Chapter 13: Albus Banished
Molly sat at the breakfast table and surveyed the people around her. Three new rings were reflected off of three hands and six people looked to be flying on cloud 9.
"Well if everyone is done I'll just clean up and then we'll open the gifts in the sitting room," Molly smiled standing.
"That sounds like a perfect idea Molly," Tabitha nodded as she stood and left the kitchen. Minerva whispered something into Albus' ear and left as well.
Minerva walked up the stairs and found Tabitha in the room she shared with Sirius as she changed out of her soft tartan flannel pajamas and into a sexy and clingy red Christmas dress.
"You wanted to talk with me?" Minerva asked entering and shutting the door to give the child her privacy.
"I see I'm going to get an uncle," Tabitha smirked very cat like.
"Yes…did you have anything to do with it?" Minerva asked eyeing the girl.
"I do not answer questions like that without a lawyer present. Now…can you do my hair?" Tabitha asked smiling with childlike hope.
Minerva nodded giving a small smile as she stood behind the girl sitting at the vanity. She took up a brush and hummed softly as she brushed the child's thick curls.
Tabitha closed her eyes and listened to the music as she started to sing a song she hadn't heard in years.
I cross the sea in a flying machine
I go up, up, up
There's nowhere in the world I can't be
I cross the sea in a flying machine
Minerva smiled as she continued brushing and sang the next part with her.
Flying high in the sky my bonnie lass and I
We fly to the isle of peace and beauty
We play in the waters without a care
Flying high in the sky with my bonnie lass and I
Tabitha gasped and opened her eyes looking straight through the mirror at her aunt.
"That's the song! That's the song! I remember, oh my gosh I remember it!" Tabitha exclaimed.
Minerva smiled and wrapped her arms around the girl kissing her cheek.
"Welcome home baby," Minerva whispered.
Tabitha put her arms around Minerva's and turned to kiss her cheek.
"It's really good to be back you know," she sighed.
"It's wonderful to have you back," Minerva nodded as the door opened and the two looked in the mirror to see Sabrina staring at them.
"Oh uh…I'll leave you two alone then," Sabrina said sounding a little sad.
"Sabrina get in here I know you want to," Tabitha smiled.
Sabrina entered and sat on the bed as Minerva straightened up and continued to do Tabitha's hair. She used clips to put the curls up and conjured holly that she stuck in one side with a bit of tinsel for sparkle.
"Thank you," Tabitha smiled brilliantly.
"You're welcome. You know I'd have loved to have a child like you or Sabrina so I could do her hair and read her stories or sing a lullaby," Minerva sighed.
"You still have a chance," Sabrina stated.
"Yes you're a very powerful pureblood witch that's only sixty-seven. That's roughly the end of middle age for a witch. You still have time to have children; especially with that on your finger," Tabitha added holding up Minerva's left hand to show off the ring.
"And no matter what Dolores says or does she can't take it from you," she added.
Minerva smiled staring at the ring.
"Plus…besides Albus you have something she doesn't," Sabrina added standing and putting her hand over the others.
Minerva looked up from the hands into the brown eyes of her nieces and tears came to her eyes. She did have something Dolores didn't. She had people that truly loved her and would never intentionally hurt her. Minerva smiled a teary smiled and pulled both girls close kissing their heads.
"My girls. My sweet, sweet girls," she cried. Tabitha and Sabrina hugged her back tightly relishing the cinnamon scent that was Minerva McGonagall.
Everyone was lounging around the sitting room at Grimmuald Place and for once it did not look gloomy. All around were the gifts and gift wrap. A few presents remained unopened but those were to be Arthur's. In fact Molly was gathering them to get ready to go.
"Who wants to come with us?" Molly asked. All her children were standing by her with their winter coats on.
"We'll go," Tonks stated pulling Remus with her.
"Me too," Hermione nodded.
Molly looked hopefully at Harry but saw he was looking anywhere but her.
"All right then. We'll be back in a few hours," Molly nodded leading the group outside.
"I know something Sev doesn't know. I know something Sev doesn't know," Tabitha sang teasingly. She was sitting on the couch with Sirius' feet in her lap and she had her head lying on Minerva's shoulder.
"What?" Severus asked snappishly. He was sharing a love seat with Sabrina and holding her hand.
Albus sat on the other side of Minerva and was petting her long black hair that she had actually let down for the day.
"I was sworn to secrecy," Tabitha stated, "But it's a good one."
"Then why goad me?" Severus frowned.
"Because Tabby is a trickster," Sabrina explained, "she loves to tease and taunt poor unsuspecting people."
Severus groaned as his head went back and looked at the ceiling.
"Soooo…..do you want to know?" Tabby asked. Sirius was sleeping.
"Yes please Mi...Tabitha," Severus sighed still looking at the ceiling.
"Sir-ius likes you," she replied in sing song, "He wants you to be his fri-end."
Severus looked up and eyed the man sleeping on the other end of the couch. "Surely this is some sort of idiotic prank," Severus stated.
"I just want to start over Severus. A fresh start in every way and I begin with…I'm sorry about all that crap those seven years of school. We shouldn't have broken up yours and Lily's friendship up we were grade A idiots and we know that now," Sirius said opening his eyes and standing. "If you all will excuse me I'm going to feed Buckbeak and Gary."
Severus blinked in shock and looked at Tabitha as Sirius walked out.
"You've got him whipped. You've brainwashed him," Severus exclaimed.
"I haven't the foggiest what you are talking about," Tabitha said flicking her hand nonchalantly. Everyone chuckled light as Harry stood and came over to the couch.
With in minutes Severus observed the boy had his feet dangling off the arm rest of the couch and his head was in Tabitha's lap. Tabitha's head was still on Minerva's shoulder and she was lightly running her fingers through the boy's hair.
"That's the most relaxed I've ever seen any of those three in years," Severus said stating his observations.
"Then it appears my cousin and I have made a profound influence on Hogwarts and the Order," Sabrina quipped sounding like Tabby. Severus laughed lightly shaking his head and kissed her chastely as she snuggled deeper into his arms.
Hours later when the Weasleys, Lupin, and Tonks returned they found the five sleeping in complete contentment and peace. All wrinkles and worry lines vanishing from Dumbledore's and McGonagall's faces making them look years younger than their sixty and seventy or so years told.
"They've been like that since I came back downstairs. I didn't have the heart to wake any of them," Sirius explained coming out of a different room.
"I think that's the first time Harry has slept that easily in months," Hermione stated thinking it so odd Harry had wrapped his arms around a woman that was practically a stranger.
"I think Harry is associating her with a mother figure. I mean she's going to marry Sirius and he's the closest thing Harry has had to a father figure growing up," Tonks stated.
"That's weird though I mean not to knock Tabitha but my mum has treated Harry like a son. He's like my brother," Ron stated.
Molly had said nothing just watching how Tabitha's arms had seemed to have cradled Harry just as much as he was wrapped around her.
"Well maybe it has something to do with the fact Tabby was only about eleven years younger than his mother. That makes her close to his mother's age. Maybe it's the fact she's subtle about understanding his concerns but stern when alleviating his fears. Seriously Sirius you make an honest woman out of her and she'll make a good mom to any kids you have," Remus stated.
"Thanks mate…but I think we should leave them all alone now," Sirius said quietly leading everyone away.
What they hadn't known was Harry had woken up when they entered the house and had been listening to them the whole time. When he was sure they had left he readjusted himself and inwardly sighed. Tabitha smelled of honeysuckle and Jasmine and somewhere in the recesses of his mind he associated it with his mother and felt safe with her. It was almost as if Tabitha had been sent.
The Christmas Holidays ended and everyone returned to the school that was being taken over by Dolores Jane Umbridge. But she wasn't getting it without a fight. An increase of pranks had skyrocketed after the holidays and no Professor was ever able to help her catch the ones that kept messing up her office. Truth was they were pranking her office…along with the Weasley Twins of course.
The Dumbledore's Army started back with renewed vigor and the students could tell Severus was happy about marrying Sabrina. He only blew a fuse once each practice and in the classroom he actually gave Gryffindor points!!
Minerva was reported as glowing and she didn't give homework on weekends anymore!
Tabitha and Sabrina appeared the same and rumors had started about Tabitha's engagement ring. People thought of everything from Greyback to Alastor Moody to Sirius Black to Mundungus Fletcher. And in the most bizarre of cases they suspected Minister Fudge! That of course angered Dolores to know end and she was only too happy to dismiss her when Hagrid returned; even if Hagrid would leave soon as well.
That was what had Minerva bursting into Albus' office late Thursday evening.
"Albus we can't send Tabitha away please!" Minerva pleaded not noticing the new addition to Albus' office.
"Minerva she isn't going anywhere. She's staying," Albus stated.
"How?" Minerva frowned.
"Tabitha Reynolds at your service madam. Personal assistant and hot chocolate maker for one Albus Dumbledore Headmaster," Tabby quipped from behind the headmaster's head where she was dusting books.
Albus looked at Minerva's shocked face with twinkling eyes.
"I discovered she's very good at cleaning and cooking. If she was a house elf I'd offer her anything under the sun to get her. But don't tell Miss Granger that," Albus chuckled.
Minerva crossed over and sat on his lap planting kisses all over him. "You….are…a….genius," she said between kisses.
"Thank you I do have a good idea here and there," Albus chuckled patting her thigh lightly.
Later that week at the DA meeting Tabitha, Severus, and Sabrina had teaching the Patronus Charm on their thoughts that night; But Harry was already capable of doing it and they had actually allowed him to run the class.
"It's very advanced magic. What you need is the happiest memory. The best one you have. Let it fill you up," Harry explained as he closed his eyes and thought about living with Sirius and Tabitha at Grimmuald Place free of Voldemort and Dementors.
He opened his eyes and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
A giant white stag burst out of his wand and bounded around the room. It nuzzled Tabitha lightly before disappearing.
"Excellent Harry! All right everyone let's spread out and give it a go shall we?" Sabrina grinned.
In no time at all everyone had spread out and there were wisps of smoky light, shadows of creatures, and even some animals flying out of wands.
"We really need to take a good look at what children can and can't learn. Look at what we've taught first and seventh years together!" Sabrina exclaimed.
"True," Severus nodded, "Perhaps we've underestimated them."
Sabrina grinned and kissed his cheek knowing that wasn't easy for him to admit.
Tabitha and Padfoot had been walking around observing and gently but firmly correcting where need be when she saw Neville in the corner. He was getting a wisp of light but not much else and he had a deep look of concentration on him. Tabby knew he couldn't be very happy right now since earlier that morning they had all read in the paper that 13 high security prisoners had escaped Azkaban. One in particular was Bellatrix Lestrange.
Tabitha left Padfoot watching Ron's dog bound around him as she approached the boy.
"Oh um hi Pro…Miss Tabitha," Neville greeted gloomily as he barely remembered what everyone was required to call her now. Now that Dolores had booted her out.
"Good evening Neville. Might I inquire about the memory you've chosen?" Tabitha asked gently as she took his wand from him.
The wand was 10 inches and made of maple with a Pegasus tail hair. It was not one that had chosen him; possibly a hand-me-down but it was a good wand and he could wield it with enough practice and will power.
"Um well…it was um the day we found out I had powers. My uncle dropped me out of the window and I bounced back up," Neville said blushing.
Tabitha giggled and tapped the wand on her chin.
"Forgive me Neville but that doesn't sound very happy. How about I give you another scenario and we'll see what happens eh?" she suggested.
Remembering how powerful he had felt when she had taught him how to stun; he eagerly nodded.
"Very well then shut your eyes please," she commanded. He did as she suggested and waited.
During this time the others had noticed she was talking to him and everything silenced as they waited to see if Tabitha could work another Minnie Miracle.
Tabitha paid no heed to the others as she circled the boy speaking only to him. She kept hold of his wand.
"Summer fell just a few weeks ago. Today is a nice warm day and you are just over ten months old. You're happily content with a dragon your father has charm to fly over your head and around you," she stated.
Neville's wand arm jerked as the others watched.
"Your mother smiles down at you; her large brown eyes are the same as yours. Her soft warm hands reach into the pram and gently lift you into her arms to hold you close. She kisses your head and whispers in your ear that you are her greatest joy," Tabby continued twirling the brown wand.
Again Neville's hand jerked.
"Your father then takes you from your mother and tosses you lightly. Both of you laugh as you love the feel of being in the air. They dress you in a soft blue hat and coat as they take you outside in a stroller. All you can see as they push the buggy is your mother and father smiling and cooing over you. You are safe and harm free. They enter a small park and set you on a blanket as they eat a light picnic. After the food they stand you up. Unsteadily you walk between them always safe as you go to the pond to feed the ducks. It's been perfect weather and the perfect day. You've walked farther than normal and are tired. When you get back to the blanket you fall asleep on your mother's chest with a kiss on your head," she ended gently slipping the wand into his hand.
Neville gripped it tightly and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
Everyone gasped as a giant lion roared out of his wand and stood before the boy proud and regal.
Neville opened his eyes and stared in shock as Tabitha squeezed his arm in assurance.
"You have the heart of Godric Gryffindor in you Neville Longbottom. Never doubt it again," Tabitha stated as a loud banging broke their attention.
The lion disappeared and the room began to shake as the banging continued.
"Harry the map what's it say?" Tabitha hissed.
Harry got the Marauder's map out as quickly as possible and cursed when he saw it.
"Umbridge and more than half the Inquisitorial Squad!" he exclaimed.
"Damn it….Okay nobody panic," Sabrina stated as three doors appeared in the back of the room and one to the side.
"Okay split up. Tabby take some and go to the left, Severus take a group and go to the middle. I'll take a group and go to the right," she commanded gathering a few children.
"The rest of you take that side door and run. Don't stop for anyone and for god sake don't go to your dorms hide somewhere!" Severus snapped taking his group and hurrying out the door the dog following him instead of his mistress.
Everyone left the room and dashed in every direction possible as fast as their legs could take them. Nearly a hundred students or better were hiding anywhere they could trying to avoid Umbridge.
Tabitha had gone toward the professors' rooms and had locked the eight children in her bedroom for several minutes before she'd deemed it safe and guided them all back to their common rooms. Upon entering Gryffindor tower with a couple of third years she was told that everyone had returned and they had gotten word from the other two houses everyone was back. Everyone that is but Harry and some girl.
"Dear sweet Merlin," Tabitha exclaimed and dashed back out of the portrait hole headed straight for Albus' office. When she arrived she found Sabrina coming from the other end of the hall.
"Where's Severus?" Tabby asked.
"He took Padfoot and went to patrol to make certain everyone got back safe…plus I think he wanted to catch some of the Inquisitorial sSquad out of bed. His Slytherins have really started getting on his nerves," she stated.
"Chocolate Ginger Newts," Tabby stated as the gargoyle moved aside and they ran up the revolving stairs.
They entered and slipped in unnoticed by anyone but Dumbledore just as Umbridge flashed the sheet of names at the Minister.
The two girls saw Minerva holding on to Harry and Maria Edgecomb and silently cheered as they saw Sabrina's handiwork written painfully over the girl's face. Sabrina had charmed the paper to mark any snitch in the group with the words SNITCH tattooed across their face in bright blue pimples.
"See, see! DA …Dumbledore's Army. Proof of what I've been saying," Dolores said triumphantly.
"Oh please DA means Defense Academy. It does not in any way shape or form mean Dumbledore's Army," Sabrina huffed.
"You two knew about this?" Fudge exclaimed.
"Listen we have proof Cornelius. You girl…what does DA stand for? Dumbledore's Army yes? That's what you said before these horrible letters came on your face," Dolores stated ignoring the girls.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Maria shook her head.
"Clearly you are once again mistaken Dolores. You do that a lot," Tabitha smirked.
Dolores looked shocked but then shook it off.
"Cornelius they obviously must be in on it. This girl told me everything. They meet to learn how to fight. She was just about to tell me what teachers were helping them when the words showed up," Dolores shrieked pointing to the blue word SNITCH on the girl's face.
"Apparently the enchantment on her keeps her from telling anything else," Fudge stated, "At any rate we have enough proof. Dawlish, Shaklebolt take Professor Dumbledore to Azkaban to await trial for sedition and conspiracy."
The two aurors were about to move when Albus stopped them.
"I'm sorry Minister but you seem to be under the delusion that I'm going to …what is the phrase Tabitha?"
"Come quietly Albus Darling," Tabitha answered.
"Oh yes right. Well I can assure you I have no plans of going to Azkaban," Albus stated.
"You don't really think you can take on the four of us single handedly do you?" Fudge chuckled as the four drew their wands.
"He will not be single handed!" Minerva stated drawing her wand.
The glint in her eyes was all Albus needed to know to see she wasn't backing down. Tabitha saw Albus' eye twitch and gave a nodded to Harry. He nodded and backed up slightly pulling Maria with him. Tabby took Sabrina and backed up.
"Enough of this! Get them!" Dolores screamed as the four rushed forward.
They were blown back by a mighty wave and knocked unconscious. Harry had ducked and pulled the girl with him as had Tabby pulling Rina with her.
When they all looked up Minerva and Albus were staring at them.
"Tabitha take my classes. You're the only one I'd trust apart from Albus," Minerva stated.
"Thank you Tabitha for the memory spell," Albus nodded.
"One of my specialties Albus," Tabitha smiled.
"Send Padfoot as soon as you can I have a new job for him," Albus stated throwing Tabitha a gold coin that was obviously a port-key.
"The word is Dragonhead," he added. She nodded to both of them.
"Sir it was all my fault I…"
"Harry you didn't do anything wrong. We're glad you and the girls helped the students. We're proud of you," Minerva said smiling. Albus smiled at the boy as well.
He nodded as Tabitha wrapped an arm around his chest. The couple nodded to the group and Albus wrapped an arm around Minerva's thin waist as he grasped Phawkes' tail feathers and was gone.
The others woke up just seconds later looking confused.
"Wh-where are they?" Minister Fudge demanded.
"No idea. If you will excuse us we must get these two back to bed. It is late. Good night Minster…Dolores…men," Tabitha smiled leading Harry out. Sabrina followed with a curt nod and Maria.
"Well…you may not like them Minister…Dolores. But you can't deny…Dumbledore and McGonagall have got style," Shaklebolt stated.
Dolores huffed as she walked out and Fudge growled under his breath.