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Unlikely Heroes	By : KusanoSaku Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 80942 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 15
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter francise does not belong to me. I own only the plot and I make no money off of this.

Chapter List
- 44
- 45
- 46
Title: Unlikely Heroes

Pairing: Future DracoxHarry, LuciusxSeverus, RemusxSeverus

Fandom: Harry Potter

Summary: A battered Boy Who Lived finds his world come crashing down when his name comes out of the Goblet of Fire. Shockingly, the only ones to come to his rescue are those he'd believed were his enemies.

Notes: Is compatible to the Selection of Triwizard Champions.

A/N: Apologies for the late update. I had to study for an college history exam and it's close to finals. I apologize for the length of the chapter it might seem to drag on but I swear everything written is important. I hope you enjoy it. Next update will be the Pettigrew trial and chapter 37 will be the beginning of the Prank War. I have Ideas for it but I welcome any and but prank Ideas. *waves*

Chapter 35- Meeting of the Hogwarts Staff regarding Headmaster Dumbledore

Oblivious to Draco's little War Council, Severus and Remus arrived early at the Room to Requirement.

Remus paced the Hallway three times thinking, 'I need a place for the Hogwarts Staff to meet. A place with portraits of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses as well as the Founders. We need their guidance. A place the current Headmaster can't enter."

On his third trip past the place where the entrance to the Room of Requirement would be emerged a door not unlike that of the Headmaster's Office.

Remus pulled it open, and gestured for Severus to enter, "I believe I've done it. I'll stay out here to let the others in. I'll just hold the door open."

Severus stepped into the Room of Requirement to find two roaring fires, walls covered in portraits including those of the Founders, which he'd never seen. There was a large round table with room for each of the other Professors. On the table was a variety of drink and food items in case the meeting ran through breakfast.

Slowly, the room started filling with Professors and other staff.

Septima Vector, the Arithmancy Professor who was a strict witch who taught in Classroom 7A on the seventh floor was the first to arrive.

Minerva McGonagall, who was the Deputy Headmistress, and Head of Gryffindor as well as Professor of Transfiguration. She arrived but seemed distracted.

Sybill Trelawney who taught Divination and was regarded as a mixture of a conceited phoney and an out and out fraud.

Trelawney was attired in her usual fashion, she also arrived smelling of tea and sherry as well as the cloying smell of her classroom's perfume. She was wringing her hands and muttering about dark times.

Then came Filius Flitwick was the Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw. He was a keen duellist and one of the most respected voices in the area of Charms research.

Flitwick was the recommended choice for Headmaster Pro-tem.

Next to arrive was Rolanda Hooch, the Flying Instructor and Referee of Hogwarts Quidditch matches.

Rubeus Hagrid who was the Care of Magical Creatures professor as well as Keeper of Keys and Ground came next.

Severus wished they could have excluded him.

"Wha' this? Why not meet 'n the staff room?"

Severus ignored him as he sat and sipped a cup of strong coffee.

Pomona Sprout was the Professor of Herbology and Head of Hufflepuff arrived looking far cleaner then normal. She hadn't yet been to the Greenhouses so she wasn't covered with her usual amount of Earth.

Vector poured herself a cup of chocolate and was content to wait.

McGonagall poured herself coffee as did Trelawney but that was probably to sober up the flighty Divination Professor.

Flitwick likewise poured himself chocolate before leaning over to ask, "Minerva, are you quite alright?"

McGonagall glanced at him, "Me? Oh, I'm alright."

Flitwick shook his head sadly and patted her arm.

Cuthbert Binns, a Ghost who still held the position of History of Magic Professor floated though the wall and seemed content to brood near a window.

Charity Burbage was the professor of Muggle Studies and arrived, ignoring the others she headed right to Severus, "Severus, you must tell me what this is all about."

"Donna bother Charity. That Snape he's a tight lipped fellow." Hagrid's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Maybe I shuda tol' Dumbledore about th' meetin'."

Bathsheda Babbling, who taught the Study of Ancient Runes and whose classroom was Classroom 6A on sixth floor arrived next. She poured herself some juice and settled down to nibble on toast.

Aurora Sinistra was the Professor of Astronomy who taught at the Astronomy Tower. Remus who let her in she acknowledged with a short nod, and then she made her way to sit next to Vector with whom she was close.

There were a few other professors, who taught extracurricular studies such as Alchemy, Ghoul studies, Music, Art, Ancient Studies, Magical Theory, and Xylomancy

After the full compliment of Professors arrived Remus was about to close the door when Madam Pomfrey came hurrying, "Lupin! Wait for me."

Accompanying her was Madam Pince, the Hogwarts Librarian.

Remus cursed silently, Godric's Sword! It wasn't bad enough they had to suffer through allowing Hagrid, a Dumbledore Loyalist to come but Pomfrey? That woman was beyond incompetent and worshiped the Headmaster. Pince unlike Pomfrey had the right to attend so he let them both in before shutting the door and knew that it could not be accessed now.

Severus glanced up from his coffee when the door closed to catch Remus' eye.

Remus nodded, All Hogwarts staff minus Filch was present.

Severus nodded back, a gavel appeared beside his hand. He grasped it firmly and rapped the table, "Now if you would all give me your attention." He said in a tone that was reminiscent of Lucius'.

The other professors and staff turned their heads to his direction.

"Why are we here?" Binns droned.

Severus sighed; he remembered that voice far too keenly. He and Lily had to take Pepper-up potions just to stay awake during that particular class. He cleared the thought from the forefront of his mind and began to speak. "I've called you here to inform you of the Hogwarts Board of Governors intent to convene on Friday."

"Whata they wanna discuss?" Hagrid drawled.

Severus ignored him, "I'm sure you're all painfully aware of the Durmstrang situation."

The reactions were mixed.

"Surely ya don't blame Dumbledore? That Durmstrang lot are all pompous gits. Telling Dumbledore what he oughta do." Hagrid said pompously.

Pomfrey nodded, "Dumbledore's a good man. That Headmaster of theirs is no good. I can't understand why anyone would hire a former Death Eater to teach much less preside over a school."

Severus went on in a cold voice, "Who is appointed as Headmaster of Durmstrang is not our responsibility nor our concern. This is about Dumbledore."

"Snape, Dumbledore's done a lot for you. He kept ye outta Azkaban and gave yeh a job."

Severus glared, "He also murdered my child and cursed me barren."

There were gasps from the other staff.

Hagrid stormed to his feet, "Don'cha be spreading lies Snape!"

Severus went on in the same deadly cold voice, "My name is Prince-Malfoy. Ask your vaulted associate Madam Pomfrey. She diagnosed a pregnancy. I thought it was the flu."

Pomfrey looked stricken and then said sharply, "It's my duty to report any serious medical condition to the Headmaster. Its in my contract."

Severus glared at her, "Be that as it may, his response to your information was to summon a student who was so prostrate with morning sickness that they hadn't kept anything down for two days much less left their bed other then to see you, to his office. He interrogated them and then threatened to expel them if they didn't agree to an abortion. My lover was trying to negotiate with their father to allow us to be Bonded. I didn't know then that had either Lucius or his father Abraxus known about the pregnancy that Lucius and myself would have been allowed to Bond."

"I don't care if yer Snape or Prince or whatever! It's unnatural to be with a man! Must be Dark Magic that allowed you to have a child."

McGonagall finally woke from her Fugue, "Now Rubeus, that is all nonsense. It's perfectly normal for men to desire other men just as it is for women to desire other women. Why Septima,"

Professor Vector held up her hand, "I can speak for myself Minerva." Her eyes narrowed, "I suppose you're ignorant of the fact that Aurora and I have been Bonded for years? In fact she was the one that recommended I take up this post when it became available. We always wanted to teach here together so she kept an eye on the staff openings."

Hagrid's face filled with disgust, "Yer a,"

"If you dare use a derogatory term regarding mine and Septima's relationship Hagrid I shall toss this coffee pot at your head." Professor Aurora Sinistra said her voice calm but her eyes flashing in anger.

Hagrid slumped in his too small chair and pouted.

"Like I was saying, besides his poor judgment with regards to my pregnancy. He threatened me with expulsion and informing my father. Who was a magic hating Muggle who took great pleasure using his fists on my mother and myself. Madam Pomfrey is not so foolish that she does not know that abortions are only to be preformed by certified Healers not power mad Headmasters."

"Now see here Snape!" Hagrid growled.

"His name is Prince-Malfoy, he holds the Prince Seat but chooses to spend his time instructing students." Remus snarled, amber eyes flashing.

"Don't know why yer defending him Lupin. He's that nasty Slytherin yer friends always pranked."

Remus snapped, "Padfoot and Prongs didn't just prank Severus, they humiliated him. They terrorized him! I should have sent them to Filch to do whatever dirty task he came up with. IT wasn't pranking it was beyond such a polite term. It was down right abusive. Muggles would call it hazing. That is illegal!" he whirled on McGonagall and Pomfrey, "I hold you just as responsible. You were our Head of House, you should have told them to knock it off. It wasn't just boyish spirits. You told Siri to knock off his foolish game regarding the Whomping Willow but you didn't say anything about 'Snivellius Baiting'. It went so far as to my nearly killing him! Pomfrey didn't notice that Severus was following her and myself that night in Fifth Year. I could have killed him! What did James and Siri get? A slap on the wrist and Severus was practically threatened with expulsion if he dared tell." He glared at Flitwick, "Tell me Filius, if such an act occurred with some of your students what would you have done?"

Filius swallowed, "Sending a student into a enclosed space where there was a werewolf would be dangerous. I would have removed both James and Sirius from the Quidditch team permanently. They would have been in detention for the rest of the year at least. James Potter would never have been allowed to become Head Boy. I would have questioned you to see it you were involved. If you had been I would have forced you to resign as Prefect"

Severus turned to Sprout, "And you Pomona?"

Sprout wet her lips, "I would have removed Potter and Black likewise from the Quidditch Team. It was a dangerous thing to do sending Severus, a very talented wizard advance for his years but wholly unaware he was entering the den of a werewolf during a full moon none the less. They would have received detentions for a good while." She looked nervous to be putting her friend in a difficult position.

Vector was even more worried, "Are you quite alright? I didn't know that you'd nearly been attacked by Remus."

Severus shook his head; "Remus never knew I was there until he was questioned by Minerva and Dumbledore the next morning. Potter stopped me from getting anywhere close enough to be hurt. However I did see a werewolf inside the Shrieking Shack which was why I was told under no uncertain terms was I to mention Remus' affliction."

"It was very wrong of you to follow us." Pomfrey said snootily.

Severus snorted, "You should have noticed me. It proves that you are still highly incompetent and too arrogant to admit it. I would start packing. The Governors are meeting to discuss not only Dumbledore but his unqualified staff members."

Hagrid turned red, "You rotten little scoundrel! How dare you tell a person like Dumbledore who he should hire and how he can't?"

Severus looked at him boredly, "Let's see a person who actually knows their subject and passed their OWLS and NEWTS or a student who was expelled on suspicion of opening the Chamber of Secrets? You raised an acromantula in the Dungeons, you attempted to raise a dragon."

There were cries of surprise and dismay.

"You convinced students to keep it a secret when you knew raising a dragon is illegal. You're breeding illegally. I'm not a dunderhead Hagrid I know that your 'Blast-end Skewts' are a dangerous bit of experimental breeding of fire crabs and manticores. Experimental Breeding is illegal for a reason. You're endangering students. You don't know what is appropriate or safe. You think a three-headed dog is safe enough to hide inside the castle much less name it Fluffy. You allow students to get too close to Hippogriffs, which are notoriously dangerous due to their temperamental natures. You are under qualified," seeing Hagrid was about to protest hotly, Severus continued, "You can't get around that fact. You have no notion of safety regarding students. You should never have been made a professor."

Hagrid was seething, "You've got no right ter be tellin' Dumbledore how ter run a school!"

"I do. I hold the Prince vote on the Board of Governors. I am usually too busy teaching to attend. However I allow Lucius to vote to me. Lucius is going to recommend that Dumbledore be suspended, pending the investigation by the Aurors."

"Its all stuff and nonsense! Hagrid roared, "Yer got it out for Dumbledore whose bin nuthin but kind ter ya. Yer a rotten turncoat Snape!"

"I'm not the only student he's abused during his tenure as Headmaster. He used Veritaserum on Percy Prewett-Weasley after his then sister was rescued from the Chamber of Secrets. Upon finding out that Percy was seeing Oliver Wood he placed Percy under the Imperious curse."

Again gasps of horror were heard around the table.

Severus continued, "He told Percy that he now hated anyone who played Quidditch but especially he hated Oliver. He told him that he was to Court one Penelope Clearwater when they became Head Boy and Head Girl respectively. He discovered an unknown pregnancy and aborted the child with neither Percy nor Oliver's consent. He failed to ascertain if Percy were engaged to the sire at all or had any intention to do so. After sending Percy away, he summoned Oliver, he told Oliver that Percy had come crying to him and accused Oliver of forcing Percy to do sexual acts. Apparently the memories of Oliver's assaults on Percy were so difficult for Percy that Dumbledore had to use a memory charm to make him forget. Dumbledore used a memory charm indeed but not because Oliver Wood was raping him but because he did not approve of a relationship between the third son of Arcturus Weasley and the only child of Lord Wood."

Filius was outraged; his short body was shaking with it. "He was responsible for Percy's personality change? I always liked Percy but he became quite difficult to deal with his Seventh Year."

Vector was furious, "He had no right to say who can't see who. Aborting children is not part of a Headmaster's duties."

"Nuna you has tha' right ter tell Dumbledore what ta do. He's the greatest wizard who ever lived."

"No," Remus said coldly, "that was Merlin and even he went dotty in the end."

"Dumbledore's not a nutter! He hired ya when no one else would." Hagrid snapped.

"Actually," Remus said cheerfully, "in the space of two days I had two offers of employment. Lord Malfoy offered me the Defense post and Louis Ollivander told me in Paris on Saturday that he thought I was I quote, 'wasting my talents.' An Ollivander told me I ought to be crafting wands not lecturing students on Defense Against the Dark Arts or Dark Magical Creatures."

"Easy to lecture about Dark Creatures, yer one of 'em."

"That was unnecessary." Sprout said in a snippy tone

Filius sighed, squishing his wand silently as he cast a powerful sticking charm on Hagrid's large arse as well as a strong Silencing charm on the man. "Now," he said sitting up straighter, "that should make our meeting more pleasant."

"Thank you, " Remus said pouring himself a cup of Chocolate.

The castle began to hum with magic.

In intervals of three minutes the humming began more powerful and then it seemed to sing.

Severus started, "What is Slytherin's name was that?"

"Thank you my boy. It is nice to be appreciated."

The professors' heads snapped up to glance at a large portrait.

"Professor Slytherin I presume?" Severus asked once he'd quite recovered his calm.

"You presume correctly." The thin man whose appearance failed to give his Chuvash blood away.

"What is going on Professor?" Flitwick asked.

"I shall answer that." A tall woman with long straight hair and an imperious bearing spoke from a nearby portrait.

Flitwick bowed, "My Lady Ravenclaw an honour."

"It seems four heirs have risen and declared themselves in alliance. The Castle blessed their alliance."

McGonagall was stunned, "Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws are in alliance? That's impossible."

"You're the Head of Gryffindor and you don't believe your students are honourable enough to put aside their differences? You underestimate them." Ravenclaw sniffed.

"Bit surprised who my heir was." Godric spoke up, "Doesn't resemble me at all or you Salazar."

Pomfrey stammered, "You? Were…."

"I was mated to Salazar. He doesn't look like he'd be a Submissive Chuvash does he? Sure he left because we got in a fight over allowing Muggleborns to attend but he came back." Godric's eyes danced with sensuality, "He couldn't resist my charms."

Slytherin grumbled, "Ric, you're an arrogant bastard. That Adrian's more your son then mine. Too honourable and not that cunning."

"He can speak Parseltongue." Godric teased.

Salazar sneered, "So can you. It's not that difficult, my current replacement can speak it!"

Severus inclined his head in reverence, "Only because some of the best Potioneers recorded their notes in Parseltongue. I learned it out of necessity."

"You're the most talented Potioneer to walk these hallowed halls since my Salazar." Godric praised.

"I also inherited his office and rooms."

Godric snorted, "Mine too. Which is why they are so generously shielded."

"Ric, I'll thank you not to discuss details of my private life with such persons." Slytherin glared.

"Now Salazar its my private life too. Come now be reasonable, we've been dead a millennia I doubt us being lovers would truly shock anyone." Godric laughed.

Helga Hufflepuff simpered, "Nor 'Wena having that beautiful mate of hers, Aurelia Grimaldi. A ancestor of the Black Family if I remember correctly."

"Not that you didn't have a striking Bondmate in Augustus." Godric said with wagging eyebrows.

"All stuff and nonsense since ourselves are dead and gone. These professors have more important matters to discuss. " Salazar sneered.

"Yes, yes," Godric agreed, "About time someone decided to get that insipid man Dumbledore out of here."

"So you know what dastardly deeds he's been up to?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Salazar snorted, "What with abortions, Confounding Ric's hat, tormenting Ric's Phoenix and raping students in his charge? Oh yes, what the castle knows we know. We each had three portraits made during the building of the Castle. One to hang in the Headmaster's office, well in our day it was the Headmistress' Office. Rowena was an admirable woman who served as our first Headmistress, as well as Head of her own House and Professor of Astronomy. At her death the entrance to her sanctum, her own Astronomy tower was lost. The moving staircases and walls that like to be doors for a day and all that were her idea. She found a castle being the same from one day to next quite boring you see. You wouldn't expect it with that stern manner of hers but she was quite the imaginative trickster. Regarding our portraits they were linked by our blood, which we also added to the Castle during its construction. A witch or wizard's blood is full of magic you know. We had a portrait each in the Great Hall so that our students might question the portraits rather than ourselves. The final portrait was placed in the Head's office. However since we functioned as Head of our own Houses unless we wished think out an idea between ourselves, which didn't happen often, thus we rarely communicated with them. It was our hopes that the Heads of Hogwarts would look upon us as advisers as they seem to with you all." He bowed slightly at the various portraits of other Headmasters and Headmistresses.

"However," Godric interrupted, "Heads became annoyed with us. Not liking our advice. However first to disappear were our Portraits in the Great Hall. After a century or two professors got fed up with students disagreeing with them and saying, 'But the founder said this or that, so the portraits were removed and stored away." He sighed, "Wished we'd thought to use permanent sticking charms tied to our blood rather then just hanging them on the wall. Helga's stuck around a long time. Her replacements as Head of her House were more lenient with her advice and pronouncements. She always was an agreeable person. Rowena's portrait disappeared after a loud argument with a predecessor of yours Professor Flitwick. Salazar's portrait was removed following an argument with Vindictus Veridian over something to do with the fine art of Brewing back when that disagreeable fellow was merely Head of Slytherin House. Mine stuck around until Dumbledore became Head of Gryffindor. He knew I didn't take to him from the start. He smelt foul. I tried to warn Dippet about him but Armando wouldn't take any notice of me." He glared at Professor Dippet who was across the room. "I was right wasn't I? Dumbledore's a louse!"

"Yes, seemed an alright man. Very talented between his twelve uses of Dragons blood and work with Nicolas Flamel…" Dippet protested.

"The Dragons Blood research he was accused of stealing. As for Flamel, that was all hum. Flamel had the philosopher's stone before Dumbledore was born. He was born in the 17th century after all." Severus said dryly, "Dumbledore was born in the 19th."

"So," Rowena asked sharply, "Who do you have in mind to replace Dumbledore?"

McGonagall looked up from her lap where she had been wringing her hands, "Not me…I have too much on my mind what with Alastor."

"Lucius is recommending Filius, I for one am in total agreement. He is the most senior professor. Then comes Pomona, Minerva is a few years her junior. The rest of us are of an age where we shared one or many years in school. Charity was a year behind us, that is Remus and myself, while Aurora and Septima were a year and two ahead respectively."

Bathsheda Babbling chuckled wryly, "I was in the same year as Andromeda, Lucius, Arthur, Frank, Fabian and Gideon. I shared a dormitory with Amelia but of course Ted Tonks was both a House and Year mate. If Dumbledore had been smart he would have made Ted a Prefect. He was a natural leader but alas a failure at potions though with Andromeda he wasn't half bad."

Pince also was of the same set of over lapping years as a majority of the staff; she had been in Ravenclaw under the Headship of Filius Flitwick being a year behind Aurora and two behind Septima. They'd taken to one another from the start so she'd known how it was from early on in her years. Both women had been Prefects for their House, she had been a mousy disagreeable sort of girl who grew up to be a striking woman with few social skills who lived for her books. She'd spoken for, was offered and then taken up the post of Librarian when it was vacated. Aurora was the kinder of the two, remembering her from their school days and had written to her in case she might be interested.

Filius Flitwick was stunned, "Lord Malfoy wants me to become Headmaster? But Minerva is Deputy Headmistress. Shouldn't she be first considered?"

McGonagall clenched her robe in her hands, "I can't be…if the accusations against Alastor came out…it would embarrass the school. A Headmistress with a rogue Auror for a former Bondmate, who might have slaughtered children…it's not to be thought of…" she swallowed, "I'm considering a leave of Absence. I need to focus on Alastor but I can't neglect the children in my charge." She bowed her head, "If it's not too much trouble I'm afraid you'll need to find a substitute for myself and a replacement for Filius."

Filius was slowly coming to accept the idea, "I never considered being Headmaster…I was content to oversee Ravenclaw House." He frowned, "If only Lily or Demeter were still alive, they would both have made an excellent Charms professor."

"In absence of those talented witches, the only person we have who is talented at Charms unfortunately is Remus." Severus said sadly, "But he is currently holding the Defense Post. However, Madam Bones' youngest brother Ethan is certified at Transfiguration." Dumbledore was mistakenly under the impression that Ethan Bones had been studying Potions or had he done both?

McGonagall asked stiffly, "Can he, Ethan I mean, take over for me?"

Pomona spoke up, "I know Susan's brother was ill recently, he wasn't well by the end of August and she told me he's still weak but he's recovering. He might consider it."

Severus nodded, "Amelia said she would ask. I'm sure he could consider it an honour to teach here even if he is only a substitute for you Minerva."

Filius said quickly, "If I take up the position of Headmaster, not only do we have the problem of finding a replacement Charms instructor but also a new Head of Ravenclaw."

Septima spoke up, "I'm the senior professor who is formerly of Ravenclaw House."

Filius smiled at her, "I know that Septima, however you are a bit stricter then I would like. I would like my relationship with the students in my House to continue. What I mean is that the Head of Ravenclaw's door is always open, that they are willing to tutor students who need it." He was wary of mentioning who he'd like to replace him. "However, if Remus is the only eligible person…"

"We'll just have to get a substitute for Remus until we can find a permanent Professor for Charms." Severus said with a shrug.

"Where would we find a person for Defense? It's a supposedly cursed job." Aurora said thoughtfully.

"I'm extremely glad Aurora that you were asked to take up the Astronomy post instead." Septima said stiffly, "Cursed or not I wouldn't want you to take up the post."

Aurora laughed, "I don't believe in cursed or jinxed jobs but I am happy you'd worry for me."

"If you mellowed her out a little Aurora, I don't think she'd be a dreadful Head of House. I just think that the Head is like a parent and should have a stern but caring aura. Something like Severus…"

"Actually, Septima isn't so bad with children. After all, our daughter has been attending and we never treated her any different then the other students."

McGonagall was surprised, "I didn't realize."

Aurora shrugged, "It was before I started teaching here. Surly you remember Serotina? She did attend as a Vector and was in our old House. She used to attend a Wizarding primary school in Hogsmeade during the school week."

"My apologies, I always though Serotina was a niece. I must admit that Minerva is an excellent Professor but I think she could be more accessible as a Head of House. The Gryffindors are scared of her."

"It suits me…" McGonagall muttered.

"Since Remus is the only other real Gryffindor Professor whether he teaches Charms or Defense he should still take over as Head of Gryffindor." Septima said gruffly.

There was a loud bang and a crack appeared through the table spilling the drinks. Only to vanish immediately and the drinks refreshed.

Filius was annoyed, "I feel that persons who have not graduated shouldn't hold the position of Head of House." He muttered, "If I was Headmaster I wouldn't have hired you at all, much less keep you on. It's inconceivable that a person who didn't even complete his education would be a professor." It set a bad precedent…

Hagrid was red-faced and seething.

"However," Severus went on, "We shouldn't borrow trouble by firing or letting go professors at this stage." He frowned, "Moreover Black offered to take over Defense for Remus. He is an Auror on Medical Leave, I'm not sure having someone who has been on the run and was imprisoned in Azkaban but who hasn't had any Healing in regards his mind or body is truly safe amoung children."

"How about another Auror then?" Septima asked.

"I would have asked Dora Tonks but she's recently been terribly injured on assignment. Shacklebolt is too busy with his cases, he is about to close the Potter case for good, since Black has been cleared and Pettigrew is to be sentenced. He has to send both Bartimus Crouches to Azkaban." He was avoiding the Dumbledore case. "As for the Weasley-Prewett case that will be settled." Severus said with a shrug.

Pomona was stricken, "Oh no. What happened?" Nymphadora Tonks or just Tonks had been a trial when she'd been her House, always up to tricks. However, she'd mellowed out or so she'd seen since the feisty Badger became an Auror. Which is why she'd only been on the Quidditch team and not prefect material.

"She was on her way to make her report and fell into a trap her quarry set. Was nearly killed, no one expected the subject of her investigation to be so…violent. Last I heard she was still unconscious. It was touch and go for a while because of her injuries. She became trapped in her animagus form, which is how she got terribly injured. A piece of shattered rib punctured her lung." Severus said quietly, he wasn't confident enough to voice that her quarry had be Dumbledore himself.

Pomona was almost beside herself, "Oh Merlin! Poor Ted and Andromeda. She's their only child. Taking risks…how could she be so foolish?"

Remus reached over to squeeze her hand, "She had top-notch Healers. I'm sure she'll be alright. She's got the King of the Chuvash to avenge her and he is not someone I'd like hating me. I'm lucky he seems to approve of me." He shrugged, "He's probably the best thing to come out of that Family before Andromeda."

No one mentioned his old school friend Sirius Black the third of that name, the only person who looked put out was Charity Burbage, the Muggle studies professor.

Charity swallowed, "Are you sure you won't let Sirius come? It might be nice…"

Severus sighed, "We've never had someone released after twelve years of unjust incarceration in Azkaban. He's been on the run for over two years and is finally free. He's never been a hundred percent stable…"

Charity recoiled, "You never liked him…"

Remus resisted the impulse to roll his eyes at her, "How can you blame him? James wouldn't have tormented him so much if Sirius hadn't enjoyed it. It was ridiculous. If I didn't know Sirius was truly so into birds I'd have thought he was tormenting Severus because he hated the fact he desired him."

Hagrid looked ill at the very notion of Sirius liking Severus.

Severus could barely hold back the bile rising in his throat at the very idea. He glared at Remus, "That is the single most disgusting thing you've ever said."

Remus shrugged, "It's the most logical thing. James was never quite so keen about bullying you as one might suppose. Then on most things I was the outsider looking in. I couldn't understand his attractions for Lily Evans. Nor could I understand Siri's need to add a new notch in his wand, if you'll excuse my vulgarity ladies, by sleeping with as many girls as he could."

"He wasn't…Sirius isn't…" Charity protested.

Remus sighed, "Miss Burbage, Sirius might not be a killer or a traitor but he most certainly was a playboy and probably still is one. James and I used to despair that he might not give up his irresponsible 'dating' habits. Lily would lecture him about his bouncing from one girl to the next."

Ms. Pince shifted her spectacles more firmly on her nose, blushing. "He tried to go after me. Aurora told him off…"

Aurora laughed, "I told him that you preferred girls to little boys."

Ms. Pince swallowed, "Actually, I'm not really interested in either."

Septima looked upset.

"I only pretended, everyone in our house knew I belonged to you. They thought it was great to deny Black what he wanted; besides they thought he must be desperate to go after Irma. I was Bonded to you after all, and we both know I choose bonds that wouldn't allow cheating." Aurora Sinistra tried to reassure her.

Septima sighed, "I should have known better."

Aurora sniffed a bit put out, "You should have."

"So…" Filius said trying to get them to come back to the point, "Minerva is taking a leave of absence, Severus is taking over as Deputy Headmaster Pro-tem, I'll be stepping in as Headmaster Pro-tem, Ethan Bones hopefully will be coming in as our Transfiguration professor, Remus will have to take over for me as our Charms instructor while we have to find someone to fill in for Remus until we can find someone to fill either the Charms or Defense posts?"

Pomona nodded, "That's what it seems like. It will be interesting to work under you Filius. I never saw you are the future Headmaster. I always expected it would be Minerva who would in time and the Board of Governors permitting one day take over for Albus when he retired."

Minerva smiled, "I once thought that too. It was one of those dreams I had when I was a young professor." Her face paled and her smile faltered, "Back when I once believed that Alastor might become Head Auror…." Now that would never come to pass, if he ever recovered from his imprisonment in his own trunk. Not to mention the vile accusations that she fervently hoped were false but was terribly afraid might be true. How could her Alastor have done such terrible things?

Severus checked his timepiece, "It's getting closer to class time. I'll be sure that an owl gets off to Madam Bones during my free period to see when her brother can start."

"I'll have a set of family apartments prepared for Ethan and his family. With his son so young of course he wouldn't want to be separated from his family. I'm sure it will do Susan some good to able to visit her brother. If will give Edward time to get comfortable with Hogwarts even though he'll be starting a year late due to his illness."

Filius nodded, "I have no objection. It's been a few years since we've had a little one running around. I have no objections to having professors with their families."

Severus felt his heart ache, little ones…how he wished for them…a child with Lucius' ice blonde hair and silver eyes…a little one with Remus' honey coloured hair and amber eyes…perhaps a child with his own raven coloured locks…

Remus saw the flicker of pain in his mate and reached to squeeze his hand, to offer him a bit of comfort.

Filius moved towards them and reached up to lay a hand on Remus' forearm, "I am terribly sorry if my words caused you pain." Absently releasing Hagrid from his sticking charm but refusing to end the silencing charm. It would wear off in time to teach. If not no great loss…he shook the thought away, "Remus…" he began nervously, "About your…"

"Furry little problem?" Remus offered, even after all these years James' code for his lycanthropy was the kindest way to put it.

Filius was surprised and then nodded, "I'll be happy to fill in for you."

"I'll have to take you up on that that next week. Severus locked me in the cellar of Lucius' London house before Harry returned to Hogwarts but I would appreciate it."

"Same requirements as before alright? Potion and warded rooms?"

Remus nodded, "Of course."

Filius smiled, "Then I don't see how we could ever have a problem with you continuing to teach here. I remember you were quite skilled at charms if memory serves."

Remus laughed, holding out his hand to Severus, "True."

"Though his true talents lay not in teaching Charms or Defense." Severus said accepting the hand graciously though he had no need of it.

"Oh?" Filius said with an eyebrow raised.

Severus nodded, "According to Louis Ollivander he has a natural talent for wand matching and has studied wandlore in depth enough to match a wand to an individual. He matched Fred Weasley-Prewett and Neville Longbottom to their current wands."

Filius was intrigued, "Wandmaking?" he held out his own wand, and "I'm surprised, I never would have guessed. What do you make of mine? I know Severus had a wand that wouldn't suffer another to use it."

Remus nodded, "That's because Sev wields an Acacia wand, they are difficult to master but ultimately rewarding for they only chose to bond to the most talented of wizards of witches. They boost his abilities at potions, mental magic and spell creation." He accepted Professor Flitwick's wand. And took a few moments to examine it, "Hm…Rowan…I was considering a wand of this wood for Draco. Rowan is a dense wood. It's associated with protection, especially against enchantments and beguiling. Rowan wands are strong for Charms, Divination and Transfiguration. It has an affinity for Ancient Runes, though it is strong all-around magically. It makes quite an excellent dueling wand. Users are often highly intelligent, visionaries or highly intuitive. Rowan makes a strong wand for Ravenclaws." He grinned down at the diminutive professor who had once taught him, "I'd say it would have served you well. You're highly skilled at charms and you are not only formidable in your field you also were one of the best duellists in Britain. You did win quite a few awards in duelling against some of the best in the world before coming here." He turned his attention back to the wand, "Ah Hippogriff Feathers, they're notably strong for Charm work. They make for a very versatile wand, which is renowned for adaptability. Hippogriff Feather wandcores demand respect from their wielder. Often misuse will result in unpredictable faulty magic. Although not most powerful, but prove largely reliable. Hippogriff feather cores are most often found with Gryffindors." He handed the Headmaster Pro-tem his wand back, "I doubt I could have chosen a better wand for you.

Filius was pleasantly impressed as well as surprised, "You are knowledgeable." He took his wand back, "You're welcome to spend your free time dealing with wand making and wandlore. I'm sure Severus can find a suitable location to do your research. The Forbidden Forest has many different types of wood and there are a few magical creatures that you might procure ingredients for wandcores from."

"Thank you Filius." Remus was excited, teaching might be getting boring but he was going to be allowed to research.

"It's nothing really. When Dippet was Headmaster he used to insist we do research as well as teach. Claimed it kept the mind sharp. It wasn't difficult because Dumbledore, Horace and I were keen to spend out free time researching. I think it's a practice that should be encouraged." Filius said as he left the Room of Requirement.

Remus and Severus were left alone.

Remus was excited and couldn't keep from hugging Severus excitedly, "I'm allowed to Research Wandmaking and you're Deputy Headmaster Pro-tem. This is awesome!"

Severus laughed to himself, Remus was like a kid their first time in Honeydukes…

They'd have to go back to teaching soon…best to get something to eat first…

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds Expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?
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Unlikely Heroes