Dreams and consequences

Filch stormed about his office, pulling open a drawer on the filing cabinent, perusing the tabbed folders and slamming it shut, only to be repeated on the next drawer. Mrs. Norris crouched under a chair. She knew that Argus was in a mood, and she knew to stay clear of him.
She could hear him muttering under his breath, only catching snatches of what he was saying- something about evidence, destroy, houselves. Mrs. Norris couldn\'t make heads nor tails of it. Finally the ruckus of slamming filing drawer came to an end with a shout of glee from her master. He was looking at some sort of paper, a maniacal gleam shining from his eyes, the same gleam when he was fast on the tails of catching students out of bounds. With an air of complete absorbtion,he pushed the filing drawer closed, walked over to his desk, lowered himself to his chair and read the paper he held in his hands.

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Hermione\'s cheeks flushed red at the curt refusal. She watched him stride towards the forest, and ultimately Hogwarts. She hurriedly climbed off the stile and walked quickly in his wake. Never had the forest seemed so forbidding as it did just then.

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Dumbledore was in the kitchens questioning the houselves. Unfortunately, they hadn\'t seen anyone who should be in the kitchens, and no, nothing out of the ordinary, save it be some students requesting treats for celebrations. This news saddened the headmaster as it narrowed downn his list of suspected culprits to that of the staff. He pondered each one in turn, and was still no closer to determining who was at fault. Coming to a decision, he thanked the houselves, and turned to go.
At the door he turned and addressed Dobby who was busy wiping off the counter near it.
\"If you see anyone, anyone at all come down here, please notify me imediately.\" Dobbly stopped and wiped his long fingered hands on the cloth.
\"I will do as the Headmaster says, for I is a good elf.\" Dobby solemly bowed and returned to his work. The heamaster stepped from the room and made his way to Filch\'s office.
Dumbledore was surpised when no answer was forthcoming to his knock. Sure that Filch would return soon from whatever errand had taken him away, he entered, and spying the hard back chairs that he fav for for his guests, transfigured one into a squashy armchair that would be more sympathetic to his aging flesh. Peering over at the filing cabinets, he saw that the one that had been reserved for the Weasely twins had new names enscribed. There was always a mischief maker, and Dumbledore wouldn\'t have it any other way. He allowed his mind to focus on the current problem. The head girl had been given a love potion. Not only that, it had been administered with intent to her over a period of years. Either, someone hated the girl, or someone was misguided on what effects the potion would have. In any case, Miss Granger loved Severus Snape. The absurdity of the situation was laughable, had it not been so serious.
Granted, Miss Granger was one of the smartest and most gifted students Hogwarts had had the pleasure of instructing in a very long while. Her accomplishments in academia were legendary. She was also kind. In many ways she was exactly what the potions\' master needed.
Idly, the headmaster stroked his beard, deep in thought. Indeed, he concluded. Hermione didn\'t need a cure, so much as she needed an opportunity to get to know Severus. After all, familiarity breeds contempt. Once she got to know him, the infatuatio would run it\'s course. There was the added benefit, that they might actually fall in love, and that was something Albus was prepared to risk. Never-the-less, there was a mystery to solve, and there was nothing Albus liked better than a mystery.

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Filch stepped into the kitchens. He looked aroundassured himself that his presence went unnoticed. He wended through the groups polishing pans, another group polishing the silver others organizing the storage of platters. At the last group he paused. Therein lay the only witness to his crime. How to handle this, he thought. Then a smile crossed his mangy features briefly. Clothes. He would give the elf clothes. The painful twisting of his lips that passed for a smile was quite horrendous, revealing horrible teeth, yellow with age, bleeding gums from lack of acquaintance with a teeth cleaning device. If any elf noticed his expression, they dutifully ignored it as it was not their custom to question the masters of their employ.

All except one kept their faces turned away from that of the caretaker. Just as quietly as he came, he left the kitchens to return to his office. He needed more time to think.

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Dumbledore often did his best thinking while asleep. It was in this state that Argus Filch found the headmaster in his office. The sound of the door opening and then closing rather more loudly than needed given that state of hurry Filch found himself in, the headmaster started and was instantly awake.
\'Oh, bugger\', thought Argus as he tried to smooth his expression into one that would be more pleasing. \"What can I do for yoeadmeadmaster?\" He asked, his tone oily. There was something about it that Dumbledore didn\'t care for, yet overlooked as Filch was an excellent care taker.

\"Mister Filch, my appologies, I was waiting for you, and to my dismay, I must have fallen asleep. Forgive the frailty of an old wizard.\" He said calmly, \" I have come to discuss a matter of utmost importance. Miss Granger has been the victim of a terrible prank, and I would like your help in finding the culprit. As you are most familiar of the goings on in this castle do you offer any insights?
And there the headmaster spent his afternoon picking the brain of the culprit.

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Severus Snape had never walked the path through the forest so quickly. It was as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels. His long legs stretched his steps to the maximum and his pace bordered that of a run.
Hs cheeks had an unnaturally bright color to them as well. It may have been caused by the unusual speed he was walking, or it may have been cause by the know-it-all following him.

\"Indeed,\' he thought savagely, \'What does she expect. That I shall fall on her and take what she is so obvious in offering? \' Her gall, her sheer gryffindor nerve. How dare she put me in this untenable situation!

Moments later the front gates to Hogwarts came into view. The winged boars that flanked the gates looked as if they were watching his approach.

Severus checked himself. he would not add paranoia to his list of short-comings today. The were not watching him as he turned to check on the progress of that annoying little slip of a girl who happened to be clutching at a stitch in her side as she crossed onto the grounds. That was good, show the little girl not to play with the big boys.

Severus waited impatiently for ho cao catch up. As he did so, his lips twisted into a cruel parody of a smile. \"Miss Granger,\" he addressed her, \"As you have take nore than is your liberty of my time, I espect that you will be glad to report to Madam Pomfrey.\" He watched for the look of relief to cross her face as he presumed it would. As it did, he continued, \"When she releases you, you are to ask her for a compilation of potions that she will require.\" At her look of understanding, thusfar, he continued. \"You will then report to me, Miss Granger so that we can arrange a time for you to brew these potions. Well what are you waiting for? Be off!\" He snarled, and took pleasure in watching the sway of her hips as she hurried up the stairs towards the entrance.