Chapter Fifteen.
Breakfast was less of an ordeal than dinner had been. Ren had no idea whether that was because she was prepared for the curious stares and whispering, because she knew she had the support and trust of her colleagues or because she still had an excess of oestrogen in her system from the previous night's activities. Regardless of the cause, she was significantly less bothered by the attention. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath as she noticed Dumbledore leaning towards her conspiratorially.
"I have found that continuing as if nothing unusual had passed creates an even greater aura of mystery after one has been reported dead and then proceeded to be seen wandering around fit and healthy. I believe that you might find the effects of not reacting amusing, although admittedly probably in a slightly different manner to my own amusement."
It was Ren's turn to stare. She had been expecting a twinkle and an innuendo about last night. A soft cough intruded and Ren turned to face the front of the table and the student that stood there. She didn't know the boy, but the Slytherin tie identified him by house if nothing else.
"Yes Mr.?"
"Henchcliff Ma'am. This is for you, from Slytherin house."
He handed his new teacher a completely flat, ironed and pressed, copy of The Daily Prophet, folded (and ironed) horizontally. He beamed a thousand watt smile at the bemused woman and headed back to his table, amidst much back slapping and raucous hailing.
Ren looked down at the paper that had been gently placed in her hands and scanned the headline.
"Potion Maker 'stuck' on Ministry"
She felt Remus and Albus lean over each shoulder to read the paper as she did, she didn't object, she strategically ignored them.
Late last night Aurors discovered the stupefied body of Potions' Maker Parvus Secutus literally stuck to the wall outside the main entrance to the Ministry of Magic. A hefty sticking charm had been applied and the man was then 'wallpapered' to the Ministry with pages from a personal notebook.
The interesting aspect of this incident was the notes which were used to paper Mr. Secutus to the Ministry wall. Upon inspection by the Aurors, the notes appeared to have been removed from the victim's own journal. All of them detailed plans and lists concerning spreading gossip and scandal about the former Professor's Potions' colleagues. Much of the information contained in the notes had already been explored in the press.
The Daily Prophet would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the various Potions' makers of the world for any and all disparagement of their characters and practices caused by the proliferation of this material.
The scandal revealed by this incident is the gross manipulation of public perception instigated by the exaggerated and misleading information supplied by Mr. Secutus.
Professor Serenity Snape of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been particularly maligned through the actions of this individual, with little concern for the troubles and worries that she has experienced. As a hero of the war against Lord Voldemort, she should have received better treatment…"
Serenity's reading of the rest of the article was interrupted as Professor Dumbledore stood to address the assembled students.
"One hundred points to Slytherin."
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Frederick Grisatras and Thomas Zalandood sat watching the celebrations in the Slytherin common room. They never seemed to need anyone besides each other, which was just as well because in these more enlightened times; they were the sole Slytherins who upheld the behaviour of old. The other Slytherins had little time for them.
This was a problem for Frederick and Thomas however as they really wanted the kind of following that their Slytherin predecessors had commanded. No matter what tactics they employed, their hits always seemed to be own goals. They were masters of shooting themselves in the foot.
The "mudblood" incident was indelibly branded into Zalandood's mind; Slytherins were no longer openly prejudiced as they had been in the past. If he had had more experience of reacting to his own emotions as normal people do, he would have realised that his ego was bruised but he lacked such socialisation and felt only the indignance that accompanied not getting what he wanted. He bristled that he was banished to the corner because of his use of the word; he had no power to defy the ostracism.
Parvus Secutus had been easy to manipulate, he provided the emotional payoff that evaded Zalandood elsewhere. Now he was totally useless and would be a liability to any endeavour. Zalandood fumed at the behaviour of his Slytherin brethren. They ought to be a tappable resource but in reality they proved to be more of a hindrance to his plans than the bloody Gryffindors, especially now that Snape had returned.
Snape! There was a problem that needed attention.
In his frustration, Zalandood did the only thing that made him feel better; he plotted a petty, pointless and painful attack upon a randomly chosen annoyance. There was nothing like unshackled malevolence to brighten one's day.
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Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was wrapped tight in bright yellow ribbons of restrictive energy. No-one could get in or out of the premises without the appropriate charms, which were restricted to a small group of investigative aurors.
The proprietors of the establishment in question were currently banging their heads on two separate interview tables in the custody suite at the Ministry of Magic. Having explained fifty odd times at least that they had not made the wolf-blood laced confectionary they were at a loss as to what more they could do to alter the situation that they found themselves in.
They knew that the comprehensive search of their laboratory and shop would not turn up werewolf blood, they had never had occasion to experiment with something so dangerous and unfunny. There were a couple of ingredients of slightly questionable origin, but they were not in themselves harmful or illegal and they could not see any genuine cause for their continued incarceration.
They shared a breath and a sigh as, in their isolation from each other; the interviews were begun again for the fifty first time. There were no different answers that they could give.
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Parvus Secutus licked the sweat from his own armpits to see if he could taste whether or not he was being fed any potions. He sniffed and licked again but gained no information from it. It was his one truly unique talent, to be able to discern potion intake from sweat. He had discovered it during a brief relationship with another apprentice whilst training, she had been addicted to dreamless sleep and he had been able to taste it.
Parvus was possibly the only person in the wizarding world who would take pride in such an unsettling ability but such a thought didn't occur to him as he wobbled like a weeble on the cell bench awaiting his initial hearing.
He still believed that there was a way to finagle his way out of this. There must be some palm to grease, some secret to exploit. There must be a way.
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Minerva was concerned about Albus' behaviour of late. She knew that the old man had always had a soft spot for Snape but encouraging the Slytherins to revenge and rewarding them for following through on his suggestion was really beyond the pale.
He had always been a little eccentric but he had never been so biased before. She wondered whether she needed to worry about it or whether it was an isolated incident.
With a deep sigh, she continued to toss and turn as her thoughts continued to plague her. She rolled into the gap between the pillows and stared out of the high arched window at the tapestry of stars that wrapped itself around the castle like a shield. No guidance there. An arm snaked around her waist and pulled her tight against the warm soft body behind her.
"I'm sure Sybil could interpret something suitably gloomy for you if you truly wish it Minerva but I'd like you to believe that there is nothing to worry about."
"You gave them a hundred points!"
"I have awarded Gryffindor far more than a hundred points for equally tenuous reasons before now and you have never had a problem with that."
"Harry and his friends were fighting for our very existence. They deserved some recognition; even it was only in house points."
"Which is why I awarded the points. The Slytherins have fought off their history and associations with darkness to become something that does not represent Voldemort's fallen comrades, they have banded together to fight off a threat and an offence to their own and to others in the wizarding community. They helped to bring a petty criminal to justice and stopped his malicious manipulations. They stood up for a teacher who was at their mercy in regards to acceptance and have given her hope and status that she has rarely enjoyed before. They deserved the points Minerva. I know that you disapprove of my encouraging them to revenge, but I feel that it was justified and a lot less extreme than encouraging Harry to time travel and assist in the escape of a convicted criminal."
"Well really!"
"Minerva, we will just have to disagree but please think about what I have said. Now, if you are having that much trouble sleeping I can think of one or two things which might tire you out a little and aid your sleep."
"Albus!"
She felt the smile in the kisses that fluttered down her chest and couldn't tame the smile that forced its way across her own countenance. Taking a handful of snow white hair she brought his head up till she could feel the twinkle of his eyes against her blushing cheeks and caught his mouth in a kiss that defied their ages for all the passion it held.
She gasped out a noise that would disturbed any member of any house, especially if they had known who it was that could elicit such a response from the austere Head of Gryffindor. Permanent psychological damage would follow if they found out what he had done to get it.