Soon All the Suns Will Rise

A Path to the Rainbow's End

Chapter title from "Seven Wonders" by Fleetwood Mac.

Rhiannon pushed her plate of watery mashed potatoes and fatty roast beef aside and said a quick goodbye to Professor Flitwick, realizing she only had a few minutes to prepare the ingredients for her afternoon cooking class. She had taken advantage of the beautiful day yesterday to go apple picking with Tonks and Colleen, and had brought the harvest with her to teach her sixth and seventh year classes how to prepare an apple crisp utilizing Practical Magic, with a few Muggle techniques thrown in. She liked how Muggles were more hands on with their food, enjoying the textures and smells, and she liked to incorporate that into her teaching methods. Sirius refused to use magic in his home cooking with Colleen, being of the same mind. Food was one of their sensual pleasures that made life worth living these days. Rhiannon was excited to give that little bit of joy to the students today, and to fill their bellies with fresh apples and cinnamon after their disappointing lunch.

But Alecto Carrow had other plans. The short, frumpy witch was stalking back and forth throughout Rhiannon's classroom, directing house elves to crowd extra chairs around the long tables that Rhiannon used instead of desks. Rhiannon liked her classes to be interactive and friendly, and the large tables were conducive to getting to know her students and allowing them to work better together. Apparently today, they would be working at very close proximity.

"Did we invite guests to class today?" Rhiannon asked warily, not sure she brought enough apples.

"My classes will be joining yours for this session and next," Alecto informed her. "Headmaster's orders."

"Hmm, okay." Rhiannon wracked her brain for a multiplying charm that would work on food; magical laws were somewhat limited when it came to procuring and increasing amounts of sustenance. She was soon distracted, however, by Alecto's placement of name cards along the tables.

"Alecto, we have open seating in my class," Rhiannon began calmly.

"Not today," Alecto replied curtly. "The children will sit according to blood status."

Rhiannon felt a knot beginning to form in her stomach. "May I ask why the Headmaster wanted Practical Magic combined with Muggle Studies today?" she asked trepidatiously.

Alecto smirked. "He didn't tell you? Perhaps you need to reread the chapter in your own book on marital communication?"

A burning rose to Rhiannon's cheeks, and she felt her fists tighten. Her mind was already practicing her choice words for her husband.

"We'll be fast forwarding a bit to the chapters in your book regarding marriage and procreation," the Death Eater professor continued. "I've brought my own notes to add as well." Alecto snapped the back of a house elf's head, as he was evidently moving too slowly for her liking.

"Sexual education isn't until second term, Alecto."

"Surely you see the urgency of teaching birth control, given the times?" she responded with a saccharine note to her voice that reminded Rhiannon very much of working with Dolores Umbridge two years ago.

"I do," Rhiannon acquiesced, but she had a sneaking suspicion Alecto Carrow's take on the subject would be different from her own.

With a sigh, the Thunderbird witch left Alecto to her name card placement and sneaked to the rear of her classroom, where she kept a rolling cart. She discreetly placed her bags of apples upon it and departed for the corridor.

"I will greet the students and make sure they know to look for their assigned seat," Rhiannon called to her.

As each student passed, Rhiannon slipped one of the perfect fall apples into their hands with whispered instructions to slip them into their robe pockets before entering the classroom. Even the children of the Death Eaters appeared grateful; the need to enjoy one's food was one of the few areas where dark and light wizards could typically agree. Rhiannon was certain the Carrows were having their own separate menu delivered by house elf each evening, although she hadn't asked Severus to confirm. It would only increase her raging desire to hex them until their smug faces were beyond recognition.