Trouble in The Staff Room
Chapter Three: Complications
Severus Snape always stayed at Hogwarts during the summer. He
earned a low wage, but could only buy stock for the Potions
department three times a year. If he ran out of something, he
needed to buy it out of his own money, which meant by the end of
the year he had earned very little money for himself. Therefore,
to cut down the cost of travelling too and from Hogwarts and the
cost of maintaining a rent on a house for the six weeks of the
summer, he stayed at Hogwarts with Mr Argus Filch, Mr Rubeus
Hagrid and all of the house elves. (There was of course the
ghosts, but they didn't need anywhere to live either as they were
destined to stay at Hogwarts until their purpose had been
completed [many of the ghosts had been there so long they had
forgotten what their purpose was!])
It was the third week of the summer holidays and he had yet to
come under any problems with his many castle-mates. Mr Filch if
he had objections kept them to his self and Hagrid was perfectly
all right with it, for he had told Snape that. The house-elves
didn't care as long as they were working, so that didn't matter
at all.
"'Ere, Sev, do yer want ter come ter the Hog's Head wiff
me?" Hagrid asked.
"Well I've got nothing else to do, yes count me in!"
Snape replied, "Argus?"
"What?" Filch asked looking up from his paper, his
beady eyes widening.
"We're going to the pub, do you want to come?"
"No thanks, I got a lot to do." his gaunt face lit by a
shy smile.
"Oh, ok."
Severus Snape and Hagrid set off out of the large mahogany doors
of Hogwarts. The heat of the day he caused the wooden frame to
expand so the door was rather stiff and needed a good shoulder to
it. They walked at swift pace down to the village of Hogsmede.
The dying embers of the sun cast dancing shadows along the floor,
giving the trees personalities. The bird song was soft and
gentle; the insects buzzing away was a relaxing change from the
constant creak and groan of wood. The world seemed at peace,
nothing could possible spoil such a wonderful summer evening.
* * *
Hagrid pushed open the door to the Hog's Head and ducked so
that he could get his large frame through the small doorway.
Almost dwarfed by Hagrids huge appearance, Snape entered behind
him. Immediately the pub went silent. No one spoke; they just
stared in Snape's direction.
"Evening." He said nervously, wishing that these people
were not staring at him. Still no one spoke or moved; they just
kept on staring.
"Evenin' Madam Rosemerta. One pint of yer best ale
an'," Hagrid turned to Severus.
"One Butterbeer, thanks Hagrid."
"An' one Butterbeer, if yer would please." Madam
Rosemerta didn't move, or answer Hagrids requests. A small, plump
man, with a bold head like an egg came running out from the back
perspiring heavily in the evening heat.
"Sorry mate we can't serve 'im." He indicated to
Severus. The man spoke, dropping his' hs.
"Why not?" Hagrid asked shocked.
"Well he ain't well, normal is he?"
"Is that anythin' to discriminate against? I ain't normal
an' yer still serve me!"
"Yes but, your not like 'im, are ya? You're normal."
"Look 'ere you!" Hagrid started getting angry.
"You 'ave no righ' ter discriminate against 'im like that! '
E's as normal as you or me! Jus' 'cos he's not got the same
interests doesn' mean that e's bad does it?!"
"Look 'agrid, I can't serve him and that's final. ' E's
barred from this pub!"
"Listen hear you and listen carefully. This man is a brave
man! He cam' out ter us all at the school to great personal risk.
Now I'm gonna stand by 'im like any friend should, and if anyone
messes 'im abou' they will answer ter me, got that?" Hagrid
gave the innkeeper a threatening look.
"Hagrid, leave it, let's just go." Snape tried to pull
Hagrid's arm to indicate that he wanted none of this and wanted
to leave.
"No, Sev. This people here 'Ave got a problem that they need
ter sort, an' I'm goin' ter be the one to sort it out!"
"Hagrid, please, let's just go, I don't want any trouble,
please." Snape was beginning to get frantic, the situation
could turn nasty at any minute and not even Hagrid could defend
him from hundreds of locals.
"Listen to the man 'agrid. Get out whilst you're still able
to walk." The innkeeper was a brave man to stand up to a
half giant like Hagrid.
"Hagrid."
"Okay, I'm goin' an' don't expect me custom here
anymore!" Hagrid turned and walked out followed by a more
relaxed (well not very more as all he wanted was to get out of
the pub).
* * *
"Hagrid, maybe it's better if you"
"Shut the fuck up Sev! I am won' let bastards like 'em put
me off havin' a good drink and nor should it stop you!"
Hagrids own determination shocked even himself.
"All the same Hagrid, from the looks of things I'd say that
all of Hogsmede know. It won't be safe, you go on and have your
drinks, please don't let me stop you." Snape replied. His
heart had sunk and he was slowly slipping into depression.
"Sev, are you goin' ter let bigamist bastards like 'em back
there," he jabbed his fist rather threateningly at the pub
behind him. "Rule yer life and tell yer what yer can an'
can't do?"
"People do that all ready, Hagrid. They're called the
Government."
"Seriously, Sev."
"Hagrid." Snape looked at the moon, which looked sad
and sorrowful. It resembled what Severus know felt. Rejected.
"All my life I am going to suffer from prejudice, all your
life you are going to suffer from prejudice. None of us can
change the fact, there is always going to be racism, sexism,
homophobia and any other kind of prejudice. It ruins our lives
but we can't stop it. The world will never change, we can never
stop prejudice, it will always be with us. I can't stop it, you
can't stop it, no one can stop it. What's the point of trying to
change peoples minds?" There was silence.
"Yer right Sev. But come for a drink, it'll do yer the world
o' good." Hagrid, replied, looking sorrowfully back at his
friend.
"No thank you, Hagrid. I'd just spoil your evening. Good
night." Snape turned and began to walk slowly back up the
hill towards Hogwarts. The journey was longer and harder for his
heart was heavy and he had nothing to go back for. He knew how
the village knew, that smile of Filchs had been confusing, and
know he knew why.
Bastard. Snape said angrily to himself. Homophobic bastard. He
turned to look at the moon.
"Did you hear that?" he shouted. "The world is
full of fucken' bastards!" tears poured down his face, his
heart hurt and he wanted desperately to turn back the clock so
that none of this ever happened.
