Chapter 40
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Song of la update – Queens of The Stone Age – No One Knows (just love the video, yes I do J )
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The early morning sky painted the Great Hall's ceiling with lightening colours and a surprisingly cloudless sky for a late November morning. It was true that Snape hated Sirius, but even Snape had left Sirius Black alone when he found out the news had got round to him that Moody had accidentally killed Edea, his curse meant for Draezyc Snape.
Remus was sitting on one of the benches, looking up at the sky, trying not to look at anybody else who was gathered in the room. According to rumour, Draezyc Snape had disappeared, along with Lucius Malfoy, whom she had returned to free from the pile of ministry officials before her flight. Even Snape did not know where she was. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange had fled the scene after it became clear that Voldemort was not coming to offer any help, and they were only going to lose heavily if they were to stay. Severus Snape had stayed, along with Moody to help take Edea DuCruet's body back to Hogwarts. Remus had only found out upon his return that Snape had obliviated him when he had broken Edea's wand.
That alone was enough to incur Dumbledore's displeasure.
"Severus, it is not considered loyal to obliviate one's fellow Order members in such a situation." Dumbledore spoke quietly to a standing Severus Snape, who's face remained a defiant blank. "That you snapped Edea's wand, is, indeed poor conduct."
"I am fully aware of my actions, Albus." Snape sneered. "Perhaps it would be prudent to remind you of DuCruet and Moody's treatment of my wife on this same occasion."
Alastor Moody looked pale and drawn, clearly still thinking about his far from perfect aim. "Draeliana Tealamon was endangering the life of the Head of the Auror Department, and a key member of the Order of the Phoenix."
"Draezyc SNAPE," Severus spat, "was being drowned by your head of Aurors. There was no need for you to get involved."
"Drowned?" Dumbledore stroked his beard, "Why was I not informed of this?"
"Draezyc was being held underwater whilst searching for her wand." Remus offered, almost in a whisper, "By Edea."
"But only for the lesser part of a minute." Moody interjected, "It was clear that Draezyc was in no danger for her life."
"DuCruet pushed her out of a seventh floor tower WINDOW!" Snape slammed his fist onto the table in a rare outburst of anger, "How can you possibly say that she wasn't in danger for her life, when you tried to kill her with an Unforgivable?"
"Enough." Dumbledore rose slowly, "Severus, I cannot allow you to continue shouting in this manner." He nodded to Moody, who also sat down huffily. "But I think we all agree that your actions towards Edea and Remus are not acceptable as a teacher in Hogwarts or as a Member of the Order."
Snape raised a challenging eyebrow. "You're giving me my notice, at such a difficult and dangerous time?"
"Not as such, no." Dumbledore offered Snape a scroll of parchment, which Severus ripped open the seal to and read out:
"It is hereby noted that the members on the Hogwarts Governors Board agree with the decision to suspend Professor Severus Snape from teaching until the next term." Snape threw down the parchment at Dumbledore's feet and spat on it. "Very well."
Without a further word or glance, Snape strode out of the Great Hall, slamming the tall oak doors behind him.
Dumbledore sighed heavily and looked imploringly at the doors, as if regretting his harsh treatment of Snape. "Is Sirius alright?" He asked McGonagall cautiously.
"I believe so." Minerva looked pityingly at Remus, "He wants to see you after this meeting."
"Of course." Remus nodded.
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Remus hadn't been present at the official enquiry into Edea DuCruet's death, but as far as he had heard, it was a closed matter. An accident of the Aurors. But now Draezyc Snape was a wanted woman by the Ministry for aiding and abetting the Death eaters and obstructing an Auror from her job, ultimately leading to said Auror's death. It was upon this thought that Remus entered Sirius' small room off a deserted corridor.
"Paddy?"
There was no answer, the curtains were flapping in the ice cold wind and it was then that Remus realised Sirius was sitting on the window ledge, shivering with the cold and staring out at the forbidden forest, not caring who or what saw him.
"Sirius, you're going to freeze to death sitting there." Remus walked towards his friend, his voice overburdened with concern.
"I don't feel it." Sirius lied.
"Yes you do, look at you, you're turning blue." Remus put a hand on his friend's shaking shoulder. "You should eat something."
"I can't taste it." Sirius whispered, "It'd be going to waste."
"But it'd keep you alive." Remus watched the snow fall, and a thin black cloaked figure stalk off across the snow, carrying a small leather holdall.
"Snivellus." Sirius spat, as he recognised the figure. "Did they fire him finally?"
"No." Remus sighed, "Suspended until the New Year."
Sirius snarled unpleasantly, "If he goes within a metre of Harry I'll roast his greasy head for breakfast."
"Charming imagery." Remus frowned slightly, "Perhaps it is time to let this Snivellus thing go, Paddy?"
"After what he did to you?" Sirius looked startled and indignant "Obliviating you like that! He's going to get it coming now."
"It's too late for childish games." Remus countered "You aren't fifteen anymore."
"Maybe not, but who cares." Sirius punched the curtain "Life owes me a few more youth years yet."
Remus sank quietly into a chair and watched Sirius stare blankly out of the window until the sky grew dark with fog and twilight haze.
~*~
Ron and Harry had a distinctly different view to Snape's leaving to Remus.
"Brilliant!" Ron grinned widely "No more boring Potions lessons."
"SO, who exactly is going to replace him?!" Hermione asked Remus, on the verge of hysteria
"I haven't got a clue." Remus shrugged. "Dumbledore will find someone."
Harry leaned back in his chair "Maybe now we might be able to brew a potion without being criticised for every move we make."
"Yeah." Ron agreed, "Think of Neville."
"He's been getting much better recently." Hermione added, "I've been helping him study in the library, with some theory practise, he should be able to be a bit calmer in lessons."
"Do you have to have a finger in every pie in Hogwarts?" Ron wrinkled his nose.
"No." Hermione sniffed, "I enjoy helping others." She turned away from Ron and buried her head back into her growing pile of revision notes.
"How's the revision going?" Remus asked politely, aware that Ron had hurt Hermione's feelings
"Not too bad." Hermione admitted, "But with only two terms until the exams, I should really be working a bit faster."
Harry snorted with amazement, joining Ron in a look of shock.
Remus smiled weakly, remembering he too had started revision early to the utter disgust of his friends, "Will you be at dinner? Or can you not bear to leave it for a few minutes?"
"Oh, eating is very important." Hermione nodded sagely, "More energy so I can stay up longer to revise with a clear head."
Remus hid a grin at the even more astounded look on the faces of Ron and Harry. "Very well, I shall hope to see you all there." He rose and walked out of the common room, wrapping his robes further around him to fend off the chill of the wind whistling down the snow ridden corridors.
TBC
