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The Girl in my Arms	By : PotionMaster Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3779 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Severus woke late the next morning. He tried to sit up and found that he couldn't move. At some point during the night Remus had apparently decided that he made a good pillow and the other man now lay completely across his back. After a brief struggle he managed to reach across Bella and snag his watch from the bedside table. Swearing softly to himself he set about waking his lovers. Bella was the first to succumb to his efforts and she stretched slowly before opening her eyes and blearily signing =What's up? =

"It's half-past nine and at least one of us needs to put in an appearance at breakfast if we don't want to raise suspicions."

=Bloody hell. = Bella scrambled out of bed and pulled her underwear on before grabbing her gown and slinging it over her arm. She moved an ornate medieval tapestry aside and tapped a brick in the wall with her wand. A doorway opened up in front of her.

"Where does that go?" Remus asked sleepily.

=My chambers. I'm going to shower and dress; I'll see you at breakfast Sev. = With that she disappeared through the doorway, which closed behind her.

"Why just you?" Remus said. "Aren't I going up for breakfast?"

"Not unless you know a way of getting from here to your rooms in last night's clothes without raising eyebrows." Severus called back from the bathroom.

Ten minutes later Severus stalked into the Great Hall wearing his usual scowl. He nodded to a chosen few amongst the Slytherin students before taking his seat on the dais. Bella arrived ten minutes later and chose a seat at the other end of the table, between Filius and Megan.

"No Remus this morning?" Megan queried.

=Prof. Snape made some comments about werewolves last night and I believe Remus is trying to avoid him, = Bella answered.

"Hiding in his rooms, is he?" Filius asked.

"Or someone else's," Megan added with a grin as the two of them shared a knowing look.

Bella blushed but was spared from having to make any further comment by the arrival of the post. She was surprised to see her own owl, Iris, amongst the other birds. The small grey and brown bird dropped a roll of parchment in her lap and then settled on the back of her chair. She absent-mindedly fed the bird from her plate with one hand as she read the parchment. A brief look of concern crossed her face before she assumed a ral ral expression. She pushed her plate aside and borrowed a scrap of parchment and a quill from Prof. Flitwick. Scribbling a hasty reply she gave it to Iris before rising from the table. =Headmaster, may I have a word in private? = She signed leaving the room without waiting for an answer.

Albus looked up, briefly catching Severus' eye; Dumbledore shrugged almost imperceptibly and then hurried after his newest teacher. He caught up with her halfway to his office.

"Arabella?"

She shook her head. =Not here. There's too much chance of us being heard. =

They walked in silence to the headmaster's office. When they were seated in front of his Bel Bella pulled the letter from her pocket and handed it to him.

=It's from the Minister, = she signed.

Albus read it quickly. "Do you know why he wants to see you?"

=I assume he has a job of some kind for me. I know I'm officially retired but Aurors stay on the reserve list for five years after retirement so technically he can call me up any time he wants. It must be important for him to call me though we didn't exactly part on the best of terms. =

"I can't help but think that the timing is no coincidence. With the holidays upon us you could conceivably disappear for up to three weeks without comment," Albus mused. "I notice the message was delivered by your own owl rather than a Ministry bird. If you hadn't come to me I would have no way of knowing that you were working for the Ministry again."

=That may have been is intent. He's suspected treachery amongst the faculty here since Sirius' escape. That, coupled with your continued insistence that Severus is on our side, has made him overly cautious where you're concerned, = Arabella signed. = I won't tell him about this conversation until I know what's up. =

"I think that might be best. Whatever Cornelius is up to, he's been planning it for a while. He strongly recommended your appointment to the DADA position."

=What? I would have assumed he'd be insisting that you didn't hire me after my resignation, = Arabella exclaimed shocked.

"I would have employed you anyway," Albus reassured her. "You were the best applicant for the job. Actually you were the only applicant, I'm afraid. The position is acquiring a reputation for b cur cursed. If you don't mind me asking why exactly did you leave the Aurors? I had assumed you wanted an excuse to be near Severus, but I see now that there's more to it."

=You could say that. Cornelius 'resigned' me while I was in the hospital recovering from my last assignment. He implied that my disability might prove a danger to other Aurors in the current climate. In other words it was fine to employ me when nothing was happening, but with the increased Death Eater activity, I was a liability. Never mind my experience, or the fact that I've proven my capabilities time and again. I was furious and I may have been less than civil to the Minister when I found out. =

"In light of this message, I think we can assume he was manipulating you into taking the job here," Dumbledore suggested.

Arabella grinned. =If this is all part of some complicated scheme of his then he's going to be desperate to get me back on side. I'll take the assignment of course, if only to keep an eye on Fudge while he's spying on you, but that doesn't mean I can't make him grovel a little in the process =

"Would you like me to tell Professor Snape what you're doing?" Albus asked.

=Please. You could tell Remus at the same time. Then I can fill you all in on the details when I return. I expect to be back by tonight. If I'm going to be delayed I'll send a message. =

They both stood. Albus shook her hand and showed her out. She collected her broom and her cloak from her room and set off for Hogsmeade in order to apparate to London

Albus Dumbledore returned to the Great Hall to wish his students a Merry Christmas before sending most of them off to catch the Express back to London. He watched them file out of the hall before asking Snape to find Remus and come to his office as a matter of urgency. When they arrived Albus explained the situation, adding, "Since Fudge arranged for Arabella's position here we can assume that her assignment will have something to do with one of us in this room. It’s no secret that the Minister and I disagree greatly on the rise of Voldemort, he hasn't trusted you, Severus since the trial, and he probably thinks Remus knows where Sirius is hiding. We must be circumspect in our behaviour at all times since Professor Pettigrew may not be his only source of information."

"Oh really, Albus," Lupin interrupted. "Surely you don't suspect any of the staff. They've all worked here for years!"

"I didn't mean the staff, Remus. I meant the pupils," he said, quietly.

"Oh Merlin, you think there may be the Auror equivalent of Malfoy? Surely even Cornelius wouldn't stoop as low as to involve children in his machinations," Severus exclaimed. "It's bad enough that Voldemort has his spies amongst the students, but Fudge is supposed to be one of the good guys."

"Desperate times and all that, Severus," Albus said.

"But I thought the Minister didn't believe that Voldemort had returned," Remus commented.

"He may be a little naïve but he hasn't missed the rise in Death Eater activity. Don't let his appearance deceive you into believing he's as foolish as he seems, he couldn't have risen to where he is today without being a lot cleverer than most people think!"

Albus dismissed the two teachers telling them he would call them when Bella returned. They returned to Severus' rooms to discuss this new turn of events, being careful not to be observed. It wouldn't do for the students to see them voluntarily spending time in one another's company.

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The Girl in my Arms