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CLAWS OF A RAVEN
by Tyde

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Chapter Fourteen

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Professor Palgetti did not hold classes that day. Those who had noticed her state that morning at breakfast were hardly surprised. Professor Flitwick stood patiently with the group of fifth year Gryffindors and looked up and down the halls.

"I really do need to get to my next class" he fussed. "Those first years will be running amuck if I don't be careful"

"We'll be fine Professor" said Seamus.

"I don't think so Mister Finnigan. I will ha-" and as he spoke a figure came rushing around the corner, straightening her robes. Her grey hair was piled up on top of her head as if she'd tried to fix it there in the middle of a hurricane.

Harry's mouth hung open in shock as the woman approached them. "Sorry Professor Flitwick, I was with the Headmaster just going over a few details of the classes" She turned to look at the gathering of students who looked at her inquisitively. "Hello there Harry. Best close your mouth dear, you'll attract flies" Hermione and Ron looked at him curiously. "Well come on then, into the classroom you go, I've already wasted a precious few minutes of the lesson time. Take your seats, quickly please"

Harry still seemed a little shocked and just took his seat wordlessly. The Professor rose her wand in the air and wrote her name.

"Good morning class my name is Professor Figg and I'll be taking a few classes for Professor Palgetti as she is not feeling well today. Can anyone tell me what you were up to in the textbook"

As usual Hermione's hand went up in the air and as she told the teacher in minute details what they had covered that year Harry and Ron held a whispered conversation.

"That's Mrs Figg?" said Ron confused. "The old Muggle lady with all those cats that used to look after you?"

"Yeah. Well she's obviously not a Muggle is she? Dumbledore must have planted her there after I was given to the Dursleys so she could keep an eye on me"

"I'd love to see the look on your Uncle's face when he learnt that old Mrs Figg was a witch! It's funny enough the way he acts around my Dad, this'd probably make him explode or something"

Arabella Figg winked at Harry as she started the lesson. They were to turn to chapter ten which dealt with different Dark methods of concealing one's identity. She thought with the happenings of the fake Mad Eye Moody that it was best for the students to be well aware of false identities and concealment charms. There were several diagrams in the book of various disguises and Harry pored over them carefully.

The students copied down the information she was spouting about the different magical cloaks that existed. Harry was surprised to learn that there was one rarer than the Invisibility Cloak and in the history of magic their had only ever been one of them. It wasn't the type of cloak that one could buy with money and if you could that person would have to be filthy rich and have millions of Galleons to play with. He looked at the artist impression of the cloak and shivered. It was just downright weird. Why would anyone want a cloak like that? And why would it be so expensive?

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That evening a loud thunk and a blast of soot blew out of the fireplace in Dumbledore's office. Cornelius Fudge clambered out rather hastily. The Headmaster poked his head curiously out from his sleeping quarters and did not at all seem surprised that the Minister for Magic had just shot out of his chimney.

"Good evening Cornelius" he said pleasantly.

"Albus" he was puffing and dusting off his bowler hat which due to the soot from the chimney now looked to be a rather sick brown colour. "We have analysed the potion and I came as quickly as I could. Where is Severus Snape?"

Dumbledore smiled with a twinkle in his eye and answered "In his quarters no doubt. Shall I fetch him?"

A vein appeared to pop out of Cornelius Fudge's forehead and his eyes shot wide open. "Shall you? Of course you bloody shall!" he said exasperatedly, "I know what that twinkle in your eye means – you knew what was in the Butterbeer all along didn't you? I ought to have you fired!" As the Minister spoke the Headmaster threw a handful of self-summoning floo powder from a jar marked SS into the fireplace. He bid the Minister to take a seat, but the man with the green bowler hat refused.

"Calm down Cornelius. I did not know, but our analysts here informed me early this morning"

"And you didn't think it wise to inform the Ministry of this?"

"You don't always believe what I have to say, I thought I should wait until you figured it out yourself. The Ministry have more power in legal matters than I do anyway, officially" and the twinkle was back in.

"The position of Minister for Magic has been offered to you dozens of times, if you wanted it all you had to do was accept"

"That's not what I want and you know it. And why you are here has nothing whatsoever to do with my career. Please take a seat. Severus should be along shortly" At that word a knock was heard at the door and the Potions master stalked in. He looked a little paler than usual (which was saying something) and he had one hand in his pocket.

"You wished to see me Headmaster?"

"Yes Severus. Mister Fudge has just informed me that the Ministry have analysed the potion responsible for the students ill health. Conlabor Imbibo" As he said this the face of Severus Snape changed. It drew itself together and the eyebrows met in the middle in a frown. Deep in his stomach a feeling of dread began to stir itself. "Now I was just about to tell Cornelius that it could not have been you as you left that life behind you 14 years ago"

"What reason would I have to poison the students?" Snape looked directly at Fudge who seemed to get a little nervous. The Potions master had after all been a Death Eater and could very well still be one. Fudge gathered himself and the shred of courage he had in the face of such hostility.

"Dumbledore may have been the one who vouched for you Snape, but no one else ever believed you had changed" He unfurled a piece of parchment and held it up so both Snape and Dumbledore could see it. "Now I have here a directive that gives me permission to search your private quarters and supply cupboards. I suggest you do not make this difficult for yourself"

Snape scowled at him and folded his arms in front of his chest. "You're the only one making it difficult on yourself, Minister. You will spend time investigating fruitless leads won't you? It's what you Ministry types are good at"

"I suggest you keep your mouth shut. I don't have time for idle chit chat Snape. Give me your wand and kindly show me to your quarters immediately. Then we shall get to the bottom of all this" He took Snape's wand from his outstretched hand and tucked it into a hidden pocket of his robes for safekeeping. "And don't try anything. The castle grounds are surrounded by Magical Law Enforcement officers. They know exactly what to do if a rogue wizard lets loose." Then settling the tip of his own wand in between the shoulder blades of the Potions master he marched Snape out of Dumbledore's office and towards the stairs. Albus followed at a more gentle pace, marvelling at how Cornelius Fudge had seemed to pick up the late Barty Crouch's enthusiasm for letting no Death Eater go free.

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Author's note: Chapter Fourteen as promised! Surely Snape isn't going to be arrested?! Fudge won't find any evidence will he? Dumbledore will save Snape, right? RIGHT?? Ahem. Well you'll just have to wait and find out *evil grin*

Colleen and Fish – I'm the only one you've been reading for the past few weeks, REALLY? Aw shucks. Thanks darl. Or is it cause nobody else has updated? :o) At least you have cool psychic dreams, mine at the moment have been too action/adventure filled with lots of chase scenes and I wake up exhausted. None of the Slytherins are sick because the poison was administered by someone who didn't want to harm the Slytherins. Oh the bastardry of it all! Question – Do you have stuff on ff.net? If so, which Colleen are you? I'd like to read some of your writings as well! Tit for tat and all that :o)