Chapter Text
Beauxbatons was offensively beautiful.
Severus reached this conclusion before he had even crossed the entrance hall. The palace looked as though someone incapable of choosing between architecture and ostentation had built it: pale columns reflected the afternoon light, enchanted fountains sent silver water cascading over the gardens, and tall windows let sunlight flood entire corridors. Hogwarts at least had the decency to conceal its excesses beneath centuries of soot.
A young woman in blue robes escorted Severus to the Deputy Headmistress's office and announced his arrival. Before she could finish, a voice answered from the other side of the door:
"If he's in a foul mood, make him wait five minutes."
Severus opened the door.
"Too late."
Angelique Blanche sat behind a desk covered in parchment. Her fair hair fell loose over one shoulder, and the sleeves of her robes had been rolled up to her elbows. She showed no embarrassment at having been overheard.
"Monsieur Snape. What a delightful intrusion."
"I sent three owls informing you of my arrival time."
"I received all three."
"And yet you instructed your employee to leave me standing in the corridor."
"Only if you were in a foul mood. I see she should have obeyed."
The young woman by the door bit her lip to suppress a smile. Severus gave her a look, and she disappeared down the corridor. Angelique gestured towards the chair opposite her desk.
"Do sit down. I promise not to insult your hair for the first ten minutes."
"Your generosity is touching."
A month had passed since their meeting at Hogwarts. During that time, Severus had received seven letters from Angelique: four strictly professional, two containing infuriatingly pertinent corrections, and one in which she had written only that clause twelve remained "as insufferable as its author". He had replied to every one of them. Strictly out of administrative necessity.
Severus placed a folder on the desk.
"The British Ministry has added new requirements to the security protocols."
Angelique regarded the document.
"Naturally."
"Some of them were recommended by me."
Angelique opened the folder and began to read.
Severus settled into the chair. Her office was very different from his own. Pale walls were covered with maps, runic diagrams, and neatly arranged shelves. White flowers sat by the window, and a glass bowl held little sweets wrapped in blue paper. Nothing smoked, breathed or appeared capable of killing a student. It suggested a worrying lack of personality.
Angelique turned a page.
"The seals being bound to the designated authorities' signatures is insufficient," he said. "An authorised person can be coerced, Confunded or replaced."
"How reassuring to know what you think of us."
"I think any system that depends on human infallibility is doomed."
"On that, we agree."
Angelique separated two pages and placed them side by side.
"Your proposal adds a fourth signature."
"No. It adds a lock. It belongs to no one and only releases when two schools authorise the same action."
"What prevents two authorities from agreeing on a disastrous idea?"
"Nothing. Architecture is no substitute for judgement. It merely prevents any one of us from altering or withdrawing a champion alone."
Severus leaned across the desk.
"The alternative is to place blind faith in three people simply because they hold respectable titles."
"Which would be dreadful, considering how many criminals have already run Hogwarts."
He slowly raised his eyes.
Angelique was still examining the document. "Including those who were acquitted," she added.
"How considerate."
"Don't mistake candour for hostility, Severus. When I'm being hostile, you'll know the difference."
It was the first time she had used his name.
"Headmaster Snape," he corrected.
"We're alone."
"My title does not depend on the presence of witnesses."
"What an exhausting life you must lead."
Severus ignored the remark.
"The lock would record agreement, nothing more. It would have no identity of its own, would not track champions and would grant no access."
Angelique reread the relevant paragraph.
"That could work."
He waited for an objection. "Is that all?"
"Would you like me to disagree so you can feel at home?"
"I'm trying to understand why you agreed so readily."
"Because it's a good idea."
She took a quill from its holder and made a note in the margin.
"My sister will have to incorporate the lock into the structure."
"Your sister?"
"Claire. She designed the runic architecture of the seals. She also works with ancient runes and hereditary protections. She's better than any specialist in the Republican administration and considerably less tedious."
"I shall examine the final version before it is bound to the champions."
"Naturally. Claire wouldn't allow otherwise either."
Angelique took a sweet from the bowl and unwrapped it.
"Would you like a sweet?"
Severus looked at the small blue object between her fingers.
"No."
"It's sweet."
"I had deduced as much from its location in the sweet bowl."
She popped it into her mouth.
"I thought a little sugar might improve your mood."
"Dumbledore spent years trying to test that theory."
The words came out more quietly than Severus had intended.
Angelique stopped smiling. For a moment, she said nothing. She simply pushed the bowl aside, away from him.
"Then I won't insist."
The absence of teasing unsettled him more than the teasing would have.
She continued reading.
"The accommodation clause has been amended," Angelique said. "The Hogwarts students will stay inside the palace, in the west wing."
"The carriages would be easier to protect."
"And much easier to isolate."
"Isolation can be an advantage."
"Not in a competition whose official purpose is to bring the schools closer together."
"The official purpose is to spare the governments from admitting that they miss dangerous spectacles."
Angelique laughed. It was a brief, unguarded sound.
"I'll have a plan of the west wing sent to you," Angelique said.
"With the boundaries of the wards marked."
She noted the request and laid down her quill.
"Will you join me for tea after the meeting? Without discussing the Tournament."
Severus indicated the pages still left in the folder.
"We haven't finished."
"I noticed."
Angelique resumed reading.
When she closed the folder, Severus stood.
Angelique came around the desk to hand him the documents. Before giving them back, she removed something from his collar. Her fingers brushed the side of his neck.
He caught her wrist.
Angelique opened her hand. A single white hair lay in her palm.
Severus released her.
"Hair is far too useful an ingredient for a witch to collect it casually."
Her smile vanished. She set the folder on the desk and laid the hair on its cover.
"Then keep it."
"Do not touch me again without permission."
"Very well."
There was no irony in her reply. Angelique took a step back.
Severus picked up the folder.
"The next meeting will take place at the end of August," Angelique said, returning to her desk. Her voice had regained its formality. "Some wings of the palace will be closed while we reinforce the wards. The headmasters and technical representatives will be staying at my family's estate."
"That won't be necessary."
"It will. The arrangements have already been agreed with Madame Maxime and the Republican Commission for Magical Security."
She took an envelope from a drawer and placed it before him.
"Your presence will also give you the opportunity to meet Claire and review the proposal for the agreement lock with her."
Severus picked up the envelope.
"Who will accompany Durmstrang?"
"Benedikt hasn't decided yet."
He tucked the invitation inside his robes.
"I shall send my confirmation."
"Bring enough clothes for a few days. The estate is some distance from the school."
"I am perfectly capable of understanding the word 'accommodation'."
"After the incident with the meeting time, I'd rather not make assumptions about your grasp of simple words."
Severus walked towards the door.
"Mademoiselle Blanche."
"Monsieur Snape."
His hand was already on the door handle when her voice stopped him.
"Severus."
He looked over his shoulder. Angelique stood behind her desk, her hands resting on its edge.
"About the tea," she said. "I meant it."
There was no smile to accompany the words.
Severus held her gaze for a moment. Then he opened the door.
That evening, he sent confirmation of his August visit. He confined himself to the dates.