Zingaro

I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe. It all belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 32

The rest of Thursday and all of Friday, Severus witnessed students from each year display a level of defence skill he would not have believed possible. Had he taught them himself from the very beginning, he doubted he would have been able to pull forth this kind of ability from them. Not that he would admit as much. His way was to terrorise the students into learning, whereas Paula, though exacting and severe in her own way, could see their fears and failings more clearly and brought them to the fore. She taught them to acknowledge those failings and find their inborn abilities, to strengthen them and override their weaknesses. As such even the first years were able to block most minor and medium strength hexes sent their way.

He enjoyed seeing the first years produce their paronus’s. Most of them did not take proper form, but a good shield was produced that would deter a single dementor should it be necessary. He watched as they fought each other with bags, books, one even swinging a cauldron round and round in an attempt to bat his opponent with it.

Paula had to remove it from his possession before he cracked someone’s skull.

The students hardly ever needed to go to the infirmary since Paula was able to treat most minor injuries herself with the aid of what she called her ‘Bujo,’ (Medicine bag) It was a brown leather bag that contained a variety of medicinal herbs, unction’s and potions of her own making.

“Loathe though I am to admit it, I was most impressed with your classes.” He told her over a plate of steak, mashed potatoes and peas. “You are being very secretive about certain students however. Both Weasley’s, Zabini and Parkins from my own house. I have questioned those two myself and they seem unaware of what you have planned. Care to enlighten me.”

“No. I am still awaiting confirmation from a certain person. Once I get it, and I will get it, then you and the students in question will take an oath before I reveal anything.”

He scowled. “An oath? So you do not trust me to keep a secret?”



“I do trust you Severus, implicitly, if however you find yourself in a position of … shall we say less than stellar condition one time when Voldemort is in one of his nastier moods, the oath will ensure that what you see and hear will not be revealed to him. What did he say when you told him about me?”

“That I was to befriend you, discover all I can about you.”



“I join the Order this weekend. Will you tell him?”

“Yes, if I do not, he will find out from another source and I will be punished.”

“Then tell him before I join.”



“You do not mind?”



“Why should I, better it comes from you. He cannot do anything about it anyway.”

“The woman is being initiated into the Order tomorrow evening my Lord.”

“I expected as much Snape. You will be attending I assume.”



“I will be there. She and I have become … close. She trusts me my Lord.”



“That is good, keep her close to you whenever possible until you are in a position to bring her here. I am most eager to meet this young woman. A dirty Gypsy you say?”

“Yes my Lord, though she is surprisingly clean in her habits from what I have seen.”

When Voldemort gave him a questioning look he explained.

“She bathes daily in the Forbidden Forest, her wagon and everything in it is spotless. Apparently she was rejected by her kind when she was thirteen years old, after the death of her last remaining kin. Since then she has survived by her own wits. I can only assume she has picked up her more cleanly habits from those she has encountered over the years.”

Voldemort laughed. “You are probably right Snape, her kind do not take to cleanliness well.”

Severus did not tell Paula about his conversation on her hygiene with the Dark Lord, it would serve no purpose and he did not wish to offend her just because he was forced to put on an act for the autocrat.

“As some of you are already aware, we have a new initiate waiting to join us tonight. Fawkes has already given his seal of approval and it is merely a matter of her taking the oath.”

Paula entered the kitchen at 12 Grimauld Place. Tonight she was in her black leather and smiled as she met the eyes of each individual.

They all noticed the odd colouration change in her eyes but they felt nothing as she briefly read each and every one of them.

“Looks like you’ve got competition for the eye thing Moody.” A red headed boy joked.

“Yeah, except she’s got both of them on the go.” said his identical twin.

“On the contrary, I cannot see out of the back of my head as Mr Moody can.” Paula told them, causing Moody to look at her in surprise.

“How did you know about that?” He asked gruffly.

Paula did not answer him, but she searched him a little deeper than she had originally. “Later Mr Moody, when we have a little more privacy perhaps.”

Paula took the oath and sat beside Severus as Albus told them what they needed to know about Paula. That she was an extremely good defence teacher and had already taught the sixth and seventh year students to auror level.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Paula turned to see a pleasant young woman, close to her own age, with a pixie like face and bright blue hair.

“Nymphadora Tonks.” Severus whispered to Paula. “An auror for the Ministry.” Then he addressed Tonks. “Nymphadora.”

“Don’t call me that, it’s Tonks, plain and simple. Tonks.” Tonks said, glaring at Severus.

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I have spent a couple of days watching the students in Miss Vance’s classes. They are more than capable of taking on anyone present in this room - Nymphadora.”

“It’s Tonks.” She bellowed at him.

Paula watched with amusement for a while at the banter going on between the two. The girl obviously hated her name and was willing to fight tooth and nail to make Severus call her by her surname. She was also a very insecure young woman. She had a talent that Paula could not see yet, although she knew it was there. But the girl believed it was only her talent that people saw when they met her. Not the person inside.

“I think Tonks, that you have a right to be known by the nav of your choosing. I will call you Tonks if that is alright.”

Tonks turned to Paula and smiled. “Yeah, more than alright. So do we call you, Miss Vance?”



“No, Paula is fine. I will also tell all of you now so that rumours do not circulate and give you the wrong impression of me. I am Romany, what most of you will have referred to as a Gypsy. I am not dirty, Romanies are a very clean race, and no, I do not curse everyone that annoys me. Nor will I be dukkering, I am not a tshor and I do not chor chav‘s.”

“I won’t be reading palms or tea leaves and telling your fortunes, I am not a thief and don‘t steal babies in the middle of the night.” She added at the confused faces.

TBC