Four Heads Are Better Than One

Year Two: Rumours

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Professor Snape's deepest, darkest dungeon

Minerva shook head.

"This can't go on." Filius and Severus nodded soberly in agreement but Pomona did not move. The Hufflepuff was very pale after the attack on her student.

Minerva put an arm round her shoulders. "Justin will be all right."

Pomona's eyes flashed. "How can we know that? What if their attacker comes back?"

Filius leaned over and touched her hand. "They can't. Albus placed extra wards around the hospital wing this afternoon. Right now, they're safer than everyone else in the castle."

"And that's supposed to be a good thing? All the Muggle-borns are frantic; they're all convinced that they're going to be next. Even the half-bloods are starting to worry."

Minerva sighed. "I know, but there isn't much we can do. We still don't know who, or what, is responsible."

Severus nodded in agreement as he handed Pomona a cup of tea. "We can't defend against an unknown attacker. And I promise I haven't added anything to that," he added, as he saw Pomona eyeing her drink suspiciously.

Pomona took a sip and smiled. "Thank you, Severus. But we can't just leave this as they are."

"We don't have much choice," said Filius quietly. "Believe me, I wish that this wasn't the case."

The Hufflepuff scowled. "Do we have any idea who's behind it yet?"

Severus shook his head. "I really can't think of anyone."

Minerva raised an eyebrow at that. "Have you finally come to the realisation that Harry is innocent, Severus? Alert the Daily Prophet."

Severus grimaced. "Potter may be an arrogant toe-rag, but he wouldn't attack Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Slytherins, maybe…" Minerva sent him a half-hearted glare.

Filius sighed. "Unfortunately, this will only exacerbate the rumours that he is the Heir of Slytherin."

Pomona nodded grimly. "Especially among my badgers. Justin was very popular."

Severus gave a thin smile. "From what I've heard, the only people, other than his sidekicks in Gryffindor, which believe him are my Slytherins."

Minerva scowled at him. "And why would that be, I wonder?"

Severus snorted. "None of them are Slytherin's heir, if that's what you're thinking. They just know that Potter is too much of Gryffindor to be capable of doing this."

Minerva's face split into a smile. "Thank you, Severus."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Oh, I know, but I'm choosing to take it as one."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Gryffindors." He pointedly ignored Minerva's answering grin. "Potter will just have to deal with it."

Minerva's smile morphed into a scowl. "He shouldn't have to."

Pomona sighed. "I apologise in advance for the behaviour of my house, Minerva. They're not going to believe that Harry is innocent until the real attacker is caught."

Filius shook his head. "I wouldn't be so sure. Just this afternoon I overheard young Mr. Diggory defending Harry from some scared first years."

Minerva's face brightened. "Amos' son?"

Pomona smiled. "One of my best students. He's not one to listen to gossip."

Severus gave a grudging nod. "He's not a complete dunderhead like most of his classmates then."

"He's an excellent Seeker too," said Pomona smugly. She grinned at Filius. "As Miss Chang found out last week."

Filius took the jibe in his stride. "Everyone has an off-day. It'll be a different story next year."

Pomona's grin widened. "Not likely. I'm making him Captain next year."

Severus frowned. "But he only got on the team this year."

"That was out of choice, not because of any lack of ability. He's better than anyone else on the team."

Minerva nodded thoughtfully. "I wonder how he'll do against Harry."

"I still say his experience will make the difference."

Minerva's eyes sparked at the challenge. "Harry's got another few months to practice yet."

Pomona glanced at Severus. "The Hufflepuff-Slytherin match is rather sooner though. Will Draco be ready in time?"

"I assure you, Draco is quite capable."

Minerva smirked. "Assuming of course that he actually looks for the Snitch instead of laughing at his opposition."

Filius and Pomona made an valiant effort to keep straight faces at the dark scowl that spread across the Slytherin's face. "It was his first match! He will not be doing that again."

"Harry was nearly killed in his first Quidditch match, and that didn't stop him catching the Snitch."

Filius' smile faded. "He really hasn't had much luck with Quidditch matches, has he?"

Minerva grimaced. "You can say that again. Jinxed broomsticks, rogue bludgers, biased referees…"

"I was not biased!"

"You awarded a penalty just because George Weasley mis-hit a bludger!"

"You really thought that was a mis-hit?"

"Ahem!" Minerva and Severus broke off abruptly and glanced at Pomona. The Hufflepuff was glaring at the two of them. "We are not going over that again."

Filius shot her a grateful glance. "Anyway, going back to the present, do we have any ideas on who was responsible for that bludger yet?"

Minerva shook her head gloomily, her irritation with Severus forgotten. "None. Rolanda couldn't detect any tampering spells on it afterwards, and we already decided that none of the students of staff were behind it."

Pomona scowled. "This doesn't make any sense. Someone had to have jinxed it."

Severus shook his head. "I checked it myself too. There was no trace of any magic, other than what we would expect."

Filius looked thoughtful. His colleagues seemed to have forgotten that wizards were not the only species with magic. Goblins, pixies, house elves… many races were capable of powerful enchantments, and because their magic was so different, it was unlikely that that standard detection spells would have picked it up. He was not that surprised by the oversight, many wizards automatically assumed that only other human beings were able to perform such complex spells. Unfortunately, there was no evidence to support this theory, and Filius could not think of any motive either. He sighed. It looked like they would have to wait a bit longer for this particular mystery to be solved.

"Filius?" The Ravenclaw started. Lost in thought, he had not realised that Minerva was speaking to him.

"Yes?"

Minerva frowned. "Is everything all right?"

"Perfectly." He had already decided not to mention his hypothesis.

Minerva studied him a moment longer, but seemed satisfied by his response. "I was asking if you knew of a suitable spot for our next meeting."

Pomona frowned. "This is getting tiresome."

Severus scowled. "Would you prefer having him present?"

Filius shuddered. Anything was better than that. His eyes gleamed suddenly. "I do have one idea."

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