Harry Potter and the White Conference

Sorry this is a bit slow at first....

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Chapter 2: Many Reunions

The rest of the summer passed quickly for the young witches and wizards at the Burrow. Harry finally gained a bit of weight on his wiry bones, thanks to Mrs. Weasley’s excellent cooking. Hermione became entirely frustrated with Ron and Harry, and refused to help them write their essays about the Ten Deadly Uses of Prunus Amygdalus for Professor Snape. And then when Ron yelled at her for not causing them countless hours of detention, she refused to show them the recipe for the Draught of Suspended Time. Boy, was Snape ever going to be upset. When Ron and Hermione were fighting, Harry found it hard not to get involved. But he had to hang out with someone, so of course he usually ended up with Ron. Hermione didn’t seem too upset, she was too busy studying.
Just as the youngsters were getting all their school supplies in Diagon Alley, nearyby Sophia was cautiously making her way into a crowded and smokey ale-house by the name of the Spotted Duck. She looked around wide-eyed for Prof. Albus Dumbledore. ‘Stop being so nervous! You aren’t a little girl anymore.’ She cursed herself silently for being so nervous.

“Sophia Aristides, I presume?” A soft voice said from behind her. She turned around and saw in front of her a very tall elderly man with a white beard and long white hair. His eyes twinkled when he saw who she was.

“Yes, of course it is you. You have your father’s eyes.”

“Prof. Dumbledore. It is good to meet you at last.”

“And you, my dear. Now, this place is a little cramped. Perhaps we could go to a less-crowded facility?” Sophia nodded and followed him.

They went across the street and all of the sudden Sophia noticed a sign for a pub that she had never seen before. Much to her surprise, Dumbledore led her right inside. The Leaky Cauldron was dank and dark, and the few people there were huddled over their massive tankard’s. Sophia wondered where Dumbledore had taken her. The bartender nodded at Dumbledore and unlocked a room with three large couches encircling a roaring fire. Dumbledore gestured for Sophia to sit down and followed suit. She stared at him without blinking while he told her about the hidden world of witches and wizards. She choked on her wine when he mentioned that her own parents were two of the most respected Auror’s in the Ministry of Magic.

“Everyone loved your mother, Viola Aristides. She was so kind. She and her best friend Lily were always helping others while they were in school. Your father, Plato, although an awful Quidditch player and something of a book worm, certainly earned the respect of every professor during his days at school. And with Viola’s help, he turned out to be quite good at Defence Against the Dark Arts. During the war, as Voldemort suceeded in destroying more and more good people, Viola and Plato decided for the sake of their daughter to leave the wizarding world and go into hiding. They did it for you, Sophia. But now it is time to come back, we are in desperate need of your help.”

“I understand your problem, Prof. Dumbledore. But I don’t understand why you need me? I am not even a trained witch, how could I help your war against Voldemort??”

“You have skills that we only need to draw out of you. And, you are unknown to Voldemort. This could be a great advantage.” Dumbledore sighed, “I am very sorry Sophia, I do not wish to go against your parents’ desire to keep you out of this war, but we are running out of choices. I hate to say this, but he is winning, and he will keep winning if the Ministry of Magic continues to hide its head in the sand.”

“If there is any way that I can help, I would be glad to, but I fear that I will dissapoint you.” Sophia answered gravely.

“That is impossible, my dear.” Dumbledore stood up. “I’m afraid I have pressing business to attend to at Hogwart’s. Our Care of Magical Creature’s Professor, Hagrid, will meet you in this fine establishment in two days, and escort you to Hogwart’s.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling, and exited the meeting room.

“I need a drink!” Sophia sighed. She made her way back to the main eating area and sat on a high stool at the bar.

“Can I have a drum of whiskey, please?” She asked the bartender. He nodded, “it’s on the house, Miss.”

“Thanks,” she answered. She took a sip and looked into the amber liquid in her glass. What an odd change of fortune. She looked around the bar, the strange looking figures in black cloaks seemed to be more concerned with their drinks than with her, thank goodness. As she took another sip she felt someone watching her. She looked over her glass at the bartender, but he was occupied with a dwarf who was trying to argue his way out of paying his tab. She put her glass down and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling at the ends while she thought over Dumbledore’s words.
‘I'm sure Dumbledore's words have caused me to imagine things,’ she thought, ‘why would anyone want to pay attention to me in such a weird place.’ Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement on her left. She glanced over and saw a tall wizard also sitting at the bar with a glass of whiskey. And he was watching her intently. Sophia started to glare at him, she’d been watched in bars before. The last thing she wanted was someone to think she was looking to get picked up. But then she stopped when she remembered where she was. His dark eyes bore holes into her, and she squirmed uncomfortably, trying not to let it show, and downed her whiskey.

The dark eyes watched her face as the sipped the strong liquor. The wizard smiled: she was taking it well. Any woman that small who could hold her whiskey was worth meeting. Although it was hard to tell with her sitting down, the wizard could see that she was tall and slim. Her face was long, and elegant. Her equally long fingers were pulling on her curly hair that was a dusky red in the dim lighting. He tried to get a better look but just then she noticed him staring, and instead of looking away he held her gaze. The wizard was quite interested in her deep green eyes.

“Mr. Fladgate, can I have two more doubles?” he asked the bartender. His voice was deep, silky and almost hypnotic. He turned his attention back to Sophia.

“You are new around here.” It was a statement.

Sophia accepted the drink, “perhaps,” she said raising her glass to him, “thanks for the whiskey.”

“You have good taste. That is one of my favourite of the Highland single malts.” He said.

She smiled, “mine too.”

“So tell me,” he asked turning towards her and shuffling his stool closer, “what is a lovely little thing like you doing partaking in the fiery liquids so early in the day?”

Sophia stared at him inquisitively, was he flirting with her? After all, he too was drinking whiskey before noon. But he was such a cold looking man. This was particularly odd. Was he one of Voldemort’s spies that Dumbledore spoke of??

“Don’t worry, I’m not a demon or something evil... I was just curious. I’ll go now.” He finished his whiskey in one gulp and gathered his cloaks around him.

“Wait, can I at least know who bought me a drink?” Sophia asked.

“Snape. Severus Snape.” And with a whirl of his robes and a glance back at her as he turned, Snape was out the back door.

Sophia shook her head. Well, that was weird. She smiled to herself slightly, ‘But, I’d definitely like to meet Severus Snape again,’ she thought.