McGonagall and Severus stepped aside and watched while Pomfrey ran a few more diagnostic spells and settled House in for the night, putting an extra pillow under his leg and tucking an extra blanket over him for warmth. Warming charms didn't react well with the aftereffects of the cruciatus curse.
"Severus, if you would prefer, I will deal with the Weasleys," McGonagall offered.
"No. I'll go with you," he answered. "This has to be dealt with carefully, him being a member of the Golden Trio and all."
"Severus."
"Besides, it isn't in Weasley's general nature to do such a thing. Clearly this is due to the war and some allowances can be made provided Weasley is willing to participate."
"Surely you can't mean to emulate Albus and allow him to stay at the school," Minerva asked, stunned that Severus of all people would suggest leniency for a Gryffindor.
"No. Weasley must be suspended at the least or most likely expelled. But House is right. He needs help. I would sooner see him sent to the mind healers at St. Mungo's than confined in Azkaban."
"Well, let's go attend to Mr. Weasley," Minerva said. "Tippy, please take us to the headmaster's office."
When McGonagall and Snape arrived back in his office, Bill had Ron bound in a chair, silenced and was at the floo calling his parents to the school. He looked up at the professors as Snape moved to take his seat.
"I've already called the aurors," Bill said grimly as he stood back to allow his parents to come through the floo.
"Tippy, please arrange tea for all," Snape asked, nodding to Molly and Arthur as they stepped through, Molly going immediately to hug Ron.
Molly was dabbing tears away as she came to take her seat next to Arthur. "Is it true? He really cast a cruciatus on Professor House?" she asked, hoping that someone would tell her it was a misunderstanding.
"I'm afraid it is," Minerva answered.
"Why would he do such a thing?"
"As soon as the aurors arrive, we will allow him to answer that question," Severus said.
"Aurors! But you can't mean to have him arrested!" Molly protested.
"Mom, he used an unforgivable on a professor," Bill said. "The aurors have to be called."
"But he couldn't have meant it," Molly said, teary-eyed, as she tried to come to grips with the whole incident.
"Enough intent was there to cause serious pain and aftereffects to Professor House," Snape answered, "although I don't believe the rage fueling the spell had anything to do with the professor."
"Bill said that Harry and Hermione came to him about Ron. They were worried because he was so angry," Arthur interjected.
"Yes, he has been quite angry," McGonagall agreed, "right from the first day of school and with little to no provocation."
The floo flared up again and two aurors stepped through. "Headmaster Snape," the elder of the pair said in greeting.
"Auror Smythe. Mr. Ronald Weasley used the cruciatus curse this evening on Professor House. The professor believes that Mr. Weasley could benefit more from an enforced stay with mind healers than time in Azkaban, that his anger is a reflection of undealt with emotions on his part in the war."
"Lots of people have undealt with emotions on the war and don't cast unforgivables," Smythe commented unsympathetically.
"Mr. Weasley, like many others in this school, was too young to face the atrocities of war as he did," Snape drawled. "I think an attempt to help him deal with his anger is of more use than merely sentencing him to prison."
"Well, let's hear what he has to say for himself," Smythe said. Bill ended the silencing spell and stepped back.
"Mr. Weasley, you understand what you are charged with?"
"You're talking to the wrong person! Professor House is looking to recruit new Death Eaters here in the school and Snape is letting him do it!" Ron shouted angrily. "So I used the cruciatus, so what? I would have gotten him to confess if they hadn't stopped me."
"Professor House has no connections to Death Eaters; he is a half blood, raised in the muggle world until just this past summer," McGonagall explained to the aurors.
"Yeah, right, that's why he's spending all this time getting everyone to chum up with the Slytherins, lulling them into a false sense of security," Ron protested.
"Madam Pomfrey looked him up, Mr. Weasley. He was a world renowned muggle physician before he retired to come here," McGonagall answered.
"No matter what Professor House's background is, the fact remains that you used an unforgivable curse on him, on the school grounds," Snape drawled, bring the topic back into focus. "Assault on a teacher is a suspension at the very least; use of an unforgivable should merit expulsion from Hogwarts. I am proposing that Mr. Weasley be taken into custody and remanded to the mind healers at St Mungo's to deal with his anger and vengeful hatred of all things Slytherin. If Mr. Weasley actually participates in his treatment, I am prepared to suspend him for the duration of his treatment. If he does not participate, I will have no option but to expel him."
"That's generous of you, Headmaster," Auror Smythe replied. "I'll make the proposal to the chief auror; he'll let you know what he decides."
"I'm not going to a mind healer! You're the ones who are need help if you're falling for this trap. He's going to paint me as crazy, then he'll start on Harry!"
"Ronald, please, just see the mind healers," Arthur urged his youngest son. He was truly disturbed with the skewed perspective Ron had and the illegal and aggressive way he'd lashed out with it.
"Oh, you too? Bill got to you, did he? I'm not surprised, you always stood with him and Charley over the rest of his," Ron sneered.
"Ronald, that is enough!" Molly snapped angrily as she stood and approached him. "You'll go along with Auror Smythe and see the mind healer as you've been told and behave yourself!"
Luckily there was still enough of the old Ron inside him to capitulate to his Mother's stern demands. He sulkily followed the Aurors through the floo after being magically bound without further comment although they could all see the rage in his eyes still.
"I'm very sorry for this Severus. Do pass on our apologies to Professor House," Arthur said as he and Molly prepared to go to the Auror office and see what the next steps would be and what they might need to do.
"I will. I do hope you can persuade him to truly make use of the mind healers. They would be his best chance," Snape said sincerely.
Bill decided to go with his parents for now, but told Severus and Minerva that he would be back in time to teach his classes. After they were all gone, Severus sighed and leaned back wearily in his chair. Minerva poured them each a finger of fire whiskey, handing him his glass as she took a seat across from him.
"Is it too much to hope that Mr. Weasley will be the worst we will see?" she asked.
"Probably," Severus answered cynically. "So many of the students were affected; it's very possible there will be more. Although perhaps we can hope that calling the aurors in will be enough of a deterrent to any others considering acting out so violently."
"Oh, let us hope for that at least," Minerva agreed. "Severus, is it possible to arrange for mind healers to come to the school? A weekend or two a month? If they could see students that Poppy and Professor House identify as troubled, that might nip any chance of further attacks in the bud."
"It might. We'll send a letter of inquiry after we hear what will become of Mr. Weasley," Severus agreed. After finishing her drink, Minerva fussed over Severus a bit, aided by Tippy, soon seeing the grumbling headmaster into his own bed with admonishment to stay there and rest.
The next morning, Auror Smythe returned to the school to take House's statement and update Snape and McGonagall about Ron. House had just finished breakfast and been checked over by Poppy. Snape's potions had stopped the tremors and Poppy's had stopped the muscle spasms but he felt very sore all over. He looked up as McGonagall came in followed by someone he assumed was an auror.
"Professor, how are you feeling this morning?" Minerva asked.
"Better, but every muscle hurts like hell."
"This is Auror Smythe. He's here to take your statement for the case."
Smythe drew up a chair and sat down as Minerva retreated to Poppy's office.
"Tell me what happened with Mr. Weasley, Professor."
House recounted everything that happened, including the initial protests in the classroom about his proposed memorial for the fallen family and friends of the students regardless of what side they had fought on. "Weasley has been living in a near constant state of rage since the train ride to school. Living with that kind of rage makes you do irrational things that you wouldn't ordinarily do. I think it comes from his time in the war. That said, I think he needs counseling more than prison."
"Since Deputy Headmistress McGonagall says that you were a renowned physician in the muggle world, I'll carry your suggestion back to my superiors. There will be a hearing with the wizengamot that you'll have to testify at, but given your previous profession, they should give your recommendation serious consideration. Although they've been coming down hard on dark spells, they'll want a way to show leniency on Weasley."
"Well, he has to be willing to participate for it to work, that's the catch. Otherwise he may as well go to prison, it'll do about the same amount of good. I wouldn't be surprised if he has to sit in prison a while to figure out that counseling would be the better option."
"Very well, just read through this and make sure your testimony was recorded accurately and sign the bottom," Smythe agreed. House read through it and signed, handing it back to him.
"You should be prepared though, Professor," Smythe said hesitantly. "You've been in the paper recently. The Wizengamot won't mind your association with Headmaster Snape but expect some stiff resistance to your association with Narcissa Malfoy."
"The Wizengamot can shove their resistance where the sun won't ever hit it," House snarled, startling Smythe into a chuckle.
"Don't shoot the messenger," he said, rolling up the testimony and tucking it into his robes before heading back to the Ministry.
Narcissa arrived shortly after Smythe left. Both Draco and Harry had told her what happened to House by letter. She immediately contacted Snape, asked for and received permission to floo to the school to visit him.
"Gregory, are you alright?" she asked, leaning in to give him a peck on the cheek.
"I'm okay, really," he said, surprised and pleased to see her.
"Draco and Harry told me what happened and Severus updated me on what the aurors are doing about young Mr. Weasley. I'm so sorry you had to experience that spell. It was a favorite of the Dark Lord; he used every time he needed a distraction. I am quite surprised that Mr. Weasley used it though, angry or not," she said as she took a seat next to his bed.
"I'm not. I remember feeling nothing but hurt and rage for a long time and then I did something I would never have ordinarily done. It's no surprise that he did too."
"Severus is concerned about your leg. Did his potion to calm the tremors help limit the effect?"
"Yeah, I think it did. Madam Pomfrey gave me an anti-spasmodic too. I feel like I got run over by the Hogwart's Express but I'm okay. I'm under strict orders to call Healer Collingsworth this morning."
"Good. You should go and see him as well."
"If he's free, if he's on shift, and if he feels it's necessary."
"I'm sure he'll feel it's necessary after he hears what happened," Narcissa said, giving him a look that clearly said she knew he was just trying to get out of going. "I did raise a son you know, you're not going to fool me that easily. And don't think that Draco and Harry won't hound you to go either."
House sighed dramatically. "I know. I just don't want to risk hearing anything is wrong. It's been feeling better."
"All the more reason to have it checked right away."
House sighed again and got up out of the bed, stepping carefully into Poppy's office to use the floo. As Narcissa predicted, Collingsworth wanted to see him at once when he heard what had happened.
"Narcissa," he called out.
"Yes?" She answered, coming into the office.
"I have to go to St. Mungo's and since this was at your insistence, I think it's only fair that you should have to go with me."
"Gregory," she laughed. "If you want me to go with you, you only have to ask. Such blatant and heavy handed manipulation is beneath you."
"Okay, okay. The appointment is at ten. You want to go have something to eat first?"
"I'd love to," she said with a smile. Taking up one of Poppy's quills, she wrote a note to Severus where they were going and sent it to him through the floo. "Ready?" He nodded and they both stepped through the floo to St. Mungo's.
After checking in, House and Narcissa walked to a nearby restaurant and got a secluded table. "Draco told me about your memorial project. I think it could be quite healing personally although I do share his skepticism on whether it's too soon for the light side to grasp that we on the losing side loved our lost family members as much as they loved theirs."
"This is a good time," House said, taking a sip of coffee. "Right now, when they are still deeply missing their family, they have the capacity to understand that you are missing yours. It's good to realize you're not alone in grieving."
"Even when some of our family members are directly responsible for why they are missing theirs?"
"Even then. I know it won't be easy, but if wizarding society is going to pull itself together, then both sides have to start seeing each other as just people again, not the light side and the dark side. That's part of what I'm hoping to show right now."
"Why does this mean so much to you? I mean, I'm happy that it does but I don't understand why," Narcissa asked as she buttered a scone.
"Too soon old, too late smart. Losing Wilson after burning every bridge I had with anyone. Finding my real father and a whole clan here. I been trying to think if something could have derailed my slide to rock bottom. I'd like to stop a few kids from going down that road if I can. Penance maybe."
"You seem to like teaching," Narcissa observed as their meals were brought to the table.
"I do, actually," House agreed. "It's not as intellectually challenging as medicine but it is socially challenging not to mention trying to get a roomful of teenagers to listen to you."
"Do you think it's likely you'll stay at Hogwarts then? If I remember correctly, Healer Collingsworth was interested in you becoming an adjunct teacher of future healers. Beyond the basic introduction course you're doing already."
"I'll wind up teaching healers. Can't stand the idea of them turning out substandard at thinking outside the box like so many muggle doctors. But I'm not leaving Hogwarts. I like it there. St. Mungo's will just have to deal with weekend and summer courses."
"Draco is greatly enjoying your classes. And I don't think it even has anything to do with leveling the playing field in house rivalries. You challenge him to strive for more and to think outside the box, as you say. He's still undecided about what to do for a career. He was planning on following his father's footsteps into politics but now… well. That may be more challenging to get into now. He is thinking about whether he'd make a good healer."
"He might. He's certainly got the basic skills in spades for it. Could he be great at it? I don't know yet. And I think Draco needs to really be great at whatever he chooses to do, not just pick a career based on the path of least resistance."
"What do you think he should do?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"I think he'd make a hell of a teacher. I'm learning a lot from him. He presents information clearly and logically and explains why things need to be that way," House answered easily.
Narcissa shook her head slowly. "No one will ever accept a Malfoy teaching their children, Gregory."
"Like no one would accept Snape as the Headmaster of Hogwarts? Already happened. Narcissa, things are going to change, you and Draco aren't going to be pariahs forever. Don't sit back and expect them to keep treating you that way. Treat them like equals and expect to be treated as an equal. One by one, they'll start acting like you expect them to. Human nature," he added with a shrug.
"I must say you're awfully convincing," Narcissa said with a smile.
"Of course I am, I'm right," he answered glibly with a grin. "When Snape came to his first meal in the great hall, three quarters of the student body, over all four houses, were happy to see him there and loads of kids came up to the high table to wish him well. Now if he can get that from the kids after last year, after killing Dumbledore even if it was planned and a mercy killing, I don't see why you and Draco can't find a place in society again. You have the backing of Snape and McGonagall, not to mention Lord Black," he added.
Narcissa nodded as she thought about what he was saying. It wouldn't be easy. There were still outcries against Severus and yet, there he was, Headmaster of Hogwarts with the school's own approval as well as that of the Ministry. "Professor Malfoy does have a nice ring to it," she said with a smile.
