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!
Thanks to all who reviewed. All your feed back is appreciated even if it was a criticism. I do take note and I will try harder in future.
Next chapter up – Cleaing up loose ends here and there. Harry's getting ready to fly
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Phaelan woke with a throbbing sensation passing through her core. Before she opened her eyes, she found herself moving her hips to increase the pleasant vibration. Moaning quietly, she moved her hand to touch herself only to find another's hand already working to excite her.
"Fair day my lady; you are yet aroused from our stimulating evening. What shall we do?" a rumbling voice taunted in her ear.
"Oh, Severus, what are you doing?" she hissed; now virtually grinding herself into his hand.
"I?" he replied, "I am merely the scratching post for an itchy cat it appears." He teased.
Turning her head, she reached over and pulled Severus to her, "If you're going to scratch me, get the proper equipment out." She told him while running her hand down his belly to cup and lightly scratch his tools of the trade.
Severus grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms over her head while sliding a knee between her thighs. "Never let it be said a wizard was not prepared to supply the necessary implements to finish a job well begun." His mouth descended on her neck as he entered her warmth.
Within minutes, they had each reached bliss and lay content in one another's arms. It was quiet, only the sound of their breathing and the waves disturbed the silence. Suddenly, their nerves were jarred by the bleating of a Muggle electric alarm clock.
"Gods Phaelan, what is that noise?" Severus shouted.
Phaelan scrambled to her side of the bed to turn off the alarm, "Sorry, I forgot I set it." She said fumbling the off switch. When it was mercifully quiet, she looked at him apologetically, "I needed to make sure we were up early."
"Well, I won't speak for you but I was definitely up early," he muttered as he grabbed his robe. "Cover yourself." He told her.
Phaelan was still tying her robe when an elf, Chug, appeared, "Get coffee and bring it now." The elf disappeared only to appear a minute later with a tray bearing Phaelan's grandmothers best china.
She gasped, "What are you doing using that?" she pointed to the tray.
"I have offended my lady. Chug is a foolish elf." He lamented before turning and banging his head on the door jam of the bathroom.
Severus grabbed the elf, "I warned you about doing that in front of Muggles. Now desist while your lady explains what has caused her concern."
The wizard and elf looked at her, "I may have overreacted, Chug. It's just…this is my grandmother's best china. She only used it for very special occasions."
"Chug did not know my lady. He will never touch it again." The little creature told her while tears appeared ready to flood from his large eyes.
"It's okay, just treat it carefully." She asked.
Severus looked at the elf and asked, "Are the Grangers awake?"
"Chug hasn't sensed them awake yet and will not enter their chambers without permission." He told the wizard, probably remembering Susan's reaction from the night before.
"Very well. We shall be down shortly. Have Dolly begin breakfast, then, when the Grangers are awake, you may pack for my lady and I. We shall leave today."
Chug bowed, "Yes Master Severus," and disappeared with a pop.
Phaelan headed for the bathroom with a sideways look at Severus, "What is this Master and Sir Severus thing all of a sudden?" she asked.
"Eh, it's actually two titles; one earned, one inherited." He told her turning his back to hide the grimace. He hated the damn titles.
"I thought you said your father had run your family into debt?" she frowned.
Severus snorted, "There are plenty in the peerage who haven't two sickles to rub together. The title is passed father to son regardless of bankroll. Wizards are not included on the Royals list for a state income."
"Oh." She remarked and walked into the bathroom. "Severus Snape, do see what you've done to my ass?" she screamed.
Walking over to lean on the doorframe of the bathroom, Severus looked at his lady staring over her shoulder at crimson marks still visible on her perfect buttocks. He smiled, "Yes, lovely aren't they?"
Phaelan scowled, "You wait, mister, you'll get yours." she threatened.
Severus' eyes opened wider, "I'm all aquiver with anticipation; to be marked by my lady. When will she command me?"
Turning on the shower, Phaelan turned away from him to hide a smile, "You're incorrigible."
"Indeed." He replied, predictably.
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Harry sat in the Great Hall, head in hand, absentmindedly twirling spaghetti on to his fork. His nights had been disturbed once more by the Voldemort induced headaches he had experienced in the past. Two nights ago, he thought he would pass out from the searing pain that had suddenly shot through the scar, but it ended quickly leaving him perspiring and shaking from the torture.
"Harry." Called Hermione, "Harry!" she called louder.
"What?" he replied in an annoyed tone.
"You all right? You look a bit peaked." She told her friend.
"I'm okay, just a bit tired." He tried to put her off.
"Then why aren't you eating to keep your strength up. Is it the headaches again?" she asked and seeing his look told him, "It is, isn't it. Have you told Dumbledore?"
"No!" he spat, "I don't want to be put through the whole occlumency bit again. I'm not having the dreams at least." He lifted his fork and stuffed some cold pasta in his mouth.
Ron looked askance at him, "Don't be so sure mate, you don't hear yourself. I've actually put a silencing charm around your bed some nights."
"All right," he began, exasperated at his friends intrusion into his misery. "I want you to leave me alone. I'm alright. I can handle a little headache. What I don't need is a herd of Molly Weasley's following me around telling me what to do." His voice had risen at the last drawing the attention of the head table. "Bugger," he said seeing the Headmaster look at him suspiciously. Stuffing his book bag with some bread and cheese, he stomped out of the Great Hall to get privacy. Without noticing, he walked to Myrtles bathroom and slumped on the floor.
"Hello Harry. It's been ever so long since you visited. I was looking for you to appear in my toilette every day. I thought you'd….you know." Myrtle floated over the young man sprawled on the floor.
"Hi Myrtle. No, I'm quite alive thank you." Harry retorted.
"Well, I guess you've other things to occupy you than poor Myrtle. Taking showers with the serpent girl and all." She mocked.
"Go flush yourself Myrtle; you're a right pain in the arse sometimes." Harry told her angrily.
"S'all right for you Harry Potter, you've got friends to talk to all the time. Me? I'm stuck in the castle plumbing. You can imagine the sights I have to see sometimes. Is it to much to ask for someone to say hello?" she spat as she hovered over him with her hands on her hips. "Is it any wonder I moanwaaahhhh" she began to wail and flew away, diving into her favourite stall and splashing the water over the floor.
"Maybe if you stopped moaning, people would want to talk to you, you stupid ghost." Harry yelled uselessly at her.
He sighed and rested his head on the wall behind him. Before he realized it, he had fallen asleep and begun to dream. He/she was slipping through the grass of a meadow in the early evening. She/he was hungry and his/her master hadn't found her/him any of the prey he had promised. There they were, the flock of fluffy white food. Quietly….quietly…Strike…Bite….crush………swallow…..swallow. Harry jerked awake gagging on his own bile. He ran to the toilet and vomited. After flushing, he went to a sink and ran the water, holding his mouth under the stream. He rinsed and spat several times before splashing water on his face. Finally, he looked at himself in the mirror. He was pale, his eyes red rimmed. From deep within his chest, he felt a sob emerge, then another and another. He began to cry as he'd never done in years.
"NO MORE!" he cried, "I don't want this any more. Come out and fight you coward! COME AND GET ME….NOW!" Harry screamed in frustration and pounded the mirror in front of him shattering the glass.
"Did you hurt your hand Harry?" asked a soft male voice.
Turning quickly, Harry saw Dumbledore and McGonagall standing just inside the door. He looked at the hand that had struck the mirror and saw blood.
"He's in my head again, Professor. I see…..I see…."he trailed off.
"Come, we should let Madam Pomfrey look at that." Dumbledore told him, extending his hand for Harry to come with him.
"The snake it….it's ….hungry." Harry rambled.
"You might have glass in the wound, best we check before we heal it." Dumbledore had his arm around Harry's shoulder.
"I…..she…..we ….killed a …..sheep. Not as good as human meat…..Professor….Professor." Harry was on the verge of crying again.
"I think you could use some rest too Harry. You look like you've had trouble sleeping my boy." Dumbledore kept talking quietly to Harry as they walked to the infirmary.
"Tired, Professor….so tired." Harry couldn't see because of the tears in his eyes.
They entered the infirmary where Poppy met them and led Harry to a bed. She had a phial of Dreamless sleep ready and without preamble, opened it and poured it into Harry's mouth. Helping him lie down, she then took off his shoes and lifted his feet onto the bed.
"His hand is injured Poppy." McGonagall told the Mediwitch.
Poppy looked at the cut. "It's nothing." She waved her wand and the cut healed.
Dumbledore shook his head, "If only every wound could be healed to easily."
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"All set?" Phaelan asked as she headed out of the front door.
Susan smiled at her, "Ready and raring to go. Is it far?"
Phaelan shook her head, "No, fifteen minutes drive on a dry road, half an hour in snow. Severus, come on." She finally called still waiting for her wizard.
Severus finally appeared wearing his transfigured trench coat over his Muggle blazer. "I don't see why I must go, I could…"
"Na-ah, we're all going to town for lunch. We decided last night, remember?" Phaelan reminded him with some finality.
"Very well." He demurred.
"Here you go Geoffrey, the keys to the car." Phaelan passed over the keychain and automatic garage door opener. "Push this to open the door and this to start the car." She instructed.
The party headed out with Geoffrey in the lead. He pointed the device in his hand at the garage and pressed the button. The door opened to reveal a 1996 Chevy Venture and a 1980 Aston Martin V8 Volante.
"Phaelan," asked Geoffrey aghast at what was in the garage. "Is this yours?'
Phaelan shook her head, "No, it was my grandfathers' little toy." She smiled, "He loved James Bond and this let him share a little of that type of excitement. I didn't have the heart to sell it after my grandmother died. She kept it when she was widowed." She told them quietly. Pulling herself out of the old memories she turned to Geoffrey and said. "If you want to use it you can but just not in the snow."
Geoffrey shook his head, "No, I don't think it's quite my style. The People Mover however…"
"It's all yours." Phaelan told him with a flourish.
Severus came up behind her and whispered. "You're going to let him drive?"
"Yeah, why not?" she replied.
Severus took a deep breath and steeled himself for the nerve wracking journey into town.
The journey was, indeed, quite short. Geoffrey only had to be reminded twice about which side he was driving on; no near misses thankfully thought Snape. Phaelan took the Grangers to the clinic where they were to work as Locum to the dentist. They were to provide care for the folk who were covered by state insurance; low income families and Indians from the local reservation for the most part. They appeared to be enthusiastic about working in the field which reassured Phaelan who was the one who thought they should have some kind of employment.
Later they all sat in a small family run restaurant enjoying homemade clam chowder and Monte cristo sandwiches. Susan drove back to practise her driving and, Snape was quite certain, just to unnerve the dark wizard a little more.
As they entered the house, Phaelan noted hers and Severus' luggage had been packed and left in the hall. Chug appeared and took their coats to hang in the closet. It had finally been settled that the elves would stay in the large laundry room come mud room reached by a side door from the kitchen. It was originally built as a servants room when the house was first constructed but had been converted years before. The little creatures were overwhelmed at having windows and real beds provided. Susan had insisted and Severus had transformed a set of shelves into bunk beds.
Severus was speaking to the Grangers in the living room about the security the elves would provide. Phaelan excused herself and went into the library. She approached one particular bookcase and touched a hidden latch causing a cupboard concealed by false book spines to open. Reaching in, she pulled out a small wooden chest and placed it on the desk. After relocking the hidden door, she turned and opened the chest to reveal an ancient scroll rolled around a gilt spindle. It was enclosed within a sheath decorated with encrusted gems and gold embroidery. Phaelan touched the much loved artefact of the Kabala and felt again the frisson of energy pass into her fingertips. Closing up the chest, Phaelan quickly took it to her bags and packed it amongst her clothing. She had thought about what she was going to do for a long time and had decided to follow through.
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"Make the ground stop moving Severus, I need to get to the bathroom." Phaelan pleaded.
They were making the journey home by apparation and the multiple trips in such a short time were causing vertigo in the normally stable woman. Scooping her up into his arms, Severus carried her to the Ladies and set her down. Holding on to the walls, Phaelan staggered into the stalls and worshipped the cool porcelain for several minutes. When she was finished, she rinsed out her mouth and splashed water on her face. Walking out the door, she found Severus leaning against the wall waiting for her.
He raised an eyebrow, "Better?" he inquired.
"Yeah. Can we rest a bit?" she asked, reluctant to resume their leapfrog journey.
Severus nodded his head towards the back of the customs building, "There's a café. I'm feeling peckish after doing all the work. Feel like a cheese and chutney sandwich?" he asked, taking her arm to lead her.
Phaelan grimaced in disgust, "Do you mind? My stomach is still figuring out which way's up."
He looked away to hide his smile and opened the door to the small refectory. After seating her at a table, Severus went to the counter for his food. When he returned, he had a hot pastry of some kind, an orange and tea for himself. For Phaelan, he brought hot Bovril. While he ate with gusto, Phaelan sipped the hot beverage letting the heat and salt restore her.
Phaelan stirred the remaining bouillon while Severus tucked into the last of his flaky meat filled pastry. "Severus," she began, "I've travelled with you like this before, why am I having this side effect this time?"
Wiping his mouth on a napkin, Severus assumed his professorial attitude. "Well, it has a very simple scientific explanation which I shall share with you." He steepled his fingers before him. "There is a scientific principle at play here called the Coriolis force which speaks about the motion of the earth as it relates to bodies in motion above it."
Phaelan couldn't believe it; a wizard had the gall to lecture her on one of the most basic principles of motion. She sat, staring open mouthed at him.
Severus picked up the orange, "Now, to further simplify the explanation, imagine this orange is the Earth. The Earth rotates like so." He had caused the orange to begin turning in the air, the stem end pointing north at a precise angle just like Earth. "When we apparate, the earth moves in the opposite direction from us and we travel fummph." He stopped when a napkin was thrown at his face and stuck in his mouth. When he looked up, Phaelan was walking out the door.
"Phaelan," he called as soon as he was through the doors. He spotted her standing on the terrace overlooking the place where the Wizard conveyances arrived into customs. He walked up quietly behind her. "Phaelan, I didn't mean to insult you, I just thought ……Bugger I don't know what I thought." He surrendered.
She turned and looked at him. "Tired?" she asked taking in his stance.
He nodded, "We need to get back tonight. It's just past dinner time there. We'll be back before ten o'clock."
"I didn't mean to take my travel sickness out on you love." She told him quietly, "I'm sorry I jumped on you like that. Let's go home, Severus, I want to sleep in our own bed tonight. "She told him as she hugged him.
"Our bed?" he asked. Phaelan nodded against his chest. "I like the sound of that." He told her as he led her to the apparation point, "Yes, let's go home." He replied feeling something special had happened; something so very right.
Five stops and one more short break later, they were standing before the gates of Hogwarts. Severus stepped forward and placed his hand on the latch. As the wards of the castle recognized him, the gates swung open admitting the tired couple. Standing at the Castle entrance, Dumbledore waited for his returning Order members.
"Welcome home children, all is well I take it?" he asked as they approached him.
"All went much as expected Headmaster but we are fatigued. Perhaps a debrief tomorrow?" Severus requested.
"Of course, we shall breakfast in my office." The old man waved them into the school. "I shall say goodnight then." He nodded and left for his own chambers. Severus took Phaelan by the arm and led her to the dungeons.
"My chambers are..." Phaelan began.
"Bugger them all Phaelan, just come on. I'm too tired to play the game tonight." He told her quietly, pulling her closer to his side.
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Dumbledore welcomed Phaelan and Snape into his office and bid them sit at a table set for four. He began questioning them about the Grangers immediately, showing some concern over the elf situation but was reassured by Severus that it had been worked out.
"Albus, is someone else joining us?" Severus asked, his curiosity over the extra place winning out over his patience.
"Ah, yes. I've asked Harry to join us. He should be…I believe he's here." Dumbledore told them when a soft chime sounded through the room.
"What is his problem now?" Severus spat. "Did he not get his practice time for Quidditch approved? A mistake in his laundry delivered him jockeys instead of boxers?"
"Now Severus, you know I wouldn't have him come to meet us unless I felt it was necessary." Dumbledore chided, looking over the glasses perched on his nose. "Come in Harry." He called as a rapping sounded at the door.
Harry entered, pausing at the sight of the two other teachers. "Good Morning Professor Dumbledore. Professor's. "He nodded at the others.
Severus acknowledged him with a scowl. "Morning Potter." Phaelan greeted him.
"Come Harry," Dumbledore indicated the chair beside him, "Have some breakfast. You had little for dinner last evening." He told him, at the same time, mounding poached eggs, toast and beans onto his plate.
"Thank you sir." Harry responded still glancing suspiciously at Snape.
Dumbledore sat back and let everyone eat quietly for a few moments as he sipped his tea. Phaelan watched as Severus' patience was gradually wearing down. She looked at Harry and saw him avoid eye contact with both her and Severus. Enough is enough she thought.
"Headmaster, since I brought no knife with which to cut the tension with, can you give us an insight to what Harry is here for?" she asked forthrightly.
Dumbledore frowned slightly. He hated anyone adjusting the strategy he had planned but….. "Yes, of course. Harry, you have been having your headaches and dreams again, haven't you my boy."
Harry stopped eating and put down his utensils, "Yes sir, I have."
"How long Harry?"
Harry looked at Snape before answering, "Since the Muggle scientist died."
"I see. Are they the same as before?" the old man asked.
Harry shook his head, "Worse, the dreams are worse. I can smell and taste and touch and …..I'm starting to see things when I'm not asleep." He told them in a voice barely above a whisper.
Severus frowned, "You felt nothing over the summer or at the beginning of term?" he asked.
Harry shook his head, "No sir." smiling he remembered his summer. "This was my best summer ever, in my whole life…except…never mind it has nothing to do with this."
"Harry, you must learn to block Tom from your mind for your own well being." Dumbledore told him.
Harry looked at the old man with anger in his eyes. "I won't go through that again. Not with him!" he jerked his chin at Snape.
Severus snorted, "Never fear Potter," he spat venomously, "I've neither the desire nor time to submit myself to such a demeaning task."
"Severus, he must become proficient in Occlumency and you……"
"NO! Old man, I do many things that any other man would throw back in your face," he stood abruptly and banged the table. "What you ask borders on abuse. I abhor the very thought of having a Potter in my thoughts but to ask him to allow me into his….Do it yourself. I tire of your manipulation. My mind is still my own. I WILL NOT TRAIN HIM! Am I clear?" he stood trembling, his temper barely reigned.
Dumbledore did not look at his spy as he answered very quietly, "You have made your feelings patently clear Professor Snape. I had thought you above such petty conduct but it appears I was mistaken. I shall detain you no longer; you have far more pressing duties to be about."
"Indeed." Snape growled before turning and storming out of the office.
Phaelan also stood, "Sir, you have assembled about you an incredible team of loyal, brave and unswervingly dutiful followers. Severus is not the least of these. Surely you have come to understand his intense need for privacy. His duty requires him to submit to degradation and humiliation that would have broken many but he yet endures. I implore you sir, consider all aspects of the request he has declined before casting any aspersions against his character."
Dumbledore looked at the young woman before him. He sighed, "I am not….unfeeling Miss McKenzie. I still believe Severus is best for this job."
Phaelan nodded, "Yes, he may be the best, the most skilled at the task you have requested of him but is he the right choice? It appears that this may not be the case. Good day sir, Harry." Phaelan then turned and left.
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Phaelan was sitting on her bed letting Polly fix her hair into a tight French braid. It was the best way to style her hair when she flew and Polly fixed it far better than she ever did.
"Is Harry Potter to go with Miss today?" the elf asked.
"Yeah, today's the day." Phaelan answered. "How would you know?" she wondered.
Polly jumped off and stood beside Phaelan to look up at her with saucer sized eyes. "Dobby says that Harry Potter is a hero to elves and that we should be proud that he thinks of us as his friends. He says Harry Potter is important enough to be flying in a Muggle machine and that maybe he will fly over Hogwarts like Master Snape did once. He says he will ask Master Dumbledore for permission for the elves to watch."
That was a huge speech for the little elf who was obviously excited about the prospect.
"Oh, I see." Phaelan commented, "Well, I hope to fly up here but I can't guarantee the weather will be favourable to our wishes Polly."
Polly looked as if someone had told her that Christmas was cancelled. "Your Muggle Machine can't fly if it rains?"
"It's just not safe to use the aircraft in really bad weather. You wouldn't want Harry to get hurt would you?" Phaelan asked her.
Polly shook her head, "NO! Nothing should hurt Harry Potter. He is my hero."
Phaelan smiled at the heart felt declaration, "Then we'd better not let him get hurt." She thought for a moment, "Tell you what, if we're cleared to fly to Scotland, I'll phone someone's cell and let them know. Okay?"
"Okay." Polly agreed and disappeared.
She arrived back in the chambers behind the kitchens where the elves lived.
"Well?" Dobby demanded.
"My lady is very careful and does not want Harry Potter to be hurt. She says the Muggle Machine is dangerous in bad weather and she can't bring him here if it is raining." She told them seriously.
"Ah, a wise Muggle," offered a wizened old elf who looked after Dumbledore's socks. "The rain might put out the fire in the boiler that makes the engines work. No steam." The other elves all nodded at his wisdom.
"Of course, my lady is very smart." Polly told them all indignantly. "Miss also says she will let us know if she will bring Harry Potter to Scotland." Here Polly paused, "Dobby, does Master Dumbledore have someone in the dungeon jail again?"
Dobby shook his head, "No, they are all empty."
"Then we must send someone down there when Miss leaves." She instructed.
Dobby frowned in confusion, "What for Polly?"
"Miss said 'I'll foam someone's cell to let them know' and if the cells are all empty down there how will we find out if Harry Potter will come if no one can see the foam?" she told them with the confidence of a Lady's elf.
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Phaelan was finishing breakfast in the Great Hall. As she usually did on the Saturday's she flew, she had donned the flight suit and pulled her robes on over it. Harry however, had decided to wear the flight suit in full view of all the students. The Gryffindor table was abuzz with excitement. One of their own was about to have an adventure after all. Everyone made a point to speak to him before they left the table. Even a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students came to wish him luck.
"You may be fortunate and see an Errabundi Ventilabundus, Harry." Luna Lovegood told him.
Harry looked at her askance. Luna was famous for her defence of endangered creatures no one knew about "A what?" Harry asked.
"An Errabundi Ventĭlābundus, they're very rare." She told him, "The only exist at very high altitudes because when they come too low they explode and cause forest fires or wild fires on the grassy plains."
"Yeah, sure," Harry humoured her. "What do they look like?"
"Rather like giant Jelly Fish swimming around in the air. They're filled with gas that let's them stay floating around up there." She pointed to the ceiling.
Harry nodded, "Sure Luna, I'll keep my eyes peeled." He told her, just to make her happy.
The Slytherin table kept muttering among themselves, casting derisive glances over their shoulders at Potter and Gryffindor in general. Draco for his part simply ignored the whole thing keeping his eyes on his plate or the head table.
Severus snorted, "Insufferable show off, always enjoying being centre of attention." He commented at the activity around Potter. "Just like his father." He spat.
Phaelan looked at the scowling man, "Severus, if you're not careful, someone will take your look to be jealousy." She told him.
"Jealousy! Don't be absurd woman. I've no desire to take a second excursion aboard your aircraft." He rejoined.
Phaelan nodded, "So you're okay with my taking him to my flat and driving him to the airfield…."
"Madam, I know to whom your intentions are inclined. I feel no threat from a mere student." He told her quietly.
"Okay, just so we're clear." She went back to her breakfast.
Severus looked at her sideways. "Are your former compatriots still here?"
It dawned on Phaelan what he was thinking of now. "The gentlemen you met are either in the U.S or redeployed Severus." She reached below the table and placed her hand on his thigh, "I don't plan on coming back late."
The corner of his mouth quirked, as close to a smile as he would allow here. "Perhaps dinner in my Chambers?" he suggested.
"Sure," she replied, "but can we use the table this time?" she asked smiling up at his frown.
"If we must." He rose, "I'll meet you at your chambers."
Phaelan looked over at the Gryffindor table and Harry once more. He was smiling with his friends. He was far from the haunted boy who had breakfasted with her in Dumbledore's office.
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Phaelan was pulling on her winter windbreaker jacket when a knock came to her door.
"My lady, it is your courtier," called the portrait.
"Let him in." she called from her bathroom where she was spraying her hair to hold the flyaway strands in place.
Severus came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He bent and kissed her ear.
"Be careful in that flying bomb of yours. I want you back in my bed tonight. Excuse me, our bed." He whispered into her ear.
Turning in his arms, she reached up and pulled his face to her to thoroughly kiss him. "I promise. Now you behave yourself when you check in with Hermione and Ron."
He straightened, "Yes well, they took advantage of my leave. Best to curtail that activity before it goes any further." He said with a look that foretold a little misery on the part of the other courting couple.
"Be nice Severus." She rebuked him, pulling out of his arms to get her bag. He responded with a sinister chuckle. "Honestly, you are just…Oh lets go." She led the way out.
They met Harry in the hallway leading to Dumbledore's office. "Harry," she called, did you bring your cell phone?" Phaelan had asked him to bring it with him before she left the Great Hall.
"Yeah, right here." He held it up.
"Severus, I'm going to check my flight plan when I get to the base. I promised Polly, I'd let her know whether or not we'd be flying past here. Can you apparate to the Muggle town and I'll phone you on my cell to let you know? In a couple of hours." She was holding out a palm sized contraption to him.
"What is that?" he pointed to her hand.
"My cell phone." She replied. "You're okay doing that aren't you?" she asked, concerned that he would think to refuse.
"Potter, advise the Headmaster we will be there in a moment." He ordered Harry, who turned and went ahead.
"Severus, if you really don't want to…." She began when Severus interrupted her, "It's not that." He told her quietly.
"What then?" she wondered.
He sighed, "I umh, I …..I don't know how to use this thing."
Phaelan smiled in relief. "Is that all? I thought I was going to get blasted for asking you to do this."
"Show me," he told her holding the phone out for instruction.
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Harry wasn't impressed with needing to give a blood sample but managed to grin and bear it. He was impressed with the equipment he needed to fly with and walked around with a grin plastered on his face. Phaelan checked her flight plan and found they had been cleared for Scotland. They went to the waiting area where Phaelan borrowed Harry's phone.
Severus apparated and walked to the local Muggle village which was in the same valley as Hogsmeade. He had transfigured his robes into the familiar black trench coat. He walked up the main street looking for somewhere out of the cold and saw the local pub. He entered and ordered a pint of ale.
"Yer no frae around here are ye?" asked the barman.
"No, I'm just passing through." Severus told him.
"Ah didnae see yer motor. Whur'd ye lee it?" he inquired.
This wasn't such a good idea Severus thought "It….ah….it broke down outside of your village. My friend is waiting with it for the mechanic to come."
"It cannae be oor Geordy, he's awa tay his granny's funeral in Aberdeen." The barman informed him as he wiped the spots from the glasses.
"We called," Severus pulled out the cell phone.
"Och aye right, the RAC." He was content with Snape's answer. "Did ye fancy a bridie or a pie?"
"No, nothing thanks." Severus replied wishing either the pub was busier or Phaelan would phone.
Finally, the phone chimed and vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he pushed the button Phaelan indicated. "Hello?" he said tentatively.
"Hi, Severus. We've been cleared to fly over the same route you and I took. The cloud cover is heavy but high and no heavy rain is predicted. So, it looks like you guys get the show again."
"I look forward to seeing it from the ground this time." He replied, "I'll let Polly know and she can share it with the rest of the elves."
"Okay, we should be there in about an hour and a half to two hours.
"I'll let Dumbledore know so he can let them all out of the dungeons." He turned and saw the barman looking at him.
"I should get back now. I'll see you when you return." He turned the phone off and pulled out some Muggle money. Putting enough for the ale on the counter, he hurriedly called "Thanks," to the barman and escaped."
The Barman put the money in the till and leaned on the bar to speak to the only other customer, "Hey Tammy, did yeh see that bloke?" he asked. The other man nodded. "Ah think he was wi' MI5 or something."
'How?" Tammy asked.
"He wis talkin' in code tae someone on the mobile like. Somethin' about elves an dungeons, ye ken." He told his friend.
"Jings, imagine, in oor wee sheilin." Tammy replied, impressed with the latest story to share.
Outside, Severus hurried to a concealed space and apparated back to the outskirts of Hogwarts. Back to normal life.
Sheilin – A small meeting place in a Scottish village usually involved in the consumption of alcohol.