Dumbledore walked through the main gates of Hogwarts, smiling to hear the raucous laughter and cries coming the children playing all over the grounds. Good, classes had been cancelled. If anything deserved such a proclamation, it was surely this.
He strolled up the path towards the castle. Many of the students called whooped their hellos to them. He noticed, almost to the castle, a group consisting solely of the sixth and seventh year Slytherins up against the castle walls.
Curious, he quietly approached them. They were gathered around in a large circle, looking at something in the center. None of them appeared to notice him.
"It says here the Ministry has already taken loads more suspected Death Eaters into custody." read one of the seventh years.
"Did they get Brig?" asked a sixth year girl with dark braids fearfully.
Dumbledore could see the seventh year scanning the article. "They aren't naming any of them." the boy said.
"I might be able to answer your question." Dumbledore broke in quietly. Several of the girls gasped and tried to hind behind the boys. Dumbledore shook his head gently. "There is nothing to fear. I have been at the Ministry since very late last night. I have been in meeting with the minister much of the morning. About whom are you curious?"
"You're probably one of the people informing the ministry who to arrest. You've set up a way to listen in on us and find out who has family that follows the Dark Lord." a tall boy accused Dumbledore, striding forward.
Dumbledore glossed over the too familiar use of 'dark lord' and replied evenly, "I assure you, my dear boy, I have done nothing of the sort. I am offering to help inform those of you who are in distress."
They looked him over, but said nothing. Dumbledore sighed. "The world is changing again, my children. If there is anything you need I advise you to talk to your head of house." He moved off, hearing a few of them snort.
He was able, however, to discern the tall boy whisper to the group, "Of course-let's ask Snape. He'd know who's been brought in-he'd have to."
Dumbledore shook his head. They were missing the point. He sighed heavily and continued walking to the castle.
-------11:11
A knock came on the door, causing Severus to pull back the vial of powdered manticore mandibles to avoid spilling.
"Come in," he snarled. Thomas Coore, a Slytherin seventh-year opened the door.
"Well?" Severus asked, as the boy stood just inside the door, looking fearful.
Ò"Sir, we were, that is, I was wondering if I could talk to you." he said nervously.
Severus resisted the urge to roll his eye. "It seems obvious to me, Coore, that you already are talking with me. Get to the point." he said, gesturing to the simmering cauldron below him.
Coore looked down and nodded, understanding the need for brevity. "Do you know which of the Death Eaters have been taken by the Ministry?"
Snape let out a hiss of air and straightened up. "No, Mr. Coore. I have been at Hogwarts all day. I have had no chance to run to the Ministry and read the detainee report." he sneered.
Coore faltered a little, but held his ground. "Sir, I know you, that you, that you are, were, maybe, possibly a follower of the Dark Lo-"
Severus covered the space between them in three scant steps. "Mr. Coore, what you may or may not have heard, or believe, is not my concern. I suggest you, and any other member of this house who are curious as to the fate of family members to contact those family members directly. We do have such things as owls to carry post."
He would not allow Coore an inch to move, blocking him in and boring in to his eyes. Coore's gaze faltered. He obviously had not been expecting such a reaction from his head of house.
"Sorry, sir." he mumbled. Snape backed away from the wall and nodded his head toward the door. Coore left, head down, shoulders hunched.
Severus watched him go and sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. The cauldron behind him began to spit and hiss.
"Damn!"
------11:18
Minerva had been back at number four for quite some time now, having effectively rid herself of the tom cat, but the strange people that had been milling about eh house were now gone, replaced by the lady of the house and, Minerva wrinkled her cat nose, the son.
The son was currently yelling very loudly, "WON'T!" repeatedly at his mother, who was attempting to get the boy in to his high chair.
"But Dinky darling," Minerva heard the tow headed woman coo, "It's time for lunch."
These appeared to be the magic words, for the little brat stopped in his tantrum to look up, apparently to find the food his mother had promised him. Minerva looked away, disgusted by the behavior. Harry Potter live here! she thought indignantly. Dumbledore must be mad!
--------11:24
Sirius was sitting, still in human form, across the entrance from the Leaky Cauldron. He managed to pilfer a pair of sunshades from a customer in the sandwich shop on his way out and had transfigured his shirt into something darker in color, though still as dingy. So, sunshades on, he was sitting on the doorstep in the alley looking out on the door where any moment Peter should appear from.
His buttocks hurt, Sirius reflected. At least being a dog made waiting on pavement tolerable. He'd only been sitting on the concrete step for twenty minutes. It felt like two hours. He gave a grunt in the back of his throat and stood up. Best to do a little walking. He needed to keep his reflexes up, after all. Perhaps he could go a steal a Daily Prophet from the Leaky Cauldron.
Changing back into his dog form, Sirius pawed crossed the street and pushed the door to the Leaky Cauldron open.
-------11:31
Remus' eyes fluttered open. He stared for a few moments at the wooden ceiling above him, gathering his wits about him.
Ah yes. It all came crashing back. Remus no longer felt like springing from bed. That's right, he though, his throat going dry. James and Lily were dead.
He forced himself to sit up. He glanced at the small mantle clock across the room. Enough sleep, he told himself. He needed to be there for Harry. Or whoever else needed him. He wondered if they'd found Peter yet, or worse, if Sirius had found Peter.
Rising and stretching, he reached out a hand for his robes. He grabbed them and exited the room, giving only a quick run-though of his hair with his hand. It'll have to do.
--------11:38
Dumbledore moved along the stairs to his office. Opening up the door, he saw Fawkes, who immediately alighted from his perch to rest on Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Everything is underway." he told the phoenix.
Fawkes flew to the corner of Dumbeldore's desk. "Yes," he chuckled. "I have many people to write, Fawkes. There is much to tell." The phoenix perked up his head, causing Dumbledore to chuckle again.
"Do not worry, Fawkes. I shall tell you everything."
------11:43
Remus shuffled in to the Great Hall to find a few students at the tables, chatting animatedly.
"Remus!" he heard a voice call. He turned in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Hestia Jones, who had been a fourth year Remus' last year, was approaching him.
He smiled as she drew up next to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I met the headmaster at the Ministry early this morning and he suggested I come here to rest." he told her truthfully.
"Why were you at the min-oh." she said, realizing. "I'm so sorry, Remus."
"It's all right, Hestia." he assured her.
"Come eat with us, it's been so long since we've seen you." she said, pulling him over to the Gryffindor table.
"Where is everyone?" he asked, surprised that the hall would be this empty during the lunch hour.
"Most everyone is nicking something and heading back outdoors." Hestia explained. As they reached the table, a few of the older Gryffindors recognized Remus and began handing him food.
He ravenously took a bite of everything, making up for lost time.
-------11:51
Severus had found it necessary to restart his potion, much to his chagrin. Grinding his teeth, he again found himself interrupted at the addition of the powdered manticore mandible. Growling, he stalked over to the door and swung it wide.
"Headmaster." he said, surprised.
Dumbledore smiled enigmatically and stepped forward into the room. He waved a hand toward the cauldron. "Do not let me stop you, Severus. I will wait while you work."
Severus nodded curtly and returned to his work table. He again lifted the vial of powder and measured the correct amount into the cauldron, which sputtered to life. Severus stirred three times counterclockwise, then let the potion sit.
"I have seven minutes, Headmaster, at your disposal." he said, waving his wand to set a timer.
Dumbledore smiled. "I need your help writing a letter." he said.