Angelica's Sorrow

A/N - Deb You\'re Welcome, You\'re Welcome, You\'re Welcome. Oh, I love you, too. But will you respect me in the morning? I thoroughly enjoyed writing that scene with Angelica. I went back several times just to re-read it myself. I couldn\'t see Ginny not telling Hermione, she\'s her best friend and confidant. Kiss, kiss, hug. ;)


CAH - Well, I suppose Hermione could do something like that, but she doesn\'t know that Severus loves her. Would she really risk her chances with him by insulting one of his best friends?


Hmm - where did the rest of you go? Maybe I\'d better bring Narcissa back, just for old times sake!


5-6-04 - Hopefully this chapter will read a little better.


CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Severus was eating slowly. Slowly enough that Dumbledore noticed. His Potions Master was not one to dawdle over meals. Albus was aware of his changed attitude towards Narcissa, it was rather obvious to everyone currently at Hogwarts. Late night strolls around the lake, spending time together at Draco\'s bedside and light kisses on cheek, or forehead were not lost on anyone. That didn\'t explain tonight\'s aberration, Narcissa wasn\'t here. He was plotting something.

\"Severus, would you join me in my office after dinner? I have a few things I would like to discuss.\"

\"Of course, Headmaster. I\'ve finished, but I do have a few things I need to take care of first. Would it be all right in say, half an hour?\"

\"That would be fine.\"

\"Excuse me.\"

Snape didn\'t know whether to be relieved or worried as he headed towards his rooms. He\'d been waiting for an opportune moment to voice his question, but the subject never turned in the direction of the victims. The conversations centered around the upcoming term and what was needed to finish preparations. The prospect of talking with Albus in his office was unexpected, there was a certain amount of safety in numbers. Even he wouldn\'t pry too deeply in the presence of others, but in the privacy of his office? Severus really didn\'t have anything he absolutely had to do prior to the meeting. He only wanted time to consider his strategy. What would he want to discuss in the office he couldn\'t have brought up at dinner?

\'It has to be something about Angelica, Narcissa or Hermione,\' he concluded silently.

Severus stopped dead in his tracks and started to laugh. He couldn\'t help it and couldn\'t stop. He laughed so hard and long his side was starting to ache. A nearby wall helped him recover from the spasms. The thought anyone with him would have long since summoned Madam Pomfrey set him off again. He ended up sitting on the floor, with his back to the wall, still laughing. He wished he could share it with someone. The thought of the evil, sarcastic Potions Master having trouble with three women, all at the same time, was hysterical.

Albus was walking down the inner stairs of his office as Severus joined him. A slight smile on his face made Dumbledore pause on the bottom step, something was definitely going on. He didn\'t have a clue yet, but that would change.

\"You\'re looking exceptionally pleased. Care to share?\"

\"Oh, - it\'s nothing. Only a particularly embarrassing moment for Mr. Malfoy I happened to think about. I don\'t think he would appreciate my sharing.\"

\"Too bad, I could use a good laugh.\" He sat down at his desk. \"Please, take a seat.\"

Severus sat down in the chair slightly angled. Not such a large target, old habits died hard.

\"What did you want to see me about, Headmaster?\"

\"I noticed you seemed rather preoccupied during dinner and I wanted to know if anything was wrong.\"

\"What could possibly be wrong? Voldemort is dead.\"

\'No twinkle, damn. This is serious,\' Severus thought.

Albus considered his options, thinking, \'Perhaps the situation with Narcissa will bring forth something.\'

\"I was concerned that your burgeoning relationship with Narcissa was in difficulty.\"

\'The old man is fishing. What does he want?\'

\"No, everything is fine. Draco is doing quite well. That reminds me, when will Sibyll be returning?\" Severus asked, while thinking, \'Should throw him off the track, who cares when batty Trewlaney returns. She\'s a means to an end, nothing more.\'

\"Do you wish to throw her a welcome back party? I didn\'t know you cared.\"

\"Don\'t be silly, Headmaster. I don\'t want to cover her classes if she\'s unable to teach right away.\"

\"Have no fear, Severus. She will be able to carry her schedule when the time comes.\"

\"That\'s a relief. You never told me, who performed the counter spell for her? Her sister, Agatha?\"

\"Yes. She did.\"

\'Why would Severus want to know that?\'

\"We were fortunate in that instance.\"

\"Didn\'t Arthur perform the spell for Molly?\" Severus asked.

\'There was a pattern here. Let\'s see if he would mention Miss Granger.\' Albus was catching on.

\"No, I would have thought Narcissa would have mentioned he was with her in France. Bill Weasley was able to perform the spell adequately.\"

\"It never came up in conversation. If there\'s nothing else, I\'d like to check some potions I\'ve got brewing.\"

\"Unless it\'s something urgent, I would appreciate a few more moments of your time, Severus.\"

He may have gotten what he was looking for, but Albus hadn\'t. It wasn\'t going to end quite yet

\'There has been no mention of Miss Granger or of Draco. What is the connection? Of course, loved verus being in love, interesting. I\'ll have to bait the hook, but not be too obvious. Start with something else first,\' Dumbledore concluded.

Snape had started to rise, but sat down again. \"Nothing that can\'t wait a little longer.\"

\"I hoped you would be willing to discuss your exceptional wand. I\'ve only seen one other in my lifetime. They are extremely rare. Why do you chose not to use it? I\'ve been told that the bond between it and the proper bloodline makes a mockery of normal wands.\"

\"You have been informed correctly. I dislike putting my private life on display, as you well know. Knowledge of the ownership is enough to generate questions, even from strangers. I suppose you know how the core was forged?\"

\"I am not familiar with the process. Only that it allows the use of two magical items instead of one.\"

\"It requires a fresh supply of blood over a period of three days. This allows the bond between the items and then the bond with the owner.\"

\"Since this blood is freely given, I assume no Dark Arts are required?\"

\"No, close enough though.\"

\"Would it be too inquisitive to ask what the core of your wand contains?\"

\"I will tell you on the condition it goes no farther. Not even Minerva.\"

\"Is it that bad?\"

\"No, that private.\"

\"You have my assurance, it will go no further.\"

\"Five hairs from a quintaped and the feather from the wing of an abraxon.\"

\"That would indeed make a powerful wand. I am impressed. Not many could handle the power of the abraxon, let alone the viciousness of the quintaped. I don\'t believe Ollivander would consider using either of those in his wands. I am pleased you were able to keep it\'s existence a secret from Voldemort.\"

\"It wasn\'t difficult. I schooled myself not to think about it from the time it was handed down to me. I really do have to check on those potions. Anything else that can\'t wait?\"

\"No, that will be sufficient. We can discuss Miss Granger another time.\"

\'That should get a rise out of him. I know damned well there are no potions brewing,\' Albus growled to himself.

For the second time Severus sat back down.

\"That\'s quite all right, Headmaster. I only wanted to finish early tonight, they can wait. What about Miss Granger? Has she not recovered?\"

\"No, Mr. Potter successfully performed the counter curse. Miss Granger was supposed to take an apprentice position with the Potions Master at Beauxbatons, following graduation last spring. Due to the circumstances, that position has been filled. Minerva received a request from the Headmaster at Durmstrang today, requesting a transcript of Miss Granger\'s grades. Apparently the Potions Master there is considering taking her under his wing.\"

Severus was on his feet in an instant, furious and terrified at the same time.

\"She can\'t be allowed to go there! You know as well as I do Headmaster Rottisill turns a blind eye to use of the Dark Arts, if not actively encouraging them, just as Karkaroff did. Why would they accept her as an apprentice when they won\'t accept Muggle-borns as students? I can\'t believe she applied there, she\'s smarter than that.\"

\"We\'ve never been able to prove anything, you know that. As to why they would accept a Muggle-born apprentice, apparently they feel she is exceptional enough to waive the \'rule\' this once. She was only released from St. Mungo\'s this afternoon, so I don\'t believe Miss Granger applied. Word travels quickly, Severus. I believe they intend to offer her the position before someone else does, specifically the Salem Witches\' Institute.\"

\'The old man has me trapped and he knows it, damn him,\' Severus rationalized.

He\'d never taken on an apprentice before, but he\'d have to now. Would she accept? She\'d never applied for a position with him and at the time he had been relieved. Now, he was worried. Salem was too far away and Durmstrang was too dangerous. Severus sank back down, resigned to the little drama that was sure to come.

\"What did you have in mind, Headmaster?\"

\'Twinkle is back, all going according to plan.\'

\"Why, to offer her a position here, of course. I know how you feel about taking on an apprentice, but if Rottisill could make an exception, surely you could as well.\"

\"Miss Granger did not apply when she had the opportunity, what makes you think she would consider accepting?\"

\"Many things, proximity to family and friends, familiarity with the facilities and she also knew you had refused applications in the past. If you personally offer her the position, I\'m sure she would accept.\"

\"I could send an owl I suppose.\"

\"I think it would be better in person, that way she would know you were sincere. I\'ve seen the letters you write, they leave much to be desired. I think tomorrow would be a good time to pay a visit. She\'s staying with the Weasleys for now.\"

\"What terms would you have me present?\"

\"The usual wage for an apprentice, private room, board and of course the charming company of the entire staff.\"

\"I\'m afraid I don\'t know the usual wage for an apprentice, since I\'ve never had one.\"

\"You can get a standard contract from Minerva in the morning, before you leave.\"

\"Very well. Is there anything else you haven\'t told me I should be aware of? I do have those potions simmering.\"

\"No, I think that takes care of things for now. Have a pleasant journey tomorrow, good night.\"

\"Good night.\"

After Snape had left his office, Dumbledore pulled out a blank sheet of parchment and his wand. He was lost in thought for a moment and then waved his hand over the paper.

\'Yes, this will be adequate for the request from Rottisill. Insulting enough, but plausible in its praise of Miss Granger\'s intellect. Wouldn\'t do for Severus to check her file and not find one. I\'ll have to fill Minerva in on the circumstances and the plan, but she will see the need for discretion.\'

After one final appraisal of his handiwork, Dumbledore sent it directly to her file with another wave. He wouldn\'t put it past him to check tonight.


Snape was plotting even as Dumbledore sent the letter to Hermione\'s file.

\'Why wouldn\'t Minerva have mentioned this at dinner? Any news about her favorite student was immediately broadcast. Perhaps Albus asked her not to, until he forced me into offering the apprenticeship.\'

He wouldn\'t mind having her here, working with him, but he wanted to know where he stood first. Not knowing who she loved would be torture. It would definitely make it a lot easier to approach her in the best manner, strict teacher or possible lover.

Damn, there was also the situation with Narcissa. His feelings towards her hadn\'t changed and from what he could see, neither had her\'s. He didn\'t want to insult her by declaring their trial period over and immediately start pursuing another woman. Worse yet, a younger woman! She seemed to be rather sensitive about her age.

\'I\'ve had enough tongue lashings to last for quite some time, thank you very much. It would make it easier to get Hermione down to see Angelica. That might - No! Not until I know for sure. Angelica had been angry, she\'d probably tell her everything!\'

Severus reached the door to Minerva\'s office in the most roundabout way possible. He knew she didn\'t bother to ward her door during the break, but if she was present, it would put a stop to his current plan. He knocked briskly on the door while turning the knob.

\"Minerva, are you here?\"

A quick check and no reply assured him she was probably in her classroom, or talking with one of the other professors. Wouldn\'t take long, just a quick peek. Crossing the room he opened the file drawer for the G\'s. Flipping through them, he felt a moment of panic when it wasn\'t there.

He groaned silently to himself as he realized, \'Angelica was right, I am a dolt. Of course her files aren\'t in the current student drawers. She\'s graduated.\'

Severus moved to the proper cabinet and was rewarded.

\'Rather thick actually, had she gotten in that much trouble?\'

Taking a brief glance, he was surprised to see the number of classes she had taken. The grades were outstanding. He felt a little guilty, noticing potions was the lowest, but then again he was a demanding teacher. No one had ever gotten better grades in any of his classes.

\'Have to quit this, where is the letter? Should be towards the back if it was recent. Here it is and damned insulting, too. So, they will overlook her blood lines in favor of her intelligence, will they?\'

He\'d see her at Salem before he\'d let Rottisill, or any of his bunch, get their dirty paws on her. They weren\'t good enough for her to wipe her feet on, let alone teach her anything. He hadn\'t believed it six years ago when Morinsky had finally achieved Master status, only took him five bloody years instead of two. She probably knew more, due to her own reading, than Morinsky did anyway. He was still fuming about the implied insults as he made his way to his rooms.

\'Where do they get off, thinking they\'re better than she is. I wish I could send an Angelica style lashing their way. Damned bigots.\'

Severus closed and warded his door for the evening and decided to prepare for bed. Tomorrow was going to be a stressful day and he wanted to be ready. Catching a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror, he paused to study his reflection.

She hadn\'t seen him since the battle. Would she think him too ugly? The wear and tear of being a spy was no longer evident. In fact, thanks to Poppy\'s nagging, he\'d gained a little weight. Couldn\'t do much about the nose though. He could actually, but didn\'t want to risk changing his voice. It was one of the best assets he had.

\'Well, besides the legs of course,\' he thought as he climbed into bed.