Meetings of annoyance.
Yule was now mere days away, the halls of Hogwarts were lined with decorations and mindless excited chatter. Yule was undeniably a joyous time, so much so that even Umbridge's presence couldn't fully dampen it. With the children soon to be sent home, the order knew that their peace and their opportunities to have meetings during that time would be scarce to none. They were taking advantage when they could. Hence the meeting they were having just the day before yule holidays began.
The kitchen/dining room of the Black family home had quickly filled once the meeting had been called by Dumbledore. Of course the very man was the last to arrive to his own meeting, always one for careless dramatics.
He sweeped in as everyone was finally sat, his gaudy robes flaring behind him as he walked.
Dumbledore sat, gaining the attention of the whole room. He released a slight cough before he spoke.
“I’m glad you all could make it. This will be our final meeting until Yule has passed. afterall we can't risk a meeting being overheard while the children are here.”Dumbledore spoke, a calm tone in his voice. His words were met with nods of agreement.
“Now, Shacklebolt, how has the ministry been?”Dumbledore asked, turning his and everyone else's attention to the named man who sat at the other end of the table.
“They have been as they have for a while now, Dumbledore. Quiet. Aside from the usual hearing and such nothing out of the ordinary to say. Even his followers that are all over the ministry have been silent. I have seen Malfoy being more cautious of who he is around but that's not unusual of sorts.” Shacklebolt explained. A tight lipped smile on his face, a shrug accompanying the expression. He wouldn't lie, he was rather annoyed by the silence.
“What nothing at all?” Moody asked. The man held nothing but a grimace and curiosity on his face. He too was not liking this news.
“Nothing at all.” Shalebolt affirmed.
“And Malfoy?” Dumbledore asked, raising his brow in questioning.
“He has been quiet, always glancing at who surrounds him but not enough to be a concerning amount.”Continued Shacklebolt, giving another shrug at his own words.
“Hm. I see, peculiar but not cause for concern just yet.” Dumbledore nodded, not looking directly at anyone as he spoke, as if speaking more to himself then the audience he had. “Alastor, how has your investigation panned out?”
Dumbledore had sent Moody, well to put it simply, to spy on known death eaters and dark sympathizers. Hoping to gain any clue as to what Voldemort was up to. Moody grunted, Tonks who was sitting to the man's left let a slight grimace flash across her face,her hair flashing just a shade lighter in color then it had been for a split second.
“I’m telling you Albus they're up to something.''Alastor huffed.
“But we didn't find anything. No chatter, no meetings in the past couple weeks. It's hard to tell if he is even having them at all or just calling in a few at a time.”Tonks explained for Moody as she had accompanied the man on his mission. She had a guilty and defeated look on her face as she explained.
A few members let out huffs of annoyance. Three weeks now they had come up with nothing.
“How can nothing be happening? He broke out prisoners from azkaban. What was that for? Nothing? He hasn't attacked in months,and we can’t find out anything.”Black gritted out, his tone full of anger and his arms became animated with his anger. His eyes scattered across to look at all the members that filled the room.
“I understand the frustration, Sirius but we must remain calm.” Dumbledore spoke. Sirius didn't meet his gaze, still heavily inclined to despise the man.
“Severus. Have you been summoned? Have you heard anything?” Dumbledore asked, a slight hopeful tinge in his voice.
“No. I have not.”Snape said, keeping it short and simple. He truly wanted to be anywhere but in that room at that moment.
“What is the point in having you here then?”Sirius huffed, raising his voice and sending a glare to the unaffected man.
“Sirius, stop it.” Remus spat from his seat next to the angered man.
“Sirius this is not something to get rash about. Severus is useful to us, you know this. Now, it seems we will just have to wait. With yule only a few days away the chance for a heavy attack is near. I advise you all to be on your toes ready to fight if it is needed”Dumbledore dismissed Sirius’ comments, more focused on the matters at hand.
“What about Potter Dumbledore?” Arthur Weasley asked, having had the topic ignored the last few meetings he had asked.
“I have yet to find out anything about the boy. He is, as Severus and Minerva said, a bright boy. Aside from that I am not sure. Remus? Sirius? Severus? Anything to add? Hopefully your efforts have paid off more than mine, I am busy too often to have the time to pay attention.” Dumbledore said with a smile.
“He’s quite close to the- the slytherins” Sirius spat out, a grimace on his face. As if just saying the word made him sick. “He seems to keep to himself from what i've seen.” Sirius made sure to keep his emotions out of his words and explain what he knew as calmly and straightforwardly as possible.
“I see.” Dumbledore responded, a tight expression on his face. “And what about you Remus?”
Remus stayed quiet. Not able to look anyone at the table in the eyes, though he felt their stares on him. His skin tingled under their gazes, he didn't know what to say. Sure he knew a little more than Sirius but he knew that what he did know was- sensitive- at least he assumed so. He didn't exactly want Sirius or Dumbledore for that matter to know.
“Remus?” Sirius questioned, having slightly turned in his chair to face him. An expectant look on his face. “Do you know anything?”
“Huh? Oh - uh no. Not more than Sirius knows i'm afraid. He seems to be quite close to his friends in slytherin.” Remus explained with a tight lipped smile on his face, still unable to look at them all.
“Friends.” Sirius scoffed, rolling his eyes. “As if they’re his friends.”
Everyone tried to ignore Sirius’ comments, a few rolling their eyes or slightly shaking their heads. Dumbledore just had a slight annoyed glint in his eyes.
“Don't fret Sirius. I’m sure during some alone time at yule you'll figure out more about him to quench your nerves.” Dumbledore added to calm the man down. He Didn't want him talking to the boy but his loneliness at yule would occupy the man at least. Sirius nodded, a sad smile on his face. He was offered reassurances from his fellow members. That was until Snape decided he had had enough of the man babies pity party.
“Actually that won't be possible I'm afraid.''Snape added, his expression void of any emotion as it usually was. The man's mask was brilliant, it carefully hid his smugness from view. Heads snapped to him so quickly he felt a slight flush of wind. Their faces littered with confusion and in Black's case anger.
“What do you mean Severus?”Dumbledore asked. A very confused look on his face. The man seemed to be annoyed at being blindsided as he had been just then.
“Yeah Snivellus what do you mean?”Black spat through gritted teeth, an angry glint in his eye. It took everything in Snape not to laugh.
“The boy will not be at Hogwarts for yule.''Snape explained. A few slight gasps could be heard from the Weasleys and Tonks. Black looked angrier by the second. Dumbledore had no expression on his face. Whereas Lupin while showing no expression held a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he knew this had been coming.
“Why the bloody hell not. Don’t tell me Lily’s sister has decided this year to call him back.”Sirius nearly screamed out in annoyance. Snape scoffed at the pathetic display of anger, and at the ignorance of the words. He wasn't going to correct the man, he should have known his words were wrong. It wasn't Snape's job to inform the man about his ‘godson’.
“Because Black, he has been invited to spend yule with his friends. That's what friends do if you remember. As i remember you did the same during your time at hogwarts did you not?”Snape snapped back.
“That is not the same! His ‘friends’ and their families are all death eater scum! Did you approve of him going? As his head of house you should have said no!” Sirius' anger was growing, having now moved to stand. He had slammed his hands on the table separating them and leant as close to the man as he could. Snape rolled his eyes and scoffed. The order members around them just looked on in silence at the verbal duel that was happening before their eyes.
“And what would you have me tell him? Huh? ‘Sorry Mr Potter, your godfather- who you have no connection with- has decided you cannot be with your friends this yule as they are death eaters. i'm sure you'll get over it’?” Snape bit back. Black had lost his mind, was he truly the only one to see it. From the silent sigh that he caught Lupin making from the corner gave him slight hope that he wasn't alone in his thought, despite the fact it had been Lupin who saw it too.
“I- '' Sirius tried to fight, however as much as he hated it, the pathetic man made a point. It didn't stop his anger however. “You could have thought of something. Dumbledore he can't go. Right?” Sirius turned to Dumbledore with a hopeful look on his face as he rose to fully stand.
Dumbledore just looked between them both before sighing as turning slowly to look Sirius in the eye.
“I'm sorry my boy but Severus makes a point.” He exclaimed.
“What!” Sirius screamed,his mouth having dropped open in shock and utter disbelief. Dumbledore can't have been serious, surely.
“As I have said before, we need to keep our distance and let it play out. I'm quite confident that he will be safe there-”The man started to explain only to be rudely interrupted by Sirius.
“Safe? He’ll be surrounded by Death eaters. How is that safe?” Black all but dropped down into his chair, disbelieving in what he was hearing.
“Sirius, it is yule, they know the boy will be expected back. If anything happened it would bring eyes down on them all. That isn't something they want. Besides, as Severus explained, we have no reason worthy enough to explain to the boy why exactly we cannot let him spend yule with his friends.” Dumbledore finished. Sirius just ran his hands over his face slowly in annoyance, anger and disbelief. Dumbledore had made a point. He couldn't deny that.
But having James’ son so close to that- filth. It sent chills and waves of sickness over him.
“The boy is smart Sirius, you said so yourself. He’d not put himself in a situation he couldn't handle I'm sure. He’d choose to do the safer option.” Arthur Weasley tried to reassure the worried man, despite his reluctance to accept the situation himself.
“He will be ok Sirius” Molly added, sending a kind smile his way. “He’ll be back before you know it.”
Snape hid a slight smirk at being one up over Black. The room settled once more. No one seemed to be okay with the idea but Dumbledore was right. They’d have too many eyes on them already to risk anymore attention being sent their way. Besides, it wasn't as if they knew of the order's curiosity over the boy for him to be in danger anyhow.
“It is getting late.”Dumbledore started, it seemed the man was wanting as they all did for this meeting to be well enough over with. “Alastor, Tonks and Shacklebolt continue with your tasks for now. They'll mess up sooner or later. Arthur continue as was. The rest of us will return to hogwarts. Afterall, tonight is the final feast before yule. meeting adjourned.”
As he finished, Dumbledore all too quickly rose from his seat and sent them all an understanding nod before taking his leave without another word.
Snape moved to make his departure only to be all but shoved aside from an annoyed passing Black. Snape scoffed at the man's actions, ever so the child. Lupin quickly followed, always the man's shadow. At Least Lupin had the decency to offer a tight smile in mock apology as he passed. Snape soon followed through the floo back to his chambers.
As he arrived he all but fell into the comfort of his desk chair. Letting out an exhausted breath as he did.
Draco had all but forced him over the Potter incident, shoving his fathers words haphazardly in his face. He hadn't read the words on the paper but Draco never lied about his fathers words to warrant him checking. Why Lucius wanted the Potter boy there so badly he wasn't sure but that wasn't his problem. He knew that the man wouldn’t cause harm to the boy, despite what some people thought Lucius wouldn't harm a child.
Snape would have to think of some excuse to worm his way into the manor during yule. He knew that the order would force him the second they remembered his friendship with the Malfoy elder.
Merlin, this was becoming more annoying as every day passed.