"Professor Dumbledore, Indigo's owl just arrived!" Minerva McGonagall called from outside the Headmaster's door.
"How is the dear girl?" Dumbledore asked as Professor McGonagall as she swept into the office and shut the door behind her.
It had been two, long hours since the revelation that Hermione would be playing a significant role in the destruction of Merlin and in getting Draco back. Some had stayed in the Headmaster's office to discuss the overall strategy, while others had gone to the library to continue studying Nocturnal UV light.
"Well, old man, why don't you ask the dear girl, herself? Hmmmm…," a voice said from the fireplace.
"Indigo, my dear child, how wonderful to see you! How did you get here so fast?" Dumbledore said as he drew the new arrival into a warm embrace.
"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," she said with an un-lady like snort.
"I see you still are enamored with muggle movies!" Professor Dumbledore retorted with a chuckle.
"Thanks to you, you old coot!" she witted, as she lightly smacked him on the back.
Everyone else in the movie was standing around the room with their mouths gaping. One was not sure, however, if it was due to how the woman was speaking to Dumbledore or her peculiar sense of fashion.
The woman was tall. She was a good six inches taller than Dumbledore, putting her well over six feet in height. Her long, white hair reached her ankles. She had startling, red eyes that could make you believe they could see straight into your soul.
Atop her head was a red and white striped sock with the foot sticking up into the air. It bounced as she walked around. Her robes were virginal white that perfectly matched her flowing hair. Her smile was wide for her small face, her nose pointy just like her chin. While she was obviously middle-aged, her face was relatively wrinkle free barring the few crow's feet around her eyes, which had obviously come from smiling a lot.
As she walked further into the room, she gave everyone an airy wave and plopped down into the chair closest to Dumbledore's desk.
"I put the letter on the owl and decided to see if I could beat it here. It seems I lost, oh well!" she sighed dramatically. "I shall have to let my superiors know that this new teleporting device needs work."
"Still an Unspeakable, then Indigo?" Austerus asked the woman.
"Austerus, dear boy, I have not seen you in forever. Where is that sexy brother of yours? I have always loved that hook nose of his. Made me want to reach in, grab it, and snog him silly. Yummy!" she said as she arched her eyebrows suggestively.
Austerus chuckled and replied, "He's here, and I cannot wait for him to see that you are here, as well."
"Come on, come on, let's get to work you silly boys; Ginny and I have a young man to save," she said as she turned to Ginny. "Ginny, my dear, I am Indigo Reyes. I am an Unspeakable for the Ministry of Magic. I believe that I have information that you can use to retrieve that stud of yours."
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Reyes."
"Indigo, call me Indigo, child. I don't like to be made to feel old, dear," she said as she motioned for Ginny to come to her. "Now dear, where is that brother of yours? Ron is his name, I believe."
"He's in the library doing research about the Nocturnal UV Light and the Ancient Egyptians."
"He cares for you, my dear, to do such boring research. Albus, would you request for him to come here?"
"I'll bring him here immediately," Dumbledore said as he called in Ron through his muggle watch. Ron appeared in the room.
"Mr. Weasley, this is Indigo Reyes. She is here to help us with the Nocturnal UV light project. She needs your assistance." Dumbledore said as he gestured to Indigo.
"Ms. Reyes, it is nice to meet you," Ron said as he held out for her to shake it.
"Call me Indigo," she said as she slapped his out held hand. "I hear you are the lover of the knowledgeable Miss Granger."
Ron's ears turned bright red and he muttered something.
"Speak up. Speak up. I can't hear your mutterings. Were you the lover of Miss Granger, or not?"
"Yes, I was," he finally sputtered out, obviously embarrassed.
"Good, that will make this a whole lot easier."
"Make what a whole lot easier, ma'am?"
"Indigo," she corrected him, "It will make calling her and utilizing her powers much easier.
"How is that?" Ron asked, perplexed.
"You were connected to her in the most intimate way possible. And that means you carry some of her essence within you, Mr. Weasley. I will use that to contact Miss Granger and open a channel with her."
"Albus, dear, are we ready for this to commence tonight?" Indigo asked slyly.
"Yes, my dear, we are."
"Great," she said. "Mr. Weasley and I will need privacy. Where can we go?"
"What if we put you in one of the towers?"
"Perfect. Is the Astronomy Tower still used in the usual manner by the students?"
"Yes, it is," Dumbledore said laughing heartily.
"Shall we, Mr. Weasley?" Indigo said as she stood and held out her arm for Ron to take. Ron nodded, took her arm and led her out of the office.
"How long, Professor?" Ginny asked Dumbledore.
"Tonight," he assured her.
"Good," she confirmed.
Five hours later, the research was done and the waiting had commenced. Ron had to call Hermione's spirit at precisely 10:18 pm. At that time, she would be rising with the moon and would be harnessing her night powers. Once she was called and present, they would need the magic and bond created between Draco and Ginny to focus the UV light.
Charlie and his men were clandestinely located all around Merlin's castle. They were to be the rouse to get him out into the night air.
In the meantime, the mood was actually pretty relaxed. With the new information and the belief that Merlin was in the dark on their plan, they felt the mission would be a unilateral success.
The mood had also been lightened by the banter between Indigo and Professor Snape. After Ron and Indigo had set everything up in the Astronomy tower, they had returned to Dumbledore's office. When the door opened, Indigo had immediately spotted Professor Snape sitting by the fire. She flew over to him and jumped onto his lap. She pulled him into a loud, smacking kiss and said, "Hello Snookums!"
Everyone cringed in preparation for Professor Snape's heated outburst, but, to their surprise, he merely grinned and pulled her into a heated embrace.
When they pulled apart, he kissed the end of her nose and said, "Hello, dear."
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and said in his typical flourish, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Severus Snape."
"Albus, I am Indigo Reyes. I do not fall for that hysterical prattle that women must take the man's name. I am an equal…"
"Yes, you are, dear," Professor soothed his wife.
Harry and Ron stared in disbelief at their transformed teacher.
Indigo caught the looks on the boys' faces and smirked, "What? Never thought you would see the mean, old bat be anything but an ass? Ditto…"
"Indigo, really, I have worked very hard to get the old bat routine down pat."
Indigo absently patted his arm and said, "Yes, yes, dear. I know. I am horrible for your nasty image."
Eventually everyone settled into a quiet ambience, with some holding non-important conversations and others playing wizard's chess. This continued until 10pm. At that precise moment all hell broke loose – literally.