Purpose

~ Chapter 13: Living with Snape ~

Fenix was listening attentively as she mended clothes from Harry, Remus and Sirius. Hermione was talking about life at Hogwarts and its peculiarities. It seems that there were a lot of new things in the castle, she thought. Professor Snape was sitting by the window as he read a reference book, staring at the pair occasionally. Ron was out to degnome the garden with the usual company, this time with Sirius along.

Ron had been scolded by three women earlier and was taking out his frustration on the gnomes as he hit them hard with a bat. It was bad enough that Hermione had hissed at him, it was even worse when Fenix rebuked him harshly, though softly so that they would not be heard by the Potions Master as he worked in the living room.

"Do not speak of things you do not understand. Listen carefully, Ron. Professor Snape is not a Death Eater anymore," she had said, in a quiet, deathly voice.

"But that does not mean he can be trusted. He still has the Dark Mark!" Ron argued just as softly.

"So what? He can be...if you just have the guts to let him. Tell me this, even when he does make threats, has he ever intended that he would like to dispose you?" Fenix asked.

"Yes...he threatened to expel Harry from Hogwarts."

"That wasn't what she meant, idiot!" Hermione gave him a light punch. "Professor Snape has never threatened to kill any of us," she said to Fenix.

"Exactly. Whatever the Potions Master's past was like, he was given a second chance by the Headmaster. So from now, I want you to keep your opinions to yourself while he is with us."

"Fenix is right," Mrs. Weasley agreed firmly.

: Hey, what did you girls do to Ron? His face is all red and he gave a very splendid whacking of the gnomes. :

Sirius mindvoice was tinged with concern and curiosity.

: I had just given him a bit of advice on Snape. :

: Oh, I understand now. Do you think

he'll be really safe here? : Sirius asked casually, as Fenix felt his moment of exhilaration as he hit a gnome.

: As long as I'm keeping my eyes open. :

She broke off the contact and asked Hermione incredulously. "Ghosts? Hermione, did I just heard you say poltergeist just now?"

"Yes, I did. Peeves is the poltergeist, sometimes much a nuisance to everyone but he was particularly helpful last year," Hermione said hastily, after the Potion Master gave her a penetrating glance.

"I see," Fenix answered, then suddenly gave a strangled yell and accidentally pricked her finger with the sewing needle, startling the Potions Master from his reading.

"Moony!" Fenix yelled out, and Remus poked his head at the door, looking slightly abashed. "Don't use me as your guinea pig! If you want to experiment, just do it with the wolves!"

"What's a guinea pig?" Remus asked curiously.

"Forget it." Fenix sighed and got up to wash her bleeding finger. Remus went back to his training with the wolves that were trying to teach him a way to retain his mind even when he transforms to a werewolf. "Can boys ever grow up to be men?"

"I don't think we want to," Harry answered as he stepped into the kitchen, sweating slightly from the exertion of running around after gnomes.

Fenix's cut finger healed within an instant and she went back to the living room to resume her mending. She gave a disappointed look at Hermione and sighed again. "There goes my wish in getting married to a mature man."

"Don't bother wasting your time waiting for them to grow up. If you find a man you like, just get married to him," Mrs. Weasley advised, as she laid out a pot of tea for everyone, along with custard puffs and the cookies that Fenix had bought from the twins.

Sirius came into the living room and poured himself a cup of tea. "You women are mature enough for three men. It would certainly be dull if there's no humor about the household."

"In a way, Sirius is right," Mrs. Granger observed as she sat down on the floor to help with the mending, then looked slyly at Fenix. "It's a good thing Remus has a good sense of humor."

"Shut up."

"That seems to be a favorite phrase this summer," the Air Mage remarked.

"Have some tea, Severus," Mrs. Weasley invited.

"No, thank you."

Mrs. Weasley looked a bit disappointed but went back to her kitchen. Fenix exchanged a glance with Sirius as he and Harry sat down on wooden stools, looking at the women. The living room was filled with uneasy tension until Ron came down, freshly dressed and squatted next to Fenix.

"I'm sorry," he said gruffly.

"Whatever for?"

"I was rude."

"Okay," Fenix said then smiled at him. "Can't stand being given the cold shoulder?"

"Not if I can help it."

: Somebody try to involve Severus in the conversation. :

Fenix moaned silently. It was a little crowded in the living room when Ginny joined them, with Pig cuddled against her and Hedwig gliding silently and aimed straight for Harry.

: What if he doesn't want to be included? :

Harry pointed out, as his owl landed carefully on his shoulder. He scratched Hedwig's head, and the owl gave a silent hoot in contentment and began to nibble his ear gently.

Sirius was about to say something when Fenix slightly grew pale, and Sirius felt a strange echo in his mind. The Fire Master really looked like as if she wanted to blow something up and she abandoned her chore in a huff, striding silently towards the kitchen and went out.

A few minutes later, they heard her yell at the embarrassed werewolf, who was trying to pacify her, but was failing miserably.

"Sirius, shouldn't you go and..." Hermione pointed out to the door.

"Are you joking? Let her take her peeves on him for once. But I wonder why she's mad at him..." Sirius mused, ignoring the look Snape was giving him. Then they heard her scream, this time at the wolves.

"Can't you give him the practical first before the theory work? You're mixing too many stuff about me so that's why every time he tries to link with you, the link reaches me instead," Fenix said loudly in aggravation.

"I understand now." Sirius smirked.

: What is it? :

Harry asked curiously.

"That fellow was thinking too much about her," Sirius hinted and the group--except for Snape who was looking at them curiously--nodded their comprehension, smiling, trying hard not to snigger.

**********

They had spent the rest of the day with Sirius and Remus helping the students recall their spells and Professor Snape did occasionally insert a few helpful comments. Dinner went on as usual, with the twins informing the members of anything that has been going on in their business district.

"Well, business had sort of slowed down a bit, but hope it doesn't get much worse than that," Fred said.

"I wonder how Percy's doing." Mrs. Weasley sighed. She got up from the dinner table and started to clean the table. Even Snape knew enough to keep his silence than to bring Mrs. Weasley into a bout of tears.

: Fenix? :

: Aldren! :

Fenix suddenly smiled, much to the surprise of everyone. : How's Giana? :

: She's okay, but complains too much, much to your sister's horror. Sometimes, she's just like you. So is everything all right? How are things going with you and the werewolf? :

: Yeah, we're all right, and

it's going a bit slowly, but we're fine with it, : she replied then absently spoke to Sirius. "It's Aldren, why don't you link in with me?"

: Hello there, elf? What kind of mischief have you gotten yourself into this time? :

Sirius asked.

: Who says I'm in trouble? :

: How are you doing? :

: Everyone is all right. Derian wants to tell you both that Giselle's with child. :

Aldren's mindvoice was excited.

Fenix and Sirius exclaimed at the same time. "What!" Fenix's eyes went round in disbelief. "Bloody hell! This I am not expecting..."

: You had better tell Derian that he must take care of my sister. I want to be an aunt, :

Fenix said sternly.

: Other than that, wait release Sirius, this is only between you and Giana. :

: All right! I'm budging out. :

Sirius pulled away from Fenix's mind and waited patiently. Fenix was silent, her face immobile other than her occasional blinking of her eyes.

: Okay. How did your father take it? :

: As well as I could, Ruis, :

Mineif's mindvoice intertwined with Aldren's.

: So, that is all. Call on us anytime you like. No recent Dementor sightings, but we're not going to let our guard down. Love you two, :

Aldren said.

: All right, give my love to Giselle and Derian. Take care! :

Fenix responded with a smile. They released their link and she gave an amused look at her oathbrother.

"I thought she had said that she doesn't want any until she turns thirty," Sirius remarked.

"Well, it's either they had planned for it or it happened accidentally," Fenix replied in good cheer then she frowned. "Maybe I should go down the Grove and pester them to get married A.S.A.P."

Sirius leaned back, stretched and gave her a languid smile. "Do that, but only after that elf of hers had already proposed to her."

"So, anybody wants to play chess with us?" Ginny asked, looking to everyone including Snape.

"Consider me out. I'm lousy at board games," Fenix informed them.

"I'm in," Remus said, heading on towards the living room.

"Sirius?" Ginny asked hopefully and he ruffled the girl's hair affectionately.

"Yeah, I think I'd like to challenge Ron later."

"I wonder when Mad-Eye's coming again," a silky voice sighed with disappointment.

The Mages exchanged a glance and Fenix said contritely, "I have no comments."

Mrs. Weasley came back and told the rest of them that she was going to bed and her husband followed her in concern.

"I think Percy deserves some punches for making mom worry. I haven't seen her so crestfallen until now," Fred said seriously, giving a penetrating glance at Bill, the eldest of the Weasley siblings.

"What did you want me to do? He slammed the door up against Charlie and me when we tried to persuade him to come back. He doesn't even say 'hi' to dad at the Ministry."

"It'll serve him right if this family alienates him completely. But I'm not going to wait for him to clear up his mind," Ron said firmly, pushing himself off his seat and went to join Professor Lupin. Fenix got up and stared at Snape, with a peculiar expression on her face.

"Professor Snape? Could I have a moment with you?" she asked, pausing at the door that leads to the yard behind it. The Potions Master looked shocked at first, but slowly grew suspicious. Fenix gave a very stern look at Sirius and then at the group still in the kitchen.

"No eavesdropping from any of you," she said in a strict voice and went out to stand beneath a dark blue sky, and she smelled the strong scent of rain.

"What is it that you want?" the Potions Master asked in a slow drawl, sneering slightly.

"Come away from the door, I don't trust the twins all that much. A devious pair those two," Fenix said, for the twins' benefit that was strangely keeping silent. Fred managed to give her a hateful glare before he pulled George and Sirius from their seats and dragged them to the living room. Fenix enclosed herself and the Potions Master with another shield, expanding itself outwards.

"This is a sound-proof shield. I don't think you want the others to have this particular knowledge," Fenix said, and Snape's interest perked up.

"Ceridwen had sent a message. She says you are not to listen to him and ignore the dreams, and asks you to fulfill your promise to her that you had made before you parted almost hundred and forty-four months ago," Fenix repeated Giana's message word for word, her face inscrutable.

"And how do I know, it's really from her?" Snape hissed, his eyes telling her that he was surprised.

"I already know the password. Now, let me see...ah...yes...on Monday sometime about midnight...my Gift of Foresight manifested...she was captured by your ex-colleagues, and this man by the name of Lucius dragged her to present her to him. Said he would break her...for you he says," Fenix paused, as Snape's eyes darkened with suppressed anger. "I'm not a Seer who makes predictions, I sometimes see the future...or maybe alternative futures...and live briefly in that vision. You want to know what Giana said to you in the vision?" she said in a cool voice and went on. "This is what she said, 'You broke off your connection with Voldermort a long time ago! Snap out of it Bréanainn!' Of course you can't really expect me to imitate her voice," she said matter-of-factly.

"Bréanainn. It's quite a beautiful name. I wonder why your parents named you Severus first," Fenix tilted her head in inquiry. Then she shrugged.

"My father insisted on it."

"I see. Well, that's all she said to me." Fenix made a move to dispel the shield when Snape spoke again in a whisper. The wind was picking up, Snape's cloak flapping in the strong wind.

"She is all right?"

"Yes, just a few cracked ribs. She's under the protection of the Grove. Let's go back in. It'll be raining soon."

**********

"George, pass me those cookies won't you?" Fenix requested mildly. Fred was still mad at her and was not talking to her. The drizzle that had just fell from the skies the moment Snape reentered the house had turned into a downpour. The Weasley siblings were trampling about as quickly as they could to close the windows about the house.

Fenix was wearing the blue-gray scarf that Aldren had gifted her as her Salamander fetched it and the scarf floated towards her, much to Snape's bafflement. He was reading another book and Hermione had been staring at the pile of books on his feet with a weird kind of hunger all night. Ron and Harry shook both their heads in exasperation as they averted their attention from the current match of Harry's godfather and his best friend. As if he had been aware of Hermione's covert glances at his books, the Potions Master casually reached out for a thick book and nodded to Hermione. She jumped excitedly and squealed in delight as the Potions Master entrusted her the book.

"Your girlfriend is so easy to please, Ron," Remus said casually, not looking up from the chessboard. "When her birthday comes, just find a book you know that she probably couldn't have read and she'll love you for life."

"Professor Lupin!" Ron and Hermione responded, looking aghast. Snape raised an eyebrow at Remus's comment but went on to read his book. Fenix reached out for a cookie and winced when a couple Mini-Popping Fireworks went off. She pulled back her fingers and looked at them critically. Tendrils of electricity connected three of her fingers and she sighed and waited patiently for the electricity to wear off. Ginny chuckled nastily.

"You still have a bit to catch up, Ginny," Fred commented in Fenix's defense, finally smiling at the relieved Fire Master.

"By how much?" Ginny demanded her brother.

"I think...about seven sneakings."

"Damn!" Remus swore.

Sirius grinned and slowly said, "Checkmate."

"Don't stay up too late, kids," Mrs. Granger said as she pulled her husband up to his feet. "Night everyone."

"Night!"

Before Harry knew it, he was suddenly nodding off. He jerked himself awake. Maybe I should get myself to a real bed.

"I'm going up, too. Night."

"Wait up," Fenix joined him. "I'd like to get some sleep. Ginny...be very careful tomorrow..." she gave the young girl an evil smile. : Night, guys, : she sent her thought to the werewolf and her oathbrother.

"Night, Fenix," Hermione replied absently.

"Ronald Weasley...it's time," Sirius called out.

**********

The youths and the wolves had long ago went to bed. The rain had not ceased; huge raindrops continued splattering down The Burrow. Once in a while, lightning lit the living room eerily. Sirius was sitting languidly on the floor, slowly sipping a mug of Butterbeer.

"Do you want some, Severus?" Remus asked, holding his wand in handy. Snape gave a tight nod and pulled his chair closer to the fire. Snape winced when the mark on his arm burned intolerably. He took a deep breath and clenched his fist tightly.

"What's that mark on your palm?" Snape inquired, trying his best not to sound eager.

"You mean this?" Sirius held out his right palm lazily. "It's quite strange actually," he smiled dreamily. "It's a sign of our oathbond. We slashed our palm with a dagger."

"But how is it a star, and not a diagonal slash?" Remus asked curiously.

"I have no idea, Moony. In fact, I don't think Fenix knows either."

"Good evening," a voice suddenly spoke out from the fireplace.

"Good evening, Dumbledore," three voices answered at once.

"I see that you are all okay. I am here because of two things. One: some officials were complaining about your demand to pull out the Wolfsbane potion," the Headmaster addressed the Potions Master. Then his face turned to Harry's godfather. "Two: it is about your legacy, Sirius."

"You mean my house?"

"Yes. What do you intend to do with it?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet. I guess that Fenix and Harry would influence my decisions a bit."

"I see you all are growing fonder of her, except maybe for you Severus...but this will take a little bit of time to manifest."

Sirius snickered while Remus gave an almost beatific smile, much to Snape's astonishment.

"Anyway, I would like to have another meeting there, with the full Order, and with Fenix with us, since she will play an important figure in ensuring our students' safety. We'll hold that meeting on the twenty-seventh. I will make the necessary preparations to ensure that the place is secure."

"Is Kreacher still sticking around?"

"Yes, he is. I wonder... Do you think your oathsister will be able to do something about your mother's portrait? It will be rather nice to walk about the house in silence..."

"I dunno...maybe she'll be able to think about something..."

"And of course, Severus. You will be tagging along too. Fenix is rather insistent about that. I will contact you again by Fawkes when the place is ready." Dumbledore's face vanished from the fire.

Snape frowned. Does she know? He massaged his still-burning arm distractedly.

"Yes, she does know about you," Sirius said softly. "Don't argue with her when she tries to change you," he cautioned. "She's doing all of this for your own health."

"Just a tiny bit of warning though," as Remus got up from his stool, his eyes reflecting the fire eerily and he addressed the Potions Master directly, "do not make life difficult for yourself here. Enjoy this little bit of respite while you still can. And keep yourself sound, mind you. Harry needs all the help he can get for the appointed day, whenever that will be."

**********

It was gloomy and chilly in the morning the next day. Now that they were all going to be trapped indoors as it rained, Ginny was thinking very hard about something to do that she had forgotten Fenix's warning. Nobody noticed that the Fire Master was already committed in creeping up behind her that it was already too late to warn the female Weasley.

"Crap!" Ginny suddenly yelped when Fenix tapped her shoulder suddenly.

"Don't worry, Ginny. You still have about two weeks to go...or until you run out of Fireworks."

Sirius was talking quietly with Mrs. Weasley over breakfast with Remus keeping a watchful eye on Harry ever since Snape had made the living room into an ephemeral office. Hermione was reading with the Potions Master's book on her as she ate her breakfast. Harry shook his head at Hermione, so intent on the book, not even distracted by the commotion between Ginny and the Fire Master.

Harry did not fell asleep straight away yesterday. He had lied in bed thinking about Professor Snape and wondered why the Headmaster trusted him. He carefully repeated what Fenix had said to Ron yesterday. I wonder how she knows about Snape. I know that Sirius had probably told her some stuff about him but why is it that she is so sure that Snape won't turn his back against us, or Dumbledore?

Harry looked about him as he sat down on the floor in the living room, wearing a baggy T-shirt and faded jeans and Crookshanks settled itself on Harry's lap and began to doze. He did not mind a bit; the cat's soft purring comforted him in a way. It feels as though I do have a family here. And Sirius, having him back makes me feel more real in a way, now he isn't looking at me as if I'm my father. And Fenix... Harry examined the black-haired woman carefully, whom he at first, considered to be of a cold nature. Now, though, Harry found that he liked her a lot. Maybe it's because she's the first person I've ever met who doesn't look at me like a super-hero of some kind, Harry thought in amusement and grinned, unaware that Snape was looking at him carefully.

The wolves slowly sauntered in and both of them curled up against Fenix. Her eyes was fixed on the eyes belonging to the great silver wolf, and glanced sheepishly at Remus, whom had lifted his eyebrow in inquiry. The subtle romance that was going between the two of them seemed to be amusing everyone, including Harry and he chuckled to himself.

"Harry? What's funny?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"It's nothing," he assured his best friend but Ron remained unconvinced.

Snape placed his book back on the floor and leaned comfortably in his chair, silently scrutinizing the activities that were going about him. He was a bit shocked when he had found out that Sirius and Remus were actually sleeping in the same room with Fenix, due to the excuse that they had to make way for Snape. However, he recollected what Dumbledore had said about Fenix and Snape suspected that Fenix was in fact Healing the werewolf to get rid of the toxic effects of the Wolf's Bane.

Sirius came into the room and abruptly announced that they will be going to the Blacks, and instructed them to start packing, because the Headmaster would call on them to move out anytime, much to the youths' chagrin.

: Sirius, what's going on? :

Fenix lifted her face to look at her oathbrother in inquiry.

: I don't think I've told you that my house was used for the meetings of the secret organization, :

Sirius pursed his lips thoughtfully, : I hadn't right? : Fenix nodded her head in agreement.

: I see. Are we having a meeting or something? :

she asked and leaned against Sirius.

: Yes. Dumbledore's making sure that the place is safe for us to return there. We are having a meeting with the full Order. :

Sirius squeezed her lightly, and kissed the top of her hair absently.

: Hey, Remus's supposed to be the one doing that, :

Fenix protested lightly, giving Remus a sly look and the werewolf blinked his eyes innocently.

: I think I have been cruel to him, :

Sirius said abruptly, excluding Remus out of the conversation. : I've never considered myself to be in his shoes. I never did imagine what my life would be like if I was a Death Eater and then to stab the Dark Lord in the back. Takes a lot of guts to do that. Listen to me? I'm admiring a childhood enemy! :

: Then stop looking at him as one, :

Fenix suggested mildly. : But I'm glad you see at least a partial truth now. Voldemort's hold on him is still strong, which is surprising. Until Snape proves himself worthy to Dumbledore's cause, the taint of his past will stay with him. : She stretched, taking a custard puff in one hand.

: Harry seems to understand what the Potion Master is going through. I think now he understands just how much Snape is placing his life in danger, in remaining a teacher in Hogwarts and constantly keeping an eye on Harry, :

Sirius observed.

"Damn, I nearly had forgotten!" Fenix exclaimed suddenly, sitting upright. Harry stopped his silent musings and finally realized that Snape was not even reading anymore, merely watching them in silence. That's a good sign that he's at least paying attention to us now, as what we are and not as students...

Fenix was trying to remember something and they watched her with impatience. She snapped her fingers and began. "Sorry about this, I had intended to inform you people of the wizards...or more precisely..." Fenix glanced at Snape briefly, "Death Eaters, that the elves and I had eliminated. There were three of them," she paused when Harry raised his hand timidly.

"How did you know they were Death Eaters?"

"I'm a Hunter and an Empath. I thought I've told you before but for the Potions Master's sake, I'll repeat that being a Hunter allows me to look through one's soul." Fenix gave a measuring look at Snape and continued her previous sentence. "As I was saying, the three Death Eaters that were eliminated that day was a Hudson, Dolohov--I think--and...I think it's Lestrange."

Harry's eyes suddenly lit up in fierce anger as the word Lestrange came out of from her mouth. "The Lestrange was a male right?" Fenix nodded and suddenly went cold when Harry gave a satisfied and evil smile.

"Harry!" Fenix called up sharply, startling everyone else. Fenix narrowed her eyes as Harry began to shake. Finally realizing that he was acting abnormally.

"Fenix!" Harry gasped, staring at her in shock and panic. "Why am I thinking about all these things?" Then he continued in mindspeech. : Why do I feel as if I am enjoying it? : He almost could not put a thought coherently for her.

Fenix tilted her head to one side, as she looked penetratingly at Harry. "It seems that you have a very strong bond with the Dark Lord; much like a bond twins have. I want you to empty your head of all thoughts and just think deeply into your soul, you will find the answer. Do it in the way I taught you to shield your mind." Her oathbrother was about to pose a question at her but snapped his mouth shut when she gave him a very fierce look.

Crack!

Professor Dumbledore Apparated in and smiled at the group. "Moody, Tonks and Kingsley will be escorting you all to The Place. You'll be moving out on the twenty-second, so plenty of time to pack."

"Oh! Finally!" a silvery voice piped up shrilly. Fenix shook her head in disbelief at Arenii.

"I assume we'll be going there by broomsticks?" she asked shrewdly.

"Yes. Unless you want to build a Po--"

Sirius quickly interrupted with a 'No'.

"Well then. Moody will come down tomorrow to get a few of the trunks across first so that you wouldn't be overloaded when it's time for you to move fast."

"Sound thinking," Sirius approved. "I think Remus and I'll help in getting them across."

"But he is staying," Fenix asserted, staring intently at Snape.

"And how will you ensure that?" Snape asked sneering slightly.

"Most easiest way is to use my sword to knock you out senseless, of course. No point wasting magic when physical exercise can ensure the same thing. Are you listening, Harry? You have to make the best use of your resources, no matter how insignificant they may look."

"I think it may be wise if you just follow her instructions, Severus, and save yourself from a pounding head. I'll see you all at The Place," the Headmaster said to them, before he vanished.

"Were you really serious or were you joking? About hitting Severus, I mean," Remus asked delicately.

"Am I the type of woman who jokes around easily?"

"No, you're not," Remus conceded, edging away from her slowly.

"That's new," Ron observed shrewdly.

**********

Sunday night, 20^th August. The Burrow...

: You guys. Be careful all right. :

Fenix pulled Sirius and then Remus to an affectionate embrace. Nymphadora Tonks was looking at the three of them with bafflement. She whistled when Sirius presented his Firebolt.

"Hey, Harry? Why can't you lend me that?" Tonks called out in disappointment.

The boy cocked his head to one side, not able to comprehend her question. "Lend what?"

"That." Tonks gestured at the Firebolt that Sirius was carrying.

"Ah...that isn't mine...Sirius bought it..."

"Just right after his successful hearing," Bill added helpfully.

"I am so crushed." Tonks sighed.

Snape was sitting in the living room calmly. He watched Fenix and Harry crowding at the entrance door.

"I miss them already." Fenix sighed plaintively.

"You're not being fair, you know. At least they're not going on a rescue mission, like you, whose life may be on balance," Harry pointed out and led her to the living room. He gracefully poured two mugs of hot chocolate.

Lady-Night and Phoebus, God of the Sun, watch over them all.

Fenix gave another sigh and looked up in surprise when Snape handed she and Harry some books.

"Since you are waiting for their return, use your time fruitfully."

Harry suppressed a sigh and with a heavy heart opened a Potions book. Fenix was already engrossed in hers and they spent their time reading--with Harry daydreaming more about Quidditch practices-- than the spidery writing of the Potions book.

"What? Studying already?" Ron looked disappointedly at them.

"Seriously, Ron. After five years in being a student, I thought you ought to have got the hang of studying." Hermione shook her head affectionately, her hair braided neatly by Fenix.

"You should enjoy your student life more, Ron," Fenix agreed absently. "When I graduated from university, I was really apprehensive to take up the next step in life, meaning full-time work..."

Ron echoed Harry's silent sigh and the Potions Master handed him another book. The living room fell silent, and the atmosphere turned peaceful, as they engaged themselves with a bit of learning, the silence occasionally punctuated by the rustling of pages, mainly by Hermione and Fenix, and the Potions Master himself. For now, they had been entrusted in Snape's care. By being together in the same room without Harry and Ron shooting hateful little glances at Snape, and the Potions Master was not breathing down their necks like a vindictive dragon, they set up a truce. Fenix gave an inward smile at what she Felt from the group.

: That's a relief, :

she commented to her far-away oathbrother. : They're all healing. :

: Good news...now let me concentrate about where I'm flying so I can come home soon. :

: The bed is already beckoning to me. :

Remus's mindvoice filled her mind with a distant aching.

: Yes...come home soon. :

Fenix returned her attention to read the book on the various herbs used in Potions.

**********