Disclaimer : - The world of Harry Potter isn't mine – wish it was – but belongs to JK Rowling… anything from the books is hers not mine…. Anything else is probably mine. Not getting anything but fun from writing this etc etc etc….
The fic is Rate R ….. if you are not old enough to read it etc then please don't
Spanning the River of Blood
By Ridley-Roo
Chapter 23 - Reflections
Albus Dumbledore stood gazing out at the lake from his office window, his hands idly stroking his phoenix Fawkes. Things were moving faster than he had thought and he wondered how much longer it would take for people to start noticing the changes around the castle. Climbing plants were setting world records at the rate they were growing over the walls and he had noticed more and more plants and flowers on the inside. Even the masonry was managing to look more organic in construction. Lupin's remarks about the house elves had been another indication that the balance of power in the castle was shifting.
Ironically it had been Snape who had provided the most compelling evidence without even knowing it. Dumbledore had decided to visit Ms Green and found Severus in the corridor banging with a clenched fist upon her door. He'd quickly ascertained that Snape was convinced that she was inside as the house elves had informed him that she was in her chambers. His anger was fuelled by the belief that she was ignoring him. Rather than have his potions master injure himself trying to get through the door, which mysteriously wouldn't open for any spell either of them knew, he'd summoned Dobby and asked for an explanation.
Ever eager to help Dobby had repeated what he had told Snape earlier that Ms Green was in her chambers. When asked how he knew that since she wasn't answering the door it had quickly become obvious that Dobby felt they were banging on the wrong door. But the house elf disappeared before they could get directions to the right door. Snape had stalked off in a bad mood, and if the reports of the number of crying students leaving the dungeons were anything to go by, his temper hadn't improved as the day had worn on.
Lupin was another worry. The full moon was due to rise tonight after dinner and his usual melancholy had descended during the day giving him his own little dark cloud to carry around. Normally he arranged for Sirius to be with the werewolf during the three days of full moon but it hadn't been possible this time as Black had been delayed on his latest mission for the Order. Lupin was feeling the absence of his best friend and Dumbledore had a feeling this month was going to be especially rough for him. Worried that he would just retreat into his misery and lock himself in his rooms Dumbledore had insisted on him attending dinner with everyone in the Great Hall that night. There would be plenty of time for a nice meal before moonrise would force him to leave. Sighing he turned away from the simmering waters below the window and returned to the pile of paperwork on his desk which needed dealing with.
* * * * * *
Hermione was early for the charms study group meeting in the library after class and was sitting at the large oak desk working on some of her other homework when she noticed Professor McGonagall come into the library and head into the section dealing with concealment charms and wards. Intrigued she rose up from her seat and headed over the row behind her former head of house.
As she pretended to look for a book Hermione strained to listen to what the elderly witch was muttering to herself. Moving down the row to keep pace with the McGonagall as she worked her way down the shelf her heart almost stopped when she realised that the book being searched for was none other than 'The History and Development of Concealment Charms Through the Ages… by C.T. Barrowbridge.' -the very book she had been unable to find earlier in the week. Unable to find the tome the professor headed back into the reading part of the library and peeking around the shelf stacks Hermione could see her talking to Madam Pince. So I was right, she thought to herself. They don't know how the field around Hogwarts was created either.
Heading back to her seat she was joined by Ron, Harry and Lavender but her mind was no longer on shrinking charms but large scale wards. Opening her text book she called the meeting to order and was soon helping Lavender with her Latin as the clock on the far wall continued its march towards dinner time.
* * * * * *
Minerva McGonagall left the library with several books and headed back to her rooms. She was sure that she wasn't the only one following an independent investigation into the two women who had arrived the past weekend. During the week she had checked many books out from the library but had found that a number of the obscure volumes had already been taken. As she entered her main living room she wondered who had them.
Once her own belongings were in the new rooms and she had the house elves scrub the place from floor to ceiling it had started to feel a little like home. Of course the thought of Snape in what she still considered her rooms made her blood boil and she wondered if she would ever get her them along with her House back. Head of Hufflepuff indeed. She wasn't sure what game Dumbledore was playing with all this but surely if she wasn't to be head of Gryffindor then Ravenclaw would be more suitable. Moving a cauldron of water onto the fire she tore her thoughts from such House snobbery and tried once again to make sense of the events of the past week. She had channelled what little free time she had into trying to figure out how this Layla Green had been able to breach the school's protective wards.
She was currently concentrating her efforts on magical resonance frequencies, a little explored area of 'Magical Fields' research. Many years ago she had wanted to study this area of magical theory but had found funding in transfigurations much more plentiful, and well, you did have to eat at the end of the day. Yet her interest in the area had never died and so it had been a natural focus when she had decided to try to emulate the ward breaking feat. Perhaps if she could duplicate the break in she would be able to prevent it happening again.
That it would also have the added benefit of removing Ms Green and Ms Wilson's unique status was an added bonus. She was well aware of the testosterone surges in the males where both women were concerned, and she felt such behaviour to be most inappropriate at a school and to be firmly discouraged. In fact as far as she was able to tell Ms Green's one redeeming feature was the way she had wrapped Snape around her little finger that morning during breakfast in front of the whole school. Of course much of that had been down to her beautiful black cat, a magnificent feline if ever Minerva had seen one. With her alternate form being that of a cat she was well able to appreciate a handsome male cat when she saw one, and an entire boy at that. Blushing despite herself at such thoughts she moved back to the fireplace to retrieve the now boiling water for a quick cup of tea before dinner, unaware of the havoc the same black cat was planning for the hours to come.
* * * * * *
Jake sat washing himself nervously in the corridor outside his mistress's rooms while he waited for Rani. As he thought about the possibilities of the next few hours adrenaline pumped through his system and his stomach performed little back flips at every movement in the shadows, real or perceived.
During the day he had groomed himself beyond perfection which had lead to an inspection for fleas by Layla worried about his strange behaviour. She'd ruffed his coat up the wrong way looking for evidence while holding him in her arms, and even resorted to using a flea comb just in case. Her attentions had been a wonderful respite from his anxieties, but had brought new fears riding in on the wake of his temporary calm. After tonight would he ever be able to share such intimate moments with her again?
A slight popping sound brought him out of his revive as Rani appeared and curtsied. Transforming into his human form he lead her into an alcove away from casual observation.
'Is everything ready?' he asked.
'Everything be being ready sire. Professor Snape is being on his way to dinner. The others be being there already sire.' He smiled down at her.
'Ok then. Off you go and make sure everyone knows what to do. The timing must be spot on if we are to succeed. Do you understand?'
The elf chirped her understanding and disappeared with another slight popping sound as Jake's form once again became that of a sleek black cat and headed back to his mistress.
* * * * * *