Chapters 121-130

New Spies and Their Master

‘Very well,’ Minerva concluded. ‘I don’t think we will reach a conclusion tonight. Let me sum up the discussion so far:
‘The warning may refer to special cloaks that the perpetrators wore. Either magical cloaks or a kind of uniform.
‘The reference to kittens may implicate an involvement of Dolores Umbridge. To interpret it as a suggestion to kill Filch’s kittens seems unlikely.
‘Concerning the wand: Creevey could not have referred to the Elder Wand as he didn’t know about it when he died. Therefore he possibly wanted to indicate that someone used a wand to change the ritual for raising an Inferius.
‘The last part appears to warn us that something is not what it seems. Or someone.’

Hermione glanced at Severus. The line between his eyebrows had deepened, and his finger was still pressed to his lips. He was deep in thought.

Minerva went on, ‘Draco and Percy will continue to keep their eyes open in the ministry. I will endeavour to devise a spell that will disintegrate the bones of any victims of the war that are still left in the ground so that no other Inferi can be raised from those graves.

‘Does anyone have to add anything?’

oooOooo

‘Did Order meetings always take so long? Or am I just getting old?’ Hermione complained once they reached their private quarters. ‘I feel drained.’

Severus finally disengaged from his private musings. ‘You’ve been up and about only for the third day. And it was a long meeting. It’s normal to feel exhausted.’ He frowned at her. ‘Are you sure you feel up to teaching tomorrow morning?’

Hermione nodded. ‘It’s only Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. I should be able to manage.’

‘I’ll take your study groups in the afternoons next week,’ Severus announced. ‘You need to get your energy back if you want to complete your own work with me satisfactorily.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Seven years in his classroom had taught her not to contradict him when he used that particular tone.

He stepped closer to her. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he drew her against his body. ‘Go to bed, Hermione. You need your sleep.’

‘What about you? I know that you’re not in a much better shape than I am.’

‘Ah, but I’ve had years of practice of existing on exhaustion instead of sleep.’ He slanted a wry grin at her. He added, ‘I’ll be with you within an hour, I should think. But Draco, Percy and Minerva are coming to see me in a few minutes.’

‘Draco?’ Hermione frowned. ‘Why?’

Her husband’s face grew very serious. ‘Minerva suspects that someone in the Ministry may indeed work with whoever is behind all this. I agree with her.

‘Shacklebolt has distanced himself from the Order due to political necessity. While Andromeda did assist the Order after my conviction, it is possible that her priorities do not coincide completely with the mission of the Order as it stands. And there are still many powerful witches and wizards in the Wizengamot who were at least sympathetic to Voldemort’s cause.’

‘So you’ll be in charge of our spies inside the ministry?’

He raised his eyebrows, as if he was surprised at the equanimity of her reaction. ‘Yes,’ he replied.

For a short moment she allowed herself to rest her head against his chest, delighting in the warmth of his body, the touch of his hands on her shoulders. ‘Good,’ she said in a low voice. ‘You’re perfect for that job.’

When she looked up, she caught how he minutely shook his head at her. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. ‘Surprised that I’m not going all Gryffindor on you about spying ‘on our own’? Severus, I’m not Harry. And while I’m grateful to Andromeda and Kingsley for their help in getting you out of Azkaban, I am not likely to forget that they also had a part in how you got there and in what happened there. Look at Draco. People change. He changed for the better. Others may change for the worse. And if nothing comes of it, so much the better.’

She snaked her hands around Severus’ neck. In a moment of rare courage, she pulled him towards her so she could kiss him. His mouth was firm, as unyielding as the whole man, but at the same time his lips were soft and warm. ‘Try to keep them safe.’

Severus sighed. ‘I always do, Hermione. Try, that is.’

oooOooo

It was almost midnight when Minerva McGonagall finally returned to her office. She was weary to her bones and her mouth felt fuzzy from talking so much.

At least a nightcap in the peace and quiet of my office to unwind, she thought, as it’s already way too late to contemplate a ‘good night’s sleep’.

She stepped out of the fireplace and dusted off her robes, before she made a beeline to her liquor cabinet. Something sweeter today, she reflected and chose the Glenmorangie. After pouring a generous dram, she slumped down in one of the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace. Gratefully she inhaled the zesty aroma of the whisky. The first swallow burned with a comforting, velvety fire down her throat until it settled in her stomach with a mellow glow.

Almost automatically, her gaze flicked to the golden frame of the painting behind her desk. ‘Albus? Are you there? We had a meeting tonight that you might be interested in.’

When there was no answer, Minerva only groaned. Probably out and about again with Salazar. Hopefully you’re a bit more circumspect with the choice of location for your cavorting and canoodling this time, Albus. Then she blinked at the painting. Blinked again.

And dropped her glass.

Albus Dumbledore was there, right inside the frame, just where he was supposed to be.

But he did not move or speak. No fake twinkle glittered in his eyes. He stood inside the painting and looked at her. As stiff, immobile and dead as any Muggle painting.