Chapter 26
Andraste was still asleep the next morning when the students arrived at nine. She was woken by the sound of quiet voices in the next room.
"Can we go wake her up?" Hermione asked impatiently.
"Absolutely not," came a response from a male voice that Andi didn't recognize.
"I'll go get her, since you can't seem to wait any longer," Severus said. "Severus Snape," she thought to herself, "my fiancé. Oh my God, I'm engaged." She looked down at the ring on her left hand and smiled just as he walked in. "Morning, beautiful. Nice to see you've finally woken up."
"Yeah. Who's here?"
"Hermione, Harry, and the Grangers; most of them at least."
"How many are there?"
"Nine, I think. Six are here; my living room is in chaos."
"Then why don't you just come back to bed and we'll hide until they leave," she suggested with an impish grin.
"Wouldn't that be nice," he said with a light scowl. "We unfortunately, however, are expected at the meeting in 10 minutes. Why don't you come out so we can get this over with."
"Fine," Andraste said with a huff as she pulled herself out of her bed. She gave herself a wave, and a cursory glance in the mirror to double check her appearance, and headed to the living room.
"Andraste," Mrs. Weasley greeted immediately. "How are you? It's so nice to finally meet you."
"Great, Molly, and yourself?" she asked, returning the woman's smile.
"Wonderful, wonderful," she said lightly, and then began introductions. "This is my husband Arthur, and this is my son Bill. I'm sure you know Fred and George." Andraste exchanged brief pleasantries with the group before Severus put a large cup of coffee in her hand, and addressed the students.
"We need to leave, but I said that I would tell you what to expect today. You will be called to the front of the room to take a short oath; then Fawkes will drop a tear onto the palm of your hand. The tear will leave a small golden design, the emblem of the Order of the Phoenix. The symbol is enchanted so that it will only show itself if Dumbledore wishes it to. Only he can cast the necessary spell. Are there any questions?" Severus asked the students, but everyone, including Andi, shook their heads in response. "Good. We're going to floo to the headmaster's office. We'd rather no one see so many people gathering." One by one the people disappeared through Severus' fireplace until he and Andraste were the only ones left in the room. "Are you ready for this?"
"Of course, Severus, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because it's a big announcement."
"Oh, THAT," she said, laughing. "I thought you meant the whole planning to defeat Voldemort and telling a roomful of strangers how to do it even though I'm the one that's new. My bad." Severus gave her a light growl, and held out the tin of floo powder he kept beside the fireplace. She flashed him a sweet smile and took a pinch, calling out "Headmaster's office" before disappearing into the flames. She had barely stepped back out when Severus stepped into the room behind her.
"Now that we are all here, we will begin." Albus said, his even whisper somehow resounding over the group that had gathered. Andi studied her surroundings. The usually cozy room was much larger than normal, and filled with people she had never met. After Dumbledore passed out introductions and everyone else had found seats, Albus directed the four new inductees to the front. He handed each of them a small piece of paper as he began to explain. "This is the Oath of the Order of the Phoenix. It is charmed so that it can not be repeated by someone that is not pure in their motive and desire to join. If you will, Harry." Harry looked down at the paper and began to read.
"I swear my loyalty to the Order and the cause, knowing the risks and responsibilities that this entails. I bind myself with my word to the memory of those who have passed in service, to help assure that their loss was not in vain. I vow it is my willing duty to protect those that need protection, even at the cost of my own life; until the day I die." When Harry was finished, he held out his hand and Fawkes dropped a single tear into it. A small circle containing a symbol that he didn't recognize briefly shown on his palm, and then faded. Ron and Hermione repeated the same process, followed by Andraste, until the inductions were complete.
"Very well," Dumbledore said to the group after Andraste had taken a seat beside Severus, "The meeting today is of utmost importance, as you all know. Much to the credit of Professor Andraste, we have found a way to end this war permanently." Small gasps filled the room around them. This was the meeting they had hoped would come for years, and now that it had many of them sat in disbelief. "Professor Andraste," Albus continued, "you have our attention." Severus reached over and gave Andi's hand a reassuring squeeze as she explained how they were going to rid the world of Voldemort once and for all.
"It is not necessary for us to teach him meditation or astral projection as we originally thought it would be," she said when she was done explaining their intentions. "Harry has already mastered it on his own, so now I will begin to train him on how to use my powers." Her thought was interrupted by a quiet scoff and the objection that Andraste had been expecting.
"My instincts are always wary of a newcomer that appears to have all of the answers, Albus."
"I agree with Hestia," Mad-eye Moody said, his voice gruff and stern. "How can we trust her with Harry's life?"
"Because I do," Severus shot out at him, his eyes daring anybody to question him. "Are you suggesting that is not enough?" The look on Moody's face clearly said he wasn't convinced, but even he knew better than to cross Snape when he was on the verge of anger. The tension in the room had suddenly gotten to boiling point when a quiet, but firm voice spoke.
"It's my life, and I trust her," Harry said, meeting everyone's eyes in turn. When his gaze reached Mad-eye Moody's, he continued. "Professor Andraste has done more for me, more for everybody at this school in the last two weeks than most have done in their entire lives. If you question her, you're questioning the word of all of us that know her." Andraste couldn't help but feel a swelling of pride rise up inside her as all of the teachers, students, and even the Weasley's – who she had just met – voiced their agreement with Harry.
"I believe that answers your question, Moody," Dumbledore said once everyone had quieted. Mad-eye nodded in response and the headmaster continued. "Now we must settle the issue of when." This time Severus was the first to speak.
"Our first goal is to remove Lucious Malfoy. When he's gone Voldemort's ranks will be weakened, making an offensive attack substantially easier."
"How do you plan to do that?" asked an older man. "We can't very well just go kill him."
"I am well aware of that, Kingsley," Severus replied. "That is why we're going to make the bait too much for him to resist." He paused for a moment, letting the effect of his words sink in. "Lucious generally spends Sunday's on his boat in the Mediterranean. Coincidentally," he said with a vicious smile, "mine will be in the same area tomorrow night. When he realizes that both Professor Andraste and I are on board, I am sure he will not be able to resist the temptation."
"And what do you plan on doing once he attacks?"
"Whatever I must to defend myself," Severus stated firmly, a deadly glare in his eyes. There was no question about what his actual intentions were, and everyone understood it was best that he not say it.
"You can not do anything to attract the Ministry's attention," Dumbledore said; looking at Severus and then at Andraste.
"You have nothing to worry about, Albus," Andraste promised. "We're going to do this the old fashioned way."
"What does that mean?" Mrs. Weasley asked, not sure if she actually wanted to hear the answer.
"That is not your concern, Molly," Severus responded quickly, trying to make his tone less than harsh. Albus surveyed the group for a minute before speaking again.
"It is settled then. Now we must address the issue of when to attack Voldemort."
"I believe," Andraste said, "that with luck we should be ready in a month."
"Then we will assume six weeks. I will be in contact if that changes." Dumbledore smiled for a moment, and then went on. "For now, however, my stomach is telling me that it's lunch time. Shall we all go down to the Great Hall?" Everyone nodded in response, and began to stand before Severus interrupted.
"Albus, if the professors and students will stay a moment, I would like to speak to you all privately." He turned his attention towards the Weasley's, who were about to leave. "Molly; you and Arthur and Bill are welcome to stay as well."
"Is this about the announcement?" Hermione asked once the others were gone.
"Yes it is," Severus told her, suspiciously eyeing the smile on Dumbledore's face. "Would you like to tell them, Albus? Something tells me you already know what I'm going to say."
"I know nothing, Severus," he replied, his eyes twinkling brightly. "Please, go on." Professor Snape gave the headmaster a look that said he clearly didn't believe him, but continued anyway.
"I have asked Andraste to be my wife, and she has agreed."
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! Didn't I tell you yesterday that he was going to propose?" Hermione said excitedly to Ron and Harry, who were nodding their heads, but still too in shock to speak. Andraste looked sideways at the young girl, trying to find words for her confusion at the same time Severus was expressing his.
"And how did you know? I told no one," he said, a slight tone of indignation in his voice.
"It was obvious," she said with a smile, not volunteering anything else.
"And how was it obvious, Miss Granger?" he insisted. Hermione sighed and smiled, resigned that she would have to tell.
"All through Potions yesterday you kept reaching in your pocket. After the third time, I realized that you were checking to make sure something was there. Since you were looking oddly at Professor Andraste at the same time, chewing on your lip, and generally looking rather sick; I eventually reasoned that it was probably a ring, and you were going to ask her to marry you. When you told us that you 'might' have an announcement to make, I was sure. So let's see it," she said, turning to Andi.
"See what?" Andraste responded, obviously confused.
"The ring, silly," Andraste's mouth formed a small 'o' as she held out her hand towards Hermione.
"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Molly, who had rushed forward to see it. When everyone had thoroughly examined the engagement ring, Dumbledore spoke again.
"Let me be the first to congratulate you both. Have you decided when you would like to wed?"
"As soon as possible," Severus said quickly, as though Andraste might answer otherwise. "Next Saturday would be best. We would like you to do the honors if possible, Albus."
"Please, Professor Dumbledore," Andraste added. "It would mean the world to us."
"I would be absolutely delighted," he told them, his smile beaming brightly through his eyes. "Have you given the other arrangements any thought?"
"Yes, we have," Severus replied. "We want it to be rather private. With the exception of present company, we're only inviting a few other teachers. Andraste will take care of what decorating we decide to have."
"She will do no such thing," Mrs. Weasley insisted. "Why should she spend her wedding day working?"
"Don't worry, Molly," Andraste said laughing. "It really is no effort... literally."
"Oh, yes. You have that 'wave your hand and it appears' power, don't you? Well then, you must at least allow me to make your wedding cake," she replied.
"That would be appreciated. Thank you," Severus said before turning his focus to Dumbledore. "Andraste and I decided that we will announce our engagement today. Many of the parents should be at lunch, and I'm sure Crabbe or Goyle will get word back to Lucious. It should make the prospect of attacking us tomorrow that much more appealing."
"Very well," Albus replied. "Why don't we go do that?" Everyone agreed, and headed for the Great Hall; Severus and Andraste tailing behind the group to talk.
"Have you decided who you're going to have as your best man yet, Severus?"
"I have given it no thought. All I am concerned with is who my bride is," he said, leaning down to give her a quick kiss. "Have you made your decision?"
"Yes, I have. I'll tell you after I ask her."