Chapter 15

It only took me a few minutes to make it back down to the Great Hall and when I got there the gang was nowhere in site, but Sirius was having breakfast at the long table we were sitting at earlier. He looked up when I entered.

"Good morning."

He seemed rather happy to see me. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

I looked down at my watch. "Morning. I guess you should have skipped breakfast and waited a little bit for lunch."

He thought he had really overslept and checked his own watch. I already knew it was only 9:30. "Ha ha," he said dryly.

I grabbed a clean glass and filled it with more of that 'not-orange-juice' stuff. When I sat down I took a sit. "What is this stuff anyway?"

"Pumpkin juice."

I crooked an eyebrow at him. "They juice pumpkins?"

He took a bite of sausage and waggled his eyebrows. Once he swallowed he pointed at the book that the Professor gave me. "Been to the library already. I didn't think they let anyone check out books."

I shook my head. "A gift from Professor Dumbledore. Apparently I'm the White Witch or a White Witch. I haven't really gotten that far."

He didn't have a clue what I was talking about, so I slid the book around so he could check it out.

"Why am I not surprised that Dumbledore knew who you were?"

"What do you mean, knew?" I asked. "He didn't know anything until Hermione Granger told him about me."

He smiled that knowing smile like I didn't know what I was talking about. "Dumbledore wouldn't have given that book to you just on the word of one of his students."

"Are you saying he knew I was coming here? And not just me, Willow Rosenberg. I mean me the White Witch."

He took a drink of pumpkin juice. "It's something that you have to get used to. Just go under the assumption that Dumbledore knows everything. It will save you a lot of time in the long run."

Now I was getting a little paranoid. "Then why did he haul me up to his office for a game of twenty questions."

He shrugged. "Probably to see if you would tell him the truth or hold things back." He paused. "You didn't hold anything back did you. He can tell if you're lying."

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't go into a lengthy history of my life on the Hellmouth, but I didn't lie about anything."

He shook his head. "Good. It will make things easier." He sighed. "I don't always agree with everything he does, but I do know he has everyone's best interest at heart, and he would never do anything to harm Harry." He paused. "In fact I think he is a little too protective. He's kind of like everyone's grandfather."

I smiled at him and opened the book to page 437 to scan the list of items I would need. "You know where I can find the Potions Master?"

He coughed and almost choked on his food.

"You okay?"

He nodded and coughed, trying in vain to clear his throat. After a few moments and a drink of juice he was finally able to answer. "What do you want with Snape?"

"Snape? Is that his name?"

His hackles were up for some reason. "Yes," he almost hissed.

I gave him a strange look. "I need some spell components for a casting. The Professor wants me to make sure Lord Voldemort doesn't have another chance to make a connection with Harry."

Now he seemed surprised and all the bad vibes were gone. "You can do that? I thought Harry's only chance to block Voldemort were the Occlumency lessons."

I shrugged. "If I remember right, on the train he said that he had progressed with the lessons. I guess this is plan B. Just in case."

I could tell by the look on his face that he was all for helping Harry not have to worry anymore than he had to. Apparently this kid has had a really hard life or something.

"The person you need to talk to is Severus Snape he is Hogwarts Potions Master."

I raised my eyebrow. "I take you an he aren't on the best of terms."

"He's an ass," he paused. "But he knows his potions."

He emptied his glass of juice. "And you aren't going down to the dungeons to face him alone."

I smiled at his overprotective posturing. I knew I could take care of myself but it was kinda sweet all the same. He stood and offered me his arm. It was kinda sappy, but in this old style castle ... is there any kind other than old style? Anyway in this old style castle surrounded by all of this tradition it almost felt proper to be escorted through the halls by a dashing man. Um ... did I just say dashing?