E Pluribus Unum

A/N - Thanks as always to Kate, whose magical ability to make me look like I know hwat I\'m doing is invaluable. You\'re the bestest Beta ever!

Zephyr - Thank you. I\'m touched that you think so. I like your stories too.
Droxy - If you think Sev is annoyed now, wait till later!
Len - Thankk you, Ron\'s punishment will a plotpoint, so I can\'t tell ya, sorry.
Lores - Ron IS only 17, I don\'t know how many of us were able to \'get it\' at that age, he\'s been rather sheltered in the Weasley family and don\'t worry, he\'ll grow a lot in the coming year. :)


Chapter 7 – Hogwarts

Albus had set up the rooms so that a secret staircase led from Kathryn’s chambers to Severus’ dungeons. This allowed her to come and go un-remarked by the student body. Ryan changed the equations between Severus and Kathryn; his needs dictated their interactions. They slept in Severus’ dungeons now, so that one of them could always rise and feed him in the wee early hours of the morning. The house elves took care of him during classroom hours. Winky was beside herself with glee to have a child to care for. But evenings were spent together, with the baby, and the exhaustion of caring for Ryan cut into their sex life.

Ryan’s naptime was their only opportunity to make love now and they had to keep quiet while they were doing it for fear of waking the baby. Silence charms got a workout, though Severus was searching for a one-way spell that would at least let him hear Kathryn’s cries and moans. It would have been frustrating, but Kathryn decided to turn it into a game: how much could she tease him before he cried out and how much control could they maintain.

The week before classes started was interesting for Kathryn; she had missed out on the preparation time last year and discovered the camaraderie of the staff was forged during these moments. Poppy and Pomona Sprout were more accessible when neither was concerned for either student health or the potential destruction of beloved plants. Minerva was relaxed and rather funny. Kathryn had been unaware of just how witty she could be. Minerva’s pithy comments on Fudge and her dead-on impersonation of him had the table in stitches.

There was also the fact that now she had agreed to stay on for more than just the year there was added incentive to get to know her. Last year she was a raw recruit, a temporary figure, due to be gone and replaced; this year she was a veteran returned to the wars and ready for the long haul. She was one of them now. Even Argus Filch treated her with a tiny bit of respect, whereas he ignored her completely last year.
Sinistra even came down from her tower to eat with them all, something she hardly ever did during the school year, preferring to remain cloistered near to her telescopes. Kathryn found Sinistra to be a fascinating character, all eagle-eyed sharpness mixed with a complete disregard for anything on the earth.

Also, the small round table where they dined allowed for far more intimate conversation than the long High Table did. Kathryn found herself laughing and happy during the meals. Another added benefit was that Severus and she could be open about their affection. During the school year, discretion was the rule, and honestly, Kathryn was not eager to broadcast the relationship to the students just so they could gossip about it.

Still, the lunch hour was now much more interesting as Kathryn would whisper naughty suggestions to Severus while he was eating. He, in turn, would ask for food to be passed in a low sexy voice that turned her to goo and even made Hooch raise an eyebrow. The playfulness of their relationship seemed to surprise most of the staff; only Albus and Minerva, who had been privy to the intimate life of the two teachers, were unfazed.

Hooch looked bemused, Poppy was alternately smug and taken aback, Sprout was perplexed, Filius stunned and Hagrid rather oblivious. Vector studied them as though they were an interesting equation and smiled occasionally for no apparent reason. Minerva still acted as though she had invented the couple and Albus, who had some right to it to be honest, looked very well satisfied with himself. Trelawney, of course, said that her inner eye had seen them together some time ago and that it was tragic that their love was doomed. Sinistra was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn’t seem to notice, involved as she was in her star charts, even at the table.

It was Madam Pince who frowned and disapproved. Irma seemed to be personally offended by laughter and enjoyment and took Severus’ defection from misery as a personal betrayal. She pursed her lips every time Severus gave even the tiniest smile and Kathryn’s open affection for him made her tsk and tut. Everyone else ignored hso Kso Kathryn followed their lead and was simply polite instead of friendly to the older woman.

Ryan, at breakfast and dinner, was passed from person to person, cooed at and petted and generally spoiled and adored. He soaked it up like a sponge, waving chubby hands and burbling happily as he was admired. Albus’ beard was a particular source of fascination and was grabbed rather often. Albus seemed to think that this was quite delightful. Firenze gave new meaning to ‘horsing about’ with Ryan. He seemed quite fascinated by the two-legged infant who couldn’t walk. The sight of him with the baby sling over one shoulder was one Kathryn knew she would chuckle over for years.

Classes were prepared for, classrooms cleaned, organized and stocked, and the days wound down finally to the day of the student’s arrival.

Minerva patted her hair a great deal, full of nervous energy, eager and excited. Albus beamed even more genially and the rest of the staff girded themselves once more for the battle to inculcate young minds.

Severus was nervous as a cat, terrified of what the student’s reaction to Ryan would be. He constantly argued for just hiding the baby in his quarters and not letting anyone know. Kathryn pointed out that Ryan would have to leave his rooms eventually and better to just get it out of the way while Ryan was pre-verbal.

Strangely, Kathryn was calmer and more at peace than she had been in years. Aside from the occasional bit of analysis for Madam Chanel and whatever work Albus would need her to do for the Order, she was free to do something easy and fun for most of her t She She had discovered last year that she loved to teach, much to her own surprise, and the knowledge that she had to give it up had been almost as sad to her as leaving Severus had been.

As evening fell, Kathryn pulled on a rich burgundy dress with silver trim and threw her black teaching robe on top. She made sure her bun was firmly back in place and that she had a properly stern teacher’s look on her face. She swept from her rooms with a firm gait and the speed and swiftness she had regained. Her left leg moved smoothly and painlessly as she strode firmly through the hall, down the stairs and into the Great Hall.

The evening’s rain and wind was reflected in the ceiling and she felt a twinge of pity for the first-years crossing the lake tonight. The teachers, all prim, proper and over the hangovers from last night’s party, were filing in and she was caught in Severus’ arms for one last quick kiss before they fell once more into their roles. She was a trifle flushed as she sat; Hooch barked a laugh and punched Severus on the shoulder as she passed him to her own seat. Severus winced, but didn’t snarl at the other woman as Kathryn had half-expected.

The students began to file in, many catching sight of Kathryn. They waved and bounced in enthusiasm, and she waved back, happy to see them again. Minuet’s huge smile was very welcome and Kathryn was warmed through by the obvious affection that many of the students had developed for her.

Harry and Hermione came in together with Ron trailing behind them a few steps, his face stormy. Ah, seventeen -- not an easy year.

“Mr. Weasley is going to be a problem this year.” Severus muttered grimly to her as the trio settled themselves down at the table.

“Hermione will handle him.” Kathryn returned softly. Severus’ eyebrow went up and he smirked.

“Rather whipped is he?”

“There are few boys ready to stand up to her at this school, hadn’t you noticed?”

“I make it a policy to ignore my students whenever possible.” It was a statement designed to provoke, so Kathryn merely rolled her eyes.

Minerva appeared at the door with the crowd of frightened first-years behind her and the room fell quiet.
Albus placed the Sorting Hat on a stool and then retreated back behind the table.

Minerva marched the first-years forward, pulled a scroll from her sleeve and looked sternly at the children from over the rims of her square spectacles. She turned to the hat expectantly, arms crossed and parchment dangling.

The slit in the tattered Hat opened and then the Sorting Hat began to sing:


You come before me to be seen
To be sorted you are keen
Into your mind I will look
And I will read you like a book

Are you a Slytherin clever and sly?
Are you a Hufflepuff gentle and shy?
Are you a Gryffindor bold and brave?
Are you a Ravenclaw smart and grave?

The founders four did me create
To sort you all both small and great
To do their will is what I must
Generations after they are dust


There was a mournful note to the last stanza and Kathryn wondered how the Hat felt about its task. Last year’s warning song was rather martial but this year’s song was almost melancholy. Could a hat get melancholy? Minerva cleared her throat and addressed the nervous eleven-year-olds.

“Now when I call your name, step forward. I will place the Sorting Hat on your heads and you will be sorted into your Houses.” The children stared at her wide-eyed and nervous. “Abercrombie, Zechariah?”

A skinny boy with a wild shock of brown hair stumbled forward and sat down.

“Ravenclaw!” The Hat pronounced after a moment of consideration and so it went. The last student, Vindex, Hestia, was sorted into Slytherin, to the sound of Kathryn and Severus’ clapping. With that, the ceremony came to an end.

Albus rose and smiled sweetly at the assembled students.

“Another year has come and we have returned to Hogwarts again. For all who have been lost over the summer let us have a moment of silence.” A great hush came over the Hall and students looked about at empty places and remembered the friends and family lost to the accelerating rate of Voldemort’s attacks.

“Now for some announcements. All students please remember that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden. There is to be no hexing in the halls, and for those who might be interested, Mr. Filch’s list of contraband now takes up two walls in the dungeon for your edification. Some of you may have noticed that we have managed to get our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher back.” His last few words were drowned out by a happy cheer that went up. Kathryn rose and bowed to applause and then reseated herself. “Professor Leblanc has agreed to stay on permanently in the position…” Again he was drowned out, though he did not seem to mind. “Let the feast begin.”

He clapped his hands and food appeared on the table, distracting the students immediately. Kathryn was touched by their warm welcome and she exchanged a happy smile with Minerva.

This was going to be quite a year.