"Minerva, have you seen the Prophet?"
Rubbing her tired eyes, "yes."
"Well what are we going to do?"
"Nothing, Hermione."
"Nothing!" The Medi-witch repeated numbly, "but surely..."
"There is nothing that we can do. Albus' influence was used up during the trials and his attempt to find out Severus' fate. He has as much influence at the Ministry as a flobberworm's. None of my high placed friends in the Ministry are speaking with me anymore and the few that I still have, refuse to discuss government proceedings with me. Poor Arthur can barely manage to keep his post in Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells Protective Objects. Kingsley has been re-posted to the Auror archives." Taking a deep breath, "really Hermione, you were there through the trials. I don't know how I managed to keep my post - I cannot think of a single Order member that walked away unscathed. Well, maybe the dead ones."
"Have you even seen the new legislation on Dark Creatures? Those dunderheads have even classified Merfolk as dark and dangerous! Mark my words Minerva, we're heading towards either a Holocaust or a revolution!' The Medi-witch thundered as she swept from the room.
Rubbing her temples, "Metsie!"
"Headmistress McGonagall is wanting Metsie?" The house elf asked as she popped in front of the witch.
"Yes, a headache potion." Burying her head in her hands, "something to stop the herd of hippogriffs from stampeding!"
The house elf bowed and snapped her fingers, "is Mistress McGonagall wanting anything else?"
"My kingdom and then some for some silence, somewhere far away from all this madness." Glancing up at the quizzed house elf, "but I'm sure that is beyond the abilities of a house elf. So no, Metsie."
Metsie cocked her head and squinted at the witch. Master did say that Metsie was to be a good house elf and make sure that those he placed in Metsie's care were well cared for. Snapping her fingers, the house elf disappeared.
The Headmistress swallowed the bitter potion before resting her head on her arms. I just want the pounding to stop for two minutes - two minutes where I have some peace. Her fingers ghosted over her temples, gently rubbing the fast tempo in her head away. "Tsk, tsk. You haven't been taking very good care of yourself, 'Nerva." Gasping, McGonagall half jumped from her chair, half turned in surprise. Her mouth hung open, unable to form the words tittering on the edge of her tongue as she stared in shock at the figure leaning against the small table behind the Headmistress' desk. "But what can one really expect from a Gryffindor?"
Licking her lips, she tried to coax her voice into working. "It's not easy, I know, being School Head. Everyone's looking to you for the answers; answers you don't always have to give." Sighing, "under normal circumstances Hogwarts' isn't easy to run. You have well over a thousand children - pureblood, half-blood and not to mention the Muggleborns. Personally, I found the Muggleborns the most difficult. You need to hold their hands practically every step of the way their first year in school."
"Severus," McGonagall whispered.
"'Nerva, you look like you've seen a ghost."
"By the Gods, Severus, you're alive."
"Alive? Thought that you were conversing with a spector?" His lips quirked upwards at the corners.
Holding her hand to her chest, "what game are you playing? You're standing there, not five from me. You're as flesh and blood as I am, Severus. What has addled your brain? You never played games like this! Come to think of it, you never played games." Reaching out she slapped a black clad arm, "see."
Laughing, "come now 'Nerva! I had you going there for a minute!"
"Not funny at all, young man!" The older witch gripped as she leaned back in her chair.
"I thought it was," a black shoulder shrugged.
"Severus, where have you been?" The Headmistress asked as she summoned a house elf.
"How is Metsie helping, Mistress?" The house elf bowed, peeking up at the Lioness from between her ears.
"Tea, for two." The house elf bobbed her head before disappearing. "now explain yourself."
"What's there to explain?" A tea service for two popped onto the Headmistress' desk. Turning, the witch poured two cups, handing one to the dour man standing before her.
"What's there to explain? Severus, no one has seen you in five years! We've had absolutely no word on you, whether you were dead or alive!" Furious with the younger wizard, McGonagall sloshed her tea over the carpet without noticing. "We were stuck in limbo, Severus. We didn't know if we should mourn your death or worry for your health!"
"Limbo," a dark eyebrow rose. "Yes, I can see how that can be disconcerting. No hope for it though."
Stuttering, "no hope for it? Severus, what has happened to you? You were cold, but not frozen!"
"Nothing has happened, 'Nerva. I am as I have always been."
"You're speaking in riddles!"
"Oh, now I'm some bloody sphinx! Pray tell, oh Goddess of Wisdom, when did this miraculous transformation occur?" A rebellious lock of raven black hair slipped from it's place behind his ear.
"I don't wish to quarrel with you, Severus." Sighing, the Headmistress felt every year her age. "Will you not sit down? Must you tower like some over grown bat?"
His thin lips curled slightly upwards in a parody of a smile. "Like that one ever gets old."
"Severus, you could try the patience of a saint and the gods know that I am not one." Huffing in exasperation, "nor am I am Albus Dumbledore."
"And gods smile down from above, bestowing upon us mere mortals their blessings."
"I'm running on near empty, Severus." Refilling her tea cup, "back to the subject at hand."
"What subject?"
"Don't try that innocent act on me, Severus Tobias Snape! It didn't work for you as a student, it certainly won't work for you now. Where have you been for the last five years?" Standing abruptly, the older witch smacked a black clad shoulder soundly. "Did you forget how to owl?"
"Back, Dragon wench!" He cocked his head and closed his eyes before swearing softly. "Listen 'Nerva." Holding his hand up to stall her as she opened her mouth to issue a retort, "listen! There's not much time left. As much as I have enjoyed this interlude, you need to hear me out." Placing his finger across her lips, "without interruption! If you think things are dark now, you have no idea just how dark our world is about to become. Things have been set into motion that are beyond the petty disputes being battled out inside the Ministry - inside our communities." Raking his hand through his hair, "father will turn on son. Families will be turned asunder. Our world will burn before things can be set right again."
Turning from his old teacher, he shuddered. "Regardless of what happens outside these walls, Hogwarts' must stand! The school, the castle itself, must remain a beacon in the dark times that are coming. Voldemort was a bogeyman, a means to an end. It started with his rise, but it's not over yet. Dawn is just a long sleep away and so is the hope for our world." Onyx eyes turned to the Headmistress, "have you read the papers?" At the Gryffindor's nod, "than you know what I have said is true." He gripped the tea cup hard enough for it to shatter in his hand. "Trust the Slytherins, 'Nerva. The Snakes will show you the way, when all hope is lost, they will show you to the light."
"Severus, you're not making sense!"
"Trust me 'Nerva, I'd never let you be harmed."
"I know, Severus." McGonagall smiled sadly up at her former pupil, "I remember." She chuckled lightly, "yes my dear friend. I knew that it was you that killed Darius Ledper with Elton Prince's scimitar. You saved my life that day and numerous others, only to be rewarded with Mr. Longbottom's curse. Did they treat you for the Crusciatus before dumping you in a cell?"
"I never saw the inside of a cell, 'Nerva. On that account, I can put your mind at ease." Clasping her hands in his, "go to the Slytherins. Keep them close to you, 'Nerva." Straightening to his full height, "stand your ground and guard your Pride. When night falls, keep the light shinning." His head jerked once again towards the office door, "remember Rowena Ravenclaw's famous last words to Helga Huffelpuff?"
McGongall squinted her eyes in puzzlement, "I-I don't understand."
"Gryffindors rush in where Slytherins fear to tred."
"Severus, I ..." The Headmistress jumped in her chair as someone knocked on her office door. "Just a moment, Severus." Gathering herself, she walked quickly to her door. "Yes?"
"You missed lunch, Minerva."
"You're too young to mother me, Hermione, dear." The older witch bristled, "besides there's been an unexpected development."
"Oh? Like you no longer need to eat like us mere mortals?" The Medi-witch inquired as her hands found their way to her hips.
"You don't wear sarcasm well, child." McGonagall lightly scolded, "Severus is alive."
"Alive? Where is he? Is Professor Snape alright?"
"He's right here," the older witch archly responded. Doing her best to hid the silly grin that threatened to burst onto her face, the former Transfigurations Mistress stepped back and gestured to the area behind her desk.
Brushing past her employer, "Professor Snape! Thank goodness you're alive, we all thought the worst when we couldn't ..." Pivoting hard on her heel, "there's no here but you and I."
"He's here, Hermione." Brushing past the younger witch, "we just had tea and talked a bit." Frowning, the older Gryffindor pushed past her former student. "Severus?" Shaking her head, she whipped out her wand and began to cast charm nullifiers around her office. "Blast that infuriating man!" Turning to glare at a concerned looking Medi-witch, "I'm telling you he was here not two seconds ago!"
Collapsing in the vacant armchair in front of the desk, Granger sighed as she shook her head. "That's the final straw, Minerva. I'm sorry, but I need to send a report to the Board. You need a vacation, desperately or I fear that we will lose you too."
"I'm not losing my mind, Hermione."
"No, no one is saying that. You're just overworked and overstressed. It happens to all of us, at times - even at the best of times. Gods know that the last five years have not been easy ones or normal for that matter."
"I swear Severus was here just moments ago."
"Perhaps, you're feeling guilty for not being able to help him five years ago. I know that I wish that I could use a Time-Turner, go back and spirit Professor Snape away before the aurors arrived to cart everyone off."
"Child, you were lucky that the Ministry didn't go after you and your friends, like they did the rest of us."
"Only because we were underage at the time, too young to know what were doing!" The Medi-witch scoffed, "too young to understand vigilante acts!" Straightening her robes, "the aurors acted like we were one step up from house elves."
"House elves!" The Headmistress leapt her feet, startling her companion. "Metsie!" The house elf in question snapped instantly into view at the witch's feet. "Did you or did you not just provide tea to these chambers?"
The house elf bobbed her head, "Metsie did."
"And how many cups did you bring?" The Medi-witch interjected before her mentor could continue.
"Metsie brought one cup and one kettle."
"What!" McGonagall cried in surprise. "You brought two, one for myself and Professor Snape." The house elf cringed, wringing her hands.
"Minerva, please." Turning back to the elf, "was there anyone else in the office when the tea was sent for and/or brought the tea?" The crying elf shook her head as she edged away from a furious looking witch. "Just two more questions, Metsie. Are there any other house elves serving the Headmistress in her office or her personal chambers?"
"No, I's personal elf to Hogwarts' Mistress."
"How has she been sleeping?"
"Very little, she be talking in her sleep when she does." The elf cringed away from the furious School Head. "I's taking the empty sleeping bottles away like a good house elf."
"You lying, sniveling little ..."
"Minerva!" Granger whirled on her mentor, "silence!"
"Rotten little liar!" The former Gryffindor Head snarled from behind the Medi-witch.
"Minerva!"
"Metsie good elf! Chambers cleaned always! Empty sleep bottles disposed of always."
"Surely Hermione, you can see the elf is fabricating all of this!"
"Metsie, can you bring one of these "sleep bottles" that you have been removing from the Headmistress' chambers?" The elf nodded and snapped her fingers. "Thank you," Ms. Granger kindly said as she accepted the offered empty vial. Turning the bottle over, she recognized the scrawled handwriting on the label from five years of seeing it grace her potion's work. "Dreamless Sleep? Minerva McGonagall, march your behind over to the Infirmary this instant!"
"W-What?"
"I need to run some tests to determine just how addicted you've become."
"Now Herm-"
"No. I am invoking my authority as Medical Head of Hogwarts', which supersedes even yours." Grasping the older woman's elbow, "let's not make a scene." Without waiting for a response, the Medi-witch marched her patient from the Headmistress' offices down the spiral staircase.
"This is ridiculous! I'm no more addicted to a sleeping potion than you are, Hermione." The outraged witch sputtered, "the elf is lying."
"House elves by definition are not capable of betraying their "masters," Minerva. You know this. As the Head of Hogwarts' you are by default Metsie's mistress."
"Hermione..."
"Enough! If you are indeed innocent and the house elf is lying, a few tests will prove where the cards fall."
"Very well. I will have your oath that once this is done, you will apologise."
"On my magic, I do so hereby swear."
Nodding her head, the Headmistress wrenched her arm free of the younger witch. Straightening her robes, she quietly walked alongside the school's medi-witch. That wretched creature is going rue the day that she was spawned when I get done. The nerve of this cub, pulling rank on me! The deep vein of righteous indignation that ran through every Gryffindor for a thousand years hummed deep with the Alpha Lioness.
The witches walked in silence through the castle until they reached the Medi-witch's domain; the Infirmary. "Have a seat while I prepare the correct potions and get the test strips." Silent fury shined in McGonagall's eyes as she turned her back on the younger woman and perched on the edge of the closest bed. Ms. Granger shook her head at the stubborn tilt of the other woman's shoulders as she disappeared into the supply closet. She grunted as she stretched her body, raising herself up on her tip-toes to reach the highest shelf. Her back tinged as her muscles strained beyond their tolerance as her fingers barely brushed the brown bottle. Silently berating herself, she waved her wand at the offensive vial. Silly girl, why didn't you think of using magic in the first place to just summon it to you before hurting yourself?
Silently berating herself, Ms. Granger made her way back to her reluctant patient. Waving her wand, she summoned a bedside hospital tray. Placing the brown vial on the tray top, she summoned a medium sized Maple wood box. Shaking her head, she disregarded the upset witch sitting next to her as she called a pearl bowl to her. Tapping the bowl with the tip of her wand, the Medi-witch filled the shimmering alabaster container with fresh water. Gently tipping a few drops into the clear liquid. "Minerva, I need a drop of your blood to run the tests." Grunting, the older witch extended her hand. Drawing a single drop, Ms. Granger quickly closed the small wound as the blood hit the water. Opening the wooden box, she withdrew a single Oak stick. Dropping the testing stick into bowl, "we'll need to wait a few minutes for the results. While we wait, do you mind..."
The Infirmary door opened, "Headmistress!"
"Walk, Mister Stupank!"
"Sorry Ms. Granger." The auburn haired wizard gulped, "Professor Futz says for Headmistress McGonagall to come down to the lake."
"The Headmistress is currently unavailable. Please relay this to your professor." Ms. Granger informed the younger Gryffindor.
"But Ms. Granger, aurors are arresting Hagrid!"
A/N: A bit longer than the last chapter. I hope that you enjoyed this one.
