Keogh

~***~

“I’m sorry? Could you repeat that? I can’t have heard you properly.”



Severus was inclined to agree with Black, but he would never admit to it vocally. Instead he merely concentrated on stirring his sugar into his tea as Sirius studied the odious woman. He sent up a silent prayer to whatever power ruled the universe that Umbridge had not become an actual teacher.



“As I said, the Ministry of Magic feels that a theoretical knowledge of defense should be sufficient enough to get the students through their examinations, which is what school is all about in the first place.” Umbridge gave another one of those girlish giggles. Black might very well deserve a medal for not killing her for that alone. “There should be no need for them to use spells inside the classroom.”



“Really.” Severus watched as Black added too much sugar to his own tea. “And what about the practicals?”



Delores blinked. “I beg your pardon?”



Black opened his hands wide as he leaned back in his chair. “The practicals. The portion of the examinations where the students are supposed to demonstrate that they can do the magic, not just write down the theory of it. As I recall they were quite vicious, and you’re already nervous about it. Surely you don’t expect these students to manage through the physical portion of their exams without first actually doing the spells.”



Umbridge faltered. Severus hid his smirk behind his cup as she came up with a rather pathetic response. “If they learn the theory well enough, they should have no trouble with the practicals.” It was all he could do not to laugh. Black did not bother to hold back.



“Ha! No trouble? Oh, I’ll admit there are a few who could manage it. Hermione Granger for one. A couple of the Ravenclaw students likely could pull it off. Oh, and that Casanova of yours, Snape. The dark one.”



Severus arched a brow. “Mr. Zabini?” Yes, he could probably manage a spell the first time. He was cleverer than he let on.



“Yeah, that one.” Black looked back to Umbridge. “At any rate, the students need to practice the spells if they’re to pull them off come time for their examinations.”



Umbridge pulled herself up to her full height. She still looked pathetically undersized when faced with Black. Even while seated anyone could tell he would tower over the woman. “Am I to understand that you are going to ignore the Minister’s recommendation?”



“You understand correctly. Tea?” He held up the silver tea service, his expression mildly polite. Black’s ability to be charming in any situation truly was amazing, as much as it was annoying. Still, watching Delores turn her nose up and stride from the teachers’ lounge in all her haughtiness was entertaining if nothing else.



“Fudge has really lost it. His paranoia is getting worse by the day.” The bane of his existence ran a hand through his shaggy black hair before craning his neck to look at Severus over his shoulder. “I mean, really! Teach the students defense without having them actually practice the spells? It would be like sending lambs out to slaughter.”



“We know why he’s doing it, Black.” He downed the rest of his tea and made to rise. “At any rate, you’re more likely to be a target of her attacks than I. The Ministry is bound to believe you’re the Headmaster’s lapdog, considering all the effort he put into getting your name cleared. Fudge probably believes you to be the general in Dumbledore’s non-existent army.”



Black grinned one of his lop-sided grins. “That’s not a bad idea, that. If that old toad is going to be watching the kids like she is…” He trailed off, scratching at his jaw line with his eyes narrowed in contemplation.



“What are you scheming about?”



“Nothing, Snivellus. Nothing you need to concern yourself with at any rate.”



Snape’s eyes narrowed into a glare. “If you do anything that results in my daughter being expelled from this school, I will be measuring my office for a new dog-skin rug.”



Sirius waved off his threat. “Don’t worry about it. Besides, the girl can take care of herself. You shouldn’t smother her so.” He looked at the clock on the wall. “It’s Tuesday, isn’t it?”



“Congratulations, Black. You’ve learned how to read a calendar.”



“Funny. I was just thinking that I’ll have to talk to the kids some other time. This is the night Hermione has to do the family thing with you, after all.” He looked back towards Snape. “I still can’t believe that adorable little witch came from you. Must be more to you than meets the eye.”



“Yes, well, just keep in mind that ‘adorable little witch’ is young enough to be your daughter as well.”



“Oi! I’m not going to lay a hand on the girl. Besides, she’s already set her eyes on Diggory, the lucky bastard. Good match, there, Snivellus. He’s almost as clever as she is and quite the wizard.”



“Go change your flea collar, Black.”



Sirius narrowed his gaze. “You’re not giving the boy a hard time, are you?”



“No more than is my right as a father, not that it is any concern of yours.” Having had quite enough of Black’s company, Severus tugged his robes smooth and left the lounge. Not giving the boy a hard time, indeed!



If the truth were to be told, he was starting to accept Diggory. He doubted he would ever be fond of the boy, but Black was correct in his assessment that it was a good match. A pureblood from a good family with not so much as a whisper of shady dealings as well as a talented wizard, and as he was the consummate Hufflepuff he was more likely to be pursuing Hermione based on her own merits rather than the sizeable fortune she held at Gringotts or for any political or social connections. If the girl had to marry one day, she could do far worse.



However, the idea of Hermione getting married still did not sit well with him. He supposed it was the natural inclination of a father not to want to dwell on the thought that his daughter would one day be a woman and inclined to do the things adults do. Perhaps it was time to reintroduce the concept of chastity belts into society.

~***~

“Are you certain you want to do this?” Cedric nodded. He looked uncertain, but stubbornly set upon his course. Hermione studied him for a moment before giving him an encouraging smile and knocking on the door to Severus’ private quarters.



She had been surprised when the message from her biological father had arrived, inviting her to extend her usual invitation to his quarters so that it included Cedric. Something inside of her was not altogether at ease with the prospect of the two wizards in her life being in the same room outside of a classroom setting. She really did not want to play referee tonight.



The door swung open without warning, but as it always did Hermione took it in stride. She stepped through first, followed by Cedric once he had steeled himself. The hearth had been stoked so that the damp chill normally present in the dungeon levels was banished. In spite of what the rumors were about school, Severus did not decorate his personal abode with skeletons and specimens in jars; those were in his private workroom. His living quarters were quite cozy, if somewhat Spartan, and were thick with bookcases ladened with all manner of tomes.



For tonight the modest table had been set for three. The house elves had provided a scrumptious cake with lemon curd filling and delicate sugared flowers for their tea. It seemed oddly out of place in this room, better suited for a table meant for Professor Sprout or perhaps even Professor Flitwick. Severus was more of a shortbread kind of person, simple and unadorned.



She heard Cedric clear his throat as quietly as he could manage and realized that Severus had turned his black gaze upon her boyfriend. “Thank you for inviting me to join you, Sir.”



Hermione swallowed at looked towards her biological father. Severus raked an appraising gaze over the student he had seen often over the past six-plus years. “Yes, well, as you seem determined to make yourself an important part of my daughter’s life, I suppose I have no other option but to become better acquainted with you.” He waved a hand at the table. “Be seated. Both of you.”



That was about as polite as Severus ever got. He truly was a surly, often nasty, individual. Still, he had not drawn his wand or threatened to poison Cedric, so she supposed it was a start. She summoned a polite smile and took Ced by the hand, leading him over to the table. He pulled out her chair for her and let her be seated first. They were past such painfully proper behavior, but he seemed determined not to make any misstep upon which Severus might pounce.



Hermione took it upon herself to serve the tea and lemon cake. Severus took his with two sugars. Cedric took his with one sugar, just to knock the bitter off, and a splash of cream. She took hers with honey. She was cutting slices of the lemon cake when Severus opened up with the first salvo.



“So, Mr. Diggory, your achievements while here at school have been exemplary, but have you given any thought as to what you plan to do with the rest of your life?”



She placed a plate with a slice of cake before Severus as her eyes glanced over to Cedric. His shoulders squared unconsciously before he answered. “My ultimate goal is to join the diplomatic corps of the Ministry of Magic. I’ve always found foreign affairs and negotiating trade and treaty agreements to be fascinating work.”



“Your ‘ultimate goal’? What are you plans in the short term?” Her father picked up a silver fork with his long fingers, letting the tines hover over the soft cake.



“I’m being heavily scouted by several professional Quidditch teams. It has been brought to my attention that I should consider taking advantage of my youth and fitness now by signing on as a seeker. Try my hand at gaining fame and fortune that way first while making connections with foreign players that are likely doing the same. It would be a good way to lay the ground work for my future.”



She had not known that the teams were scouting him. Perhaps she should start paying more attention to the Quidditch talk. She gave Cedric his slice of cake before claiming one for herself. Severus did not seem to be impressed. “Professional Quidditch? That requires a life out on the road, not to mention the slatterns that most skilled athletes attract.” She looked up and met his black eyes with a warning look. Severus ignored it. “How do you intend to nurture a serious relationship if you are always away from home?”



Cedric took up his own fork but did not start in on his cake right away. “It should be about as difficult as keeping up a relationship when Hermione has two more years of schooling after I graduate, Sir. I am well aware that things will often time be strained between us, but Hermione would hex me into the next century if I were to hover over her constantly.”



She frowned. “Why would I do that?”



Cedric slid a smile her way. “It would interfere with your studies. I’m far too clever to do something that foolish. I know that if it came down to you choosing between your books and me, I’d likely lose.”



Hermione gasped. “That’s not true!” Cedric looked unconvinced. She looked towards Severus and found him smirking as he looked to cutting another bite of his cake. She sat back in her chair with a huff. “There’s nothing wrong with being serious about learning.”



“Nothing wrong with it at all,” agreed her father, “and I am quite pleased that you are. And I have to admit that Mr. Diggory here is handling things far better than I would have predicted. Of course, he still has to go through this entire process again. Or have you already met the Grangers, Mr. Diggory?”



The color drained from Cedric’s face. Hermione thought he suddenly looked quite ill. Surely he could not be afraid of meeting her parents! Compared to Professor Severus Snape the Grangers were practically kittens!

~***~

Hermione gaped at Sirius. Surely Umbridge had to be joking; only she was quite certain that the woman had no sense of humor whatsoever. “But… how do they expect us to pass the practicals?”



“Precisely the question I asked her. She didn’t have a satisfactory answer, either.” He glanced over at Harry and Ron who were concentrating on completing their animagus transformations and had not heard the quiet conversation between friend and teacher. “This means, of course, that she’ll be watching the students even more closely than before.”



She shook her head in disbelief. “How can the Minister of Magic think Dumbledore has designs on his position? It’s insane! And to continue to bury his head in the sand over all the disappearances and everything!”



“I know, Hermione. The entire Order is aware that Fudge has lost it. We even suspect that he might be bewitched in some manner, though his actions aren’t quite on par with Imperious. And he’s acting too clear headed to be confunded, though granted it’s hard to tell with Fudge.”



She gave a huff. “How did that man become Minister of Magic in the first place?”



“By saying all the right things and having all the right connections. Most of them the old families with their extensive power and wealth. Of course that means most of them are former Slytherin students and more than a few of them were Death Eaters even if they did manage to talk their way out of Azkaban. Hopefully after the dust settles this time the heroes of this war will be able to correct the social ills that plague our society.”



Hermione frowned. “Such as?”



Sirius arched a brow in her direction. He was reclining in his chair, looking boneless and comfortable. “First and foremost the severe lack of half-bloods and muggleborns in positions of power. The old families are dying out as it is, and they are too blinded by their own prejudices and pride to see that they’re over bred. Idiot children. Hideous children. Failed births and failing power.”



“But you’re a pureblood. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and perhaps they haven’t quite gone too far just yet. I mean, look at the Weasleys. Seven children, all of whom are exceptional in some way. Even Ron when he doesn’t let himself get too caught up in feeling overshadowed.”



“Oh, there are always exceptions, Hermione, but I promised myself long ago I would never marry a pureblood if I ever married at all. James had the right idea, marrying Lily. Of course, it helped that he was completely knackered over her from the day he first set eyes on her. The man had a weakness for red hair. I imagine his son will fall prey to it soon enough, once he gets over his fascination with Miss Chang.”



Hermione frowned and glanced over at Harry, who was currently muttering with Ron over one of the books. “You don’t think it’s serious, then? Harry and Cho, I mean?”



Black shook his head. “It feels real enough to Harry, of course, but it isn’t even a candle flame compared to what James felt for Lily at your age. No, I rather think that Miss Weasley’s patience will reward her in the end. It might be a year or two yet before Harry wises up to it, but it will happen.” A smirk tugged at his lips. “Of course, I don’t envy the row that’s likely to cause between him and Ron.”



She covered her mouth and nose as a snort threatened to escape her. Yes, that likely would be a fight for all to see. Fred and George could sell tickets, provided they were not helping Ron by holding Harry’s arms back so he could pummel him properly.



“So, Hermione, what do you think you should do about Umbridge?”



She blinked and looked at Sirius. “What should I do?”



“Not just you, but all of you.” A bit of the young, prankster Sirius glittered from out of the wizard’s eyes. “She’s not going to lay off for us to teach you properly in class, so what do you propose is to be done about it?”



Hermione frowned and looked down at the open textbook lying forgotten on the coffee table. “Well, I suppose we’ll have to take it upon ourselves to practice. Though we’ll have to do it under her nose, and that won’t be easy. She’s using Slytherin House as her own personal spies. Not to mention Filch. I think he’s barely holding back from proposing.”



Sirius grimaced. “There’s an image I didn’t need. Can you imagine what their children would look like? Still, her greasy little fingers will be in the way and often.” He beamed. “Fortunately for the more scholastically minded, the current generation of Hogwarts has you three to do their thinking for them. Of course, as a teacher I must insist on being kept out of the loop. Whatever you three come up with, I don’t want to know about it. That way I can’t be forced to rat you out.”



There was a certain sense to that, of course. Hermione gave a little nod that froze halfway as Ron let out a yelp. She and Sirius looked over to find a rather large and somewhat disoriented stag trying to find purchase on the floor without trampling the furniture. He was failing miserably as he sent the serving tray with their nightly snacks and tea tumbling over. Ron was scrambling away from the animal to keep from being stomped.



Sirius gave a bark of laughter and clapped soundly. “Well, hardly a surprise, is it?”



Hermione smiled as the stag shifted back into a rosy cheeked, pleased looking Harry. “No, it’s not a surprise in the slightest.”

~***~