In which Dumbledore makes some plans, Rose gets some surprises, and she talks them over with her best friend. All things Potter belong, as always, to the great J.K. Rowling.
A House-elf arrived in the Great Hall just before seven to conduct Rose up to the headmaster's office.
"Winky!" Tilly said, spooning up the last of the strawberries from her plate. "You're looking very fine."
She was. Instead of the stained and wrinkled dress they had last seen her in, she wore the pressed and starched uniform of the Hogwarts House-elves. She carried herself very upright, although her expression was still sombre.
"Winky, you're looking better," Rose said encouragingly. "How are you feeling?"
"Miss Rose, I serves Master Dumbledore," Winky said with dignity. "He shows me Hogwarts is Winky's home now. Beneath a House-elf it is, to pine for the old place and the old master."
"Good, I'm glad, Winky," Rose said as she trailed the House-elf from the table. "We were worried about you."
"Miss is kind, but no need for fear," Winky said firmly. "Winky works for the new Master now."
Winky murmured the password ("Tastykakes!") at the headmaster's door, then she and Rose ascended the spiraling staircase. "Miss Rose to see the Master, sir."
"Thank you, Winky," Dumbledore smiled down at her. "Ah, Rose ... come in."
His office was much the same as Rose had seen it before, portraits nodding on the walls, shelves filled with books and curiosities. Fawkes stirred on his perch as she took the seat Dumbledore indicated. He himself stood before the fire, hands behind his back. His smile faded as Winky closed the door behind them, but he did not speak, instead gazing into the fire.
As the silence lengthened, Rose said uncertainly, "Is something wrong, Professor?"
"Ah..." Dumbledore took the chair opposite hers. "Forgive an old man's musing, Rose. I am simply considering yet again what's best to do next. Much has happened since your encounter with the Dark Lord.
"To begin with, regardless of my persuasions, the Minister of Magic refuses to believe Voldemort has returned. So, we -- I and all those who will stand with me -- are on our own. I have sent owls to many whom I trust, many who helped in the fight against Voldemort before, but we will need to work quietly and even secretly. I am convening a secret council to be held here in four days -- after the students leave on the Hogwarts Express. I want you to stay for the council.
"Don't misunderstand me," Dumbledore said quickly as he saw her expression, "I don't want you to relive your recent ordeal for them. I will give them all the particulars they need. But I want you to join us. And if I'm not mistaken, your future lies at Hogwarts. I want to offer you a place here, Rose."
"You want me to stay here? To live here?" Rose said incredulously. "But why?"
"Several reasons. First of all, you are now of age. You no longer need live with your aunt and uncle. Yet there are few places safer for you -- the enchantments I cast on their home have protected you for most of your nearly eighteen years. These enchantments were made possible because the Dursleys were your blood relatives, and I can cast them nowhere else to protect you now. Even Sirius as your guardian cannot offer you the protection the Dursleys did, however unwittingly."
"But Hogwarts is safe," Rose murmured to the fire.
"No place is completely safe, not now," Dumbledore corrected her gently. "But yes, as much as any place can be, Hogwarts is a safe place for you. I must speak plainly, Rose. You will continue to be one of Voldemort's main targets, and I can help you in no better way than by keeping you here."
"But my plans -- " Rose thought of her desire to travel, to see the world, before settling on a witch's career -- doing what, she still hadn't completely decided, but the small fortune her parents had left her gave her some breathing space before she needed to choose a path. "You're right, of course," she said in a small voice. "I couldn't be too terribly footloose and fancy-free, could I, always having to look over my shoulder." It was surprising she hadn't thought of that in the last few days, but then she had avoided really thinking much about her future since -- everything had changed so abruptly.
"But that doesn't mean I don't have anything for you to do, Rose," said Dumbledore, regarding her intently. "I have an offer to make you. Professor Headley has just informed me she is leaving, so we will need a new teacher for Muggle Studies. I want you to consider taking the post. Don't answer me yet," he said as she opened her mouth to speak, "think about it for a few days first. If the idea is disagreeable to you, we can find some other position for you here."
"Be Muggle Studies mistress -- here!" said Rose in astonishment. "But I'm only just graduating. What makes you think I'm qualified? No disrespect meant, Professor," she added quickly as she saw his eyes flash with something that could have been a twinkle of amusement.
"Not at all, Rose. I've had few professorial applicants who've tried to talk me out of hiring them. It's a refreshing change, I must say," Dumbledore answered, the twinkle now quite pronounced. "You've been at the top of your class in many of your subjects -- except those in which Matilda Weasley has surpassed you -- and though I know you haven't taken Muggle Studies yourself, I find that all the more reason to hire you. Your experience living amongst Muggles gives you far more authority to talk about them than many of the textbook authors can claim. Too often I've found our texts have been written by witches and wizards with a great many theories on Muggles and very little experience ... At least think about taking the position. Will you do that for me, Rose?"
She nodded slowly, still feeling a bit dazed, and he continued, "Now, at the Leaving Feast I will naturally be making mention of Cedric Diggory's passing. And I plan to tell the student body the story of what happened that night. Not the details," he said as she blanched, "but enough so they know the truth -- that Voldemort has indeed returned and they must prepare themselves. We will need every witch and wizard we can get on our side in the days to come, and the first step is to make as many as possible aware of the danger we face. Moreover, it would disgrace Cedric's memory to pretend that his death was some sort of accident. But I wanted you to know this before you attend the Feast."
"Professor Dumbledore, would you ... please not mention me?" said Rose, looking down at the carpet. "I don't think I could bear...."
He looked at her very kindly. "I won't give the students all the details of that night, Rose," he said again. "But they deserve to know that someone among their number stood up to Voldemort and survived his attacks. The truth will put heart in them. And you deserve to be recognized for your bravery, especially in returning Cedric to us."
She still looked distressed, but he appeared not to notice as he crossed to his desk and pulled open a drawer. "Ah, here it is...." Dumbledore placed a bag, not too large but very heavy, in Rose's lap. "These are your winnings from the Tournament," he said. "Because of Cedric's death, it was decided to omit the traditional awards ceremony. I would normally have given this to you as part of the Leaving Feast, but I felt you would prefer...." At her sound of distress he nodded. "As I thought."
She got swiftly to her feet, picking up the heavy bag with both hands and offering it back to him. "Professor, no," she said, "I don't want this, I don't need it and I don't deserve it, anyway. Crouch said ... in the circle of Death Eaters ... he said as Mad-Eye Moody, he'd done all he could to help me win, so I can't even claim I passed the obstacles on my own. I don't want this. Can you give it to the Diggorys?"
Dumbledore eyed her thoughtfully. "If you're sure, Rose," he said at last. She nodded vigorously. "I fear they may feel as you do, that this is a prize they'd rather not have, but I will offer it to them."
Rose said in a subdued voice, "Do they know ... everything that happened that night? Couldn't we let them think -- that Cedric won the Cup on his own, all by himself?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Even with a generous motive, a lie seldom serves, Rose. No, the Diggorys don't know quite everything. I was hoping you would feel able to meet with them soon and tell them yourself what happened." She paled, but finally nodded.
"Cedric's funeral is not for two more days yet," he continued. "Could you see Mr and Mrs Diggory tomorrow when they arrive to pick up his belongings? ... And, Rose -- I know you tell Tilly almost everything -- " (Rose felt her face grow warm, for some reason she couldn't fathom) " -- but I know you will keep the details of our upcoming councils a secret, though it won't hurt for her to know they're being held. Her own parents will be included, after all." He smiled at Rose's look of surprise. "Oh yes, Arthur and Molly Weasley made great contributions before in the fight against Voldemort, and I know they'll be eager to do their part again."
Rose walked slowly down the hall to the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Marshmallow fluff," she said automatically, and the portrait swung open to admit her to the Gryffindor common room where Tilly waited anxiously. "What did the headmaster want, Rose?" she asked at once. Several pairs of interested eyes looked their way.
Rose murmured, "Come on, let's take a walk." They made their way downstairs and out the great entrance, to where a cool breeze wafted across the lake.
As they stood on the eastern bank, looking across toward the gathering shades of sunset, Rose recounted her interview with Dumbledore. Tilly, as always, made a most attentive audience. "He wants you to teach Muggle Studies! But that's perfect, Rose!" she said, her eyes round. Rose knew Tilly's ambition was to teach at Hogwarts someday herself, Charms being her particular strength. "Maybe someday we can teach here together, who knows?"
"Well, I haven't said yes ... yet."
"But you're thinking about it," Tilly said shrewdly. "I could almost envy you, though I never cared much for Muggle Studies -- not after meeting the Dursleys!" Rose gave her first chuckle in days. "There, it's good to see you smile again, Rose," her friend said with satisfaction. "But -- " her face fell -- "this means you won't be visiting us this summer then? And we won't be taking that trip we'd planned?" Tilly had been saving her Galleons and Sickles for months from the odd jobs she did for Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks, planning to join Rose on at least part of her trip around the world, though Rose insisted she'd be happy to fund Tilly's expenses as well as her own.
"Probably not for a while, Tilly. You forget, everything's changed now."
Tilly considered this. "Yes ... yes, of course," she said slowly.
Rose looked around for possible listeners, then told her friend in a low voice of the council Dumbledore was planning. "My mum and dad -- and my best friend -- on a secret council to defeat You-Know-Who!" Tilly whispered, awestruck. "Why can't I be part?"
"Oh, no, Tilly," Rose said in distress. "Bad enough your parents are putting themselves in danger. I couldn't stand it if you were too. I don't think Dumbledore would have me there, if ... if I weren't already, as he said, a target." She shivered.
"Oh, Rose --" Tilly's arm came round her shoulders.
"You two should go inside," a chilly voice said suddenly behind them. "It's getting dark."
Rose and Tilly jumped, turning to see Professor Snape standing with his arms folded. "You startled us," Rose heard herself say stupidly.
"Obviously," he replied. "You want to pay closer attention to your surroundings, Miss Potter." He watched silently as they hurried back along the path to the castle doors.
"What's up with him?" Tilly said in an undertone.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for the last few days he's been even worse than usual. Every student not a Slytherin has stayed out of his path at all costs. That little exchange just now was positively friendly ... for Snape. You probably haven't noticed because you've been on your own mostly, but he's become a real terror."
"More than before?" Rose said dryly, then started laughing as a thought struck her. Her laugh was rusty, as if unused for too long -- as it had been.
She had a hard time stopping herself, too. Tilly began to look alarmed. Rose calmed down, and tried to explain. "I suppose it's not that funny really. It's just -- Mad-Eye Moody ... I mean Crouch pretending to be Mad-Eye Moody ... you remember he used to say 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE.' Well, that's what I expected Professor Snape to say at any moment. Constant vigilance, Miss Potter!" she said in an imitation of his disapproving baritone.
Tilly still looked unconvinced, but her worried look lightened a bit. "Anyway...." Rose caught herself beginning to say that Snape had been rather kind the night she went through the maze, but stopped. Somehow she didn't feel like talking about that just yet, not even to her best friend. "Anyway," she continued as Tilly looked curiously at her, "I didn't get any pudding tonight, let's go see what Winky can scrounge for us."
"Rose, you're as bad as Fred and George were," Tilly scolded, looking relieved.
He watched them disappear into the castle, still with their heads together, and suddenly he heard Rose's laugh ring out as he hadn't heard it in days. He'd missed it, he realized as he felt an almost unwelcome lightening of his mood. Again and again over the years he'd sat at the head table with the other teachers, and above the babble from the four House tables he would hear Rose's laugh, faint over the hubbub of noise but still warm and infectious.
Many a time hearing that laugh had put him in a sour mood, but today for some reason it was having the opposite effect. He purposely didn't stop to think about that as he strode back to the dungeons to finish grading the fourth-years' Potions exams.
A/N: Thanks for the review, Unicorn Lady! It's so nice to know you're still out there reading my stuff. :) With all the Snape/Hermione romances out there now - and I'm a big fan of them myself - it'll be interesting to see whether readers like this story as well as they did the first time. Rose could be too much of an OFC, but we'll see! ... And for those of you who didn't recognise Dumbledore's password, I can only say: "Tastykakes! YUM!" They're like Hostess or Drake's snack cakes but WAY better. They're made in the Philadelphia area and distributed to various places around the U.S.; you can buy them online at www.tastykake.com - though of course Dumbledore has other methods of access ... One final note: Rose refers to "graduating" above. I have learned since writing the original story that British schools don't have "graduations" the way American schools do - but since I've already built one into my story, it stays! Hey, anything can happen at Hogwarts ... Stay tuned for chapter 3, in which the graduation ceremony is held, Snape pushes Rose's buttons, and the silly girl gets sucked right in.