Ministry Letters
Hermione was, as expected, very efficient at reminding them to chant the incantation every sunrise and sunset. Although they grumbled about it when she woke them up they were grateful for her organisational skills. In Hermione and Harriet's bedroom, with the tip of their wands pointing at their hearts, they chanted the now familiar words 'amato animo animato animagus'. Their presence in the bedroom was such a frequent occurance anyway that no one thought anything of it.
The regular routine they had fallen into was disrupted in mid February, when a letter arrived at the breakfast table for Draco. A brown owl swooped low over Draco's porridge, dropping a scroll bearing the official Ministry seal. Draco picked it up with a frown and unfurled it. His usually pale face turned white and his mouth drew up in a snarl as he read.
"What's wrong Draco?" asked Ginny, placing her hand on his arm.
Draco handed her the scroll and pushed his bowl away. Ginny read the letter and looked up gravely.
"Draco's parents' trail starts next week," she told them, "he has to go to the Ministry to give evidence."
"Oh Draco," said Harriet, "I know that must be tough."
"What would you know?" said Draco petulantly. "It's not like you have any of your own."
"Draco!" snarled Severus, as everyone else gasped. "That was an awful thing to say. It's not Harriet's fault your parents are on trial."
"Plus your dad's an evil bastard anyway." growled Ron.
"Fuck you Weasley!" Draco shouted, jumping to his feet and hissing at Ron through his teeth. "Shut up about my father!"
"Draco!" shouted Ginny, looking upset.
"Leave me alone!" he said, his voice breaking as he turned on his heel and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"Ron," Harriet said quietly, "whatever horrible things Lucius Malfoy has done he's still Draco's father. You can't help what your family are like."
Ron look abashed as Severus considered Harriet's words. He realised she was right, Draco couldn't help who Lucius was any more than Harriet could help who James had been. Blaming the child for the crimes of the father was pointless and foolish. One of the last things Severus wanted to be was foolish. He knew now that Harriet was much less like James than he had believed, and from all the time he spent with her he found that she was very different from Lily too.
Lily had been confident and secure in her self image, from a loving and supportive home. She had been kind, brave, caring and loyal, much like Harriet was, but coming from a loving family this came naturally to her. He decided that, coming from a home life where she had been neglected and abused and made to feel isolated, the fact that Harriet was still capable of such love, bravery, loyalty and forgiveness was a much more impressive feat. He was almost awed by her strength of character. Yet at the same time there was a vulnerability about her, like she doubted her worthiness to be accepted. He had been wrong about her love of the limelight in the past, she shied away from it, and he saw that it was because she lived in constant fear of everything being taken away from her. All her life she had been different and she, like him, longed for normality. Dragging himself back to the conversation at the table he was unsurprised to find Ron and Hermione bickering again.
"Give it a rest you two." he snapped, "Do you think I should follow Draco?" he asked Harriet.
"No," she said, "give him some time and he'll be back. We'll be there for him whether he wants us to or not."
Outside the Great Hall Blaise Zabini caught hold of Draco as he stormed through. He grabbed Draco by the elbow and immediately let go as Draco turned to him snarling, his usually grey eyes flashing yellow in his rage.
"Draco, wait!" called Blaise, as Draco made to stalk away.
"What?" growled Draco, baring his teeth and advancing on him.
"I- I'm-," stammered Blaise, backing up until his back hit the stone wall. "I just wanted to apologise." he said in a rush, "I was out of line."
"You don't say?" Draco seethed, "What makes you think I give a shit Zabini?"
"I know you probably don't care," Blaise said, "but I am sorry. It got out of hand and-"
"Get away from me Zabini," Draco snarled, "or you really will be sorry." he glared over his shoulder as he headed up the stairs to his quarters.
Back in the Great Hall, Draco's dramatic exit had not gone unnoticed. There were a few disapproving faces at the head table at the language he had used, and most of the students were grouped in clusters, gossiping about the unexpected performance. In all the hubbub Harriet almost missed the brown owl that perched patiently beside her plate. The owl offered her the leg with a scroll attached and Harriet removed it, showing the offical Ministry Seal to the others.
"Oh no!" she groaned, "It gets worse." she showed them the Wizengamot summons she had received.
"You have to give evidence against the Malfoy's?" said Ron, "That's not going to be awkward at all."
"Draco will understand," Severus said, "he knows his father did wrong, he disowned him after all, he just needs some time."
"I don't know if that's going to be possible." Hermione said, holding up that morning's Daily Prophet. "Particularly if he see's this."
The Azkaban pictures of Lucius and Narcissa stared from one half of the front page, next to an old picture of Harriet from the Triwizard cup. The headline read 'The Chosen One to help bring Death Eaters to Justice.'
"We need to talk to him before he reads this," Harriet said, "before he thinks we're all against him."
"We'll go find him now before lessons start." Ron said, patting Ginny reassuringly on the shoulder. "He's one of us now, however annoying he is."
XXXXXX
Draco wouldn't admit them to his quarters when they tried to find him and he didn't show up to lessons all day. They tried again to talk to him in his quarters that evening, but he wouldn't even let Ginny in or speak to anyone. The messages to him on the group's parchment went unanswered and Severus began to worry. He left the others comforting Ginny in the common room and made his way to the Headmistress's Office. He gave the password and the gargoyle stepped aside, granting him access to the spiral staircase, and he allowed himself to be carried to the top.
"Enter!" McGonagall called as he raised his arm to knock. Severus knew this little display was because the school wards informed the Head of the School when someone was entering or leaving various sections of the castle. He wouldn't let Minerva wrong foot him with such an obvious trick.
"Minerva, a word if I may?" Severus said.
"I assume this is about Mr Malfoy's outburst this morning?" McGonagall said gesturing to a hard-backed chair opposite her. "I understand his sensitivity about his parents impending trial, but he would do well to watch his language in front of the younger students."
"He won't speak to any of us." Severus told her, sitting in the chair and leaning his elbows on the desk. "I know he is upset, but we have to tell him about Harriet giving evidence before he reads it in the paper. He is more fragile than he pretends and he needs the support of the group to get through this. He can't afford to push everyone away."
"And what of you Severus?" asked McGonagall, with that annoying twinkle again. "Don't you need friendship and support? Or have you come to believe your own mask of toughness?"
"I am not the concern here-" Severus started angrily.
"Oh but you are," McGonagall stopped him with a raised hand. "Severus Snape has also been called on to give evidence."
"What?" Severus said, although he had heard her quite clearly, "I can't give evidence like this!"
"I quite understand, but your evidence must be heard nonetheless." McGonagall said calmly.
"I must reveal my identity." Severus said miserably, envisioning the looks of disgust and betrayal that would appear on the faces of his closest friends when they discovered him to be none other than Severus Snape, evil, greasy potions master and Death Eater. The look of horror he imagined Harriet would show when she learned that she had shared passionate moments with a man who was responsible for the death of her parents. He should be prepared for this, he was meant to be alone.
"I don't see that is necessary," McGonagall said, twinkling maddeningly as Severus's heart soared in hope, "the Wizengamot can examine your memories in a pensieve. You will not have to give evidence in person. No doubt you will be attending the trial to support Mr Malfoy and Miss Potter anyway?"
"I- I," Severus stuttered, completely floundering and trying to regain his composure, "if you think it prudent." he managed.
"I do," she smiled knowingly, "as I'm sure do you."
Understanding himself to be dismissed, Severus stood and headed for the door, only to stop when the headmistress called his name.
"I shall keep you informed of any progress with your cure." she said, leaving Severus wondering what she meant for a moment.
"Yes," he said with a confidence he didn't feel, "I would appreciate that." he inclined his head towards her and then left the office.