Chapter One-Hundred Two: Meeting Max

Chapter One-Hundred Two: Meeting Max

Saturday, 3 April 1999

At the gargoyle, Severus drew out his watch. "We are a little early."

Poppy tugged his arm and gave a naughty smirk. "Can't have that." She led him around the corner into a narrow side hallway, then she gave her matron's password and pulled him into a small, dusty, unused office. Severus didn't resist when she pulled him down into a kiss.

His arms went around her, and his hands strayed over her back. One of them crept to her arse and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her fingers wound through his hair as her kisses grew more passionate. Finally, Poppy gave him one more kiss, gently sucking his bottom lip between her own, then with a gasp and a sigh, she leaned into him, resting against his chest as her arms draped around him.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes, Severus holding her closely and occasionally nuzzling her hair, Poppy content to feel his warmth as she leaned against him.

She sighed and gave him a squeeze. "We will be late now if we don't leave."

"I'd rather stay here," Severus said, but he loosened his arms and pulled back slightly. "This was a nice diversion on the way to the dinner, though."

Poppy nodded and smiled, letting go of him. "I thought that it might be a while before I have another kiss from you, so I thought I'd take the opportunity now."

"You leave early tomorrow?"

"Dylan's coming for me at half past seven," Poppy said. "They always do a big Easter breakfast for the children, and I wanted to be there for that."

Severus nodded. It sounded horrid to him, but he supposed that if it were one's own family, a person might feel differently about it.

"Perhaps . . ."

"Yes?" Severus asked, hopeful that she was rethinking her plans for Easter, as unlikely as that seemed, and might stay at the castle for the day after all.

"Well, I don't suppose you'd want to come tomorrow, but perhaps one time when I visit my family for a holiday, you might like to come along?" Poppy said hesitantly.

Severus blinked. He felt unaccountably happy that she wished to include him in a holiday visit to her family, while at the same time, thinking that the actual visit sounded worse than an evening of Muggle party games with Albus. Still, he found himself smiling. "I might. We'd have to discuss it. If your family were agreeable . . . I mean to say, I am sure that your family is agreeable. But if they were in agreement, then perhaps . . . for a brief visit."

"Or even just dinner," Poppy said. "You wouldn't have to stay for an entire holiday, of course, or even for a whole day."

"That might be possible."

"Later in the term, we can go to Violet and Dylan's for Sunday dinner. I'd like them to get to know you a little...and I think you'd find them agreeable," Poppy said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Yes, all right," Severus replied.

"Good. That's set then!" She stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss. "Fortified and ready for the party now?" she asked, reaching past him for the door handle.

"I suppose . . ." At Poppy's raised eyebrow, he added, "Yes, I'm ready. Quite fortified." He gave her a crooked grin. "Of course, a bit more fortification, and we could be fashionably late."

Poppy laughed and opened the door. "I think you're well fortified, love. And if you feel your fortification slipping, just remember our holiday next week!"

Severus made a show of sighing and giving in, but then suddenly, he closed the door, wrenching the handle from Poppy's grasp. He grabbed her and gathered her in his arms, kissing her and stroking his tongue in her mouth, holding her tightly, lifting her off the floor, his kiss growing in passion and ferocity. One of her shoes slipped off, and she broke the kiss, gasping. Severus slowly relaxed his hold, easing her gently to her feet.

"Hmmph. Perhaps I am sufficiently fortified now."

Poppy took in a deep breath and let it out, shaking her head. "You are incorrigible, Sev. Utterly."

Severus smirked. "In all the ways you secretly love, may I remain so." He knelt swiftly and picked up her shoe. Kissing the top of her foot, he slipped Poppy's shoe back on, then looked up at her. He paused, suddenly struck by the softness in her expression, the gentle smile around her eyes, her kiss-plumped lips, and he felt a tightness in his chest, an exquisite sensation of pain, pleasure, and desire.

"I adore you, Poppy," he said softly.

She reached out with feather-light touch and caressed his face, combing back a few stray strands of hair from his temple. "Do you?"

Severus inclined his head, a barely perceptible nod, lips slightly parted, expressing the ineffable.

It seemed to Poppy an impossibly long moment as he looked up at her, his dark eyes intense, then he took her hand and kissed it before standing.

"Dumbledore will wonder what's keeping us, nosy old sod," Severus said in a light tone, pretending to grumble. "Better get up there and join the throng."

"A dozen or so guests is hardly a throng, Sev," Poppy said, shaking off the moment of intoxicating emotion. "But you're right, best not to give him cause to wonder, if you do still wish to be discreet about our relationship."

"I explained that," Severus began.

"I know, and I do agree. The last thing we need is the entire staff watching us and interfering, however well-meaning any of them may be."

"Or not," Severus grunted. "I'm sure that there are still some who would be happier if I left, and who would not be happy to see you with me."

Poppy smirked. "I suppose that Sarah might be a bit jealous, and perhaps another witch or two, but other than that . . . I think you are too harsh on your colleagues. I don't know of any of them who would wish you ill."

"They'd hardly tell you," Severus said. "They know you're friendly with me, and even aside from that, you're too kind-hearted to listen to mean-spirited gossip. And as for any who might be jealous, that's hardly likely. Except in the case of Duffy. Soft in the head. Not any witches who know me."

"And what about me?" Poppy asked, putting her hand on his, keeping him from opening the door. "Am I soft in the head?"

"Of course not! That's not what I meant at all," Severus said hastily.

"I know you didn't, but that would be the logical conclusion from what you said. Honestly, Severus! Is it really so difficult for you to believe there might be other witches who would find you attractive?"

"None have in the past," Severus said. "Or few enough. And I know myself, Poppy, and I know what people think of former Death Eaters...and correctly so."

Poppy shook her head. "I am sure that people see you for who you are, not just as a former Death Eater. People who know you, anyway. You're more than that."

Severus shrugged one shoulder. "I'd like to believe you. I suppose you may be right. At least partially."

"I am. Now let's go enjoy ourselves," Poppy said, hoping that he wouldn't obsess about his reputation all night.

"Right."

"You did say you'd try."

"And I will...don't worry."

"Good. I won't worry about you, then...this evening." She let go of his hand, and he opened the door.

Stepping into the hallway, Severus said, "I hope that Dumbledore hasn't seated me next to someone atrocious."

"I don't think that any of the guests could be atrocious, Severus. Though you might find some of them more enjoyable company than others, I suppose."

"Hmph. Minerva told me that Quin will be there."

"You consider him atrocious?" Poppy asked with a slight laugh of disbelief.

"No. But . . ." He shrugged.

Poppy just shook her head, imagining that he'd probably rather sit beside Quin himself than see her with the other wizard. "I hope you get to know him better this evening. Aine's going to be here, as well. I know you'll like her...though she is rather different from her brother. Quieter and . . . more cynical, I suppose you might say."

"Living for years in virtual confinement as a result of her father's curse condition could do that," Severus said.

"I wouldn't say that she was in confinement, though certainly her life was much different than she'd planned or hoped."

"Minerva was to change the password today," Severus said, frowning as they stood before the gargoyle, "but I don't remember what the next one was to be."

"Angus Óg," Poppy said. The gargoyle winked at her and swung out smoothly, revealing the spiral stairs. "Minerva reminded me earlier this morning."

"After you," Severus said, with a slight bow.

Poppy laughed. "Chicken?"

"Not at all. Merely exercising one of the few polite manners I possess."

Poppy stepped onto the bottom step, and the stairs began to rotate upward as Severus took the step that emerged beneath hers.

"I never thought that you possessed few or no manners, Sev."

"No? Never? Is this what they call a white lie?"

Poppy shook her head and smiled at him. "I did not say that I believe that you always exercise your manners! Although in fact, I've sometimes observed you being punctiliously courteous, but somehow still managing to be snide. With Umbridge, for example."

"She was an abomination."

"You won't get an argument from me on that...nor from most people, I'm sure. Did you hear that they're considering charging her with some sorts of crimes for her actions here that year?"

Severus snorted. "That will never happen. The Ministry protects the Ministry, no matter who's in charge, and if they try to punish her for what she did under the Ministry's authority, then the same could be done to any of them at some later date when the political winds change."

"Minerva said the same thing when she told me about it. I don't know, though. Surely they could find some things that she did that weren't part of what was permitted under her Ministry brief."

"Possibly. That she lost her position at the Ministry after Shacklebolt took over was sufficient for most people."

"Do you think that she was a Death Eater? Maybe not branded, but still a follower?"

Severus shook his head. "No. Just cruel, untalented, and dim-witted. Her sort make it easier for the truly Dark wizards, though."

Poppy stepped up onto the landing, Severus right behind her.

"She was not a good advertisement for Slytherin House, certainly," Poppy said.

"Mmph. Do not remind me." Severus reached for the knocker.

"I'm sure they're expecting us," Poppy said, opening the door to the Headmistress's office. She could hear voices coming from above. "Some guests have arrived already."

Severus nodded.

As the two began up the brass staircase to the Headmistress's suite, Poppy looked over her shoulder at Severus. "You wouldn't remember this, but when Dumbledore first became Headmaster, he had these stairs charmed as a slide to dump any unexpected guests onto the floor. Minerva and Gertrude between them managed to convince him that it was not one of his more brilliant ideas."

"That would be highly inconvenient, to say the least," Severus said with a snort.

The door at the top of the stairs was open, and the small landscape hanging there had no portrait in it, just a few sheep grazing placidly on a rocky hillside. Poppy smiled as she stepped into the large sitting room. Minerva had redecorated over the summer, and the room was bright, warm, and cheerful, but that evening, it was particularly lovely with the well-set dining table on one side of the room, and the welcoming arrangement of chairs and other furniture on the other side. She could see that various hors d'oeuvres were set out on small tables, and a longer, narrow table held an array of drinks. Her smile, however, was for the witch and wizard who stood speaking with Minerva.

Gertrude and Gareth had both looked over as she and Severus had come through the door, and Gareth's smile was immediate. Gertrude met Poppy's eyes and nodded, smiling slightly.

Albus bustled over to them. "I'd offer to take your cloaks, but that would be superfluous!" he said with a twinkle. "Do come in! I was just showing Filius a new Charmed fountain pen that my friend Michel sent me from Paris. He's just in Minerva's study, playing with it. It's quite clever, and...well, I'll just show you later. You might like one, Severus, if they come in black."

Severus nodded, his expression unchanging.

"I'd enjoy seeing it sometime, Albus," Poppy said. She hoped that Severus would not be uncommunicative all evening.

"Of course, my dear!" Albus replied, leading her further into the room. "Would you like a little nibble of something? And a glass of wine, perhaps? Or a sherry?"

"Vermouth, I think."

"And you, Severus?" Albus asked.

"Tonic."

"No ice, correct?" Albus asked, Levitating Poppy's small vermouth to her and reaching for the bottle of tonic.

Severus nodded. "Yes."

Gareth came up to Poppy and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Good to see you again so soon!"

"You, too! And Gertrude," Poppy said, turning to her old friend. "I must say I am especially happy to see you after that business earlier this week." She reached out and patted Gertrude's side lightly. "You're all right now, then?"

Gertrude nodded. "No harm done."

"I wouldn't say that," Gareth interjected.

"As I am sure you did, loudly and at length, when you refused the Ministry's commission," Gertrude said softly, "but I think that they were a more appropriate audience for your thoughts on that subject than we are this evening."

"As you say, Mum," Gareth replied, though he didn't look happy.

"All ready for the resort?" Poppy asked Gertrude.

"I am. I'll be taking the Portkey directly from the estate, so I will see you there," Gertrude said.

"Pomona and I are meeting Caroline at the gates, so we'll all be arriving together." Poppy watched as Severus moved off to sit in one of the furthest armchairs, but she was happy to see that Gareth immediately followed. She did hope that he would actually manage to enjoy himself that evening. It was all well and good for the two of them to enjoy each other's company on their own, but if their relationship continued, she did want to be able to go out and do things together as a couple, including going to parties or going out with a few other friends. She didn't want to always wonder whether Severus was just going to sit in a corner and mope. It appeared, however, that he and Gareth were having a comfortable conversation, so Poppy turned her attention back to Gertrude.

"I understand that Rolanda and Colleen will be meeting to travel together, as well," Gertrude said.

"I am glad that Rolanda's coming. I didn't know whether she would or not."

"I can understand her initial reluctance," Gertrude said.

"I can, as well," Minerva said. "But she'll enjoy herself, I'm sure."

"Did you hear that she's going to the States to have a new treatment?" Poppy asked. "She's very hopeful that she'll have more use of her arm."

"I thought she was going for some sort of cosmetic procedure," Albus said, frowning.

"She is, but they're also going to try some new nerve and muscle regeneration spells," Poppy explained. "That was the primary purpose for her going there...she could have the cosmetic spells done just as well here, I think, although with spell damage scars, you never know how successful they'll be. But there's a Medicus in Berkeley who's worked with Medicus Morgenstern on his new tissue regeneration magic."

"Ah, Nate Morgenstern! I met him several years ago. Seemed a bright young man," Albus said with a nod.

"Anyway, this Medicus in Berkeley is one of only a few Healers in the world who's doing these new spells," Poppy continued. "Morgenstern's even had some luck repairing major organ curse damage that is too severe for ordinary potions and spell treatment, from what I read."

"Melina was talking about that the last time we all had dinner with Mother at the cliffs," Minerva said. "Remember, Albus? She said that when she can make some time in her schedule, she is going to go to Ithaca to observe Morgenstern at work. It sounds as though they're very complicated rituals."

"I wish there were Healers here in Britain who could do it," Poppy said fretfully.

Albus patted her shoulder. "It will be good for Rolanda to go away for a while, I'm sure, and it will be good for her to be with her family there, as well."

"I wasn't thinking of Ro," Poppy said. "Poor Millicent. She had a brighter future ahead of her, playing Quidditch. I don't know what she'll do now."

"She will find something to do, no doubt," Albus said. "She's young."

"But it's not as though she has many other things going for her," Poppy said, her brow knit. "And with half her family in prison, she might find that taints her own reputation."

"I believe she will find a way to receive the treatment she needs," Gertrude said softly.

"Going in for Divination as well as Arithmancy now?" Poppy asked with a chuckle.

Gertrude looked at her, a slight smile crinkling around her eyes. "Something like that." She glanced at the others. "Would you excuse me a moment?"

Poppy watched as Gertrude stepped over to where Flitwick and her son were sitting with Severus.

"More arrivals, I believe, my dear!" Albus said brightly. He patted Minerva's arm and walked to the door to greet the new guests when they arrived.

"He still does that," Poppy said.

"Does what?" Minerva asked.

"You know...he knows when someone's coming up to the office, just as you do."

Minerva grinned. "Aye, he does."

"And you're not going to tell me how he knows, are you?"

Minerva's grin broadened. "Maybe someday. Or you might work it out on your own. Or you might wheedle it out of Severus."

"So Severus knows?"

Minerva shrugged one shoulder, her smile fading slightly as she watched Severus stand and follow Gertrude over to the window in the far corner of the room.

Poppy followed Minerva's gaze. "I told Severus he'd have a good time tonight," she said. "With all the Slytherins Albus has invited, hopefully he'll feel at home."

Minerva looked at her a moment, her expression blank. "Perhaps. I hadn't considered it that way."

"Well, with Gertrude, Hafrena, and Colleen all here, he is not the lone Slytherin in the group."

"True...I'd almost forgotten that Colleen was in Slytherin," Minerva said, watching as the new guests, including Colleen, were all greeted by Albus, who was taking their cloaks and Levitating them into the small cloakroom beside the guest bedroom.

"Maybe Severus will realise that Pomona doesn't really dislike Slytherins, even if she occasionally makes inappropriate jokes about them, when he sees what good friends she and Colleen are."

"Hmm. What's that? Oh, aye, he might, at that." Minerva's eye had wandered back over to where Gertrude and Severus stood, dark silhouettes in the window, Severus slightly hunched over, both turned away from the room.

"By the way," Poppy asked, taking a sip of vermouth, "where is Pomona. I thought that since Filius was here, she would be here already, too."

"First-year, Orla Mitchell. She will be here until next week...her uncle's in Asia somewhere, and he'll come fetch her when he returns, but until then, she's feeling homesick and lonely. Pomona's . . . dealing with it."

"Oh, poor girl!" Poppy exclaimed sympathetically. "There aren't many staying behind in Hufflepuff over the break, either."

Minerva shook her head. "She's the only first-year. The few others who are staying are all in the upper years, too, staying to revise for NEWTs and OWLs."

"You know . . . there will be a lot of children at Geoff and Margaret's tomorrow...we're doing Easter there this year. Perhaps it might be nice for her to come just for the day? She wouldn't know anyone, but it would be better than staying here alone. I know she'd be very welcome."

Minerva looked at Poppy, turning her attention away from her apparent observation of Gertrude and Severus, a smile softening her face. "That is lovely of you to offer. See what Pomona says. She may have it all in hand."

"I will. Daisy, Ivy's oldest girl, just turned eleven. Madoc, Geoff's son, is ten, and I think Candace and Elliot will probably be there, and Zara is almost eleven, too. Orla would have a little company her own age, and it would distract her at least for the day."

"When she comes up, speak to Pomona about it. It does sound like a fine idea, though, if the child would be comfortable with it."

"I've seen Orla a few times for some minor classroom accidents, so she knows me a little. I think she could feel right at home with all the children there...and it's not as though I'm one of her teachers. She'd probably feel odd if one of them invited her home, and it would be rather . . . awkward, too. But I don't think there'd be any concern about favouritism or any such thing with me."

Minerva nodded distractedly, watching Gertrude step away from the window and walk over to join Colleen, Helena, Caspar, and Albus. Caspar offered Gertrude his left hand, which she shook.

"I am glad that Gertrude seems so well," Poppy said. She lowered her voice. "Are you worried about her at all? You seem preoccupied."

"No, no. She's fine, I believe. Coping well...doing better than just coping most of the time, from what Gareth and Quin have said," Minerva replied softly.

Poppy glanced over at Severus, who hadn't moved from the window, but stood there still, looking out at the grounds. She tamped down her urge to go over and speak to him, draw him into the room and into the party. He could take care of himself, and beyond that, she supposed that in the interests of discretion, it would be best not to seem overly concerned about him.

"You said Calum was coming."

"Yes, but he'll be a little later, though in time to sit down to eat, he said. We invited Janet, too, but she couldn't come."

"I thought that Calum and Severus might hit it off. Or at least, find something in common to talk about," Poppy said, looking back over at Severus. She was just wondering whether she should change her mind and go speak to him when she saw Gareth stand and go over to him, clapping him on the shoulder. She relaxed as Severus turned toward Gareth.

"There are more guests on their way up," Minerva said. "I think I'll go help Albus welcome them."

Poppy wandered over to where Caspar and Gertrude were standing with drinks in their hands. Gertrude also had a plate of small hors d'oeuvres hovering in front of her. Poppy wondered how she could handle all that...she found it difficult enough with two hands...but then Gertrude flicked one of her fingers, and a small vol-au-vent drifted sedately up and to her mouth as neatly as if it had been served on a fork. More neatly, in fact.

"Clever trick, that," Caspar said with a nod. "I couldn't manage it."

"You could. If you were sufficiently motivated," Gertrude said. "And had the time to practise."

Caspar smiled awkwardly and took a sip of his drink.

"I don't know, Gertrude," Poppy said. "I think that even if I had a lot of time and motivation, I don't know as I have the coordination to Levitate the plate and serve myself food, both wandlessly."

Gertrude gave a crooked grin. "I charmed the plate, so I don't need to maintain a Levitation. It's rather less impressive than it appears. It's also of limited practicality, since everything needs to be bite-sized to begin with. Of course, that's only in polite company!"

Poppy laughed. "I haven't tried any of the appetisers yet, but they look quite nice...and all very conveniently bite-sized."

"May I get you anything?" Caspar asked Poppy. He looked at Gertrude and added, "Either of you?"

Poppy shook her head. "I was on the schedule for dinner in the Great Hall this evening. I didn't eat much, but I think I'll save my appetite for the main meal. Although a few olives might be nice to nibble on."

"I thought I noticed Helena had some appealing-looking sushi," Gertrude said. "Albus kindly put together this plate for me, but it's all these little pastries and a few stuffed mushroom caps, and no sushi."

"A few olives for you, Poppy, and some sushi for Professor Gamp," Caspar said with a smile. "If I can identify the sushi!"

Poppy and Gertrude sat down on the sofa, and Poppy set down her glass. "How is Rosemary?"

"Fine. Impatient for the baby to arrive, but it will likely be at least a few more days, probably a week, Melina said. She and Brennan arrived this morning. They'll be spending the week at the estate, possibly longer."

"How's Brennan managing?"

"Fine. Chipper, one of our house-elves, is assigned to assist him when he needs it, but we've put candles and oil lamps in most of the rooms he might use, so if one of us isn't around, he can light them. He also has a few electric torches with him and an electric lantern. The batteries operate with no problem, so that is fortunate."

"You dismantled your wards, then?"

Gertrude shrugged and set down her glass. "Unravelled them. We have some temporary measures in place to hide the estate from Muggles, but in a week or so, we'll be rewarding everything from the ground up, so to speak. I hope that we can keep some of the wards intact, but we shall see."

Caspar returned with two plates, one with a selection of olives on it, the other with various sorts of sushi. "May I take your other plate?"

Gertrude nodded, and Caspar plucked the plate from the air. "I didn't know if you wanted any fish, so I only got one of those. The others are all rice and . . . rice. I don't know what they are. Helena said they were all good. There's a little cup of sauce she said you should dip it in. I thought I might go ask her which ones I should try."

Poppy smiled up at him. "You go on, then. We have witches' talk, anyway! Go chat up Helena."

Caspar blushed, but vanished quickly in the direction of Helena, Gareth, and Severus.

"He's still as he was as a boy," Gertrude said, gazing after him fondly. "It sometimes seems another lifetime, and other times . . ."

"I know. Like yesterday. So much has changed, though."

"As it should. No change is death," Gertrude said. "Or limbo, at least. But fortunately, there is always change, even if sometimes we don't perceive it immediately. On the island, I thought . . . there was a time, not long after I arrived, but when I was finally alone, everyone gone except for Gluffy, and it seemed to me that each day was the same. No difference, day after day. But then I began to see all the small changes around me, and larger ones, too, as days passed and seasons began to change. I wonder sometimes . . ."

"Yes?"

Gertrude shook her head. "Nothing. Just . . . perhaps we're mistaken about death. Perhaps it's more like life than we think. If we are still perceiving . . . then mustn't there be change? And we must simply be attuned to it . . ."

"I suppose we will find out...or not," Poppy said. "I presume we will, though." She shivered. "I don't think I'd like to be a ghost."

"I think that ghosts are likely the deadest of the dead," Gertrude said.

"This doesn't sound like a cheery conversation, love!"

Poppy and Gertrude both looked up to see Quin standing behind the sofa, and both witches smiled immediately.

"Quin! What took you so long?" Gertrude asked. "When I left the house, you said you'd be just another ten minutes."

"Aine was late, sorry," Quin replied, coming around the sofa and bending to give Gertrude a kiss, then giving Poppy a quick peck on the lips. He sat down on the end of the sofa beside Gertrude and draped his arm around her shoulders. "Mind if I have a nibble?" Without waiting for a reply, he picked out a piece of inarizushi and bit into it.

"Good?" Poppy asked, seeing his expression.

"Exquisite. Especially as I'm famished," Quin replied. "The rice is perfect."

"Try one," Gertrude said, flicking a finger and moving her plate closer to Poppy. "That was inarizushi. Just rice inside a nice pocket of fried tofu. Try it."

"It had a bit of umeboshi plum in it, as well, I think," Quin said. He picked up a nori roll.

Poppy took the inarizushi and bit into it. "It's nice," she said after chewing and swallowing. "In fact, I like it. I always thought sushi had fish in it. Raw fish."

"Not always, and the fish isn't always raw," Quin said. "This, though, is sashimi, and that's usually raw fish, and it doesn't have the rice and all that with it...do you want this, Gertrude?" he asked, pointing to the one item on the plate that was obviously fish, a large piece of reddish salmon.

"No, you have it."

"Should have chopsticks, but . . ." Quin used his fingers to pick up the fish, dip it in the sauce, and quickly bring it to his mouth.

Poppy took the moment to glance in Severus's direction. As she had guessed, he was standing stiffly, trying to watch her without appearing to be watching her. He likely had seen Quin's friendly greeting. Nothing she could do about that, though.

Minerva came over, carrying a glass of beer.

"Since when did you begin drinking beer, Minerva?" Poppy asked.

"Since never...almost never...but this is for Quin." Putting her hand on the wizard's shoulder, Minerva bent and gave him a kiss. "Aine said you were thirsty and getting crotchety, so I thought this might help!"

"Ah, your kiss already wiped away any of me cares, Minerva," Quin said, taking the glass of deep gold beer from her, "but I'll not say no to the beer! I do object to the term 'crotchety,' however. I've never been crotchety in me life, and may I not live so long!"

Minerva laughed. "She was joking, of course. She did apologise for the both of you, though. She said that she was late meeting you at the estate."

Poppy looked over at Severus as Minerva drew up a chair and the other three talked. Severus was now turned slightly away from her, but he looked more relaxed than he had a few minutes before. As well as she often could read Severus, sometimes Poppy felt she couldn't read him at all. At least it appeared that Severus was trying to enjoy himself, and hopefully he wasn't still thinking about the fact that she was sitting with Quin, having been greeted with a kiss. But she wasn't going to start pushing away any friend who wanted to give her a kiss, not to mention that Quin didn't even know that she was seeing anyone. But his kiss had been just a quick, friendly peck, anyway, the same sort of kiss that Minerva had given him a moment ago.

Poppy nodded in response to Quin's question about whether she was spending Easter day with her family, then she looked at Minerva and smiled. She wouldn't be at all surprised if Minerva had been quietly observing Severus and seen his reaction when Quin had kissed her, and so came over to them more to give Quin a kiss than to give him a beer. Her kiss might help Severus put things in perspective a little, anyway, whether Minerva had planned it or not.

She looked back over at Severus, Helena, and Caspar...Gareth had gone over to speak with his cousin. There was no reason she couldn't join a few of her colleagues, Poppy thought.

"Excuse me," she said, nodding at the other three, who were discussing something to do with the Gamp estate.

"So it looks like Johnny Crumb will be flying, after all," Helena was saying as Poppy approached the little group.

"I still think that Penhurst would have been a better choice for the tour," Caspar said. "She may be very young, but she's fast and flashy, much more fun to watch."

"She will have other opportunities," Helena said, "and I think the organisers wanted to have at least one player from the Cannons on the tour. Crumb has earned the place. He's an excellent Chaser."

"Do you follow Quidditch, Madam Pomfrey?" Severus asked.

"Not really. I glance at the articles in the Daily Prophet most days, but I can't say I really remember much about what I read even ten minutes later," Poppy replied with a laugh. "It is fun, though, to see what former students are doing, and I enjoy going to the occasional game."

"We were talking about the All-Star Britain and Ireland exhibition tour this summer," Caspar said. "I have a mate who's actually going to follow it, go to all the matches. He says it's a compromise with his fiancee, who wanted to go on holiday in France again this year...they always go to the same place, and he's bored to tears with it, apparently...so they're doing sightseeing in each country and going to all of the matches."

"That sounds exhausting to me," Poppy said, "although it would be fun to go to one of the games somewhere exotic...or more exotic, anyway, than a British moor somewhere."

"If you think you would like to go to one of the matches, I am sure I could get a few tickets for you," Helena said. "Let me know, any of you!"

"Are you going to any of them?" Caspar asked.

"I haven't given it much thought," Helena said.

"Perhaps we might go to one of them...that is, if you go to any, it might be nice if we went to the same one," Caspar said. Poppy thought he was turning a bit pink.

"That could be fun," Helena said. "Maybe we could get a group together...now there's a thought! Maybe we could do a Hogwarts staff trip? If people are interested, anyway, we could choose a city, I could get us all tickets, and a bunch of us could go together."

"That does sound fun," Poppy agreed.

"I've always wanted to visit Spain," Helena said, "and they've scheduled three matches in the Sierra Nevada in July. We could do that. We could visit some of the sites before or after the matches, get Portkeys to some of the big cities. It wouldn't have to be Spain, of course, but somewhere not too far. More people might want to go if it were somewhere closer to home than, say, South Africa or Japan."

Poppy looked up at Severus. "What do you think, Severus? Do you think people might be interested?"

"Perhaps. It would likely depend on a number of factors, including what other plans they might have at that time. Cost, as well. And there may be staff who prefer to avoid anything related to Hogwarts during their holidays, and who would prefer the company of other friends or family. However, no doubt there would be at least a few who would enjoy such a trip, and certainly there would be those who would enjoy seeing an all-star match of that sort."

"Would you?" Poppy asked.

"I might," Severus replied.

"Well, you can count me in," Caspar said to Helena, "no matter where you decide on. I think it's a grand idea."

"What's a grand idea?" Gareth asked, coming up to them with Aine.

"A bunch of us getting together and going to one of the British All-Star Quidditch exhibition matches together," Caspar said.

"It's not 'British,' Lloyd," Aine corrected him. "British and Irish."

"You would remind me!" Caspar said jokingly, giving her a quick one-armed squeeze. "How've you been?"

"Fine, busier than ever," Aine said. "I'll be moving to Dublin in a couple weeks, in fact. Dad's not thrilled about it, but I need a change."

"Good for you," Caspar said. "Seeing anyone these days?"

Aine looked at him and shook her head. "Hardly the time."

"I have something for you, Snape," Gareth said, holding out his hand to Aine, who reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a hardcover book. Gareth handed it to Severus with a grin. "Signed by the author and all!"

"Potions with No Retort is No Refuge," Severus read. "The new Nero Newcastle novel. This isn't supposed to be out for a few weeks. I have one on order."

"Well, cancel the order, mate," Gareth replied. "Go on, open it."

Poppy watched in amusement as Severus opened the book and looked at the inscription on the flyleaf. He raised an eyebrow.

"Meet Maximilian Powers!" Gareth said with a flourish, gesturing toward his cousin.

Severus looked from Gareth to Aine, back at Gareth again, then again at Aine. "You're Maximilian Powers?"

Aine gave a small smile. "It passes the time. I'm also Paulette Fitzpatrick and Cornelia Caraway," she said, naming two other authors, one of witches' romance novels and one of children's mystery stories.

"And don't leave out Erin Sheridan...she's written a couple Muggle children's books under that name," Gareth added with a grin.

Severus looked down at the inscription in his book again and blinked.

"May I see?" Poppy asked.

Severus handed her the book.

To Severus Snape, the Potions master who could teach Nero Newcastle a thing or two and who could best Trajan Tyne in any duel. ~ 'Max Powers'

Poppy smiled. "Very nice."

"I thought you were a wizard," Severus said.

"Don't tell her she writes like a man," Caspar warned him.

"I would not. But the books are . . . the name. Maximilian Powers," Severus said. "I presumed it was a pen name, but they seemed like the sort of thing a wizard would write."

Aine smirked. "The pen name does help promote that impression. More of my readers are wizards, but many witches seem to enjoy the Newcastle books, too."

"They are creative," Severus said, and Poppy could hear the appreciation in his voice, though it may have seemed faint praise to others.

"He owns all of them," Gareth said.

"And the Trajan Tyne books," Severus added.

"Gods, I wish I'd never invented that man!" Aine said with disgust. "I've tried to kill him off in the last two novels, but my publisher...your uncle," she added to Gareth, "won't let me. I can't abide him any longer. I am writing one more Tyne book, and then dead or not, that's it for him."

"I rather enjoyed those," Severus said.

"Writing him makes her quite cross," Caspar said. "Have to steer clear of her when she's in the middle of one."

"He's just so . . . male," Aine said. "Pardon to you. But when I first wrote him, I thought it would be quite amusing to have a protagonist who was basically an ill-mannered pig of a man who treated women like disposable commodities, and it was funny for a while, but he's such a caricature now, I would feel sorry for him if he were a real person. As it is, he's just become annoying to write. Whenever I try to add some depth to the man, though, Morgan tells me that readers won't like it. I prefer writing Nero."

"He is a fuller character," Severus said with a nod. "I find myself..." Severus looked at the others, and Poppy thought he was slightly embarrassed. He cleared his throat. "He is engaging."

"I hope you'll enjoy this one, then," Aine said. "It carries on a few of the themes from the previous two."

Severus nodded, looking as though he wanted to ask something, but he didn't.

"Are you writing anything now?" Poppy asked.

"I've gone back to work on the play I've been writing, and I'm also writing my fourth Fitzpatrick novel. I'm almost finished with the first draft. They're short and they go quickly once I've mapped out the storyline."

"How long does it take you to write a Max Powers book?" Poppy asked.

"Several months. The Nero Newcastle ones generally take longer and undergo more revisions before I'm satisfied with them. The last one took me almost two years, and that was almost all I worked on."

"Your effort is evident. They are well-written, that one particularly," Severus said. "There was a line . . . something near the beginning of the last book . . . about injuries and innocence. I don't recall it now, but it struck me when I read it."

"We injure each other through painful innocence, an innocence whence evil grew," Caspar quoted.

"Yes, that's it. It was when Tamara was narrating the story," Severus said. He hesitated, clearly torn about saying more and revealing any of his own feelings or thoughts on the book. "I thought that was well-done, alternating perspectives like that, seeing Nero from her point-of-view, but . . . it was . . . it was sad."

Aine nodded. "It was one of the more . . . energy-consuming books I've written."

"You're writing a play?" Poppy asked.

"I am. I've rewritten it several times. I may actually finish it this time," Aine said. "If it's produced, it will be the first thing I put out there under my own name."

"That must be exciting for you," Poppy said.

"I'm scared as hell," Aine admitted. "Not only is it under my name, but a play is something quite different from a novel. With a novel, it's you and the reader. With a play, there's the mediating presence of the actors, the set, the director, and dozens of other people, it seems. Even maintaining some creative control over its first production, I won't have that same kind of relationship with the audience as I do with the novels. But it may open the door for me to write some other novels under my own name, as well."

"Why are you writing a play at all, then?" Severus asked. "Couldn't you turn the play into a novel?"

"The script is actually based on a portion of a novel I started about twenty years ago. I may finish that once the play's done. But a play seemed the perfect vehicle at the time I began writing it. I could see it in my mind's eye . . . perhaps it was even a vision, but perhaps not. I cannot tell easily when it comes to my own life. But I could see it being staged, could hear the actors speaking the lines, the audience applause at the end . . . it all seemed to come together perfectly. But then I put it aside for a long time, both the novel and the play. I may tear the novel apart and begin it again now that I have more to say, more life behind me."

There was a clear chiming, and everyone looked for its source. Albus had his wand raised. He smiled at all of them. "Dinner will be served shortly, so you may all find your seats!"

Severus nodded at Aine. "Thank you for the book, and for the inscription. If your play is staged, I shall certainly be in the audience."

"It may not be to your taste, but I'm glad you will come to see it...I am sure that Gareth will be able to tell you when and where," Aine replied. She held out her hand. "It's been good to meet you, too, Professor."

Severus hesitated slightly, no doubt remembering that Quin had been able to sense his emotions when he'd touched him, but he accepted her handshake, though he did let go as quickly as courtesy would permit.

"Shall we find our seats?" Poppy asked, touching Severus lightly on the elbow.

"Indeed." Severus nodded.

He quirked a slight smile at her, and Poppy returned his smile with a warm one of her own. It seemed that Severus was succeeding in enjoying the evening. Poppy's smile grew.