Disclaimer: I only own Katya and the plot. Everything else belongs to the brilliant J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I was thinking up ideas for later chapters when it occurred to me that I never mentioned that Katya is from America. Oops! Sorry, I was supposed to mention it in the first chappy!
~ The Staff Meeting ~
Katya set her journal on the table and went to answer the door.
"Hello Professor," She said, gesturing for Dumbledore to come in, "How can I help you?"
"Hello Katya, I was just coming by to inform you that there will be a staff meeting just before dinner this evening and to tell you that Professor Snape will not be able to finish his lesson with you today. He sends his deepest apologies."
"Thank you, um, Professor Dumbledore? If you don't mind my asking, why can't Sev, er, I mean Professor Snape continue my lesson?"
"I'm afraid only Severus can tell you that. But don't count on it. He's a very private man."
Katya nodded her head, "I understand professor."
Dumbledore smiled his approval, "Well, I suppose I'll see you at the staff meeting later today. Oh, and please call me Albus. Being called Professor Dumbledore makes me feel like an old man." He chuckled.
Katya smiled, "Ok, then, I'll see you in a couple hours Albus."
* * *
Severus watched as the other deatheater left before apparating himself to Hogsmeade. Once there he quickly stopped at The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer to rejuvenate him and then returned to Hogwarts. Deciding it would be faster to get to the hospital wing using floo powder from his rooms rather than limping up the stairs, he headed for the dungeons. Luckily he encountered no one on his way to his rooms. He didn't want inquiring looks from students about his limp. Going down a dark, underground corridor he stopped at a painting of Salazar Slytherin brewing a potion.
"Wormwood," he muttered and the painting swung open to reveal a dark front room. Limping to the fireplace he started a fire and threw some floo powder in. The flames instantly went green. Hobbling into the inferno he said, "Hospital wing." He instantly felt the characteristic lurching and twirling that came with using floo powder. He shut his eyes to keep himself from getting sick. You would think that after all these years I'd be used to it, he thought to himself as he came to a stop in the large fireplace of the Hospital wing.
"Ow!" He yelped as he landed on his lame leg.
Madame Pomfrey, hearing his cry, came running into the waiting area, "Professor Snape!" She cried, "What happened?"
"Deatheater meeting," he gasped as another shock of pain ran through his leg.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head, "How many times do I have to tell you and Albus? 'Tis not wise for you to continue attending those meetings. Nine times out of ten you come back wounded in some way and tonight is a particularly bad night. We're having a staff meeting in ten minutes. But no matter, let me get a look at that leg, shall I?"
"I really need to speak to Albus," Snape said.
Madame Pomfrey clicked her tongue, "You can talk to the headmaster as soon as I get a look at your leg. In fact, I'll send for him right now and he'll be here by the time I've finished mending you."
"Very well," he agreed as she helped him onto a bed.
"Well, that's a nasty bruise that's for sure," Madame Pomfrey commented, "What happened? Was he testing your loyalties again?"
"No, Voldemort wasn't there"
Madame Pomfrey winced at the name, "What d'ya mean he wasn't there? Who else could have summoned you through the dark mark?"
"I'll tell you as soon as the headmaster arrives."
"I'm here," came a quiet voice as Dumbledore entered the room, "Now Severus, what did Voldemort want?"
"Voldemort wasn't there, Albus," Snape explained wincing as Madame Pomfrey tapped his leg with her wand, "Malfoy summoned me using his own mark. I don't know how he did it or how he limited it to just me but he did. Apparently he still isn't convinced of my loyalties. He began ranting and raving about how little I did for our master," Snape spat this last word out with disdain, "I got annoyed and raised my wand. Lucius disarmed me with a spell that sent me flying into a tree."
Dumbledore shook his head knowing how much it would have taken to get Snape to lose his temper. Although his students would beg to differ, Snape was actually a very patient man. True, he was rude and gruff, but patient nonetheless.
"Severus," he began.
"I know Professor Dumbledore. I should have kept my temper in check. Now Lucius will probably report this to Voldemort and I'll be brought in for questioning and torture."
"That is very possible, but that's not what I was going to say. I was going to suggest that we head to the staff meeting. We are already ten minutes late. Are you about done Poppy?"
"Yes headmaster," Madame Pomfrey replied as she finished mending Snape's leg, "There you are. Good as new."
* * *
Katya looked around the staff room. Where was Dumbledore? And where was Snape? Everyone else was asking themselves the same question.
"Perhaps students detained them," Professor Binns suggested.
"No, it was not students. It was a horrible potions accident!" Professor Trelawney contradicted in her mystical voice, "I saw it in a vision! They are both unconscious in the dungeons."
Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes and Madame Pince groaned. Katya stifled a giggle. She had heard about Trelawney's "visions" and such. How a woman could make up things like that and not be mortified was beyond her. Especially when all her colleagues (and most of her students for that matter) didn't try to hide their disbelief.
Just then Professor Dumbledore entered followed by Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape. Katya's heart skipped a beat when she saw this last individual and she couldn't help but notice that Severus looked slightly more pale than usual.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting," Dumbledore apologized, "But now we are here and we can begin the meeting."
Katya wondered why he didn't offer an explanation, but, looking around at the faces of the other teachers, she figured this was typical of the headmaster.
"Now, as I'm sure you all know, every year our institution receives a generous donation from the Diggorys. And, as you also know, they have never asked for anything in return, even after the sudden death of Cedric . . ." Here Dumbledore stopped as everyone looked down at the floor. Katya had heard about how Voldemort had killed the young wizard during the Triwizard tournament three years ago. A pain shot through Katya's heart. How could anyone kill someone so young for no reason at all? Just because he had been unlucky enough to grab the portkey?
Dumbledore took a quick breath before continuing, "Well, this year they have requested a return of the favor. They are holding a party in honor of Amos's promotion and have requested the presence of the Hogwarts staff. It takes place next Friday evening at the Diggorys' estate. This is a date event. You are welcome to ask anyone you'd like within the staff or out. As long as it's not one of the students," he chuckled, "I'm sure you will all look on this as an honor rather than a favor. But for those of you don't," he stole a quick glance at Severus, "Keep in mind all they've done for us and remember their son. Well, let's go to dinner shall we?"
Though his eyes had been on the floor throughout the headmasters speech Snape had felt Dumbledore's eyes on him. What makes him think I don't want to go? The fact that I won't be able to find a date? The fact that no witch in her right mind would go out with me? Stop it! You're thinking like a teenage boy! But Severus knew that this was the exact reason Dumbledore had looked at him and it was the exact reason he didn't want to go.
Katya had noticed the glance Dumbledore had given Snape. What did that look mean? she thought. Being the kind to enjoy parties and dating, Katya couldn't understand why Snape would hesitate to go. She pondered this all through dinner. I'll just have to add that to my list of things to ask him tomorrow during my potions lesson.
