A/N: Sorry it's been so long. The next chapter should be out within the week, and the next two chapters of Ravenstar should be out in the next couple of days. Sorry for the long wait!
---------
Chapter Two: The Sword of Flame and Other Such Oddities
Albus cleared his throat and looked around the room. The other occupants fell silent. "I've called this meeting of the Order, because I've gotten plenty of intelligence we all need to sort through. See if any of it's useful."
Severus stood from where he was leaning against the wall. "Speaking of intelligence, Headmaster, I've gotten what I think may be crucial information on the Dark Lord. That's what I was trying to tell you earlier today, if you may recall my visit to your office. He is apparently planning-"
"Quite all right, Severus." Albus twinkled at him. "I know plenty of Voldemort's nefarious plots. I also have learned of several solutions, which we must research as soon as possible. Now, where was I?"
Severus almost gaped at him (he was too dignified to completely gape at anyone) as Albus looked thoughtfully at some sort of weird silver box on his desk while absently popping a lemon drop into his mouth.
Albus looked up suddenly, eyes twinkling, "we must research some items. These things we're looking for are very powerful, and will aid us in our war against Moldiewarts! The first thing is-"
An auror, a seasoned veteran by anyone's standards, piped up, "Mo-moldiewarts, sir?" There was a lot of nervous shuffling of feet around the room. They all knew the headmaster had a penchant for saying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's name, but wasn't this nickname going above and beyond the call of alleviating fear?
Albus looked momentarily startled, a look that stunned most in the room, for it had never been seen on his face until this moment, before his twinkling came back full-force. "Ah, yes. I meant to say 'Voldemort'. I meant to ease you all into joking about his name slowly, with names such as Voldiwart, and Snakeface. Alas, I see this will not be the case."
"S-sir," a witch stuttered. "It's bad- erm, difficult enough for you to have us to say His name. No sane person, barring you, Headmaster, will joke about it!"
Albus smiled at her, and everyone in the room, "really now, fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. If we can joke about Moldie-pants' name, he'll have no power at all! I admit his appearance is a little disturbing at first, you all have seen the drawings of his new form, but if you think about it he really does look quite funny!" He looked around rather hopefully, searching for anyone who would at least somewhat agree.
No one would meet his gaze.
Minerva absently wondered if anyone dared look at him, would his puppy dog expression sucker someone in? Even as she thought it Minerva new someone had looked up at the old man, if the soft groan and halfhearted "of course, sir" was anything to go by.
People around the room peeked up towards the front of the room, where Albus stood beaming happily. Everyone in the room knew. Now that someone agreed with him on the subject Albus would never let the subject drop until he'd won.
Severus was glaring at the moron who'd looked at Albus. Everyone knew not to look at the man when he wanted something!
"As I was saying, we must research," Albus glanced down at a piece of parchment on his desk, "the Sword of Flame, which is claimed to be able to sever any bonds, physical, emotional, or magical; the Soldier of Ice, which can defeat any opponent; I'd like our Ancient Runes teacher to look into the Time Rune, in case we must travel back in time, to meddle with Tom Riddle's history to stop him, though I dearly hope it won't come to something so drastic; the Cape of Beauxbatons, which supposedly keeps the wearer from being harmed in any capacity; the Serpent of Iron, with one bite it kills any enemy; and the Candle of the Dragon, an eternal flame which will eat the world unless handled by a pure virgin."
The headmaster finally noticed the stares being sent his way. "I've been bestowed a great gift, by being allowed to see possibilities, not only for the past, but for the present, and for the future." The wizard explained. "They're more than possibilities as well. I've never seen things so clearly before." He beamed around the room again.
Someone slowly spoke up, "sir, I'm not sure any of those items even exist." There were a few mutters of 'wouldn't the dragon's flame melt the wax of the candle?' and 'I've never heard of them...' around the room.
"They're hidden, as they should be. Magic can tuck away a great many things until the time has come when they're needed." Albus explained. "I think that's enough for one meeting, don't you? You'll get the standard message when the next meeting is called."
It was a dismissal, and an escape from the bizarre turn of events, but no one moved.
"Headmaster," Minerva tried, "if you've a problem, perhaps an addiction..? We're all here for you. We'll help you through this! You only have to reach out... To say the word..."
"Why, Minerva, that's very sweet, and I'm honored you all would do such a thing for me, but I'm fine." Albus smiled gently, carefully picking out another two lemon drops.
A few people eyed the bag of candy suspiciously. Someone coughed.
"Well," Minerva searched for anything to say, "we'll just be going then, shall we?"
Albus nodded cheerfully, giving everyone a small wave.
Right before the office door was pulled open he called out, "oh! One last thing. There's this woman I wish to find. I only have her first name, her most common name really from what I can tell. She goes by many aliases, and has many appearances, she may well be a metamorphmagus..." He trailed off.
"Sir?" Someone prompted.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, her name is Mary Sue. If we could start a search for her? I believe her assistance would be quite useful in the defeat against Voldemort."
As the Order members exchanged confused looks and started filing out of the room, Albus sidled up next to Severus. "And don't worry, Sev, we won't allow Mary Sue to take Harry from you, the minx." Albus whispered.
Severus sighed, "Albus, Potter and I are not- what did you just call me?"
Albus looked sheepish. "Ah, yes, sorry my boy. I forget you only let Harry call you that." He patted the younger man on the back. "Pet name, is it? Maybe a kink thing?"
Snape went deathly white, "Potter has never called me that, if he ever tries I will castrate him, student or no, Potter and I most definitely are not together, and this is not a conversation I wish to have with you, Headmaster."
Albus sighed, "I wish you would trust me more, Severus." By this time they were the only two left in the office, "and I was young once, and quite the experimenter if I do say so myself. I know plenty about all sorts of," he smiled cheerfully for the hundredth time, "sexual activities. Don't be afraid to come to me for advice. I do enjoy helping out the odd couple here and there. Did I ever tell you about the time Minerva and her husband, her first husband, that is, needed-"
He really didn't need to hear this. Wasn't he scarred enough for one lifetime? Apparently not. "I don't believe you did, Headmaster, and as much as I would love to hear this story, I've potions to attend to." Snape fled. He ran all the way back to his dungeons. Though later when anyone tried to ask, he denied all knowledge of the occurrence and crushed his desire to obliviate them.
---------
Thanks very much to those who reviewed: FawkesRises, Bubblesrkool, Kesley, YamiRose: DarkElementalGoddess, Night-Owl123, E.A.V, Lioness-Goddess, SapphireMind, ShivaniBlue, Rubber-duckiesofdoominess
SheWolfe7 - I don't know what Dumbledore is going to do to Ron and Hermione (yet), but there's a lot of madness planned.
Kyer - You've given me very evil ideas... Poor Severus; he's suffering so much in this story.
