Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Malfoy Manor

Wednesday 6th August 2008

My dear Severus,

I trust that you will not be too upset that I have written to you concerning your recent behaviour.

You have done great services for my family, enabling us to survive the war, brewing the potions that helped Draco recover from his burns, speaking up for all of us before the Wizengamot, making that horrible vow to protect my boy in those dark days. In return, I helped to care for you in your convalescence here at the Manor and have always enjoyed our private conversations and previous... discrete confidences. But more than our mutual life debt to each other connects us, I have known you since you were little more than a child. I know that Lucius considers you his dearest friend, and so do I.

I am sure that you are eager to discover the reason for this rather extraordinary display of sentiment on my part?

Severus, I have a bald husband, and Hermione Granger is back at Hogwarts. Am I wrong in suspecting a connection between these two truths?

What is going on?

Narcissa

Hospital Wing

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Wednesday 6th August 2008

Dear Narcissa,

As Lucius has no doubt informed you, I find myself indisposed at the moment while I regrow two major bones and recover from a blow to the head. There is nothing wrong other than Lucius has forgotten all of his much vaunted skills at deception and Disillusionment.

Severus

Malfoy Manor

Wednesday 6th 2008

Severus,

If you think that your usual display of bitter insecurity and rudeness is going to have any effect on me, you must have forgotten which House I was proud to be sorted into.

Tell me what is going on.

I swear to keep this secret as well as I have kept your others.

Cissy

Hospital Wing

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Thursday 7th August 2008

Narcissa,

My apologies for taking so long to reply to your previous note... I have begun this letter many times.

MissProfessor Granger has indeed returned to Hogwarts and is teaching in this wretched Summer School of Minerva's. I... find myself drawn to her once more and am unsure of how to address the situation, as clearly she does not have any intention of allowing what... occurred before... to resurface.

Indeed, she has already succumbed to the advances of a visiting professor - a whittering, malign addlepate who has not a fraction of her intellect, but who appears to have employed pseudo-Arithmantic mumbo-jumbo and low cunning in order to attract whole flocks of idiotic women, including half of the teaching staff! Indeed, his charm is suspiciously baffling.

While I have been lying here in the Hospital Wing, hidden behind one of the sick-bay's screens, I have heard him flirting openly with Poppy's foolish young assistant, inviting her up to the Astronomy Tower to commune with the stars or some other nonsense. "Settle down with a little woman who can compliment my intellectual capacity", indeed! The wizard is a scoundrel.

I am convinced that he does not have her best and finest interests at heart.

I am... sorry... that Lucius was injured. I have enclosed a powder with this letter which, when applied topically, will ensure the return of his hair.

Severus

[Lucius, if you (or anyone else) are reading this, there is a peculiarly unpleasant curse embedded in the paper, which has just been activated. Narcissa knows the counter-curse. Good luck in explaining why you are going through her personal correspondence.]

Malfoy Manor

Thursday 7th August 2008

Oh, Severus.

I can well understand your delicate position.

Clearly, you cannot address the issue directly and must find a suitably subtle way of exposing your rival's peccadilloes without embarrassing the object of your intentions.... This calls for stealth and guile. I need some time to consider the best way forward.

In the meantime, do not do anything rash. Your allergy to healing potions will not serve you well in the event of a duel.

Cissy

P.S. Lucius would never read my private correspondence. You do not know much about marriage if you think there are no benefits in accepting each other's secrets and leaving well enough alone. It was a nice thought, though, darling!

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Minutes of The Staff Meeting held on Thursday 7th August 2008 in the Staff Common Room

The Headmistress wishes to acknowledge the excellent suggestion by Professor Granger that a Quick-Quotes Quill should henceforth record the minutes from these meetings, in order to better facilitate the recording of all opinions expressed in this gathering. Thank you, Hermione.

- My pleasure, Minerva. I'm just delighted to be able to help. I found using one of these quills really useful when I was writing up my Potions thesis a few years ago, and since then, I have always employed them in my private research....

- Yes, well, thank you again, Hermione. I'm sure it will save Filius from hand cramp in the future.

[*snorting noise*]

- I'm sorry, Professor Bloomberg, did you want to add anything to the record?

- Oh, no, no, Minerva! Just... um... clearing my throat.

- Very well. Now, everyone, to business.

- Professor Flitwick, do we have any Apologies?

- Yes, Professor McGonagall. Rubeus Hagrid is still on holiday in Armenia, Healer Pomfrey sends her apologies, due to her duties, and Professor Snape is still confined to the Hospital Wing...

[*door opens, clattering*]

-SEVERUS!

[*other unrecordable noises*]

- What are you doing here? Poppy told me that you should be in bed for another twenty-four hours!

- Don't be ridiculous, Minerva. I am perfectly well recovered.

- But your head injury...? Pomona suggested that you were quite badly concussed? Well, then. Well. Please take a seat... there is a spare one next to Hermione over there.

- ... Professor Granger.

- ... Professor Snape.

- Hi, Buddy! No hard feelings about that Bludger, right?

- Professor Bloomberg. What a pleasure.

- Ahem, yes. Well, if we could continue? Thank you. Are those all the Apologies received, Filius?

- Yes, Minerva.

- Very well then, to continue. I want to extend the warm hand of international wizarding friendship once again to our visiting Professors: Bloomberg, Hill, Albernathy, Whitlow, Green, and Granger – who are attending this meeting to discuss the two main items on our agenda, the impending charity Quidditch match for the Ministry of Magic, and the evaluation of our first Summer Extension Programme.

Minutes and matters arising

- Following our discussion last month over Professor Hagrid's request to introduce Quintupeds and Flaming Goonspittles to the second year curriculum. I have heard back from the Ministry, and I am sorry to say that the Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures have turned down Rubeus' request.

[*multiple quiet exhalations*]

[*unrecordable noise ??Thank Merlin??*]

- Professor Sprout, did you wish to add something? You need to speak up clearly, Pomona, or the Quill won't pick up your comments...?

- Oh... erm... No, Minerva: nothing to add! Thank you.

- Harrumph. Very well.

- Flooding in lower corridor – that has all now been cleared up, has it not, Argus? We have put new drainage in place to protect this area and redirected the overflow from the kitchens... And have we installed the new system for safe air extraction in the Dungeons, in the light of recent...? Yes? Right. Thank you for that.

- Right. On to the key points of the agenda today...

Number one: Final arrangements for the international Quidditch charity match next Saturday, 16th August.

- Is everyone aware that the players will be arriving via Portkey a week tomorrow? We expect the Sirens at about four o'clock on Friday 15th after lessons have finished here. The other players are arriving separately. Septima? You are coordinating all of the arrival times? Yes? Good. Is there anything that we need to be aware of?

- No, Minerva. We've got it all in hand. Campsites have been allocated for spectators, some people have already arrived...

[*unrecordable low noise*]

...and I know that Rosmerta and Aberforth are fully booked...

[*unrecordable low noise*]

...but I am sure that everything will go very well as far as the crowd goes, Minerva...

[*unrecordable low noise*]

- Severus? Hermione? Speak up, please, for the minutes.

- Nothing to add, Minerva.... I was merely remarking on the lack of available accommodation for anyone who had a sudden need for privacy.

- Oh. Right, Severus. I'm not quite sure why that would be of any significance for this meeting, but....

- It is merely that were I wishing to meet anyone, 'out of hours' as it were... there are limited local possibilities for such an... outlet.

[*unrecordable noise*]

- Professor Bloomberg? You wish to add something?

- No? Right, well, thank you... I'm sure that you'll all agree that it is quite a feather in our cap to have been chosen to host such an event. We are expecting a significant number of international wizarding media to arrive, so we need to prepare for this. It puts me in mind of a few years ago when we hosted the Tri-Wizard Tournament! I know that one of our visiting professors was actually present at the time, but for the rest of us here present who have less experience of dealing with the press, please be aware of the following advice from the Ministry's Propaganda Department.

[*unrecordable noise*]

Filius, would you pass these sheets of parchment around...? Thank you. Please read these guidelines and follow them, everybody. If anyone has any questions about them, please do not hesitate to talk to me after the meeting...

[*unrecordable noise*]

- Severus? Do you wish to ask a question?

- Only to make an observation, Headmistress... That some of us will welcome the attentions of the world's media more then others....

- What are you getting at, pal?

- I am merely deferring, my dear Professor Bloomberg, to your, shall we say, enhanced experience with the Fourth Estate...

- Thank you, Severus... Professor Bloomberg... if you'll allow me to continue, gentlemen...? Thank you. Moving on to the second agenda item....

Number two: Summer Extension Course evaluation forms

- Filius, would you do the honours, please? Thank you. As you will see, the Ministry has asked that we fully evaluate the effectiveness of our teaching and learning, and they have asked that we do so in a collaborative fashion.

- Does that mean that we need to comment on each other's work, Minerva?

- Yes, Pomona. Most of you are delivering your classes in pairs, and you would be in a strong position to reflect on each other's work. You and Neville will be able to complete the forms together quite easily... Yes, Professor Bloomberg?

- Yeah, thanks, Minerva.... I was just wondering if we had to buddy up with the same subject; after all, there's a lot to be learned from each other's skills and talents. The cross-fertilization of... ideas...?

- Speaking of cross-fertilisation, Jerry... Wasn't that you I saw coming out of Greenhouse Number Five yesterday with that new Healer, Lanette Dilella...?

- And I know there are a few witches here who have also benefited from your skills and talents, according to Hettie Henwood's latest reports in the Prophet!

- Sybill!

[*unrecordable noises ??ooooooohhh??*]

- Boom Boom!

- Filius!

- Sorry, Minerva!

- You see, you silly woman? I told you that you couldn't trust him. He's obviously leading you on.

- Severus!

- What?

[*unrecordable noise *]

I don't know what you mean, Pomona! She asked me to take a look at the new strain of ginkgo that Nev Longbottom was developing in there! I have a side interest in healing herbs!

[*unrecordable noises*]

- Pomona! If Jerry says that he was just helping Lanette out, then that is exactly what he was doing!

- Oh, how can you be so naïve, you insufferable woman?

- How can you be so, so... It's absolutely none of your business, anyway, Severus!

- It IS my business! This... charlatan... is revealing his true nature; I don't know how he is doing it, but...

- Really?! But what?!! And you're a fine one to talk about revealing natures!

- Hermione, Honey! Don't get upset! Here, let me...?

[*unrecordable noise*]

- Let her go, you, you...

- Or what?

- SEVERUS!

[*unrecordable noise*]

- Put her down, you, you...

- Or what?

- SEVERUS

- IF I MIGHT BE HEARD!

[*unrecordable noise* ??Explosion??]

- Professor Snape! You are clearly overwrought from your injuries. Put your wand away and kindly report to Poppy Pomfrey for further treatment.

[*door slams*]

- Sorry, Minerva.

- Sorry.

- Sorry.

- Sorry.

- Are you alright, Hermione? What on Earth was all that about?

- Nothing, Minerva. Please let's get on with the meeting.

- ... Honey?

- I'm fine, Jerry. It was probably a mistake to come back here after all. Bloody man.

Ravenclaw Tower

Hogwarts Schoolof Witchcraft and Wizardry

Thursday 7th August 2008

Dearest Hermione,

You do believe me, don't you, honey? I would never cheat on you with anyone! Frankly, I think that Snape is a couple of aces short of a deck.... Seriously, can you believe that guy?? Crazy, crazy! Thanks for sticking up for me, I really felt your emotions aligning to mine – powerful stuff!

Anyway... I'm going to be doing some stargazing up on the Astronomy Tower later tonight. I've been told the gargoyles up there are really knowledgeable about the movements of the stars.

Care to join me?

Your own,

Boom Boom

Gryffindor Tower

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Thursday 7th August

Dear Professor Snape,

Further to your disgraceful behaviour in the staff meeting, it now appears to be impossible for you to conduct a civil conversation with me; when you return to teaching next week, I suggest that we confine our interactions to the written word until the end of this project.

I have enclosed a pack of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes Charmed Sticky Notes.

The password for them is "Dunderhead".

I wonder why.

Professor Granger

Headmistress Office

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Friday 15th August

Dear Severus,

I was pleased to hear from Poppy that you have been successfully discharged from her care this afternoon. I trust that there will not be a repeat of your unusual outburst in the staff meeting now that you are fully recovered. You have been under a lot of pressure, my boy; don't think that I do not understand.

You need to apologise to Professors Bloomberg and Granger sooner rather than later. I am not sure that she will forgive you this time. Once again, I must remind you of the need to maintain appropriate professional discourse between you two.

With best wishes,

Minerva

Malfoy Manor

Saturday 9th August

Dear Severus,

Thank you for your owl. It appears that your definition of "stealth and guile" is vastly different from mine.

No matter. I have an idea. Keep your mind on your work.

Lucius and I are both keen followers of Quidditch, as you know.

I will see you next Saturday before the match.

Cissy

P.S.: Lucius is now back to his former, magnificent self, and thank you for the hair tonic. Have you thought of selling it commercially?

Gryffindor Tower

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Sunday 10th August

Dear Gin,

Can you talk? I could really do with some of your advice right now.

H

Glebe House

Hogsmeade

Sunday 10th August

H,

Still coping with ill child – although thanks to your potion, we no longer have issues with Al's more spectacular excretions...!

What's up?

Gin

Gryffindor Tower

Gin,

Where do I start?

Can I come through?

H

Glebe House

Hogsmeade

H,

Of course!

The boys are in bed. I have elf-made wine. Harry is out training. I am all ears...!

Gin

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Monday 11th August

Granger,

Your idiots appear to have wrecked the asphodel flowers.

Again.

If they are not capable of brewing the Draught of Living Death, then they should stick to something simple, like making tea.

Snape

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Monday 11th August

Snape,

Keep your focus on your students; I'll look after mine, thank you.

Granger

Glebe House

Hogsmeade

Monday 11th August 2008

Dear Hermione,

I am still reeling from our conversation last night (as well as the two bottles of wine that are now empty in our sink in the kitchen), and I wanted you to be sure to remember the advice I gave you at the time.

If there is something still left unsaid between you two, then you owe it to yourself and to him to try to say it.

I know that it did not work out last time, but you have to agree with me that the circumstances of what happened six years ago were not exactly normal for either of you. His behaviour over the past few days could indeed be that of an emotionally inexperienced suitor rather than a malicious stalker (let's hope, anyway – or you should indeed "hex his bollocks off").

As for Jerry... you know what you're getting into with that one. Fun, fun, fun with "Boom Boom"... or... not.... Only you can choose.

I know that you are still angry with Severus, but you should try to look at this objectively. His idiotic actions might be disguising something else, something that you told me last night you would once have given everything to have.

Love you,

G

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Tuesday 12th August

Granger,

Where is my #3 paring knife?

I left it on the side table in the Lower Laboratory, and when I returned less than thirty minutes later, it was gone.

I need it.

Snape

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Tuesday 12th August

Snape,

I have not touched your knife.

Perhaps your memory and judgement is suspect.

It would not be the first time.

Granger

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Wednesday 13th August

S,

Thank you for your help with the accident this afternoon.

Your quick actions helped to salvage the potion and protect the students.

HG

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

I did very little.

You had the situation under control by the time I arrived.

Thank you, nonetheless.

S

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Thursday 14th August

Dear Professor Granger,

I am reaching a particularly interesting stage in the development of the Anti-Mutatio Potion.

You could join me later to witness the development of the base potion, if it would be of interest to you.

SS

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Thursday 14th August

Is that an apology?

HG

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Thursday 14th August

It is... an invitation.

SS

WWW

Charmed Sticky Notes

Thursday 14th August

S,

I am afraid that I am not able to join you, as I have a prior engagement.

... perhaps tomorrow?

H

The Astronomy Tower

Thursday 14th August 2008, late at night, under the stars....

Dearest Hermione,

As I sit here, gazing upwards at the stars, I am certain that I have never felt this same sense of connection with another human being before.

You have just left me, and my arms are empty. One stolen kiss is all I have to remind me of your tenderness; your scarf in my hands is a reminder of your warmth and the fires kindling in your eyes as I slowly unwound it from your neck before pressing my lips against you.

Thank you for doing me the honour of agreeing to accompany me to the Pro-Celebrity Quidditch match this Saturday. I am looking forward to sharing this wonderful event with you. The opportunity to watch something so uplifting as Quidditch... something that celebrates the freedom and indomitability of the human spirit... something so thrilling, so enervating, so throbbing with magical hope and potential... fills me with such anticipation. And yet these sensations will be nothing compared to the giddy delight of holding you next to me as we share the moment.

Afterwards, I thought that we could go to that wizarding hotel near Tintagel I was telling you about for an evening meal... and perhaps something more...?

With highest regards,

Your own and none other's

Boom Boom

The Dungeons

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Friday 15th August 2008

Dear Professor Granger,

Having witnessed, while on my rounds, your descent from the Astronomy Tower last night, followed thereafter by an equally... glowing Professor Bloomberg, I am writing to rescind my invitation to witness the next phase in the Anti-Mutatio potion's development.

I wish you well in your future career and in all other areas of your life, and I apologise if my actions in recent days have caused you any distress. You are clearly content to be with him, and there this should be left.

You deserve someone who will make you happy, and I am glad that you have found him.

Professor S. Snape

---

A/N: JK Rowling owns the Potterverse. Clairvoyant, nagandsev and beaweasley2 are wonderful. 'Nuff said!