Knowledge is Power

Chapter 33

The next meeting Nightshade attended with Prof wasn't one for Death Eaters. Instead it was one for what served as the resistance, and the group called itself the Order of the Phoenix. It was two weeks later and term had started up again. Nightshade tried to divide his time between Mag and Prof, but he stayed with Prof a little more because...well he felt Prof missed him when he was away and he didn't really have anyone else. The fact Prof wanted Nightshade around sort of touched the fuck out of his little owl heart in a weird way.

For this Order of the Phoenix meeting Prof left the chameleon charm off Nightshade.
"We aren't going into a threatening place so there's no reason to hide," he explained.
//Why is it order of the phoenix,// Nightshade asked as Prof knocked on the door of a manor.
It was sorta creepy for Nightshade that both the order of the phoenix meetings and Death Eater meetings were held in manors...Someone's house. He wasn't sure why it was creepy but it was. Seeing the similarities in organizations that were so different was just fucking creepy that was all.

//It's led by Albus, and he has a phoenix...I don't know,// Prof replied a bit testily.
//You're annoyed cause you don't really know and I just asked you something you don't know,// Nightshade said, amused.
//If you ever lead an organization will it be called the order of Nightshade or the turkey eaters,// he asked, pleased that he managed to play off the names of both current organizations, but made them about his esteemed awesome self.

Prof was also amused for he grinned just as the door opened. A strange looking girl not much older than Mag with spiky dark hair stepped away from the door so that Severus could enter.

"Hello Severus," she greeted with a strained yet polite smile and Severus frowned in return.
"Nymphadora," he replied coldly and she scowled.
//She hates being called that. It's plain as day in her head. Really pisses her off,// Nightshade shared.
//I am aware,// Severus replied, obviously pleased with himself.

They headed inside and down narrow stone stairs to a gloomy cavernous room.
//This doesn't look at all like a place Voldemort would dig,// Nightshade quipped sarcastically.
//His supporters used to live here, actually,// Severus said.
The flashes of...something that Nightshade got from Prof's mind when he shared that information were odd. Sad, regretful, something, but there was no time to ask at the moment.

//This is the kitchen,// Severus said.
//Oh will there be food,// Nightshade asked eagerly.
//No. It just makes these idiots feel better to ...hang out in the kitchen as if their mummies are going to come in with hot cocoa and make all this shit better for them,// Prof replied darkly.
Nightshade was so fucking proud of him for finally talking right!
//Right on, Prof!//
Then after processing what was said he asked,//So our resistance consists of a bunch of fuckin' babies?//

//Not all but many,// Severus replied after a moment of consideration.
He took a seat on a straight backed chair near the door rather than with the others gathered at the table. Nightshade glanced around but didn't recognize anyone present, which wasn't surprising.
"Hey! Snivellus has a pet!"
At first, Nightshade didn't get that the comment was directed at Prof. It made no sense, after all.

"What'd you do to that poor owl to make it sit on your shoulder, Snivellus?"
The flash of hatred that Nightshade felt from Prof's mind had him turning his head to glare at the big thug looking bloke who'd spoken. He hissed and spat at him nearly like a cat, hoping to get his fuck you asshole point across. He felt a surge of happy amusement from Prof at his reaction, like it was nice to be defended, which was reasonable even if Prof didn't really need it cause he could take care of himself and all.
"Grow up, Sirius, or better yet die," Prof shot back venomously.
//Is he one of those Heather and Raislen defended you against in school,// Nightshade asked.
//Yes for five years, then they graduated, being two years ahead of me,// Severus replied.

Before the Sirius bloke could think of a suitable response to Prof's suggestion that he die, Dumblefuck came in and the meeting began. Nightshade didn't really pay attention to what was being discussed as it was rather boring. Instead he briefly checked out each person's mind to make sure they weren't working with Voldemort or anything. No one was, but Nightshade still didn't like most of them. They just didn't seem cool and more than one was thug like. Besides enough of them thought the Sirius bloke was cool which didn't say much if anything for their judgment. He itched to fuck with Sirius's mind but didn't want Prof to get blamed so restrained himself with an effort.

When the meeting was over, Prof suggested they stop in at a deli before returning to Hogwarts and of course Nightshade was down for that shit for sure! Prof left without speaking to anyone. It didn't hit Nightshade until they were in the deli that Prof had probably wanted him to come along to the Order meeting for moral support what with the Gryffindor git there.
//Is he always prattish to you at those meetings,// he asked.

//He is always looking for a way to be prattish to me.//
//Why is he such an asshole, though.//
Prof looked thoughtful, then bitter.
//Well according to the King Git himself, it's because I exist. If you ask Filius, he'd say that it's because the Git feels threatened by the dark arts so felt threatened by me because I have an obvious interest in the dark arts. Granted I never threatened him or even noticed him that first day of school at Hogwarts when he started in on me. Filius's explanation makes sense but there's no excuse for attacking someone because you don't like their personal interests. It doesn't say anything good at all for one's level of intelligence.//

//Damn right,// Nightshade agreed.
//He's an obvious tard baby...a thug looking one at that.//
After a moment of thought he asked, //Is Flitwick down with him, then?//

//Down with...//
//For fuck's sake, Prof! I swear you need to read a social dictionary!//
//Does such a thing exist...Gods I hope not.//
Severus mock shuddered.

//Probably not but it should,// Nightshade replied.
//And damn it, down with means...like did Flitwick approve of that shit?//
Severus shook his head as he paid for the sliced turkey he'd ordered for Nightshade and the turkey sandwich for himself.
//No, of course not. Filius always gave them detention when he saw them ganging up on me...It just made it worse. They gave it to me harder later for having a professor defend me, which of course I never did. I could take care of myself and never needed anyone to defend me. I told Magritte's parents that as well, but it never stopped them trying anymore than it stopped Filius. Heather used her prefect status to counter Lupin's as much as she could which was often.//

//That was probably cool,// Nightshade said, amused.
//It had its moments,// Severus said as they left the deli and headed back to Hogwarts.
Nightshade was thinking that at least they didn't need a drink to recover from this particular meeting, then realized that in its way it could be as stressful for Prof as dealing with Lizard Brain's followers. With his Gitness, Sirius Black always starting with him, attending order meetings was probably just as bad in its way. He had noticed the other order members did seem to like Sirius...which was, in part, why Nightshade didn't find any of them appealing. Why would anyone like that git? What was cool about him? Nightshade just didn't get it.

And none of the order members seemed to really like Prof much except for Dumblefuck. In the end, it wasn't as if he fit in with the order any better than with Voldemort's lot.
//I'll always go to order meetings with you if that's cool,// He said as they entered the castle.
//Yes. That's cool,// Severus said, and lightly touched Nightshade'es back in that way he did when his little black heart was touched and he didn't have words.
He had just used cool, though, and Nightshade was proud.