Women and cats will do as they please...
Andromeda made her way into the Ministry, Teddy’s hand in hers. It was nothing new for her to be bringing Teddy to his godfather, so she was not questioned much by the watch wizard. She was given her guest badge and sent towards Teddy’s godfather, but that wasn’t the only reason for her visit. The entire of Stone Circle now knew about Hannah Abbott, Delores Umbridge and the whole debacle, and Harry Potter was about to get the full two knuts’ worth of Andromeda’s opinion on it, and after that, she was going after Kingsley to give him what-for as well.
She sent Teddy off to visit with ‘Uncle Kings’ while she spoke with ‘Uncle Harry’. Her grandson was all too happy to trot off in that direction, doing what he usually did when he visited Harry - changing his hair black and putting a scar on his forehead. He waved at several of the aurors as he hurried by.
She slammed into Harry’s office making him jump.
“Andromeda?”
“Harry,” she snapped.
“We have not arrested Willow Rosenberg, I swear. We have no plans to arrest her. I don’t think she had anything to do with those inferi in that cemetery in Wiltshire.”
“That’s rather nice to know, and I’m sure the Penshaws appreciate it, but if you lot put Delores Umbridge as the Council Liaison, she won’t survive. Because if one of the girls or Rupert doesn’t end her, I can certainly see Severus doing so.”
Harry blinked at her several times. “What?”
It took Andromeda a moment to realize why Harry looked so stricken all of a sudden. She had yet to tell him about Severus Snape. She had been so focused on Umbridge that she’d forgotten.
“Oh bother. That’s not how I meant to tell you about that.”
Harry looked like he was in shock. Now Andromeda felt bad. She had meant to sit him down and gently break the news of Severus Snape to him. Harry had never fully disclosed how Snape had helped him, only that he had, that Severus had been Dumbledore’s man right until the very end. All Andromeda knew was that whatever had happened had changed how Harry viewed Snape.
“Severus Snape is alive, Harry. I meant to be gentler when I told you. I apologize.”
“How? He... the snake...”
“I should probably let Severus explain that, Harry. It’s... well, it’s not my story to tell. And also... I don’t know. He didn’t tell me, but he’s actually alive, not a zombie or a wraith or anything of that sort.”
“Where is he?”
Of course Harry would want to see him. Harry had been very upset when they could not find Snape’s body. She knew now it was likely because he’d gotten up and walked out, but she didn’t think Harry was ready for that tidbit just yet. He seemed to be having quite enough trouble with Snape just being alive just now.
“I’m not... Willow would know where to find him or how to reach him, “ she said. “ He’s helping her. I’m sure she could arrange a meeting.”
Harry just nodded. Then he looked up at her sharply. “What did you say about Umbridge?”
“She’s pushing to have the vampire slayers classified at dangerous creatures, and I think angling to be the liaison to the Council now that White has sacked Hannah Abbott.”
Harry’s brow furrowed and his mouth dropped open. Obviously he did not approve and had no idea it had even happened.
“You didn’t know?”
“No,” Harry said. “I didn’t know.”
“Amos Diggory is furious. He works in the Magical Creatures Department still. I think he payed a visit to Augusta Longbottom the next day after it happened. All the ladies in my coven are in a tizzy over it, Harry, and let me tell you - these are not ladies you want in a tizzy.”
“Well, of that circle I only really know you, Mrs. Longbottom and Headmistress McGonagall, that’s plenty scary for me. Does McGonagall know? You know how fond she is of Umbridge.”
“She’s furious, Harry. I won’t even tell you what words she used.”
Harry’s eyebrows rose. “McGonagall swore?”
“With words that would have made a seasoned harlot blush.”
Harry removed his glasses and wiped a hand over his face. He replaced them and looked at Andromeda with a worried look.
“I’ll speak to Kingsley.”
“She’s really trying to get the slayers classified as dangerous creatures.”
“Not if I can bloody well help it,” Harry spat, rubbing the back of his hand where there was the faint scarring of words still.
Andromeda smiled. She knew Harry violently disliked Delores Umbridge and with good reason. The woman had tortured him under the guise of a detention. Andromeda had been counting on that dislike to put some roadblocks in Umbridge’s path. A part of her hated to use Harry in this manner, but once he had found out, he’d be on the path he was now on anyhow. She was just speeding up that process.
The door burst open and Teddy hurried in with Kingsley behind him.
“Andromeda, you know I do not appreciate you meddling in Ministry business,” Kingsley said in a stern tone.
Like that tone and facial expression was supposed to frighten her? She was the middle sister in the Narcissa-Bellatrix sandwich of evil crazy. Not a lot frightened her.
“Uncle Harry!”
Harry scooped up Teddy in a tight hug.
Andromeda regarded Kingsley with a cool look. “Well, don’t let your employees do such bloody stupid things and you won’t have to see me.”
“She heard about Umbridge,” Harry said. “And I can’t say I’m happy about it either.”
Kingsley cast a silencing charm over the office. “I would not let White put Delores Umbridge in charge of a feral toilet, much less an army of supernaturally strong girls. The appointment of a liaison to the Watcher’s Council is very much under my pervue. I cannot tell Townley White who to appoint, but I can let it be known that Delores Umbridge, after her time at Hogwarts, should not be in contact with student-aged persons again. I do not believe he shall cross me on that. If so, perhaps Rupert Giles can be convinced to hire a few Centaurs as watchers.”
Andromeda nodded, satisfied. “There is also the fact that one of their watchers and one of their hired hands are werewolves. You know how she is about them.”
“I do know,” Kingsley said. “Is it true that Miss Abbott used her wand to make hoof noises at Umbridge?”
Harry started laughing. “What? Come one. Hannah Abbott didn’t do that.”
“I’m afraid she did, Harry. Just ask Amos. He ruddy well couldn’t stop giggling like a schoolgirl about it.”
Harry started chuckling. “That’s excellent. I can’t wait to tell Ron and Hermione. They’ll never believe me. Hannah Abbott was always so sweet.” He made a face. “Except for when we learned binding charms in the DA. I’ve never seen anyone as adept at a binding charm.”
“Well, being Blaise Zabini’s girlfriend sometimes will knock the sweet right out of a girl, and from what I’ve heard about Blaise, those binding charms might come in rather handy.”
Harry looked part horrified and part like he’d taken a stunner to the head, and it was Andromeda’s turn to start chuckling.
She sent Teddy off to visit with ‘Uncle Kings’ while she spoke with ‘Uncle Harry’. Her grandson was all too happy to trot off in that direction, doing what he usually did when he visited Harry - changing his hair black and putting a scar on his forehead. He waved at several of the aurors as he hurried by.
She slammed into Harry’s office making him jump.
“Andromeda?”
“Harry,” she snapped.
“We have not arrested Willow Rosenberg, I swear. We have no plans to arrest her. I don’t think she had anything to do with those inferi in that cemetery in Wiltshire.”
“That’s rather nice to know, and I’m sure the Penshaws appreciate it, but if you lot put Delores Umbridge as the Council Liaison, she won’t survive. Because if one of the girls or Rupert doesn’t end her, I can certainly see Severus doing so.”
Harry blinked at her several times. “What?”
It took Andromeda a moment to realize why Harry looked so stricken all of a sudden. She had yet to tell him about Severus Snape. She had been so focused on Umbridge that she’d forgotten.
“Oh bother. That’s not how I meant to tell you about that.”
Harry looked like he was in shock. Now Andromeda felt bad. She had meant to sit him down and gently break the news of Severus Snape to him. Harry had never fully disclosed how Snape had helped him, only that he had, that Severus had been Dumbledore’s man right until the very end. All Andromeda knew was that whatever had happened had changed how Harry viewed Snape.
“Severus Snape is alive, Harry. I meant to be gentler when I told you. I apologize.”
“How? He... the snake...”
“I should probably let Severus explain that, Harry. It’s... well, it’s not my story to tell. And also... I don’t know. He didn’t tell me, but he’s actually alive, not a zombie or a wraith or anything of that sort.”
“Where is he?”
Of course Harry would want to see him. Harry had been very upset when they could not find Snape’s body. She knew now it was likely because he’d gotten up and walked out, but she didn’t think Harry was ready for that tidbit just yet. He seemed to be having quite enough trouble with Snape just being alive just now.
“I’m not... Willow would know where to find him or how to reach him, “ she said. “ He’s helping her. I’m sure she could arrange a meeting.”
Harry just nodded. Then he looked up at her sharply. “What did you say about Umbridge?”
“She’s pushing to have the vampire slayers classified at dangerous creatures, and I think angling to be the liaison to the Council now that White has sacked Hannah Abbott.”
Harry’s brow furrowed and his mouth dropped open. Obviously he did not approve and had no idea it had even happened.
“You didn’t know?”
“No,” Harry said. “I didn’t know.”
“Amos Diggory is furious. He works in the Magical Creatures Department still. I think he payed a visit to Augusta Longbottom the next day after it happened. All the ladies in my coven are in a tizzy over it, Harry, and let me tell you - these are not ladies you want in a tizzy.”
“Well, of that circle I only really know you, Mrs. Longbottom and Headmistress McGonagall, that’s plenty scary for me. Does McGonagall know? You know how fond she is of Umbridge.”
“She’s furious, Harry. I won’t even tell you what words she used.”
Harry’s eyebrows rose. “McGonagall swore?”
“With words that would have made a seasoned harlot blush.”
Harry removed his glasses and wiped a hand over his face. He replaced them and looked at Andromeda with a worried look.
“I’ll speak to Kingsley.”
“She’s really trying to get the slayers classified as dangerous creatures.”
“Not if I can bloody well help it,” Harry spat, rubbing the back of his hand where there was the faint scarring of words still.
Andromeda smiled. She knew Harry violently disliked Delores Umbridge and with good reason. The woman had tortured him under the guise of a detention. Andromeda had been counting on that dislike to put some roadblocks in Umbridge’s path. A part of her hated to use Harry in this manner, but once he had found out, he’d be on the path he was now on anyhow. She was just speeding up that process.
The door burst open and Teddy hurried in with Kingsley behind him.
“Andromeda, you know I do not appreciate you meddling in Ministry business,” Kingsley said in a stern tone.
Like that tone and facial expression was supposed to frighten her? She was the middle sister in the Narcissa-Bellatrix sandwich of evil crazy. Not a lot frightened her.
“Uncle Harry!”
Harry scooped up Teddy in a tight hug.
Andromeda regarded Kingsley with a cool look. “Well, don’t let your employees do such bloody stupid things and you won’t have to see me.”
“She heard about Umbridge,” Harry said. “And I can’t say I’m happy about it either.”
Kingsley cast a silencing charm over the office. “I would not let White put Delores Umbridge in charge of a feral toilet, much less an army of supernaturally strong girls. The appointment of a liaison to the Watcher’s Council is very much under my pervue. I cannot tell Townley White who to appoint, but I can let it be known that Delores Umbridge, after her time at Hogwarts, should not be in contact with student-aged persons again. I do not believe he shall cross me on that. If so, perhaps Rupert Giles can be convinced to hire a few Centaurs as watchers.”
Andromeda nodded, satisfied. “There is also the fact that one of their watchers and one of their hired hands are werewolves. You know how she is about them.”
“I do know,” Kingsley said. “Is it true that Miss Abbott used her wand to make hoof noises at Umbridge?”
Harry started laughing. “What? Come one. Hannah Abbott didn’t do that.”
“I’m afraid she did, Harry. Just ask Amos. He ruddy well couldn’t stop giggling like a schoolgirl about it.”
Harry started chuckling. “That’s excellent. I can’t wait to tell Ron and Hermione. They’ll never believe me. Hannah Abbott was always so sweet.” He made a face. “Except for when we learned binding charms in the DA. I’ve never seen anyone as adept at a binding charm.”
“Well, being Blaise Zabini’s girlfriend sometimes will knock the sweet right out of a girl, and from what I’ve heard about Blaise, those binding charms might come in rather handy.”
Harry looked part horrified and part like he’d taken a stunner to the head, and it was Andromeda’s turn to start chuckling.