A second chapter, for the long holiday weekend. Happy reading! Happy reviewing? Please do. DN
Morgan Hunter hurried down the main corridor as quickly as she could, having locked her classroom and posted a ghost at the door to let students know class would be delayed. With students between classes now, the halls were crowded and her progress slower than she would have liked. The pouring rain outside only compounded the problem, as few students used the outdoor courtyards to get from one class to another.
She tried to keep her expression impassive, but she drew quizzical looks from students as she strode through them. More than a few stared outright or spoke in whispers to fellow students behind hands as she passed. No doubt rumors would begin in earnest from her own students as they pondered what could cause a last-minute class delay this close to exams.
At last reaching the Headmaster's office, she spoke the password (bufotenine), and took the stairs on the revolving stone staircase two at a time.
"Professor Snape!" thundered Ethinian Ames, standing over the Headmaster's desk and showering him with his forceful words. "I'll have your head! The Ministry, or whatever you call it over here, better take some action or I'll take action myself," he sputtered, gesturing towards Parse Winder and Hypatia Alexander, who allowed the enraged father to finish his rant without interruption. Flitwick, seated next to Janiss, kept a hand close to his wand, ready to assist if the situation were to get violent. Snape briefly met his eyes and gave an otherwise imperceptible nod, then returned his attention to the blustering man.
"The Ministry will take the appropriate steps to respond to this issue, Mr. Ames, I assure you. Your anger is understandable, but there is no need to shout," Professor McGonagall said tersely.
"And who the heck are you," Ames shouted, rounding on her as she remained seated.
"Dad!" exclaimed Janiss, breaking her silence. "This isn't helping." She stood and took his elbow, trying to encourage him to take his seat next to hers. He shook off her grip and glared at those assembled, then sat, clearly still burning with anger.
"This creep," he said, jabbing his finger in Snape's direction, "was making advances on my daughter, his student. It's all over the papers! And I'm the one out of line?! Is that what passes for fair play over here?" Ames growled considerably less loudly, but no less threateningly. He turned to Winder. "I want a thorough investigation, sir."
"And you shall have it," the Minister of Magical Education replied, with a trace of glee in his voice that did not go unnoticed by anyone. He turned to Snape, a smug look in his eyes. "Let's begin the inquiry with you, Headmaster. Can you explain how you came to be in the photo that appeared in this morning's Daily Prophet?"
"Of course I can," Snape said smoothly, in a measured tone that reflected none of the belligerent tone that Ames had used. "Miss Ames had earned herself yet another detention for directly insulting me in class." At this, Mr. Ames snorted in disbelief. "During this detention, I requested an explanation for her poor performance since her arrival here, as well as for her insolence. She muttered incomprehensibly, so I leaned forward to hear her better, at which point she assaulted me, as you've all seen illustrated in the papers."
"SHE assaulted YOU?! That's an insult!" bellowed Mr. Ames, pounding his fist on the oaken desk, rattling the inkstand and quills with his force. The portraits on the walls looked on disapprovingly as their frames rattled, except for Dumbledore, who seemed rather amused by the display and put another handful of popcorn in his mouth.
"Worry not, Mr. Ames. The Ministry can compel the truth in its interrogations. Veritaserum can be procured, if needed, so the truth will come out, one way or another. And the Headmaster is known to make a particularly potent formula." Winder gave Snape a sneer, then turned to Janiss, his expression now one of gentle concern. "Miss Ames, please tell us, in your own words, what happened, as honestly and as completely as possible. We here at the Ministry will protect you from any retaliation on the part of the Headmaster, so please speak freely."
Janiss hesitated, looking anxiously from her father, to Flitwick, to Professor Snape, then back to Winder. Snape's expression was neutral, his body still.
"It happened just like the Headmaster said," she choked out, now looking at the floor in a voice so quiet it took effort to hear. "I spoke quietly so he would have to come nearer. And then I kissed him." She hung her head and twisted the edge of her robe in her clenched fist.
Mr. Ames was thunderstruck. "Janiss!" he spit out angrily. "Why?"
She glared at her father, but didn't reply.
Everyone in the room was silently in shock, except for Snape, whose expression never changed and who showed no sign of surprise. Winder, clearly put off by this most unexpected outcome, was able to speak next. "Miss Ames, I will ask that you explain yourself now. If I am not fully satisfied with your responses, I'll have little choice but to launch the full investigation, as your father has requested. It will certainly be easier for you to provide your testimony here, rather than in a public courtroom." He and Hypatia exchanged glances.
Janiss regarded Snape as much as she could, speaking her words with effort. "I came to Hogwarts to study Potions with Professor Snape, because I was more advanced than my teachers back at the Salem Academy. My father felt that Professor Snape would be able to teach me more, so he asked if I could transfer here to finish my education, and the Headmaster agreed.
"I assumed that I would be given advanced education, maybe some research, but instead I was placed in the same class as the rest of the upper-year Hogwarts students, doing regular work, making regular potions. Even the research opportunity was just helping with the grunt work of setting up equipment and following instructions. So I started to experiment on my own, to see if I could improve on the formulas. But when some of the experiments went wrong, Professor Snape would give me detention instead of asking me what I did and trying to understand what I was doing."
She looked accusingly at the dark Potions Master, but he appeared unfazed by her harsh words.
"But detention was like a whole new world. He would explain more there, going into the theory behind the potion, explain how it really worked. When I asked questions, he would answer them, not just tell me to follow the instructions and get on with it. Detention was the best part of class, so I started to intentionally foul up in class in order to try to get detentions. And it worked. Professor Snape nevers fails to give detentions, if possible."
Here she paused, but those in the room gave her time to gather her thoughts and continue without interruption.
"After a while, I realized I actually admired Professor Snape. He's very smart, as well as handsome. I started to develop a crush. That day, I just lost control. I don't know what I thought would happen. I guess I was foolish enough to imagine that my feelings might be returned…"
"You are my student!" Snape spat out, as everyone else in the room jumped at this unexpected outburst. "I am both your teacher and your Headmaster. Surely you know that would be a serious violation."
Janiss nodded glumly. "I know. Had I thought more about it, I would have known that you would never…."
Suddenly, the door to the office was thrown open, as Morgan Hunter burst in. "Headmaster, I am missing…" She suddenly became aware that the Headmaster was not the only person in the room. Her color rose sharply, a mottled red haze spreading across her cheeks and down her neck. Then she realized who the assembled were and what it was that they were most likely talking about. Turning an even brighter red, she attempted to excuse herself quickly. "Begging your pardon, I didn't realize. I'll come back later." She turned on her heels and made to exit as hastily as she'd entered.
"Morgan," said Mr. Ames silkily. "You're teaching here now, are you?"
A palpable chill filled the room, competing with the silence that followed Mr. Ames' comment. Those in the room held their breath collectively.
Hunter stopped with her back to the group, her hand on the door handle, not wanting to see the look on the Headmaster's face as he processed this new wrinkle in an already wrinkled situation. Ethinian's snide and familiar tone would not have escaped his notice. She, too, needed a moment to let her reeling thoughts extend out to their conclusions, the relationships and connections wrapping around her brain like a spider's web, and her the fly, sticking fast. Struggling would only tighten the tangle. She took a breath and turned to face Ethinian. "Yes, Ethinian. I started this fall."
No hugs or even handshakes were offered, as Ames kept his seat.
"How fortunate of you to land so well," he drawled. "And now you also get the chance to greet your niece. Janiss, say hello to your Aunt Morgan."
Janiss, wide-eyed, stood and extended her hand to a frigid Hunter, who returned the gesture with as much warmth as the unexpected introduction could muster. "Janiss, it's a pleasure."
"Likewise, Aunt Morgan," the girl said uncomfortably. "I wondered if you were my aunt, by the name and your job. I could never find the time to ask. Glad to meet, though I wish it were under less...surprising...circumstances."
Ames sat back and smiled at Snape. "So, this is your new target, Morgan? A Headmaster? A little more ambitious this time? I've been reading about your romance in the local news," he said sarcastically. He addressed Snape directly now. "The Snape fortune piqued her interest, no doubt. She makes a habit of finding wealthy wizards. Beware, though," he said conspiratorially. "Her previous husband, my brother, met an untimely and mysterious end."
Snape's eyes narrowed threateningly. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ames."
"Ethinian, you rat. How dare you make such unfounded accusations here?" Hunter spat back.
"So sorry," he said to her, in mock deference. "Am I ruining your plan to add his fortune to yours? Or hadn't you told your new lover about your late husband, my brother?"
Snape didn't reply, but only looked at Hunter. Why didn't he defend her, she wondered. Good grief, it seems that he believes Ethinian. Her heart sank. She needed to withdraw as soon as possible.
She turned sharply away from Ames and back to the Minister, his deputy, McGonagall and Snape. "I will leave you to your business, with apologies for interrupting. Headmaster, I'll need to speak to you later, when you have a moment," she said.
"Shall I find you in your lab, Dr. Hunter?" Snape asked.
"Yes," she said, exiting with a swish of her turquoise robe.
After her exit, Snape returned his gaze to Parse Winder. He cleared his throat. "Well, from an official standpoint, I think I have enough information to write my report on this investigation. I find it unlikely that I will investigate further, unless you feel that a full investigation, including public testimony, is needed, Mr. Ames."
Ethinian Ames regarded his daughter darkly. "I think no such further investigation is warranted at this time. I'll have words with Janiss myself." He turned, smirking, to the Headmaster. "Sorry for the trouble, Professor Snape. Janiss, I think the better apology would be coming from you."
Janiss hung her head and muttered "Sorry, Professor Snape."
"Apology accepted, Miss Ames," he said, eyeing the young woman briefly, then turning his piercing gaze to Winder.
"That being said, I'll need increase my level of oversight here at the school, Headmaster, only as a precaution. The public will expect some kind of response after that lurid story. Hypatia and I can surely find time in our schedules to look in on things, perhaps weekly, starting in the spring term." Snape's look suggested that he disagreed with this notion, but Winder only smiled. "Just a friendly visit. I'm sure you'll be able to find time for us."
"No doubt I can," Snape said darkly.
"Well, then," Winder said brightly, slapping his knees and standing. "That should wrap this up. Deputy Alexander and I have a great deal to do, so we'll be off." He then turned to Mr. Ames, pumping his hand in his powerful handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, sir, despite the circumstances. Carry on, all." He exited, followed by Hypatia, who took one last glance as Snape before shutting the door firmly.
The tiny wizard jumped to his feet. "Unless there's anything more, I'd be happy to escort you both to Hogsmeade and then escort Miss Ames back to her house, sir," he said, gesturing towards the door.
Mr. Ames followed Flitwick and Janiss to the door and down the stairs, turning to give Snape one last sneer before he stepped onto the spiral marble staircase and rode down out of sight.
After finalizing the mountain of official paperwork with Minerva, it was late in the afternoon. Classes were over, the students now in the library, common rooms, or studying in the Great Hall. A few hardier souls were outside in the mid-December wind, bundled up against the stiff breezes coming in over the lake.
Snape headed down the empty stairs and corridors to the Potions lab the dungeons to find out what Hunter was so agitated about. He stood for a moment, observing her, preparing for the moments ahead. At last, he cleared his throat as he entered the room.
"Good evening, Dr. Hunter. Was there something you needed to tell me," he asked slowly, his double-meaning clear to her. She regarded him with a strange look that he hadn't seen on her face before. Not unhappy to see him, but certainly an attenuated countenance.
"Yes, Severus. Firstly, I need to apologize for bursting into your office unannounced. I should not have...taken advantage of our relationship and supposed that I could come in without your invitation." She looked at him almost defiantly as she waited for his reply.
"Apology accepted," her replied with no emotion. "Now, what drove you to make such a dramatic entrance?"
Now her face took on more animation. "My Scorpion Venom is missing, Severus." She gestured towards the Licensed Ingredients storage cabinet. "I was getting out other ingredients for our research this weekend and I noticed it was missing."
His face now took on a mixture of concern and puzzlement. "The two locks were fastened?"
"Yes."
"And you'd put Charms on it, as well?"
"Yes, of course. Two, in fact."
"And no one else knew what the counter-charms were?"
"No, not even you," she said, with a small glimmer of a smile that dissipated quickly under his gaze.
"I'll begin a search by the staff and make an announcement at dinner for the students. It's unlikely, if a student removed it, that they know how dangerous it is."
"I wonder if it could be someone on the staff, Severus. Who else could determine the counter-charms?" she wondered aloud.
Snape looked at her with reproach. "The staff here has either demonstrated their loyalty or been hand-picked by me. You should be very careful about casting aspersions, Professor Hunter."
His icy tone and formality informed her well that this conversation was not going well. But she needed to proceed. She took two more breaths before speaking.
"Of course, it may very well have been a skilled student or an intruder of some kind," she noted. "But there is more that I wanted to talk with you about."
"No doubt," he replied. "But our first priority needs to be finding that venom and securing the school. I don't need to tell you what a danger that represents, especially to students who may not be aware of its potency and lack of an antidote. Students generally believe a bezoar can save them from anything, despite being instructed otherwise. I'll need to organize a school-wide search. We can talk later."
With that, he turned and walked out in a swish of black robes and the sound of his boot heels landing purposefully on the stones of the dungeon hall. Hunter watched him go, unable to shake her feelings of dread.