Written for the Murder At Hogwarts Challenge (.net/topic/44309/41469718/1/#41815717 if it doesn't hyperlink the text). My Main suspect was Luna Lovegood, and my three secondary suspects were Harry Potter, George Weasley, and McGonagall. My location was the Quidditch Pitch. Enjoy!
MURDER ON THE QUIDITCH PITCH
Harry Potter picked up the Daily Prophet that Hedwig had dropped off in front of him. The headline – and therefore the front page, and many more pages inside – told the story that the current residents of Hogwarts knew very well. The murder of Severus Snape.
It was just after the Battle of Hogwarts, and Snape had been presumed dead. This was proved incorrect, when he was spotted making his way back to the castle through the Quidditch Pitch. It was evening, so a search party was sent out to look for him, but only Professor McGonagall and Harry knew he was innocent, so only they agreed to look for the Potions Master.
The following morning, Luna Lovegood had woken up with fresh mud on her shoes, and muddy footprints leading from the Pitch to her bed. At the same time, George Weasley had decided to go for a flight around the Quidditch Pitch, where he had found the remains of his former teacher.
Snape was only recognisable due to the black robes he wore, and a few strands of greasy, black hair. His head had been slashed so many times, that there was almost no skin on his face left, and that his hair lay around him. Blood trickled from the wounds. The finishing blow had been a stab to the heart, with a silver knife that resembled Bellatrix's. George still had nightmares about the sight.
The Aurors would be arriving any moment to question people, so Harry ate his breakfast quickly, reading Rita Skeeter's version of events, which were incorrect, biased and misleading. Then again, that was no different to her usual work. It probably didn't help her that she wasn't there when he was found, and used Parkinson as her source, but once again, that was her style.
Harry heard Ron and Hermione sit down on either side of him. Ron, being the pig he is, immediately grabbed some food, and started eating, as though he hadn't eaten in a month. Hermione, on the other hand, just stared at the newspaper in Harry's hands.
"Harry..." Hermione spoke, breaking the silence. The hall was empty except for the three of them. When Harry didn't respond, she sighed. "HARRY!" She said, and he jumped. Hermione tried not to laugh at the bewildered expression on his face. "Look, Harry, it'll be fine! No one thinks it's you, but they have to do it anyway!" Her voice lowered "Between you and me, I think it's Lun – I mean Loony. Everyone thinks it's her. Neville's heartbroken."
Harry sighed, and turned back to his newspaper. "What if it wasn't her?"
"'En ee gont ell er ee ought ut wad er!" Ron said, with a mouthful of toast. Hermione opened her mouth to ask what he just said, when Harry interrupted her.
"Translation: Then we don't tell her we thought it was her." He said, before sighing again "But that's wrong. She's our friend, and we're supposed to be loyal to her. She's been loyal to us."
"Mr Potter? The Aurors would like to see you now." Professor McGonagall was stood behind the trio. They jumped, and turned to face their very tired-looking Headmistress.
"Coming." Harry said, standing up.
"Good luck, mate" Ron's words followed him out of the hall.