The "Harry Potter" characters belong to JK Rowling, her associates and affiliates. CPT Holdings Inc. and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment own "Bewitched" and "Tabitha". For entertainment purposes only. There. I have spoken.
A/N According to more than one website, Adam was a warlock in "Bewitched" and a mortal in "Tabitha". For this fanfic, he's a mortal. It just works better that way. And all due respect to anyone who disagrees.
The library at Grimmauld place contained a manual describing defense and safety for civilians during wartime. It was rather old and hadn't been updated, but Tabitha brought it with her on the day she returned to work from maternity leave. She took a couple minutes to read a few pages from it between the coded messages she sent and the copy that the network made her read.
When she signed off the air and slid off her stool, she saw her boss approach her, nervously wringing his hands. She knew what he was going to say-- don't do anything out of the ordinary and for Merlin's sake, don't be too controversial.
She slipped out of the booth, carefully shutting the door behind her, and steeled herself while she waited for him to approach. The first words out of his mouth were, "Mind you, we're all happy to have you back, but please--don't do anything out of the ordinary and for Merlin's sake, don't be too controversial."
Putting on her most innocent face, she said, "What's so controversial about safety? Doesn't it show that we care about our listeners? Doesn't it give the show that personal touch?"
"Don't try getting around me, Tabitha..."
She clasped her hands together for dramatic effect and said, "Just think about it, 'WWN--the network that cares'. Our audience will love it--they'll eat it up."
"The only thing that will get eaten up around here will be our funding. The Ministry has made it clear--no wartime talk, and nothing controversial."
"But the newspapers do it."
"They're funded by advertising--we're funded by the Ministry, so we have a different set of rules. If you don't like it, you can always write for the papers. Although I never dreamed you were bucking to be the next Rita Skeeter."
"Rita Skeeter!" Tabitha exclaimed, indignant and scornful. "As if I would--" She broke off as she saw Severus had arrived to take her home. "Let's talk about this next time, okay? My ride's here."
Her boss, who hated confrontations anyway, let her go. He knew she didn't travel through Floo alone, and she wasn't the only one who preferred to travel with somebody, but she was the only one who referred to her traveling companion as "my ride." It was yet another of her odd phrases, but whether it came from being raised half-muggle or from being American, he wasn't sure.
She caught up with Snape and they Floo'ed to Grimmauld Place, but Tabitha was rather subdued the whole time. She was more nervous about the upcoming confrontation with her boss than she wanted to let on. She didn't want to jeopardize her job, but she felt compelled to do something more to help the fight against Voldemort and she was in a position where she could be heard by a good portion of the wizarding world. If there was any chance she could influence people to take the threat seriously, she wanted to do it.
She was mulling this over when they arrived. As Snape handed her out of the fireplace, suddenly everything hit Tabitha all at once. It had felt weird being back at work and leaving little Stella at home, it felt weird coming home to find Tonks there and not Sirius, and this was the last time she would be escorted through Floo. In a way, it felt like another loss.
Pausing a moment, she clung to Snape's hand and said, trying to contain her emotions, "I don't know what's come over me all of a sudden, but it feels like everything's changing, all around us. Changing whether we want it to or not. As much as I felt dreadful inconveniencing everybody by needing to be taken to work, and I missed my independence so much, yet now, when I can go by myself again, I feel--I can't describe it--but Severus, you won't be a stranger will you? Just because you won't be taking me to work anymore. We can still--I don't know--be friends?"
Snape's expression didn't change during her whole speech, but he grasped her hand so firmly it hurt as he looked down into her earnest face.
In response to his pressure, she stood up taller and managed a little smile. "I know what you must be thinking--I need to pull myself together. And I will. I just--it hit me all of a sudden."
A momentary look of frustration crossed his face, but he spoke in his usual calm, dry manner. "You seem to be forgetting that I'm still teaching you Defense. We won't--be strangers."
She left him then and went up to bed, still troubled.
But the next day she went to work alone and was surprised and a little wary to see that her boss had waited for her arrival. He, however, was smiling.
The network had received a positive response from the listeners. Owls and messages had trickled in--not many, but enough to draw attention. And, they were all positive. Her boss's boss was impressed enough that she agreed, but only on a trial basis, to set aside a little time on Tabitha's show to discuss Wartime Safety.