I am not J. K. Rowling, nor am I associated with Scholastic, Warner Brothers or the people who made "Spiderman 3". I do plan to go see that film several times, however.
OK, so this chapter didn't turn out to have as many Snape revelations as I'd hoped. Next chapter for sure, though.
Chapter 17: The Trial of Severus Snape
"You should have let me change clothes," Draco Malfoy declared haughtily. Harry and Hermione were walking behind him, their wands pointed at his bare midsection, as they marched into Ministry headquarters. Draco was still wearing nothing but Ginny's pink pajama bottoms, his pale torso and the Dark Mark on his arm all too visible.
"Oh, so now you want to get out of Ginny's pants?" Hermione asked him with a smirk. "And after you seemed so eager to get into them."
"Very funny, Granger," Draco spat. "I agreed to give myself up, you know. There's no reason for you to treat me this way." This elicited no response from either Harry or Hermione. "I'm one of the most wanted dark wizards in England, for Merlin's sake. You could have at least put me in something that wouldn't make me look like a poncy git."
"I don't think there's any outfit that could do that," Harry noted wryly. "Here we are." The three of them stood before the offices of the MLE. Wanted posters of known Death Eaters lined the walls as sharply dressed witches and wizards sat at their desks, poring over paperwork. Harry approached the nearest desk, which had a mousy-looking blonde sitting behind it. "Excuse me. I hate to disturb you, but it seems that I've captured Draco Malfoy. I thought you might like to know."
The woman looked very much like a fish who just realized that there wasn't any water on the outside of the aquarium. "I…I don't have a form for that."
Harry nearly growled in frustration. He had expected a team of Aurors to meet him at the door after he had stated his business as 'bringing a Death Eater in'. When they hadn't, he had wondered if perhaps no one at the Ministry believed him. 'They believe me alright,' Harry thought to himself. 'They just don't know what to do with a Death Eater when they have one.'
"Perhaps we could speak with one of your superiors," Hermione suggested to the woman kindly, although her eyes were stormy. He wouldn't want to be Hermione's enemy when her eyes were like that.
"There's no need to go to that much trouble, Miss Svensson. I can handle it." From behind her, a tall wizard with wispy gray hair, a thin beard, sharply chiseled features and a seemingly ever-present smile approached. "So very nice to see you again, Mr. Malfoy," he said with a cursory glance at Draco.
Hatred burned in Draco Malfoy's eyes. "You," he hissed. "You're the berk who tossed our house back in second year."
"My name is Sophocles Plante, and yes, I am the very same berk of whom you speak. And, to be quite frank, I find the fact that I didn't discover any illegal dark magical objects in your home a testament to your parents' Slytherin cunning rather than a statement of their innocence." He chuckled softly. "I am somewhat consoled by the fact that they're both now in Azkaban. You'll soon be joining them." Plante waved to two other men walking by. "Hobson. Luce. Before you take this junior grade filth away, I want you to find him a shirt. I can't stand to look at that monstrous mark on his arm anymore."
"Yes, sir," they responded. Draco actually looked somewhat appeased by this, although his face remained set in a scowl.
Sophocles Plante beckoned Harry closer. Harry obliged and the two of them stood near the desk of the hapless Miss Svensson as Hermione continued to hold Draco Malfoy at wandpoint. "Excellent work, Mr. Potter. I see your old Headmaster wasn't wrong about you."
Harry's eyes widened. "You knew Dumbledore?"
Plante smiled and nodded. "Albus was a friend. In fact, that friendship helped me secure my current position. When Minister Scrimgeour was looking for a replacement for Amelia Bones, the embarrassment of having secured a warrant for Dumbledore's arrest was still fresh in people's minds. They wanted someone who would not make that mistake again." His face became suddenly ashen. "I cannot begin to tell you how saddened I was by his passing. Although I imagine you were as well. I'm told you were quite close."
"Yeah," Harry answered, then remembering just how powerful this man was, "I mean, yes, sir."
The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement laughed heartily. "You needn't call me 'sir', Mr. Potter. You are not one of my employees, or at least not yet. Headmistress McGonagall has informed me that you wish to become an Auror."
Harry nodded his head. "Yes. At least, I think that's what I'd like to do after I graduate from Hogwarts."
"You think?" Plante asked playfully. "You aren't sure?"
"To be honest with you, Mr. Plante," Harry began somewhat bashfully, "I'm not thinking that far ahead yet." 'For some reason, I'm still hung up on the part where there's a homicidal maniac that I have to kill.'
"However dire the circumstances of your young life may be, Mr. Potter, it is always wise to think ahead. Personally, I believe you'd make a fine Auror." Harry couldn't help but feel a certain pride at Sophocles Plante's assessment. "If you need any help along that road, I would be absolutely delighted to offer my assistance."
Harry looked down at his hands as he passed his wand between the left one and the right one. "Actually, there is a favor I'd like to ask of you, but it doesn't have much to do with becoming an Auror." Sophocles Plante now seemed very curious. "I want to talk to Severus Snape."
Plante's face and mood darkened. "You wish to speak with Albus' murderer? What ever for?"
Harry tried to think of the best way to go about this. "Dumbledore and I were working on something before he died, something that only a few people knew about. Snape was one of those people. There are things that he might know that could prove crucial to defeating Voldemort."
Sophocles Plante winced, although whether it was at the use of Voldemort's name or for some other reason, Harry could not tell. "I'll see what I can do." Plante tugged gently at his beard in thought. "You know, Mr. Potter, you are the only witness we could call to testify about Severus Snape's cowardly act on that night. I know he was your teacher, but I certainly hope that you aren't contemplating leniency towards him."
A look of deep sadness crossed Harry's face. "I hope not, either."
***
After surrendering his wand and traveling through several thick metallic doors, Harry Potter reached the room where
Severus Snape was being held. He was certain that, in addition to all of the physical precautions, there had been wards
put in place that would make the possibility of escape nonexistent. Still, it took him by surprise to see Severus Snape
standing in the corner of a darkened room, staring out of a window and looking like a caged bat, wanting to fly free in
the night, eager to hunt for its prey. "The window isn't real, you know," Snape explained in a small,
bitter voice. "The imbeciles in charge placed it here in order to torment me. Now they've sent you in,
presumably for the same purpose."
Harry's eyes narrowed. Snape always did take pleasure in drawing his ire. "I think you know why I'm here."
Snape sniffed airily. "I doubt even you know why you're here." At long last, his former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher turned around to face him. "I take it you've met my grandfather. How is he these days?"
"Resting comfortably," Harry answered quickly. Was Snape trying to goad him into saying something about the horcruxes? If so, it wasn't going to work. "Just as he has been for the last thirty years or so."
Snape scowled. "Perhaps your definition of a comfortable rest and mine are quite different." Between the two men there was only a long oak table and a single metal chair. "Have a seat, Potter. I would imagine this isn't a social call."
"Hardly," Harry retorted as he scooted the chair closer to the door and sat down. He was feeling less and less charitable toward Snape all the time. "I need to know why you did it."
Severus Snape walked slowly across the room, never bothering to make direct eye contact with Harry. "Your needs are many. Wit, intelligence, tact, humility…the list could go on ad nauseum. Do not take it upon yourself to question my motivations, as they are no concern of yours."
"Damn it!" Harry exclaimed, pounding his fist on the table in anger. "I'm trying to give you a chance! Why can't you just tell the truth for once in your miserable life?!"
"Truth is subjective," Snape replied. He was now standing over Harry as though they were back in the classroom, with Severus Snape once again playing the role of Harry Potter's instructor. "I have spent a considerable portion of my life serving the two greatest wizards of our time. I gave them each only a fragment of the truth to hold onto. I bent it and shaped it until it fit their view of the world. Tell me, Potter, which one did I lie to? Whose truth is greater?"
"The truth is what it is," Harry replied assertively. "It can't be bent or distorted and still be true."
"You are as naïve as you are dimwitted," Snape told him dismissively. "Albus Dumbledore was unquestionably the greatest wizard I have ever known, yet I will never understand why he placed his trust in you to save our world from the Dark Lord."
"Dumbledore shouldn't have trusted me?" Harry demanded in disbelief. "You're the one who killed him." Severus Snape said nothing as Harry seethed in anger. "You were right about one thing, though. I don't know why I came here."
"I do," Snape said simply. "You wanted me to make things easy for you. To forswear my evil ways and bend over backwards to prove to you that I've been 'good' all along. Or to play the villain to the hilt and explain away everything you've seen that might lead you to another conclusion." He snorted. "Life is never quite so simple."
Harry couldn't deny any of that and so now it was his turn to fall silent. "Come now, Potter. You're being far too timid. Hasn't anyone ever taught you to seize the day?" The last three words were emphasized by Snape.
Harry's blood suddenly ran cold. "What did you just say?"
Severus Snape smirked. "Seize the day. Or, in the Latin, carpe diem. Think carefully on that before you act."
"You…you know about the potion," Harry reasoned aloud. It made sense, he supposed. Dumbledore would have had to have gotten his supply from somewhere and Snape was extremely gifted at making potions.
"I have no idea what you're babbling about," Snape replied with a shrug of indifference. "Perhaps you're…hallucinating."
Behind him, the door opened. "Time's up, Potter," a gruff Auror's voice called out.
Just as Harry began to rise from the table, Snape grabbed his arm and, for the first time, made eye contact. 'I can tell you everything you want to know,' Harry heard Snape's voice inside his mind say. 'But not here. Not with Scrimgeour's marionettes watching everything.' Snape's gaze turned icy. 'Also, your occlumency skills are as utterly pathetic as ever.'
"Hey!" the Auror barked harshly, aiming a stunner at Snape's hand as the former potions master retreated back into the holding cell. "No touching!"
"So terribly sorry," Snape apologized in an insincere voice from the shadows. "I simply couldn't resist the prospect of having touched the hand of the great Harry Potter."
"Come on, then," the Auror called out to Harry, motioning for him to exit the room quickly. As he did so, one Auror said to another, "Have the window taken out. He's enjoying it too much."
Harry's brain seemed to be in a fog as he was given back his wand and escorted through a long, dark hallway back to where he could finally see the light of day. He ascended the stairs alone to find an anxious-looking Hermione waiting for him. "How did it go?"
"Miserably," Harry answered with barely disguised anger. Intent on leading his girlfriend outside where they could talk openly, he didn't stop walking. "Snape is completely infuriating! I was only trying to give him a chance to explain himself and he treated me like…well, like he's always treated me. Like I'm a clod of dirt on his shoe." Hermione gave him a very sympathetic look. "He said it was none of my business why he killed Dumbledore. And then…then he threatened me. At least I think that was what he did."
"Threatened you?" Hermione asked. Harry could see the curious expression on Hermone's face in his mind's eye without having to look at her. "With what?"
As they finally exited Ministry headquarters, Harry exhaled slowly. "Snape knows about the carpe diem potion, Hermione. He won't hesitate to bring it up at trial, either." Hermione gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "He'll probably say I was hallucinating when I watched him murder Dumbledore."
Hermione appeared deep in thought. "Your testimony would be completely discredited if he did that. The Ministry wouldn't have a case. Snape would go free."
Harry cocked his head to one side. "But that's only if I testify. Of course if I don't testify…"
"…then the Ministry would still have no case. Either way, Snape's a free man," Hermione finished for him, sounding every bit as thrilled with the idea as Harry was. "He must have been planning this all along. His great escape from justice."
"They can still hold him as a Death Eater, can't they? Like they're doing with Peter Pettigrew?" Harry asked desperately. "He has the Dark Mark on his arm. He was caught leading a whole team of Death Eaters."
Hermione shook her head. "All of the 'Death Eaters' that were captured during the raid on the Quibbler were cleared. Snape must have had them under the Imperius Curse. As for the Dark Mark, well, that's nothing new, is it? They still have Dumbledore's testimony on record from the first war, vouching for his loyalty."
Harry ran his fingers through his hair. "Can't they at least send him to Azkaban for using an Unforgivable on all of those people?"
Hermione looked doubtful. "According to the Daily Prophet, no one actually remembers Snape putting them under the curse. He must have used memory charms on them. In any case, he could always blame Mundungus Fletcher, who, conveniently enough for Snape, is dead."
Harry didn't know whether he felt like laughing or crying. "This is crazy! I came here to get the truth from Snape, but instead I get brushed off, insulted and threatened. I watched him kill Dumbledore, but if I testify to that in court, nobody will believe me. And there may be more to Dumbledore's death than what it seems, but I can't find out one way or the other until Snape's away from Scrimgeour's thugs."
"He told you that?" Hermione asked inquisitively.
"Not out loud," Harry admitted. "He, erm, sort of invaded my thoughts."
Hermione looked down. "And you didn't want to tell me because I was supposed to have taught you occlumency."
Harry lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "You did the best you could. Especially considering that Voldemort's in my mind, lowering my defenses, reading my thoughts…" Harry's other hand went to Hermione's forearm. He ran it lovingly down to her fingertips, which he then held gently. "I think he's taunting me, Hermione. When he was showing me all of those memories about Septimus Prince…I think that was his way of telling me that he knew Dumbledore's plan to save me didn't work."
Hermione gave him a brave half-smile. "That makes sense, I suppose." He could tell she was still beating herself up for not turning Harry into a master occlumens.
"You know, Hermione," Harry began, one hand still on Hermione's cheek and the other holding hers delicately, "when I have days like this, when it seems like the world's found a way to kick me in the bum and the teeth at the same time, the only thing that makes me feel better is you. When it feels like the slimy gits of the world have taken over, and everything in my life is rubbish, I know it isn't because you're still here. You make me grin like an idiot. You make me excited about life. You make me a better person." He kissed her quickly then, not wanting to miss the soft glow in her eyes as he said these things. However, as one quick kiss was entirely unsatisfactory, Harry's lips had returned to her own in no time. After several minutes of very passionate snogging, they both came up for air.
"Apparently, I make you a better kisser, too," Hermione pointed out breathlessly.
"See?" Harry pointed out teasingly. "You are a good teacher."
Hermione's hands were intertwined around Harry's neck as she stood on tiptoe to give him a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Harry. You always know just how to cheer me up."
"You're welcome," Harry replied with a triumphant smile. "Would you say it was the speech or the kiss that helped the most?"
Hermione made a show of considering his question. "Hmm. The kiss, I'd say."
Harry appeared to be disappointed. "I wish I would have known that beforehand. Then I could have just skipped the speech and gotten straight to the snogging."
Hermione laughed lightly. "The speech was nice, too." The look in her eyes was one that Harry had come to associate with her love for him and his for her. It was fire and familiarity all at once, a warm hearth burning in the home he had been dreaming of his entire life without realizing it. "Now kiss me again." Ever the gentleman, Harry obliged.
A few minutes later, Harry's lips were busily occupied along Hermione's neckline when she cried out, "Remus!"
"You know, Hermione," he pointed out in a muffled voice, "it's generally considered bad form to call out another bloke's name when I'm doing this," he kissed the nape of her neck, "and this," he kissed her shoulder, "and this."
"Harry," Hermione protested weakly as she reluctantly pushed him off of her. "He's coming this way."
"Remus," Harry called out with forced enthusiasm. "How nice to see you again."
Lupin looked amused. "I'm not blind, Harry. I know when I'm interrupting something you'd rather be doing, but this is important." He put one hand on Harry's shoulder. "I need to know what you're planning on saying at Snape's trial. The Order has reason to believe that his defense will be a strong one. They're going to pick apart your story, which means they'll probably have a story of their own. One where you don't come out looking so well, I'd wager."
Harry's eyes darted between Hermione and Lupin. "Hermione, I think I need to tell Remus everything."
"Everything?" Hermione questioned with a raised eyebrow. "By 'everything', do you mean…?"
"Everything," Harry repeated more forcefully. He turned to face Remus. "D'you think you can handle it?"
"I believe I can," Lupin answered him honestly. "Although you might spare me some of the details of your love life. You are the son of one of my best mates from school, you know. There's only so much I can take."
Harry first told him about Voldemort's horcruxes, then about his and Dumbledore's search for them, which promptly transformed into Harry, Ron and Hermione's search for the horcruxes upon Dumbledore's death. He informed Remus of their trip to Godric's Hollow, of what had really happened the night Snape 'attacked' Ron and finally related what Snape had said to him only minutes before.
"Incredible," was Remus' first response. Harry and Hermione watched as their former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher took a seat on a nearby bench. "Absolutely incredible. I can't say what took me more by surprise: the fact that Voldemort made seven horcruxes, the idea that you're one of them or the fact that, if I'm understanding this correctly, Ron Weasley is one as well."
"That's part of what I was hoping to find out from Snape," Harry told him earnestly. "Does the piece of Septimus Prince's soul that Voldemort put into Severus Snape count as one of the seven horcruxes or is there one more we don't know about?"
Remus rubbed his temples slowly. "It boggles the mind."
"You can see now why we need the truth from Snape so badly," Hermione pointed out helpfully. "Destroying the horcruxes is the only thing that will make Voldemort mortal again."
"People have been seeking the truth from Snape for as long as I've known him. Yet I don't know of anyone who has found anything even remotely close to it. Your task is an unenviable one." Harry was lost in his own thoughts, as Hermione's remark about 'destroying the horcruxes' only made him think of the piece of Voldemort's soul which currently resided within his own mind.. "Whatever happens today, Harry, you mustn't testify. Your reputation will be damaged, but not nearly as much as it would be if the rumors of your being a half-crazy glory hound resurface, which they would if the truth about the carpe diem potion came out." Lupin looked thoughtful. "For the life of me, I can't understand why Albus would have given you that potion instead of teaching you occlumency."
Harry shrugged. "Maybe he knew that it would be impossible to do with a piece of Voldemort's soul inside my mind. Hermione and I certainly haven't been having much luck with it."
Lupin did not seem convinced. "Perhaps."
"But if Harry doesn't testify," Hermione reasoned, "Snape would be released immediately. He could go into hiding or disappear somewhere before we even got the chance to question him."
Lupin smiled proudly. "Alastor, Kingsley and I came here today to make certain that that wouldn't happen. In the event of his release, the executive committee of the Order of the Phoenix is authorized to take Severus Snape into custody."
Harry frowned. "Where will you be taking him?"
"Where the Order now has its strongest presence," Remus answered him. "Hogwarts. Headmistress McGonagall has appointed me as Special Assistant to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Shacklebolt and Moody will have similar titles. If that flies, more Order members will be brought in."
Hermione seemed to be considering something. "McGonagall's beefing up security there, in light of Voldemort's threatened attack. But won't you three land in trouble for kidnapping Snape?"
"Make no mistake about it, Hermione. Snape's release will embarrass the Ministry. It may even force Scrimgeour to resign. So I don't think they'll care where Snape goes, so long as he's out of their hair." The werewolf's expression became gloomy. "The war has taken an incredibly poor turn of late. There are spies everywhere; magical creatures are lining up to fight on Voldemort's side; the ranks of the Death Eaters are swelling and yet…" Lupin's voice trailed off.
"And yet what?" Harry asked quickly.
"It's almost as if he's waiting for something. Voldemort's assembling his forces as though he's in a hurry, but there have been no major offensives, no tempting targets hit." Lupin gave Harry and Hermione a worried look. "Whatever it is that he's waiting for, it has to be something huge."
A sudden clamor from inside the building drew their attention. "They must be bringing Snape in now," Hermione concluded.
"Then we haven't much time before this gets out of hand," Remus Lupin declared, standing abruptly. "I need to inform Alastor and Kingsley that we'll be taking Snape." When Harry cast him a slightly anxious look, he continued, "I won't tell them everything you told me, of course. Just that you won't be testifying." Both Harry and Hermione looked relieved. "I'll contact Minerva and let her know that we may need to take additional security precautions. Perhaps I should owl Hagrid as well."
As a gaggle of reporters rushed by, Remus motioned for Harry to hide behind a large column. "You should make only a single statement and do it while the press isn't around. The man you'll want to talk to is Sophocles Plante; he's the Head of Magical Law Enforcement."
Harry nodded slowly as a feeling of dread came over him. "We've met."
Lupin's voice became a whisper. "Good. Then you know what he looks like. Now, as for what you should say, make it short and to the point. Do not recant your initial statement or make yourself out to be a liar. Simply inform him that you cannot testify." Remus patted him on the arm. "As soon as you're done, take Hermione and get out of here. Go back to Hogwarts and wait for us there. We'll find a way to sneak Snape into the castle. Is everything clear?"
"Very," Harry answered, although everything actually felt very murky to him. As Remus Lupin jogged into the building, Harry stepped back to stand beside Hermione. "I think Mr. Plante just might change his mind about my fitness to be an Auror."
***
As night fell, Harry Potter was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, turning his kidney pie over with his
fork unenthusiastically. Hermione sat across from him, giving him occasional supportive looks and holding his hand
under the table. Ron was seated right next to Harry, digging into his second helping of roast beef. They were the only
two students sitting within fifty meters of him. He supposed he should have been used to being shunned by his fellow
classmates by now, but it never did get any easier. The evening edition of the Daily Prophet had arrived by owl just
before dinner, which led to pointed, icy glares and harsh whispers. More than a few young Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs
looked ready to walk across the hall to have a word with him, only to be held back by older students in their house,
usually former D.A. members. His fellow Gryffindors had said little, but that only meant that they weren't ready to
speak to him either. On the other hand, he had never been so popular among the Slytherins. A first year had even asked
him to autograph the article about Snape's release.
"Don't think it could have turned out better myself," Ron said from beside him. Harry turned his head slightly to glare at him. "Well, alright, maybe things aren't so great for your social life," Ron admitted. "But think about it. If Snape had produced evidence that you were doped up on carpe diem potion that was served to you here, in your food, without you knowing about it, they would have had to close the school." Ron thought about that for a moment. "Worse yet, they might have had to close the kitchens."
"Maybe they should have," Harry countered moodily. "If Voldemort's going to show up here on Halloween, it might be best not to have hundreds of innocent children running around, scared out of their wits."
Ron shook his head. "The munchkins aren't the problem and you know it. If the school's closed, that makes it that much harder for you to be here." Ron scooped up another bite of mashed potatoes. "And if they'd sent Snape to Azkaban for killing Dumbledore, we'd never hear another word from him. Which, admittedly, would have sounded great a few months ago…."
"But the Ministry's had to dismiss all charges against him," Hermione remarked with a sigh, "so the only leverage we could use to get him to talk is gone."
"You two sad sacks really are perfect for each other, you know that?" Ron downed the last of his pumpkin juice and then reached for the pitcher. "I prefer to see the glass as half full."
Harry held his face dispiritedly in one hand, but his eyes darted to Ron's glass. "From here it looks entirely empty."
"But that's the genius of glasses, you see," Ron said as he poured pumpkin juice into his cup. "They can always be refilled." At that moment, Luna Lovegood approached from the Ravenclaw table. "Luna! Just the girl I wanted to hear from." The blonde sixth year Ravenclaw smiled widely at him. "Take a look at this and tell me what you see."
Luna stared at the glass of pumpkin juice for a few seconds before answering, "It's a glass of pumpkin juice."
Ron smiled victoriously. "You see? That's what I love about Luna. She never overcomplicates things."
Luna Lovegood blushed prettily, then leaned over to speak in Harry's ear. "I've heard memory loss can occur after a coma, but this is worse than I thought. Has he forgotten about any other food items?"
Harry watched with amusement as Ron shoveled the last of his potatoes into his mouth, making his cheeks puff out like a chipmunk. "Somehow I don't think so."
Just as Ron appeared ready to invite Luna to sit down at the Gryffindor table in the very ample space offered them by their fellow Gryffindors, a clearly out of breath Neville Longbottom ran inside the Great Hall, making a beeline for where the three of them were sitting. "Harry!" he exclaimed. "Professor Lupin's here. He says for you to meet him near Hagrid's hut."
Harry nodded in acknowledgement. Although he knew this was coming, he had been dreading it. Would anything Snape had to say be worth Dumbledore's murderer not receiving justice? As he rose from the table, Ron and Hermione followed suit. To his surprise, Luna and Neville did as well, following the three of them as they exited the castle.
"Er, Harry," Neville began with a slight stammer. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"Unless it has to do with why I didn't testify at Snape's trial, I'd be happy to talk about anything you like," Harry told him.
"No, nothing like that," Neville replied with a relieved giggle. "Well, you know, well… maybe you know, or maybe you did know at one time but don't know now or tried not to know, but, um, IsortoffancyGinny."
"Oh," Harry said, his tone deliberately noncommittal.
Neville refused to look at Harry. "And I know you fancied her for a good while last year and then you dated her but you broke things off and so I was just wondering if you'd hex me for asking her out?"
"Who Ginny dates is absolutely none of my business, Neville," Harry replied, his voice pleasant but firm. "If you're looking for my blessing, you have it, for whatever that's worth. I don't think Ginny's taken our break up very well, though." 'Yeah,' Harry added, 'and I don't think Voldemort wants to become best friends with me and braid my hair, either. Way to understate, Potter.' "Anyway, I don't think I'm really the seventh-year Gryffindor boy you need to ask for permission to date Ginny Weasley. Why aren't you talking to…?" But before he even finished the question, it became obvious why he wasn't talking to Ron Weasley. Ron was chatting very amicably with Luna Lovegood. In fact, he appeared to be playing with a necklace made from brightly colored feathers and muggle dice that she was wearing around her neck. "Well, never mind then. Good call, Neville."
"I'd like to think that I know love when I see it." Harry quickly saw that Neville was no longer looking at Ron and Luna as he said this, but at Hermione, who had entwined her arm with Harry's own as they walked. Harry was so used to her presence by his side that he had barely noticed the gesture. With an appreciative nod to Neville, Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione gently on the lips, a promise of things to come.
As the five friends neared Hagrid's hut, Lupin called out to them. "Harry! So very nice of you to join us." Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hagrid seemed less pleased by their appearance, although Kingsley did manage a polite smile.
Harry looked around in confusion. "Where's Snape?"
"I haven't the foggiest notion to whom you're referring, Harry," Remus told him in an overly loud voice. "The four of us were just discussing a certain greasy gopher that recently escaped from its pen. We were thinking of keeping the gopher under twenty-four hour guard in the dungeons until he spills his guts, which he has so kindly agreed to do. We were also wondering if you might help us herd him into the castle."
"Of course," Harry agreed, immediately recognizing the need to speak in code. The walls very likely had ears. "So, erm, where are you keeping the gopher?"
"Well hidden, isn't he?" Mad-Eye Moody asked rhetorically. "He's standing right here, among us."
Harry didn't understand at first, looking frantically around for someone hiding under an invisibility cloak or using the disillusionment charm. Hermione, however, being far more clever than Harry could ever hope to be, had already figured it out. "Hello, Hagrid," she called out to the half-giant in an artificially sweet voice. "How are you feeling today?"
"Completely mortified," came the voice from Hagrid's mouth, although it was not the familiarly gruff, warm voice of Harry's first friend. It was Severus Snape's oily deceitful tone.
"Brilliant," Ron assessed jubilantly. "No one would ever suspect Hagrid of anything underhanded! Well, you know, except for the time that they thought he was responsible for Aragog killing Moaning Myrtle and kicked him out of school." Ron fell silent suddenly at the memory.
"I take it you used polyjuice potion," Luna commented as she examined 'Hagrid' closely. "Although I wasn't aware that it worked on giants."
"Only on half-giants, Miss Lovegood," Lupin explained with an amused little half-smile. "Luckily, our gopher had some of the potion stored away. For just such an occasion, one would suppose." Here he stared suspiciously at Snape's now gigantic form. "Not only would few suspect that we would disguise the gopher as Hagrid, but it allows us to explain believably why said gopher would not be carrying a wand."
Hermione frowned. "But what happens if someone asks 'Hagrid' a question?"
"Then I shall pretend that I have a cold and all the brains of a bowtruckle," Snape said coldly. "Now if you're through explaining your actions to these children, Remus, I'd like to get this charade under way before I have to ingest any more of Rubeus Hagrid's hair."
Lupin bristled, but refused to be baited by Severus Snape. "Harry, it would look less suspicious if you, Hermione and Ron re-entered the castle with the gopher, while we stay behind. Keep your wands out, but try not to point them directly at Hagrid."
"We'll keep that in mind," Harry replied shortly. He knew Lupin was his elder and that he had been their teacher, but his father's old friend had certainly been bossy lately. Had it somehow escaped his attention that Harry was now of age?
'Hagrid' picked up on this quickly as the four of them walked back down the path to Hogwarts. "Do I sense tension between you and the werewolf, Potter?"
"Shut up," Harry snapped.
"Or perhaps the tension is between yourself and Mr. Weasley," Snape tried. "He was the one who was enamored of Miss Granger before our little incident at the Quibbler, wasn't he?"
"Shut up," Ron added, apparently not feeling very original.
Snape was not about to be quiet when he was getting the better of them like this, however. "Personally I cannot fathom why either one of you would have a romantic interest in her. She's plain, bossy and not nearly so intelligent as she makes herself out to be."
"Shut up!!" Harry and Ron cried in unison, only to be followed quickly by Hermione waving her wand.
"Silencio." As Hagrid's normally kind eyes glared daggers at her, she explained. "It's only until we're inside. Then I hope you'll at least have the decency not to mouth off and blow your cover. Hagrid certainly wouldn't ever say those horrible things." Snape rolled his eyes, but could do nothing.
They entered the castle without incident, although 'Hagrid' bumped his head going through several doorways, much to the amusement of Harry and Ron. Hermione removed the silencing charm as well, but thankfully Snape's biting wit had remained muzzled. At least until he saw a figure in Slytherin robes, sitting at the table with some of his fellow instructors. "Tell me that isn't who I think it is."
"That's Commodus Brinecove," Hermione informed him matter-of-factly. "He's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Wait," said Ron with a pitying laugh. "You didn't actually think they were going to keep the job open for you, did you?"
"Brinecove shouldn't be here," 'Snape as Hagrid' declared roughly.
"Well, neither should you," Harry reminded him. "But the incompetence of the Ministry put you both here. Only he's here legally, so I wouldn't make a scene if I were you."
"Albus and I agreed," Snape went on, as though Harry had said nothing. "The temptation would be too great. Hogwarts is the last place he should be."
"The temptation to do what?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
Snape shook Hagrid's head, as if suddenly remembering where he was. "Never mind. Take me to the dungeons." As several passing students eyed him strangely, he cleared his throat and said, in a very exaggerated imitation of Hagrid's voice, "I mean, I'm a gian' oaf, I am and I'm goin' down to the dungeons to fin' some grub for me pet dragon."
Sheepishly the three of them shoved Snape through the ever-changing stairwells of Hogwarts until they arrived at the dungeons. Headmistress McGonagall and the real Hagrid were already there to meet them. Both of them looked about as happy to see him as they would have been to see a giant swarm of stink beetles. "Inside," McGonagall ordered him as she opened the door to a room that looked like it had not seen a ray of light in several centuries.
As Hagrid bolted the door, Harry could once again hear Snape's voice inside his head. 'Find me tomorrow and I'll tell you everything I know that might be of use to you. But not here. I don't want every dolt and madman Dumbledore recruited into the Order to hear what I'm going to say. Mr. Weasley will know where I wish to take you.'
Once the three of them were out of earshot of McGonagall and Hagrid, Harry nudged Ron with his elbow. "Snape says you know where he wants to talk to us tomorrow."
Ron had a half-hearted smile on his face as he nodded. "I reckon I do. We're going back down to the Chamber of Secrets, mate."
And so, the next chapter is called "The Chambers of Secrets". Makes sense, right? Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and continue to enjoy the story as it winds down (only five chapters to go) (or maybe six).
ITL