AN MUST READ ! Yes all of the writing is in italic – I am aware. You'll see why. Also don't comment any hate thanks:D
Chapter 15, I am actually proud of myself for making my first multi-chapter story and it being this long :0
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear…. Wait wrong one…. Do not own, just borrowing the cast, they will go back relatively unharmed.
Me and Charlie emerged from the Room of Requirement at 5:55, I was putting my hair up and Charlie was pulling his beany hat back onto his head. Charlie grinned and winked at me and I laughed, bringing my arm up around his waist we walked down the empty corridors and moving staircases until we got to the gargoyle.
However instead of needing to give it the password it opened and allowed me and Charlie to walk up the stairs. It was 6 o'clock now and when we entered the office I was surprised to see many people.
I took an empty seat and Charlie sat on my other side. Looking around the table I saw various familiar faces; Emmeline Vance, Molly and Arthur, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones, James and Thomas Whitlock, Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge and others I didn't recognise.
"So nice of you to join us Miss Fenwick, Mr Weasley." Dumbledore smiled. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you know about the meeting?"
"Severus knew I would kick off if I found out and wasn't at the original meeting so he told me and said to bring Charlie."
"Did you want to come along Charlie?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Where ever Bella goes, I follow. Always been that way and always will." He answered confidently. I smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I love you." Were my whispered words in his ear.
"I love you too. So much." He gently trailed his fingers tips along my jaw before he kissed my lips but at the disgusted sounds from the others around the table he pulled back and scowled. I chuckled and slipped my hand into his under his table. Severus chose that moment to slip through the door virtually unnoticed and drop into the seat between myself and Minerva.
McGonagall smiled at the man in question and I watched as he said something to her making the Professor snort. They carried on their whispered conversation one of them snorting occasionally or laughing quietly.
The meeting finally started and I listened as Dumbledore began talking about numbers and plans on headquarters. Severus muttered something extremely quietly and Minerva had to stuff her fist in her mouth to stop from laughing, Severus' jaw was clenched in a sign of his own attempt at restraining his laughter.
"Charlie, Isabelle." I and Charlie snapped our eyes to look at him, "I trust that the two of you could talk to some people in Romania." I nodded and heard Charlie confirm the idea. "Good." I silently conjured a piece of parchment and a quill then began to write down a list of names;
Dean Barrow
Anthony Johnston
Alexander Hovee
Brianna Rine
Thomas Jones
I showed Charlie the list and passed him the quill, he wrote down 4 more names before rolling the parchment up and handing it back to me. I was surprised when Severus pushed a piece of parchment at me, I read the man's graceful handwriting, 'Do you reckon if we work together we can convince Dumbledore to hand more power or at least a task over to Minerva?'
I raised an eyebrow and looked up at Severus who was watching me from the corner of his eyes, making sure no one else was watching I wrote down, 'Why?'
'Because she is seething that he refused to let her do virtually anything. Even you are doing more than she is and it's put her on edge. That's why I have been making her laugh and prodding her with jibes all evening, try to distract her if only for a short while.'
Again I was shocked at the message, 'I know better than anybody that you too are close friends, in fact even Dumbledore himself is oblivious to your friendship. I'll make Charlie kidnap Minerva for an hour or so, me and you can talk to the Headmaster?'
'Sounds like a plan Misfit.'
'Thanks Dungeon Bat x'
He rolled his eyes at the knick name and banished the parchment without anyone noticing, one of the many things Severus could do.
"Do we have any suggestions on whereabouts we could set up Headquarters?" Dumbledore questioned.
"How about Grimmauld Place?" Molly suggested. There were murmurs of agreement, clearly everyone on this table was aware that Sirius was in fact innocent of what he had been accused. Dumbledore nodded and noted down the suggestion.
"Aside from raising our numbers there is unfortunately nothing we can do for the moment." The Headmaster concluded the meeting.
Before Charlie could get out of his seat I pulled him down so my lips were level with his ear, "I need you to distract Minerva so that me and Severus can talk to Dumbledore, I will explain afterwards."
"Okay Copil(1)" He agreed and kissed my cheek gently. The he stood and swept McGonagall away much to her complaint, I smirked at Snape who rolled his eyes and shook his head in slight amusement. Everyone filed out and watched us in confusion as me and Severus stood stoically beside the wooden table.
Dumbledore looked up at us both and heaved a sigh, "Is this to do with Minerva?"
"Yes." We answered in unison, our stance was virtually identical; tall, proud, confident, arms crossed, mask of stone in place, eyes hard.
"Then we have nothing to discuss." He muttered, standing surprisingly gracefully for a man of his age, still me and Severus didn't so much as blink.
"In fact Albus, I believe we do." Severus hissed icily. Dumbledore turned from the door to face us once again. "If you think that we're going to stand aside and watch you hurt her…" Severus trailed off.
I picked up right where he left off. "Then you're mistaken." He raised his eyebrows at me and I glared straight back. "Minerva is not a pawn; an imaginary chess piece that you can order around at your leisure."
"Do you not think I-"
"She is a grown woman who has the ability to make her own choices."
"Not in this she doesn't." The Headmaster returned. I tensed before pulling myself up too full height, out of the corner of my eye I saw Severus do the same and was more threatening when he did it due to his considerable height, being just over 6 foot.
Dumbledore's brows knotted together and he leant against the wooden door behind him, tilting his head he considered us thoughtfully.
"Minerva has always had a choice now is not any different, if she wants to be able to do something why not allow her, even if it is just going out and gathering more people who are willing to listen." Severus growled.
"Because I don't want her too."
"Because you don't want her too?" I scoffed. "That really is pathetic do you not think? I mean come on; Minerva has to stay in the castle all summer,"
"As well as the entire school year. And what you are not going to let her leave until he is defeated?" Severus continued.
"That could be weeks, month's maybe even years and you are going to force a woman who is by nature adventurous to stay within the castle that she is far too familiar with?" I added.
"You really think Minerva would ever forgive you for that?" Severus drawled.
"Would Minerva continue to hold onto your friendship?" I accused.
"Or how about your relationship romantically?"
"Would Minerva really love a man who restrained her in her actions?" My voice sounded condescending.
"Would Minerva love a man who was controlling in any form?"
We were filling Dumbledore's head with doubts and insecurities, it was cruel yes but if it was the only way to make him understand we would do it. Severus and I had a special ability at this way of blackmailing though we preferred to call it persuading.
"Would Minerva love you at all?" Our voices sounded together - smooth velvet and honeyed wine - dripping with venom and disdain, it made the Headmaster flinch. "Think on what we've told you." Our voices were silky smooth and we slipped from the room in perfect harmony.
The wooden door thudded as it shut but we waited until we were down the stairs to the dungeons before celebrating, I whooped and jumped on Snape who hugged me back, we high-fived and I danced towards the door to his office, Severus striding next to me.
I pushed open the heavy wood door and straightened my face to hide my gigantic grin when I saw Minerva and Charlie inside. Severus walked in as stoic and silent, grabbed Minerva's forearm as she went to leave the room; I watched from Charlie's embrace as he leant down and murmured something to her. Minerva's soft smile was enough to convince me we had done the right thing, she reached up and cupped Severus' face, standing on her toes she kissed his brow and swiftly left the room.
Snape caught me staring and I was thrown into speechlessness when I saw the lightest ghost of pink dusting his cheeks, it began to steadily grow darker with my gaping face and he turned away ducking his head to hide his embarrassment.
When I had finally gathered the wits to move, I pulled Charlie from the room and explained to him what had happened and why as we made our way to the three Broom Sticks –
"Bella." I froze.
Copil – baby
Your just gonna have to wait, R + R xxx