Ermmmm... I'm very sorry that the pace is quite slow. Having said that,
some of you have mentioned that I've got it at the right pace as well. If
you think it is rather slow, I'm really sorry. I will try to pick things up
a little more, but for those of you that think the pace is fine, don't
worry! It won't be too big a drastic change!
Oh yeah! To Kouryou Sanomi, it was part of the dream! So no, you are *not* going mad (which is a shame because it just leaves me all alone... mad and lonely... insane and abandoned...)
*
Chapter 10: Meeting
*
If Remus had hoped for a rest on his return to Hogwarts, he couldn't have been proved more wrong.
Dumbledore had called the Order to his office. Remus, Sirius and Lira - who had been granted witchsight to be able to live in Hogwarts - went together as an answer to the Headmaster's summonings.
"I wonder what it could be about, now?" Lira murmured to Sirius. "Have the Links been produced?"
"It must be something like that," Sirius replied. "It sounded urgent."
Remus yawned. "So long as he doesn't start asking us to arrange them immediately, then I don't have so much of a problem with it."
Lira shook her head and clucked her tongue. When they were just outside the office doors, she suddenly said, "Do I get to meet the infamous Severus Snape, tonight?" A wide grin was on her face. Sirius hadn't really told her much about him, but Remus knew that what he had told her was contributing to her sudden eagerness to attend the gathering.
"I don't know," Sirius shrugged. "He's only ever attended once before."
She began to pout.
"But who knows? He may not want to disappoint you," Remus added quietly, a sardonic twist to his words.
"Be quiet. It would be nice to see Minerva again," she said and with that, the conversation was finished.
They entered the office.
Arabella Figg, Minerva McGongall, Professor Flitwick, Mundungus Fletcher - to name a few - were present and all looked towards the door as Sirius, Remus and Lira entered. Much to his surprise, Remus saw Snape seated in one of the chairs nearest the door.
Remus did his best to smile at the company and took a seat. He was shortly followed by Lira and Sirius.
"Good!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together. "It is a pity that Alastor is missing from our company, but, nevertheless, this meeting will continue." He took a seat and waited for the others to shift into position and shuffle their robes. "As you know, we decided that the best and safer way to retrieve information on the Death Eaters and their whereabouts was to place Links in their places of meeting and correspondance.
"With some help, we have developed these Links that will be placed in each of the chosen locations. The basic structure of them has been completed: those of you that could help, have helped to strengthen and hone these Link- gems to teir utmost capability.
"What needs to be discussed are the battle tactics and what we should do if any of us finds ourselves in a tight corner." Dumbledore gazed evenly at everyone with calm blue eyes. Remus felt himself glance in Snape's direction: the man had his arms crossed, leaning back almost lazily in his chair and black eyes glaring at the floor. When Dumbledore continued speaking, Remus snapped back to attention. "It has been agreed that each of us should have a certain type of portkey that can be activated either to bring more help or divert it. Perhaps on a chain to be worn around the neck, for example.
"Whilst we remain on this topic, are there any other questions to be asked?"
The group shook their heads and shifted again. Dumbledore nodded.
"Well then. There is really the issue of the Ministry of Magic to take into account. Arthur Weasley has agreed to speak to some trustworthy colleagues of his at his workplace--" This was met with general murmurs and nods of approval. Mr. Weasley was well-trusted. "--who would willingly contribute to our cause."
"What of Fudge?" Mrs. Figg piped up. "Without his backing... I mean, should he find out that Arthur is working for you, why, Arthur could lose his job..."
A louder murmur of agreement arose.
"I'm sure Dumbledore has taken that aboard," Snape said quietly in his low voice, earning complete silence very quickly. "Surely, you can't expect him to do anything less? He must have examined all possible outcomes and influences."
There was a silence.
Looking at Lira, Remus saw that she was staring at Snape, whose face - from where she was sitting - was half covered by his shoulder-length hair. Her mouth was slightly open, eyes lit with a subdued surprise.
"Should Fudge find out, I assure you, if he sacks any of our said contacts in the Ministry, they shall be fully reimbursed and given pay and pension schemes for their service." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you," Mrs. Figg nodded.
"When can we expect the Links to be connected?" Fletcher asked.
"The first Link will be placed in Location A, two days from now. Each Links will be placed in the chosen locations at least 12 hours after the other, to lessen the risk of exposure to unwanted attentions." Dumbledore informed them. "Because they will all be anchored, they can only be truly active when each Link has been put and are connected."
"So concealing spells and glamouries...." McGonagall trailed off.
"Are a must and have already been woven into the basic structure spells of each Linkgem," Dumbledore concluded.
A thoughtful silence came up. "Drinks, anybody?" Flitwick squeaked.
*
"Of course, I know you wish to contribute to our side," Dumbledore was saying.
**Oh, shut up**
"I understand that you might be feeling as if it is a debt in need of repaying, but, Severus, it isn't. You are here of your own free will--"
**Free will?**
Severus gritted his teeth and tried to let his mind wander as Dumbledore continued to talk. All he wanted was for the man to say, "Fine, yes, alright then," and leave him alone. He hadn't asked for this lecture. He hadn't--
"Severus?" A warm hand lay on his left shoulder. Instantly, Severus tensed. What now?
"What?" He scowled, violently shaking his future employer off.
Dumbledore's blue eyes were penseive, but slightly colder. "It's about...ah, *that*, isn't it?... I was hoping you'd be able to forget..."
"No." He said shortly. "Who do you think I am, St. Francis? No," he sneered, "just give me the job, let me offer to you my skills as a potions maker and Dark Arts intelligence and that will do just fine."
Both men were silent.
"Very well, Severus. Joly, the house elf in charge of your rooms, will lead you to your rooms."
An anxious, eager-to-please looking elf came forward, smiling nervously, eyes meeting Severus' gaze squarely, if not apprehensively. He had to stifle a glare. At least with the Malfoy's, the house-elves actually knew their *place*...
"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning at break--"
Dumbledore stopped. House-elf and man had already exited the room.
*
"Snape!"
Remus shook his head: he had no idea that Sirius could be so brave and yet so stupid. Then he remembered their sixth year and grimly set his teeth.
Snape stopped and turned, eyebrow raised. "Yes, Black?" He enquired tersely.
All three of them rushed to get to the man who was still giving them the enquiring variety of glare.
"I doubt you've met my wife, Lira..."
"You're right; I haven't."
Lira extended a hand. She and Snape met each other's gaze and - to both Remus and Sirius' surprise - he shook it. "Pleased to meet you," he said in his monotone. She gave a small, polite smile. Trust Lira to know how to deal with him, Remus smiled to himself.
"Lira, may I present Professor Severus Snape?" Sirius said, rather chivalrously.
Snape scowled at him.
"He's the Potions Master at this school," Sirius went on. "And Head of Slytherin House. Er... Severus? Lira is a private tutor to those that can afford it. She's a Biologist and Physicist, usually. Occasionally takes up acting." He smiled wider when Lira nudged him.
Snape paused for a moment, before finally decideing to grace them with a, "I'm honoured."
"The honour is all mine." Lira smiled graciously. Was that amusement sparkling in Snape's eyes?
"Hm. How do you find Hogwarts? Suitably fascinating?" Snape's lips had a wry curve to them.
"Oh yes. It's not often that one sees staircases get bored of their positions and swap round," she raised an eyebrow in reply, in tune with the sarcastic note in her voice. Remus had very rarely heard it used before. "At least in 'muggle' homes, they know their place."
"I don't doubt that." Snape coughed. "Now, if you'll excuse me...?" He turned and continued to walk down the corridor.
"How did you--?" Sirius started, amazed. "You just--- you just *talked* to him!"
"Hush, codfish," she laid an index finger on her husband's lips. "To bed. Come along now Remus."
Suppressing a chuckle, Remus followed them.
* * *
TBC...
Oh yeah! To Kouryou Sanomi, it was part of the dream! So no, you are *not* going mad (which is a shame because it just leaves me all alone... mad and lonely... insane and abandoned...)
*
Chapter 10: Meeting
*
If Remus had hoped for a rest on his return to Hogwarts, he couldn't have been proved more wrong.
Dumbledore had called the Order to his office. Remus, Sirius and Lira - who had been granted witchsight to be able to live in Hogwarts - went together as an answer to the Headmaster's summonings.
"I wonder what it could be about, now?" Lira murmured to Sirius. "Have the Links been produced?"
"It must be something like that," Sirius replied. "It sounded urgent."
Remus yawned. "So long as he doesn't start asking us to arrange them immediately, then I don't have so much of a problem with it."
Lira shook her head and clucked her tongue. When they were just outside the office doors, she suddenly said, "Do I get to meet the infamous Severus Snape, tonight?" A wide grin was on her face. Sirius hadn't really told her much about him, but Remus knew that what he had told her was contributing to her sudden eagerness to attend the gathering.
"I don't know," Sirius shrugged. "He's only ever attended once before."
She began to pout.
"But who knows? He may not want to disappoint you," Remus added quietly, a sardonic twist to his words.
"Be quiet. It would be nice to see Minerva again," she said and with that, the conversation was finished.
They entered the office.
Arabella Figg, Minerva McGongall, Professor Flitwick, Mundungus Fletcher - to name a few - were present and all looked towards the door as Sirius, Remus and Lira entered. Much to his surprise, Remus saw Snape seated in one of the chairs nearest the door.
Remus did his best to smile at the company and took a seat. He was shortly followed by Lira and Sirius.
"Good!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together. "It is a pity that Alastor is missing from our company, but, nevertheless, this meeting will continue." He took a seat and waited for the others to shift into position and shuffle their robes. "As you know, we decided that the best and safer way to retrieve information on the Death Eaters and their whereabouts was to place Links in their places of meeting and correspondance.
"With some help, we have developed these Links that will be placed in each of the chosen locations. The basic structure of them has been completed: those of you that could help, have helped to strengthen and hone these Link- gems to teir utmost capability.
"What needs to be discussed are the battle tactics and what we should do if any of us finds ourselves in a tight corner." Dumbledore gazed evenly at everyone with calm blue eyes. Remus felt himself glance in Snape's direction: the man had his arms crossed, leaning back almost lazily in his chair and black eyes glaring at the floor. When Dumbledore continued speaking, Remus snapped back to attention. "It has been agreed that each of us should have a certain type of portkey that can be activated either to bring more help or divert it. Perhaps on a chain to be worn around the neck, for example.
"Whilst we remain on this topic, are there any other questions to be asked?"
The group shook their heads and shifted again. Dumbledore nodded.
"Well then. There is really the issue of the Ministry of Magic to take into account. Arthur Weasley has agreed to speak to some trustworthy colleagues of his at his workplace--" This was met with general murmurs and nods of approval. Mr. Weasley was well-trusted. "--who would willingly contribute to our cause."
"What of Fudge?" Mrs. Figg piped up. "Without his backing... I mean, should he find out that Arthur is working for you, why, Arthur could lose his job..."
A louder murmur of agreement arose.
"I'm sure Dumbledore has taken that aboard," Snape said quietly in his low voice, earning complete silence very quickly. "Surely, you can't expect him to do anything less? He must have examined all possible outcomes and influences."
There was a silence.
Looking at Lira, Remus saw that she was staring at Snape, whose face - from where she was sitting - was half covered by his shoulder-length hair. Her mouth was slightly open, eyes lit with a subdued surprise.
"Should Fudge find out, I assure you, if he sacks any of our said contacts in the Ministry, they shall be fully reimbursed and given pay and pension schemes for their service." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you," Mrs. Figg nodded.
"When can we expect the Links to be connected?" Fletcher asked.
"The first Link will be placed in Location A, two days from now. Each Links will be placed in the chosen locations at least 12 hours after the other, to lessen the risk of exposure to unwanted attentions." Dumbledore informed them. "Because they will all be anchored, they can only be truly active when each Link has been put and are connected."
"So concealing spells and glamouries...." McGonagall trailed off.
"Are a must and have already been woven into the basic structure spells of each Linkgem," Dumbledore concluded.
A thoughtful silence came up. "Drinks, anybody?" Flitwick squeaked.
*
"Of course, I know you wish to contribute to our side," Dumbledore was saying.
**Oh, shut up**
"I understand that you might be feeling as if it is a debt in need of repaying, but, Severus, it isn't. You are here of your own free will--"
**Free will?**
Severus gritted his teeth and tried to let his mind wander as Dumbledore continued to talk. All he wanted was for the man to say, "Fine, yes, alright then," and leave him alone. He hadn't asked for this lecture. He hadn't--
"Severus?" A warm hand lay on his left shoulder. Instantly, Severus tensed. What now?
"What?" He scowled, violently shaking his future employer off.
Dumbledore's blue eyes were penseive, but slightly colder. "It's about...ah, *that*, isn't it?... I was hoping you'd be able to forget..."
"No." He said shortly. "Who do you think I am, St. Francis? No," he sneered, "just give me the job, let me offer to you my skills as a potions maker and Dark Arts intelligence and that will do just fine."
Both men were silent.
"Very well, Severus. Joly, the house elf in charge of your rooms, will lead you to your rooms."
An anxious, eager-to-please looking elf came forward, smiling nervously, eyes meeting Severus' gaze squarely, if not apprehensively. He had to stifle a glare. At least with the Malfoy's, the house-elves actually knew their *place*...
"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning at break--"
Dumbledore stopped. House-elf and man had already exited the room.
*
"Snape!"
Remus shook his head: he had no idea that Sirius could be so brave and yet so stupid. Then he remembered their sixth year and grimly set his teeth.
Snape stopped and turned, eyebrow raised. "Yes, Black?" He enquired tersely.
All three of them rushed to get to the man who was still giving them the enquiring variety of glare.
"I doubt you've met my wife, Lira..."
"You're right; I haven't."
Lira extended a hand. She and Snape met each other's gaze and - to both Remus and Sirius' surprise - he shook it. "Pleased to meet you," he said in his monotone. She gave a small, polite smile. Trust Lira to know how to deal with him, Remus smiled to himself.
"Lira, may I present Professor Severus Snape?" Sirius said, rather chivalrously.
Snape scowled at him.
"He's the Potions Master at this school," Sirius went on. "And Head of Slytherin House. Er... Severus? Lira is a private tutor to those that can afford it. She's a Biologist and Physicist, usually. Occasionally takes up acting." He smiled wider when Lira nudged him.
Snape paused for a moment, before finally decideing to grace them with a, "I'm honoured."
"The honour is all mine." Lira smiled graciously. Was that amusement sparkling in Snape's eyes?
"Hm. How do you find Hogwarts? Suitably fascinating?" Snape's lips had a wry curve to them.
"Oh yes. It's not often that one sees staircases get bored of their positions and swap round," she raised an eyebrow in reply, in tune with the sarcastic note in her voice. Remus had very rarely heard it used before. "At least in 'muggle' homes, they know their place."
"I don't doubt that." Snape coughed. "Now, if you'll excuse me...?" He turned and continued to walk down the corridor.
"How did you--?" Sirius started, amazed. "You just--- you just *talked* to him!"
"Hush, codfish," she laid an index finger on her husband's lips. "To bed. Come along now Remus."
Suppressing a chuckle, Remus followed them.
* * *
TBC...
