Purpose

~ Chapter 30: A Weird Sunday ~

Sunday, 24^th September. Down in the Potions Classroom...

It was ten-thirty in the morning and Harry was closeted with Draco in the Potions classroom as they sought to put their Vigilencia potion to its last stage. Harry was a little surprised to see Fenix down in the classroom when he came in. She however was not aware of the students' presence as she worked with her own cauldron, so intent in her potion making that she had created a shield to prevent any kind of interference. That same shield was irritating the Potions Master because he wished to see how she was doing but finally gave up. He had to admit to himself that she was as good at Potions just as he was. It grated a bit on his ego that she was able to administer the right amount of ingredients with no fumbling whatsoever.

The students and the Potions Master were all wearing masks in the room and Snape had barred the classroom door to prevent any kind of unwanted accident, while Harry and Draco were still in the process of pounding up their berries. Harry carefully scraped the finely pounded residues of the berries and placed it onto a sieve. Then, he began squeezing the filtrate using his spatula into a measuring cylinder. When he had exactly achieved the exact amount of the purplish filtrate, he carefully transferred it into a conical flask, and then carefully placed three drops of dragons' blood into the filtrate and began to mix the solution thoroughly.

Draco whistled absently at Harry and the latter passed the bottle of dragons' blood carefully over to the Slytherin, because that particular bottle was very expensive. Snape waited for them patiently, casually sitting on a student's desk as he gave alternate attentions from the students to the Fire Master. Fenix had already finished her concoction and was spending several minutes to magically sterilize the flasks that Snape had provided her. She then carefully poured the concoction she had mixed aseptically into the flasks. The Potions Master then paid careful attention to Harry since he was beginning to pour his filtrate into his cauldron. Harry had adjusted the heat that was heating up his cauldron and poured the solution directly at the center of his Vigilencia potion.

During those critical moments, Fenix had dropped her shield and accidentally sniffed in the aroma of Draco's berries and dragon's blood. She stared at Draco's back in alarm. : Sev, : she called the Potions Master calmly. She felt a strange and peculiar heat building in her. Snape looked at her distractedly then his eyes flared wide when she stood there, shaking a little. : I think I'm in trouble. : And she was indeed in deep trouble.

There was a soft 'poof' coming from Harry's cauldron and Snape nodded his satisfaction when blue wisps of mist wafted up. He instructed the Gryffindor to transfer his potion into the black flask that suddenly appeared on his desk. Seconds later, Draco finished his. The Fire Master was carrying two of her flasks over to Snape's desk and she was careful not to look either at the Potions Master or the two students. But Snape chose that moment to approach from behind and her eyes were fixed on his lips when she turned back. She closed her eyes tightly and taking a deep breath, she thought about Remus. However, the image that popped in her mind was far too enticing and she laughed, trying to hide her embarrassment. She opened her eyes to see Snape's red face.

: I'm sorry about this, : Fenix apologized at the embarrassed Potions Master. : Don't tell anyone though. I've finished the antiseptic potion and I think I better make a Jump before I have the opportunity to scandalize you or the students or Remus. : The heat that was building in her was getting worse and she smiled at Snape before vanishing.

The Potions Master took a deep breath then turned back to his two students who were waiting expectantly at him. He nodded to them and they placed their flasks onto the desk and began clearing up the mess they had created. Snape decided to make a contact with Remus, who was probably having his breakfast about that particular time.

: Severus? : Remus questioned the Potions Master in surprise. : What do you want? : the werewolf asked in a rather mild voice.

: Why don't you go down and look in on Fenix? She'll be at her office. What's Sirius doing? :

Remus's answer was accompanied by a sense of bafflement. : He's probably sleeping. :

: Good. Visit her then. : Snape released the link quickly and blocked his mind so that the werewolf could not get back to him. The Potions Master instructed both Harry and Draco to take their seats at the front desks and mercilessly began to drill them in the Potions tutorial.

***********

Remus went out of his office, thinking about his brief conversation with the Potions Master with puzzlement. He knocked on Fenix's door softly and to his surprise, the wolves literally fled out of the door and pushed him in, with Silver locking the door from the outside an instant later. Just like how they had guarded him when he transformed into a werewolf. He stared incredulously at the door and was pushed again, this time into the bedroom by unseen hands. Remus was totally surprised when he saw a very flushed-looking Fenix sitting on the bed dreamily. Her face bore a mixture of need, despair and amusement.

: Fenix, is there something wrong? : Remus asked worriedly, automatically going to her. She was licking her lips dreamily and was eyeing him in a very provocative way.

: Yes, there is something wrong with me. You shouldn't have come... Maybe after I turn normal, I'm going to kill Sev, : she spoke in a very sensual mindvoice and leaned forward, trailing her hand carelessly on his left leg. Remus was feeling more than slightly alarmed.

: What happened? : he asked slowly, firmly taking her hand away from his leg and held it tightly. Fenix's eyes were focused on his lips and then slowly looked down at his neck. He felt himself blushing hotly.

: I accidentally sniffed the berries of those Magnolia vines. It has some aphrodisiac properties. : Fenix suddenly was looking tearfully at him and pulled away violently. : Go. : She was not looking at him as she lay down on the bed and pulled the covers up, preparing to sleep. Remus was sitting on the bed, looking at her with a tender smile. Sirius is probably going to kill me, if he gets to know about it.

: Just make sure that he doesn't know about it then, : Krill's deep mindvoice echoed briefly in his mind, and Remus smiled roguishly as he deftly took off his shoes and his cloak. He carefully positioned himself beside Fenix, and lay on his side, carefully pushing her long black hair off her face.

: Fenix? : he whispered softly as he gave her ear a playful lick. She flinched back instinctively, feeling suddenly ticklish. The werewolf chuckled softly and carefully poked her so that she faced him, her eyes flashing dangerously. Her silver eyes flared in surprise when he gave her a passionate kiss and felt the heat in her exploded.

**********

The ghostly sorceress in the blue robe was giggling almost girlishly, while her companion looked at the couple with a slightly disapproving expression.

"They should have gotten a license first," Helga observed.

"It's not entirely her fault," Rowena pointed out. Her companion gave a sigh of sufferance and pulled her friend away from the room, leaving the couple alone.

**********

Lunchtime...

Harry had gone back up his dormitory to find a note attached on his table saying that his friends would all be waiting at the Hall and he sighed, deciding that he might as well wash up first. The Potions make-up lesson was very dry and he felt his head suddenly pounded, as if egging him not to think about lessons anymore.

Harry smiled briefly at the Ravenclaws that had gathered at the entrance of the Hall, and they hailed him cheerfully. Luna waved at him and he waved back, pausing at the door to scan for his friends. Sirius waved at him widely and it made him grin. Harry quickly hurried over to his godfather. There was a nasty scratch at the side of his neck and his godson noticed that his left wrist was bandaged.

"What happened?" Harry asked his godfather in a concerned tone and remembered that Fenix too, had also beard some angry looking scratches on her arms.

"Brief skirmish with the centaurs." Sirius shrugged indifferently.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Ginny asked in a light voice, looking at the dark shades under his eyes.

"How on earth can I sleep when my stomach keeps flipping around?" Harry's godfather asked sardonically, earning chuckles all over the table. Catcalls suddenly erupted over the Slytherin table, catching their attention briefly. Some of the first years were singing Alamanda a birthday song while the Slytherin girl looked strongly embarrassed at the attention they were giving her. Draco strutted forward, making his ex-girlfriend fume, giving the birthday girl a grandiose bow. He took out his wand and whispered "Rosaraie lavande." A bouquet of lovely purple roses popped out of his wand, with a white ribbon holding it together and he presented it gracefully to Alamanda. Loud cheers erupted in the Hall and some gave fairly piercing whistles. Even Neville gave a smile as he watched the Slytherin girl glowed with pleasure, and serenely accepted the flowers.

"I hope you were taking note, Ron," Hermione whispered and Harry felt pleased that she was wearing his gift. Ron looked at his partner with mild surprise.

"Before I forget," Sirius turned back to face them, "I am planning on a 'family'--," he made a hooking gesture with his fingers as he said that before continuing, "dinner in my office tonight. You guys are invited." He was looking at Neville as he said that. He casually gave his wand a wave and pointed it to Draco's direction and a small silver messenger bird zoomed off to whisper the invitation softly into the Slytherin's ear. Draco casually repeated Sirius's gesture and the messenger bird flew back to Harry's godfather.

It piped up Draco's answer musically. "As if I want to torture myself with her very presence." Sirius breathed a sigh of relief and trusted Draco that he would not be bringing Parkinson's group along. Ginny suddenly piped up a question. "Where's Fenix and Professor Lupin? They really seemed like they've gone M.I.A."

Harry smiled faintly and that made Sirius immediately suspicious. "Do you know something that I don't?" His godson looked at him in feigned confusion and innocence.

"Like what?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes and tried to make contact with his best friend and his oathsister but both had blocked him from their minds. He was about to get up from his seat to make a surprise inspection when Snape firmly gripped his left shoulder and held him down. Harry gave Snape an inquisitive look and the Potions Master gave a very wicked smile that Sirius was not able to see but was able to feel.

: Don't tell me they are... : Sirius yelped and Snape winced at Sirius's incredibly loud mindvoice.

: It is her only remedy after all. : Snape casually flipped his cloak and sat down gracefully beside Harry's godfather.

: And what do you mean exactly by that? : Sirius asked curiously.

: You still remember Everina Mint? And berries? : the Potions Master asked him as he began eating his lunch.

Sirius scowled at Snape trying to connect his childhood crush with berries. He knew that Fenix went down to the dungeon straight after she took a bath and tried to recall what she would be making. It suddenly occurred to him that his godson was also there and recollected that Snape had tasked them with the making of Vigilencia. Sirius swore pungently, making Snape chortle softly. Hermione was looking expectantly at Harry but he shrugged, feeling that it was better for the two Defence teachers if he acted ignorant of the situation.

Their lunch was barely punctuated by conversation because it had begun to rain again and Harry sighed mournfully. Dean gave a whistle and jerked his chin upwards and Harry looked at the direction his friend had pointed. He gave a lopsided smile when Hedwig swooped down and flared her wings just as she landed on his shoulder gently. She maneuvered herself and promptly began to nibble on Harry's ear gently, making him flinch slightly from her cold, nimble tongue. Just moments when Hedwig landed, an excited shriek reverberated about the Hall and Pig zoomed straight for Ginny's chest. They heard several distinctive yowls at the Entrance Hall and Mrs. Norris fled in defeat at the much bigger Crookshanks. The cat grandly pranced into the Hall, head and tail held high and cutely twirled itself on Hermione's legs before abandoning her and jumped straight onto Snape's lap. The Potions Master looked hopelessly at the cat, which was curling itself on his lap. He gave a sharp look at the cat's owner and Hermione just shrugged, intent on finishing her own lunch.

**********

Fenix's bedroom...

The couple was staring deeply into each other's eyes and Fenix smiled almost wickedly at her partner. "Just like a pair of teenagers, aren't we? I can't imagine that I am being extremely cloying." Remus chuckled and pulled her closer to him. She really felt good in his arms and he was just relishing the close contact he was having with her. Fenix felt a brief touch in her mind and she recognized that the touch belonged to Snape.

: Yes? : Fenix inquired calmly.

: Not preoccupied? : the Potions Master responded slyly.

: I wouldn't have answered if I was, would I? : she answered dryly, and gave her partner a significant look. He gave her a sidelong look and she asked Snape. : What is it? :

: You do know we would be having dinner in Sirius's quarters, don't you? : the Potions Master queried the Fire Master.

: And how on earth is he going to fit all of us in there? : she asked incredulously.

: There are ways... : Snape replied mysteriously and she gave him a quick mindslap, catching the Potions Master by surprise.

: And that is for your helpful service by sending Remus here. And are the wolves with you? :

Snape was laughing softly to himself and looked around the Great Hall carefully. It was a moment before he noticed a pair of armored Knights near the entrance of the Hall. : Yes... they're spying, I believe, : he replied impudently and received a vehement protest from the female wolf.

: Spying? : the wolf protested indignantly.

Fenix chuckled and asked the Potions Master what he and the rest would be doing. Snape assured her calmly that he would keep Sirius out of her hair at least until dinnertime. The Fire Master chuckled impishly and kissed her partner briefly on his cheek. : That's okay then. Who's coming? :

: Harry's close friends and Draco and his gang. No Parkinson though. I believe it would be Alamanda Durz this time. :

Fenix gave a slow whistle. : She certainly moves very fast, doesn't she. Now, Sev, if you don't mind, I'd like to pay attention to my Rem-- : She was quickly interrupted by the Potions Master whose mindvoice was colored slightly gray with embarrassment.

: Please, Fenix. I don't want to hear the explicit details, : Snape said in an aggravated tone. The bedroom was filled with her musical laughter and trailed off quickly when Remus intervened.

**********

Later in the evening...

Fenix took great care to dress up a little that evening. She was wearing a white flowing dress that went all the way down to her knees and she wore her black leather pants complete with black leather sandals. She tied her hair back into a high ponytail and left it at that, wearing only her earrings as accessories. The indirect effects of the berries had long since worn off, thanks to the Potions Master's intervention and she felt that she could look at other guys without going into the dreamy state she had found herself in that morning. She however could not wonder what her oathbrother might say, and she just shrugged to herself and proceeded to Sirius's office.

A very sheepish-looking werewolf opened the door and she gave him an inquiring look but he mouthed that everything was all right and ushered her in. She paused to examine the room wonderingly. Somehow, Sirius had managed to increase the size of the room to fit one very large dining table to fit sixteen people. Montague was staring at her with a stupefied expression and she gave him a baffled look. The Slytherin was just about ready to drool when Snape cleared his throat threateningly.

"She's too old for you."

"That's all right with me, sir." The student kept his eyes on her while the Gryffindors in the room smothered their laughter at Fenix's facial expression. Draco frowned slightly and jabbed his friend with his elbow."Ouch!"

Remus guided her over to seat opposite Montague and she bantered lightly with the Potions Master. "Too old you say," she said in a dangerous tone and sat down gracefully beside Alamanda. "No worries, Sev. You and your students are safe from me. I've already given my cap to someone and he has already accepted it." The table was filled with chuckles as Fenix gave a very wicked look at her partner, who was seated at the other end of the table. She scanned the table once more and found that Draco's usual bodyguards were not with them. She tilted her head inquiringly at the Slytherin prefect who interpreted her inquisitive look accurately.

"Keeping someone off my back," Draco said shortly and she nodded her head as she grasped his subtle meaning.

Sirius came into the room and bestowed a brief kiss on her forehead before making his way down to sit opposite the Potions Master. The moment he sat down, plates of spaghetti appeared miraculously and the table was decorated with appetizers and the desserts were making her mouth water by just thinking about setting her teeth down on some of the sumptuous-looking dessert. She eyed particularly at the apple strudel and licked her lips in anticipation.

Sirius looked at his dinner guests and focused his attention mainly on Neville. The boy was strangely melancholy after his father's burial and the reality that his mother had regained her full memory and was functioning normally now had staggered the teenager to a high degree. Neville's grandmother was adamant that her daughter-in-law to be placed in her care immediately and it caused quite a commotion in the new location of St. Mungo's Hospital that the hospital staff quickly gave way to the old lady.

Sirius listened to Fenix as she informed the students who were present that they would be receiving their new timetable sometime later in the night, and was explaining about the sudden change to Hermione, who was looking a little worried. Knowing the girl, she was probably worried about redoing her study schedule. Hermione looked a little shocked when Fenix told them that the staff would be doing a little screening tomorrow.

"What kind of screening are we talking about?" Harry asked curiously and Sirius answered his godson's question though he pitched his voice so everyone would be able to hear him.

"Basically those who are staying behind are going to get screened by all of us-- meaning the teachers and Dumbledore tomorrow. So we wouldn't really have any kind of lesson tomorrow. Basically, our objectives would be to separate the students to specialize in a task." Sirius put down his fork to gaze solemnly at them. The students listened attentively to him. "So, please be prepared to handle the situation that you might get divided," Harry's godfather was looking solemnly at his godson's company. "The students would be separated into six divisions and to--"

"Hell with the Houses," Fenix interjected.

"Correct. I expect that Dumbledore would be giving the full briefing tomorrow. The six divisions are the Main, Paramedics, Rearguard, Defense, Attack and Reserves," Sirius informed them, and Ron gave a slow whistle. "I'm not going to give a more detailed explanation." He gave a warning look when Hermione started to open her mouth.

"Professor Dumbledore will explain it all to you tomorrow," Snape said patiently and they began eating again. Sirius decided that it was time to distract all of them from their thoughts by asking Fenix about her birthday. She looked quizzically at him and asked why he wanted to know.

"For fun..." Sirius shrugged and Fenix smiled broadly.

"It's much more fun if you guess," she said in a challenging tone. Sirius gave a nod of acceptance of her challenge. "Well, guess which season. But only two tries."

They had finished eating their main course and all were now going for their dessert. Fenix's invisible assistants helped to serve them and meanwhile, most of them bore contemplative looks on their faces. Harry raised an eyebrow when Krill actually gave a larger portion apple strudel for her and she just gave him an impish grin.

"Summer," Ron hazarded but she shook her head.

"Winter," Sirius stated and she nodded. Now, they were left to guess which month of winter she was born. Hermione was thinking about something very hard but Harry had beaten her to it.

"I remember something about you being born under the Elder tree or something like that..." Harry mused and Fenix nodded at the clue.

Snape narrowed his eyes and carefully calculated mentally. So she could either be born in November or December. "December." Another nod from Fenix as she was halfway through her dessert.

"Twelve," Remus absently spoke up. Fenix looked at him in surprise.

"Why that number?"

"No idea. It just popped into my mind," her partner shrugged. To everyone's surprise, she fell silent.

"Carefully file that into your memory, Moony," Sirius said casually.

His best friend gave a disdainful snort. "I do have a clear and perfect memory unlike someone I know." Fenix chortled when Sirius stared at his friend with a mortified expression and they talked about more mundane stuff and temporarily forgot about the teachers' latest news.