Tel\' Lindar (The Bard)

SSDD - The Elves and the Wizard\'s aren\'t mine. Bronwyn is.

Chapter 13:

My House is my Home or A Date with the Minister.

This time, the Voyeur did not find himself surrounded by nature, trees, a beach or a smelly tavern. It was a hallway, a hallway in an inn. He could smell the lingering scents of food, of cleaning solvents...

The feeling of malcontent and anger poured through the paneling from the room to his left. He leaned towards the wall and slid through...

The Big Elf... the Woman... sitting on a large bed, tending another Elf.

A badly wounded Elf.

The Voyeur watched as the two ministered to the patient, the Woman wringing out a bloodied cloth in steaming water, her fingers and hands, reddened, almost blistered by the heat. The Voyeur watched as the Big Elf murmured binding spells, magic the Voyeur had never before witnessed, to heal the gaping wound, to ease the injured Elf into sleep.

Angry, horrible words then flew between the two. She had allowed herself, her child to come into danger and the Big Elf was furious, storming out of the room, leaving her with the injured Elf and the Big Elf\'s brother...

Rumil.

\"Tithen Aras...\"

\"Do not excuse him! Let him sleep in a cold bed!\"

The Voyeur did not see that hand that reached through the woodwork and jerked him back into the hallway...

...looking into the wintry eyes of the Big Elf.

\"Sometimes, one must understand there are different points of view.\"

The Voyeur ducked his head in anger. \"By Circe, what are you talking about?\"

The Big Elf rolled his eyes. \"For one supposedly so smart, you are incredibly dense!\" He motioned to the hallway. \"What do you see?\"

\"What do I see? It is a hallway. Wooden planked floor, paneled walls, an embroidered runner...\"

\"What do you smell?\"

The fine ridge between the Voyeur\'s eyes deepened. \"Food, old grease, cleaning solvents...\"

He found himself jerked into the room on the right. \"What do you see?\"

The Voyeur took in the room... \"You, in the tub...\" the Elf was angrily scrubbing and splashing, \"and making a bloody awful mess.\" The Big Elf\'s eyebrow rose. \"There are two beds...\" the Voyeur pointed with his chin to the smaller one, \"...one wonders how you are not waking the child.\" He continued to scan the room, noting the furnishings, the carpets, then back to the tub. \"I smell soap, dirt and grime. You have apparently been traveling.\" The Voyeur considered the condition of the Big Elf. \"You have also apparently been in a fight.\" He watched as the Elf in the tub ducked his head under the water and slung his hair back, water flying.

\"A fight.\" The Big Elf snorted. \"We had been on the road for days; our party was beset by a large band of thieves. We saw them coming and knew we could not outrun them.\" The Voyeur suddenly found himself in the middle of a field; dust, many riders coming from the north, a city lying a hefty ride to the south. \"I ordered my wife to flee with our child while we held them off, to give her time to escape.\"

A battle, the Elves horribly outnumbered...

\"She did not listen.\"

The Woman had ridden a ways, a screaming child grasped tightly in her lap. The Voyeur watched as she turned, dismounted from her horse...

Knives flying... The Voyeur saw the sound waves circling, invading the ears of men as she attacked from a short distance away. They fell, writhing on the ground, blood occasionally seeping, but their bodies not disintegrating, not like the dragon. The Big Elf cut down an attacker and turned to her...

\"Go!\"

The Voyeur found himself back in the bedroom. The Woman now sat on the bed, guitar in hand, raging rifts of melody being forced from her fingers as the Big Elf stood behind and listened.

\"We would have beaten the men back. There were many, yes, but their skills were limited and they did not know how to fight well.\"

\"She could have been killed.\" The Voyeur whispered. \"She exposed her child to harm.\"

\"That was why I was angry, but she had a different point of view.\"

Again, the Voyeur witnessed the skirmish, but this time from the Woman\'s vantage point.

Saw the men attack... saw the unseen danger to the Elves, to the Big Elf. He saw her knives, her soundwaves attack with purpose, with vengeance.

When the Voyeur turned to say such to the Big Elf, he discovered the two now stood outside a large inn.

\"Point of view. We would have beaten the men back, but at great cost to ourselves. She might have saved my youngest brother\'s life that day. Orophin is a dreamer, a prankster and a lover of finer things. But he is my brother and I love him greatly. Would he have died that day? I do not know. As much as I hated to admit it, she helped that day.\e Bie Big Elf took in the front of the Inn. \"So many rooms in this inn, so many stories. Each room is different, each smell, each rug, is different. But they are all contained within the same house. Within the same structure.\"

The Big Elf grew quiet for a moment, before continuing. \"She is not like you. She is not like me. She thinks differently, she reacts, she thinks from her heart, not from reason or logic. Her desire to protect you will increase and her inability to follow your specific instructions will not come from the wish to disrespect you or disobey you. There will be times you will be angered that she did that, while she will become angry that you do not understand why she did what she did. There will be times when you must be her Voice of Reason. And there will be times she will be your Voice of Compassion.\"

\"Please, help her. Try to understand. Help her...\"

\"... find her bow.\" The Voyeur finished for him. \"She is our air...\"

\"...Our Treasure...\"

\"Our Greatest Jewel...\"

Ours...


***

When I was young, they packed me off to school
And taught me how not to play the game
I didn\'t mind if they groomed me for success,
Or if they said that I was a fool

Wind Up
Jethro Tull

***
\"Remus, I am so confused!\"

The Wizard sitting across from her grinned impishly. \"What is there to be confused about? Tell me and I\'ll explain.\"

Bronwyn and Remus sat at her small table, refreshing juices in front of them. Bronwyn\'s facial expression was the opposite of Lupin\'s.

\"All right. There are four Houses and the First Years are sorted into their Houses by a talking hat on the first night.\"

\"Yes.\"

\"And how does this... talking hat... decide who goes where?\"

The Wizard shrugged noncommittally. \"It discerns inner qualities, motivation.\"

\"This is giving me a headache.\"

Remus patted her on the hand. \"Gryffindors are known for their bravery, their courage.\"

\"You are a Gryffindor. You would have to be.\"

Remus\' gaze became unfocused, his thoughts moving inward. \"One does what one must. No choice, really.\"

\"There is always a choice. Just sometimes, we do not know we have one.\" Bronwyn\'s voice was wistful.

A gentle silence was observed for a moment.

\"Yes, I am a Gryffindor. My friends were from that house. So is Harry, I was friends with his parents, the Weasleys, Neville - don\'t let Severus sway your thoughts about Neville - and Hermione. Ah, Hermione! There is a student who you will either love or who will drive you insane!\" Remus\' grin was brimming with affection and his gaze softened.

Bronwyn looked very closely at the Wizard sitting across her and she smiled inwardly. \"Tell me of this student. What is so special about Hermione?\"

Remus wasted no time. \"She is smart - the girl is so smart! Would have made a wonderful Ravenclaw - they are incredibly intelligent, by Merlin\'s Robes, bookworms each and every one. But she has balls of brass, that one does.\" He leaned over towards Bronwyn, as if afraid the walls had ears, whispering a precious secret. \"Did you hear what she did during her second year? She managed to break into Snape\'s storerooms and steal several rare and hard to come by ingredients in order to make Polyjuice potion.\"

\"Polyju-\"...

Remus was just getting warmed up. \"Polyjuice potion, when made properly, changes the drinker into the physical semblance of the person chosen. In this case, she, Harry and Ron... Ron Weasley... masqueraded as Slytherin students in order to make their way into the Slytherin common room and gather information on the Chamber of Secrets.\"

\"But if she broke into Severus\' storerooms... didn\'t she get into trouble?\"

\"She didn\'t for several reasons. Minerva is the Head of Gryffindor House and Albus is too soft on them, although he really tries NOT to play favorites. And as angry as Severus was, Polyjuice potion is extremely difficult to make. Severus didn\'t even attempt it until his seventh year and this... child... managed it her second.\" At this point, Remus\' tone and expression became wistful. \"However, she cocked up her portion rather badly and instead of turning into the female Slytherin of her choosing, she spent several weeks in the infirmary as a... rather large cat.\"

Bronwyn began to giggle. \"Oh, I\'m so... sorry. A... cat?\" Remus was snickering as well. \"I suppose they considered that punishment enough, eh?\" Remus nodded. \"Okay, so Gryffindors are brave and courageous; den mother is Minerva; Ravenclaws are smart... who is their Advisor?\"

\"Professor Flitwick. Professor Sprout is Head of Hufflepuff House. Hufflepuff takes those who aren\'t particular brave or smart or... Slytherin.\"

Bronwyn was playing with her glass. \"Slytherin. What is so... unique about them?\"

Remus\' mind raced. Oh, how to put this... \"Slytherins are smart, incredibly so. They are more concerned with what is good for THEM, rather than what is good.\"

\"So you are saying they are bad...\"

\"I didn\'t say that, Bronwyn.\" Remus looked around, desperate to make sure they were not being eavesdropped on. \"In all honesty, every wizard from Hogswarts that has ever gone bad... save one... came from Slytherin House. They are tight- lipped, closed - minded. They are very good at keeping their emotions and thoughts in check. You never know where you stand with them. I take that back: you DO know exactly where you stand with them. You just wish you didn\'t.\" He took in a deep sigh. \"In some ways, they are the most straightforward of the Houses. But in other ways, you never know what they are thinking. Every child sorted into Slytherin House is pureblood. None are Muggleborn, none are mixed. They are pressured to marry within the House; if not, then to at least procure pureblood mates.\" Remus began to play with his glass, \"Every year, Slytherin House gets smaller and smaller. Unless something major gives, the House will either become inbred or it will cease to exist.\"

\"So, it is an us -versus- them mentality?\"

\"That\'s one way to put it.\"

A heavy silence dropped over the small dining room.

\"Severus is a Slytherin, isn\'t he?\"

\"Severus isn\'t just ‘a\' Slytherin. He is Head of House. He IS Slytherin.\" He squeezed her hand. \"Bronwyn, you must understand; Severus favors his own. If forced to deduct House points, he will make theirs minimal while going extra hard on the others - especially Gryffindor. There is a long, long standing rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor. It is worth the loss of House points to make the other House look bad. They are seated on opposite sides of the Great Dining Hall for good reason. It will be very difficult after last year\'s defeat of Voldemort. Who knows what the Magnificent Seven will do?\"

Bronwyn slammed an empty glass on the table. \"Now, you have lost me. Magnificent Seven?\"

\"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. Harry... you have heard about Harry. Don\'t let Severus fool you. Kid is bright, courageous to the core...\"

\"He would have to be. He killed Voldemort.\"

\"He had help! Don\'t ever forget that. No one truly knows what Severus went through to make sure that Harry succeeded.\"

\"Oh yes there are.\" Bronwyn mumbled, picking up her glass. \"The Elves knew. So did the Valar. And how did they repay him? They strap him with me.\" She sank her nose into the glass, taking a deep draw of the cool beverage.

\"Bronwyn, you underestimate yourself. You are a unique person.\"

\"I am a teller of tales and a singer of songs. A most ancient historian.\" Her nose had barely come out of the glass and her voice echoed from within. \"Nothing more. Nothing less.\" Her eyes rose from the glass. \"Do not make me more than I am. And I am a thorn in Severus\' side.\" She set the glass down and waved her hand at Lupin. \"Who are the others?\" she asked, returning back to the original subject of the Seven.

Lupin scratched his chin.

\"Ron Weasley will be amazing once he gets control of his temper. Completely underestimates himself. Most amazing family. Huge family.\" Remus smiled inwardly. \"If everyone was raised in a family like that, there would be more laughter in this world.\"

\"I must make a point to meet this lovely family, someday.\"

\"Next is Neville. Neville Longbottom. Parents were brilliant, well known, popular. Neville was a baby when Voldemort went after them. Both parents are now at St. Mungo\'s - the Wizard Hospital - in the psychiatric ward. They do not know each other, much less the child they loved so very much. Who knows what Neville could have been had he been raised by them instead of his grandmother.\" Remus smirked to himself. \"Then again, who knows how differently his grandmother would have treated him had his parents not been literally hexed down in the prime of their life. Nothing pleased her, nothing satisfied her, and she constantly compared him to his father. As a result, Neville appears to be frightened of his own shadow. Clumsy, no self - esteem, but manages to come through when you least expect it. Will take a stand when he really feels strongly about something.\" He drummed his fingers on the table. \"Neville has come a long way this past year. This year will be interesting and crucial for him.\"

Remus continued to tick down. \"Hermione. I told you about Hermione. She is the real brain behind that group. One hell of a witch; what a powerhouse! And Muggle-born to boot. Many times I thought the hat had made a mistake, putting her in Gryffindor, but I think it was right.\"

Bronwyn watched hicialcial expression soften again. \"I think that you have more than a great deal of respect for Hermione Granger.\" Remus\' eyes slid upwards.

\"You do not miss much, do you?\"

\"You are as obvious as hell. So, what are you doing about it?\"

\"Right now? Nothing. She is under age. Well, not really, but I won\'t touch her until she graduates. Besides,\" he added wistfully, \" I am so much older than she...\"

\"So? Haldir was 3,000 years older than I; If you count the actual year of his birth and mine, he was over 40,000 years older than me.\"

Remus chuckled at her logic. \" I don\'t even know if the feeling is returned.\"

‘Oh Remus, my friend,\' she thought, ‘I can find out, no problem.\'

\"All right, that is four and you said seven.\"

\"Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. They are Slytherin.\" Remus stretched, arms above his head, cramped from sitting too long. \"Truly, Crabbe and Goyle are Malfoy\'s goons and dumb to boot. Crabbe\'s father was killed in the war. Tried to switch sides at the last minute and was killed in the crossfire. Actually, he will have it easier than Goyle. Goyle\'s father was tried and sentenced to Azkaban for life. Who knows how those two will act during their last year. Hide or walk about with a chip on their shoulder.\" He tapped the table in front of him. \"Draco Malfoy is the one to watch. Slippery as an eel. Gets it from his father. His father is as bad as they come; however, he managed to slip from everyone\'s grasp. Nothing sticks to the Malfoy name.\" Nervous fingers tapped on the table. \"Draco will try to goad you. Try, nothing; he WILL goad you. It is personal. When he and the Slytherin student body realize you and Snape are aligned, a team, it will be ugly. I will warn you now - he and Harry hate each other.\"

\"Surely, Severus exerts some sort of control over the children in the House he heads?\"

\"Harry hates Snape. And Severus is not fond of Harry. Harry\'s father and friends were not very nice to Severus as students here at Hogwarts. They made his life fairly miserable. In fact, they almost killed him once. Stupid, childish prank.\" He held his hand up to ward off her question. \"Nevertheless, there are strong, negative feelings there. Born and bred for years. It isn\'t going to just go away now that Voldemort is defeated. And just because Severus and Harry fought on the samee ane and worked together, does not mean bygones will be bygones.\"

\"Bronwyn, listen carefully. As a professor, you may add and subtract points for infractions of the rules, for behavior within your classroom. But for something major, you will have to turn a student over to their Head of House for disciplinary action.\" Fingers continued to drum on the table. \"There are those who think that sometimes the Heads of House are easy on their charges. But I know it to be a fact that Severus is VERY hard on his House students when someone elsechesches them in the wrong. He is easy on them for infractions he catches, but not for those that others catch.\"

Bronwyn took his glass to refill it.

\"Fine, I am no longer confused. Gryffindors will be foolhardy and in my face, Ravenclaws will challenge every bit of knowledge I possess, Hufflepuffs will blink at me whether they get it or they don\'t and Slytherins will push and goad because they think they can. Does that sum it up?\"

\"Perfectly. Bronwyn, you realize this is surface information, there is more to the Houses than this?\" She acknowledged him and he thanked her for the refilled glass she set before him. \"With that out of the way, I was asked to give you something.\" Remus pulled a rolled parchment from inside his jacket. \"Minster Fudge is here on official business. He brought with him the Objectives for you to teach the 6th and 7th years to help them pass their N.E.W.T.S and O.W.L.S.\" He handed the scroll to Bronwyn.

Settling down across from the Werewolf, she eagerly took the parchment and unrolled it. Her face went from interest, to confusion, to downright anger.

\"They want me to... teach this... tripe? This swill?\" She turned the scroll loose and it rolled up with a snap. \"This is ludicrous! It is wrong!\" Remus cringed at her angry tone.

\"This will NOT do at all!\"

***
Really don\'t mind if you sit this one out
My words but a whisper, your deafness, a shout
I can make you feel, but I can\'t make you think
Your sperms in the gutter, your love\'s in the sink

Jethro Tull
Thick as a Brick

***

Cornelius Fudge was not a happy Wizard.

He had come expecting answers and instead he was getting the runaround from Albus Dumbledore.

Again.

Every time he had tried to get the upper hand with the wily Wizard in the past, Cornelius had come up lacking.

Severely lacking.

But this time, he was not leaving until he had the answers he demd.
d.

\"Albus, I do not think you understand the consequences...\"

\"Indeed, I do. You do not think Professor Powell is qualified to teach a subject where she is the expert.\"

Fudge paced nervously in front of Albus\' desk. Fawkes, the phoenix, was making strange noises and this only served to irritate the Minister even more.

\"It is not that we believe her unqualified. She is, if anything, over-qualified. But the Ministry and the Board have... legitimate concerns.\"

Albus was comfortably seated behind his desk. He lifted a lid to a dish, taking out the yellow candy within. Inspecting it closely, he popped it in his mouth. \"In other words, Lucius Malfoy is questioning her appointment.\" He held the dish out to the Minister. \"Lemon drop?\" Cornelius shook his head and Albus set the dish on his desk. \"Very well. What concerns does the Ministry have?\"

\"Albus. To begin with, she is a Muggle!\" Cornelius held up his hand to hold the Headmaster off. \"I know, a most unusual Muggle and that is another concern. She has lived with Elves, THE Elves for a long, long time. Who knows what kind of... deviant lifestyle she has led?\"

\"Cornelius, I can guarantee that Bronwyn has led as normal a life as anyone.\"

\"As normal life as anyone?\" Cornelius spat. \"She has lived over 38000 years. With an Elf. You call that normal?\"

Albus continued to suck on his lemon drop. \"She was married to that Elf. Was devoted to him as any being could be. She has grieved his loss almost to the point of death. How can you call what we have lived under for the last two decades normal? Come, have a seat, and tell me what really troubles your Board. Are you sure you won\'t have a lemon drop?\"

The Minister scowled and finally reached into the dish, grabbing a candy. He plopped heavily in the chair behind him. \"Albus, we are afraid she is -\" he crunched down heavily on the hard candy, cracking it with his teeth, \"dangerous.\"

Ah, it was out.

\"How very funny.\" Albus mused aloud. \"You fear she is a danger. Yet you appointed a teacher here who was not only totally unprepared and unable to teach the subject she taught, but also reputedly abused students and did everything in her power - backed by your office - to not only keep the Wizarding population in the dark about Voldemort, but to completely ruin the reputation of the child who saved us all.\" Albus\' fingers folded together in front of him. \"Who is really the danger here?\"

Fudge hissed between his teeth. \"We all make mistakes, Albus! We honestly thought...\"

\"Cornelius, I assure you, Bronwyn would not harm any living thing.\"

\"She killed a dragon!\"

The silence hung in the air like a heavy weight. Finally...

\"Headmaster, if I might?\"

Cornelius looked up towards the speaker in shock. He had not realized that Severus Snape was standing in a darkened alcove of Albus\' office. Long fingers flicked the edges of scholarly robes as the Potions Master drew himself into the light. Fudge had long been frightened of Severus and knew in a one- on-one battle, he would come out the loser. That Severus was... reformed... a spy for the Cause; had aided The Order; made he, himself, look foolish...

\"Really, Albus, I do not know how Professor Snape could possibly aid in...\"

\"Aid? In truth, Minister, I have no wish nor desire to aid you. After all, you have done me no favors. But I do have a vested interest in Professor Powell.\" Severus took in Cornelius\' shocked look. \"Do not deny that you are unaware of her... unique situation.\"

Cornelius shot up from his seat, trying to go toe to toe with the tall Wizard. \"Exactly! She brings danger to this school; to our children. Merlin\'s Robes, Albus! She killed... she melted a dragon!\"

\"Do you really wish to hear about that?\" Snape\'s voice was dangerously soft. \"Then perhaps, you should ask her.\"

\"Ask her? Why, I...\"

\"Three times. Ask her three times. She will give you all the gory details. Thoroughly.\" Cornelius\' jaw flapped. \"Believe me, Minister, no one regrets that death more than she. She would sooner die herself than harm a hair on any child. Let us be totally honest. What atrocities did WE commit in order to rid our world of Voldemort? That dragon was just as evil, just as vindictive as Tom Riddle. He would have killed her, had she not killed him. Her circumstances are no different.\"

Fudge was not to be deterred. \"Her husband died defending her! The instigator behind that murder was never caught!\"

\"Indeed.\" Severus\' fingertips idly stroked his chin. \"The sniper was found dead. Poisoned.\"

Cornelius backed down a hair. \"I... I did not know that.\"

\"Yes.\" Snape continued to stroke. \"He was killed with Nightshade Poison.\"

Fudge sat back down hard. \"That\'s... that\'s... a Wizard poison.\"

Black orbs bored into the Minister\'s frightened eyes. \"Yes, it is.\"

\"You are saying one of our own tried to kill her! Killed her... Albus! She cannot stay here!\"

Albus\' voice was equally quiet. \"She has nowhere else to go.\"

\"That\'s bullshit! She has a home. She could go to Valinor or wherever it is the Elves came from.\"

\"No, she cannot.\" Albus continued to whisper. \"The way is closed to her. Men have gone insane trying to find the Elves\' home and she will not be allowed to return. Her home in Wales is unprotectable.\" He lod hid his gaze, as if to peruse the objects on his desk. \"She has nowhere to go; no where to turn. She is safest here.\"

Cornelius thought hard for a moment. \"But if her life is in danger...\"

\"If she is hunted by one of us, who better to protect her than one of us?\"

The Minister of Magic hissed in fury as his gaze locked on the dark Wizard. \"You? You are her protector?\" Quickly, his head jerked back to the Headmaster. \"Albus! Gandalf never said anything about this. All he said was that she needed a purpose, something to occupy her in her grief...\"

\"She needs that as well.\" Albus agreed. \"Someone is dogging her very footsteps. After a while, that would drive even the most stalwart of Wizards insane.\"

\"I will not have our children put in any more danger!\"

Severus opened his mouth to answer the irate Wizard, but was stopped by the scraping of moving stone behind him. He stood, awaiting the fury he felt entering the room.

\"Albus! Whose idea was this?\" Bronwyn entered the Headmaster\'s office and stormed up the stairs to his desk. She slammed the rolled scroll on the furniture and planted her fists on her hips.

\"Bronwyn, is something wrong?\" Albus held out the dish. \"Lemon drop?\"

Her scowl deepening, the angry woman snatched a handful of yellow candies, scattering several like pebbles across his desk. \"Wrong? Do you know what is written in this scroll? N\'Uma!\" she cut him off with a wave of her hand. \"Don\'t bother! I\'ll tell you what is in that scroll. It is the requirements and objectives for the 5th through 7th years in Muggle Studies.\"

\"Ah. Professor Powell. What do you find... lacking with the objectives?\"

Bronwyn turned on the speaker and Cornelius backed as far into his chair as possible. She appraised the short, rotund wizard, immediately labeled him inadequate. \"I am sorry.\" Her voice was terse. \"You are...?\"

Cornelius nervously arranged his robes. \"Cornelius Fudge. Minister of Magic.\" He stood up and awkwardly stuck out a hand.

She did not take it.

\"Do you have anything to do with the objectives in this missive?\"

Fudge slowly lowered his hand, as it was obvious she had no intention of being civil. He drew himself up. \"Why yes, I approved it. It is...\"

\"Tripe! It is tripe and swill and garbage and I refuse to teach it!\"

A calming, yet firm hand wrapped itself around her upper arm. \"Minister,\" Severus\' voice was like a balm on the stilted air between the Minister and the Bard, \"might I have a word with Professor Powell?\" Without waiting for an answer, Snape drew her down the stairs to a quiet corner and warded the area around, effectively silencing the corner. \"Bronwyn, a little sugar might help at this point in time.\"

\"Sugar? Sugar? You think I should sweeten that ... that... imbecile?\" Her cheeks puffed in fury.

\"That imbecile\" he forced with a smile, \" is the Minister of Magic. Cornelius Fudge...\"

\"I don\'t care if he is chocolate!\"

\"Madam!\" Snape\'s voice became clipped. \"I will not waste my time listening to your theatrics!\" Bronwyn\'s mouth snapped shut, but her eyes narrowed and Snape knew he had very little time to get her to calm down. \"Fudge is a prat and a reprehensible jackass, BUT he is the Minister of Magic, a position of great power. At this point in time, he is doing everything in his power to rid this school of you. He does not understand you nor does he understand your abilities. Quite frankly, none of us do! All he knows is what the Daily Prophet has bandied about and what certain powerful members of his cabinet and board are whispering in his ear.\"

\"And that would be...?\"

\"That you are a danger to our children. That you have lived a most depraved and perverted lifestyle with the Elves and you melted a dragon in the most disgusting manner, for the simple reason that you could. He is under the impression that you can just return to Valinor or your home. He does not feel Gandalf was very forthcoming or completely up-front.\"

Bronwyn\'s foot bounced with untamed energy. \"Oh, I doubt he was. Not many know about... my situation...\"

\"Not fully.\" Severus pulled himself up to full height and tucked his fingertips into the crook of his elbows. \"What is it in those scrolls that bothers you; angers you so greatly?\"

Bronwyn\'s face looked as if she were about to burst a vein. \"What is it? Melkor\'s Chains, all it is, is the bad things that the Muggles have done.\"

\"You mean they have done good things?\"

It was a good thing Bronwyn\'s back was to Fudge and Dumbledore. \"There is nothing of their accomplishments in science, in mathematics, music, the arts, of the things they do with medicines, for each other; n\'uma, it is all The Salem Witch Trials, the Spanish Inquisition, all the Major Wars, Cromwell, the Medieval Witch Hunts...\" She looked away, over his left elbow and ran fingers through her hair. \"It is all blood and gore and I, for one, think it is wrong!\"

\"Bronwyn,\" Snape\'s voice was oozing with ill-will, \"the Muggles have attempted to wreak great harm on us...\"

\"They do not understand you any more than you understand them!\" She lifted a weak fist and thumped once on his chest. \"Ah, Severus! The Wizards SAY they want to know the Muggles better; after all the damn species at got got them killed. But is this the way the group as a whole want to go about it? If that is all I am allowed to teach, then there never will be a meeting of the minds between the two!\" She finally looked up at him, near defeat in her eyes.

Severus scowled. The Minister was looking more and more put out at the silent tete a tete going on at the bottom of the stars; his own aggravation with Tel\' Lindar growing by leaps and bounds. \"Bronwyn... Perhaps they only sent part of their objectives, maybe you did not get all of it...\" he witnessed first hand that spark of hope in her eyes. \"Bronwyn. Pay heed. He does not want to like you and is under great pressure to get rid of you.\" He leaned over and whispered in her ear, a great show, even to those who could not hear to begin with. \"Honey. Honey draws the bee. It does not matter what he tells you to teach. He cannot be in your room every class, every day. Charm him with stable dung. You have charmed the Elves, can you not charm one moronic Wizard?\" Lifting the silencing spell, he turned her back towards the two Wizards waiting.

Bronwyn took a deep breath and offered her best \"come to tea\" smile. The sounds of a Haydn String Quartet swelled in the high ceiling of the room.

\"Minister Fudge. I am sorry.\" She strode forward and stuck out her hand. \"In my haste to find the missing pieces, I appear to have forgotten my manners.\" She grasped the clammy hand and if she was disappointed in the weakness of the grip, it did not show in her smile. \"Minister Fudge... may I call you Cornelius?... I am Professor Powell, but you may call me Bronwyn.\"

For a short second, the Minister felt as if a great prize had been bestowed on him, but he quickly remembered his task, and her limitations.

\"Miss Powell,\" his eyes flicked towards the desk at the scroll, \"you had a problem with the objectives you are expected to meet?\"

Her smile never faltered. \"Well,\" she said evenly, \"it is apparent that one of the scrolls is missing.\"

Fudge\'s smile became saccharine as he leaned around her and picked up the scroll. He quickly perused the short list and rolled it up, handing it to her. \"No. It is all here.\"

\"Oh.\" Bronwyn wet her lips. \"It\'s just... it\'s... well, it is incomplete.\"

\"In what way?\"

A teacup hovered near her and she nonchalantly reached out to it. The volume of the string quartet rose just a hair. \"It just seems to be lopsided. Whoever compiled these objectives seems to have... fixated only on the more negative aspects of Muggle History.\"

Cornelius\' smile remained anchored as he snatched his teacup from the air and sat back in the chair, forcing her to look down at him. \"They are what we considered important.\" He took a sip. \"If it is a problem, I am sure Albus can arrange for another teacher.\"

\"That will not be necessary.\" Bronwyn\'s smile was now forced and her voice, gritted. \"I just felt you would like your students to be... well rounded in their education.\" Setting the emptied teacup on Albus\' desk, she turned to leave.

\"Miss Powell.\"

Bronwyn stopped, but did not turn back to address the Wizard who spoke to her.

\"I have some concerns I wish to discuss with you. I would like proper answers.\"

Bronwyn looked at Severus, whose face belied no emotions.

She turned and raised an eyebrow.

\"We are concerned about the well - being and safe keeping of our children. Apparently, there is more to your appointment than meets the eye. We would like to be... assured that our children are not only safe, but in good hands.\"

Bronwyn\'s voice was low, very dangerous.

It sent chills up Severus\' spine.

\"Are you suggesting that I would harm any of your children?\"

Fudge continued on, not realizing the mire he had stepped into. \"Miss Powell, it is a well known fact that you have cavorted with an unknown race for a very long time. It is well known that at your hand, many have died horrible deaths.\" He did not look up to see the look of horror on her face, \"And it is well known that you have led many into batt-\"

\"Mister Fudge!\" The Minister\'s head jerked at the terseness in her voice. In his peripheral vision, he could see the Potions Master standing beneath her, a steely smile on his face. \"First and foremost, my name is Mrs. Powell... or if you wish to be formal, Bronwyn, wife and beloved of Haldir of Lorien. A more noble Elf you will never meet! I am humbled to have been chosen by him to be his life mate! I will remind you that the Wizards are descended from those same Elves... in fact, from Elrond of Imladris, whom I rate high in wisdom and esteem and have much respect for. You do his name and his entire lineage disservice when you suggest they ‘cavort\'. I have led no one into battle, ever. The only creatures to die at my hand were Orcs, wargs, spiders, and one evil dragon.\"

Fudge started to protest, but Bronwyn raised her hand, the sounds of the string quartet diminishing. \"If you utter one word questioning the safety and well being of these students in my presence, I would remind you that not one Wizarding family came out unscathed in your recent battle with Voldemort. Death. Imprisonment. Permanently in care at Saint Mungos. I will remind you that this past spring, every student from your Fifth Years up - and many younger - participated in a battle so vile, it has decimated the ranks and file of the Wizards. I would remind you that they fought on both sides. The truth of the matter is they could hex me to hell and beyond in a matter of seconds, before I could do a thing about it.\" Her unbent gaze narrowed on his. \"I am nothing more than a historian, a singer of songs, a teller of tales. I am no one.\" She turned to Dumbledore. \"Is there anything more you wish to discuss with me, Albus?\"

A hint of a smile, sparkle in the eyes told her exactly what he thought. \"No, Professor Powell. You have the list of objectives, you now know what subject matter is considered important.\" The two dipped their heads toward each other and Bronwyn turned on her heel, a slight wisp of air billowing gently as she passed Severus on the way out. Her final, parting shot hung on the air.

\"Ithron alheal!\"

For a moment, the three Wizards left in her wake listened to the scraping of stone closing the way behind her.

\"That went very well, what say you, Severus?\"

Snape had not moved, hands still tucked in. He let out a sharp snort. \"What I think is not important.\"

Fudge scowled, looked from the Potions Master to the Headmaster and back to the Potions Master. \"If you hold any sway with her at all, Professor Snape, you will convince her that it is best that she follows what is on the objectives list to the letter.\" He turned his attention to Albus. \"I should not have to remind you that while you do run this school with great leeway, our board will have a great deal to say if the objectives are not met properly.\"

Albus\' smile was gentle. \"Ah yes, you have in the past shown how concerned your board is. I believe Professor Powell will fulfill any obligation handed down by the trustees or myself, and she will teach our children well. Your concern for their safety is noted and I personally will keep an eye on her class. As will Severus.\"

Severus was feeling a headache coming on. She was fuming; he could hear her curses...

‘Neithadol! Le alhael athan orch ben-dhol!\'

...reverberating between the bones in his skull. He nodded in the direction of the Head Master and turned to leave.

\"Professor Snape.\" Severus stopped and did not turn around. \"You seem to handle her quite well.\"

Snape\'s grin was snarky. He looked over his shoulder. \"Sometimes, one only needs to hear the voice of reason.\"

As the surly professor left the room, Fudge had the distinct impression that Severus was not talking about the Muggles Studies Professor.

***
TBC
***

Tithen Aras: Little Dear

Ithron ahael: Witless Wizard

Neithadol! Le alhael athan orch ben-dhol: Neithadol! You are stupider than a headless Orc!

***
A/N

Hawaii - WOW! That\'s a lot of reading in 2 days. Glad I wasn\'t on the same road as you! These 2 circle each other in ruts, don\'t they?

Bella: Thank you! Nah! I pay very little attention to them (as long as it isn\'t personal!) in fact - their \'comments\' have spawned some terrific bunnies that you should see the fruits of before too much longer - a chapter or 2. They underestimated me and I kinda like that!

Windy Blossom - Thank you, I think. Interesting Comments. What \"romance Novel Women\" would you be referring to? I haven\'t read a romance in ... oh... almost 20 years. I tend to stick to fantasy and mystery these days. Believe me, you aren\'t being rude. You want rude? Try the Deleterius LJ - that\'s rude! (And laughable!) You should see the posts I delete! (My favorite one was the one who obviously hadn\'t read ANY of this monster and stated that Bronny was a \'cross-dressing God\'. I\'m still looking for the constructive criticism in that one!)

Book Lover: THey\'re both. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It\'s when they believe their opinion is the only RIGHT one and everyone else has lousy taste if it doesn\'t agree with theirs.. There I have a problem. We have a name for students with those tendencies... trouble-makers and those that must be monitored closely. They tend to destroy the balance in the room and add nothing positive to it. (Students like that do not tend to make friends well, nor do they last in large, team groups - like sports or music for long.)

And thanks to anyone who reads this thing. I appreciate the support.