Hello my lovelies! I'm back with the second chapter.
First of all, I would like to thank all my wonderful reviewers and those who have favorited my story. You are all so great and truly make me look forward to writing.
There are no real warnings for this chapter, so enjoy
It goes without saying that I do not own Harry Potter or its characters.
If Someone Cared Enough
Chapter Two: Pride and Punishment
There weren't too many people cooped up inside on such a beautiful day, but any remaining stragglers in the halls made some rather hasty exits for the girl marching a petulant boy through the halls. It could have been due to the furious expression on the boy's face or fierce determined one on the girl's. It could have been the Slytherin colors they wore that instantly made people wary. Or it very well could be that no one wanted to mess with Simone when she was on a war path.
"I don't remember asking for your help," Severus said angrily, doing his best to drag his feet. Digging his heels into the stone floor as he was jerked along, he looked very much like a toddler being pulled off the playground by their mother.
Simone gave a humorless laugh, "Yes I suppose that with your little Prince Jr. about to be exposed to nearly everyone in school, you truly had things under control out there, didn't you?" She turned to look at the prefect accompanying them.
"Thank you so much for your assistance, Mr...?" Simone trailed off.
"Ambrosious," the Hufflepuff replied.
Simone nodded, "Ambrosious, thank you for your help, but we are more than capable of going the rest of the way ourselves. I wish to discuss some things privately with my friend here," she patted Snape's arm, "As it is, you probably have some very important exams to study for and I don't wish to keep you from that."
Ambrosious looked unsure, "Well..."
Simone gave him a gentle push on the shoulder with her free hand, turning him back the way he came, "If anyone questions you, you have my full permission to lie and say you were threatened. I'm already in trouble, so it will hardly make a difference."
"Okay," the Hufflepuff finally agreed, "But don't go causing any trouble once I'm gone, or they'll have my head for it."
"Understood, thank you," Simone gave the boy her most charming smile and sent him on his way.
Simone turned her attention back to Snape, who was still in a snit.
"I could have handle myself out there!" Severus snapped.
"Sure, right after you wandlessly defeated Potter and his goons," Simone replied sarcastically.
"For your information I am already on my way to mastering several wandless techniques. Regardless, I hardly see how it was any of your business to begin with," Severus bit out.
"Well they were being so mean," Thea said suddenly, reminding the other two of her presence.
Simone graced Thea with a kind smile, "Yes they were, but more importantly, it's about time someone did the right thing."
Severus raised an eyebrow, "The right thing? How moral of you."
Simone rolled her eyes, "I mean, we're supposed to stick together. This 'house pride' may be the stupidest idea to ever implement in a school—seriously, how do you expect us to get along with such rivalry—but if our Hogwarts house is to be our family, then we should act like it. You shouldn't have to deal with everything alone while those harming you keep being called mere "pranksters" instead of the bastards they are."
A passing ghost gasped loudly at Simone's crass language.
Simone sniffed, "Oh stop being so sensitive, you're dead! Lighten up a little."
The ghost frowned, insulted, and floated away in a huff.
Simone watched the ghost leave before continuing, "As I was saying, you need someone on your side because no one deserves to be alone."
"I assure you, I do not need anymore friends," Severus said curtly.
"Because your current selection of friends is so wonderful. I mean just look at how Mulciber and Avery came to help you today. Oh wait, they didn't." Simone said in return.
Snape glared venomously at her.
Simone was not deterred, "Face it, Snape, your choice of acquaintances can't even be called friends. As it is, the only true so called friend you had just walked out on you. Well, you sort of heped show her the door, but you see my point."
At the mention of Lily, Severus' glare melted away, quickly replaced by guilt. He hadn't meant to hurt her.
"So what you said back there, it just slipped out?" Simone asked quietly.
"I didn't mean it," Severus offered weakly.
Simone shook her head, unimpressed, "Doesn't matter. You shouldn't have said it. Never bite the hand that feeds you. Especially when you hardly get anyone worried over you."
"...she smiled," Severus said softly, "back there, I know she did."
"I know," Simone agreed, "And trust me that makes her all kinds of awful in my book but the point still stands: no matter how hurt you were you shouldn't have tried to hurt someone worse. If you know how much it hurts to feel like this, then you shouldn't be willing to subject others to the same. It makes you no better than those gits out there."
"Big talk for someone who once drove a girl to leave the school entirely," Severus pointed out.
Simone kept her eyes fixed ahead of her, "...I know. It's not something I'm proud of. Not anymore."
"Oh?" Snape inquired.
"Quite," Simone said, "Trust me when I say one should never strive to surpass their bullies, lest they become that which they loathed most...but this isn't about me. It's about you and the crowd you fell in with."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Severus asked tersely.
"It means you are going down a pretty dark path and trust me it is the last thing you want to do," Simone said simply, "Don't you think it a bad sign that words like that are just resting on the tip of your tongue, waiting to come out? Do you really think of her that way?"
"No!" Severus insisted, "Never her."
"But you think it about other muggleborns?" Simone asked, "That's a lot of hatred to direct at people you hardly know. More than half our school's population who you haven't said more than two words to if that and they've all managed to earn your hate."
"I didn't say I hate them," Severus said, "They're nothing to me, good or bad. I just...if I follow the right people then I can build a future for myself. I'll get out of this hell hole and make a name for myself. Then everyone will see I'm worth something."
"So you don't believe all this pure blood biased but you'll follow it if it gets you what you want," Simone deadpanned, "How nice."
"It's not like that!" Severus growled, "Look, you already know my mother's surname apparently. Prince. That's not my last name though is it? Snape isn't a wizarding name. I'm just a halfblood. Dumbledore and the Ministry can claim equality all they want but we all know the only peope that ever get anywhere are the ones who have connections or wealth. Even if I was pureblood, being born in the slums would mean I would stay in the slums."
"Purebloods don't need to care about grades or academics," Snape continued morosely, "Their futures are assured as long as the inheritance is big enough. Halfbloods and Muggleborns rely on their test scores because the better the do, the higher a chance of them getting a decent living out of it will be. But my grades mean nothing unless someone notices them enough to offer me an apprenticeship. That's how it works; the teachers see your hard work and get you in touch with the people who will make your future happen. No one is looking at the bottom tier of the Slytherin pecking order, though. Kindness and success like that is reserved for the halfblood Hufflepuffs and the muggleborn Gryffindors; the ones with Heads who will actually look out for them. What's Slughorn doing for people like me? I'm a nobody with nothing and he sees nothing in his favor from supporting me."
"That hardly excuses aligning yourself with people who want to make life for halfbloods like you that much harder. If you think making something of yourself is hard now, just wait until they start rallying for laws against the employment of halfbloods and muggleborns," Simone argued, "Sure, maybe you have it tough now, but that's because you had the misfortune of having a bastard for a father, and a failure for a head of house. Not to mention your prickly personality and being the biggest target of Potter, one of Dumbeldores favorites; you had the cards stacked against you from the get go. But that's not the norm. However, it will be if You-Know-Who succeeds. Do you honestly think your 'friends' will give you what you want?"
"What are you getting at, Serapeum?" Severus asked, a note of warning in his voice.
"Think about it," Simone pressed, "They're using you. They've always been using you. They copy your notes, right? You do their homework? You do all the work and they get credit and grades for things they did not earn. Do you think that is going to change? Would they really let the halfblood succeed while they're too stupid to even have below average intelligence between the two of them? They may have wealth to fall back on, but that's not what their after anymore is it? They want power, and I doubt they are going to be willing to split that power with some poverty-stricken halfblood when they can take it all for themselves."
Severus was silent.
"Hate will never make you happy, Snape. And it won't be the answer to your problems. You'll only lose what's important to you along the way and trust me, nothing will ever replace what you could lose. You need to follow what your heart feels is right and not what your head says is most profitable. Wealth and glory won't make you any less miserable." Simone said solemnly.
"What's makes you such an expert on this matter?" Severus sneered.
"I have excellent sources," was Simone's vague response, "Thea, would you be a dear and get the door for us?"
"Yes, Sim," Thea let go of Snape's arm and rushed over to open the Hospital wing doors.
Madam Pomfrey came bustling over as they entered, "Mr. Snape, what has happened to you now?!"
"Take a wild guess," Severus mumbled.
Madam Pomfrey's eyes narrowed disapprovingly, "I see, again, hm? Well get on the bed, lets take a look at you."
Sitting down on a bed, Snape attempted to shoo Simone and Thea off with a well practiced sneer, but it had zero affect.
"We don't leave until I say we do, Snape," Simone said firmly.
Behind her, Thea nodded merrily.
"Now," Madam Pomfrey began as she wandered over with a well worn chart with Snape's name on it, "Let's have a look, shall we?"
Running her wand up and down Severus' body, she did a thorough scan, her eyes narrowing further. "A few cuts and scrapes, nothing you aren't used to. You do have a slight sprain on your right wrist and bruising on you back, did you fall over at an odd angle?"
"More like had a rough landing," Simone supplied helpfully.
"Thank you, Ms. Serapeum, you may go now," Pomfrey said distractedly, looking over her notes, "I'll be back with some salve. You just wait right here, Mr. Snape. I better not find you sneaking out." She walked back towards her office, muttering to herself about things "going too far" and "boys will be boys my foot!"
Simone waited until Pomfrey was out of earshot, "Listen, try and deny it all you want but there is only one thing—or should I say one person—who truly matters to you and you can't keep her and take the path you're aiming for. You know you can't. Just food for thought."
"What would you have me do? It's too late now," Snape said.
Simone shrugged, "It's only too late if you never try. For starters, try apologizing; sooner rather than later if I was you. Truthfully I can't figure out what you see in that girl, but if she is your sole reason for hesitating on joining you know who, I advise you hang on to her. She's the candle in your darness, I suppose; don't lose that. Second, really evaluate what it is you truly want in life. Though I'm loath to admit it, you're a brilliant wizard, Snape; you can get places without selling out to a bunch of bigots."
Severus said nothing.
"Just think on it," Simone said, "And believe me, we're not done with this discussion. You should never have said what you said. I'd wash your mouth out with soap, but I'm afraid someone just nearly killed you doing that out by the Lake."
Snape's glare return threefold.
Simone remained unimpressed, "Touchy subject, right? Being treated like that must have been awful for you, so I would expect you of all people to understand what it feels like to be hurt by others. You should have known better."
"I wasn't thinking," Snape mumbled.
Simone rolled her eyes, "That's hardly an excuse. Just try and give what I've said some real thought. Let's go, Thea."
"Yes Sim," Thea gave Snape's arm a friendly squeeze and waved as she followed Simone out the door, leaving Severus to his thoughts.
"We're going to the Headmaster's office now, right Sim?" Thea asked nervously, "He's not going to be happy with you."
"That he isn't," Simone agreed, "But I can hardly say I care what he thinks. It's his fault our housemates go down such bad roads anyway; if he cared half as much as he pretends he does, he'd had warn far more people off You-Know-Who's path by now. Instead we are falling through the cracks. But enough about him. It hardly concerns you anyway; you're not coming with me."
Thea frowned, "I'm not?"
Simone shook her head, "No. As far as I am concerned, you weren't involved. I got myself into this, you were merely watching out for my well being from the sidelines. That doesn't make you a part of this."
"The Headmaster will hardly see it that way," Thea stammered worriedly.
"I don't care. He doesn't get to distort this however he sees fit. It doesn't change facts. Speaking of which, I need to take care of something." Simone looked around searchingly.
Thea cocked her head curiously, "Take care of what, Sim?"
Approaching a broom closet, Simone opened the door and gestured Thea inside, "Get in," was her simple command.
Thea went in without question, though she certainly had a few she would like to ask.
"Lumos," Simone's wand tip sparked to life, illuminating the dark, crowded space.
"What are we doing in here, Simone?" Thea asked.
"Getting a contingency plan," Simone said smugly, "Minks!"
A loud pop echoed off the walls and a small creature stood before them, clothed in a pristine satin pillowcase with a jeweled curtain sash around the middle.
"What can Minks be doing for the little Missus?" the house elf asked eagerly, blinking it's large golf ball sized eyes at Simone.
Crouching down to eye level with the elf, Simone's smug smirk got impossibly wider, "I need you to do something for me..."
{page break}
"They're expecting me," Simone said haughtily as she stormed towards the stone Gargoyle outside the Headmaster's office, barely pausing in her steps to let the enchanted statue spring out of the way in time.
McGonagall was already waiting in the office for her, along with Potter and Black who were trying, and failing miserably, to look contrite and shamed-faced when it was clear they fully expected to escape Scott-free as usual.
"Ah, Miss Serapeum," Dumbledore said merrily as Simone entered, "I was beginning to think you wouldn't be joining us."
"Sorry I wasn't here sooner, but I find no one is eager to be punished," Simone said briskly as she sat down besides Potter and Black, "That's like showing up early for my own execution."
McGonagall tutted disapprovingly at Simone's tone.
Simone refrained from rolling her eyes, she at least liked McGonagall. "I was escorting Severus to the infirmary," she clarified.
"Ah yes, how is Mr. Snape?" Dumbledore asked.
Simone crossed her arms, "Are you asking out of concern or to ascertain when he will be well enough to serve detention for whatever skewed version of events these two have given you?" Simone jerked her thumb at the pair of boys besides her.
"Hey!" James cried.
"Miss Serapeum," McGonagall scolded, "I do not believe that tone is necessary. There isn't a professor in this school who doesn't care about the students' well being."
"Then I imagine this should be happening a lot less," Simone volleyed back, "How many times does this makes in a year alone? More than forty; that's at least four incidences a month. And that's only counting the ones that get reported. What about the times when a teacher isn't called? The number of times they've gone after Snape when their friends are covering their backs is enormous."
"There incidents do seem to be increasing rather than lowering, Albus," McGonagall added.
Simone gestured to the deputy headmistress approvingly, "There, you see? They're just going after him more and more."
"That's not true, headmaster," James interjected, "Snape starts it, I swear. Besides, he gives as good as he gets."
"So how did he instigate it today, Potter?" Simone asked, "By breathing? And while we're at it, if you mean to tell me that Snape all on his own is getting you back just as harshly as the two of you combined give him, then he's a far better duelist than I realized. Is that why you never go after him one-on-one? Afraid you'll lose?"
Sirius looked livid, "Why you—"
"That is quite enough," Dumbledore said calmly, "We're here to handle this civilly if I recall. Now Miss Serapeum, while your concern for Mr. Snape's well being is very noble, you did cast a spell at Mr. Potter that could have harmed him."
"I was defending a housemate. Last I checked self defense was an acceptable use of wands in school, as covered by the Ministry approved school charter," Simone said pointedly.
"But not excessive force," Dumbledore stated, "And Mr. Snape may not have instigated things, but he did use an unknown spell that could have caused serious harm. The nature of the spell seems to be far more dangerous in intent than the harmless spells Mr. Potter and Mr. Black were using."
James smirked triumphantly, turning his cheek towards Simone to ensure she saw the gash on his face.
"Furthermore, such spells as being hung upside down might be found amusing by the recipient if they posses good humor, whereas there appears to be no innocent intention behind the spell Mr. Snape used," Dumbledore continued.
Simone huffed, "It can be used to cutting fabric for sewing, or shredding paperwork if tuned properly, I bet. Besides, if Potter's injury was nearly as bad as he has clearly made it out to be, then he would have rushed to Madam Pomfrey instead of sitting here sipping tea and sucking on lemon drops as leisurely as you please," Simone pointed out.
James coughed and schooled his features.
Simone sighed, "Look, the point is this: Potter and Black are bullies. They belittle Snape for his appearance, his poverty, his intelligence and the house crest on his robes. That's discrimination; there's nothing lighthearted or harmless about it. The two privileged purebloods are picking on those they view their lessers. The Privileged attacking the disadvantaged, sound familiar? Now how is that any different to what we're reading about in the prophet right now about the treatment of muggleborn's by You-Know-Who's followers?"
"Stop comparing us to them!" Sirius growled.
"We're nothing like those lowlifes!" James agreed.
"Then stop acting like them!" Simone pushed on relentlessly, "Headmaster, please see reason. Bullying has an impact; words leave marks. Not only that but words and actions can influence us, especially when we're young. Humiliation does terrible things to a person's emotional state; it maes them bitter and only further isolates them."
"Now I'm sure that Mr. Potter and Mr. Black do not mean any harm by their actions," Dumbledore suggested, "They are young. The young do many things without understanding the consequences."
"You don't need to understand something to hurt somebody with it," Simone argued, "Bullying is harmful. It's degrading, dehumanizing. There's a reasons humiliation tactics are used in some of the worst interrogation techniques in various wars; to make a person feel less like a person and more worthless. So why keep dismissing it as "pranks" when we both know there is nothing innocent about it?"
"It seems this matters a great deal to you, Miss Serapeum," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "I wasn't aware you and Mr. Snape were even friends."
"We hardly know each other," Simone replied, "but that doesn't change that what he goes through is wrong and unfair. It changes people, Headmaster. What happens when these two finally go too far and he breaks? Them being boys instead of adults would make hardly a difference if the damage they do to Snape is permanent. Boys are quite capable of taking things too far; they're capable of torture."
A strange expression passed over Dumbledore's face at that moment. His bright blue eyes seemed to dim, lost in reminiscence. As quick as it appeared it was gone, replaced by the ever present twinkle he so often bestowed upon his students.
"There is a level of wisdom in your words, Miss Serapeum." Dumbledore said finally, "You're willingness to protect the less fortunate is certainly inspiring. I dare say I have never seen someone speak so passionately on behalf of a mere acquaintance."
Simone smiled, relief filling her face.
Dumbledore wasn't finished though, "Be that as it may Mr. Snape did use an unknown spell, which is not authorized and there must be consequences."
Simone did roll her eyes this time, "I figured you would say that."
Dumbledore chuckled, "If I am to treat this fairly, then surely you can see why I cannot condoned the testing of unknown spells on the rest of the student body. He also used a word which was inexcusable on school grounds or anywhere in polite society. Surely he needs to face repercussions for that."
"Now that I do agree on," Simone, "I assume there is also the matter of my punishment?"
Dumbledore nodded, still smiling; he must have thought things were going smoothly, "I believe you will understand if I find detention for the remaining few days left of term to be amendable for use of a strong spell against a fellow student as well as destroying a student's property?"
"My friend pretty much said I could blow it up, but if that's what you insist on," Simone agreed.
"Wonderful. I believe Madam Pomfrey has been in need of help cleaning the hospital wing recently. The House elves get rather busy with the end of the year cleaning so I'm sure some extra help would be much needed," Dumbledore said.
Simone nodded, but deep down she was suspicious. Dumbledore was giving her a rather light sentence. She had expected detention with Filch for her actions. What could she have said that would make her sentence lighter?
Simone inwardly shrugged, best to not look a gift horse in the mouth, "Fine, now if that is all, I have another exam to prepare for," she made to stand.
"Hey what about her friends? Aren't they going to be punished?" James asked.
"Yeah, they were in on this too! What about that quiet girl Simone is always hanging around with?" Sirius added.
"Thea has nothing to do with this," Simone said plainly, though a sharp edge had entered her voice, "Neither do any of the others."
"Oh? From what I understand of the tale Mr. Black and Mr. Potter told me before you arrived, your friends drew their wands on them as well," Dumbledore said.
Simone shook her head, exasperated, "Only in defense of me when Black threatened to hex me. My wand was already put away at that point and they were concerned for my safety. That's not a punishable offense and they didn't use any magic in the end, anyway. I told you; Black and Potter's version of events is skewed. Luckily I thought this would happen and planned ahead." She reached into her schoolbag and withdrew a vial.
Dumbledore examined the vial closely, intrigued, "A memory, Miss Serapeum?"
James and Sirius stared at the vial in dawning realization.
"My own," Simone elaborated, "I may have no skill in the mind arts, but my mother did teach me how to extract a memory. Or at the very least, make it easier for someone else to extract it. I had my house elf do it. You remember Minks, yes? You gave me permission for her to be called to the school."
"Yes, if I recall, it was intended for her to be called only at the beginning and end of every school year and holiday break," Dumbledore said, regarding Simone in amusement over the rim of his glasses.
"I guess it was never specified. You can't blame a girl for exploiting a loophole," Simone replied airily.
Dumbledore looked close to smiling, "I suppose not."
"Anyway I took the liberty of sending a vial of these memories to my father. I wouldn't want him thinking that I was doing anything truly awful in school, now would I?" Simone continued.
"So your parents have evidence of this event, is that what you're implying Miss Serapeum?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes still twinkling.
"I suppose you could put it that way. Regardless, I have all you need to know of the incident inside this vial and I believe it will do a fine job in showing you just how things occurred, as well as how harmful—not harmless—Potter and Black's actions are," Simone tapped the vial thoughtfully, "with this I hope a fair punishment for these two can be meted out?"
Potter and Black glared hatefully at Simone.
"After all," Simone continued, "I would think it prudent to make an example of these two in order to ensure no one thinks Gryffindor allows such cowardly acts as to attacked a fellow student when their guard is down. Two-on-one, no less. That certainly isn't the behavior befitting of a proper Gryffindor."
"It certainly isn't," McGonagall interjected, "Rest assured this is not the sort of behavior I teach my students. This tomfoolery has gone on long enough. Why, Professors Sprout and Flitwick rarely deal with such troubles from the students in their houses; I will not tolerate it in my own!"
Simone bit back a smile, happy to see McGongall had taken the bait. If Dumbledore was being too light on punishment with the boys, McGonagall wouldn't.
"But Professor," James protested.
McGonagall cut him off, "No buts, Mr. Potter. You know quite well how I feel about fighting. I believe Mr. Filch has some trophies in the trophy room that need polishing."
James blanched, "But—"
"Without magic," McGonagall added.
"Well then, it would seem everything has been sorted out," Dumbledore said merrily, putting his hands together, "would anyone care for a pecan sandie?" He gestured to a plate of sweets by his elbow.
Simone shook her head, taking the boys' aghast faces as her cue to leave, "Thank you, but I really should be going. I would like to get my studying down before my detentions this week." She headed for the door but paused as she reached it. "If I may say something, Headmaster."
"Miss Serapeum?" Dumbledore prompted, regarding Simone with a thoughtful eye.
Simone hesitated, "These years were suppose to be some of the best of our lives. We expect fun, we expect friends and new beginnings We all come here being told Hogwarts is going to help shape who we are and what we will become. But for Slytherins apparently everyone else already decided what we will become. Everyone judges us the second we are sorted. The acts of a single madman were enough to condemn each and every Slytherin thereon from the moment we step foot into this school. We were eleven! Mere children and even you judged us before you ever knew us. People see us as one thing and one thing only; a lost cause. Not even Professor Slughorn invests in his snakes unless he sees something he can get out of them."
"Miss Serapeum," Dumbledore interrupted, "I assure you it is no teacher's intention—,"
Simone cut him off, "I'm not finished. Is it really any wonder why some Slytherins make the wrong choices? I mean, no one else believes in us or sees any more to us than their own preconceptions, so why bother to be anything else? If it means spending the rest of your life with people assuming the good in you is all just an act, that you are just biding your time before you 'go dark', then what is the point of trying to prove others wrong?"
Sirius snorted, arms crossed over his chest while James rolled his eyes.
"There isn't much to prove in the lot of them," Sirius muttered.
"Do you know what it is like to have no one to turn to?" Simone continued, ignoring the boys, "The people that should guide you down the right path have already written you off and turned a blind eye to others' judgment, to the harassment. I'd imagine a madmen spewing promises would begin to sound like a safe haven. Now I couldn't care less about the insanity brewing just outside these hallowed halls, but for some of my classmates, I imagine they feel pretty lost and torn and the one offering to give them some comfort may be bad, but his empty words must be terribly tempting when you have nothing else. After all, he's the one promising them the only thing they probably ever wanted."
"And what is that, Miss Serapeum?" Dumbledore asked.
Simone's eyes softened, a hint of sadness in them, "A chance; acceptance."
Seeing nothing left to be said, Simone turned on her heel and left.
"One more thing," Simone's voice called back up the stairs, "Lupin is doing a terrible job as a prefect and I do believe his friends are taking advantage of his spinelessness. Food for thought."
Aaaaaand that's it for this chapter. Hope you're all still hanging with me here.
So this chapter touched upon the issue of bullying and why it is problematic at its root. While there wasn't much research yet done on the psychological impacts of verbal and emotional abuse during the seventies, I feel that even back then there must have been at least a few level headed people who could see why constantly treating someone like they are worthless would have a devastating effect on someone. Like Simone pointed out, humiliation is used in times of war and (though not mentioned here) sexual assault as a means of dehumanizing and demeaning a person, so why should it be acceptable when the one doing the humiliating is a teenager or the humiliation is bullying?
I'm trying to keep Dumbledore in character. In truth I felt he was sort of the WORST adult in the series with his manipulation. I mean he apparently knew everything going on in the school but did nothing because it was 'necessary' for his plans. Do you honestly expect me to believe he helped Lupin to attend school for any other reason than to have someone loyal and indebted to him who could enter Werewolf packs to try and recruit them for the order? And Hagrid! Dumbledore gives him a job and a home, but surely he knew about moaning Myrtle and how asking her about her death would have revealed it wasn't a spider that killed her. But if he had proved Hagrid's innocence and the man got to keep his wand, he wouldn't be grateful to Dumbledore for his 'generosity' and been a willing Order Member who could try and recruit giants. So of course Dumbledore would let Sirius get away with Murder at age 15. A pureblood who was desperate to rebel against his dark family makes an excellent soldier and still stands a chance at a hefty inheritance to fund the order. Snape was a future Death Eater and dirt poor so of course his life had little value to Dumbledore, hence why he made no attempts at fairness that night.
So yeah, I am not a huge Dumbledore fan. I appreciate his work for the greater good but not how he went about it and how he weighed people's lives by how much that life was worth to him. Here, I tried to keep him in character to that Headmaster who lets Gryffindor's get away with so much, but I want to give him room to grow and be reasoned with.
About the whole memory thing. House Elves seem capable of some form or imitation of nearly all the magic wizards can do, so it is not out of the realm off possibility that one could withdrawn a memory from a willing person. I doubt they could read minds like wizards, but withdrawn one memory at the forefront of a willing participant's mind seems easy by comparison. So that's my bullshit excuse. Simone is a Slytherin so of course she wouldn't go see Dumbledore unprepared.
Tune in next time!
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