Scar Mates

THE SEVEN-FOLD GRID

The Hogwart's staff sat around the table in the staff room, nursing cups of tea, waiting for the Headmaster to arrive. The noise level had risen considerably in the past ten minutes, and Snape frowned as he tried to concentrate on the third year essays. Infernal chatterboxes. He despised staff meetings, but after a gentle rebuke from Dumbledore, had ceased to try and find ways to miss them.

The only other teacher who seemed as ill at ease was Quirrell. He had never paid much attention to the man, dismissing the value of an acquaintance with him after their first scholarly discussion. Just ten minutes with the man had confirmed his suspicion that once again the Defense Against the Dark Arts position had gone to someone less qualified than himself. When Quirrell had first gotten the position, he'd made a few, biting comments to the Headmaster.

"You've filled the position?"

"Alas, yes."

"His qualifications, Albus?"

"Severus, you know I would never put someone in that position who.."

Here Snape put up a restraining hand to interrupt him.

"You don't need to explain. I understand perfectly why you don't feel I'm suitable. It just galls, that's all."

Dumbledore shook his head, then softly, yet emphatically replied.

"You know I think you're the best applicant each year the position is open. But the Board of Governors would never support me," he finished sadly.

After a pause where neither man looked at the other, Snape said, "I suppose it might be difficult for me to maintain any objectivity if I had the position. I've considerable personal baggage that might affect my curriculum and teaching style."

Dumbledore snorted. "Students are wary enough of the class. You teaching it would terrify them beyond description."

Snape winced. "Yes, well, there is that. Still..."

Dumbledore patted him on the back. "You know how much I value your abilities, Severus. You're a primo Potions Master, and someday the extent of your other contributions will be known as well."

If I live that long, Snape thought.

The noise level dropped suddenly, and Snape looked up to see that the Headmaster had arrived and was seating himself. As a new round of tea was being served, Dumbledore surveyed his staff, resting his eyes for a moment on each one before moving on to the next. Clearing his throat, he called the meeting to order, and the next half-hour was spent sharing grievances, student gossip, and planning term events. After dismissing the meeting, Dumbledore asked Professors Snape, Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, and Hagrid to remain.

When the seven of them were alone, Dumbledore asked, "Well, how is our little project coming along?"

Snape thought back to the beginnings of their "little project".

Dumbledore had called them together two weeks after the end of the term, unusual in itself, as some of them had had to curtail their already limited vacation time. After they had exchanged news and tea had been poured, Dumbledore called them to order and explained their new challenge.

"We will call this the Committee to Protect the Stone. As you all know, Nicholas Flamel and I are the creators of the Sorcerer's Stone, one of our finest achievements, I might add. For years it had been in Nicholas' keeping, as he was well-suited to protect it. In the more recent past, it has been under lock and key in a secret vault at Gringotts."

At this, several of the professors gasped.

Flitwick remarked, "Really, Professor, do you think that was wise? I wouldn't think the goblins to be trusted to remain uninterested in its properties."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at this surprising indictment from his Charms professor who was, in part, of goblin ancestry. "We have felt quite secure with the arrangements at Gringotts. It has, in fact, been there for some time without incident." He paused here, considering his next words. "However, Nicolas and I, along with," he hesitated, "Severus, have considered some new information that has come to light, and no longer believe that the stone is safe there."

There was dead silence around the table. Several looked shocked, Snape noted, and Quirrell looked decidedly uncomfortable.

McGonagall was the first to break the silence. "What new information, Albus?"

"Minerva, I shouldn't even call it new information, I suppose. It falls more into the category of instincts. Nicholas and I have been aware of some rather disturbing undercurrents, especially among pureblood families. Severus has noticed as well. Not being sure of the significance of these tidings, we feel it best to be proactive and move the stone. Nicholas , in particular, has been anxious over its safety."

When no one ventured a further comment, he continued.

"For obvious reasons, the only other place the stone can be safe is here at Hogwart's. I don't, however, trust the wards alone. There will need to be a protective vault for it here as well. That is where I will require, and humbly request, the assistance of all of you. We will construct a Seven-fold Grid within the school, and each of you will be responsible for a seventh of it, myself included, using your magical specialty. I have here for each of you the dimensions of your grid area. Remember, we do not know the exact nature of the threat. It may not even be corporeal. Take that into account. It should be as difficult as possible. Remember, with seven diverse tasks, we lessen the likelihood that any one individual will be able to circumvent them all." He paused and looked around the table, waiting for comments.

Professor Sprout spoke first. "Where, Albus?"

"The entrance grid will be off the right third floor corridor. It is sufficiently unoccupied at this time. Each successive grid will stand slightly lower than the preceding one, with the final grid at dungeon-level.

"Er, Professor Dumbledore sir, I'm not too sure why I'm here. Seein' tha' I don' do magic 'n all." Hagrid cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.

Dumbledore's face brightened. "Ah, yes, of course, Hagrid. You will be responsible for the very first grid, the very first barrier at the entrance of the puzzle. It's a most important assignment, but I am entirely confident that you are up to the task. You have you own area of expertise, after all, and we will need a magical beast to set the stage."

Hearing this, Hagrid beamed. Dumbledore smiled fondly at the big man.

"I will be asking Professor Snape to assist you in the selection and placement, but you will be responsible for maintaining the creature." The smile on Hagrid's face faltered when he heard that Snape would be helping him. The frown on Snape's face deepened.

"I will meet with each of you next week to discuss your proposals. The implementation will need to take place by the first week of August. We will have acquired the stone by then."

"Severus?" Professor Dumbledore inquired.

Snape shook himself out of his recollections. "Yes, Headmaster. Sorry, I was distracted."

"Any problems on your end?"

"No, sir. The students, for the most part, have taken your warning to heart and are staying out of the area. There has been one incursion through the outer door, but when I arrived to check, everything was in order, although the creature was unusually agitated."

After a small discussion over the next month's schedule for patrolling the grid, the meeting was adjourned. As Hagrid made his way to the door, he gave Snape a disgruntled look. Snape stared in return, and after Hagrid closed the door behind him, turned to Dumbledore and said, "What?"

Dumbledore shook his head and sighed. "He's a little sensitive about Fluffy. He thinks you don't like him."

"Oh for pities sake! It's a three-headed dog. Of course I don't like it." He rolled his eyes.

"He's very insecure about you and not used to being included in staff meetings. Perhaps you could make it a little less awkward for him."

"Really, Albus, he's a grown man. He shouldn't need coddled and encouraged like a first year."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, adding, "Nevertheless, make an effort, please, for an old man. Pay him a visit. He's out of his element, and he doesn't have many companions here."

Snape sighed in exasperation. "I promise to smooth things over." Old man indeed. Conniving manipulator is more like it.

Dumbledore watched in amusement as Snape stalked out, knowing that the Potions Master really liked the Keeper of Keys and Grounds. He knew they were both lonely men. Unlikely companions, to be sure, but an afternoon together just might do them both some good.