Sub Rosa

Chapter 53 – Dancing with Dragons

Kathryn woke in an unfamiliar bed with a very familiar man. With a happy smile she decided to take advantage of the situation. He awoke with a rather bleary expression that quickly turned wicked as he realized where her hands were. Luckily for her, he didn’t object.

Breakfast in his icy, barren chambers was quick as they were both running a little late after the morning’s diversion. Glancing around the room confirmed her assessment of the suite of rooms. They were impersonal, cold and uncomfortable. She felt a stab of pity for Severus; having to maintain these rooms for his cover persona must have been the icing on the cake of his personal misery.

When his back was turned she whispered some instructions to the house elf, Tiggy, who winked at her as he vanished. After all, she was as good an excuse as any for changes in his chambers.

She stepped into the classroom before her students arrived to find a tall, elegant man waiting for her. He was dressed in a simple set of pale green robes with no decoration on them. His long jet black hair was washed with a rainbow of highlights that made it glimmer like a raven’s wing. He turned from the window to meet her startled gaze and she took in his neatly trimmed Van Dyck beard and the piercing blue-green eyes.

She realized at once what he was, though she still had no clue as to who he was.

“May I help you, Elder?” She asked politely and watched as he grinned.

“She told me that you wonot not be fooled by glamour.” He was as cryptic as all his kind, despite trying to pass for human.

“I am Kathryn Leblanc.” A gentle reminder of manners and he blushed slightly.

“Kaelind.” That he gave her his name surprised her, for it might not be his inner name but it was certainly a true name.“My “My heart sings to greet you.” She gave the formal reply and crossed the room to stand beside him. He gave her the proper bow, but a trifle awkwardly, as though it had been some time since he had played the etiquette game. She guessed he had not crossed the veil to visit her.

“Professor Leblanc, Lady Freddy has heard of your problems with the sword and offers her aid.” Kathryn held her jaw in one place by sheer force of will as shock coursed through her veins.

“Really, how kind.” She said faintly and saw Kaelind’s grin widen as her discomfort became evident.

“She will be expecting you for tea on February 2nd at four o’clock.” He announced. Kathryn’s jaw dropped despite her resolution to stay calm. “Bring the boy and his sword.” Kaelind bowed and then simply walked out of the room leaving a very flustered young woman behind him.


“I don’t understand.” Harry repeated looking at Albus, Minerva, Severus, and Kathryn with confusion.

“I need to take you and Backbiter to see someone on the 2nd.” Kathryn repeated. The other adults were watching her squirm with equal confusion.

“Who is this Lady Freddy?” Minerva asked her with some impatience.

“She is the one who forged the sword.” Kathryn got it out through clenched teeth. She had to fight to discuss this. The geas against talking was very powerful.

“I thought the swords were forged by dragons.” Albus was watching her very closely indeed as he posed the question.

“They were.” She could answer that one with no problem.

“You are taking me to see a dragon?” Harry’s voice cracked on the last word and Kathryn just nodded.

“An elder dragon?” Severus stared.

“Actually, THE elder dragon.” She squeezed out. “The last one on the planet.” They were all staring at her now with identical expressions of dismay.

“Is it …dangerous?” Minerva whispered.

“All elders are dangerous, but Lady Freddy is well…she’s Lady Freddy.” Kathryn shrugged helplessly, for even if she weren’t under a geas it would have been impossible to explain. Lady Freddy wasn’t easily described.

“Will Harry be in danger from her?” Albus asked finally.

“He will be safer with her than almost anywhere on the planet.” Kathryn assured him.

“Where does she live?” Severus was looking at her rather strangely.

“In a town that doesn’t exist.” She answered and watched them all exchange looks of confusion and resignation. She buried her head in her hands. “It’s a secret, the biggest secret ever.” She looked up at them. “Not all of them left.”

“There are Elders still living on Earth.” Albus was looking at her with great interest and his words were soft and filed with a gentle wonderment.

“There are three towns that exist in the borderlands between the worlds, three towns filled with all the creatures and beings of myth and legend. Lady Freddy lives in Nova Albion, which is accessed in California, though really it exists in a bubble dimension between this world and the lands of summer.” She spat it out quickly and then grabbed her head as pain spiked through her. She crumpled in her chair, tears running down her face as the pain throbbed with brutal intensity.

Severus was beside her, pressing a pain potion to her lips and she drank it, feeling the pain shifting down to a dull pounding. There was concern in his eyes as he watched her.

“I can’t talk about this anymore.” She whispered. Severus pulled her out of her seat and then settled into the chair with her on his lap, arms tight about her. She curled into a ball against him and waited out the remainder of the pain.

She barely heard the discussion around her from that point on. When the pain had finally gone away, she found herself and Severus alone in Albus’ office. She realized that she must have fallen asleep in his lap.

“Your legs must be asleep.” She pulled herself up out of his lap with reluctance.

“Luckily I am used to pain.” His voice was dry, but his eyes were warm. “Albus, Minerva and I will be coming along.” There was no discussing this; she knew a hopeless fight when she saw one.

“As you will.” She concededowinowing that if Lady Freddy didn’t want them there, they simply wouldn’t be allowed in. “I am going to strangle Grand-mére though.” She added.

“Why?”

“Who do you think told Lady Freddy that we were having troubles with the stupid sword?” Severus sighed at her and nodded.

“I’ll hold her down, you go for the throat.” She smiled at him.

“I love you.” Her wonderful homicidal darling, he was her perfect man.