Author's Notes: Short chapter where things begin to fall into place
regarding Mira, her past, and her connection with the conflict between good
and evil in the wizarding world. And just how much does Dumbledore know
about all of this?
Personally, I feel that Dumbledore is way more than his exterior of twinkling eyes and candy floss beard. I think he knows so much more than he lets on about everything. I think he also is manipulative, although not in a malicious way. But manipulative in the sense that he does like to tinker with people and situations to get the ball rolling towards a specific unfolding of events. Which for better or for worse, means that he does play God with peoples' lives from time to time. Let's hope he knows what he's doing with Snape and Mira, shall we?
Disclaimer: If you recognize it from the books, then it's not mine. Just borrowed for a bit.
Chapter 10: Pieces of the Puzzle Begin to Come Together.
On the carriage ride back to Hogwarts, Snape couldn't help but wonder about certain things that Mirabelle had said during their conversation in the tavern. Could she have something to do with the magical artifact that Voldemort had his followers searching for? It all added up. A foreigner with information regarding a rare artifact, Mira was indeed a foreigner, and had dealt in wizarding antiques and collectibles. An item almost found years ago? Could her family have died at the hands of Death Eaters searching for this artifact? Mira seemed to believe that it was dark magic that killed them. And his initial guess about her having an interesting story was right on the money. Here was a woman who came across at first glance as just any other working class wizarding shopkeeper with a mediocre magical education, but she had used an unforgivable curse against her own husband and turned he and his mistress into frogs and disposed of them in a swamp. She could obviously handle advanced magic, and she had an aggressive and reckless angle to her personality to come up with revenge such as she had taken against them.
Snape found himself growing very fond of the woman. She was an enigma. A strange combination of both the wizarding and muggle worlds, the familiar and foreign. And very sexy, in a dangerous and uncontrolled sort of way. She was nothing like the cool Slytherin ice queens whom he had dated in his youth, nor like the power hungry witches who threw themselves at any wizard remotely involved with dark magic. They sufficed for fulfilling his immediate sexual needs, but were completely one dimensional in their desperation to connect with power through connection to a powerful wizard. He wanted to learn more about this woman, Mirabelle. To learn more about those artifacts, and if the item Voldemort sought could be used by Dumbledore in the fight against darkness.
The gates of the school grounds opened to admit the self-propelled carriage. After arriving at the carriage house, Snape made his way to the library where he found a book on magic of the American South, and retired to his chambers where he read until he fell asleep in his armchair. A house elf appeared in his chambers, placed the book on the table, tucked a lap blanket around the professor, and stoked the fire so that it would burn through the night. Snape awoke the next morning to the dying embers of the fire, a pot of hot tea and his copy of the Daily Prophet on the small table in his sitting room.
He poured a cup of tea and unrolled the newspaper. The headline caught his attention. A museum of wizard history in Ireland had been ransacked and the night watchman had been severely cursed by Death Eaters. "So, they're getting serious about locating this artifact," thought Snape. "At least nobody was killed this time".
He finished his tea, cleaned himself up and put on fresh robes. He pocketed the scroll, and left the dungeons to find headmaster Dumbledore. The headmaster was still in the faculty dining hall, having a discussion with the caretaker, Mr. Filch, about preparations for the upcoming fall school term. He saw Snape approach with the morning paper in his hand, and excused himself from the conversation
"Argus, I shan't keep you any longer, as I know you have much work to do this week to prepare for the return of the faculty and students". Mr. Filch rose from the table, exchanged pleasantries with Snape, and went to take inventory of the cleaning supply cupboards. Dumbledore turned his attention to the professor.
"I've already read the paper Severus, and I share your concern. Can you tell me anything about whatever it is that they're looking for?"
"Well headmaster, aside from what I said in my report the last time I was summoned, I haven't learned much. But I may have a lead on the artifact. It's a long shot, but I intend to see where it leads."
The older wizard looked up with a smile in his eyes. "And this lead, would it by chance have anything to do with a certain female shopkeeper who you shared a drink with in the tavern last night?"
Professor Snape dropped his usual cool facade for a split second and looked genuinely flustered.
"Eyes and ears Severus, you know very well that I have eyes and ears everywhere. Virtually nothing related to my students and faculty comes to pass without my hearing of it. I know the woman of whom you speak, I've not met her in person, but have corresponded with her via owl regarding the faculty academic robes. My sources also tell me that she's quite charming, and one hell of a dancer."
Dumbledore took a drink of his tea, scowled, and reached for the sugar bowl. "So, tell me, do you intend to follow up on your lead this evening?"
Snape, who had fully regained his cool composure, made a dismissive gesture and replied: "I'm not sure, I don't know when our paths will cross again, but the next time I run into the woman, I'll make a point to ask her about the artifact".
Dumbledore took a drink of the tea, and looked up at the younger wizard, and raised one of his eyebrows. "Between you and me Severus, she'd be an awfully nice diversion from the stresses of your work and your missions, you can't stand there and tell me that you're not in the least bit interested in getting to know her better, on a less academic level".
Incensed at being teased like a schoolboy with a crush, Snape felt his cheeks flush with anger. "Albus, enough. You know as well as I do that regardless of how interested I might be, I cannot allow myself to get involved with anybody. Not now, not with things as they are. I cannot afford the distraction of a love affair, and bringing anybody into my life would mean putting them in extreme danger if my cover is blown, and I simply cannot take that risk."
"So, you are interested then?" Dumbledore finished his tea, and placed the cup upside down on the saucer. "Is the feeling mutual? Is she interested in you as well?"
"I have no Earthly idea, and frankly I don't wish to know the answer to that question because it's a moot point. Whether she's interested or not, I cannot afford to find out".
"You can't afford not to my friend. If destiny means to bring the two of you together, then you must see it through to wherever fate takes you. You know as well as I, that whenever we turn our backs on destiny, we turn our backs on infinite possibilities."
"Enough of this foolishness. There are more important things at stake than my love life or lack thereof. I will be in my laboratory if you should need me for anything important. I have work to do". Snape turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining hall, robes billowing out behind him.
Dumbledore stood and smoothed the front of his morning robes, and chuckled to himself. "Well, well... It would appear that our potions master has gone and gotten himself ensnared in the threads of womanly wiles. He must be human after all. Must be quite a shock to him, I suppose."
Personally, I feel that Dumbledore is way more than his exterior of twinkling eyes and candy floss beard. I think he knows so much more than he lets on about everything. I think he also is manipulative, although not in a malicious way. But manipulative in the sense that he does like to tinker with people and situations to get the ball rolling towards a specific unfolding of events. Which for better or for worse, means that he does play God with peoples' lives from time to time. Let's hope he knows what he's doing with Snape and Mira, shall we?
Disclaimer: If you recognize it from the books, then it's not mine. Just borrowed for a bit.
Chapter 10: Pieces of the Puzzle Begin to Come Together.
On the carriage ride back to Hogwarts, Snape couldn't help but wonder about certain things that Mirabelle had said during their conversation in the tavern. Could she have something to do with the magical artifact that Voldemort had his followers searching for? It all added up. A foreigner with information regarding a rare artifact, Mira was indeed a foreigner, and had dealt in wizarding antiques and collectibles. An item almost found years ago? Could her family have died at the hands of Death Eaters searching for this artifact? Mira seemed to believe that it was dark magic that killed them. And his initial guess about her having an interesting story was right on the money. Here was a woman who came across at first glance as just any other working class wizarding shopkeeper with a mediocre magical education, but she had used an unforgivable curse against her own husband and turned he and his mistress into frogs and disposed of them in a swamp. She could obviously handle advanced magic, and she had an aggressive and reckless angle to her personality to come up with revenge such as she had taken against them.
Snape found himself growing very fond of the woman. She was an enigma. A strange combination of both the wizarding and muggle worlds, the familiar and foreign. And very sexy, in a dangerous and uncontrolled sort of way. She was nothing like the cool Slytherin ice queens whom he had dated in his youth, nor like the power hungry witches who threw themselves at any wizard remotely involved with dark magic. They sufficed for fulfilling his immediate sexual needs, but were completely one dimensional in their desperation to connect with power through connection to a powerful wizard. He wanted to learn more about this woman, Mirabelle. To learn more about those artifacts, and if the item Voldemort sought could be used by Dumbledore in the fight against darkness.
The gates of the school grounds opened to admit the self-propelled carriage. After arriving at the carriage house, Snape made his way to the library where he found a book on magic of the American South, and retired to his chambers where he read until he fell asleep in his armchair. A house elf appeared in his chambers, placed the book on the table, tucked a lap blanket around the professor, and stoked the fire so that it would burn through the night. Snape awoke the next morning to the dying embers of the fire, a pot of hot tea and his copy of the Daily Prophet on the small table in his sitting room.
He poured a cup of tea and unrolled the newspaper. The headline caught his attention. A museum of wizard history in Ireland had been ransacked and the night watchman had been severely cursed by Death Eaters. "So, they're getting serious about locating this artifact," thought Snape. "At least nobody was killed this time".
He finished his tea, cleaned himself up and put on fresh robes. He pocketed the scroll, and left the dungeons to find headmaster Dumbledore. The headmaster was still in the faculty dining hall, having a discussion with the caretaker, Mr. Filch, about preparations for the upcoming fall school term. He saw Snape approach with the morning paper in his hand, and excused himself from the conversation
"Argus, I shan't keep you any longer, as I know you have much work to do this week to prepare for the return of the faculty and students". Mr. Filch rose from the table, exchanged pleasantries with Snape, and went to take inventory of the cleaning supply cupboards. Dumbledore turned his attention to the professor.
"I've already read the paper Severus, and I share your concern. Can you tell me anything about whatever it is that they're looking for?"
"Well headmaster, aside from what I said in my report the last time I was summoned, I haven't learned much. But I may have a lead on the artifact. It's a long shot, but I intend to see where it leads."
The older wizard looked up with a smile in his eyes. "And this lead, would it by chance have anything to do with a certain female shopkeeper who you shared a drink with in the tavern last night?"
Professor Snape dropped his usual cool facade for a split second and looked genuinely flustered.
"Eyes and ears Severus, you know very well that I have eyes and ears everywhere. Virtually nothing related to my students and faculty comes to pass without my hearing of it. I know the woman of whom you speak, I've not met her in person, but have corresponded with her via owl regarding the faculty academic robes. My sources also tell me that she's quite charming, and one hell of a dancer."
Dumbledore took a drink of his tea, scowled, and reached for the sugar bowl. "So, tell me, do you intend to follow up on your lead this evening?"
Snape, who had fully regained his cool composure, made a dismissive gesture and replied: "I'm not sure, I don't know when our paths will cross again, but the next time I run into the woman, I'll make a point to ask her about the artifact".
Dumbledore took a drink of the tea, and looked up at the younger wizard, and raised one of his eyebrows. "Between you and me Severus, she'd be an awfully nice diversion from the stresses of your work and your missions, you can't stand there and tell me that you're not in the least bit interested in getting to know her better, on a less academic level".
Incensed at being teased like a schoolboy with a crush, Snape felt his cheeks flush with anger. "Albus, enough. You know as well as I do that regardless of how interested I might be, I cannot allow myself to get involved with anybody. Not now, not with things as they are. I cannot afford the distraction of a love affair, and bringing anybody into my life would mean putting them in extreme danger if my cover is blown, and I simply cannot take that risk."
"So, you are interested then?" Dumbledore finished his tea, and placed the cup upside down on the saucer. "Is the feeling mutual? Is she interested in you as well?"
"I have no Earthly idea, and frankly I don't wish to know the answer to that question because it's a moot point. Whether she's interested or not, I cannot afford to find out".
"You can't afford not to my friend. If destiny means to bring the two of you together, then you must see it through to wherever fate takes you. You know as well as I, that whenever we turn our backs on destiny, we turn our backs on infinite possibilities."
"Enough of this foolishness. There are more important things at stake than my love life or lack thereof. I will be in my laboratory if you should need me for anything important. I have work to do". Snape turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining hall, robes billowing out behind him.
Dumbledore stood and smoothed the front of his morning robes, and chuckled to himself. "Well, well... It would appear that our potions master has gone and gotten himself ensnared in the threads of womanly wiles. He must be human after all. Must be quite a shock to him, I suppose."