Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, and things, (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings. Desiree Snape and Eleanora Snape are mine.
Chapter 9: Confusion and the unexpected.
Desiree sat by the lake on the bench, staring at the water as a warm breeze rustled through the trees. It was a sunny afternoon on July third. Nora was with Minerva, continuing her animagus training. I'm so bored. I can't tease Severus because he's looking for new potions. My independent study is finished for the year and I'm still waiting for the results from the university. If only Remus… her thoughts trailed off as she closed her eyes.
Her eyelids fluttered open when someone kissed her forehead. She smiled broadly at him. "Remus, what are you doing here? Am I dreaming?"
He watched as sat up on the bench. "I won't be off to Germany until the last week of July. What have you been up to lately?"
She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Then he wrapped an arm around her. "I've been bored stiff. Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and I don't have any fireworks."
He raised an eyebrow. "What would you need fireworks for?"
She sighed and chuckled to herself. "I'm sorry. I forgot where I was for a moment. England and American both have a fourth of July, but in American it's Independence Day and there are things like fireworks and barbeques. I suppose you'd think it was crazy to celebrate another country's holiday here."
Brushing his lips with hers, he smiled. "If you want fireworks, we will head down to Hogsmeade and find a few. Zonko's might carry them. I think it's fine if you want to celebrate a particular holiday."
She grabbed him by the collar and kissed him soundly. "Thank you."
The evening of the next day, Desiree and Remus had assembled all the remaining staff members and Nora outside to watch fireworks in an open area not too near any trees or anything that could potentially catch fire. Everyone enjoyed the fireworks display and Desiree cleaned up any messes.
After the show Desiree and Remus met in her rooms. "Do you have anywhere to sleep while you're visiting?" she inquired.
"Actually I will be using my old rooms for now. However, I have something for you." he paused as he removed a small parcel from his pocket and used his wand to enlarge it. Then he removed it from the bag and handed it to her.
"You brought me coffee!" she exclaimed.
He smiled. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him securely. "Thank you, for everything."
The two spent as much time together as possible, talking of everything from teaching tactics to keeping track of certain students to Nora's plans for the summer and Severus' recent trips. When he had to leave, she walked him to the main gate.
"You will visit me during the next school term, no excuses," Desiree told him wryly.
He nodded. "I intend to. Goodbye Desiree, I love you."
"I don't really like 'goodbyes.' I'll see you next time, Remus. I love you too." She said before they kissed warmly. She waved as he left, hoping that he would not wait too long before he returned.
The day before the new term was to start, Desiree had entered Remus' old office to dust off a few things for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The door was shut and she had begun to dust the desk when she had the distinct feeling that someone was standing behind her. She wheeled around and smiled brightly.
"Remus, how'd you get here?" she questioned.
"I used a portkey. You look wonderful," he whispered, stepping closer.
She laughed. "I've been doing odd cleaning jobs all day," she paused and threw her arms around his neck. "And I'm so glad you're back."
He kissed her soundly and they held each other in an embrace for a moment. "I cannot stay long, but I had to see you. What did you do through August?"
"Nora and I spent some quality time together and we visited Rome. I have lots of good pictures, but I missed you the whole time," she admitted. "How have you been?"
"I would have been much better if I had been permitted to bring you with me," he commented.
He glanced over his shoulder at the door. "You need to leave soon, don't you?" Desiree asked.
Brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes, he smiled sadly. "I do, but I will come again. Goodb-" he was cut off as she placed her hand over his mouth.
"Please don't say goodbye. Say, 'until next time,' but never goodbye," she instructed.
Rather than try to give her a farewell phrase, he captured her lips with his in a passionate kiss that surprised both of them. Unfortunately Minerva chose to open the door, wanting to check on the condition of the office. The two broke apart immediately when they heard Minerva exclaim "Oh Merlin!"
Desiree turned to her. "Minerva I- I can explain. I was here cleaning and then Remus came and-"
"I came here with a portkey and I was just leaving," he explained. Moments later he vanished from sight.
Minerva noticed how Desiree was still attempting to formulate and explanation and gave the younger woman a motherly smile. "I'm sorry I interrupted the two of you. I know you haven't seen each for a while. Just be more careful the next time he visits." Desiree nodded and turned to leave. When she paused and turned back to Minerva, she saw the professor wink.
After the sorting ceremony, Albus gave the annual announcements. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. This year it is with great honor that I introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Alastor Moody. Ms. Snape will be assisting again, only this time she will be working with Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and Ancient Runes. I would also like to say that this year Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament, a very old challenge that has not been performed in seven hundred years, due to some of its hazards. We have recently decided to revive it with new ideas for guaranteeing the safety of the participants. The heads of the two other schools participating as well as the students selected from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, will arrive in October.
Nora thought that Moody resembled what she had pictured Captain Ahab to look like in Moby Dick. Moody had steel-gray hair and his skin had a leathery look to it that she would have associated with someone who had spent years at sea, and seen a few attacks from pirates. The moving blue eye unnerved her though. After the feast she watched him and heard the unmistakable thud of an artificial leg as he walked out of the hall, reminding her even more of Ahab.
As the students departed, Minerva and Severus headed to her rooms for tea. As they entered he kissed her tenderly. Then she headed over to the stove. She had used the muggle method again and poured them each a steaming cup of peach and ginger tea.
"The students seem eager to start the term. First-years are entertaining at times in what they speculate classes to be like. I overheard two Hufflepuff girls trying to guess what they would learn in Transfiguration. One of the two said that because she despise insects and boys, she hopes to learn to transform both into candy or hair accessories," she relayed with a smirk as she sat next to him on the couch.
He chuckled. "Yes, and it does not help that some of the returning students tell the younger ones all kinds of outrageous stories about how difficult the classes will be. You should have been there when a few older Slytherins were telling the firs-years about Potions."
She laughed and swatted his arm playfully. "That one's not an exaggeration."
"Yes, I do make my class rather challenging," he agreed with a nod. "I think I shall miss the quietness summer brings to the castle."
She smiled wryly. "What little of it you were here for. As I recall, you spent most of your summer gallivanting all over the countryside, leaving me here doing paperwork."
He scoffed. "You didn't want to come with me. And I do not gallivant. I was looking for new potions that could be useful in the days ahead regarding Voldemort and his tricks."
"I know." After a long paused, she watched him as she asked, "What do you think of our new DADA professor?"
He glowered. "Why did Dumbledore have to find Mad-Eyed Moody of all people? Don't you realize that he won't leave me alone because I what I do? That man is one of the most irritating people you could have hired-"
"But he knows his art," she interjected.
"As do I," he retorted. Then he attempted to soften his tone. "Just keep him out of my way."
Nora, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and listened as Professor Moody talked about the Unforgivables. Nora had learned to control her thoughts enough not to broadcast them and Moody's gravely voice left her genuinely unsettled. She felt as though his blue eye were watching her the entire time.
When the class had ended and the students piled out the door, Hermione did not see Draco's foot because she was carrying too many books. She tripped and several books were scattered across the floor. "Watch where you're going, dirty little mudblood!" he spat.
"It was an accident, moron!" Nora shouted as she helped Hermione.
She wanted to wipe that smug expression off of his face. "At least she knows who her father is. You don't even know if you're a mudblood or not," he attempted to provoke her.
Nora walked up to him and stared him down. "You're no different than a parrot that mimics what it hears from other people. At least I know that my father was a wizard and that's all I need to know. So shut your beak and fly away," she quipped.
Draco was livid. "It's time you learned some respect!"
She reached for her wand, but another hand stopped her. She saw Harry beside her and he whispered, "You'll only get yourself in trouble."
Moody had heard most of the conversation and suddenly turned Draco into a ferret. "Young man, it was high time you learned some respect yourself."
Nora looked over at Harry. "But he did it!" she protested slightly, referring to Moody's transformation of Draco.
They continued on to their next class as Minerva walked up to Moody. "Alastor, please restore the boy. I can guess what he was doing, but there are less drastic ways that we professors use to deal with students. Most professors take away house points or assign detention."
"I suppose you're right," he grumbled as he changed Draco back to his original self. Minerva bid him good day and continued on her way to the library for a particular Transfiguration book for the next class.
The school seemed relatively quiet until the candidates were selected for the Triwizard Tournament in late October. The Goblet if Fire selected Cedric Diggory as well as Harry Potter from Hogwarts, Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, and Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons. After that the school was buzzing with whispers, news, and a few reporters.
A week later Nora was looking for Harry and had to push past several reporters. I don't know what's worse, having to walk through these guys or having to avoid the dementors, she thought to herself. She figured that by heading to the Common Room she might be able to surmise where Harry might be.
She did not expect to find him sitting by the fireplace. As she quietly approached him, she noted how glum he seemed. "Harry, what's bothering you?"
He looked up at her and watched her sit next to him. "I have reporters following me whom I'd rather not speak to and my best friend, whom I would like to speak to, does not want anything to do with me."
"Why is Ron mad at you?" she asked.
Harry sighed. "Apparently he wanted to be in the tournament. I didn't want to be in it! I honestly have no idea how my name got in there and no one believes me!"
She reached over and covered his hand with hers. He smiled at the tender gesture as she spoke. "I believe you."
"You always have," he added quietly. When their gaze met they seemed to move toward each other without realizing. Their noses would have touched had Hermione not chosen that moment to saunter into the room.
"I can't believe how the house elves are treated! Something should really be done about how little pay they receive and how few vacations they are given," she stated.
Harry and Nora suddenly broke apart and Nora sat in one of the chairs. "You're probably right, but what would you suggest?" she asked Hermione.
The other girl thought for a moment. "I'm not exactly certain, but I intend to come up with a plan to help them."
Nora nodded. "It sounds like you're looking for a charity society."
"A society of sorts, I'll need to think about that one for a while," Hermione remarked. Then she glanced over at Harry. "I'm sorry that Ron is still upset with you. I've tried to talk with him, but I can't seem to get through yet."
Harry sighed heavily. "It's alright, Mione. I'll just deal with this on my own."
November twenty-fourth arrived and the participants were planning their strategies for the task. Nora stood with Harry as he worried about how he was supposed to complete the task. "You'll be fine. I have confidence in you," she told him.
He dealt her a half-smile. "I wish I did."
"I'll leave you to finish coming up with a strategy. Good luck," she told him as she walked away.
Having heard an odd rustling through the grass, she turned to see Moody talking to Harry. Think it odd to see the man out there, she crept closer without making a sound. All she could hear of the conversation was that Moody suggested Harry should use his broom before he lumbered away.
She watched as Harry won the challenge and walked over to him. "You did well. There's something I need to tell you though."
Harry and Ron exchanged smiles as they passed by. When she was sure no one could here them, Nora turned back to Harry. "I saw you talking to Professor Moody and I heard part of what he told you. Do you realize that his hint gave you the advantage, using the broom to help you get the egg?"
He raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
She looked around and leaned closer to him. "He wanted you to win. I think something's up. Even if it's not, you should be careful."
"I don't think we have to worry about Professor Moody. He just gave me a useful suggestion. Come one, we don't want to miss the Gryffindor celebration!" he told her. They caught up with the others soon forgot about their worries.
Harry and Ron talked and resolved their problems. As they ate the rest of their friends, Hermione kept watching the house elves. Finally she turned back to the group. "I think I've figured out something for the house elves. Nora, you had a good idea suggesting a charity society. I have devised the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
"I don't see why you worry about them so much," Ron remarked.
She shook her head. "You just don't understand, but I don't expect you to. Nora, what do you think?"
"Mione, I wonder if you've noticed that the acronym for your society is 'spew.' Other than that I think it sounds good," Nora replied.
Harry and Ron thought that Nora's observation was hysterical and began laughing. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "Boys, they just can't be mature about anything." Ginny nodded in agreement, but both stared in surprise at Nora, who was also laughing.
Noticing their odd expressions, Nora spoke. "Alright, I blame my weird sense of humor, but it was funny."
As December rolled around Albus announced that a Yule Ball accompanied the Triwizard Tournament and that the contestants had to bring guests. The dance was open to students in their fourth year and up, but younger ones could attend if they were the date of an older student. Nora knew exactly whom she wished to go with as she sat in the Common Room studying for a Potions quiz a few days later.
Harry and Ron came into the room chatting, not having noticed Nora. "You have to ask someone. We both do. I've an idea about who you should ask," Ron commented.
"Whom are you asking?" Harry questioned.
Ron faltered slightly. "I'll probably end up asking Mione. Neville's taking Ginny."
"And now I suppose you'll tell me whom I should take," Harry surmised.
"I'm telling you mate, ask her. She's bloody gorgeous and everybody will want to ask her," Ron suggested.
"Whom are you talking about?" Harry inquired.
Ron shook his head. "Sometimes Harry, you're as dense as Mione accuses both of us to be. I'm talking about Cho Chan."
Cho? Harry wants to go with Cho? How could I have been so stupid to think he could want to go with me? Fine Harry, go with her, Nora thought angrily. An icy coldness suddenly filled the room and Harry looked up to see Nora run out of the room, heading elsewhere in the castle.
"What do you suppose that's all about, mate?" Ron asked.
Harry sighed and began walking toward the door. "I think I'd better clear this up."
(my thanks to Lena, Quill of Minerva, LiLy MaLfOy13, Leta McGotor, excessivelyperky, and Morgana-Alex for reviewing :D)
