Owls and Musings

Chapter 10.

" Ah, Professor Snape, come in - Fruit Gum?" Dumbledore offered to Snape as he came through the headmaster's office door.

"Thank you, but no, Headmaster." Severus folded himself into the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. "You requested to see me."

"Hmmm, yes. I have received some communication from Miss Scott and she left it up to my discretion to let you read it. I felt you should." He handed Severus a piece of parchment.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I am writing to you to offer my services for the benefit of the Order. As you know, I am an accomplished researcher and transfigurationist and feel that those skills may come in handy for you and the Order at some time in the near future.

I understand that you know about my relationship with your potions master. I also know that he may not see this offer in a favourable light and may even try to forbid me on grounds of my protection. You may point out to him that we are not wedded and as such, he has no say in how or to whom I offer my talents.

I have had a premonition that you will be in need of my services in a research capacity. So, do with that what you will.

You may show this to Severus, if you deem it necessary.

Yours,

Esmerelda McGonagall Scott.

Severus dropped the note back on the desk. Dumbledore thought that the man was going to explode as he had gone redder with each passing second and then had gone sheer white.

Snape stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the grounds. He reached into his robe's pocket and pulled out a small box, which he gently laid in front of Dumbledore after fingering it for a moment.

"I was going to ask her this summer," he said gruffly. "I had commissioned this for her last autumn and with everything else that was going on forgot about it. It arrived this morning."

"May I?" asked Albus. Severus waved his hand dismissively and returned to the embrasure.

Albus took out the ring and admired the craftsmanship. A gold gryphon and a silver serpent encircled around the band and guarded a ruby surrounded by emeralds.

"It's magnificent, Severus. Are you not going to give it to her?"

Snape shook his head. "Not at this time. The future is too uncertain. I can't promise her anything right now."

"I see." Dumbledore was quiet for a moment then asked, "In preparation for the future, may I bless the ring?" he offered.

Severus snapped his head towards the headmaster. "I would be honoured, Sir."

Dumbledore nodded and enclosing the ring in his wand hand, closed his eyes. Severus could see his mentor's lips moving but no sound was heard. A light seemed to shine from the fist and Severus could feel the magical forces gathering around the headmaster.

"Come and see." Albus eventually smiled at him as he placed the ring on the desk. Severus plucked the ring up and was startled to feel a protection charm. In addition there was now an E and S embedded in the ruby and an inscription on the inside of the band.

"What... Thank you."

"Someday you will deem it safe enough to give it to her and I may not be around to enjoy it."

Severus replaced the ring in the box and placed it back into his robes.

"A word of advice, if I may?" Dumbledore asked, as he popped a candy into his mouth.

"Of course, Sir," he said as he sat back down.

"When you do finally get married, I would not use the high Anglican service."

"Sir?"

"I believe they still prefer the wife to say 'obey'."

Snape's mouth smirked. "You're correct." He picked up the letter again. "I don't think she'll agree to that! Are you going to accede her request to join the Order?" he grumbled.

"I am. I already have a project for her." Albus grinned at the consternation on Snape's face. "I believe the owl that brought the note is still in the Owlery. Could you get these books from Madame Pince and send them off to Miss Scott?" The headmaster handed another slip of parchment to his potions master as the man rose from his chair.

Severus turned to leave, but had a sudden thought. "Sir, what type of owl brought her note?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he said, "Eagle Owl."

He chuckled to himself as Snape closed the door cursing.

+++

Snape pounded stairs up to the Owlery two at a time, the parcel of books from the library swinging from his hand, as he took his frustrations out on the masonry. As he rounded the doorway, he spotted her high up in the perches. Dumping the bundle on the center stone table, he crossed his arms and just stared at her.

She blinked down at him, and then turned around on her perch so that her tail feathers faced him.

"Get down here. Now," he growled.

She hooted and after making a show of turning back around, flew down to the plinth, but again kept her back to him.

"Ruddy owl. Go ahead and change, I'm not going to bite your head off."

"You should see your face then. You wouldn't say that if you did." She hopped down off the stone and walked warily around it towards him. "I take it Dumbledore showed you my letter?"

He nodded, still unsure about trusting his voice.

She came and placed a hand on his crossed arms. "Severus, I have to do something! Blame it on the Gryffindor in me. I've been thinking about it since you left last month. Then, yesterday morning, I had a premonition dream. I haven't had one in years - not even when He came back last month. It showed me doing research for Albus. So I had to come and ask him. I wasn't sure he would recognise my Animagus form, but he did." She shrugged as she took a step back from him.

"He's known it for years. You couldn't send Kyle?" he got out through his strained lips.

"Not for something this important, no. This required the personal touch."

He looked down into her eyes and shuddered. What is it with green eyes? They undo me every time. He relented enough to drop his arms and let her step into them to embrace him, leaning his cheek on top of her head.

"I know you want to keep me away from everything, but this war will affect everyone. I can't stand by and be a wallflower, it's against my nature," she explained to him.

"I know." He sighed into her hair. "But next time try to ask me first."

"Ah, but that goes against the unofficial Gryffindor motto." She grinned up at him

"Which is?" he asked amusedly.

"Do it now, ask forgiveness later."

"Apt." He bent down to kiss her and she knew she had won. After a few moments of quiet snogging she asked, " Did you get the DADA post?"

"As usual, no. He says the Dark Lord cursed the position and it is not my time to leave Hogwarts."

"So, who is it this year?"

"Dolores Umbridge."

She startled when she heard the name. "That cow? She's the reason I lost my job!"

"You never told me that." He glowered.

"Not directly, mind you, but she's the one who convinced Fudge to consolidate the departments and made my position 'redundant'. I never got along with her - always toadying up to Fudge. I'm warning you, Love, look out for her. She's a nasty piece of business." She shuddered in mock revulsion.

"I'll keep it in mind. You need to get going. I've already placed a lightening charm on these." He patted the books on the stone.

"Thanks." She kissed him one last time and stepped away to transform. He watched silently as her form shimmered down to the shape of the majestic bird. After mantling her wings a few times she hopped to the plinth and onto the package. Severus came over to make sure her talons had a firm hold on the string, and gave her one last stroke down her back as she leaned her head against his arm. He stepped back as she mantled, then took off. All he could think of, as he watched her winging over the forest, was how much he truly loved her. He watched until she disappeared from view and, fingering the box in his pocket, slowly walked down the stairs.