Chapter 11
Unfortunately, the persons he found that knew a lot about Quidditch were named Weasley. He supposed that Ron would be the best one to ask as he was already taken into Harry's confidence. That, and the idea of actually trying to have a real conversation with the twins made him shudder. He hoped he would not have to resort to that.
"Um, hi Professor," he heard Ron say as he approached his desk. "You said you wanted me to stay after class?"
Snape read the nervousness in the boy, and smiled a bit at the likely cause. At least his ability to intimidate wasn't lost on this young redhead.
"I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help me with," he told the lad smoothly.
"Oh, so this wasn't, you know?" Ron asked.
"Your punishment will take place on Sunday night as scheduled," Snape told him. "I thought I had made that clear."
"Yes, well, I was just wondering if something changed," Ron explained lamely. "You know, for plans and everything."
"Are you nervous about your impending paddling?" Snape asked him, cocking an eyebrow. "I have seen barely a tremor from your partners in crime."
"Yes, well, maybe its because they don't really know what's coming," Ron explained. "I mean, they are from muggle families, and they said that their schools didn't use the cane."
"I see," Snape nodded. "But you are from a magical family. And a traditional one at that."
"Not Malfoy sort of traditional," Ron confessed. "But you know, my mum is quite handy with that spoon of hers. Is a paddle like that?"
"It is much worse, Mr. Weasley," Snape assured him. "I use a large plank paddle, and it covers the entire backside at once. There are also specially beveled holes in it."
"What are the holes for?" Ron gulped.
Snape smiled inwardly, enjoying frightening this foolish Gryffindor. He could bet this particular redhead would never steal from his supplies again. "The holes make the paddle move through the air faster," Snape explained. "And prevents a cushion of air from forming at the surface to be paddled. In short, it makes it hurt more."
"More?" Ron squeaked.
"Of course," Snape told him smoothly. "But when applied to bare skin the holes can leave blisters, but I find that bare skin is rarely necessary. Do you agree?"
"Yes!" Ron managed to squeak out.
"In fact, the only time I have ever had to have bare skin is when the intended recipient tried to cheat – extra pants, pants stiffening spells, that sort of thing," he told him in a confidential way. "But I don't think I'll have any of that problem from you, will I?"
"No!" Ron insisted. "I mean, no sir, of course not. I can take my medicine."
"Excellent," Snape replied, flicking an imaginary fleck off of his knee. "Now then, we can have the discussion I was intending to have before you sidetracked me. I wish to ask you some questions about Quidditch."
"Quidditch?" Ron squeaked.
Snape considered the fourth year student in front of him. Perhaps he shouldn't have frightened him so much, but Snape had to confess to enjoying watching the brat squirm a bit. But he also wanted the teen to be calm enough to think and answer his questions. He sighed in consternation, yes, he should not have been so harsh on the lad.
"Yes, that infernal game that seems to rank as high as academics at this school," Snape answered in a softer voice than before. "I understand that you and your family are . . . enthusiastic about the sport, and I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me about the professional part of the sport."
"Yes, that infernal game that seems to rank as high as academics at this school. I understand that you and your family are . . . enthusiastic about the sport, and I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me about the professional part of the sport."
"Of course," Ron answered, seeming a bit flustered. "But why me? I mean, why me, sir?"
"Because you are already in my confidence," Snape answered smoothly. "I would prefer to not have my line of questioning alert any potential suspects. I also understand that your family is . . . quite fond of the sport."
"I will try to help," Ron nodded, suddenly happy in the change of topic.
"Are you familiar with the incident that happened with Krum and another underage wizard that resulted in the other wizard's death?"
"Of course," Ron answered eagerly. "It was in all the Quidditch magazines."
"Can you acquaint me with the details?"
"Sure," Ron answered. "Krum was part of the Quidditch club that is before the national team, here we call it the prep team. He was only thirteen at the time, but was considered a prodigy, you know? Anyway, there was another bloke who I think was fourteen and they were both going after the snitch. They went up wicked high – so high that nobody knows for sure what happened because of the clouds. The both fell to the ground from a great height, but Krum was able to revive enough to save himself. The other bloke died."
"What was the other boy's name?"
"Radko something. I don't remember," Ron's forehead creased.
"Why was nobody able to save him?"
"I think the weather was the problem," Ron explained. "People didn't realize it was happening until it was too late. Krum was at hospital for a month after as well, he didn't die but was hurt."
"Then what happened?"
"So there was this big investigation, and Krum was found not guilty. That's important, because he couldn't play professionally if he had been guilty."
"Of course," Snape prompted. "But what did the boy's family do?"
"Don't know," Ron answered. "I know there was some blood money paid, and Viktor agreed to go to Durmstrang because Karkaroff was they kid's uncle or something. There was an article about how they were able to still let Krum be a professional even at Durmstrang."
"Did Radko have a brother or sister?" Snape asked pensively.
"Oh, yeah, he had a brother!" Ron exclaimed. "I remember now. The bloke appealed the not guilty verdict or something, and the Bulgarian Quidditch League threatened to sue him or something. I don't remember it all. I could see if Hermione knows, she said she would wait out in the hallway for me."
Snape flicked his hand in permission, and soon he had both Gryffindors sitting in front of him. Hermione looked worried and tired, not at all the confident girl that had engaged his services such a short time ago.
"I haven't read anything about the Quidditch," she confessed as she looked at her hands. "But I can go to the library and read back copies. I should at least be able to find out full names of everyone involved."
"Excellent," Snape told her. He had never seen her like this before, and he realized that she was deeply worried for her friend. "It is quite reasonable that you don't know everything, Miss Granger."
"Thank you, sir," she answered. "But I feel as if I should have known about such a big thing with Krum. You see, we have become friends to a degree."
"I have eyes," he replied, but without biting sarcasm. "I remember the Yule ball."
"How is the investigation going otherwise, sir?" she asked.
Snape hesitated, wondering what he was going to tell her. Deciding that it would be better to have someone halfway intelligent to go over the facts, he decided to be candid. "Krum has means and opportunity, but no motive that I could find. And to be honest, I just don't buy that it's him. Karkaroff might have opportunity and certainly means, but motive is also hard with him as well. He's perfectly capable of murder, but why would he do it? Doesn't he want Krum to win?"
"Are there other suspects, then?" Hermione asked.
"Too many and not enough," Snape answered. "But I believe firmly that it is someone from Durmstrang, how else could have known about the potion and retrieved it in the first place? Who else could have treated Mir to such ethnic delicacies that were laced with poison without raising suspicion? I believe our suspect pool is living on that boat in the lake."
"So how do we find the bugger?" Ron asked, frustrated. "Could it be that bloke that accused Harry in the dining hall?"
"Possibly," Snape nodded, taking him seriously. "Perhaps he really did want Harry framed. Or perhaps it was just an upset student not knowing what was going on."
"Alexander is an ass," Hermione replied. "But we have no idea about motive for him."
"I believe motive might be the key," Snape replied. "I believe that the motive is yet to be determined, and so it leaves me wondering about the situation with the Quidditch incident. Could it be a family member seeking revenge? But then why not target Krum directly? It really makes no sense."
"It would make sense if harming Mir is the best way to harm Krum," Ron said simply. "I know that if someone wanted to hurt me, taking out a friend or a brother would bloody well do it. Sir."
"Or Mir knew something," Hermione argued. "Perhaps it was to keep him quiet."
"And the initial death was framing Potter," Snape continued. "But then poisoning Dumbledore and myself happened to exonerate him. I can only assume that I was the target there, to stop my investigation. Why would someone go through the bother of framing someone and then be so foolish as to exonerate them?"
"Are you sure there's only one villain?" Hermione asked.
"Perhaps there are more," Snape conceded, rubbing his forehead. "But then things get very complicated. And there has to be some sort of cooperation between the two, how else would the same poison be used both times? It is not a common one."
"So our best lead now is the Quidditch incident," Hermione replied, suddenly looking more determined. "That's something we can do."
"And in a timely manner, please," Snape told her. "I would hate to miss our appointment on Sunday night."
"You have a right crazy way to motivate us," Ron grumbled. "We could slack off and then miss the paddle."
"But you want to find out as much as I do," Snape told them, simultaneously building comradery and managing to be vaguely threatening.
"And we deserve the punishment," Hermione also countered, sounding tired. "I just wish it was all over now."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"I do not want anybody to realize that we're conspiring," Snape hissed at them. "I need you to leave and act as if I have just severely scolded you."
The two nodded, Hermione looking down and Ron glaring.
"Excellent," he replied softly, and then called out, "Come in! I'm just sending these troublemaking two away, and I will see them again in detention this evening."
AN: Okay, we are at the point of no return now. The killer of Mir will be revealed in the next chapter, but I will say there's some added complications that will take another chapter or two after that to resolve, and perhaps an epilogue. I will finish the next chapter as quickly as I possibly can, I promise. If you wish to make a guess I will tell you right/wrong, just pm me. I won't answer unless you're sure you want me to. I also realize that Snape was pretty evil to Ron in this part, but I think that is pretty in line with his character.
