Episode Eighty Five
The non issue was about to become a big issue.
"Good afternoon Assistant Professor LeFey." Snape intoned nastily after lunch. "Could I bend your ear for a moment?" He gestured towards the dungeons, hoping to lead her to his office.
She looked at him with apprehension. "Of course professor, but I really must attend to Professor Smith first. We have a lesson plan to go over. Would you mind meeting me in my office later?"
Snape's face darkened. "Of course not." He said, smooth as silk. "After your last class?"
"Certainly." She said with cordial smile. When he turned and tramped off down towards the dungeons she let loose a great sigh. This didn't look good. At the very least he would be on her territory and that was something to look forward to, or was it? Gwen couldn't make up her mind.
She was fairly certain this was about the skirmish with the death eaters. What he knew or how much he was willing to spill was going to be the test. She had to play as innocent as humanly possible in order to protect Graves' secret.
When Severus entered Gwen's office he seemed to fill the space. He was large to begin with, but in the minimal surroundings he appeared huge. She offered him a seat on one of her oak chairs and he appeared thoroughly appalled at the idea of sitting in one of them. She smiled as best she could until he sat albeit uncomfortably and began the strained conversation.
"I wanted to speak to you about the death eaters." He started in a slick tone. "I was rather impressed by your fighting skills. I didn't think someone who'd never really been in the field could perform so well."
"Thank you." She said cautiously.
"Of course, I couldn't help but notice when you told Professor Smith that you'd had help. Would you mind clarifying that for me?"
"Well I simply meant that my training with Dumbledore had prepared me. He helped me." She answered with as much innocence as she could muster.
Snape's eyebrow arched highly. He was seeing through her act. She had to be careful, a little less sweet and cute school girl ought to do the trick. He gave her a moment to sweat, aiming to ferret out any nervousness she might be suffering. She kept her cool, waiting for the second wave of the Spanish Inquisition to begin.
"Miss LeFey I am aware that there are students with invisibility cloaks in their possession at this school."
She could have kicked herself. He would never suspect Graves, as he knew it the young man was dead. He suspected that Harry had been her assistant ass-kicker. He knew about their former relationship, how could he not? He knew about the cloak, she was certain because she had read about it in the Rowling books. She had all she could do to stifle the laugh that was threatening to blow her cover.
"I'm sorry Professor Snape, I'm not certain I understand what you're trying to say."
He shot her a deadly glare. "Then I will come right out and say it. I don't believe you were alone out there."
"Of course not." She said, drawing a satisfied smirk from Snape. "All of the professors did their part."
His eyes narrowed wickedly. "That is not what I meant." He snarled. Perhaps she had misjudged him and gone a little too far. He was baiting her, she was testing him and the situation was not a pleasant one. "I meant to say that you had help from someone under an invisibility cloak."
"Professor, that doesn't make any sense."
"And it doesn't make sense that you could disarm and throw down six death eaters on your own." He said agitated. His temper was rising.
"I've done it before Professor Snape."
"Yes, and if I remember correctly you had help then. Mr. Graves, no?"
"My help was unconscious in that instance." Gwen said grating. To accuse her of having invisible aid was one thing (it was true, she just couldn't admit it), to bring Graves into it was completely another (considering that Snape assumed him dead, it was nearly sacrilege to speak so snidely of his memory).
She felt a firm hand land on her shoulder. She immediately cooled off. Graves was with her, hidden once again and supporting her, a guardian angel. Snape waited, he had no retort.
"I'm sorry Professor Snape but if that's all you had to say I really must get back to work."
Snape swept out of her office without another word.
Graves threw off his cloak as the door closed behind the older man's robes. "You really want to cover for me?" He asked, sitting on the edge of her desk.
"Do I have a choice?" She asked.
"Suppose not." He replied, resting a hand on the top of her head. "You're something else." He said with a smile.
"I don't think he bought it."
"It'll have to do for now. Unless you could get Harry to collaborate. Snape already thinks it was him and he has a cloak doesn't he?"
"He does." She began slowly. "He could get expelled for being there though."
"No he couldn't, he's a member of the Order. He can say he felt it was his duty to come out with the faculty. Dumbledore's protected Harry before over a lot more dangerous situations. I'm willing to bet he's put Harry into more dangerous situations."
She looked down. Rowling's books had said as much. "I'd have to tell him you're here."
"He already knows I'm alive."
"That's true." She said. "What real damage would it do to know you're here?"
"Not more than the good it could do. Harry could say he was the cloaked avenger who helped you in the battle. It'll get Snape off your back and it'll protect my identity."
"Let's just hope he says yes." Gwen said feeling much worse for having to ask Harry to meet her own means.
