Never Forgotten Horror

Chapter 2 - Meetings of War

Naomi stepped into Dumbledore's office. She immediately felt like she stepped into a room in which a peacock had exploded in. It was far too bright for Naomi's liking.

No one seemed to be in there. Except a bird. A beautiful bird, that was unmistakably Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. She remembered seeing him, when she was young - when she was at Hogwarts. She had seen him all the times she got in trouble because of making potions that weren't allowed at Hogwarts or practicing spells that were from Dark Art books.

Fawkes was looking peacefully down at her. She hated that look. It was sad to her. No one looked at her that way. They always looked at her like she was about to snap any second. But Fawkes was a bird, and didn't know any better. She found herself smiling. That was something that hadn't happened for a long time. Still, Fawkes gave her that welcome feeling - a feeling that no person could ever give her.

She was stroking Fawkes' feathers when she heard the door open. It was the last person she wanted to see now.

Snape stepped in, almost cautiously, and looked around. It was almost like he didn't feel like he should be here.

"What are you doing here?" were the first words Naomi said as he came in. Her voice was soft and cold all in one.

"I happen to be here to talk to Dumbledore about something," Snape replied coldly.

"Well, how 'bout that? Me too," Naomi said sarcastically, knowing if she kept it up he would be really pissed at her.

"You're still that smart ass girl from school, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I get used to it. But then again, I'm not a little girl anymore so you can't give me detention."

"Hello, Severus, Naomi. How very nice to see you both. Please, sit down."

Dumbledore always had to come in when things were getting good.

"Some things never change," Naomi said under her breath, loud enough for only for Snape to hear. He just stared icily back at her as her violet eyes narrowed threateningly.

"Anyone care for a drink?" Dumbledore asked, clearly not aware that the people in front of him were staring daggers at each other.

"Yes please."

"Severus?"

"Fine."

"Moody, Remus, and Tonks are supposed to be here too. We'll just have to wait."

"Wait not longer. We're here," Moody's voice came from the door.

Naomi could see the look on Snape's face was filled with loathing when Moody came in. She smiled inwardly at the thought of Snape being scared of him. Snape's face didn't change when Lupin came in followed by a lime green-haired Tonks.

"Nice to see you around Naomi. Hope you don't have too much trouble with the Dark Arts job," Moody said, both eyes fixed unblinkingly on Naomi. She didn't flinch or feel remotely scared. She knew Moody very well because he used to know her mother. He never liked Devin, but strangely, he liked Naomi.

"Oh I won't have trouble at all. I planned a little special something for the students," Naomi said softly, a small smile spreading across her lips. "It should be very interesting, seeing how this works out. The only problem may be having a few kids in the hospital wing, but it should help them." At this comment a grin spread across Moody's face. He continued to watch her until Snape interrupted.

"And Dumbledore knows of what you're doing?" Snape asked coldly, obviously feeling they knew something he didn't.

"Of course I know Severus," Dumbledore said calmly, his eyes twinkling. "I don't think our old friend, Professor Umbridge, would like it, but I'm quite sure the students will find it rather interesting. And a break from reading out of a textbook all day."

Snape sat there with a nasty look on his face. Moody was still grinning. Lupin and Tonks were both looking with interest at Naomi. Naomi had one of her half smirk half smiles on. Dumbledore however, was looking from Snape to Moody to Naomi with twinkling eyes.

"I believe we have a war to discuss," he said as calm as ever.

"Then lets start discussing," Naomi said looking at the five of them through narrow eyes.

"There have been three killings," Dumbledore informed them. "It is unknown who or what killed them. We don't even know how."

"Who was it?" Tonks asked curiously. "There wasn't anything in the Daily Prophet about killings."

"That is because they were Muggles," Dumbledore continued. "The Ministry didn't take it seriously, not that I expected they would. But nonetheless, I believe they are linked. However, there didn't seem to be any Death Eaters around at the time. I sent a few people from the Order to see if any were around. I didn't expect any to be left, but the people from the village hadn't seen anyone around that night. They say the victims were in pain that night, and died because of it.

"The Muggle doctors couldn't explain it. They said those people were perfectly healthy, and it was unnatural for someone to die like that. Even the Healers from St. Mungo's couldn't say what it was. They think it might be some kind of poison, but none that are known to us now have that effect on someone."

Everyone was silent for a moment. Naomi was going to make it a point to check Devin's books to see if anything in there would be of help. If it was she would tell Dumbledore she had the books. If not, she would keep quiet.

The silence was broken by Moody, who was watching everyone carefully, trying to see how each would react.

"It was defiantly a poison that killed them. Though it's probably one of the illegal ones. Or maybe one the Ministry forgot about. Like the horrible ones they had hundreds of years ago."

Both eyes were watching Naomi now. She looked right back through narrowed eyes, but the thought was still going in her head. //He can't know about Devin's books. Or maybe.... He does. My mother must've told him before she died.//

"Do you have any idea what kind of poison it is?" Lupin asked quietly.

"No, it would probably be in an old book that dates back to I'd say the Middle Ages," Moody answered now looking intently at Snape.

"I could check in my books, though I don't believe any are that old," Snape said softly glaring at Moody.

There was a silence. Then Moody stood up. "Well if we don't have anything left to talk about we'll be going."

"Yes, you may go," Dumbledore said standing up too. "I appreciate you coming. I'll be in contact soon."

"See you soon," Lupin said following Moody.

"Yes, very soon... Oops." Tonks had just knocked down one of the silver things that was right by the door. "Oh I'm sorry Dumbledore. I'll just pick that up. There. Bye!"

"That's the second time someone knocked that over," Dumbledore said, clearing his table. "Naomi, I would like to speak with you. Severus, you may go."

Snape didn't need twice telling. Turning sharply on his heel he went out the door closing it all too softly behind him. Naomi had a slight suspicion he was listening through the door.

"I trust you're moving in okay."

"Oh yes, just fine."

"Well I wanted to ask you if you had any information on this kind of stuff. I know your father studied this kind of magic, and I understand if you don't want to tell the others. But I must ask if you have any books, or maybe notes that belonged to Devin."

There was no turning back now. If she said she didn't have them, and the potion really was in there Dumbledore would not be very happy. And he already sounded like he knew she had them so what was the harm in saying it. It wasn't like he was going to put her in Azkaban.

"Well I do have some books," she started softly. "Some might go back to the Middles Ages. I'm not entirely sure. But I could look in then to see if the potion is in there."

"I thought you might have those books. Well, we'll have to keep it secret; we can't let the Ministry know about them. But we will have to tell the members of the Order that were here today. They will keep it secret."

"Fine." Naomi said this with an edge in her voice. She wasn't so keen for Snape, Lupin, or Tonks to know about it. But what choice did she have?

Naomi made her way to the door. "Oh, and by the way Naomi, I would like to see those books. How about tomorrow?"

"Fine."

"And good luck with your classes."

Naomi didn't respond. She walked right out the door and down to her office.

//I should have never come here in the first place.//