The Reluctant Highlander
The Fine Print
***DISCLAIMER***
Short chapter, an “interlude” of sorts, where we find out
what’s up at Hogwarts!
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Madam Irma Pince picked herself up off of the carpet in
front of her desk and shook her head to clear it - she had fainted yet again
when Professor Snape had gone after the young Gryffindor witch, Hermione
Granger. She hurried over to where the book lay forgotten on the floor, and
picked it up…intending to close it, she began the motion but stopped as she saw
the Fine Print glowing softly in the dimness of the library.
that were suddenly shaking violently, she ran to the fireplace and threw a
handful of Floo powder into the flames.
Please come to the library, immediately!”
She heard Albus’ startled reply and tottered back to her desk,
desperately attempting to unearth the flask of firewhiskey
she knew was there before her employer got there – liquid courage would be the
only way she would get through the upcoming confrontation.
She finally located the flask and drained it in a
turned green and Albus Dumbledore stepped through, the empty glass bottle
bouncing off of his beard. He caught it
easily and brought it to his crooked nose.
“Why, Irma – whatever is the matter?” he said in a concerned tone…it had
to be something truly horrible to have rattled Pince’s
cage this badly. He had a feeling that
he wasn’t going to like this. It was
confirmed in spades as she timidly handed him the book.
after Gilderoy had been hauled off to St.
do you have this?” he questioned.
She turned almost purple with embarassment,
mumbling something behind her hand.
“I’m sorry? I didn’t catch that.”
The purple was turning slowly into an alarming blue-black.
love with me.” Dumbledore’s glasses slid
entirely off of his nose as he went slack-jawed in shock.
cleaned them briskly and poked them back up on the bridge of his nose with his
wand, trying not to look at her.
“But, Irma…why aren’t you there as
well, if Argus Filch is inside this book…?”
She covered her face with her hands.
it,” she whispered.
“WHAAAAAAAAT?” he
roared, falling off of the stool he had perched on with a thud.
of the stacks merrily. He listened with growing horror as she told him what had
happened. “And Severus went….in….after
her?” Albus gasped, clutching his chest.
He thought he was about to have a heart attack.
She confirmed this meekly and pointed at the glowing lines of text.
down on the desk and folded his hands in his lap.
“Irma. Do you know
what this means? It clearly states that they will not be released from the book
unless they are well and truly in love with each other.
another, which the book has read from their minds when they touched the pages, not
only must they be in love, they must either marry or Hermione must be…with
child…before they can come back. I need
not tell you that we might never see them again.”
The librarian scurried to the Floo and summoned the Deputy
Headmaster, who came immediately and conferred with Albus.
House roared in outrage, then burst into tears at the thought of never seeing
her favorite student again. Albus
straightened from his slump suddenly, pointing at Pince.
journals, for example? Bring one,
quickly.” She ran to fetch one,
trembling so much that she could hardly get it off the shelf.
his wand at Rendezvous with Romance
silently. A pink mist began to rise from
it, which he then directed to the blank book.
The blank journal began to glow as the mist settled into it
and as the light slowly began to fade, Albus pocketed his wand with a
smile. “There, now.”
Minerva looked at him.
“What do you mean, ‘there now’? They’re still in there!”
He regarded her with a smile.
knowing what is happening, we can now open this book and see…or rather,
proudly. The women gaped at him,
Severus and Hermione’s adventures, and Minerva began to read it aloud from the
beginning – even as they watched, words were appearing on the pages that had
been left blank; they represented what was currently occurring.
They all had a great laugh at Severus Snape in a kilt,
fighting in a battle he was most displeased to be thrown into headfirst.
through the castle, and they grew downright embarrassed at the bath
episode. Minerva faltered, gave a
squeaky “Oh!” and firmly pushed the book away.
Albus steepled his fingers
thoughtfully.
“It may be that they could be returned after all…and I doubt
that the marriage will be the the first thing to
happen,” he said pensively, drawing shocked glances from Irma and Minerva.
can…but we will need to contact Miss Granger’s parents as well as securing a
substitute Potions teacher. And
student population of Hogwarts that one of their fellows is trapped in a
romance novel with the Head of Slytherin…not even the staff, Minerva,” he said
sternly. Severus would never forgive him
were he to let this out of the bag.
Scooping up the book, he stood. “I
will maintain control of this and keep watch for the next 24 hours. I will hand
it off to you after that, during which time you will notify me immediately at
any sign of trouble.”
Minerva McGonagall’s lips thinned into non-existence.
Albus’ blue eyes twinkled.
“Why, catch up on my reading, of course!
I happen to have a surpassing fondness for Harlequin novels, and Ms.
don’t forget – this stays between the three of us.”
the two faces peering out from behind the bookcase directly across from them.
Harry and Ron looked at each other incredulously, then back
at the three adults who were going their separate ways.
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A/N: Oh, no!
everything again - their meddling never turns out well…and I don’t think