Ch10
The Letter
Albus Dumbledore stood pacing his office and waiting for Severus Snape to arrive. He seemed to be a little fatigued emotionally and physically. Poppy had been begging him to let Stacey out of the hospital ward for three days now. It seems that she had other ideas about trying to say in the company of poppy for little over a week. On several occasions she tried to escape at night and make it to her rooms, but the only thing she accomplished was setting off an alarm and waking poppy up. Albus knew that he couldn't let her out yet and had given poor Poppy the burden of keeping her there for another week. Unfortunately he knew that he couldn't keep her there for much longer after all you can only keep an American locked up for so long before she starts reading her constitutional rights to you. He felt bad for doing this but it had to be done, she wasn't safe.
After five more minutes of waiting there came a light tapping at the door and a quick entry by Snape.
"Headmaster, you wanted to see me?" There were several moments of silence before Albus turned to Severus and answered him.
"Yes Severus, I have some disturbing news. Please sit." Severus, who by this point was looking more worried, calmly walked over to a chair across from Albus's desk and sat down. He could see something was bothering the wise old man that stood in front of him, his eye did not hold the same twinkle they once did and his age was showing more now then ever. This could not be anything good if it was making the man that stood aginst Voldemort seem nothing more then an warn out elder. "I'm going to ask you a favor Severus. It seems that Mr. Simpson was not who he seemed to be."
"Headmaster?"
"Mr. Simpson was a follower of Voldemort and for some reason he was assigned to kill her." Severus couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why would Voldemort want Stacey dead? What threat did a simple muggle pose to the creature who's name struck fear to all those who heard it? There was something more, something that Albus was not telling him and he could sense it. "That attack on Stacey was no accident, so to make sure that she is safe I am assigning you to watch her, can I count on you to keep her safe?"
This was the last thing that Severus Snape ever wanted to hear. He remembered the last time he was assigned to watch her during her trip to Diagon Ally. The blasted girl nearly ran off on him and risked getting lost, Stupid American. If it was anyone else he would have said yes without thinking twice, but this wasn't somebody else this was Stacey. For some reason she had been a pain in his side from day one, not to mention that she had nearly broken his arm the first day they had even met. What else could he do though, he couldn't say no to Albus, he owed him to much to refuse.
"Yes, I will keep her," He paused, trying to force himself to say it."...safe." Albus seemed to have relaxed a great deal at that. His twinkle returned to his eyes and he gave a small smile. 'Damn twinkle' he though. He was going to live to regret this later, he could feel it but what could he do? Well jumping off the astronomy tower seemed like a good idea, but then again that would give Sibyll the satisfaction of being right for once so the only thing left to do was go down to the hospital wing and break the news to the last person he wanted to see. "Is that all Albus?"
"Yes, and inform poor Poppy that Stacey is free to leave I believe that there is no need for her to remain there any more." Severus nodded his head and quickly left the room with a scowl on his face.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
"Poppy! Please I'm ok really see look no more limping. Can I go now?" Asked Stacey for about the millionth time today. She was really board and restless, if somebody didn't let her out soon she was going to explode.
"Stacey, for the hundredth time No! Albus has given me orders saying that you are to stay here until he gives you the Okay." Poppy was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and if it wasn't for the fact that Stacey was a teacher she would have strangled her on several occasions.
She didn't know why she was being held captive in the hospital and she had done her best to drive Poppy to the point of kicking her out of the room, but with no success. She was still in the same bed with the same view of the window and having the same argument for the hundredth time in a row with the "prison guard" who was now tending to a third year Huffelpuff with a head cold.
Thinking that this could be her moment of escape she quickly jumped out of bed and made a mad dash for the open door. Just as she was about to make an exit a dark figure blocked her path. Without enough time to stop she ran head long into Severus causing him to knock backwards and fall on his ass.
"What in Merlin do you think your doing!" He snapped at her which caused her to jump of him instantly.
"Damn you! I hope you know that you have this stupid habit of showing up at the worst times." She looked down at where he still lay flat on his back. If he was expecting her to help him up then he was sadly mistaken. Poppy, hearing all the commotion and yelling, ran over to drag Stacey back into bed and help Severus off the floor.
"Poppy, Albus has sent me down here to confirm that Miss. Vitale is free to go." Pure and utter joy spread across Poppy's face while at the same time Severus was looking miserable and annoyed. Quickly before anyone had anything else to say she jumped and practically skipped to the door, but not before a voice called her before she even left the room.
"What now! You said to Poppy that I can go so what the hell do you want!" She gave him a dark and unhappy look. Severus knew this was going to be more difficult then he had originally thought. Beckoning her to sit in a chair he took a few steps back when she finally did sit so she wouldn't be able to strangle him. Chances were she was probably going to attempt murder after she heard the news.
"I have some news that you might want to hear before you leave."
"What?" she asked with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Albus has assigned me to watch over you the-"
"What! Why? In case any one doesn't know I am perfectly able to take care of myself. What do I look like to you? A child!"
"No, you look like a stuffy, thick headed American who doesn't even know when her own life is in danger!" It was as if somebody had slapped her right across the face, she didn't know what to say. Why would her life be in danger? Well ok so she almost got blown up by the mad cherub, but still it was nothing more then a practical joke.
"Why...how.who would?" She was a little baffled.
"You will find out everything once you look at the letter your father sent you. Albus has arranged a meeting for us once you're done reading it. He feels that you need to know everything now."
"Everything? What is there to know? What will reading a stupid letter accomplish?"
"Are you hard of hearing!? Your questions will be answered once you read the Letter?" He was beginning to feel a little irritated.
"Geez, what crawled up your ass and died?" He ignored that last statement and stood to leave, but stopped at the door when he realized she was still sitting in the chair.
"Are you going to sit there and act like a statue or are you coming?" She stood up slowly and gave him a look that said "If you're smart you'll stay ten feet away from me" then quickly walked out the door.
As soon as she left Poppy, who had been watching the whole thing from a distance, collapsed into the same chair that Stacey was just sitting in and began to cry tears of joy, thankful for the fact that she hopefully wouldn't have to see her for a very long time.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Severus stood watching Stacey destroy nearly half her room looking for the piece of parchment that her father had owled to her a little over 2 months ago. He was startled by her behavior. She was going back and forth throwing things from the shelves and dressers searching franticly for one little piece of paper.
"One would assume that you, being a professor, would keep papers organized? How do you grade papers?"
"Huh, Oh I usually have everything in my office, but I kept that letter in my book bag which was in my room. Humm now where did I put it?" She was standing in the middle of the room now scratching her head and attempting to remember where she put her book bag that she had, had enchanted so her dad could pack all of her things. She looked irritable at Severus who was doing nothing more then standing there and watching her. "Well are you going to stand there and be a part of the scenery or are you going to help me?" He didn't even bother to look at her and for a minute she though that he was being an ass and ignoring her.
"What are you looking for?"
"A book bag. You know a pouch that you keep things in.has a zipper..straps." he looked lost. "Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?"
"Yes, I know what you are referring to. Miss Vitale- " She crossed her arms and glared at him, once again she was being referred to as a student or something. What? Did he have a problem remembering that she did have a first name? It's not that hard after all.
"Excuse me, but didn't we go over this once before. Severus, as hard as this is to believe I was given a first name. You can at least do me one favor since you are going to be my shadow and call me by my first damn name?" Rolling his eyes he picked up where he left off.
"Fine, Stacey, I know what you are referring to, but we are not looking for a book bag I believe that your job right now Is to look for the letter!"
"Well you know I happened to just put the letter in the damn book bag that's why I'm looking for it instead of the letter. And another thing, stop standing there and make yourself useful." She watched as he went into his robes and pulled out his wand. "And just what do you think your doing. I don't think blasting my belongings is going to help us find anything!" Not paying her any attention, he stuck his wand in the air and said a spell.
"Accio book bag" Instantly the book bag came flying out from under the bed and into Severus's hand. She couldn't believe it, all that searching and he could have just done that in the first place.
"Why didn't you do that before you good for nothing-" She was unable to finish the sentence because Severus, being the gentleman that he was, threw the heavy book bag at her knocking Stacey a few steps back. After a few minutes of mumbling what sounded like death wishes to the man in front of her and searching she finally found what she was looking for.
Holding the parchment up in triumph she quickly threw the book bag back under her bed and took a seat at her desk staring at the un open letter. She really didn't want to open it. What if it said that he disowned her or something, then what? Would she lose the only family that she had left? Right now she would love to be doing anything else then sitting here and having to read the letter her dad sent her. She could always put the letter down and run as far as she could out of the room. There was just one problem with that, Severus was blocking the door way.
"Stacey, If you don't open that letter soon I'll be forced to come over there and read it for you. I'm sure you wouldn't want that now would you?" There it was, that damn smirk! How she wished she could go over there and smack it right off his face.
"Have you no consideration ?"
"No as a matter of fact I don't. Now will you please hurry up with that damn letter?"
"Ok, Fine." She grabbed the letter in pure anger and ripped the seal of it, then unfolded it and began to read.
Stacey,
Well I figured sooner or later you would one day come across that old book. If you're wondering, it belonged to your mother and was used as a port key to Hogwarts. Albus has written to me of your arrival and from what I heard you made a stunning entrance. Hope Severus isn't too made at you for dropping in on him. I have written you for a reason though, Stacey, and I think it's about time that I told you the truth about me and your mother.
Your mother and I were assigned to go into hiding and protect you from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We were Aurors. I cannot tell you why we had to protect you, I feel that is something only your grandfather can tell you; after all he is headmaster of this school. I have written him a letter telling him that if anything were to happen to you then he should tell you everything, but only after you read this letter. I hade a hunch that you would have never opened it unless forced. I love you very much, my daughter. Please be safe and know that if anything happens then you always have a place to turn too.
With Love,
Dad.
She didn't know what to think, there were too many thoughts swimming in her head. There was one big thing that stood out though. "I feel that is something only your grandfather can tell you; after all he is the headmaster of this school." Why the hell didn't he tell her? And the fact that he knew just made it even worse.
Still holding the parchment she got up and walked slowly to the door without even looking at the body guard her grandfather had assigned her. She didn't care if he followed her to his office. She just had to know why the hell he didn't tell her and if Severus wanted to come along for the ride then so be it. If he tried to stop her though he ran a high risk of dieing early.
"Where are you going?" He asked not really caring.
"To go se my grandfather, remember we have a meeting with him." he voice was flat and had no emotion to it. Then she left the room running as fast as she could to the one person who would know all the answers....her Grandfather.
A.N: Hah I bet you didn't see any of that comming.. HA HA! well anyway the chapters will be posted a little slower now.. So please be very pachient. But I would like to thank the ppl who were kind enough to review and if you guys can find ppl to read it then by all means tell them about it. Once again thank you...
The Letter
Albus Dumbledore stood pacing his office and waiting for Severus Snape to arrive. He seemed to be a little fatigued emotionally and physically. Poppy had been begging him to let Stacey out of the hospital ward for three days now. It seems that she had other ideas about trying to say in the company of poppy for little over a week. On several occasions she tried to escape at night and make it to her rooms, but the only thing she accomplished was setting off an alarm and waking poppy up. Albus knew that he couldn't let her out yet and had given poor Poppy the burden of keeping her there for another week. Unfortunately he knew that he couldn't keep her there for much longer after all you can only keep an American locked up for so long before she starts reading her constitutional rights to you. He felt bad for doing this but it had to be done, she wasn't safe.
After five more minutes of waiting there came a light tapping at the door and a quick entry by Snape.
"Headmaster, you wanted to see me?" There were several moments of silence before Albus turned to Severus and answered him.
"Yes Severus, I have some disturbing news. Please sit." Severus, who by this point was looking more worried, calmly walked over to a chair across from Albus's desk and sat down. He could see something was bothering the wise old man that stood in front of him, his eye did not hold the same twinkle they once did and his age was showing more now then ever. This could not be anything good if it was making the man that stood aginst Voldemort seem nothing more then an warn out elder. "I'm going to ask you a favor Severus. It seems that Mr. Simpson was not who he seemed to be."
"Headmaster?"
"Mr. Simpson was a follower of Voldemort and for some reason he was assigned to kill her." Severus couldn't believe what he was hearing. Why would Voldemort want Stacey dead? What threat did a simple muggle pose to the creature who's name struck fear to all those who heard it? There was something more, something that Albus was not telling him and he could sense it. "That attack on Stacey was no accident, so to make sure that she is safe I am assigning you to watch her, can I count on you to keep her safe?"
This was the last thing that Severus Snape ever wanted to hear. He remembered the last time he was assigned to watch her during her trip to Diagon Ally. The blasted girl nearly ran off on him and risked getting lost, Stupid American. If it was anyone else he would have said yes without thinking twice, but this wasn't somebody else this was Stacey. For some reason she had been a pain in his side from day one, not to mention that she had nearly broken his arm the first day they had even met. What else could he do though, he couldn't say no to Albus, he owed him to much to refuse.
"Yes, I will keep her," He paused, trying to force himself to say it."...safe." Albus seemed to have relaxed a great deal at that. His twinkle returned to his eyes and he gave a small smile. 'Damn twinkle' he though. He was going to live to regret this later, he could feel it but what could he do? Well jumping off the astronomy tower seemed like a good idea, but then again that would give Sibyll the satisfaction of being right for once so the only thing left to do was go down to the hospital wing and break the news to the last person he wanted to see. "Is that all Albus?"
"Yes, and inform poor Poppy that Stacey is free to leave I believe that there is no need for her to remain there any more." Severus nodded his head and quickly left the room with a scowl on his face.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
"Poppy! Please I'm ok really see look no more limping. Can I go now?" Asked Stacey for about the millionth time today. She was really board and restless, if somebody didn't let her out soon she was going to explode.
"Stacey, for the hundredth time No! Albus has given me orders saying that you are to stay here until he gives you the Okay." Poppy was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and if it wasn't for the fact that Stacey was a teacher she would have strangled her on several occasions.
She didn't know why she was being held captive in the hospital and she had done her best to drive Poppy to the point of kicking her out of the room, but with no success. She was still in the same bed with the same view of the window and having the same argument for the hundredth time in a row with the "prison guard" who was now tending to a third year Huffelpuff with a head cold.
Thinking that this could be her moment of escape she quickly jumped out of bed and made a mad dash for the open door. Just as she was about to make an exit a dark figure blocked her path. Without enough time to stop she ran head long into Severus causing him to knock backwards and fall on his ass.
"What in Merlin do you think your doing!" He snapped at her which caused her to jump of him instantly.
"Damn you! I hope you know that you have this stupid habit of showing up at the worst times." She looked down at where he still lay flat on his back. If he was expecting her to help him up then he was sadly mistaken. Poppy, hearing all the commotion and yelling, ran over to drag Stacey back into bed and help Severus off the floor.
"Poppy, Albus has sent me down here to confirm that Miss. Vitale is free to go." Pure and utter joy spread across Poppy's face while at the same time Severus was looking miserable and annoyed. Quickly before anyone had anything else to say she jumped and practically skipped to the door, but not before a voice called her before she even left the room.
"What now! You said to Poppy that I can go so what the hell do you want!" She gave him a dark and unhappy look. Severus knew this was going to be more difficult then he had originally thought. Beckoning her to sit in a chair he took a few steps back when she finally did sit so she wouldn't be able to strangle him. Chances were she was probably going to attempt murder after she heard the news.
"I have some news that you might want to hear before you leave."
"What?" she asked with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Albus has assigned me to watch over you the-"
"What! Why? In case any one doesn't know I am perfectly able to take care of myself. What do I look like to you? A child!"
"No, you look like a stuffy, thick headed American who doesn't even know when her own life is in danger!" It was as if somebody had slapped her right across the face, she didn't know what to say. Why would her life be in danger? Well ok so she almost got blown up by the mad cherub, but still it was nothing more then a practical joke.
"Why...how.who would?" She was a little baffled.
"You will find out everything once you look at the letter your father sent you. Albus has arranged a meeting for us once you're done reading it. He feels that you need to know everything now."
"Everything? What is there to know? What will reading a stupid letter accomplish?"
"Are you hard of hearing!? Your questions will be answered once you read the Letter?" He was beginning to feel a little irritated.
"Geez, what crawled up your ass and died?" He ignored that last statement and stood to leave, but stopped at the door when he realized she was still sitting in the chair.
"Are you going to sit there and act like a statue or are you coming?" She stood up slowly and gave him a look that said "If you're smart you'll stay ten feet away from me" then quickly walked out the door.
As soon as she left Poppy, who had been watching the whole thing from a distance, collapsed into the same chair that Stacey was just sitting in and began to cry tears of joy, thankful for the fact that she hopefully wouldn't have to see her for a very long time.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Severus stood watching Stacey destroy nearly half her room looking for the piece of parchment that her father had owled to her a little over 2 months ago. He was startled by her behavior. She was going back and forth throwing things from the shelves and dressers searching franticly for one little piece of paper.
"One would assume that you, being a professor, would keep papers organized? How do you grade papers?"
"Huh, Oh I usually have everything in my office, but I kept that letter in my book bag which was in my room. Humm now where did I put it?" She was standing in the middle of the room now scratching her head and attempting to remember where she put her book bag that she had, had enchanted so her dad could pack all of her things. She looked irritable at Severus who was doing nothing more then standing there and watching her. "Well are you going to stand there and be a part of the scenery or are you going to help me?" He didn't even bother to look at her and for a minute she though that he was being an ass and ignoring her.
"What are you looking for?"
"A book bag. You know a pouch that you keep things in.has a zipper..straps." he looked lost. "Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?"
"Yes, I know what you are referring to. Miss Vitale- " She crossed her arms and glared at him, once again she was being referred to as a student or something. What? Did he have a problem remembering that she did have a first name? It's not that hard after all.
"Excuse me, but didn't we go over this once before. Severus, as hard as this is to believe I was given a first name. You can at least do me one favor since you are going to be my shadow and call me by my first damn name?" Rolling his eyes he picked up where he left off.
"Fine, Stacey, I know what you are referring to, but we are not looking for a book bag I believe that your job right now Is to look for the letter!"
"Well you know I happened to just put the letter in the damn book bag that's why I'm looking for it instead of the letter. And another thing, stop standing there and make yourself useful." She watched as he went into his robes and pulled out his wand. "And just what do you think your doing. I don't think blasting my belongings is going to help us find anything!" Not paying her any attention, he stuck his wand in the air and said a spell.
"Accio book bag" Instantly the book bag came flying out from under the bed and into Severus's hand. She couldn't believe it, all that searching and he could have just done that in the first place.
"Why didn't you do that before you good for nothing-" She was unable to finish the sentence because Severus, being the gentleman that he was, threw the heavy book bag at her knocking Stacey a few steps back. After a few minutes of mumbling what sounded like death wishes to the man in front of her and searching she finally found what she was looking for.
Holding the parchment up in triumph she quickly threw the book bag back under her bed and took a seat at her desk staring at the un open letter. She really didn't want to open it. What if it said that he disowned her or something, then what? Would she lose the only family that she had left? Right now she would love to be doing anything else then sitting here and having to read the letter her dad sent her. She could always put the letter down and run as far as she could out of the room. There was just one problem with that, Severus was blocking the door way.
"Stacey, If you don't open that letter soon I'll be forced to come over there and read it for you. I'm sure you wouldn't want that now would you?" There it was, that damn smirk! How she wished she could go over there and smack it right off his face.
"Have you no consideration ?"
"No as a matter of fact I don't. Now will you please hurry up with that damn letter?"
"Ok, Fine." She grabbed the letter in pure anger and ripped the seal of it, then unfolded it and began to read.
Stacey,
Well I figured sooner or later you would one day come across that old book. If you're wondering, it belonged to your mother and was used as a port key to Hogwarts. Albus has written to me of your arrival and from what I heard you made a stunning entrance. Hope Severus isn't too made at you for dropping in on him. I have written you for a reason though, Stacey, and I think it's about time that I told you the truth about me and your mother.
Your mother and I were assigned to go into hiding and protect you from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We were Aurors. I cannot tell you why we had to protect you, I feel that is something only your grandfather can tell you; after all he is headmaster of this school. I have written him a letter telling him that if anything were to happen to you then he should tell you everything, but only after you read this letter. I hade a hunch that you would have never opened it unless forced. I love you very much, my daughter. Please be safe and know that if anything happens then you always have a place to turn too.
With Love,
Dad.
She didn't know what to think, there were too many thoughts swimming in her head. There was one big thing that stood out though. "I feel that is something only your grandfather can tell you; after all he is the headmaster of this school." Why the hell didn't he tell her? And the fact that he knew just made it even worse.
Still holding the parchment she got up and walked slowly to the door without even looking at the body guard her grandfather had assigned her. She didn't care if he followed her to his office. She just had to know why the hell he didn't tell her and if Severus wanted to come along for the ride then so be it. If he tried to stop her though he ran a high risk of dieing early.
"Where are you going?" He asked not really caring.
"To go se my grandfather, remember we have a meeting with him." he voice was flat and had no emotion to it. Then she left the room running as fast as she could to the one person who would know all the answers....her Grandfather.
A.N: Hah I bet you didn't see any of that comming.. HA HA! well anyway the chapters will be posted a little slower now.. So please be very pachient. But I would like to thank the ppl who were kind enough to review and if you guys can find ppl to read it then by all means tell them about it. Once again thank you...
