PART 12
The summer storm was raging outside, bringing an end to the stifling heat of the last week.
Severus sat in his favourite chair reading the evening edition of the Daily Prophet when he heard the tell-tale sound of Wormtail apparating into the back garden.
He glanced up and saw the little rat heading towards the front door and knew that the foolish creature had apparated right into the middle of the muggle street.
Severus stood up and went to the door leading down to the laboratory. He opened it wide and as the front door creaked open he called down the stairs. "How's the potion coming along Miss Granger?"
A quick glance to the front door revealed that Wormtail had heard him and had changed his mind about entering the building, preferring to take his chances in the rain outside.
Severus smiled to himself and returned to his chair.
--------------------------------------------------------
Wormtail wandered down the street and sat down on a bench in the nearby bus shelter.
After two buses had pulled alongside him, only to be waved on again, he decided to head back to Snape's house to see if the coast was clear.
He eased open the front door for a second time and listened carefully for any sound of the Granger girl.
"The bathroom's the second door on the right," he heard Snape call from the foot of the stairs. "I'll put the kettle on and we'll have a cup of tea whilst waiting for your potion to simmer. It should take about an hour."
Wormtail swore under his breath and backed quickly out of the door.
He vaguely recalled seeing a muggle public house not far from the shops Snape was constantly sending him to and headed in that direction.
------------------------------------------------------
Severus turned on the wireless with a flick of his wand and sat back to listen to his favourite show. It was the first time he'd heard it in peace and quiet since Wormtail had been foisted on him.
He was just contemplating his next ploy to persuade Wormtail to stay out of the house when Dumbledore's phoenix patronus appeared and announced a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix in one hour at Grimmauld Place.
Snape stifled a grimace at having his relaxing evening cut short but reasoned that it did mean that he could save his other lines for the next time Miss Granger was due to attend for extra tutoring.
He would be at the meeting by the time that Wormtail returned from wherever he was hiding out and the little rat would be none the wiser to the fact that Hermione had in fact left the house several hours ago.
------------------------------------------------------
Severus arrived at Grimmauld Place at precisely the appointed time. He wondered if his spells at Spinners End would keep Wormtail out of the house until he returned. He smiled to himself at the thought of Wormtail being stuck outside for however long the meeting lasted. The smile was still on his face when the door was opened.
Remus Lupin looked somewhat startled as he looked up at him. Severus felt the smile disappear at the sight of another member of James Potter's gang and the habitual sneer re-appeared instantly.
Lupin shook his head slightly as though he was unable to comprehend what he had initially seen.
"Well are you going to permit me to enter or am I going to stand here all evening?" Severus asked.
Lupin jumped back and waved Severus past him and into the house.
Severus breathed a sigh of relief that at least he didn't have to put up with Sirius any longer. Lupin on his own was not too bad, not that he'd ever admit it to him.
"Wormtail doesn't seem particularly suited to his position as Werewolf Tamer," Lupin commented as they made their way to the kitchen. He turned and raised an eyebrow in question.
"He wanted the job," Severus muttered.
"You're sure you didn't put him up for it?" Lupin asked.
"He likes running around with werewolves," Severus sneered. "I'm sure you remember how much he enjoys that particular activity."
"Actually I don't," Lupin replied. "Before the wolfsbane potion I never had any recollection of what I'd done as a werewolf and Peter was never as enthusiastic as the others about hanging around with me when I was like that."
"I am well aware of the properties of the potion," Severus snapped. "I also have quite clear recollections of the four of you plotting and planning your monthly escapades around the Hogwarts countryside."
"Come now, come now," Dumbledore said from his seat at the head of the table. "Let's not quarrel about the past. We're all on the same side now."
"Quite right, Dumbledore," Lupin replied with an apologetic smile.
Severus gave a curt nod and muttered crawler under his breath.
Dumbledore nodded and smiled at Lupin. Severus wondered whether Dumbledore had heard his muttered comment but the older man didn't reveal whether he had or not.
"Now, the Easter Bunny reports," Dumbledore continued. "I take it Voldemort is still having one of his…er…episodes?"
Severus nodded. "It seems to be lasting longer than any of the others. I think perhaps because so many of the Death Eaters are encouraging this particular delusion for their own amusement."
"Is there any way of discouraging them for this course of action?" Dumbledore asked. "Perhaps before the entire country is overrun with illegally imported dragons?"
"I told yer," Hagrid interrupted. "Them there dragons are welcome to come up to Hogwarts. I'll take care of 'em."
"I'm sure you would," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "But we don't want to take you away from your other duties and dragons are a full time responsibility. Just look at Charlie Weasley and the time he has to devote to them."
"I wonder if 'e'd like an 'elper," Hagrid mused.
Severus sighed loudly in frustration at another meeting that was clearly going to be side-tracked. He didn't know which meetings were worse, these or those called by the Dark Lord. On the one hand there was no risk of an unforgivable curse flying round the room at a meeting of the Order. On the other hand it was not exactly pleasant to spend so much time with so many people who trusted him only because Dumbledore said to.
"Any ideas how you're going to produce the Easter Bunny?" Tonks asked with a wicked grin.
Severus glared at her.
"Tonks has a point," Dumbledore commented. "And perhaps once he's seen the Easter Bunny things will revert back to normal."
"Normal being He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named sending his Death Eaters after us instead?" Kingsley pointed out. "I say let him chase after some mythical rabbit for as long as he likes."
"Unfortunately the Dark Lord has put me on a deadline for when I need to produce this mythical rabbit," Snape pointed out. "And no matter how unhinged his mind currently is, he is still rather accurate when letting loose curses on those who have displeased him."
"When is your deadline?" Dumbledore asked.
"The end of the week," Severus replied with a sigh of frustration. "I was hoping the episode would have passed before now."
"Do you have any idea what to do if he is still…er…"
"Barking mad?" Severus interrupted. "I thought of using an engorging spell on a regular rabbit and dressing it up a bit."
"But the poor rabbit won't be able to answer questions," Tonks pointed out.
Severus glared at her. "Have you got any better ideas, Nymphadora?"
Tonks glared at him though he pretended not to notice and looked at Lupin instead. Lupin was shaking his head slightly and he knew he was tempted to make the usual comment about not teasing Tonks about her name. Like he'd ever take the advice of Lupin, whose friends had teased him about his own name for years! At least he was using the girl's proper name and not mangling it into something even more irritating. Considering the increasingly lovesick glances she kept sending in Lupin's direction he could certainly think of a variation or two that she'd find even more insulting.
"Perhaps it might be possible to find someone to dress up as the Bunny?" Dumbledore suggested with a smile. "Surely someone could put on a convincing show if they had incentive enough?"
The members of the Order cast furtive glances at each other whilst avoiding Dumbledore's questioning look. Severus smiled, knowing that he was the one person who couldn't volunteer for that particular assignment.
"Oh I didn't think any of us should take on the task," Dumbledore continued. "Far too dangerous with the current state of affairs. But perhaps Severus might know someone…"
Severus frowned slightly as he tried to ascertain the direction of Dumbledore's thoughts, then a slow and rather vicious smile cross his face as he thought of the perfect solution to the problem.