From that night onward, peace reigned. An unsteady, awkward peace,
but peace. Draco stopped harassing Erin, Erin stopped picking fights, and
Severus resumed protecting his daughter.
Severus should have felt more relaxed. But in truth, he was as tense and worried as ever. The rumors about Voldemort's child had flourished, and Severus suspected that the Ministry of Magic would soon investigate.
Halloween had been celebrated two weeks before, and already all of Hogwarts was longing for Christmas break. A longing, thought Severus, reflected in their test scores. Only a few students - Erin included - had passed his most recent exam. It looked like he was going to have to make up test scores for the Slytherins again. He could care less about the other Houses. Let them fail.
Severus picked up another test to grade. He was in the teacher's lounge, which for once was empty. Suddenly he heard voices coming down the hall.
"I must object, Cornelius," said Dumbledore.
"Albus, if You-Know-Who's child really is here, then we need to know." Fudge sounded irritated.
Severus froze. They were coming in here. Wanting to listen to the rest of their conversation, he looked frantically for a place to hide.
The doorknob began to turn. Severus decided on his last resort.
He turned into a mongoose.
Severus-turned-animal quickly ducked beneath a sofa as Fudge and Dumbledore entered the room. Severus had been an unregistered Animagi ever since his school days, a fact that only Dumbledore knew. When he changed, he became a mongoose - a cat-bodied, weasel-faced animal from India that was famous for its snake-catching abilities. This secret skill had come in handy more than once. Now was one of those times.
Above Severus, Dumbledore and Fudge sat on the couch. Severus' bright red eyes widened as he eavesdropped.
"Cornelius, doing this will merely agitate the students. They are already beginning to be suspicious of each other Ministry confirmation of the rumors will only make things worse."
"Albus, this child is a danger to itself and to others, and probably in league with his or her father. To protect everyone, the child must be identified."
"And if the rumors are untrue?"
"Then we can forget the whole business."
There was a silence. Dumbledore spoke again. "Then there is nothing I can do to dissuade you?"
"No. This is a Ministry order. You do see why, don't you?" Fudge's voice was suddenly pleading.
"I can see your reasoning," said Dumbledore neutrally. Severus could hear him get up and walk towards the door. "But all that I feel is a great pity for this child."
"What do you mean?" Fudge asked, but Dumbledore had already left. Fudge hesitated for a moment, then followed.
When he was sure that they were gone, Severus darted out from under the couch and quickly Transfigured back into his normal shape. Without even pausing for breath, he threw open the door and ran down the halls.
"Honeydukes," he gasped to the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle sprang aside and Severus flung himself into Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster was sitting behind his desk.
"I was - " Severus started, holding the stitch in his side.
"I know," said Dumbledore. "The test will be performed within two days. I'm asking for each Head of House," here Dumbledore paused significantly, "to provide a list of the students whom they feel should be tested. I will not be reviewing these. I'm leaving it up to your judgement."
"Thank you," said Seveurs quietly.
"You're welcome," said Dumbledore.
Severus should have felt more relaxed. But in truth, he was as tense and worried as ever. The rumors about Voldemort's child had flourished, and Severus suspected that the Ministry of Magic would soon investigate.
Halloween had been celebrated two weeks before, and already all of Hogwarts was longing for Christmas break. A longing, thought Severus, reflected in their test scores. Only a few students - Erin included - had passed his most recent exam. It looked like he was going to have to make up test scores for the Slytherins again. He could care less about the other Houses. Let them fail.
Severus picked up another test to grade. He was in the teacher's lounge, which for once was empty. Suddenly he heard voices coming down the hall.
"I must object, Cornelius," said Dumbledore.
"Albus, if You-Know-Who's child really is here, then we need to know." Fudge sounded irritated.
Severus froze. They were coming in here. Wanting to listen to the rest of their conversation, he looked frantically for a place to hide.
The doorknob began to turn. Severus decided on his last resort.
He turned into a mongoose.
Severus-turned-animal quickly ducked beneath a sofa as Fudge and Dumbledore entered the room. Severus had been an unregistered Animagi ever since his school days, a fact that only Dumbledore knew. When he changed, he became a mongoose - a cat-bodied, weasel-faced animal from India that was famous for its snake-catching abilities. This secret skill had come in handy more than once. Now was one of those times.
Above Severus, Dumbledore and Fudge sat on the couch. Severus' bright red eyes widened as he eavesdropped.
"Cornelius, doing this will merely agitate the students. They are already beginning to be suspicious of each other Ministry confirmation of the rumors will only make things worse."
"Albus, this child is a danger to itself and to others, and probably in league with his or her father. To protect everyone, the child must be identified."
"And if the rumors are untrue?"
"Then we can forget the whole business."
There was a silence. Dumbledore spoke again. "Then there is nothing I can do to dissuade you?"
"No. This is a Ministry order. You do see why, don't you?" Fudge's voice was suddenly pleading.
"I can see your reasoning," said Dumbledore neutrally. Severus could hear him get up and walk towards the door. "But all that I feel is a great pity for this child."
"What do you mean?" Fudge asked, but Dumbledore had already left. Fudge hesitated for a moment, then followed.
When he was sure that they were gone, Severus darted out from under the couch and quickly Transfigured back into his normal shape. Without even pausing for breath, he threw open the door and ran down the halls.
"Honeydukes," he gasped to the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle sprang aside and Severus flung himself into Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster was sitting behind his desk.
"I was - " Severus started, holding the stitch in his side.
"I know," said Dumbledore. "The test will be performed within two days. I'm asking for each Head of House," here Dumbledore paused significantly, "to provide a list of the students whom they feel should be tested. I will not be reviewing these. I'm leaving it up to your judgement."
"Thank you," said Seveurs quietly.
"You're welcome," said Dumbledore.