I Am Dansmesyeux Riddle

Chapter 11

ELEVEN: Sumi-e

Response To Reviews:

Starrtlibra: I'm going to try and work Voldemort into the fic soon. He needs to be in it more. I may soon give hints about Dan's mother…not who she is but why Dan never talks about her or goes to see her. Oh and I'm just going to say that it's Friday.   

Marauder1prongs: Thanks for the ideas.

SilverKnight7: You really love my story?

eth: Is original good? 

Sue Falkenkralle: Thanks! I didn't think that it was any good at all but if you say so.

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Previous Chapter: "Alas, Remus," Dumbledore said to them as the students miserably tuned back to their breakfast, "I believe that, that is exactly what they want to do."

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"How do you figure?" Remus asked the Headmaster.

"Because the Minister was absolutely fascinated when he heard that there were children here that are underage," answered Dumbledore. "Which is why, Severus, I need to talk to them all separately and ask them the same things that the Ministry will most likely ask them. This way we can prepare for Sunday."

"And what of Dan?" inquired Severus. He almost felt that he was trying to find a flaw in the Headmaster's plan.  

"Dan is a seven year-old boy, Severus, and therefore the Ministry shall treat him as one," Dumbledore said.

"Excuse me, sir," Jamie's voice interrupted. He was standing across from him, on the other side of the table.

"Yes, Jamie?" Severus asked.

"I'm not feeling well," Jamie said and Severus knew it was a lie. On his back was his backpack that he always carried around, half slung over his shoulder.

If Dumbledore and Remus were surprised by Jamie's half burnt and scared face they didn't show it in the least bit. I fact Severus could tell that they, if anything, were being very nice to him.

"Well then, Mr-"

"Cougar," Jamie said.

"If your not feeling well, Mr. Cougar, I can have Professor Lupin escort you to the Hospital Wing." Remus nodded at the Headmaster's unspoken command and got up to show Jamie the way.

"Are you alright with all this, my boy?" Dumbledore asked Severus. "You look worried."

"Of course I'm worried Albus!" Severus snapped, just barley above his normal tone.

"Are you facing the difficulties of being an over protective 'uncle'?" Dumbledore asked him with a joyful smile on his face. Severus snorted and lifted his glass of pumpkin juice to his mouth to get a few gulps down.

"So how do you plan on keeping the children occupied for the time that they are here? Certainly you have something special planned since a few of them have to leave in two days time?" Dumbledore asked him a few minutes later.

"I plan on holding a special class in which I will show them how to do something that they will most defiantly like." Severus took another bit of his toast before adding. "It shouldn't surprise you Headmaster that I was a child at one point in my life."

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "I shall never forget that, Severus. But before classes start this morning would you like to set up at time with me when I could talk with the children?"

"I'd say Saturday about 10 in the morning is good." When Dumbledore didn't ask why he offered an explanation anyway. "I will be staring a small project with them that morning at nine and they will need time to let the paint dry so I will let them take a break from working until you have had your chat with them all. Then afterwards they can finish."

"Mind if I tag along with you?" Remus asked as he walked by him and took his seat at the table.

"Yes, Lupin, I do mind," Severus said. Once he was finished he stood up and left for his classroom. The only thing that Severus hated more than teaching dunderheads was James Potter. There were always students who managed to mess up even the simplest potion and better yet when the instructions were written perfectly in the book and on the board. Well at least it was Friday and he would be able to relax tomorrow, before the Ministry would come in and wreck his weekend.

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"Good night, Dan, Play, Angel," Severus said as he covered them up for the second time that night. It was twelve o'clock midnight and he had been sleeping until these three had waken him, telling him that they had heard something, had a bad dream, and were afraid of the dark. Severus knew that Dan wasn't afraid of the dark but he wouldn't dare tell him that he didn't have a bad dream. He seemed to have those quite often now for he wasn't used to not sleeping in his own bed in the manor.

So now they lay all in Severus's bed. He grumbled at the thought of anyone finding out that he let three small children sneak their way into his four-poster bed because they were "afraid of the dark".

He heard one of them yawn and then the three children chorused, "Night, Uncle Sev." Severus rolled his eyes at the heavens before turning over to scoot as far away from them as possible. Maybe NOW he could actually sleep.

When it seemed like only seconds had passed someone began calling his name, "Uncle Sev! It's time to get up and you have to go eat! Me, Pansy, Dan, Play, Vincent, Gregory, Angel, Theodore, Blaise, Jane, Kristen, Blake, and Violet already ate. Get up! Come one! It's turning nine!"

"Go away, Draco," Severus grumbled, not in his usual tone.

"Up!" insisted the blonde haired boy.

"Fine!" snapped Severus. He threw his quilt off of himself and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

Draco placed a plate of pancakes on Severus's lap with a gleeful smile on his face. "I asked one of the house-elves to make you something so you won't have to put up with the dunderheads from your classes," said Draco.

"I'm not even going to ask how you met up with a house-elf," stated Severus.

"I'll go so you can eat, 'kay?" Draco said as he left the room eager to please the Head of Slytherin. Severus shook his head and placed the plat upon a side table before getting dressed and leaving the room, not even touching the food.

He was surprised to see that Remus Lupin was standing up by one of the chairs near the fireplace (that wasn't lit). He could have sworn however that he told Remus that he couldn't help with watching after the kids today. When Severus approached Remus he gasped at a horrible smell and almost stumbled backwards to get away from it.

"What the hell?" he asked no one in particular.

Remus must have heard him nevertheless for he replied, "I walked out of my room this morning, Severus, and the weirdest thing happened."

"What? You realized that despite you smell you wanted to come and see me?" Severus said sarcastically as he backed up a bit more. A few of the children giggled.

"No. I was hit by an open bag of manure," Remus said with a forced smile on his face. Severus raised an eyebrow at Dan who pointed to Draco.

Severus finally shrugged at Remus and said, "Sorry, Lupin. I already have to carry out their punishment for feathering Potter. I don't have time to punish them for both."

Draco stuck his tongue out at Remus and Remus returned the favor. The werewolf noticed that Severus was trying hard not to smile.

"You're setting a bad example for the children, Lupin," Severus said, a hit of humor in his tone.

"Sure. Take their side," muttered Remus as he threw the young Malfoy a glare that scared him.

"Go shower or something and please leave my private quarters," Severus said, pinching his nose together to keep the smell from reaching him. Dan, Draco, Angel, and Play laughed and they did the same as Severus had with their nose. Remus shook head had sadly with a smile on his face and left without a word.

Once he was gone Severus asked the children, "Did everyone eat breakfast?"

Jamie's voice spoke from the crowd, "Yes, sir. Everyone went to get breakfast early."

"Good then. We will be staring on a special project to day then you will each be meeting with the Headmaster," Severus said. Many of the kids shot their friends uneasy glances. "Now follow me to my classroom. That is where we will be doing this little experiment." Many faces lit up at this announcement and they followed him out the room in a straight line and to the Potion's classroom.

"Please pick a partner and take a seat," Severus said, switching his tone from normal to teaching. He then made his way to his desk and sat down behind it, setting aside a stack of papers aside. When he looked up he was pleased to see that everyone had followed his directions and was sitting with a partner; two were sitting at each of the rectangular black tables. Dan and Draco were together, Pansy and Blaise, Violet and Jane, Gregory and Vincent, Play and Angel, Kristen and Blake, Theodore and Jamie.

With a flick of his wand a word appeared on the board: Sumi-e. "Can anyone read this word?"

Draco raised his hand. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"

"It's pronounced sue-me-a I think and I don't know what it is," Draco said.

"I wouldn't expect you to know about a Japanese painting," Severus said as he waved his wand and a long white scroll that was half painted with yellow and red paint appeared, clipped to the blackboard. "Today we will be starting and hopefully finishing a Sumi-e painting. The word sumi is Japanese and means Chinese ink. And believe it or not the e in sumi-e is a word all its own that means painting."

Dan raised his hand but instead of calling on him he continued to explain the project. "Now I bet a few of you are wondering why anyone would paint a Japanese painting that uses Chinese ink and the answer is I don't know." Dan's hand went down. "Hell I'm not even sure if it really is Chinese ink…but this is not what we have to worry about. Before we begin I want one partner from each table to come up here and get two scrolls, two bamboo brushes, a small cup of water, and an ink bottle. Draco, I want you to get the painting supplies for your table and, Dan, I need to speak with you so come here."

Confused at Severus sudden require to speak with him but he didn't want to anger his mentor so he approached his desk uncertainly. "Dan, the Headmaster wants to speak with you first. However I don't think that he wants to speak with you alone. I believe people from the Order will want to be there. Since I fear they will ask you about your mother." Dan put his hands over his ears and glared at Severus with tearful eyes. Sighing the Potions Master forced Dan's hands down to his sides and finished what he had to say, "So I need you to try not to get upset. I don't care what you tell them about her but if they do upset you I want you to read this." Severus let go of Dan and handed him a think book on Astronomy. "Just remember to stay calm, OK?"

"I want my dad," Dan said with a sniff. He came around to the other side of the desk so he could hug Severus and he did.

"I promise I'll see what I can do," Severus said, not sure of what made him say what he had. Well he did say it and he would have to do his best to keep his word.     

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A/N: The form of art that they are dong is actually something I did recently. I found it very fun and it's even pretty cheep to do. If anyone cares to try it ask me and I can tell you more.

BTW I miscounted the children. I found that there are 14 when I believe I stated that there were 13. SORRY!

~Moony~