His Sacred Dogma

By the Hippy Gypsy

Disclaimer: Howdy ya'll! Now, Severus' mouth takes over a small bit for this chapter, but I don't want this story to be rated R, so for your viewing pleasure, I bleeped it out. If you have a problem with it, just let me know and I'll fix it one way or another. But other than that, enjoy the story! Peace out!

Chapter 4: Chopsticks and Shakespeare

It had been a full ten days since the night with Nymphadora on the roof, and since then, save for meal times and when I was asleep back at my rooms in Hogwarts, I was at the Ministry of Magic, stuck in constant meetings concerned with the fall of Voldemort. The very first day, it had been one on one conversations with Minister Cornelius Fudge, and to my complete dismay, Delores Umbridge. Never in my life would I have dreamed of hitting a woman, but she was seriously trying my patience. There were times in the past when Minerva made my blood boil to a certain degree, but never had I thought of taking this kind of action on her. Umbridge had simply raised the bar to a new level.

For the remainder of the proceedings however, everyone in the room spent time discussing what had happened, and we did our best to piece together the final down fall of the Dark Lord, we being myself, Dumbledore, young Potter, Fudge, Umbridge, McGonagall, another Ministry official whose name escaped me, and Percy Weasley in the background, taking notes through the whole proceedings.

Umbridge, in her sickliest sweet voice, still proclaimed that although I had turned spy for Dumbledore years down the line, I should still pay for the time I did as a real Death Eater. She must be deaf and blind, because she completely ignored all reports stating I had previously paid for my faults, and there was no need to throw me into Azkaban. She even had the gall to proclaim Potter as not in a right state of mind. The boy had risked life, soul, and heart, just as me, face to face with Voldemort, and he was about to be rebuked for it. Where she got off with her logic, God only knows. As much as I despised the boy sometimes, that's when I had reached me limit. Abandoning all former intuitions, I stood from my chair, towering over the frog-like woman, ready to let my most repressed rage be released upon her. However, Dumbledore held his hands up and calmly asked, "Delores, would you mind possibly leaving for just a few moments? I would most graciously like a word with Cornelius without you."

She looked dumbstruck, but it was completely impossible to tell whether it was from my outburst or Albus' request. But slowly, she rose from her seat, and left the room, snapping the door shut with a sharp click behind her.

I wasted no time in speaking my mind to Fudge, not holding back on my language. Albus simply motioned for me to continue. I didn't care who heard what I said. I knew Potter had my exact feelings, and to tell the truth, Albus and Minerva had heard the worst of my mouth before.

"What the f is your problem Fudge?!" I raged at the Minister. "Do you even understand what that damn woman is saying?!" I pointed to Potter. "I've spoken ill of that boy for far too long, but now it's bloody time you've realized the truth as well! If it wasn't for him, we'd all be dead! Gone! Torn and massacred!" I flung my arms around, motioning to everyone in the room. "You! Me! Albus! Minerva! All of us would be dead or worse without him! And now you're even letting her suggest he be thrown into St. Mungo's?! How fing thick can you get, you bloody half-wit?!"

Fudge stood up and being shorter than I, our faces barely met at level. "How dare you speak to me like that-" he snapped.

But before anyone else could say anything, Potter jumped up as well. It was a pretty amazing sight to tell the truth, because his left leg was covered in a cast, and for the past week and a half, he had been in use of a wheel chair. He was also quite drained of energy, so seeing him suddenly alive was almost unnerving. However, despite all this, his presence was as prominent as ever. "No! He's right!" the boy screamed at Fudge. "It's total injustice! You're throwing it at the both of us!" To my amazement, he pointed right at me. Minerva, who was sitting next to him, twitched nervously in her seat, expecting him to fall over in his rage. But Potter towered on. "That man put his life on the line long ago to serve people like you instead of himself! And what has he earned for it?! Retribution?! Allegiance?! No! He gets nothing but the repercussions of his past thrown back at him! He's not allowed to leave them behind is he?! But by whose orders?! Your own?!" Potter glared at Fudge, and he breathed heavily. "If you had any bit of a heart in your body, you would drop it and let all of us be!" He motioned back to Dumbledore. "That man was the one who had a clue about the Dark Lord all along!" Then he motioned to McGonagall. "And you are very lucky she never got a hold of your neck about two years ago. You're lucky she can hold her patience." He glared at Fudge. "I can tell you simply you wouldn't have lived."

Minerva leaned back in her chair, and raising an eyebrow, smiled proudly at the Minister. I, myself, knew exactly what Potter said was true. Minerva had learned nearly everything she knew from Dumbledore, and there was no doubt in my mind her powers were quickly growing to the status of Albus'. It was certainly something to be proud of.

Albus merely nodded his head after every single thing we said, but when the Minister was finished gapping like a fish, unable to come up with a response, he said in his normal conversational voice, "Thank you Severus, Harry. That'll be all." I slowly took my seat, still glaring at Fudge, and across the way, Potter did the same. Taking a breath, he looked up at Fudge once more. "Cornelius, long ago, we had worked side by side, fighting for the exact same thing in this world. Freedom, and peace, for every witch, wizard, elf, and creature of this great world. What had happened, my friend, was exactly what Voldemort had intended. He broke our friendship. He destroyed that bond. He pitted us against one another with a shadow of doubt. We did not trust each other, and with that, he was able to take hold of this world once again. I have no doubt in my mind once you realized what was happening around you, you did what you saw as best to control the situation. We, ourselves, did the same. But it's time to put that behind us. That time is over. We are all one again in this world, and certain actions must be taken. The victors should be rewarded. The traitors, punished. But by no means are there any traitors in this room."

Fudge sat back low in his seat and ran a hand across his face. He was beginning to do some serious thinking.

"Think with your heart my man. Leave your mind behind for once."

For a moment, I stole a look at Percy Weasley, who was desperately trying to keep up writing everything that was said between all of us. I had the distinct feeling he had become overwhelmed with the proceedings, and, to say the least, he waited anxiously, like all of us, to hear Fudge's final word.

After a long moment, it finally came. "Mr. Weasley," Fudge said with a greatly heaved sigh, "Mark this. Order of Merlin."

"Merlin, sir?" Percy echoed, a little dumbstruck.

"Yes," Fudge continued. "First class for Potter. Second class for Snape. For their services to the world, and bravery. Loyalty where it was needed. We shall work out the final wording later." He looked up to all of us. There was a certain way the lines were set in his face that made it seem this was his final decision. "These meetings are hereby suspended indefinitely."

Everybody let out sighs of relief. I sat back in my chair and allowed myself to calm down and let my blood pressure drop. Minerva and Potter exchanged smiles, and in a moment of pure happiness, she hugged him. He simply let her do so, and I could tell it was a motherly feeling he rarely felt from any other woman in his life, save for Molly Weasley.

As Percy Weasley marked down the final comments of our last meeting, Fudge rose up and extended his hand to Dumbledore. He took it and gave it a firm shake.

Thus, our fates with the Ministry of Magic were sealed, and for the life of me, I couldn't believe it. It was over. It was finished. I would never have to look back on these moments of my life with feelings of defeat. I had over come them, with grand triumph no doubt. I was now a member of the Order of Merlin, Second Class. I personally thought I deserved First Class as well, but it would do for the moment. I had lead a rather unpleasant life for a time, and there were some repercussions I probably still had to pay off.

"Well," Albus said looking around the room. "I believe it's time we leave the Ministry to it's work. We are not needed here anymore." And we walked out the door, leaving the Minister and his staff to their own duties.

As we made our way down the long hall towards the elevators, Harry looked up to Minerva, who was currently pushing his wheelchair for him. He strained his neck so he viewed her face upside down. "You know Professor," he said, looking up at her innocently, "I can push this by myself thanks. You don't have to-"

"And what?" Minerva replied with a mischievous smile. "Let you roll yourself away right back to Grimmauld Place instead of St. Mungo's? I think not Harry." Knowing she had caught on to his game, he leaned back in his chair and sulked lightly. "I know you better than that, and you know it. Besides the fact, you still have four days left there before the doctors said you would even be near completely healed."

"I'm feeling great!" Potter exclaimed with exasperation. "Why is everyone telling me how to feel? I know how I feel! I've never felt this normal in my life!"

I shook my head with amusement. "How would you know what normal feels like if you've never felt it?" I voiced.

He glared at me. "Whose side are you on? I just defended you back in there."

I smirked, unable to control myself. "Old habits die hard, Potter."

"Oh yeah? Who got First Class and who got Second?"

Albus and Minerva openly laughed out loud and I shook my head, but in the next moment, Potter looked up to Minerva again. "So…this means my seventh year is actually going to be, well, uneventful?"

"Hopefully," Dumbledore replied to him with a smile. "One could never know at Hogwarts. But surely you must have realized that by now Harry."

The boy simply laid back in his chair and affectionately mumbled, "quidditch" under his breath.

Eventually, the three of us parted our ways, Minerva and Harry heading back to St. Mungo's (although Potter begged to be taken anyplace but), and Albus heading back to Hogwarts. I, myself, made my excuses to joining either of them, and instead took the elevator to level two, where Auror Headquarters was located. Getting off at the landing, I approached the floor's front desk and asked to be pointed in the direction of Nymphadora's office. I had just received wonderful news, and I thought of taking her up on her lunch offer and sharing it with her.

First hall on the left, second door to the left of that, I was told. I stopped in front of her office slowly, oddly. A multitude of screaming was coming from the inside. I checked the small silver plaque that hung on the door to make sure I was in the right place, and I found it read "Kingsley Shacklebolt and Nymphadora Tonks: Auror Department." I was certainly in the right location, but for the life of me, I could have sworn the voice coming from the inside was that of Delores Umbridge. The words were so muffled, however, I couldn't make out what was being said.

For a small moment, silence filled the air, but then a new voice began to yell and bicker. It was most definitely Nymphadora. I held back knocking for a moment, but then I bravely summoned my fist to the door. I knew I had interrupted some type of heated argument.

"WHAT?!" Nymphadora's voice screeched from the other side.

Quite cautiously, I opened the door and stuck my head in. Nymphadora looked furious. She and Kingsley were both standing behind their respective desks, and right in between them sat the arousal of her temper. Umbridge hadn't been in the office at all, but the remains of a Howler sat smoldering in front of them. Nymphadora's hair was the shade of fire red today, short and swept back, looking as if she had just stepped off a broomstick. But it seemed she was so angry if sparks were to suddenly fly from her head, no one would think the better of it.

When she saw my face, however, she did her best to regain her composure. "Oi, Severus," she sighed, taking a deep breath. "Sorry about that. Stressful day." She gesture warmly with her arms. "Come on in."

I stepped through the door and quietly shut it behind me. Raising my eyebrows, I looked around the room. "What was that all about? Is everything okay?"

"Delores Umbridge strikes again," Kingsley replied lowly. He held out his hand, and I took it. "How've you been Severus?"

I rubbed my eyes and replied, "Exhausted. I've had my own run ins with that woman for the past week."

"She keeps sticking her fat nose where it doesn't belong," Tonks replied in exasperation. "What did she do to you?"

I smiled, getting ready to relay my story. It felt nice to have someone to complain with. "Well, first off, she more or less tried to land Harry in Bedlam."

"What?!" she snapped, and Kingsley swore under his breath.

I nodded. "Then, she tried to shove me into Azkaban, failing to examine my past reports, stating all she was trying to charge me for had been cleared."

"So what happened?" she asked anxiously. "You're not being sacked or tried are you?"

I smiled. "Far from. I was awarded Order of Merlin, Second Class."

"Whoa!" she gasped, going wide-eyed. "Congratulations!"

"Good to see Fudge has come to his senses a bit," Kingsley put in, nodding with approval.

"So what has Umbridge been harassing you two about?" I asked motioning to Howler that was smoking ever so slightly. "All the screaming I heard couldn't have been healthy."

Nymphadora shook her red head in complete frustration. "Well," she said with the grandest of gestures. "Kingsley and I were put in charge of gather up the remaining Death Eaters at large, whether dead or alive. We almost have all of them, except one. Jonus Avery. Can't find him anywhere within the past four days!" She sat down back at her desk with a great flop. "Anyways, to make a long story short, she's huffing and puffing our way, saying we're not doing our job properly, and maybe we'd do better if we were demoted."

My face scrunched up. "And have who take your place?"

"Her!" she replied completely serious. "Who else? Isn't that pathetic?"

I shook my head in complete confusion. "Umbridge would never make it as an Auror. I seriously have no clue who she's kidding. Besides the fact, you can tell her Avery won't be able to be brought in, but you do know of his general location."

"How's that?"

"Avery's quite dead," I said matter of factly. I crossed my arms and leaned upon a bookcase to the left of Nymphadora's desk. "Voldemort blew him into a million pieces himself, just before the final battle began. I can take you to the general area if you'd like, but you're not going to find much."

Nymphadora gave a nod of her head that seemed very final. "That's it," she replied. "Kingsley, take a letter. No, strike that. Take a Howler."

"Uh oh," Kingsley replied with a smile, but her sat back at his desk and pulled out a large red sheet of paper, dipped his quill in an ink bottle, and set to work on his partner's dictation.

"Dearest Delores," Nymphadora recited in her sweetest voice, putting her feet up on her desk as she did so. I had to hold my tongue. Her mimic of Umbridge was dead on. She continued, "Thank you so much for stating your concerns in the operation of our department. We wanted to let you know the last of our cases concerning the fall of the Dark Lord have been completed and we are in the process of closing the final files. The remains of former Death Eater, Jonus Avery, have been located, and with the confirmation report from Severus Snape-"

"Oh Lord, she'll love hearing my name in there," I stated, impressed with Nymphadora's sense of sarcasm.

"He is notably deceased," she continued without skipping a beat. "The final reports should be up to your office by this afternoon. I would like to thank you for you concern with the Auror's, our procedures, and our entire department, and if you ever feel the need to stick your red, bulbous nose into our business again, I have a rather large and heavy wooden desk drawer you can smash it in!" she finished, letting all of her anger show.

Both Kingsley and I snickered as the letter reached it's end.

"Further more," she recited, "if you ever threaten me or any other members of my department again of shoddy work, I will personally take the liberty of making sure that frog like smile of yours becomes the most prominent and characteristic feature on your fattened face!" She sighed and continued lightly, "Have a nice day and best wishes, Nymphadora Tonks, Ministry of Magic Auror. Post script." Her voice hardened again. "I mean it."

Shaking his head in amusement, Kingsley finished scribbling, then handed the Howler over to his partner, who read it over. She tilted her head to the side and asked, "Do you think it's insulting enough?"

"I think you'll get your point across," I replied.

"Good. Open that door." She folded the letter into an enchanted airplane, then flung it out the door. It soared down the hall and off to the elevator that would lead to Umbridge's office. Turning back to us, she said with a smile, "Lunch. I'm getting Chinese and going to the park. Who wants to join me? Kingsley?"

He shook his head. "I promised Potter I'd owe him a game of chess today. The poor kid's far too cooped up. Hope he gets out soon."

"He's really anxious to," I said. "You should've seen him at the end of our meeting today. He was practically begging Minerva to head over to Grimmauld Place."

"Tell Harry I'll be by to visit tomorrow sometime," Nymphadora put in. She looked over at me. "Severus, care for Chinese?"

My eyebrows twitched. "Can't say I've ever had it."

"You're in for a treat then. C'mon. Let's head out before the bullfrog upstairs catches wind."

I smiled and we soon found ourselves in a Muggle plaza where many out door restaurants resided. I had transfigured my wizards robes to a set of black pants and shirt, and I easily fit in. Nymphadora was already wearing a white blouse with blue jeans and sandals. She had walked over to a stand a few minutes previous, and she returned holding two small white boxes, handing one to me. "I got you shrimp fried rice," she said handing me a fork. "It's a good dish for beginners."

I opened the box and the aroma began to steam out. "Smells good," I said truthfully. "What did you get?"

Her box contained chicken, chili peppers, and broccoli covered in a dark sauce. She pulled out a set of chopsticks professionally and replied, "General Tso's chicken. It's pretty spicy. Want to try some?"

"Maybe later," I said.

The shrimp fried rice wasn't bad. I had to admit she had pretty good taste. We ended up sitting in a park a little ways away watching a group of children playing Muggle football. Nymphadora enjoyed the heck out of it. Personally, like Minerva, I was a closet Quidditch nut.

"So," she asked, looking over at me from her chicken, "What are you going to do with your new found freedom Severus?"

I sat back and taking in another forkful, thought for the moment. "I don't know," I replied. "Maybe I'll travel this summer. Lord knows I need a vacation."

"Sounds nice. Where to?"

"Italy most likely. Went there once a while back. Beautiful. Best food in the world too. If I wasn't Welsh, I'd probably turn Italian just for all the good pasta I'd eat."

She looked up at me quizzically, trying to figure me out. "Am I to assume that the great Potions Master of Hogwarts is some kind of food connoisseur?" she asked with her eyebrows raised.

I sighed, knowing I had given away too much information. I shut my box of rice and set it aside. "I'm going to let you in on a secret," I said steadily. "Something few people know about me."

"What's that?"

"I cook."

She did not laugh at me, but instead raised her eyebrows with an impressed expression. "Really?"

"Yes," I replied. "From what I'm told, I'm quite creative with it."

"Interesting," she said to herself. She smiled. "How did you end up with that talent?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Came with my potion making skills, more or less. One day, I just transferred what I learned from the cauldron to the bowl and whisk. The results were just…edible."

She looked awed. "That's actually pretty cool," she said. "I've never really picked up a knack for it, other than chopping a salad…or boiling macaroni."

I laughed through my nose softly, and sat back in my chair. "How about you?" I asked offhandedly. "What are your plans now Voldemort is no more?"

She smiled to herself and scratched her head with one of her chopsticks. "I don't know." She hesitated. "I already have a few things going for myself."

Her next words shot across my mind.

"Maybe I'll start dating again."

My ears suddenly snapped to maximum attention. I was totally caught off guard. "You…don't currently?"

"Well," she said, looking at the ground, "When things started getting really serious with the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, I swore off it. It became pretty clear my attention was to be focused elsewhere." She sat back and crossed her arms. "I don't know. I guess it would be nice to have a boyfriend again."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The apple of my eye, the capturer of my heart, the angel of my existence, was actually available. Up to this point, I had fallen for her, but I never actually believed there was a possible chance for us. My luck was unbelievable. This is a sign, I told myself. You've been given the chance! Take it! I looked back at her and my stomach flipped inside out, and I hesitated. But my brain urged Do it! Do it! Do it!

Dammit!

"Well," I said in a mumble. "Um…"

Damn it all! I'm hesitating! I never hesitate about anything! I've faced Voldemort with barely a twitch! What the hell?!

"If you ever feel like going to dinner one night, I'd really like to take you," I finally got out. I didn't sound right to me in the least.

My brain replied very sarcastically. Smooth Severus. Very suave.

Hey, shut up!

Nymphadora merely looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Severus, are you asking me out?"

"Yes," I replied taking a long breath. Then I said truthfully, "I haven't done this in a long time. How am I doing?"

She laughed heartily and replied, "You're doing just fine."

It took all of my self-control not to grin like an idiot. Instead, I simply let on a half smile. "So…Friday night?"

Her face fell quite suddenly, then she let out a long, "Ooo…" She sighed. "I, um…can't."

"Oh."

Crash and burn! Boom!

I said shut up!

My expression must have given me away, because she went on quickly, "O, no! It's nothing like that Severus!" She looked a little weary, then went on, "Look, this is going to seem really lame, but I'm in a drama club…theatre troupe…thing." She made a look with her face that simply said sheepish. "Our latest play is opening Friday night, and…well, got a good part, so I can't miss. And I really have no understudy."

I stared in wonder. I had never imagined Nymphadora Tonks to be an artist, let alone a thespian. But it didn't matter. It just made me admire her even more. I was discovering this woman bit by bit, and I was enjoying every single moment of it.

She must have known what I was thinking before I had even opened my mouth. "Ya know," she said, "If you really have your heart set on Friday night, you could come if you want. And after we always have a cast party." She smiled sweetly at me. "You could be my date."

I looked over at her. I felt like I was going to burst. "I could do that," I said with my eyebrows raised. "It sounds wonderful to tell the truth." I looked at her eyes and asked, "How long have you been doing this? I never really imagined you as the little actress."

She sighed and gave a fond smile. Looking down at her hands, she began to fiddle with her finger nails. "Remus turned me onto it about a year ago." She sighed. "After Sirius passed away, I felt a bit stressed out, to say the least. So we both went for auditions, and we've been addicted ever since. Remus isn't in this coming show though. He had to quit for a while because he was so busy with the Order, as you know."

I nodded in understanding. "What is your production?"

"A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"Ah, Mister Shakespeare!" I said with a grand gesture, worthy of the Globe.

"You like Shakespeare?" she asked in slight astonishment.

"I picked up Hamlet when I was twelve years old," I replied grinning. "I couldn't put it down."

"Ya know, I've been trying to get everyone to perform Much Ado About Nothing since I've joined the troupe, but no go yet."

"And who would you like to play?" I asked.

She stuck her nose in the air and replied loftily, "Beatrice, of course."

"Ah, sweet lady disdain!" I recited.

She smiled at me, and replied, "You always end with a jade's trick."

"Beautiful," I said. She was worthy of William's stage. There was no doubt in my mind. She had the heart for it. I could tell she pretty much had the heart for almost anything. "Where is it being held? What time?"

"The curtain goes up at 7:30," she said, standing up from the bench. "It's at the Carmolotte Theatre in Sussex." Stretching her arms, she went on, "I'll make sure a ticket is saved for you, and just wait after we finish. I'll run out to the lobby and find you for when the party begins."

"Sounds good. Just one more question though."

"What's that?"

I just had to know this. "What character are you playing?"

She smiled mischievously. "Puck," she put simply.

A nymph, I thought to myself. How appropriate…

Notes from the Author: And there you have it! That's how Severus asked Nymphadora out! Want more? It's coming! Read and review! :-D