Avenging Fire

“The sub-dungeons?! Headmaster, I must protest!”

Potions Master Severus Snape was in his usual spot for the early morning faculty meeting held in Dumbledore’s office, which was far off to the side and slightly behind everyone else. He did this purposely so that if anyone other than the Headmaster wished to look at him, they would have to crane their necks around uncomfortably.

This morning however, all heads remained forward and aligned on their respective necks. The rest of the faculty knew that this newest bit of news would set him in a bad mood for weeks.

The old wizard had just informed his Potions Master that he intended to house Dr. Nyx in the sub-dungeons, right below his classroom, office, and quarters.

Weeks? Severus Snape planned to be in a bad mood for months.

“Severus, Dr. Nyx is a newly manifested Paranormal and the two abilities she’s manifested happen to have destructive potential. I don’t believe for one moment that our guest has it in her to hurt anyone, but I have the students’ welfare to think about. The sub-dungeons can contain any mishaps and also will give her the space and privacy to safely practice with her abilities.”

Snape pursed his lips in resigned annoyance. What Dumbledore said, went.

“Dr. Nyx will not be in your way.” Dumbledore said in closing.

“See that she’s not.” snipped the dour wizard.

“Now, on to other business.”

After the usual topics of business, including the upcoming weekend trip to Hogsmeade for the 3rd years and up, Dumbledore closed the faculty meeting. Professor Minerva McGonagall lingered, waiting for the rest of the faculty to file out. Professor Snape was the first out the door, his robes streaking behind him from the speed of his departure and wearing a scowl that sent a group of Hufflepuffs scattering like beetles in front of him. The other faculty hung back a moment, allowing him a generous head start. Once the room was empty except for her and the Headmaster, she approached and stood next to him, looking down at her long time companion with gentle disapproval.

“Albus, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Dumbledore looked up at her affectionately. McGonagall pursed her lips and deepened her disapproval when she saw the mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“Oh? And why’s that, Minerva?”

“You’re putting Dr. Nyx in close proximity to Severus! You know how he is. Hexes and fire will fly!”

“Come now, my dear. I think you underestimate the good doctor. There are few people who can take Severus as he is. I believe Dr. Nyx might be one of them. She deals with difficult people all the time in her profession.”

“How can you say that?! Why, she could have killed you and Severus both that night, she was so angry!”

“Minerva, she had just been brutally attacked, nearly murdered, and found out that she and her niece and nephew were marked for death. How would you have expected her to react?”

McGonagall sighed as she looked at her beloved. His eyes still had the twinkle she couldn’t resist even after all these years. Dumbledore gently pulled her down onto his lap, took both her hands and brought them to his lips, nibbling each fingertip in turn, causing her to giggle like a 5th year.

“It’ll be fine, kitten. I promise.”

The Deputy Headmistress regained her composure and her ever present air of sternness. Tisking with a new round of disapproval, she stood and straightened her robes then brought a hand up to pat the bun on her head.

“Well, don’t be surprised when the dungeons go up in flames the second he says something crass to her. And please don’t tell me you’re planning to meddle either.”

“Meddle?” he asked, blinking innocently.

“Yes meddle. You can’t help yourself, Albus. You’re always meddling in Severus’ life, not to mention every single unattached woman you’ve ever come across.” the head of Gryffindor said as she looked over her glasses at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore widened his eyes in an exaggerated display of shock.

“I’m planning no such thing!”

Twinkle.

McGonagall pursed her lips even more. Before she could say another word, Dumbledore stood and offered her his arm.

“Shall we go to breakfast, my pet? They’re serving Belgian waffles today. Nibbling on your fingers has given me an appetite for something sweet although I daresay you far surpass even the sweetest of treats.” he said winking an eye at the Deputy Headmistress who in turn blushed a deep rose.

Minerva McGonagall silently chided herself as she took his arm. Even after all this time, she still had a weakness for this long bearded, sweets loving, twinkling eyed wizard.



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Breakfast was well underway and Dumbledore was happily feasting on an impossibly sweet waffle, dusted with powdered sugar and smothered with syrup when Helena finally bustled in. She knew she was being passive-aggressive with her tardiness, but Dumbledore was going to ‘inform’ her where she would be staying for who knows how long this morning, and the urge to figuratively show her ass proved to be overwhelming. She also realized that she most likely was being petty and ungrateful, but at the moment she was far too annoyed with having her freedom and autonomy taken away from her.

As she sat down and sprinkled a pinch of salt on a bowl of porridge, she noticed the majority of Hogwarts faculty regarding her out of the corners of their eyes, except for Dumbledore who wore a benevolent, self-satisfied smile on his face.

“Good morning?” she said, phrasing the greeting as a question.

Snape sighed in martyrance, dropped his fork on his plate with a loud ‘clink,’ and stormed away from the table, pulling the door to the staff entrance shut forcefully behind him as he exited. The rest of the staff returned to their breakfasts after witnessing what they already knew would happen.

Helena raised her eyebrows and cocked her head at the Potions Master’s showing of displeasure.

Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today she thought, shrugging it off.

“At ten o’clock this morning, two Order members will arrive to aparate you to your home, Doctor. Take as much time as you need and bring whatever you wish. They’ll temporarily shrink your belongings and we’ll have some elves restore them in your quarters.” Dumbledore said, smiling as he brushed some powered sugar from his beard.

“Headmaster, I was wondering if I may use a floo to contact an aunt of mine after breakfast.”

“Ah yes, your witch solicitor aunt. What is her specialty?”

“Wizarding intellectual property. She’s probably at her office by now. I want to ask her if she will aparate back to her and my uncle’s home and telephone my parents to let them know I’ll be at my house for a little while today.”

“Certainly! Come to my office after breakfast. You can use the floo there. And as to your living arrangements, I’m going to quarter you down in the sub-dungeons. I apologize for placing you so far down in the castle, but there are safety issues concerning the students.”

“I wouldn’t hurt anybody!” Helena said, horrified.

“I don’t think you would either, Doctor. This is merely precaution. The sub-dungeons will also afford you some privacy so that you’re not constantly subjected to the organized chaos of Hogwarts.” Dumbledore chuckled at the last part.

“This means of course that you’ll be right under the dungeons proper. And Professor Snape’s quarters.” Dumbledore added, watching for Helena’s reaction.

Most people would consider living quarters that were in close proximity to the Potions Master not high on the list of desirable property.

“Is that alright with him?” Helena asked.

She didn’t see how the dour professor would be thrilled over this development, which probably explained his snit from earlier.

“Worry not. I’m sure Professor Snape will get used to it. In time.”

The rest of the faculty looked at Helena with sympathy.



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“Now, how do I do this again?” Helena asked as she stood in front of Dumbledore’s floo fireplace.

“Take a pinch of powder, toss it into the flames, wait for them to turn green, and then announce the destination area.”

Helena gathered up some powder from a hanging dish, pitched it into the flames and bent down closer to them. Dumbledore politely busied himself scratching the Phoenix Fawkes’ neck and pretended not to eavesdrop.

“Law offices of Hedgerow, Falstaff, and Morrow.” Helena said when the flames turned from orange to green and waited for an answer.

“Law office.” A male voice answered.

“I need to speak to Cynthia Morrow.”

“I’m afraid she’s with a client right now. If you leave your contact information, I’ll see that she gets it.”

Damn it! Helena silently cursed.

“This is an emergency. Would you please tell her that her niece is calling?”

“Just a moment.”

Helena sat down cross-legged on the floor and waited. Fawkes trilled in pleasure at being scratched. After several minutes, a very loud and unhappy voice blasted through the flames that stopped Fawkes’ trilling and replaced it with surprised and concerned chirps.

“HELENA CHRISTINE NYX!” the voice screeched, blowing Helena’s hair back and pinning her ears.


She groaned and rested her forehead in a hand, braced by an elbow resting on one of her crossed legs.

“IT’S BEEN ALMOST A WEEK! DIDN’T IT OCCUR TO YOU TO CONTACT ME AT SOME POINT?! WE’VE BEEN WORRIED SICK! YOUR POOR PARENTS HAVE BEEN BESIDE THEMSELVES! EXPLAIN YOURSELF, YOUNG LADY!”

Helena turned an embarrassed face in Dumbledore’s direction but the old wizard and the Phoenix were tactfully pretending they were elsewhere.

“Cyn, I’m sorry! It’s been crazy. Would you…”

Cynthia Morrow continued her tirade, alternating between expressing relief that Helena was alright and browbeating her for being so thoughtless over not contacting her sooner. Periodically Helena would try to interject but Cynthia Morrow’s harangue would not be silenced. Finally Helena gave up and rubbed her temples waiting for her aunt to get it out of her system.

“Dear me!” Dumbledore whispered to his avian companion. “Dr. Nyx’s aunt is a rather formidable woman. I would certainly not want to be on the receiving end of her displeasure.” Fawkes chirped his agreement.


When Cynthia Morrow’s tirade slowed down enough for Helena to interject, she jumped in before her aunt could fill her lungs again.

“I’m sorry, aunt Cyn. Really I am. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. But listen, could you…would you…pop home and call my parents and tell them I’ll be at my house shortly after 10 this morning and that I’ll call them as soon as I get there?”

A long and tender sigh issued forth from the green flames.

“Yes, of course I will. I’ll have my secretary rearrange my schedule. I want to be there too. Ten o’clock you say?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean for you to have to disrupt your day, Cyn. I’m just going to be collecting a few things and…”

“Don’t you dare think of arguing with me, missy! I will be there. Now I’ve got to go so I can tell my secretary to reschedule my appointments. I’ll aparate home and call your parents then I’ll aparate over to your house shortly after 10. We’ll continue this then.” Cynthia warned.

The flames in the fireplace returned to orange and Helena sighed heavily.

“Er…lemon drop, Doctor?” Dumbledore offered in sympathy.

“No, thank you. I apologize for all that. My aunt is a little demonstrative and I think still views me as a young girl. Especially when she’s upset.”

“I suspect your aunt could put a howler to shame.”

“Funny you should say that. She facilitated a few of those for my parents when Steffen was in school so that my mother could pin his ears back good and proper. Of course, he deserved each and every one of them.” she said, smiling a little at the memory.


“Thank you for the use of the floo. It’s 9:15 and Madam Pomfrey wants to give me a once over before I’m aparated home. I’ll be back shortly before 10.”



“Remarkable family.” Dumbledore mused after Helena left the office.


Fawkes trilled in both agreement and amusement.

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A/N: A light-hearted chappie that was fun to write.

@ Tambrathegreat. Dumbles, Smythe, and Cornelius Fudge? EW SQUICK!

:P