Knowledge is Power

Chapter 37

The rest of the school year passed relatively uneventfully for Mag, considering Umbridge was there turning things up side down. None of that effected her, though, so she didn't worry over it much. Umbridge left Severus alone and that was all Mag cared about. She knew how to ensure she was left alone. She kept her head down, did her prefect duties and didn't make waves because there was no reason to. Once a week or so she used the diamond scrying stone to check on Areecen, who she'd begun to call Reece for short. The dragon only stayed with his friend for a few weeks before finding a new cave of his own, and now lived in Switzerland. He planned to relocate to Wales again some day but not until Voldemort was dead.

For his part, Severus didn't like the fact Dumbledore was ousted. Nightshade had to hear about that at length, so Mag had to hear it from Nightshade. She told Nightshade to remind Severus that Dumbledore could take care of himself, and was surprised when the owl said that had actually helped to mollify him. Even better, Nightshade even told Severus that the message was from Mag rather than the wise owl himself.

On June eighteenth, Nightshade spent the day with Severus while Mag crammed for her next N.E.W.T, about which she wasn't particularly concerned. For some reason, the O.W.L.s had terrified her far more.

On the morning of June nineteenth Nightshade approached Mag with a letter as she ate breakfast at the Slytherin table, quietly talking with the Bloody Baron. He was flying far faster than usual, and Mag felt a spike of concern as the owl approached.

//Is everything alright,// she asked at once as she took the blank parchment from him and put it into the pocket of her school robe.
Nightshade landed on the table beside her plate, but rather than snatching a sausage as he usually did, he did a little jig of excitement. Something in the way he moved put Mag in mind of a chicken and for an instant she had to struggle not to laugh.
//Well...Yeah. The bad news is Voldemort attacked the Ministry for a prophecy in your parents department. The good news is your parents are fine. The other good news is the Ministry now was forced to acknowledge lizard brain is back. The bad news is they're still being tard fucks about it. AND THE VERY BEST NEWS OF ALL IS THAT SIRIUS FUCK TARD ASSHOLE BLACK IS DEAD!//

Mag put down her fork with a clatter. Of course Nightshade had told her about Sirius Black when he'd met him at the first Order of the Phoenix meeting he attended. Of course Mag disliked him without even having to meet him because of his treatment of Severus. Hearing about his death made her smile.
//It's good when someone actually gets what they deserve,// she observed.
//How did Severus take the news?//

//As can be expected he was happy as a clam at fucking high tide,// Nightshade crowed.
//We both were!//
//He wasn't in danger yesterday, was he?//
Nightshade tilted his head to peer at Mag as though she'd lost her mind.
//Obviously he fucking was! He'd dead.//

She sighed.
//Not Sirius, obviously! Severus! Was he in danger?//
//Oh...No he was chillin'.//
Mag felt her shoulders slumping slightly in relief. Now she could allow herself to be happy about the good news without worrying about Severus at the same time. All too soon, though, she had to return most of her focus to her N.E.W.T.s.

Mag's final school days passed swiftly and as her graduation drew near, she began to seriously plan out the conversation she would have with Severus. Excitement warred with nervousness in her mind any time she envisioned the various possible outcomes. Still she knew there was only one that should come to pass and she was fully prepared to fight for it. Initially Mag planned to get Severus alone for a private word after her graduation. Then she began to worry that something would come up that would call him away, and she'd have to wait who knew how long to speak to him again. For that reason, she chose to have the conversation the day before graduation.