CHAPTER SEVEN
"The situation has been resolved, Albus. I spent the evening brewing a reversal potion, and it seems to have cured him. From now on, I'll lock my supply closets better to prevent this from happening again," Professor Snape explained quietly. Dumbledore nodded softly.
"That won't be too necessary, but if you feel it will help, then I do not mind supporting your decision. What I called you in here to discuss is the incident Filch mentioned, the dogs entering the school through the tunnel. The tunnel hit a dead-end halfway through. Whoever used the tunnel was able to escape, and I doubt it was really two dogs."
"Then who was it?"
"I have no clue, Severus, but these recent incidents of sexual deviance have me on edge. I think we need to crack down on the problem once and for all, before the other schools find out," Dumbledore explained. "I plan on issuing warnings, but as for the punishments, they need to be severe. I thought you would be able to help with that."
"I have some ideas, but…the other schools have the same problem, Albus. And the other schools only punish when the students get caught, not when some busybody posts pictures in the morning paper," Professor Snape said sternly. "He is the one I want to punish. That paper goes to many places, not just the campus. I'm surprised there aren't parents calling to find out what's going on around here."
"Well, some have, Severus. That's why I want to crack down on the problems we have, and I want to stop them before they go any further."
"Albus, I think the Four of Hearts club had the right idea. It has to do with the phases of the moon, and with what the students have already done. To stop this, we have to think about the science behind it," Professor Snape whispered. Dumbledore nodded, eying the clock.
"I'm holding a private meeting tonight between the other heads of house. Be here in my office at eight, and bring your best ideas to the table. And…be prepared to promise Lucius that we'll keep his son's problems quiet. The only ones who know right now are the ones his son involved, and they likely won't tell anyone. But promise him for us, just to keep down our problems. I like limiting the number to two or three at a time," Dumbledore nodded with a smile. Severus nodded, exiting the office.
In the dungeons, Lucius Malfoy was already waiting. He was pacing Severus's office with a stern look on his face, and seeing Snape made him pace faster.
"What did Dumbledore have to say?" Lucius asked sternly, pacing so much that a stern breeze kept hitting Snape in the face.
"He's trying to control the situation before it gets out of hand. As for your son, he wants you to know the secret is safe. Those who do know only found out because of your son, and they won't speak out. Besides, there are bigger problems here at Hogwarts. The students are going to get the school into trouble—"
"And Albus doesn't want that," Lucius finished. "And my son is probably a kink in his system, correct? He wants to expel him, doesn't he?!" Lucius hissed loudly.
"No, Albus doesn't want to expel him," Severus sighed. "He's going after the others. Your son isn't the only one with problems of a sexual nature. In fact, too many students have that problem."
"Oh, the parents are getting involved. Well isn't that just…wait a second," he said, stopping in place. "He expected me, didn't he?"
"He's expected you since we started trying to figure out who was in the pictures that leaked. Malfoy's name came up, but they quickly assumed it wasn't him. Besides, they knew you'd be here as soon as something happened. That sort of thing has happened before, remember?"
"Yes, I know," Lucius sighed, taking a seat. "I want my son to be safe here. I don't trust any of them, especially Dumbledore. But…my son is the danger here. He was behind those pictures, I'm sure. He's been having problems since he started having those urges. We'd catch him humping anything, from pillows to counters. Moving those feelings to real people is normal."
"They realize it's normal, but it's not supposed to be so public," Severus replied. "Things will work out, but your son isn't helping right now. But if you handle him, things will be fine. Everything will be fine."
"I hope so, Severus. I can't afford all this stress," Lucius groaned. "I have to get back to my son…and my grandchildren. Malfoy is begging me to get rid of them. We'll see what happens…since a Hufflepuff and a Weasley are the fathers. I think I'm going to be sick," Lucius groaned, leaving the office quickly.
Severus sighed heavily as he eyed the paper that was causing most of the problems. The school was in an uproar, and that paper was the cause of it.
He threw it in the fire and watched it slowly burn.