Aspen in the Sunlight - A Year Like None Other

"You knew we'd want to explore the castle straight away?" Harry looked up at him. "You left the map out in advance?"

"I know you," said Severus. No-one was around now, except Hagrid in the far distance, working in his garden. Severus laid a hand on Harry's shoulder, and another one on Draco's. "I really am late for my tea with Albus. I'll see you both for dinner later."

"All right." Harry nodded.

Draco just smiled a little.

"Be good, then," said Severus, turning down the path to a side entrance of the castle.

He heard both boys chuckling as he walked away.

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"Severus, right on time," the headmaster declared.

The Potions Master abruptly cast Tempus . "Albus, I'm just over twenty minutes late."

"Nonsense, my boy," Dumbledore replied with a wave of his hand. "I naturally allowed for the departure time of the Express and the time it would take for you and the boys to stroll back to the castle."

"Naturally," Severus murmured as he took his customary seat. The elderly wizard filled their teacups with a flick of his fingers. Severus inhaled the aroma and quirked an eyebrow. "Mint?"

"I thought something invigorating was in order. We're not merely celebrating the successful conclusion of another year. You're trading your usual summer of quiet research for family holiday with two teen-aged boys--soon to be men." Albus raised his teacup in salute. "This shall truly be a summer like none other."

Severus rolled his eyes. The headmaster had no end of hackneyed phrases. "This entire year has already been . . . singular, to say the least."

As Albus chortled his agreement, the two men drained their cups in contemplative silence.

Soon, however, the headmaster snapped his fingers. At once, the pretence of a simple tea was dropped. In addition to a lovely fruit salad that winked into existence, finger sandwiches appeared, neatly arranged on a silver platter. But these sandwiches contained heartier stuff than cucumbers or watercress. Severus was pleased to note his two favourites - lemon chicken salad and tiny meatballs with olives. In addition was a real treat - a frosted crystal bowl of shrimp remoulade.

Both men knew the real purpose behind these meetings. Now that Albus was proceeding to "feed him up," as he liked to put it, Severus complied by loosening his tongue.

"You've outdone yourself today, Albus." Severus smiled as he filled a china plate, edged in silver and green no less. "Another tribute to Slytherin? You're even wearing green."

"Ah, yes. I do so love new robes. Wang Ping included them as a thank you gift with our last order of tea leaves for the school. She's such a pleasure to do business with."

Severus hid a grimace as he said in a diplomatic tone, "She truly knows your style."

Dumbledore actually preened a bit. No matter that the robes were a ridiculously vivid emerald green. The Mandarin collar and frog closures weren't too extravagant, Severus decided, but the elaborately embroidered dragon frolicking with a matching phoenix amid colourful swirls of flame . . . the whole thing glowed so brightly that he had to avert his eyes from the shiny display.

"There is another colour besides black, you know, Severus."

The Potions Master merely lifted his chin. "As you know, I'm planning to stay on at the school for a short while. Normal end-of-term tasks have been neglected due to the Ministry's insane ideas about how to ruin my perfectly sound Potions curricula." Severus sighed. No point in going over all that again. Albus knew his views. "Originally, I'd thought to use the first two weeks of summer to complete my notes on the progress of the students in my house."

"Originally? You've changed your mind, then?"

Severus nodded. "I think it might be best to bring the paperwork to Devon. You'll have it much later than usual, but this way, I can work on the Wolfsbane project while I remain in residence. I anticipate inviting Lucinda to join me here. Her latest research shows promise."

"Splendid idea, my boy! I'll have some rooms prepared for her straight away." Albus tapped his fingers together. "Do you suppose she'd prefer a view of the forest or the gardens? Then again, maybe she would want to stay in the dungeons. They're cooler for the summer and she wouldn't have to walk far to your lab. I could conjure a direct link with the library. She'd like that, I think. Oh, and I shall have to invite her up for tea--"

"Why don't you just lodge her next to you?" asked Severus in a dry voice. "Since you appear intent on flirting with the woman."

"No such thing, my boy, no such thing. But you know, the castle's largely deserted over the summer. I wouldn't want Lucinda getting lonely. Oh, no indeed . . ."

"Albus, I'll not have you mucking up my research time with this nonsense! Besides, I haven't even owled the woman yet. She might be busy."

"Bah," Dumbledore grinned, his whole expression radiating anticipation. "Never too busy to help Remus. And by the way, there's a difference between flirting and merely being a charming and gregarious host. Oh, but as you've never once put yourself out to be a charming and gregarious host--" The headmaster smothered a laugh. "No, no, I shouldn't say that. You've worked wonders with those boys of yours. And dare I say, they've done the same for you?"

The Potions Master snorted. "Why not? You say it every time."

"Good. Then we're agreed." Albus rubbed his hands together. "Lucinda. It will be good to see her again."

"Just don't let Draco and Harry witness your . . . exuberance," warned Severus. "Those two have developed an insidious obsession with match-making."

The headmaster beamed. "Oh, that's quite understandable. They do both love you. Surely you can't begrudge them the desire to see their father happy."

"I am perfectly happy, " said Severus, ignoring the way the word set oddly on his tongue.

"Or their longing for a mother," Dumbledore prattled right on.

Severus felt like he might choke. Longing for a mother? Honestly! "Draco has a mother, Albus," he pointed out. "I doubt he wants another."

The headmaster just kept beaming. "Perhaps you should follow their cues, Severus. It wouldn't hurt--"

Severus bared his teeth, seeing now what he should have seen before. "I knew it!"

"Knew what, my dear boy?"

"Your meddling truly knows no bounds, does it? Harry mentioned that you'd engaged Maura Morrighan to teach Defence next year. I honestly couldn't imagine why." His voice went dark and menacing. "Until now, that is."

"Why, whatever can you mean?" Dumbledore, Severus noticed, was doing his best to look innocent. "As I recall, you were the one who first suggested that Maura could prove an asset to the Order."

"She's a fine asset to the Order. That doesn't make her fit to teach." Severus' nostrils flared. "Honestly, Albus, I'm not altogether sure the woman is even literate!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Oh, that's just professional jealousy."

"You know perfectly well I've no real interest in teaching Defence. I wouldn't want the post even if it wasn't cursed." Severus paused. "Is Maura aware of the curse?"

"See for yourself. Accio Maura's letter." Dumbledore handed a roll of parchment to Severus, who held it in one hand while eating.

"You see, she has indeed put quill to parchment before," Dumbledore teased when the other man looked up.

After skimming the missive, Severus tossed it onto the table. "She misspelled attributes and sincerely."

"Perhaps you could tutor her in the evenings in the privacy of your quarters. I'm certain the two of you have a good deal in common . . ." Albus' voice drifted off, his eyebrows raised. "Mmm?"

Severus didn't dignify any of that with a reply. Best to simply get off the topic, he decided, though he was so annoyed that another didn't occur to him until he'd finished the last of the shrimp.