July 13th, 1997

Hermione is 16

Snape is 37

Albus Dumbledore opened the door to the next room with a certain degree of gentility. A young woman—a girl really—about fifteen or sixteen years of age was reclining in one of the comfortable armchairs, near a fireplace ablaze.

"Miss Wolfe, I am Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwart's Headmaster," Dumbledore introduced himself.

The girl gave no sign that she heard the formidable wizard.

"Oh Great Overlord," Elli pleaded silently, "Why did it have to be her, of all people?"

She was referring to, of course, the dark, hooded shadower that hovered over the silent girl. The shadow's cloak was a distinctive, dark green color, and although the shadow's delicate face was shrouded in darkness, the soft brown curls could easily be seen. The shadow radiated intensity, impatience, stubbornness, and most of all, a shivering calmness that washed over a self and bringing an overwhelming sense of peace while simultaneously disturbing the affected person to a great extent. Her lips, dark and full, curled into a pronounced pout although the shadow wasn't actually pouting, and in both hands, with her arms crossing each other, she clutched a long, black, pointed spear.

Despite the old woman's strength and formidable Scandinavian attire, the new shadow was far more formidable, and while she was a bit more powerful than Elli, her main weapon was the strange combination of overwhelming intimidation and peace that she inspired.

"Eirene," Elli whispered, "It's been too long."

The goddess, did not speak for a short while. When she did speak, her voice was soft and feminine:

"Far too long."

"Miss?" Dumbledore frowned, concerned. It was not normal for people to ignore him.

"Miss?" he tried again, only much louder. The girl was startled and she sat upright, her eyes widening.

"Headmaster," she uttered quietly, as if she was experiencing great disbelief, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

"It's quite all right. Do you mind if I sit?"

"Not at all," the girl responded as if she was accustomed to older men of high dignity beseeching to her whims.

Dumbledore set himself into the plush armchair across from the girl quite comfortably and he questioned her, "You are the exchange student from Denmark?"

"Um, yes. Yes, sir." Irene's brown eyes slid to the left uncomfortably, and she proceded to stare at a nearby coffee table intently.

"Do you know why Professor McGonagall has chosen to accept you a good four years after reaching school age, Miss Wolfe?"

"I haven't any idea. No school would take me."

Then as an afterthought, she added, "Besides, I'm turning sixteen in August."

"Five years then.You are aware of the approaching wizarding war, your father having recently been instated in his...work...of a sensitive nature, with Lord Voldemort's return two years ago. Professor McGonagall and I have discussed with Halcyon--your father--and it has been agreed that the best thing for your safety is to place you under Hogwarts protection."

"You don't mind that...that he did what he did? What I am?"

"It boggles the mind," Dumbledore confessed, his blue eyes alight with honesty, "But I was sorely disappointed when Halcyon fled to Denmark, with an infant in tow. When he wrote to me a few months later with news of you, Irene, I was pleased to find that your humanity had asserted itself so well."

"He went to school with you, didn't he?"

"Oh no, goodness, no. It is true that Halcyon is much older than the average wizard parent with a sixteen year-old daughter, but he certainly wasn't my classmate. When he was a student at Hogwarts I do recall that he was good friends with a young woman by the name of Eileen Prince--nevertheless it was during my time as a Transfiguration Professor."

"I'm--I'm glad that you've been able to put aside differences. But, how can you keep me safe? And the others?" Irene's posture began to slump, her fingers flickering with growing anxiety.

"Oh...we have a little something called the Shrieking Shack..."

An hour later brought the Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and his most recent charge, Irene Wolfe, to a very comfortable situation. Irene had been provided with some tea, and she was beginning to relax in her comfy chair once again. Dumbledore clearly had a serious expression, but otherwise he seemed to be enjoying the conversation.

The girl was quite peculiar. She had a strong, and graceful bone structure, but while her eyes were intense and an intimidating shade of dark brown, almost black, she also offered softness, comfort, and peace if she opened up to someone. She sported a magnificent mane of long, brown, and wavy hair.

"...if you would like, I can send a staff member to accompany you to Denmark to retrieve your wand and Apparate you back here. Of course this would have to wait till tomorrow, but you can get comfortably settled in the girls' dormitories, or if it's too lonely up there, you can stay with Professor McGonagall in her quarters."

"Thank you again. I'll stay in the dormitories if you don't mind."

"Thank you for your time, Miss Wolfe. I trust Professor McGonagall has already given you a tour?"

"Yes, but I haven't been sorted."

"The Hat is in my office—

A clearing of a throat was heard, and Dumbledore chuckled.

"Ah, well, it seems that the Hat has somehow arranged its transport to this room—

"Arranged, you silly man," Elli berated affectionately, "This has Eterna written all over it."

"Quiet."

This was so softly uttered by the intensegoddess of Peace in such a lovely, feminine tone, Elli had no choice but to obey while holding a great deal of admiration and respect for the shadower.

"I suppose," Irene said, quite indifferent.

Now that the formalities and explanations had been done with, Irene Wolfe reverted to her normal self: a passive girl who spent most of her time daydreaming and thinking, rarely uttering a word.

Her eyes followed Dumbledore's hands as he placed the Hat on her head.

"The Hat need not sing its song," Dumbledore said quietly, to the battered Hat.

The Hat opened and closed at a slit in the brim, showing its confirmation.

"Independent I see, ambitious too. You have goodwill, but you think and see more so. Individualism, the fighting spirit…"

Instead of the Hat screaming the House name, Irene opened her eyes and smiled.

"Ravenclaw."

"I was certain she would be placed in Slytherin."

"You are silly," the shadower's full lips curled upwards into a small smile, "Do you really think the goddess of Peace would choose a House riddled with tension and corruption to carry out her defenses?"

"Chaos is already near?"

"Indeed. We need the cataclysmic event to happen."

"And that would be…."

"You really should speak to Lilith. Macha if you please, but Lilith, being the goddess of Wisdom understands it better than some…warmonger."

Fleetingly, Elli recalled Eterna's sardonic farewell:

"I know she and Macha will get along wonderfully."

Goddess of Peace or no, Eirene and Macha were bound to butt heads. It was inevitable. Elli had a feeling that this meant their shadows, Severus Snape and Irene Wolfe, would not be likely to get along.

A/N: Much thanks to the lovely reviewer, bungeecord. I hope this long chapter (and I was sure to include more of the shadowers) is satisfactory. :-)

Remember from chapter six that the cataclysmic event is the unlikeliest love that will soon develop betweenSnape and Hermione.

The relevance of introducing Irene as a character will reveal itself. Momentarily. :D