "Watch how you fraise that Draco, wouldn't want him to overhear you starting rumors."
"Oh come on now you know she would love to be your stepmother. She could see her little 'chubby cheeks' every single day." he replied as he reached his hand across to table towards Harry's face.
Harry then knocked the hand out of the way before it made contact. "Just remember whose quarters you will be staying in and whose room you will be sharing during the holiday."
"Alright already geesh cant you take a joke?" Draco spat.
"I'm sorry but that joke is about as funny as you father and McGonagall."
"Now that is just flat out sick."
"Ok now you two, we are trying to eat here. I do not need any more pictures put into my head, especially when they involve McGonagall and Old Lady Figg." Jamie said
Harry then picked up his dinner roll and tossed it at his cousin.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"Putting an even worse picture in our heads." Draco said as he shuttered.
Dinner was soon interrupted by some laughter from the Gryffindor table as Ron noticed a strange owl entering the dinning hall so he ducked under the table. "That's a ministry owl." Draco stated as he watched it land infront of McGonagall.
All the students watched as Minerva immediately opened the letter and read the contents. She then looked around the room noticing everyone's attention on her while the students knew what the letter meant. At that point she pulled had all the house heads follow her through the doors behind the table.
Harry soon finished his dinner and walked over to Bria at her table. "Want to go for a walk?"
Bria pushed her plate to the side and as they left the room they ran into Sirius. "Where are you two off to?"
"We're just going to walk around the castle."
"Where's your father? Does he know?"
"No, McGonagall pulled the Heads into the back corridor after she got a Ministry owl."
Sirius sighed, "Ok, just don't leave the castle."
"We won't." Bria said as they continued out the doors.
As Sirius made his way to the head table and sat down everyone emerged from the backroom again. The students stopped eating and talking with their friends and watched as Severus approached Draco and then escorted him through the doors. For what seemed like forever for Severus they were completely silent, this was the one part of his job that he hated above all else. Finally Draco was the first one to speak. "Sir, I understand why I'm here but I knew this would happen to my father sooner or later. He has deserved this for a long time."
"Draco, I am sorry but your..."
"My mother will be heartbroken but for what reasons I have never understood he was always harder on her than he was on me."
Severus stopped and looked at the boy. "I know how hard he was on Narcissa but understand he didn't always treat her that way. There was a time he made her very happy and I want you to know that I really don't think he ever intended this to happen to her."
Draco sat down on the bench nearby and took a deep breath. "It wasn't him that you brought me out here to talk about was it?"
"I am sorry." Severus said as he sat there on the bench next to the boy.
"Was it him that killed her?"
"Nobody knows definite but I really don't think so." Without saying anything else Draco stood up and started to leave. "Draco?"
Without even turning around or even stopping he just replied, "If you don't mind sir I think I need to be alone."
Severus sighed deeply and rested his head in his hands until he felt something fall on top of him.
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~Meanwhile~
"Harry where are we going?"
"Just up here. I wanted to spend some time with you." He said as he led her up to the Astronomy tower.
"We spend plenty of time with each other."
"Along with any number of our friends or dad or your parents. We haven't been alone since school started."
"Do you remember how much trouble we got into then?"
"As long as we stay in the castle and don't break curfew we'll be alright." He said as he led her over to the window ledge. The two kids sat on the ledge facing one another each with a leg hanging over the outside ledge. "You do know that the Beltaine Ball is coming soon."
"How could I not know. Everyone has been talking about it."
"Would you go to it with me?"
"On a few conditions."
"What kind of conditions?"
"Your dad doesn't get taken again causing you to go into one of your mood swings,..."
"Mood swings?"
"Yes mood swings, just like the last dance. Also you don't go and turn yourself into a toddler again."
"You must admit it was fun."
"Maybe for you, you didn't have to go through the hazing of your housemates not to mention having my parents change your diaper."
"Not one of my proudest moments." Harry mumbled.
"Although I did enjoy it when you clobbered Cho with that Tarzan bowl of yours."
"See I knew it, you did have some fun." he replied as he pulled her closer for a kiss.
Bria then felt something under her foot so she broke the kiss to bend down to pick it up.
"What are you doing?" he asked. She then opened up her hand showing the small pile of pebbles that she found before she held her hand over the ledge. Harry noticed some shadows below them. "Don't you dare." he said as he reached for the rocks in her hand.
"But your no fun." she replied as she tried to pull back but Harry held her legs in place so all she could do was lean backwards. Next thing they knew he had captured her hand but he was lying on top of her as well.
With their faces extremely close they once again started kissing but didn't move from their position until they heard a deep voice from below shout out, "What in the hell!"
Their eyes opened as broke the kiss easily recognizing the voice. "It's dad, don't move he may not see us." Harry whispered.
"I know you are up there now you might as well show yourselves now before your punishment becomes more severe than it already is." Severus announced.
Harry and Bria remained perfectly still as he watched his father out of the corner of his eye thanking Merlin for their identities being hidden by the shadows. As soon as he no longer had him in his view Harry then sat up and then helped Bria do the same so they could get to their feet at least. Unfortunately as soon as they were standing up Severus was standing in the doorway to the staircase. "From your cousins I would have expected something like this but from the two of you I am severely disappointed."
"Dad, it wasn't what you think."
"How could you possibly know what I am thinking? I suggest you two follow me immediately."
With Draco having gone back to his dormitory Severus led the two directly to Remus' quarters knocking quite hard on the door. As soon as it was opened Severus looked at his friend and said "I hate to bother you Remus but it seems we have a slight situation here."
Remus looked at Harry and Bria who were staring at the ground and then allowed everyone in. "Do I really want to know what happened?"
Severus then looked at them "Well are you two going to answer him?"
"I told you it wasn't what you think it was." Harry said.
"Then by all means enlighten us on what you were doing when I found you on top of her in the astronomy tower."
Harry took a step back because could have sworn that Remus was going to transform right there without any aid from the moon "You were WHAT?"
"Uncle Remus I swear it wasn't that we were just playing around and...."
Severus raised an eyebrow when Bria piped in "Dad, don't get mad at Harry I was teasing him by..."
"Oh nononononono. I do not want to hear this. You stay here, I'm getting your mother." Remus then ran down the corridor and straight into Dannie's chambers.
Dannie was sitting in the front room going over essays when Remus barged in she lifted her head and noticed he was looking quite a wreck. "Remie what's wrong?"
"Come with me." He said as he took the parchment from her hand and tried pulling her off the couch.
"Not until you tell me what is wrong, is something wrong with Bria?"
"Severus found them in the astronomy tower alone."
"And?"
"What do you mean 'And'? They were up there alone."
"What did she tell you?"
"She admitted to teasing him only after Severus had mentioned that he was on top of her. You need to talk to her because I can't."
"It doesn't sound like her but we will see." she replied as she followed him back to his quarters. As they approached the open door they could hear the extremely loud conversation.
"But dad I don't see what the big deal is. You and mum use to go up there all the time alone when you were our age. I just wanted some time alone with her for once. Nothing happened. Why won't you believe me?"
Damn that diary Severus though to himself as he replied, "I will admit that your mother and I did go up there when we were your age but, we had known each other since our first day of school while the two of you just met this year you hardly know one another. I told you before I have no intentions on being a grandfather as of yet and I highly doubt the Remus would want to be one either. I have asked nothing of you but honesty, but how am I to believe you are being honest with me with the position that I found the two of you in?"
"If you would trust me for once to do the right thing then you would know I was being honest."
"With all the stunts you have pulled in the past five years how do you expect me to trust you, when you have not earned it."
"Severus, may I talk to you for a moment?" Dannie asked.
"I do not want to hear even a whisper from either one of you while I am away do you understand?" Severus asked. Both kids nodded and he stepped into the hallway while Remus lurked in the doorway. "I am sorry about this."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Since your found them how long have they been alone together?"
"Just long enough for me to climb up the stairs."
"Not long enough for them to get together and make up a story and this really doesn't sound like either of them. Would you mind if I spoke to them separately just to see how far this has gone and what exactly happened?"
"As a professor I can't allow you to do this."
"Don't get me wrong Severus but from what I heard in there you are not acting as their Professor that caught them. You're acting like an angry father. What would you do if it happened to be any of the other students that were up there in the same predicament?"
"Remove house points and issue detentions."
"And?"
"Notify the parents whom in return usually send howlers."
"Which embarrasses the children even more and notify all their schoolmates of what they have done. In the meantime the girls get a reputation and their friends praise the boys. Before I start yelling at her I want to find out exactly what I need to yell at her for. After that you can dish out whatever detention you see fit."
"You are her mother go right ahead but I would like to sit in on this."
"That's fine but for Harry's sake I think we need to talk to him first. I don't want to leave him alone with Remie right now." The two of them walked back into Remus' quarters and noticed the two still sitting on opposite couches "Harry I need you to come with your father and I please."
Without saying a single word Harry walked past Remus as quickly as possible but then glared at his dad as he followed Dannie back to her quarters. As soon as they all entered she motioned for Harry to take a seat on the couch she then went into the kitchen and soon came back out and handed him a glass of water. She then watched as he took a drink and showed that his nerves had calmed down somewhat.
"First of Harry I need you to know something. I have rarely ever doubted any of the people that my daughter has chosen to be friends with. Although I have seen some of the strangest things happen to you in the short time we have known you I have felt that I can trust you with her. Am I making a mistake in doing so?"
"No ma'am."
"From what Remus has said you and Bria were caught in a very compromising position this evening and from the words you two used to try to explain yourselves has done nothing but upset everyone. Would you please choose your words carefully and explain to your father and I exactly how you two wound up like you did and how far it went."
Harry thought for a few moments "Bria and I haven't had any time together without and of our friends or you guys around so I wanted to just go for a walk, Sirius knew we were leaving and just said for us to stay inside the castle. Which we did. The quietest place I knew we could go was the Astronomy tower, I wasn't going to try anything that's why we sat on the window ledge. I asked her to the ball and she agreed on the condition I don't have another accident like the last one. She can go to the ball with me can't she?"
"We will see. Keep going."
"Well um we joked around about some of the things that happened since the accident when she found a pile of rocks on the ground by the window and picked them up. She then held them over the ledge threatening to drop them. I saw some shadows down there so I told her not to and I tried to get the rocks away from her and that when she leaned backwards and all I did was kiss her but only for a few moments until we heard him."
"If your father didn't make his presence known would this have gone any further?"
"Defiantly not."
"Ok, thank you. Please stay here while we talk to Bria now." When they returned to Remus' chambers they found him pacing back and forth while Bria was curled up on the couch watching him fume.
"Well what did he have to say?"
"I want to hear her version first. Please sit down, no talking or growling while she tells us what happened."
"I'm going to kill him."
"Not if their stories match up you won't." she whispered to him. Dannie then walked over and sat next to her daughter. "You and I have been open about everything since you were little and first asked me about your father, correct?" Bria nodded. "Forget that he is here and tell me what happened."
"Well, Harry asked me if I wanted to go for a walk, on our way out we ran into Uncle Sirius and he said as long as we stayed inside the castle it was fine. After awhile we were up in the tower and sitting on the ledge facing one another. He asked me to the ball and I told him as long as there weren't any mood swings this time and he didn't turn into a toddler again. we talked a little more then kissed. I then noticed a pile of rocks he left behind awhile back so I then picked them up and teased him that he was no fun since he wouldn't let me drop them. He tried to get them from me and when I went to back up I couldn't so I leaned backwards and he followed trying to get them and that's when we kissed again. That's when we heard Professor Snape." she then turned to Severus "I'm sorry for dropping them on you, I didn't know you were there."
"If you were not caught would this have gone any further?"
Bria bit her bottom lip and glanced over at her father when she quietly replied. "Maybe."
Remus was stunned and extremely upset at what he had heard and in not hearing Harry's story he instantly started towards the door snarling. Luckily enough Severus was there to block his passage. "Remus please calm down. You are jumping to conclusions again." Dannie said.
Remus the paced back and forth for a few moments before he walked over to Bria and sat on the table infront of her. "Do you realize that if anyone would have seen you like that they could have the Ministry reevaluate that boy and he would have to be allowed to return here?"
"I didn't know."
"Well now you do. I need you to go wait with Harry while we talk." Dannie told her.
Bria quickly left the room when Severus asked, "What was your previous profession where you would learn that?"
"I was a waitress but that I learned 'cause my foster parents were addicted to police shows and it happened to be a weekly ritual for me to go through the same thing just for different reasons."
"May I ask what you did find out?"
"There were some minor discrepancies in their stories but they were the same. Although I do worry about your daughter." Severus smirked.
"Why would that be Sev?" Remus had to ask.
"Because the moon cycle is effecting her hormones like it's effecting your protective instincts. I hate to tell you this love but when I asked Harry if it would have gone any further his answer was clearly no." Dannie stated
Remus let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. "I was afraid this wold happen one day."
"Well are we going to allow them to attend the ball?" Severus asked.
"I don't see why not, we already said we would help chaperone it, this way we can keep an eye on them."
"I must agree, are we ready to hand out their punishments?" Severus asked.
"You seem to be looking forward to this a bit too much." Remus stated.
"Yes I am." he smirked.
The three of them returned to Dannie's place and when they walked in she couldn't help but smirk when the two nervous teens looked at them for Bria was the one to now be pacing the room while Harry sat there leaned over with his head in his hands. Severus was the first one to speak up. "Harry I know I said some things in there that were harsh."
"That's an understatement." he mumbled
"I let my anger take over tonight and I misjudged you for that I do apologize. As for your punishment from me I must insist that before breakfast tomorrow you hand over your invisibility cloak and map."
"When will I get them back?"
"I have not decided on that yet, we will have to see."
"So you still don't trust me."
"I don't trust anybody but I am trying."
"Fine, I'll get them for you."
"As for you Bria. Do you remember what your papaw would say if he were here?"
"Yes. That I as a young adult I need to be escorted by an actual adult after dark. But that means immediately after dinner and you are usually still at the Head Table at that time."
"I'm sorry but with age comes responsibilities. Until the end of the school year you can wait until we are done."
"At least the days are getting longer. Can we go back to our houses now?"
Severus then stated "I am afraid not. You still have to receive your punishments from the school. I am deducting 20 points from each of your houses and instead of attending the Hogsmeade trip next weekend you will be supervised by Mr. Filch as you scrub the floor of the Astronomy Tower including the stairs without any magic."
"Yes sir." they said in unison.
"Now that we are done here I'll take them back to their houses." Severus stated.
"Severus, before you leave I need you two to do me a favor." Severs and Remus both looked at her as she continued. "Please call a draw to your bet."
"Bet?"
"I recall overhearing the two of you making a bet before school started regarding which one of you would go bald first."
"Why call a draw on it?" Remus asked.
"Because not only has your hairline receding and he has a spot on the back of his head," Harry and Bria tried to see the mentioned spot but he moved away as Dannie continued, "but thanks to the four of you I'm starting to go gray already."
"I must thank you so much for pointing that out infront of them but the wager was to see who would be completely bald first." Severus stated as Harry finally noticed it and started to smirk when the man turned to him "Don't you dare say one word because it is hereditary." and he walked off leaving Harry with his mouth gaped open.
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