Chapter Seven – Accusations and Aurors

Harry Potter was disturbed. It wasn't just Seamus' death that disturbed him, either. It was something about Remus' guests. They had said they were Frank and Guenevire...no, Genevieve, Longbottom. But if Harry remembered correctly, Dumbledore had told Harry that they had been sent insane by those Death Eaters...Crouch was one of them, along with three others: two men, and a woman. Harry remembered these faces as if he had fallen into Dumbledore's Pensive only minutes ago. In fact, the whole situation was clear in his mind. There was no possible way that it was Frank and Genevieve Longbottom Remus had with him.

"Unless," Ron told him after Harry recited his thoughts to him and still quietly crying Hermione, "they are different Longbottoms. I mean, it's not a completely strange name, right?"

Harry nodded. "Possible, but Neville's father was also named Frank."

Ron pouted and Hermione grabbed another napkin from the table and wiped away the last of her tears. Ron then looked at her. "You alright?"

She nodded sadly. "I'm okay." Hermione turned around to see Ginny Weasley, who had been quite asleep during the whole upheaval, enter the Great Hall: her face as red as her hair, eyes puffy, and still in her nightgown.

"Oh, Ron!" She blubbered, running over to the trio. She collapsed onto the bench and Ron wrapped one of his freckled arms around her shoulders.

"Ginny, quiet down. We just got Hermione under control!"

Harry glared at him. "Ron! Couldn't you be a little sensitive? Can't you see she's terrified?" Ron turned back around to Harry and gave him a look, but Harry just shook it off. "Ginny, come over here."

Somewhat surprised, and also quite happy, Ginny hurried to the other side of the table. Harry smiled at her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and handed her a napkin.

"There. Now, I believe you girls need a day off. What if we talk to Dumbledore and offer up the idea of a little rump in Hogsmeade? The whole school could join in." When the girls, Hermione and Ginny, squealed with delight for the idea, Harry broke into a smile and turned to Ron. "Care to go find Dumbledore with me? I believe this matter calls for immediate attention."

^*^*^

"I can't believe you...I couldn't! I'd remember!"

"I personally saw this, and knew it would happen..."

"The poor children! Must be so afraid..."

"Always knew he'd do this! Werewolves aren't to be teachers!"

"All of you, quiet!"

Everyone stopped their chatter to look at the flustered Albus Dumbledore. He had his hands placed on his desk, and his old body was upright. His eyes flamed at everyone in the room, and his face showed plain, clear unhappiness.

"I do not believe that Remus had planned, or meant to kill a student. I frankly think it is impossible for him to commit such a felony."

"Like his friend Sirius Black?!" squeaked Flitwick. "You trusted him too, Albus, and look what happened there!"

"What did happen? Can someone remind me?"

Everyone turned to see Sirius Black in the doorway of Albus' office. Flitwick screamed, and the Auror pulled out his wand and was about to order for some handcuffs to fly onto Sirius' hands and ankles, when Harry and Ron pushed through Sirius into the office.

"Headmaster!" Harry said, not even noticing everyone in the room. "Ron and I had a marvelous idea for the students who are upset. There is not possible way we can continue classes, and, oh, hello Sirius, and we all just feel so overwhelmed...I mean, Ginny and Hermione are still probably crying in the hall right now and—"

Albus held up a hand and Harry fell silent. Sirius turned to hug him, but the Auror shouted, "Just stop right there, Black!"

Harry looked up at Albus. "Professor Dumbledore, what's going on?" He moved closer to Sirius, causing the Auror to raise his wand more. He blinked at the Auror, before stating with a strange authority, "Sir, that wand is not necessary."

The Auror raised his eyebrows, but did lower his wand. He turned to Albus, who nodded to him that it was safe. Flitwick continued to shake and let out an occasional whimper. Dumbledore nodded at the Auror and smiled at Flitwick. "I can assure you, Sirius Black is as much a murderer as I am." And though Flitwick kept his distance, he did stop whining.

But Sirius was too busy assessing the situation to hear Flitwick be afraid. He stared at how everyone was positioned accusingly at Remus Lupin. Sirius and Remus were best friends, and seeing his friend in the position he was in was upsetting to poor Sirius. "Excuse me, sir," Sirius interrupted Albus, as he was explaining to the Auror that Sirius was not to be attacked, "but...what is going on?"

"Harry, Ron, please return to your meals." Harry and Ron looked at each other and Sirius, but sadly nodded and left without confrontation. I'm sorry to say," Albus began, "that your...our friend here is in some trouble." He motioned at Remus. "We know he didn't mean to do what has been done, but it is quite serious indeed."

Sirius smirked at Remus. "Ohhh," he cooed childishly, "what did you do now, Moony?"

Remus scowled. "Quiet, Padfoot. This is serious!" His elbows then rested on his thighs, and his head fell into his palms. "Professor Dumbledore, I swear, I did not kill Seamus."

Widening his eyes, Sirius gasped. "A murder? Moody!"

"I didn't do it!" Remus growled, his eyes flashing at Sirius.

Taken back, Sirius put up his hands defensively. "Hey now, I didn't accuse you of anything. Just surprised that such an unspeakable crime could be held against you!" He turned to Albus. "May I ask how Seamus died?"

"Animal attack, Mister Black. And it was clearly a werewolf."

"When did this happen?"

"Last night. It was in his dormitory."

Sirius pouted. "Aren't Harry and Ron in his room? Wouldn't they have seen anything?"

Albus looked surprised. He then looked at Professor McGonagall. "Did you talk to them?"

She shook her head. "I assumed you would speak to them eventually."

Jumping into action, Albus told Severus in a hurried voice, "Go find Harry and Ron. Dean too. And," he turned to Minerva, "what do you think about getting Ruby in here?"

"I think that would be essential, sir," she replied.

"Right." Albus looked back at Snape. "Do you have all that? Harry, Ron, Dean, and Ruby. Make sure Ruby stays fairly quiet until the boys are gone."

Snape nodded and rushed out of the office, while everyone else questioned Sirius and Remus, knocking past Frank and Genevieve. "Pardon," he whispered, then suddenly took a double take. "Frank?"

Frank smiled at Severus Snape and held out a hand. "Long time, Severus. I'm surprised to see you here. Didn't think you'd ever be trusted by Albus after they caught you with You-Know-Who."

"Quiet," Snape growled, then smiled. "What are you doing here? No offence, but I thought you were in Saint Mungo's?"

Genevieve laughed. "Severus Snape...always the one to put things bluntly. Originally, yes, but we were brought out of our illness."

"With what? No potion or magic is far advanced enough....Who could do such a wonderful thing?"

With a sheepish grin, Frank simply replied, "Voldemort.