Chapter 2 – The Big Guns
"Good morning Hermione, I hope you are well – How's Harry? Please excuse Severus he is somewhat upset over my ideas on the Penal Reform Bill."
Hermione winced at Albus' mention of the legislation that seemed to be causing the whole of the Ministry of Magic to turn to either Dreamless Sleep Potions or Ogden's Firewhiskey.
Snape turned to the new target in the room and sneered, "Well Albus I've no doubt that Miss Weasley has already fully briefed our esteemed Cabinet Secretary on the problems and she will now no doubt enlighten us on the future course of the wizarding penal system and the most efficient way of steering important new legislation through a committee."
Hermione ignored Snape's comments and smiled tightly at Dumbledore. "Good morning to you Albus, and you Severus, Harry's fine, thank you. He's looking forward to lunch on Thursday." Greetings dispensed with Hermione placed her papers on Dumbledore's desk and took a seat in one of the visitor's chairs. "I presume that the first item on this morning's agenda is the progress of the Penal Reform Bill?" she questioned quietly, inwardly praying that her calm facade would defuse the Snape situation quickly.
"How astute Mrs Potter."
"Severus," soothed Dumbledore. "I don't know why you feel so defensive about this. Ginny Weasley has done nothing more than mention in passing during one of our regular lunch meetings that there were some problems in getting the Bill through the Committee and that because of these it may be delayed."
"Problems," huffed Severus, "I'll tell you exactly what the problems are. Alastor Moody hates me, hates Malfoy, and takes great pleasure in distrusting every other person in the committee room. He takes paranoia to unexpected new heights. Malfoy seems to spend all his free time dreaming up new and inventive ways of needling Potter, when he is not playing footsie with his fiancée the esteemed Miss Weasley. Potter just sits there looking pained or passing snide notes to Arthur. Wood and Figg hardly ever turn up and Mafalda Hopkirk is the most anal retentive, bureaucratic ninny it has ever been my misfortune to deal with. Frankly the lot of them need hexing which I would be pleased to do but for the fact that Miss Weasley now confiscates our wands before each meeting, so I am left to suffer as they argue over full stops and commas for the sake of it."
"Yes, well I can see the sort of issues which have led to this point Severus, " said Dumbledore as he reflectively selected a lemon drop from the dish on his desk, "But I believe I may have some solutions for you. I've called an emergency committee meeting for tomorrow, which I will Chair. Everyone will attend and I have some fresh ideas, which I feel sure will break the deadlock. I also have a proposition to put to you which will help release you from all this irritating, bureaucratic tedium you so despise."
Snape regarded The Minister with some suspicion. He had great respect and even love for Dumbledore, but long acquaintance with his good ideas had made him wary. Albus' solutions could often be worse than the problem.
Dumbledore continued, "Now is the time to make you both aware that I have contacted The Guild of Gaia to ask them to resume their responsibilities as Warders of Azkaban."
"The Guild", interrupted Hermione, "But I'm sure I read somewhere that they no longer exist".
"Mrs Potter far be it from me to denigrate your knowledge of numerous obscure historical texts but in this case your information is incorrect", drawled Snape. "The Guild certainly exist today, although I believe in a much reduced form than in their heyday. Your logic is also currently somewhat suspect or I'm sure you would have realised that The Minister could hardly have contacted an organisation that does not exist." Snape was starting to feel more in control now after his outburst, and sniping at Miss Granger, correction, Mrs Potter always made him feel better.
Hermione blushed despite herself and Dumbledore took the opportunity to resume his explanation.
"Yes Hermione The Guild does still exist and Severus is correct as to their current size. At present they would only be able to supply a half strength guard for Azkaban and we would have to continue to furnish Aurors to provide the remainder of the required staff. The Guild Council has written to assure me that they will be able to furnish a full complement of trained Guild Warders within a year if all other arrangements for our resumed relationship are satisfactory. Which brings us nicely back to the subject of Severus' new role. Oliver Wood has done a wonderful job under very difficult circumstances as acting Governor, but The Guild has set one stringent condition regarding the resumption of their duties. That condition is that the Governor of Azkaban must be a wizard of the very highest powers and practical experience in dealing with the Dark Arts. In my humble opinion there are only three such wizards living, Harry, Severus and myself. Harry cannot be spared from field operations and I am obviously not available which leaves Severus. There is also the important matter of liasing with The Guild and conducting delicate negotiations whilst relationships are remade. I feel these initial contacts will need the sort of tact and diplomacy only a true Slytherin is capable of."
Hermione harrumphed to herself at Albus' last remark. It was Slytherin tact and diplomacy of the Snape variety, which had got them into this situation; trust Albus to gloss over that fact. It was a moment before realisation dawned that Albus was offering Snape the job as Governor of Azkaban. Hermione looked at Dumbledore and gasped. "Oh Albus - How could you!"
Severus looked at Dumbledore with an expression of hurt betrayal in his eyes. He admitted to himself that the job as Chief Auror was becoming more and more tedious and he had in fact taken it only as temporary stopgap to help Albus in the confused aftermath of the War. Now he felt himself being manoeuvred into yet another position he had no wish for as a favour to Dumbledore and this job had many more consequences for him personally than even his role as spy. He tried not to think of his last visit to Azkaban, his three months as an inmate with Dementors tearing at his soul until Albus had finally got him out and then all the years of atonement for his past misdeeds. Perhaps this was Albus final test.
"So Albus you feel I should complete my atonement for past actions with a sentence in jail is that it?" he finally choked out.
Hermione rose as if to leave the men to their discussion but Dumbledore waved her back into her seat. Sighing he shook his head sadly. "No that is not what I think Severus and you well know it. I believe that this job will give you time to see how far you have travelled from that scared, lonely and manipulated boy you were when you came to me 15 years ago. It is time for you to let go of the past and look to what you want for the future rather than let past actions and regrets always dictate your path. Strange as it may seem I believe there is no better place for you to do that than Azkaban and I also happen to think that you are the best man for the job."
Severus looked at Albus with a look of resignation on his face but now with blank dead eyes.
Hermione looked away from the pair. There were times when Albus' blatant manipulation of this man made her feel positively queasy and for once she felt she could not stand by and let it just happen.
"Minister with all due respect to Severus and his service to the cause over many years there is a big difference in his being accepted as Chief Auror and his taking up the post of Governor of Azkaban. For many witches and wizards it is still a case of 'once a Death Eater always a Death Eater' and whilst they may now accept the principle of 'setting a thief to catch a thief' they will NOT understand the thief being made the chief jailer. I'd be failing in my duty if I did not point out my serious concerns regarding this suggestion. Please reconsider."
Dumbledore smiled wryly and replied, "Spoken like a true civil servant Hermione. I am impressed."
Severus raised his hand to still any further discussion. He thought about telling Albus he needed time to think about the post but knew in the end his uncomfortable conscience would make him take it and at the moment he felt too fatigued to continue what seemed to be an endless fight to finally be allowed to live his own life. "Thank you Mrs Potter for your positively Slytherin defence of me, but as always Albus will have his way. Do as you will Albus. You always do anyway."
Hermione looked on worriedly, "Albus if Severus agrees then I hardly feel I can object, but …" Hermione's 'but' hung unresolved in the air as she struggled to put into words her gut feeling that this whole situation felt wrong.
"Yes Hermione?" questioned Dumbledore looking for an explanation or her agreement to his proposal.
Hermione swallowed any further objections feeling she could not quote gut instinct as a valid reason for refusing Severus' appointment. Nodding her head she agreed with a reluctant "Yes Minister".
"Well that's decided then", said Dumbledore briskly, "Lets move onto other equally pressing matters".
