Chapter 1
The Great Hall was noisy. Harry was doing his best to pay attention to the thread of the conversation with Hermione and Ron. It seemed the world was swirling too fast. The conversations, the implications, the people, the noise, the confusion – Harry gripped his fork and glass to reassure himself that it was real that he was not in a dream. One glance at the staff table told him how his reality had flipped. Severus Snape sat in the Headmaster's seat and Lucius Malfoy was next to him. This fact alone was enough to give The-Boy-Who-Lived a bad case of anxiety. Professors McGonagall and Sprout, like Dumbledore, were absent. This new arrangement of staff, along with the looming exam by the Commission, was the reason for the heightened noise level in the Great Hall. The introductions and greeting hadn't taken place, yet, so the hall was rife with speculation.
"…there will be many cases?"
"Sorry, I didn't catch that, Hermione," Harry said, jumping slightly as he turned toward her. "I was woolgathering. I -"
"Woolgathering? Where'd you learn that word?" Hermione asked as she put down her copy of the Daily Prophet. Ron didn't even look up. It would take a team of Aurors to separate the lanky red-head from his shepherd's pie.
"I read too, Hermione," Harry said, as he glanced furtively at the staff table. Snape and Lucius were in conversation, while Hagrid was mopping his eyes with a table-sized handkerchief and being patted on the back by Madam Pomfrey.
"Glad to know it," Hermione said, as she looked at the staff table. "I said, do you think there will be many cases of suspected abuse? The Commission says they aren't on a hunt, but many people think they are. The Daily Prophet, almost every day, has a story about a family fearing the removal of their children and the parents taken into custody. The Muggle-borns and half-bloods are really worried."
"Why," Harry asked, dragging his eyes from the figures of Snape and Malfoy. The thought of what those two could be plotting gave Harry shivers. "They reported about Neville and he was as Pure as they come."
"He was a single case. Think about it, Harry, Lucius Malfoy is on the Commission," Hermione said as she pointed to an article in the Daily Prophet. "The Daily Prophet just released the names of the members of the Commission. At that press conference, when Fudge introduced the Commission, he gave the number of members, not their names. Well, yesterday, Fudge released their names in response to a court order from the Wizengamot. Apparently, several families filed a legal petition for the release of the names under the Wizarding Freedom of Information Act."
"I – he's what," Harry stammered as he wiped up the pumpkin juice he had spilled in his lap. Ron finally came up for air from his decimated shepherd's pie, as Harry asked Hermione nervous questions. "How'd that happen? Why is Malfoy on the commission?"
"What's this about Malfoy", Ron asked as he put his fork down looking from Harry to Hermione.
"Honestly," Hermione said, rolling her eyes as she placed Harry's glass back on the table. "The wizarding world could come to an end and you two would swear you didn't get the memo. Yes, Malfoy is on Fudge's Commission. You know how well-connected he is with the Ministry. He practically runs the place; Fudge is just a figure-head. I think it is to keep the Commission away from Pure Blood families. They can't have their names being tarnished by unseemly reports of child abuse in their faultless families. That just is not allowed. Wealth and ancient bloodlines don't tolerate impropriety, you know."
"No, sorry, I wouldn't know about that," Ron grumbled, as he glowered over at Draco Malfoy who sat at the Slytherin's table. The platinum blond was chatting up his cronies Crabbe and Goyle, with the air of one who owned the world. Maybe he did.
"Ha, ha. You know what I mean," Hermione said, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. "Your family is Pure Blood, Ron, but you know how these things work. Neville's family got in the Daily Prophet because they are Muggle-born and half-blood sympathizers, at least his grandmother is anyway."
"So, I guess –"
The hall went deathly silent as Snape rose to his feet. The grim potions master didn't need to tinkle a glass, bang a gavel, or clear his throat to get students' attention. His presence was quite sufficient.
"Good evening," Snape said, as he cast his depthless gaze upon the wide-eyed students. "As you undoubtedly are aware we have lost one of our own, Neville Longbottom, to the scourge of suspected child abuse. He will be missed greatly. In that vein, Dumbledore is away in relation to this tragic event and I am serving as acting headmaster in his absence."
The temperature in the hall plummeted, for Harry the freeze was sub-zero. He placed his hands on his lap so neither he nor anyone else in the crowded hall could see them shaking.
"These are difficult times," Snape said, as hundreds of nervous eyes looked at him. It was a sea of faces, open and honest, lean and secretive, and others simply kind and thoughtful. They shared a common thing: uncertainty. Snape had been a teacher long enough to recognize the signs when young people wanted to flee from a situation and this was, clearly, was such a circumstance.
"As you know, the Ministry of Magic has created the Commission for Wizard Child Health and Safety to curb these incidents of violence against our young people. In service toward this goal, this Commission will oversee the examination of all of Hogwarts students for signs of abuse. In the letter that your parents received a few days ago, it is our right and duty to performs these examinations. The Hogwarts teachers and administrators, who have Medi-wizard certification, will do this unfortunate task. The right to do so is given to us by Wizarding Educational School Code 9-4, Section 39, paragraph 7, line 4 – which specifies that while you are here at Hogwarts, we act in loco parentis. This means, for those of you not versed in Latin, we act in place of your parents while you are under our supervision."
It was clear by the motionless students, that the idea of the grim potions master acting in loco parentis was a thought best served cold. With a "parent" like Snape, who needs enemies?
"Therefore," Snape continued, gesturing toward Lucius Malfoy, "one of the representatives from the Commission is here to monitor the examination process. Mr. Malfoy, welcome."
"Harry," Hermione hissed, as she grabbed one of his hands on his lap that was trembling. "It's okay!"
"Hermione," Harry croaked, as he gently pulled his hand from her grasp, "please, turn back around. I'm alright. I'm just a little cold. Really, I'm just not feeling well."
"Thank you, Sev – ah – Professor Snape," Lucius said standing, as Snape nodded in acknowledgment. "My dear, young people," Harry heard Ron tisk next to him, "as your headmaster has so eloquently stated, the Commission will oversee this examination by your teachers and administrators. They will be assisted by several Healers from St. Mungo's to speed up this process. We plan to have it concluded in two weeks. You will be notified of the scheduled day and time of your personal examination. If there are any questions, as I am sure there will be, your teachers and other," Malfoy cleared his throat, loco parentis will be available to discuss your concerns. If, however, none of these options are desirable, you are welcome to bring your inquiries to myself, as I will be staying at the castle, for the duration of the examination process."
Harry heard Ron's muffled coughing fit, "Juice went down the wrong way", his choking friend gasped. Harry glanced at the younger Malfoy, who has his chest out so far; Harry thought if he was wearing a shirt, instead of wizard's robes, he'd pop the buttons.
"We are in for a rough ride," Hermione said, as the elder Malfoy resumed his seat at the staff table.
"Snape, Malfoy, who's next on this happy list? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Ron asked, as the noise in the hall resumed. Harry noticed that some of the students were quiet as they finished their dessert, Seamus was one of them. Harry chided himself for feeling panicky about the looming exam, he wasn't abused. So what, if Snape was doing the exam? The potion master was a bully and who cared what he thought about anything especially, the most likely, uninteresting results of Harry's exam?
It had been a long day. Severus stood in the headmaster's office. Dumbledore had insisted that he use it. Dumbledore claimed it reinforced the sense of the school having a leader at the helm. Dumbledore told the potions master that the portraits of the previous headmasters, which hung in the office, would tell him if Severus wasn't in the office during the times he didn't have his classes. Severus scowled in irritation as he looked at the sheeting rain falling from the night sky. He just completed the schedule of the first students for the exam the next day. It was going to be pleasant, with nervous students and skittish loco parentis wrecking havoc in the castle. Add Lucius to the lovely mix and it added up nothing short of a super fantastic day loaded with tons of fun, Severus griped. Groaning, he took a sip of heavily sugared tea into which he had added a moderate dose of Calming Draft. Placing the schedule on the desk for the house elf to take for delivery to the students during the night, Snape reflected that Madam Pomfrey and Professor Flitwick were dependable and would help him manage the situation. The Wolf, Lupin, was out of action – full moon. Minerva was with Dumbledore or she would have the wonderful duty of acting headmaster, grimaced Snape as he resentfully sat in one of the many squishy armchairs in the large office. He couldn't bring himself to sit behind Dumbledore's desk.
Crack! Severus turned as a house elf appeared and took the schedules for the students. He reassured the house elf that there was nothing that he needed now, other than a small bit of peace and a reasonable amount of rest he thought. He was about to leave the office for his quarters when a knock came on the door. What now?
"Come," Severus said, as he seated himself back in one of the chairs.
"Good. Glad to have caught you before you could crawl back to your dungeon", Lucius said, as he closed the door behind him. It just keeps getting better and better. The good times just don't end. Severus sighed, as he drank more tea.
"What do you want, Lucius," Severus said, gesturing to one of the chairs across from him.
"A bit terse, this evening," Lucius said as he took the chair next to the potions master.
"It has been a long day," Severus said, shifting in his seat trying to get more personal space. Will this day ever end, Severus thought as Malfoy's grey eyes crinkled in amusement at his discomfort.
"I'm sure it has been, but that's no excuse for bad manners. Didn't even offer me a firewhiskey. My, my, my, your peasant background is showing, Severus. You really should keep an eye on that. You have worked hard to gain the respect of proper Purebloods, do not let your efforts go to waste, potion master."
"My patience is poor in the best of times, so I am sure you are aware of my level of tolerance for verbal volleys. What. Do. You. Want," Severus said, as he gripped the arms of his chair.
"To the point then. Any – um – discrepancies that the exam might show students that matter -"
"They all matter," Severus interrupted.
"However, you say. Any problems with Pureblood students – ah – let me be clear, worthy Purebloods. Reprehensible blood traitors such as the Weasleys, don't count. You will report those exam results directly to me. The Commission with handling them appropriately."
"Meaning you will sweep them under the rug," Severus said, as he rubbed his temples.
"Meaning, any troublesome results will be handled discreetly. We cannot have any of our notable families plastered across the Daily Prophet. It just will not do. It is not acceptable for the good of our wizarding society," Lucius said.
"Funny to hear you say that," Severus remarked.
"You seemed to think discretion was right when we were in school together," Lucius snapped, as he stood, glowering at Severus.
"Touché. Bringing up old history? Well, I have struck a chord," Severus said, as he tented his fingers together and as he looked into the furious, pale grey eyes of the wealthy financier.
"You will do as I have directed," Lucius said, as he leaned down into Severus' face, placing his hands on the arms of the acting headmaster's seat.
"And, if I don't," Severus said, remaining motionless as Lucius loomed over him; Severus refused to give Lucius the satisfaction of knowing he was getting under the potions master's skin. There were few things that rattled Severus. However, the invasion of the potion master's personal space always disconcerted Severus, a fact that Lucius knew.
"You know," Lucius said, leaning closer to Severus and pressing his advantage, "the Potter boy reminds me of you when you were younger. Brooding mannerisms, stiff posture, the boy even has your bone structure. You might want to forget, but you and I were in school together. What was the boy's mother's name", he paused, "Ah, yes, it comes to me, Lily, Lily Evans! You and she were good friends, as I recall. Until I helped you understand how hanging around Mudbloods wasn't to your advantage. I was so - pleased - when you finally realized how your betters could help a half-blood make it in our society, potions master -or should I say - headmaster."
"Do not use that offensive Muggle term", Severus said, his mind was frozen, it was the only safe response. He held Lucius' intense gaze, but he leaned as far back in his seat as possible.
"No matter, you have your directives. I am confident you will do the right thing," Lucius said as he stood, returning Severus' space. "I run the ministry, Fudge is my puppet, you know that. Do not forget it, my calculating friend. There are consequences for those who suffer lapses of memory where I am concerned," Lucius said, as he closed the door behind him with a snap.
Alone, with only the portraits for the company, Severus stood and reaching for his tea, he saw his hands shaking. What does he know? Nothing. How could he? There were no records to dispute James Potter being the boy's father. Lily and I made sure of it. Had we not? These thoughts raced through Severus' mind as he left the headmaster's office, walking on legs that were rubbery from the adrenaline surging through his body.
As Harry made his way to bed, he thought about the events of the day. The Commission, Malfoy, the exams... He should have known that something like this was going to happen when he read that first article by Rita Skeeter over the summer, right before he came back to Hogwarts.