Spoiler:Book 5
Disclaimer: The talented J.K. Rowling owns all characters and most words, the incredible empire of Warner Bros. owns rights to everything too, and all I own is my plot, original characters and the flights of fancy that float in my head.
Chapter 8
The train ride had been pretty much uneventful except for the fact that Draco had decided to visit the compartment that held Harry, Ron, Nick, Hermione, Ginny, and her boyfriend, Dean Thomas. It was a short visit after seeing that he, Crabbe, and Goyle were outnumbered 2 to 1. Draco didn't even take the time to pick on the 'new kid' before fleeing.
***The Night Before***
To everyone's happiness, Nicholas was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Well of course he was," Ron had said when he found out, "both of his parents were Gryffindors."
"Just because his parents were Gryffindors doesn't mean necessarily that he'd be in the house. If you read Hogwarts, a History...." Hermione had started and in no time the two of them were bickering again.
That was ok with Harry and Nick, because it gave them a chance to talk one on one. They talked about Quidditch, School, and after a period of time they were comfortable enough to talk about Sirius.
"I blamed mum. I thought if she could have convinced dad to stay with us, then he would still be alive. I only succeeded in making her feel worse and it finally became clear that she lost dad too. She loved him very much," Nick confessed to Harry.
While Harry confessed, "I blamed everyone too. I thought that no one understood my hurt."
The two boys spent the whole night talking.
***Back to Present***
After the threstrals carried the students to the school, they all went directly to the Great Hall for the start of term feast. Instinctively the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry and Nick glanced at the staff table for Meredith. She was seated with Sibyll Trelawny on her right and Snape on her left. She gave them a quick smile before turning back to conversation with Trelawny.
As Ron sat next to Hermione, his stomach growled. "Oh, I hope they start the feast soon."
"...You should really let me gaze into the crystal ball for you my dear." Sibyll Trelawny was telling Meredith, the smell of sherry quite noticeable with every breath.
'Someone let the bats out of the belfry,' Meredith thought, and replied quietly, "Maybe you should gaze into that empty sherry bottle of yours."
Severus, who was listening to their conversation, almost choked on a sip of wine.
"Pardon, dear?" Sibyll asked.
"I said, maybe you could gaze into your ball tomorrow morning, you know, for me ..hmm?" Meredith asked quickly.
"Of course," Trelawny said. "Oh, here come the first years... and Minerva," she added disdainfully.
After the sorting and the feast, the prefects took the first years to their dorms and the rest of the students began to disperse.
Meredith bid Sibyll, Albus, and Minerva good evening. Severus had already left before the students.
Meredith started toward the dungeon where her private chambers were. All of a sudden someone grabbed her arm and clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't scream, it's just me." Severus said, releasing his grip. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was only hoping we could have a chat."
Meredith nodded slowly and led him into her living quarters. She settled herself in one of her armchairs and he sat facing her.
"So, what is it that you wanted to 'chat' about?" Meredith asked, with a slight edge to her voice. She knew what was coming. She had been purposely avoiding him.
"I wanted to tell you to stay on your guard," he said hesitantly.
This came as a surprise to Meredith. This wasn't what she expected at all.
"How do you mean?"
He shifted in his seat. "I got an owl yesterday from Thorn Borgin. She's none too happy that you got this position. I know you were bitter rivals in school, what with you both being beaters on your house's quidditch teams...."
"I think it stems more from the fact that her father murdered mine," Meredith interrupted angrily.
"....Whatever it was, I don't think she'll try to sabotage you, but best to watch your back anyway."
"Okay," Meredith agreed. "Is that all you wanted?"
"Yes," Snape said. He stood up and headed for the door.
Meredith was instantly relieved.
Snape's hand touched the doorknob. He whipped around. His voice was low and dangerous.
"No, that's not all. How could you? The man I detested most in the world and you have a son by him? What, it wasn't enough that we couldn't be together? You thought you'd rub it in?"
Meredith expected some kind of outburst from Severus, but not one of this magnitude.
"You egotistical bastard! Nicholas has nothing to do with you, nor did my sleeping with Sirius. As you well remember, you were a bit too preoccupied being Malfoy and Voldemort's lapdog to even notice that I wasn't in the country anymore. Don't you dare take any of your anger towards me or your hatred towards Sirius out on Nick. He is to be treated like any other student. For that matter, I will also be keeping a close eye on my godson as well to make sure he is being treated with respect.."
With each word, Meredith inched closer to Severus and the door. "...Furthermore you will get over your old boyhood resentment towards James and Sirius and resume Harry's Occlumency lessons. That is all now."
With the last statement, Meredith opened the door and gave a pointed look into the hallway.
Severus opened his mouth, but bit back a retort. It would keep until later. Instead, he said, "Don't think this is the end of this conversation." He stalked out of the room with his robes swishing behind him.
The door slammed hard behind him.
Well that's the end of chapter 8. I hope you all enjoy and review. I have Chapter nine all ready and in my arsenal, but I think I will wait until December 19 or until I get at least 25 reviews. Whichever comes first. Thanks to all reviewers and to my faithful beta Thorn. -Killer
Disclaimer: The talented J.K. Rowling owns all characters and most words, the incredible empire of Warner Bros. owns rights to everything too, and all I own is my plot, original characters and the flights of fancy that float in my head.
Chapter 8
The train ride had been pretty much uneventful except for the fact that Draco had decided to visit the compartment that held Harry, Ron, Nick, Hermione, Ginny, and her boyfriend, Dean Thomas. It was a short visit after seeing that he, Crabbe, and Goyle were outnumbered 2 to 1. Draco didn't even take the time to pick on the 'new kid' before fleeing.
***The Night Before***
To everyone's happiness, Nicholas was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Well of course he was," Ron had said when he found out, "both of his parents were Gryffindors."
"Just because his parents were Gryffindors doesn't mean necessarily that he'd be in the house. If you read Hogwarts, a History...." Hermione had started and in no time the two of them were bickering again.
That was ok with Harry and Nick, because it gave them a chance to talk one on one. They talked about Quidditch, School, and after a period of time they were comfortable enough to talk about Sirius.
"I blamed mum. I thought if she could have convinced dad to stay with us, then he would still be alive. I only succeeded in making her feel worse and it finally became clear that she lost dad too. She loved him very much," Nick confessed to Harry.
While Harry confessed, "I blamed everyone too. I thought that no one understood my hurt."
The two boys spent the whole night talking.
***Back to Present***
After the threstrals carried the students to the school, they all went directly to the Great Hall for the start of term feast. Instinctively the Weasleys, Hermione, Harry and Nick glanced at the staff table for Meredith. She was seated with Sibyll Trelawny on her right and Snape on her left. She gave them a quick smile before turning back to conversation with Trelawny.
As Ron sat next to Hermione, his stomach growled. "Oh, I hope they start the feast soon."
"...You should really let me gaze into the crystal ball for you my dear." Sibyll Trelawny was telling Meredith, the smell of sherry quite noticeable with every breath.
'Someone let the bats out of the belfry,' Meredith thought, and replied quietly, "Maybe you should gaze into that empty sherry bottle of yours."
Severus, who was listening to their conversation, almost choked on a sip of wine.
"Pardon, dear?" Sibyll asked.
"I said, maybe you could gaze into your ball tomorrow morning, you know, for me ..hmm?" Meredith asked quickly.
"Of course," Trelawny said. "Oh, here come the first years... and Minerva," she added disdainfully.
After the sorting and the feast, the prefects took the first years to their dorms and the rest of the students began to disperse.
Meredith bid Sibyll, Albus, and Minerva good evening. Severus had already left before the students.
Meredith started toward the dungeon where her private chambers were. All of a sudden someone grabbed her arm and clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't scream, it's just me." Severus said, releasing his grip. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was only hoping we could have a chat."
Meredith nodded slowly and led him into her living quarters. She settled herself in one of her armchairs and he sat facing her.
"So, what is it that you wanted to 'chat' about?" Meredith asked, with a slight edge to her voice. She knew what was coming. She had been purposely avoiding him.
"I wanted to tell you to stay on your guard," he said hesitantly.
This came as a surprise to Meredith. This wasn't what she expected at all.
"How do you mean?"
He shifted in his seat. "I got an owl yesterday from Thorn Borgin. She's none too happy that you got this position. I know you were bitter rivals in school, what with you both being beaters on your house's quidditch teams...."
"I think it stems more from the fact that her father murdered mine," Meredith interrupted angrily.
"....Whatever it was, I don't think she'll try to sabotage you, but best to watch your back anyway."
"Okay," Meredith agreed. "Is that all you wanted?"
"Yes," Snape said. He stood up and headed for the door.
Meredith was instantly relieved.
Snape's hand touched the doorknob. He whipped around. His voice was low and dangerous.
"No, that's not all. How could you? The man I detested most in the world and you have a son by him? What, it wasn't enough that we couldn't be together? You thought you'd rub it in?"
Meredith expected some kind of outburst from Severus, but not one of this magnitude.
"You egotistical bastard! Nicholas has nothing to do with you, nor did my sleeping with Sirius. As you well remember, you were a bit too preoccupied being Malfoy and Voldemort's lapdog to even notice that I wasn't in the country anymore. Don't you dare take any of your anger towards me or your hatred towards Sirius out on Nick. He is to be treated like any other student. For that matter, I will also be keeping a close eye on my godson as well to make sure he is being treated with respect.."
With each word, Meredith inched closer to Severus and the door. "...Furthermore you will get over your old boyhood resentment towards James and Sirius and resume Harry's Occlumency lessons. That is all now."
With the last statement, Meredith opened the door and gave a pointed look into the hallway.
Severus opened his mouth, but bit back a retort. It would keep until later. Instead, he said, "Don't think this is the end of this conversation." He stalked out of the room with his robes swishing behind him.
The door slammed hard behind him.
Well that's the end of chapter 8. I hope you all enjoy and review. I have Chapter nine all ready and in my arsenal, but I think I will wait until December 19 or until I get at least 25 reviews. Whichever comes first. Thanks to all reviewers and to my faithful beta Thorn. -Killer