Responsibilities

The Potters were enjoying a quick supper in the kitchen, when green flames shot up in the hearth. Ron's head appeared.

"Harry! Kingsley wants me to tell you that the Aurors picked up Sirius an hour ago. He was transformed into the Grim and running around, chasing Muggles in the park and stealing food from people's picnics. He's in the third floor at St. Mungo's, because they think he's suffering from some odd kind of potion side effects. But he transformed in front of witnesses and they now know he's an unregistered Animagus. Will you bail him out?"

"Holy Merlin!" exclaimed Harry, disgusted. "I wish I could leave him there."

"He was wearing your dad's portrait on that chain around his neck and he was starkers when he Transformed back to his human self, so a dozen hysterical Muggles needed their memories modified," added Ron helpfully.

Any reply Harry made was drowned out by Ginny's fit of ecstatic giggles. He and Ron watched her laugh until tears ran down her cheeks. They knew Professor Snape was going to hear this story as soon as she could get to him.

"I'll go to St. Mungo's," said Harry, striving to maintain his composure. "I hope they can keep him there for a bit, at least 'til he sobers up. We know his potion of choice is firewhiskey, but I'd love to know he can't cause any more trouble tonight. Do you know who I'll have to talk to at the Ministry about his unregistered status?"

"No idea. The Animagus registry is the slowest job in the Ministry. Go down to Improper Use in the morning and they'll decide what to do about Sirius. Now that he's safe in St. Mungo's maybe they'll want to bring him straight in to discuss the matter," said Ron. "On the bright side, you won't have a visit tonight, so go talk to the Healers at St. Mungo's and have a peaceful night."

The flames were dying. Ron gave a cheery wave and disappeared.

Ginny was still smirking, imagining what people in the park had thought when the big black dog turned into an unkempt, tattooed, intoxicated nudist.

"I'll see if Professor Snape's back. Hurry up and try to convince them to keep him in their coziest kennel tonight," she said, kissing him. "See you soon, my poor husband."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Who's the real godfather in all this?" he asked as he headed for St. Mungo's.

An hour later, Harry entered his own home at last and found Ginny sitting with Professor Snape.

"Everything okay?" she asked brightly.

He nodded to Professor Snape and said, "They're keeping him in a locked room at St. Mungo's overnight, and then he'll be transported to the Ministry to discuss his Animagus status."

"Did they find him something to wear?" asked Ginny, bubbling with laughter.

"Yes! And if you'd gotten a close look at him out in the garden that awful morning, you wouldn't think it's funny," said Harry with a scowl. "I took a look in his room and he was passed out cold, snoring on the floor. The portrait was lying next to him, also snoring. They're like bloody soul mates, or something!"

"Now that your dear godfather is tucked up, I hope you'll tell me what happened at Grimmauld Place," said Professor Snape.

Relieved to change the subject, Harry turned to his black-clad mentor.

"It took time for the Unspeakables to deal with the curses that bound the portraits to the house, but they managed it. The portraits are being placed in a secure room in the Department of Mysteries."

"Since Black was romping in the park, shall we assume that he is unaware that the portraits have been moved?" asked Snape.

"I'm pretty sure he has no idea they exist. I told them to leave the portrait of his mum alone. Since she went to sleep, she seems peaceful and I don't want her disturbed."

Snape nodded. Harry noticed that he seemed tense, and slightly distant. That had been normal during his life, but he had become relaxed enough that the difference was very noticeable.

"What's wrong, Professor?" he asked impulsively.

"The Minister of Magic paid a visit to Professor McGonagall this afternoon. He wished to consult with her about the Black portraits."

"But she doesn't know anything about the portraits, does she?" asked Harry. "When a Headmaster dies, the new portrait simply appears on the wall in the office. She has no control over it."

"When this was confirmed for him, Shacklebolt asked that Unspeakables be allowed to go to Hogwarts and attempt an investigation of the portrait magic. The Headmistress and all of the portraits agreed that this was an unwarranted intrusion into the autonomy of the school, and the request was denied," said Snape in a carefully expressionless voice.

"If Kingsley accepted that answer, then there's nothing to worry about," said Harry. "Um, right?"

There was a pause, during which Harry began to feel there was something to worry about, and his eyes narrowed.

"As an alternative to opening the school to magical investigation, Shacklebolt then requested that one of the Headmaster portraits be replicated and sent to the Ministry to assist the Unspeakables," said Snape. "In effect, to spy on the portraits and find out where they came from and how they were created."

"You?" asked Harry, anxiety flooding him.

Snape nodded. "Dumbledore and I are the newest of the portraits, therefore we have the strongest ability to deal with the living. In fact, I knew many living people during my own life, so I can offer a clearer understanding of the situation to them."

"But Dumbledore can do it!" exclaimed Ginny, realizing she might stand to lose her wonderful portrait professor. "Why does it always have to be you?"

Snape studied her intently and a tiny smile touched his mouth. "Perhaps I should have had you present to negotiate my release from this plan. You are a powerful advocate, Ginny. However, Professor Dumbledore is not at his peak of portrait wisdom these days…"

"Dead-Headmaster burnout," Harry grumbled softly.

"Exactly, Potter," murmured Snape. "Therefore it is my task to assist at the Ministry."

"Does this mean you won't be able to come here any more?" asked Ginny, here eyes wide with dismay. "At least… I mean, if you want to…"

The black eyes seemed to soften, but so briefly Harry wondered if he had imagined it.

"If you'll be too busy, Sir, we understand," he told Snape. "But we'll miss you if you have to stay there from now on."

"There is no magic that allows the living to prevent the movement of portrait subject between multiple portraits," said Snape mildly. "If it is possible, I'll return here when I'm able to. My presence seems to have a rather amusing effect on Black, don't you think?"

"Please come back any time, as often as you can. I'll miss you dreadfully, Professor," said Ginny. "And I'm sorry for every impudent thing I did in your classes!"

"Really?" smirked Snape, rolling his eyes. "Perhaps I'll assign you lines, Miss Weasley, and return to see the result."

She laughed then, and her worry seemed to ease slightly. But Harry found it harder to ignore that odd tension he saw in the portrait wizard, and he wondered what Snape's new job would entail.