A/N: Finally summer is here! I'm hoping to have chapters up much more quickly now! Keep reviewing :)
Dumbledore took his spectacles off and polished them slowly on the corner of his silvery star-ridden robe.
"So you're telling me that at this very second, an army of Death Eaters could be infiltrating the grounds?" Severus never understood Dumbledore's maddening self-control. The man didn't even seem worried!
"I doubt they'd make such a bold move now. But yes, if they wanted to, they could. There's a breach in the protection and there's no way anyone could convince me that Madam Pomfrey's death was a poisoning. That's rubbish." He snorted contemptuously. Dumbledore replaced his glasses and addressed the glorious red bird perched in the corner.
"Well Fawkes, you heard the man. Alert Grimmauld Place and send Kingsley Shacklebolt to me. Fly safe, my pet." Both men watched as Fawkes chirped piercingly and vanished in a bright flame.
"I believe that posting a guard in the forest will be the most effective way to maintain the school's safety. They will alert me personally to any unusual activity." Severus looked at the Headmaster disbelievingly.
"You think a single person is sufficient?" he asked quickly.
"Yes, like I said they would alert me. If necessary I could have the entire Order and Ministry here within seconds. You have to keep in mind that there was no proof at all that Bellatrix had been onto the grounds. I investigated the area myself." Dumbledore explained patiently. Snape knew that this was Dumbledore's way of letting him know that he did not fully believe Snape's suspicions. Irately, Snape got up and left the office, his dark robes billowing about him.
The morning was damp and freezing. Angelina's fingers clutched the small piece of parchment that she was holding tightly, it was almost time. She watched as Dumbledore stepped off of the small platform where he had been speaking only moments before. She looked around as no one seemed to be stepping forward to take his place.
"Angelina, dear?" To her embarrassment, Dumbledore turned to her and prompted her patiently. Her feet seemed to be stuck to the wet grass, it was impossible to move. She felt a tear threaten to make its presence known. A warm hand placed itself on the small of her back and she looked behind her to see Severus Snape looking down at her. C'mon, Ange. Move girl. She forced her feet to take her to the platform. She could feel many pairs of sympathetic eyes on her as she excused her way up toward the faraway platform. A sad whisper caused the tear to follow through on its threat.
"Aye, lookit her Bill. Such a wee thing. Poor girl…" Mounting the steps slowly, Angelina reached the podium with tears streaming down her face. Unashamedly she lifted her face to the small audience before her.
"Hello, all. I…uhm. Dumbledore asked me if I thought I would be able to say a few words about the woman that we all loved. I came here a few months ago, completely new. Madam took me in with open arms and taught me things about healing that I never could have learned at school, things which you only learn after many many years of healing. Poppy Pomfrey was a beautiful woman inside and out… and I… I can only hope that I will be able to become half as worthy a woman as she." Angelina turned her eyes to look at the polished oak casket that lay covered in white roses before her. Pulling her wand out slowly, she whispered an incantation and a gorgeous bouquet of red-orange flowers shot out of her wand. The audience sighed and tittered at the sudden burst of color. Poppies. Leaving the wooden stage and holding the bouquet close to her chest, Angelina crouched by the grave and tossed her bouquet on top of the white roses obscuring them completely.
"I'm sure Poppy would have enjoyed a little color."
It had been a week since the funeral. Angelina stood in the Owlery, affixing a thick parchment letter to the foot of an impressive barn owl. Katie had written her after hearing of Madam Pomfrey's death and Angelina was just now sending her response. The first couple of days after the funeral had been especially hard. She gave the large brown bird a soft stroke before releasing him out of the high window. Heading down the narrow stone staircase she changed direction in mid step and headed up toward the astronomy tower. It was almost sunset and the view was astonishing. As she rounded the entrance Angelina saw a dark figure standing on the edge of the parapet. Smiling craftily to herself she pulled her wand and conjured a small yellow bird. Hiding beyond the entrance, she directed the tiny bird toward Snape. She could hardly contain her laughter as the bird chirped shrilly and flitted in Snape's face.
"What the…?" swiping his arms wildly he attempted to rid himself of the nuisance. With a flick of her wand she made the bird land on top of Snape's head. Spinning around angrily, he spotted Angelina at the doorway.
"Hey! Get this damn bird!" he yelled, as the tiny thing continued to chirp in his face and peck him experimentally. Angelina fell against the stone wall, weak with amusement. Pulling his wand swiftly Snape cursed the bird and it exploded in a puff of smoke.
"You didn't have to hurt him!" Angelina protested in mock irritation as she joined Severus in staring across the grounds to the faraway mountains. He looked down at her and had to glance away quickly. The sun was setting on her face and the golden sunlight made her skin glow even brighter than it usually did. The trees reflected themselves in her dark brown eyes and her long dark lashes framed their almond shape flawlessly. She looked down and stepped back quickly in fear; it was a long way down. Severus looked down at her curiously.
"We're pretty far up here…" A small smile crossed his face and he reached out and took her arm lightly. Pulling her back to where she had been before, he offered her his arm. She smiled up at him and wrapped her arm around his. They both resumed their appreciation of the sunset, arm in arm.