Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!
Phaelan entered the Great Hall for breakfast and looked up at the ceiling. The roiling grey skies outside were reflected in the moiré finish ceiling overhead. The early morning tumult of pre-Quidditch excitement washed over the house tables.
Yawning, Phaelan climbed to the high table and grabbed the coffee as it passed her place even before sitting. Looking to her left, she noticed Severus hadn't shown yet; unusual as he needed coffee even more than she did usually. To her right, Professor Sprout joined the company; her annoyingly ever jovial self.
"Morning all, "she announced as she poured cream generously over her ubiquitous porridge. A chorus of muffled responses answered her.
"Do they really play in this weather?" asked Phaelan, holding on to her mug of coffee like a life preserver.
"Oh yes, nothing short of a blinding blizzard will stop a match. Only then because the Snitch tends to freeze up and fall to the ground." Sprout replied genially.
Severus walked in and poured himself coffee with one hand while spooning scrambled eggs on to his plate with the other. Phaelan observed his ambidextrous ability at a buffet with detached interest.
Reaching into one of his voluminous hidden pockets, Severus produced a swath of green fabric. "Here, I thought you might need this today." He passed it to her with out looking.
"What is it?" she asked as she unfolded it to reveal a large muffler of green with silver tassels.
"The weather is foul. I thought you could use a good scarf to wear to the game." He pointed out while forking eggs and baked beans on toast into his mouth.
"In your house colours of course." She observed.
"Of course." He rejoined.
Knowing it would irk him, Phaelan asked, "What makes you think I plan to support Slytherin?"
Severus snorted, "You can't be planning to back the bloody Golden Lions?" He turned to look at her with a concerned look on his face, "Are you?"
Looking down at her plate, Phaelan had decided to avoid the question entirely but for Minerva coming up behind her and placing a parcel beside her plate.
"What's this?" Phaelan asked with an arched eyebrow.
Minerva waved her hand in dismissal, "Och, it's nothing. The weather outside today is fit for neither man nor beast. This will help keep the cold out."
Phaelan opened the parcel to see a hat and scarf in Gryffindor colours. Looking down the table to the elder Professor, Phaelan saw Minerva raise her cup in a toast. With a sigh, she thought that by the end of the month she was likely to end up with a wardrobe full of house coloured tributes if it didn't end today. Never let it be said Phaelan McKenzie did not support the teams of her school; all of the teams, equally.
"Severus, your thoughts for my well being are, as ever, endearing. I have, however, made provision for bad weather." Phaelan gently pushed the muffler back to Snape.
Taking the Gryffindor offering, Phaelan made her way to Minerva. Snape watched as she bent over to whisper in the older woman's ear while returning the gift. Seeing the disappointed expression on Minerva's face, he realized his biased gift was not the only present rebuffed. With a frown, he wondered what she was up to.
With a smile, Phaelan made her way back to her rooms to finish some marking before the game began. As she entered, she summoned Polly.
"Polly, I didn't really get peace to eat breakfast, could you get me a pot of coffee and some muffins?" Phaelan asked.
With a pop, Polly disappeared only to appear a minute later with Phaelan's request.
"Thanks Polly, now can you lay out my Quidditch supporter stuff." She asked as she poured herself more caffeine.
"Yes Miss. You is verrrry smart Miss. These are the best robes for Quidditch Polly has ever seen at Hogwarts." Said the little creature.
"Thank you Polly. Will you tell me when it's fifteen minutes until game time?" Phaelan requested.
"Yes Miss."
Phaelan turned to sit at her desk and wade through the third year Slytherin and Hufflepuff essays on Twentieth Century Muggle Music.
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In the team dressing rooms, the two sides each huddled in their respective warrens.
The conceited, overbearing attitude of Slytherin as best exemplified by Captain Draco Malfoy was contrasted against the confident camaraderie of the Gryffindor team and their Captain, Ron Weasley. Heads of House were present to give last minute pep talks and suggestions for strategy. In the case of Minerva McGonagall there was more about honour and of Snape more about revenge.
Wearing his favourite green and silver scarf, the Master of Slytherin House stood before his all male team and began his inspirational rant.
"They are weak. They have lost Sloper and Kirke; that means their beaters are new. Ginny Weasley didn't make the team this year so Potters back up is gone. King Weasley will be trying to so impress the love of his life with his prowess; he will have holes in his game a mile wide. We…WE are strong. This is your second year together as a complete team." Standing tall as he began to pace, Snape began his closing.
"Now, YOU can out fly, out catch, out manoeuvre any Gryffindor." Proclaimed Snape waiting for the response.
"YES!"
"YOU are more devious, more cunning than any scarlet plumed twit."
"YES!"
"YOU have the muscle and the skill it takes. Now go out there and win back what was stolen from you!" he finished with a growl while pointing his finger in the direction of the pitch.
"YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!" they responded as one, shaking their brooms in the air.
As they left their dressing room, the team began their chant. "Slytherin Soars Over AlL! Slytherin Soars Over All!"
On the Gryffindor side, Minerva was slightly less blood thirsty. She looked over her houses' team with an appreciative eye.
"I'm proud of all of you making the team. Your hard work and tenacity will prove out against those who play with less than honourable thoughts. You were the champions last year and I'm confident you shall be again. Make your team and house proud. Play for those who want to but for reasons not of their own fault, are unable to. Go forth and bring honour and pride to the name of Gryffindor… and beat Slytherin into the mud." Minerva finished with a sinister smile.
At the last the team cheered. Breaking into the Gryffindor chant of "GO GO GRYFFINDOR!" the team made their way to the pitch.
Snape and McGonagall met as they left the dressing rooms.
Snape bowed, "Professor, leaving your team with a hopeless dream?"
Minerva smirked back at him, "They have lived that dream within recent memory unlike your sorry serpents who haven't won in a while."
Snape affected a sad frown and placed his palm over his heart, "Alas, I am wounded. What wager for this game Minerva?" at the last changing his expression to a sinister grin.
"What say you to ten galleons?" offered Minerva with a matching smirk.
"Fifty." He countered.
"Twenty five." Minerva then offered.
"Done." He replied with a quirk of his brow.
Offering his elbow in a gentlemanly fashion, the Slytherin escorted the Gryffindor to the battle.
Phaelan had finally joined the teachers in the stands to enjoy her first Quidditch match. She had of course read about it and looked at the rules. She knew that watching the game first hand would prove to be exciting.
As Phaelan took her seat beside Severus, he turned to look at her. McGonagall too looked over at their Muggle teacher and as one, Severus and Minerva's mouths opened in surprise. On her head, Phaelan was wearing a sort of Jester's hat showing the colours of all the Houses. This was matched by her extra long scarf which bore stripes matching the colours in her hat. On her right hand she wore a mitten of green and silver; on her left, one of red and gold. In each respective hand, Phaelan carried a pompom of the house colours matching the mitten. Beyond that, Phaelan had visited the student's strongholds and had the crests of each house emblazoned temporarily, one on each of her cheeks.
"Great day for a match, eh?" she looked over at each of them flashing a brilliant smile before turning back to the pitch to applaud and cheer at the appearance of the teams.
Phaelan began to chant, "SLYTHERIN SOARS OVER ALL, "as she punched her right hand into the air followed by, "GO, GO GRYFFINDOR," punching her left hand into the air, "WOO, HOO," she yelled as she clapped in pure glee."
Dumbledore took in the spectacle and laughed long and loud. Irrepressible, he thought, Irrepressible.
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Remus Lupin knocked on the door to the quarters assigned to Susan and Geoffrey Granger. The Order had done it's best to provide for the needs of the Muggle couple including providing diversions from a potentially depressing situation. Dumbledore had suggested a way for the couple to partake in the most important weekend event so far in the school year; the First Quidditch Match.
Geoffrey Granger answered the door and found Lupin and Tonks towing a large artefact between them.
"'Morning Geoffrey, how are you? It's a nasty one today, what?" opened a merry Lupin.
"'Morning Remus, Dora. You didn't come all this way for a discussion of meteorology? What have you there?" he asked as he stood aside to let them enter.
Tonks and Lupin manoeuvred their burden into position before the chairs in the dining area and pulled off the dust cloth to reveal a large square mirror. Stepping back, Tonks knocked over a porcelain vase that shattered on the stone floor.
Whipping out her wand she called out a quick "Reparo," before turning to Hermione's parents, "I'm quite the expert on that spell. Remus'll tell you, I'm an awful klutz." She bent to pick up the intact vase. "I 'spect that's why Molly never lets me work in the kitchen when she's at Headquarters." She grinned and stuck her hands in her jeans pockets.
Geoffrey looked bemused at what had happened but turned to Lupin to ask. "What's all this about?"
"Today is the first game of Interhouse Quidditch for the year and the Headmaster thought you might enjoy it." Remus offered over his shoulder.
"Well, we've heard about it of course, but we can't leave here." Susan gestured around her.
Remus smiled, "That's why we're here with this monstrosity. It's really just an oversized two way mirror. Hermione has another with her at the pitch. You'll be able to watch it from her vantage point. Just say her name; go on." He encouraged Geoffrey to approach.
"Hermione Granger." He enunciated clearly. All at once Hermione's face appeared in the mirror, albeit almost three feet high.
"Hello mum, dad, all set?" she whispered excitedly, "I'm in the teachers box between Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall; it's just about to start." Suddenly the world in the mirror went haywire until it settled on a view of the Quidditch pitch.
Susan and Geoffrey were awe struck at the view before them and had to be prodded to sit in chairs before the mirror. Tonks and Lupin joined them, enjoying the sight of the Muggles watching their first Quidditch match. The Grangers were unabashed Gryffindor supporters. A little while into the match, Tonks conjured two bowls of popcorn and Lupin called an elf to order Butterbeers. The time passed with much cheering and groaning while Lupin explained
the rules and the moves. The Grangers for a moment could forget their precarious situation.
The rain was now pouring down making for, what McGonagall would call, a guy dreech day.
The two teams had been fairly equal in the game thus far but now, the players were tiring and experience began to show through.
The Slytherin Chasers time and again thwarted the Gryffindor Beaters from reaching the Quaffle. As much as Ron coached from the goals, the two new team members always erred on the side of caution. Finally the Snitch was in view. Potter and Malfoy saw it at the same time but Draco was closer. As fast as Harry was, he could not catch Draco and was still a full broom length behind when the Slytherin caught the Golden Snitch to win the game. The students in the green and silver section rose and cheered as one. Snape stood and accepted the accolades of the other teachers.
"I'll see you at dinner tonight." Sniped McGonagall casting Severus a withering glance.
Snape only smiled in his best Slytherin fashion and enjoyed his houses' victory
"That was amazing." Phaelan said in excitement. "When's the next game?" she was actually clapping her hands as she bobbed up and down like a first year much to Snape's annoyance.
"In two weeks." He replied curtly. "Can't you be still, it's not dignified."
"I can't wait; this is so fun!" she announced while she continued to bounce.
Severus rolled his eyes as he led his lady from the stands.
Students and teachers streamed into the Great Hall for a late lunch of hot soup and sandwiches. Drying spells took away the clammy feel of wet clothes but the chill of a Scottish autumn could only be driven out by warm hearty meals. Phaelan passed between the ebullient Slytherin and downcast Gryffindor tables. You needn't have seen nor heard the game to know the result. Phaelan noticed too, the exchange of money taking place between students and teachers alike. Apparently betting was a large part of the tradition.
Taking her place at the Head Table, Phaelan turned to Severus and asked, "So, how much did you make?"
Taking a mouthful of Scotch Broth before answering her, Severus raised his eyebrows and nonchalantly replied, "I don't use my house as means of monetary gain Miss McKenzie."
"Hmmn. That much eh?" she responded in her own detached manner.
Looking to the side, he leaned closer and said, "One hundred seventy five galleons."
Looking sideways back at him she smirked, "Enough for dinner out on your next weekend off?" at this she slid her hand onto his thigh under the table.
His look became positively saturnine as he continued, "Dinner and perhaps activity of a more animated nature…Away from Hogwarts?"
Glancing over at Dumbledore who was commiserating with Minerva, Phaelan teased, "Don't we have to ask Father and Mother first?"
Severus frowned in confusion, "What?"
In reply, Phaelan pointed to the elder couple with her chin.
"Ah, not to worry. A generous serving of Slytherin humility will ease the means to our escape." He muttered into his cup.
"Slytherin Humility; isn't that a contradiction in terms?" Phaelan snorted.
As he lowered his tea, Severus started suddenly. "I must go, I am being summoned." Hissing the latter in a whisper.
"Now?" Phaelan was surprised; he had never been called during the day that she remembered.
"He has work for me." Severus now stood and approached Dumbledore who nodded slightly.
Phaelan had stood and exited the teacher's door to wait for him. As he swept out, she followed him to his chambers where he would dress. Before he left, she pulled herself against his body into their accustomed tight embrace.
"I don't like this Severus, be cautious, please." She begged looking into his fathomless eyes.
Sharing one of his rare smiles with her he stroked her hair, "Don't worry, I told you he has work for me. Probably I am to begin testing the new hybrid." Pulling her into a deep kiss, Severus sought to reassure both of them. Whispering into her ear, he asked, "Be here when I return?"
Touching his face, Phaelan replied with a smile, "Yes my Lord."
Leaving the dungeons through the secret entrance, Severus cast a Disillusionment charm on himself and made his way to the apparition point to travel to his Dark Master.
Two bedraggled men sat in the back of a delivery van that once belonged to O'Bannion's International Bakery. That is to say, it still belonged to the bakery but had been appropriated for the duration by the cousin of said bakery's proprietor. They had hidden in a copse well off the motorway out of sight of the patrolling police and any wizards on broomsticks overhead.
"How did they know 'twas us? We didn't use our own names." Liam wondered as he looked again at the newspapers still reporting them as missing.
"Sure, they must have had people in the crowds identify us; there were none of them security cameras around. I checked that first thing when I recce'd the building and the street around it." Phinnius decided.
"But Phin, they reported it was us only a couple of hours after it happened and then there was that fire bell. Surely you don't think that was a coincidence?" Liam frowned in concentration.
"It was as if someone was looking for us."
"You mean the old man has a leak in his dam. What would it be worth to him if he were to find out we know?" Phinnius worried a hang nail.
"Do you really think for a moment he'd let us live Phin? Mores fool you if you do. "Snarled Liam.
"Maybe I mean the spy, Liam. How much would it be worth to him if we were to keep our mouths shut." Phinnius watched the light dawning on his partner's face.
"Of course, the wizard I saw at the Air Force Base." He smiled in sinister understanding: the light came on in Liam's brain.
Severus appeared at the same farm where Phaelan had neutralized Ewan Rosier earlier. At least that was the term she used. He was met at the end of a long, little used pathway leading to the outbuildings that housed the lab and storage area. As he entered, he was met by Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus.
"Welcome brother, "greeted Malfoy. "How faired our house in the match."
"Well met brother. We bested the pestilent Gryffindors of course. What else could the result be with your son at the forefront of the team?" Snape flattered with his best arrogant smile.
"Indeed, brother, just as it should be." Malfoy clapped Snape on the shoulder. "Now, come we are ready to begin."
Turning, Malfoy led the way to the lab Severus had last seen in the days before it was operational. Now instead of packing crates and unidentifiable instruments, it appeared to be fully functional.
"Take care not to use your powers here, Severus. Our lord has gone to significant trouble and financial expense to create this place. We are using the Muggles own technology to defeat them." Malfoy sneered in superior confidence of his place.
The Lestranges had diverted to another door and now joined them in the lab with an emaciated man, gagged and in chains, struggling weakly between them.
Bellatrix stroked down the side of his face and continued down his body.
"Be a good little Muggle and I'll let you sleep tonight. I'll give your little friend some rest." She purred in mock sympathy.
Malfoy's face took on a look of repugnance, "Bella, Bella, must you share your filthy habits with polite company. What next, fornicating with the test subjects both porcine and human?"
"Watch it Malfoy," interrupted Rodolphus, "Her toys are my pleasure. Insult her and you insult me. Don't forget, we're family."
Raising a cultured eyebrow, Malfoy looked down his nose at the other man, "Yes, well, one did not consider that when one got married, did one?"
Leading the way once more, Malfoy took Severus to a traditional magic laboratory, well stocked and ready for use.
As he pointed at the prisoner with his cane, Malfoy explained what was happening. "This is the Muggle who helped us create our little blue, green and yellow friend. Now we need a scientist to evaluate the results impartially. As our master commanded, Severus, you will decide which of the specimens is to be bred. Our manky little Muggle here can still be coerced to help now and again. So we will leave him for now." He nodded to the couple holding the man.
Dragging him to the side, Rodolphus fastened the chains to the stone wall. Malfoy approached the prisoner, holding his walking stick before him. Clearly, the Muggle knew what was disguised in the affectation carried by Malfoy.
"Co-operate or more of your little companions will suffer." Malfoy's threat was barely a whisper but the man cringed as though hit.
Turning back to Snape, Malfoy was again the gregarious comrade. "Well, we shall leave you to it, brother. Our Lord shall visit presently." With a nod, Malfoy departed the lab with his depraved cohorts.
Severus turned to the man cowering in the corner. Looking at his almost feral behaviour, Severus wondered at Malfoy's claim that this creature had created the hybrid.
Approaching the cornered man as one would a wild creature, Severus made an attempt to communicate.
"How long have you been here?" he asked softly.
The captive stared at him with wide eyes and panted nervously, "What more do you want? I..I…I can't do any more for you."
Severus crouched in front of him while keeping his distance. "I don't want anything right now. I just want to know how long you've been with the dark lord?"
The man slumped, "Time; no time left. No time left for my wife, no time to come for my daughters." At the last he began to weep the tears of the condemned.
Severus stood; an overwhelming feeling of helplessness overtaking his mood. This was obviously the Muggle scientist, Faubert, who had been taken the night he and Phaelan had visited Kildarachan. He had to get the man to talk but in this condition, he might as well have had a conversation with a Bogart.
Assessing the situation, Severus looked around his lab to see what he could offer the man to ease the suffering. Ah, the ubiquitous English answer to every problem; Tea. Waving his wand, Severus conjured a pot of tea, two mugs, milk and sugar. Pouring a mug for Faubert, he added a generous amount of milk and copious amounts of sugar. Walking over to the corner, Severus observed the chained man shrink away from him. Rather than approach him, Severus placed the mug on the floor and using magic, slid the tea towards him.
Looking up at Severus suspiciously, Faubert carefully reached for the mug of tea and holding it in both hands, cautiously brought it to his nose and sniffed. Smelling nothing unfamiliar, he began to drink the tea noisily. Severus watched from his place leaning against the lab counter top as he sipped his own tea. As Faubert reached the bottom of the cup, he used his fingers to scoop out and lick the sugar not dissolved from the bottom.
"More?" Severus offered.
Looking up at the wizard in surprise, Faubert narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked as he held his mug out to be refilled.
"What?" Severus asked as he took the mug to the counter and replenished the tea, milk and sugar.
Faubert wiped his hands over his face. "Trying to soften me up. The old 'Good Cop, Bad Cop routine', I get it."
"Dr. Faubert, my name is Severus Snape and I am, first and foremost, a scientist. Like you, I have had my…developments used for perverted reasons. I have no desire to see you suffer but neither can I remove you from here…at least not yet."
Faubert snorted, "You're one of them. I'm just an animal to you."
Severus walked to the captive directly and crouched in front of him. Faubert still cringed but looked less an animal and more a man. Holding out the second mug of tea, Severus waited until Faubert took it from his hands.
"Dr. Faubert, I am your best hope of freedom and redemption. I am a wizard but I am nothing like them." Snape spat vehemently. "Help me to destroy what they have forced you to have wrought."
Phaelan spent the rest of the day in the Gym / Room of Requirement with Neville and his team. She was quite impressed with the progress they had made and with Neville's growth as a leader. He instinctively knew when to praise and when to criticize. Phaelan supposed his time being Gryffindors' underdog had been the proving ground for the young man.
At the end of the session, Phaelan flooed to Severus' rooms but saw he had not returned. Returning to her chambers, Phaelan changed for dinner and made her way to the Great Hall. As she took her seat, she looked over to Dumbledore who gave a minute shake of his head which she mirrored.
After dinner, she again attended the Room of Requirement but the environment was now one of a war room with maps and plotting tables. Lupin and Shacklebolt were there as well as the other team leaders and the Golden Trio. Phaelan smiled in satisfaction. In this room, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger shone brightest of all. Her logical reasoning and his innate understanding of strategy were the key to the study of Wizarding tactics. Harry sat quietly to the side. He understood more then anyone that everything boiled down to his achieving his mission - Kill Voldemort Permanently.
Later, when the tactics session was finished Phaelan again visited the dungeons. She noted again, he had not returned. Walking to the fireplace, Phaelan placed a firecall to Dumbledore.
"He has not returned sir." Began Phaelan as soon as the Headmaster came into view. "Sir, may I remain here in the event he should return?"
Dumbledore smiled indulgently, "Phaelan, I dare say those chambers are as familiar as your own by now."
"Sir, I..." she started in embarrassment only to be cut off.
Dumbledore held up a hand and shook his head. "Phaelan my child, do not fret so. Severus has led a solitary life far too long and you appear to have blossomed under his shadow. Discretion is the key and both of you have been most observant of this unwritten rule. I would not interfere in your partnership; you each gain too much from the other. Stay and be comforted by his environs if not by him."
"Thank you Headmaster. I will take a walk for a bit first." She replied with relief. Nodding, Dumbledore ended the call.
Flooing back to her rooms, Phaelan retrieved her heavy robes before making her way to the familiar tower to begin her watch. Finding her favourite niche, she settled in to wait.
A/N Minerva's thought - a guy dreech day – From Scots Lallans – there is no direct translation to adequately describe this term therefore a mental picture will have to suffice.
Guy – this means Very. Dreech – picture a large shaggy dog with a runny nose that has been out in the rain for hours, standing before you dripping wet with a background of dark grey skies and incessant rain behind him. That is the picture of a DREECH day in Scotland. (The 'ch' in dreech is guttural like Loch.)