Chapter 18:
I wake up three hours later, stiff from sleeping in the armchair. As I work out a particularly stubborn kink in my shoulder, I notice Severus is again absent. Sighing loudly, I rise, beginning to feel this will be an oft-repeated scenario in our lives.
I check the bedroom and bathroom, but he is not in our rooms. This must mean he is at breakfast. Casually casting a cleansing spell, too lazy to take a shower, I smooth my robe and head off to join him.
Approaching the Great Hall, I am assaulted by a cacophony of unfamiliar voices, all young. The Dream Team has arrived. I stride confidently into the Great Hall. All conversation stops as I saddle up to the vacant space between Severus and, I presume from the untidy hair and glasses, Harry Potter.
Albus is the only one thrilled to see me. Severus and Minerva have both adopted a cold shoulder. Remus is too far along the table to be of any comfort, and the children have yet to be introduced.
"Good morning, my dear." Albus greets, "It is time for introductions. Harry, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, I would like to introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Bena Hummell."
Oh my. Albus wasn't exaggerating the anger that has lodged itself in Harry Potter. Immediately, the boy begins an assault of questions.
"Why does Lupin have to leave? I've never heard of her. Can she properly train us in dueling? Remus is the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we've ever had. Why does he have to leave now? Why change between terms?"
Albus remains emotionless through the barrage. When Potter has gone silent Albus nods to me, indicating he wishes me to answer.
"Mister Potter, I am Bena Hummell, witch extraordinaire. I assure you I am adequately trained in defense. I spent four years as a Tracker, the American equivalent of Aurors. You would be hard-pressed to find a curse or counter-curse I do not know." I answer, somewhat impressed by the lack of respect Potter is showing. Severus had told me the boy was insolent, but to openly assault Albus takes courage.
I am further impressed as Potter pushes back the bench and stands, facing directly at me, his wand raised. Before he can utter whatever pathetic attempt at a curse he had in mind, I shoot, very quietly, an immobulus at him. He is frozen before his mouth closes.
The table is quiet. Severus, I see, is smiling beneath his curtain of black hair. Albus has schooled a stern expression on his face, but his eyes are twinkling. Even Minerva doesn't appear to be entirely disapproving.
The other two Gryffindors and Remus look horrified. Before any of them can protest, I release Potter from the spell. He shakes his head and looks at me. I keep my face as calm as possible, my hand still grasped on my wand. Instead, he breaks into a huge smile and sits back down beside me, pocketing his wand.
"Thank you, Professor. I'm very impressed." He says. I am debating between smiling back and reprimanding him for his behavior. Knowing it will infuriate Severus, I opt for smiling.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. I hope you and I will be able to work very closely on developing a line of defensive spell study for the advanced students. I am sure Professor Snape would be willing to lend a hand." I smile even broader, feeling Severus stiffen beside me.
"I do not think that is necessary, Bena." Severus says quickly.
"Nonsense, Severus. I would appreciate your help. Therefore, with the headmaster's permission, I would like for you and I to restart the dueling club yet again. What say you?" I am extending the olive branch, knowing he would be fully justified in refusing me. However, the idea of having a school-sanctioned time to bounce curses off Harry Potter has fleeted through his mind and he seems unable to resist.
"I will need some time to think about it." He responds carefully.
I smile broadly and take a first bite of eggs and rashers. This day has gone far better than I had imagined, though I know the evening will be spent in strategy with Severus, Minerva, and Albus, and there will be little mirth.
The rest of breakfast passes by with little interruptions, allowing me to observe the three young Gryffindors. Mr. Potter, directly to my right, is eating his food with enthusiasm, but there is fear behind his eyes. He seems far older than his seventeen years, and seems thankful to be able to slip into quiet here at the table while conversations play over his head.
Upon observing Mr. Weasley, I find a smile has situated itself upon my face. The speed in which the young man is inhaling his third plate of breakfast is impressive, even more so is his ability to be able to maintain conversation with both of his schoolmates. Severus has said he is loyal to a fault, which he assures me is a familial trait, but that his heart is good and true.
Severus, while given to long rants against Misters Potter and Weasley, has said little to malign Miss Granger. I have taken this as a sign that although he must publicly appear to despise her, he is indeed impressed by her intelligence. This morning, Miss Granger, sitting directly across from me, has taken a silent approach. She is watching me as I watch her. I do see the spark of intelligence in her brown eyes. I decide that, of the three, she and I will get along the best, and set about becoming her friend. She seems most appreciative of the attention. We make plans to meet in the library later that morning.
Feeling very pleased with myself, I get up and head back to the dungeons. Halfway there I feel Severus following me. Smiling, I continue walking as though oblivious to him.
Once I approach the doors to our rooms, however, I realize I do not know the new password. Waiting patiently for my husband to arrive, he steps up and mutters, almost silently, the password, too low for me to catch. Rather than allowing me first entrance, he strides forward. The door slam shut behind him before I am able to enter.
Apparently I was too eager in my assessment of his anger mellowing towards me. Resigned to spending the day unwashed and in old clothes, I exit the dungeons and head out to the grounds.
I wake up three hours later, stiff from sleeping in the armchair. As I work out a particularly stubborn kink in my shoulder, I notice Severus is again absent. Sighing loudly, I rise, beginning to feel this will be an oft-repeated scenario in our lives.
I check the bedroom and bathroom, but he is not in our rooms. This must mean he is at breakfast. Casually casting a cleansing spell, too lazy to take a shower, I smooth my robe and head off to join him.
Approaching the Great Hall, I am assaulted by a cacophony of unfamiliar voices, all young. The Dream Team has arrived. I stride confidently into the Great Hall. All conversation stops as I saddle up to the vacant space between Severus and, I presume from the untidy hair and glasses, Harry Potter.
Albus is the only one thrilled to see me. Severus and Minerva have both adopted a cold shoulder. Remus is too far along the table to be of any comfort, and the children have yet to be introduced.
"Good morning, my dear." Albus greets, "It is time for introductions. Harry, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, I would like to introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Bena Hummell."
Oh my. Albus wasn't exaggerating the anger that has lodged itself in Harry Potter. Immediately, the boy begins an assault of questions.
"Why does Lupin have to leave? I've never heard of her. Can she properly train us in dueling? Remus is the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we've ever had. Why does he have to leave now? Why change between terms?"
Albus remains emotionless through the barrage. When Potter has gone silent Albus nods to me, indicating he wishes me to answer.
"Mister Potter, I am Bena Hummell, witch extraordinaire. I assure you I am adequately trained in defense. I spent four years as a Tracker, the American equivalent of Aurors. You would be hard-pressed to find a curse or counter-curse I do not know." I answer, somewhat impressed by the lack of respect Potter is showing. Severus had told me the boy was insolent, but to openly assault Albus takes courage.
I am further impressed as Potter pushes back the bench and stands, facing directly at me, his wand raised. Before he can utter whatever pathetic attempt at a curse he had in mind, I shoot, very quietly, an immobulus at him. He is frozen before his mouth closes.
The table is quiet. Severus, I see, is smiling beneath his curtain of black hair. Albus has schooled a stern expression on his face, but his eyes are twinkling. Even Minerva doesn't appear to be entirely disapproving.
The other two Gryffindors and Remus look horrified. Before any of them can protest, I release Potter from the spell. He shakes his head and looks at me. I keep my face as calm as possible, my hand still grasped on my wand. Instead, he breaks into a huge smile and sits back down beside me, pocketing his wand.
"Thank you, Professor. I'm very impressed." He says. I am debating between smiling back and reprimanding him for his behavior. Knowing it will infuriate Severus, I opt for smiling.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. I hope you and I will be able to work very closely on developing a line of defensive spell study for the advanced students. I am sure Professor Snape would be willing to lend a hand." I smile even broader, feeling Severus stiffen beside me.
"I do not think that is necessary, Bena." Severus says quickly.
"Nonsense, Severus. I would appreciate your help. Therefore, with the headmaster's permission, I would like for you and I to restart the dueling club yet again. What say you?" I am extending the olive branch, knowing he would be fully justified in refusing me. However, the idea of having a school-sanctioned time to bounce curses off Harry Potter has fleeted through his mind and he seems unable to resist.
"I will need some time to think about it." He responds carefully.
I smile broadly and take a first bite of eggs and rashers. This day has gone far better than I had imagined, though I know the evening will be spent in strategy with Severus, Minerva, and Albus, and there will be little mirth.
The rest of breakfast passes by with little interruptions, allowing me to observe the three young Gryffindors. Mr. Potter, directly to my right, is eating his food with enthusiasm, but there is fear behind his eyes. He seems far older than his seventeen years, and seems thankful to be able to slip into quiet here at the table while conversations play over his head.
Upon observing Mr. Weasley, I find a smile has situated itself upon my face. The speed in which the young man is inhaling his third plate of breakfast is impressive, even more so is his ability to be able to maintain conversation with both of his schoolmates. Severus has said he is loyal to a fault, which he assures me is a familial trait, but that his heart is good and true.
Severus, while given to long rants against Misters Potter and Weasley, has said little to malign Miss Granger. I have taken this as a sign that although he must publicly appear to despise her, he is indeed impressed by her intelligence. This morning, Miss Granger, sitting directly across from me, has taken a silent approach. She is watching me as I watch her. I do see the spark of intelligence in her brown eyes. I decide that, of the three, she and I will get along the best, and set about becoming her friend. She seems most appreciative of the attention. We make plans to meet in the library later that morning.
Feeling very pleased with myself, I get up and head back to the dungeons. Halfway there I feel Severus following me. Smiling, I continue walking as though oblivious to him.
Once I approach the doors to our rooms, however, I realize I do not know the new password. Waiting patiently for my husband to arrive, he steps up and mutters, almost silently, the password, too low for me to catch. Rather than allowing me first entrance, he strides forward. The door slam shut behind him before I am able to enter.
Apparently I was too eager in my assessment of his anger mellowing towards me. Resigned to spending the day unwashed and in old clothes, I exit the dungeons and head out to the grounds.