Drabble 38: Permission
November, 1996
"Hello Professor." Hermione peaked out from behind a bookcase. She wasn't used to running into people in the restricted section. His hand twitched, the only indication that she had surprised him, and he smiled blandly in her direction.
"Anything I can help you with, Miss Granger? I'm busy at the moment though I can point you in the right direction, if necessary."
"Oh, no thank you sir. I'm fine." Hermione crept a little closer, trying to catch a hint of what he was reading. The professor moved, leaning a shoulder casually against the bookshelf and causing his robes to obscure his book, and leveled her with an amused stare.
"I wonder who allowed a mind like yours wander around in this section." He thought aloud. "Was it Slughorn?" Hermione's spine reflexively straightened, and the professor chuckled. "Of course. He's never had a firm grasp on what to censor from…inquisitive minds."
Drabble 39: Whetstone
Late November, 1996
"How did the-uh-?" Remus tried to find the appropriate word as Sirius barged into his study and began poking curiously at every object that had been moved since his last visit.
"Smackdown? Dress down? Logical showdown on plebian minds? A most grand kicking of a-"
"Yes, yes, let's not get crude." Remus shook his head. "Now quit messing with my possessions, sit down, and tell me how it went." Sirius gazed at his friend with large, dark, pleading eyes. Remus stared back flatly. Sirius sat obediently.
"I kept fairly close to your speech this time around and you should have seen their faces! I wish dear old mum was there…" Sirius frowned thoughtfully. "Wonder where that old bat flew off?"
"Focus, Sirius."
"I managed to dull the edges of their ignorance with your rapier wit. Provided that the old bag stays away, the next legislation meeting should go as planned."
Drabble 40: Nosy
Late November, 1996
"Severus? Have you mailed that letter to Harry yet?"
"Yes, this morning."
"You didn't forget to put my letter into one of your envelopes, did you?"
"Of course not."
"Which wax seal did you use? Did you use the one with the snitch? He's always liked that one."
"I don't own one with a snitch."
"That's a shame, Sev. A shame."
"Why…? No. I don't care."
"What are we having for lunch? Can we have treacle tart? I love treacle tart."
"Treacle tarts for lunch? Have you lost your mind?"
"I'm bored." The woman sighed heavily from her seat at the kitchen table and stuck her tongue at the man's back.
"You're a grown woman. Go read a book or something."
"I know!" She clapped her hands. "I could set you up with my frien-"
"Lily! You know the rules! Any matchmaking and I'll send you to the Lovegoods!"