Hermione opened the window to let in the Ministry owl. After giving the bird his treat, she left the window open for the spring breeze, tearing open the envelope as she walked back to her desk.
It contained a check from the MLE, paying the massive bill she'd sent them for her work on the Moody case. She gave it to Hannah to deposit and returned to her desk.
Several hours later, Hannah found her still sitting there when she stepped in to say she was leaving for the day. "I deposited that check at Gringotts for you, Miss Granger, and here is your appointment list for tomorrow."
"Thank you, Hannah, good night," Hermione told her. When Hannah had left, she returned to her desk. She'd tried to work, but had been unable to concentrate. All she could think about was Snape, and that check. It felt like blood money.
They had searched Moody's cabin carefully and found a trove of notes, maps, and plans. The picture they had put together was eerie and tragic. It seemed that Moody had not been killed in the battle over Little Whinging, but had chosen to feign his death and go into hiding. He had apparently prepared for this eventuality with some care during the preceding year. He was convinced Severus Snape was a loyal Death Eater, and he wanted to be the one to bring him down. He had not believed for a moment that Snape was dead; he had devoted his life to searching for him and, two years previously, had found him.
Apparently turning Snape over to the ministry would not satisfy Moody's feelings. He wanted Snape to suffer, and to be afraid. He'd been disguising himself as Albus Dumbledore and haunting Snape. It looked like Moody had wanted to drive him mad. Hermione wondered if he'd been at all successful.
In any case, Harry and Draco had reported their findings to the MLE, which had come to the obvious conclusion that Moody had made a fatal error on his last attempt at scaring Snape, and been killed by him. The MLE had thanked her for her assistance; tracking and catching Dark Wizards was a job for the Aurors, and they could handle it from here. She had sent them a very large bill for her time, which was now paid. It was over. Whatever happened to Snape wasn't her fault. Why, then, did she feel so guilty?
Hermione was startled from her wallowing by the sound of a knock on the outer door. Hannah had closed it but not set the wards since Hermione was still in the office. She sat up and slipped her feet into her shoes. Picking up her wand, she opened both doors and called to the visitor to step in.
An elegant figure walked into Hermione's office in response to her call and sat gracefully in her guest chair.
Hermione hid her surprise. This wouldn't be a social call, not without anyone here to notice and be impressed. "Mr. Malfoy. You have business for me, I presume?"
Cool grey eyes surveyed her unnervingly. "Your reputation for integrity is well known to me, Miss Granger. Before I discuss my business with you, I need to be certain that you will not become subject to a conflict of interest." Hermione wasn't easily unnerved; she waited patiently for Lucius to clarify.
"Are you presently under retainer, or any contract to the Ministry?"
Hermione's eyebrows twitched up despite her best intention to keep a poker face. "I am not," she told him. "They have no retainer with me. I'm sometimes consulted on an ad-hoc basis and was recently on a case for them, but I've just received full payment, and they have notified me my services are not required any further on the matter."
"In that case, Miss Granger, I should like to pay you a retainer for your future services."
"Am I to know what these services will be?"
"Not at this time. I should like to know you are in my employ and available should the need arise, and that you will not knowingly take another client whose interests conflict with mine."
Well, now. That is interesting, Hermione thought.
"I see. I must note, Mr. Malfoy, since you have specifically asked about my obligations to the Ministry, that I have a license to maintain, as well as the normal obligations of a citizen. I will not knowingly engage in any illegal activity."
"You are aware that not all acts by the Ministry are strictly legal, are you not, Miss Granger?"
Miss Granger could hardly be unaware, Hermione thought wryly. Not after my year on the run with Undesirable Number One. Even before Voldemort ran the government, it wasn't the most ethical organization she'd encountered. For that matter, Hermione herself didn't always follow the letter of the law; she kept her own conscience. That didn't mean it would do to let Lucius Malfoy, of all people, trick her into doing something she knew was wrong or that might make her lose her license.
"I cannot condone committing any crime, or assist a criminal from evading the law. That being said," Hermione spoke very carefully, "until there is a conviction, there is a presumption of innocence. Not every individual wanted by the MLE for a crime is guilty of it, and deserves assistance in proving the facts. Will that do, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Indeed, Miss Granger, that is all I would ask of you."
"My rate, Mr. Malfoy, is two hundred Galleons per hour. That rate covers all my normal office expenses photography and lab fees and such. Travel costs and any outside consulting fees I incur would be billed to you. If that is acceptable, the retainer will be five thousand Galleons."
Hermione opened the file drawer in her desk to retrieved a blank retainer contract and slid it across the desk. "You can look that over and return it signed, with payment, whenever you choose."
Lucius read the contract over and said, "This is acceptable. I should like to sign it now, if you don't mind."
Hermione had been half expecting this by now. She handed him a quill and pushed the ink pot over to him. Under Lucius's signature, she added her own and the date. Lucius then filled out a bank draft for five thousand Galleons and handed it to her with a careless ease.
When she took the draft in her hands and had signed on her line, he said, "I assure you, the draft is good. Do you require it to clear Gringotts, or will you consider me your client now?"
"You are my client, Mr. Malfoy, unless Gringotts rejects the draft. If you wish to tell me anything now, in advance of going to the bank, it is up to you."
"I'm willing to take that chance," Lucius said with a smirk as he rose from the chair. "Since you are now in my employ, Miss Granger, I require you to come with me to meet someone. This person will give you all the information available and enlighten you as to the services we will require."
Hermione rose and reached for her robe. "Come with you where?"
"To Malfoy Manor."
She turned and looked back at him, white faced. She looked back at her desk. Was it too late to tear up the draft?
Lucius saw her look and correctly interpreted it. "I apologize deeply for the harm that occurred to you in my home on your last visit. I assure you, you will be perfectly safe."
At Hermione's expression of continued skepticism, he added, "Miss Granger, I have spent the last several years working hard to redeem my reputation and my family's standing with society. I am hardly about to endanger either now."
That made sense to Hermione, it was likely safe to rely on Malfoy's self interest. Shrugging her robe all the way on, she left a note for Hannah with instructions to file the contract and deposit the draft, and what to do if she were not in the office or heard from by Patronus before ten the next morning. Ushering Malfoy out to the landing, Hermione warded the office and allowed him to Apparate them both to the Manor.
Lucius and Hermione appeared on the grounds near the front entrance to the house with a loud crack!, badly frightening a nearby peacock which emitted a loud shriek and a squelchy poop, and hied itself rapidly down the hill to the company of its brethren.
Hermione looked up at Malfoy. "You'd think they'd be used to that by now."
"Family normally Apparate directly into the house," Malfoy answered. "Visitors are prevented from Apparating onto the grounds, and arrive outside the main gate. I wanted to give you a minute to gather yourself before we entered.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, that was very thoughtful," Hermione told him.
Malfoy opened the door for her and ushered her into a spacious foyer, then down a long gallery filled with portraits of witches and wizards in antique clothing, many of whom sported the familiar white-blond hair of her host. Several noses turned up superciliously at Hermione's passing. Malfoy frowned at them in warning, but Hermione merely lifted her own nose into the air and pulled her shoulders back a mite as she strode briskly through.
Past the end of the gallery and halfway down the end of a corridor, Malfoy opened a door for Hermione and ushered her into the library.
Hermione checked and couldn't hold back a small gasp of wonder. The library had a cathedral ceiling with a balcony around the perimeter for accessing the upper shelves of books. A spiral staircase for accessing the balcony coiled in a corner. An impressive wooden desk with a serpent pattern carved into it stood at one end of the room where the light of the large leaded glass window could fall onto it. It was late evening, so the window now stood dark. There were quills, papers, and a cut-crystal ink pot on the desk. Clearly this was where Mr. Malfoy conducted his day to day business.
At the other end of the spacious room was a large stone fireplace, dark now due to the warm season. In front of the fireplace was a love-seat and two wing-back chairs arranged cozily with convenient tables at hand to them. Hermione noticed there was a tray of food bread and cheese, hors d'oeuvres, a bottle of wine, and two glasses.
Noting the number of glasses, one of which was half-filled with wine, Hermione looked closer and noticed a dark figure in the shadows of one of the wing-back chairs.
"Miss Granger," Mr. Malfoy said, drawing her towards the chairs. I have engaged you on behalf of a friend of mine who is in need of your assistance. I don't believe you require an introduction."
As they approached, the figure rose from the chair and turned to them. Hermione recognized, as she was by now expecting to, the very much alive figure of Severus Snape. Of course "not entirely surprised" is a far cry from "fully prepared for, with something witty to say."
Hermione just stood there and stared stupidly until she finally blurted, "Good evening, Professor. It's good to see you looking well."
Hermione wanted to sink when she heard herself, but Snape merely snorted.
"I am no longer a professor, Miss Granger."
"Good evening, then, Mr. Snape," Hermione corrected herself, regathering her composure.
"Please sit, Miss Granger," Malfoy told her, ushering her to the other wing-back chair. "I'm afraid we are keeping you from your dinner, please help yourself," he said, waiving languidly towards the food on the table and pouring her a glass of wine.
Hermione sat and accepted the glass, picking up a piece of bread and cheese from the tray. She was hungry, and taking a moment to have a bite and a sip from her wine gave her a few moments to consider what to say.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Snape, am I to presume you are requesting my assistance because the Ministry is seeking your arrest for the murder of Alastor Moody?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, that should be obvious."
"Did you do it?"
"I did not."
She hadn't really expected him to say he had whether or not it was true, but the formalities must be observed. Would Snape kill, now, when he wasn't being compelled? Under what circumstances? And, how would she ever learn the truth if it wasn't something he wanted her to know?
"May I see your wand a moment, please?" Hermione requested.
He looked at her thoughtfully, but withdrew the wand from its pocket in his robes, turned it dexterously and offered it to her, handle first. Hermione took it from him carefully and, looking at him appraisingly, said, "Priori Incantatem." A ghostly knife flew out and mimed chopping some vegetable matter briefly. Hermione repeated the spell and saw a feather something had been levitated. She did this several more times, and found only repeated evidence of household and garden magic of various kinds.
"Miss Granger, you do realize, do you not, that if you continue to do that, eventually Albus will emerge?"
Hermione froze for a moment, staring down at the wand in her hand. She swallowed. The dense ebony felt cool, smooth with wear, and suddenly twice it's natural weight. She sensed the thrum of the dragon heartstring core within. Raising her eyes to his, she turned it again and handed it carefully back. "Indeed."
For the first time in her career, Hermione was starting to feel that she'd gotten herself in over her head. She so wanted to impress this man; she tried to formulate a question that would sound intelligent and to restrain herself from waving a hand in the air.
Lucius filled in the empty silence that had taken over by suggesting Severus tell Hermione how he had come to find the body.
"You found the body? I hadn't heard that, I thought it was Draco."
"I had been meeting Lucius in that pub, I went to the alley to Disapparate when I stumbled across the body of 'Albus Dumbledore'. I knew, naturally, that it could not be Albus. I wanted to remain in solitude, my survival unknown, so I sent an owl to Lucius as soon as I arrived home. Lucius arranged for Draco to find the body and report it."
"How were you so certain it wasn't Albus, in the dark like that?"
"I was perfectly certain he had died several years previously, and this body was fresh. I presumed whoever it was had died under the influence of Polyjuice."
Good going, thought Hermione. Way to sound even more like an idiot. Then she caught his second sentence.
"You suspected Polyjuice? Then you've read the Drake articles too?" Snape nodded, his expression closed. Hermione would very much have liked to discuss them with him a chance to discuss an esoteric subject with Severus Snape as something resembling an equal was ... not exactly a fantasy, but ... Stick to business, Granger.
"You just left, you didn't want to know who it was?"
"I certainly did, but I did not wish to be linked in the news to yet another murder of Albus Dumbledore."
Can I just die now? Hermione thought.
"I've been living in peace, and I like it that way," Snape concluded.
Hermione thought hard about what he'd said.
"But you knew it wasn't ... why would it ... wait. Please start at the beginning, Mr. Snape. How did you come to survive Nagini? We ... I was certain you had died, or I'd have ..." Hermione's voice lost its sharp professionalism here and she just looked into his eyes, begging for his understanding, his absolution, for having left him there.
This must be some new Snape, softened by freedom from madmen, manipulative headmasters, and dunderheaded students, because he did not attempt to crush Hermione with disdain as she was expecting.
"I quite understand, Miss Granger. I'm sure there was no way to know I was alive. I had taken the precaution of inoculating myself against Nagini's venom, but it was a very near thing. I believe my heart actually stopped briefly.
Lucius and Narcissa came to look for my body. When they realized I yet lived, they brought me secretly back to the manor and kept me hidden while I healed. There was no way to know at first that Potter would work so hard to exonerate my memory. By the time we knew my name was entirely cleared, I found I was happier than I'd ever been, and I had no wish to let anyone know I lived.
With some help from Lucius, I purchased a cottage in a remote part of Scotland and set up a Muggle identity. I've been living there quietly. I have a garden for Potions ingredients, and I do some research. I have kept in contact with the Malfoys, and visit from time to time, but apart from that there is no one in the Wizarding world I wished to speak to.
Hermione didn't say anything; it sounded so sad, and yet he looked better than she'd ever seen him. While he wasn't tan, he'd lost that "plant kept in a closet" look. His movements were more graceful, the inner tension that had always seemed a part of him had eased.
"It sounds lonely to me, but if you've been happy, then, I'm glad," she told him.
"Thank you." He nodded in acknowledgement. "So, I lived quietly in my home, with the entire world ignorant of my survival, until some time in 2003. "
Hermione's ears pricked up. "What happened then?"
"I began to be haunted," Snape said. His eyes didn't change but his nostrils pinched a bit.
"Haunted?" Hermione's eyebrows rose.
"Yes. I would be in the kitchen preparing dinner in the evening, and there would be a glimpse of a robed figure outside. Never any footprints in the morning. If I went about at night, there it would be. "
"Silent?"
"At first ... after a while, it would speak to me sometimes."
"What did it say?"
"It said, You killed me, Severus.
"You were being haunted by Albus Dumbledore?"
"Well, Alastor Moody pretending to be Albus, although I have only just learned it lately."
"What did you try to do about it?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Why?"
"I rather thought I deserved it."
Well, I guess I could see how that might be, Hermione thought in consternation.
Snape took a drink from his wineglass and fiddled with a bit of bread.
"I don't know why I accepted that it was really Albus's spirit, in retrospect of course it is an absurd notion. Guilt, I suppose, combined with Occam's Razor."
"It seemed simpler that it should really be a ghost than that someone would perpetrate such an elaborate hoax on you?"
"Precisely."
"We found hundreds of pictures of you in Moody's house, newspaper clippings and things. He was obsessed with you, Mr. Snape," Hermione said.
Snape made a wry face. "He never entirely trusted me, you know, and he loved Albus very much. I suppose his death sent Moody around the bend for good. He'd have to have been, to want that many pictures of this face," he said, snorting.
Hermione privately disagreed with that sentiment, but left it unsaid.
"The news clippings stopped after your Order of Merlin was awarded, um, posthumously," Hermione told him, "But there were pictures after that, and notes. The first photograph and it was a Muggle photo, by the way, was dated April of 2003."
"I first saw the supposed ghost in October of that year. On Halloween, to be precise," He added, lowering his head and allowing his hair to slip forward
"So that was when Moody first learned Severus was still alive?" Lucius asked.
"That would make sense. Perhaps it ate at him for a while, that Snape should continue to live a contented life, and then it took him a little while to get his plan together."
"He must have had some of Albus's spare clothing from when he stayed with Moody after Fudge tried to arrest him," Snape remarked.
"That's what Kingsley believed too, " Hermione said, "and either a hairbrush, or just bits of hair that clung to the clothing. It still would have taken time to get the rest of the plan together, plus at least a month to brew the Polyjuice."
"And the MLE, naturally, believes Severus must have caught on to him somehow, and killed him to stop it," Lucius said.
"Yes, or possibly that it was self defense, if Moody had attacked him. Only it looked very suspicious that Snape had killed him and just left."
"I didn't kill him."
Hermione turned back to Snape. "I'm only repeating the Ministry's current working theory.
What did happen that night, if you please?"
"I was meeting Lucius in that pub, we had some business to transact."
"In a pub in Knockturn Alley?" Hermione interrupted.
"Yes, less chance of being recognized, fewer questions asked. They also make a very fine shepherd's pie," Snape answered calmly, then continued.
"We had concluded our business, and our dinner; Lucius went uphill towards Diagon Alley. I stayed to finish my ale, and so we wouldn't be seen leaving together. I then turned down the side alley to take a piss before Apparating." Malfoy made a choked noise, and Hermione looked up.
"What? That makes perfect sense. I hate to Apparate when I ... well, never mind, go on please," she told Snape, who continued gratefully.
"A little way into the alley I lit my wand and saw what looked like Albus's body lying there. All the other appearances had been standing and moving pointing at me, usually. I knelt and touched it to be sure it was real."
"When you touched the body, was it warm?"
"I couldn't say, I only touched the robes."
"Do you know what time it was?"
"About half one in the morning."
"Did you move anything?"
"No, nothing. I just wanted to be assured it wasn't an illusion or spirit of some kind. It felt quite solid. At that point I realized it was quite likely that the specter which had been haunting me had been entirely alive, but was now dead before me. I had no idea who would take so much trouble, and I just wanted clear of it and to be left in peace. I Apparated home and sent an owl to Lucius, who made sure Draco would be checking that alley the next morning."
"And that is all?" Hermione asked.
"It was until the Ministry discovered I was alive and have been trying to find me."
"I apologize for that, Mr. Snape," Hermione said.
"Don't. You were only looking for Moody's murderer. Once you'd found his home, you couldn't alter what was in it. I would like to know, however, are you in agreement? Do you believe I killed him?"
"You must admit that the circumstances, especially leaving the scene, do not look good. However, I have been engaged to attempt to prove your innocence, which is only going to be possible if you didn't actually do it. I won't manufacture evidence or twist the truth. I'm an investigator, not a solicitor; if I come to believe you are guilty, I shall resign from the case."
Snape and Malfoy both nodded in acknowledgement.
"I won't be able to establish an alibi, since you were so near the scene at the approximate time of death. If you are innocent, then someone else has to be guilty, and I have to find that person and prove it. We'd best start with thinking who that could be.
"Moody's murderer can only be someone who knew that both Alastor Moody and Severus Snape were still alive," Lucius remarked.
"Yes," answered Hermione. "Also, since the murderer knew to come to that alley, it has to have been someone who knew about Moody's revenge plan and took advantage of it. Probably someone who had a grudge against Mr. Snape as well as Alastor. Can you make any suggestions, Mr. Snape?"
"I am not aware of anyone except Lucius and his family who knew me to be alive, and I do not suspect them of betraying me."
"That is gratifying, Severus," Lucius remarked with a smile.
Severus snorted and continued. "Not having anyone specific in mind, I would start by researching Death Eaters captured by Auror Moody during his career and who either escaped imprisonment by subterfuge, or were subsequently broken out after the Dark Lord's return. If any such are still alive and at large they would have a grudge against Alastor Moody, and also against me now that my part in the Dark Lord's downfall is publicly known.
Hermione nodded, taking careful notes. "That makes sense, it's a good place to start. I'll work on the Ministry records tomorrow."
Lucius added, "In addition, Moody killed a number of Death Eaters in the line of duty. Possibly one of them has family seeking revenge. They also would not be happy knowing Severus is alive and well."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, I'll check for that too."
Satisfying herself that her notes were complete, Hermione stood and asked if Mr Malfoy preferred she leave by the fireplace or Apparate.
Lucius and Severus both stood as well.
"It has gotten late, and it is a fairly long walk to where you'll be able to Apparate away, please feel free to use the Floo, Miss Granger," Lucius told her, taking down an ornate cloisonne box from the mantel and offering it to her.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy, Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Snape." Hermione took a pinch of Floo Powder from the box, and after the wizards had bid her good evening, threw it in, gave her destination, and departed.
A/N About time Sev showed up. Next, things get complicated. ~evil cackle~