See Disclaimers and warnings in Part One
Fugue State (Part Eight)
*******
Ginny and Colin sat in the Three Broomsticks, they were having some shepherds pie
and butterbeer when Hermione rushed in, laden with books. Ginny smiled,
apparently Hermione was still the bookworm, no matter how hard she had protested
during the Winter Break. Ginny gave a quick wave, Hermione smiled and made her
way through the throngs of Hogwarts students to their table.
"I'm afraid we couldn't wait, Hermione" said Ginny.
Hermione dropped her books on the floor beside her and sat, still a bit out of
breath. "Well, the least I can do is pick up the next round, butterbeers all around then?"
Ginny and Colin nodded as Hermione got up and went to the bar, ordering their
drinks and something to eat as well. She returned to the table, sat down and gave her table mates a quick smile.
"Sorry, I got caught up in Flourishes and Blotts and lost track of the time."
"When have I heard that before," said Ginny with a laugh and a grin.
Hermione smiled back, snatched a piece of bread from the basket on the table,
leaned back in her chair and relaxed.
"So, what have you two been up to," she asked with a grin. Hermione smiled
around her bite of bread as both Colin and Ginny blushed at her remark.
Ginny, her face as red as her hair, asked "you don't want details do you?"
Hermione laughed and looked to the two. Colin was studiously studying his dregs
of his meal and Ginny laughed along with Hermione. Rosmerta soon brought the butterbeer and Hermione's lunch and they all drank and ate.
"Oh! Take a look. I brought my paper like you asked, Hermione. I got top marks,"
said Ginny as she dug into her satchel for the parchment. Handing it to Hermione, she continued, "Binns said he'd never read such a detailed account of the final Battle. It was the trial that put me over the edge you know, no one else had that."
Hermione ate and tried to ignore the parchment that Ginny handed to her. "Would
you mind if I took it for awhile to read? I'll get it back to you as soon as
possible."
"Not a problem, Hermione, I made you a copy as well as the one I sent to my parents. Do you know, they think I might come close or beat Percy on his NEWTS? That would be fantastic, if only to put him in his place. I think he still thinks of me as this little sister that followed everyone around."
Hermione smiled, refraining from stating the obvious, Ginny would be the little sister, even when she was married and had numerous children. To her older brothers, she would always be the baby of the family. Looking to her and Colin over the table, she envied them, their closeness. Not for the first time, she wondered if her dedication to her studies was a detriment to finding a boyfriend. It would be nice to have someone to talk to at the end of the day, go to dinner with, hold hands under the table as Ginny and Colin were doing this instant. She gave herself a mental shake and returned to the present. Wishing never brought one anything.
The lunch came to a close and Colin and Ginny headed out together. Hermione stayed behind a few minutes, sipping her drink and nibbling on the remains of the bread. Finally, even she left, slipping out of the pub, books and parchment in hand to read and learn from. The answers were always there, one just had to know where to find them.
*******
One week later, Hermione was ready to throw the books in the rubbish bin. After pouring over the law and history texts, she knew more about the Wizarding judicial system and procedures than everyone save a few very pedantic types. Of this she was positive. The most discouraging fact was, Professor Snape's trial was legal. It was perfectly acceptable for evidence to be given by pensieve. A tribunal of three Ministers was the accepted method of presiding over a trial, and, Hermione thought in defeat, nothing that had happened to Snape was out of the ordinary. The text was filled with accounts of similar trials. In this instant, she felt the Muggle world was more advanced than the Wizarding world. Yet she couldn't discount the facts. In the Wizarding world, the rate of repeat offenders was nil. People simple did not break the laws more than once. That was enough, thought Hermione, as one offense was often enough to throw the criminal in Azkaban. Azkaban would be enough to deter anyone from breaking the law.
Snape had been found guilty in a fair trial. The only question remaining was an account of his life and career. Which, according to Hogwarts: A History, was nothing. Snape was simply not there. She'd first thought that it was simply a case of Snape having been too new a teacher. After all, the History covered over a thousand years of Hogwarts' past, perhaps Snape was too current to be listed. This assumption had been quickly squashed as she read the latest pages and noted the additions of Lockhart, Lupin, McGonagall and Moody to the list of teachers. Through it all, potions were listed as being under the guidance of Dumbledore. Snape was absent from all of it. With a reluctant sigh, she reached for the one book she had tried to avoid. Rita Skeeter's account of the combatants of the War. It seemed she would never be free of that meddlesome hack. She sat back on the couch, drank her tea and began to read over the oftentimes lurid and overblown prose, hoping that somewhere within the pages the information she sought lay within.
Two days later, Hermione was ready to pull her hair out in frustration. Skeeter had very carefully divided the book into two sections, "Us and Them." Us consisted of the usual people, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Harry, the Weasleys and her. To her surprise, she had rated an entire chapter. Of course, she had been listed as "the girl who had once bewitched Harry Potter," and there were very unflattering remarks made about her hair. The Them section had consisted of the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Skeeter had, unsurprisingly, listed as many Death Eaters by name as she could find. The Malfoys, Goyles, Lestranges, and even her one time paramour, Victor was there. There was the inevitable footnote linking her name to Krum's with the remarks that it was over this man that she had broken Harry Potter's heart. There were no surprises in this. Once again, however, Snape was not listed. Neither side had any record of Snape's participation in the Battle or the war with Voldemort. He had been there, Hermione assured herself. She had seen him, fighting alongside Harry and Dumbledore. She thought she witnessed the three of them battling Voldemort, but only Harry and Dumbledore had walked out of the ashes. She sighed, only those two and Snape held the answers she sought.
Three days later, she finally heard from Harry. It had taken owls to Molly Weasley and Sirius, but Harry had finally written to her. Unfortunately, his entire letter consisted of the preparations he was undertaking for the match against the Americans and the physical attributes of the American seeker. Repeatedly. Hermione shook her head, and wrote to Harry once again, asking him for information about Snape and the final Battle. She closed the letter with a question asking if Harry could supply her with any details of testimony against Snape. That and an invitation for a butterbeer the next time he was available. Sending Hedwig off with a pat and a nibble off her biscuit, she composed her next letter to Headmaster Dumbledore, asking permission to meet with him about Snape and his fate. Perhaps she would also be able to look through the library at Hogwarts, surely the annuals would have something of Snape. Dropping by the Leaky Cauldron on her way to lessons with Master Juglenot, she sent the post owl on its way, hoping to hear from the Headmaster soon. She hated not knowing.
*******
Albus was fascinated by the images before him. Once again, Severus was moving within his cell. He sat, looking blankly at the wall, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. His hand would brush in the air, brushing away imaginary strands of hair. He would then move his hands before him, moving them in complicated motions. It had taken Albus a few viewings before he realized that Severus was making potions. Moving to his side, Severus added invisible ingredients, stirred them into a cauldron only he could see and waited for the potion to brew. After a certain time had passed, Severus would extinguish the invisible flame and decant the potion. Each potion was different. Severus would do this for hours. Yet he would also lapse into the catatonia that marked much of his stay in Azkaban. Surprisingly, it was only during the times of catatonia that the Dementors had any effect on the man. It was still fairly sporadic, but Severus did react to the passes the Dementors made through his cell. Albus gave a quick grin, walked to the fireplace threw in some floo powder and contacted Percy.
As was his wont, Percy answered immediately.
"Headmaster, I hadn't expected to hear from you so soon, is there something wrong?"
"Not at all Percy," Albus replied, "I only wanted to ask you if you had viewed the latest threads from Azkaban."
"Well, I haven't seen them yet," answered Percy. "I do apologize for this lapse, Headmaster, I had planned to view them this evening but it has been an extremely busy week. There was a minor problem with the Malfoy estate that needed to be sorted as well as the reparations requests and the threads, unfortunately, had to be put off. Is there something amiss with them?"
"Not at all Percy, I have a request of you, if you please."
"Certainly, Headmaster," replied Percy, straightening in his chair, even though the Headmaster couldn't see the movement. Although not commonly acknowledged outside the Ministry, Headmaster Dumbledore held a great deal of power. Next to his father, the Headmaster was most likely the most powerful wizard in England. It simply wouldn't do for Percy to ignore any request the Headmaster made of him. The better he could fulfill the requests, the greater esteem the Headmaster would hold of him. And that was simply the best thing Percy could do. To have the backing of the Headmaster would assure Percy a long and powerful career in the Ministry, and Percy had no intentions of letting an opportunity pass him by.
"I would like for you to arrange a visit for me out to Watcher's isle."
"Sir?"
"Percy," Albus replied with an indulgent smile, "I would like for you to arrange a meeting for me with Severus."
"Of course, Headmaster," said Percy, already going over the complicated arrangements in his head. The watchers would have to be contacted, transport arranged, the room to be prepared, Snape would have to be washed. It would not do for the Headmaster to have to smell Snape in his current condition.
"Have I ever congratulated you on the fine implementation of the watcher program at Azkaban, Percy?"
"Thank you Headmaster." The watchers had been one of Percy's first actions as Head of the Department of Magical Enforcement. Never again would the Dementors be allowed to run free on Azkaban. His strongest Aurors were dispatched to rein in the Dementors. They presided over Azkaban from an island a safe distance away from the prison. Wards had been placed to prevent flying in. Apparition bans were strictly enforced as well as barriers to prevent all unauthorized entry into the area. It had placated the public that feared a repeat of one of Voldemort's greatest victories in the war, the release of the prisoners and Dementors upon the general public. With the controls Percy had established, that travesty would never again occur.
"When would you like to visit the isle?" asked Percy.
"Tomorrow if that would be convenient for you."
"Of course, Headmaster," said Percy, pushing aside all previous plans for his evening. He would have to contact the watchers, view the threads and meet the Headmaster to personally escort him over. Percy gave a quick sigh at the amount of work ahead of him this evening, yet could not help the thrill that coursed through him at the Headmaster's request.
"Would tomorrow at nine be acceptable for you Headmaster?"
"Ideal Percy, I'll meet you at the coast then. See you there Minister, and thank you for your assistance." Albus replied. "Good night Percy."
"To you as well Headmaster, I look forward to seeing you in the morn."
Albus closed the connection and left his office. It was dinnertime and the elves were serving one of his favorite meals, roast beef.
The next morning found Albus reading with amusement the owl from Hermione. He chuckled and sent an owl to Harry requesting a meeting for the next day. On his way out the gates of Hogwarts, he stopped by to see Minerva, asking her to join them in his office tomorrow. That task settled, Albus apparated to the shore. As expected, Percy was waiting for him. Together, the two men set out in the boat to Watcher's Isle.
Once there, Percy led the Headmaster into the interrogation room. A windowless, unadorned room with a table and two chairs on opposite sides of the table were the only objects in the room. The room itself was heavily warded and protected in addition to the wards around the island.
Albus sat himself in a chair and waited. Sooner than he thought, Severus was led into the room. Two Aurors led the man in and seated him across the table from Albus. As at the trial, the moment Severus was seated, restraints came around his body, binding him at the feet, hands and chest. Once Severus was properly restrained, the Aurors dipped their heads to the Headmaster and exited the room, leaving the two men alone.
Albus looked at the man before him. Severus was rail thin. His bones prominent in his face and fingers. His eyes looked down, his face unmoving. The gray uniform hung on his frame, and as Albus looked over his form, he could make out the slight dusting of the disinfectant that had been used to clean Severus.
"Severus," Albus said, waiting for a reaction from the other man. Albus was still, seeing how long it would take Severus to react to hearing his name. Perhaps two hours had passed before Albus noticed a fluttering of Severus' eyes. His head snapped up and for the first time since being led into the room, Severus looked at Albus. His face still blank, his obsidian eyes stared at Albus, who was unsure if Severus was actually seeing him.
"Severus," repeated Albus.
He was rewarded with a quick blink of the eyes before him. With a smile and a twinkle in his eyes, Albus reached into his robes and drew out a small tin. Opening it, he extended his hand to Severus.
"Lemon Sherbet?"
*******
TBC...
Fugue State (Part Eight)
*******
Ginny and Colin sat in the Three Broomsticks, they were having some shepherds pie
and butterbeer when Hermione rushed in, laden with books. Ginny smiled,
apparently Hermione was still the bookworm, no matter how hard she had protested
during the Winter Break. Ginny gave a quick wave, Hermione smiled and made her
way through the throngs of Hogwarts students to their table.
"I'm afraid we couldn't wait, Hermione" said Ginny.
Hermione dropped her books on the floor beside her and sat, still a bit out of
breath. "Well, the least I can do is pick up the next round, butterbeers all around then?"
Ginny and Colin nodded as Hermione got up and went to the bar, ordering their
drinks and something to eat as well. She returned to the table, sat down and gave her table mates a quick smile.
"Sorry, I got caught up in Flourishes and Blotts and lost track of the time."
"When have I heard that before," said Ginny with a laugh and a grin.
Hermione smiled back, snatched a piece of bread from the basket on the table,
leaned back in her chair and relaxed.
"So, what have you two been up to," she asked with a grin. Hermione smiled
around her bite of bread as both Colin and Ginny blushed at her remark.
Ginny, her face as red as her hair, asked "you don't want details do you?"
Hermione laughed and looked to the two. Colin was studiously studying his dregs
of his meal and Ginny laughed along with Hermione. Rosmerta soon brought the butterbeer and Hermione's lunch and they all drank and ate.
"Oh! Take a look. I brought my paper like you asked, Hermione. I got top marks,"
said Ginny as she dug into her satchel for the parchment. Handing it to Hermione, she continued, "Binns said he'd never read such a detailed account of the final Battle. It was the trial that put me over the edge you know, no one else had that."
Hermione ate and tried to ignore the parchment that Ginny handed to her. "Would
you mind if I took it for awhile to read? I'll get it back to you as soon as
possible."
"Not a problem, Hermione, I made you a copy as well as the one I sent to my parents. Do you know, they think I might come close or beat Percy on his NEWTS? That would be fantastic, if only to put him in his place. I think he still thinks of me as this little sister that followed everyone around."
Hermione smiled, refraining from stating the obvious, Ginny would be the little sister, even when she was married and had numerous children. To her older brothers, she would always be the baby of the family. Looking to her and Colin over the table, she envied them, their closeness. Not for the first time, she wondered if her dedication to her studies was a detriment to finding a boyfriend. It would be nice to have someone to talk to at the end of the day, go to dinner with, hold hands under the table as Ginny and Colin were doing this instant. She gave herself a mental shake and returned to the present. Wishing never brought one anything.
The lunch came to a close and Colin and Ginny headed out together. Hermione stayed behind a few minutes, sipping her drink and nibbling on the remains of the bread. Finally, even she left, slipping out of the pub, books and parchment in hand to read and learn from. The answers were always there, one just had to know where to find them.
*******
One week later, Hermione was ready to throw the books in the rubbish bin. After pouring over the law and history texts, she knew more about the Wizarding judicial system and procedures than everyone save a few very pedantic types. Of this she was positive. The most discouraging fact was, Professor Snape's trial was legal. It was perfectly acceptable for evidence to be given by pensieve. A tribunal of three Ministers was the accepted method of presiding over a trial, and, Hermione thought in defeat, nothing that had happened to Snape was out of the ordinary. The text was filled with accounts of similar trials. In this instant, she felt the Muggle world was more advanced than the Wizarding world. Yet she couldn't discount the facts. In the Wizarding world, the rate of repeat offenders was nil. People simple did not break the laws more than once. That was enough, thought Hermione, as one offense was often enough to throw the criminal in Azkaban. Azkaban would be enough to deter anyone from breaking the law.
Snape had been found guilty in a fair trial. The only question remaining was an account of his life and career. Which, according to Hogwarts: A History, was nothing. Snape was simply not there. She'd first thought that it was simply a case of Snape having been too new a teacher. After all, the History covered over a thousand years of Hogwarts' past, perhaps Snape was too current to be listed. This assumption had been quickly squashed as she read the latest pages and noted the additions of Lockhart, Lupin, McGonagall and Moody to the list of teachers. Through it all, potions were listed as being under the guidance of Dumbledore. Snape was absent from all of it. With a reluctant sigh, she reached for the one book she had tried to avoid. Rita Skeeter's account of the combatants of the War. It seemed she would never be free of that meddlesome hack. She sat back on the couch, drank her tea and began to read over the oftentimes lurid and overblown prose, hoping that somewhere within the pages the information she sought lay within.
Two days later, Hermione was ready to pull her hair out in frustration. Skeeter had very carefully divided the book into two sections, "Us and Them." Us consisted of the usual people, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Harry, the Weasleys and her. To her surprise, she had rated an entire chapter. Of course, she had been listed as "the girl who had once bewitched Harry Potter," and there were very unflattering remarks made about her hair. The Them section had consisted of the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Skeeter had, unsurprisingly, listed as many Death Eaters by name as she could find. The Malfoys, Goyles, Lestranges, and even her one time paramour, Victor was there. There was the inevitable footnote linking her name to Krum's with the remarks that it was over this man that she had broken Harry Potter's heart. There were no surprises in this. Once again, however, Snape was not listed. Neither side had any record of Snape's participation in the Battle or the war with Voldemort. He had been there, Hermione assured herself. She had seen him, fighting alongside Harry and Dumbledore. She thought she witnessed the three of them battling Voldemort, but only Harry and Dumbledore had walked out of the ashes. She sighed, only those two and Snape held the answers she sought.
Three days later, she finally heard from Harry. It had taken owls to Molly Weasley and Sirius, but Harry had finally written to her. Unfortunately, his entire letter consisted of the preparations he was undertaking for the match against the Americans and the physical attributes of the American seeker. Repeatedly. Hermione shook her head, and wrote to Harry once again, asking him for information about Snape and the final Battle. She closed the letter with a question asking if Harry could supply her with any details of testimony against Snape. That and an invitation for a butterbeer the next time he was available. Sending Hedwig off with a pat and a nibble off her biscuit, she composed her next letter to Headmaster Dumbledore, asking permission to meet with him about Snape and his fate. Perhaps she would also be able to look through the library at Hogwarts, surely the annuals would have something of Snape. Dropping by the Leaky Cauldron on her way to lessons with Master Juglenot, she sent the post owl on its way, hoping to hear from the Headmaster soon. She hated not knowing.
*******
Albus was fascinated by the images before him. Once again, Severus was moving within his cell. He sat, looking blankly at the wall, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. His hand would brush in the air, brushing away imaginary strands of hair. He would then move his hands before him, moving them in complicated motions. It had taken Albus a few viewings before he realized that Severus was making potions. Moving to his side, Severus added invisible ingredients, stirred them into a cauldron only he could see and waited for the potion to brew. After a certain time had passed, Severus would extinguish the invisible flame and decant the potion. Each potion was different. Severus would do this for hours. Yet he would also lapse into the catatonia that marked much of his stay in Azkaban. Surprisingly, it was only during the times of catatonia that the Dementors had any effect on the man. It was still fairly sporadic, but Severus did react to the passes the Dementors made through his cell. Albus gave a quick grin, walked to the fireplace threw in some floo powder and contacted Percy.
As was his wont, Percy answered immediately.
"Headmaster, I hadn't expected to hear from you so soon, is there something wrong?"
"Not at all Percy," Albus replied, "I only wanted to ask you if you had viewed the latest threads from Azkaban."
"Well, I haven't seen them yet," answered Percy. "I do apologize for this lapse, Headmaster, I had planned to view them this evening but it has been an extremely busy week. There was a minor problem with the Malfoy estate that needed to be sorted as well as the reparations requests and the threads, unfortunately, had to be put off. Is there something amiss with them?"
"Not at all Percy, I have a request of you, if you please."
"Certainly, Headmaster," replied Percy, straightening in his chair, even though the Headmaster couldn't see the movement. Although not commonly acknowledged outside the Ministry, Headmaster Dumbledore held a great deal of power. Next to his father, the Headmaster was most likely the most powerful wizard in England. It simply wouldn't do for Percy to ignore any request the Headmaster made of him. The better he could fulfill the requests, the greater esteem the Headmaster would hold of him. And that was simply the best thing Percy could do. To have the backing of the Headmaster would assure Percy a long and powerful career in the Ministry, and Percy had no intentions of letting an opportunity pass him by.
"I would like for you to arrange a visit for me out to Watcher's isle."
"Sir?"
"Percy," Albus replied with an indulgent smile, "I would like for you to arrange a meeting for me with Severus."
"Of course, Headmaster," said Percy, already going over the complicated arrangements in his head. The watchers would have to be contacted, transport arranged, the room to be prepared, Snape would have to be washed. It would not do for the Headmaster to have to smell Snape in his current condition.
"Have I ever congratulated you on the fine implementation of the watcher program at Azkaban, Percy?"
"Thank you Headmaster." The watchers had been one of Percy's first actions as Head of the Department of Magical Enforcement. Never again would the Dementors be allowed to run free on Azkaban. His strongest Aurors were dispatched to rein in the Dementors. They presided over Azkaban from an island a safe distance away from the prison. Wards had been placed to prevent flying in. Apparition bans were strictly enforced as well as barriers to prevent all unauthorized entry into the area. It had placated the public that feared a repeat of one of Voldemort's greatest victories in the war, the release of the prisoners and Dementors upon the general public. With the controls Percy had established, that travesty would never again occur.
"When would you like to visit the isle?" asked Percy.
"Tomorrow if that would be convenient for you."
"Of course, Headmaster," said Percy, pushing aside all previous plans for his evening. He would have to contact the watchers, view the threads and meet the Headmaster to personally escort him over. Percy gave a quick sigh at the amount of work ahead of him this evening, yet could not help the thrill that coursed through him at the Headmaster's request.
"Would tomorrow at nine be acceptable for you Headmaster?"
"Ideal Percy, I'll meet you at the coast then. See you there Minister, and thank you for your assistance." Albus replied. "Good night Percy."
"To you as well Headmaster, I look forward to seeing you in the morn."
Albus closed the connection and left his office. It was dinnertime and the elves were serving one of his favorite meals, roast beef.
The next morning found Albus reading with amusement the owl from Hermione. He chuckled and sent an owl to Harry requesting a meeting for the next day. On his way out the gates of Hogwarts, he stopped by to see Minerva, asking her to join them in his office tomorrow. That task settled, Albus apparated to the shore. As expected, Percy was waiting for him. Together, the two men set out in the boat to Watcher's Isle.
Once there, Percy led the Headmaster into the interrogation room. A windowless, unadorned room with a table and two chairs on opposite sides of the table were the only objects in the room. The room itself was heavily warded and protected in addition to the wards around the island.
Albus sat himself in a chair and waited. Sooner than he thought, Severus was led into the room. Two Aurors led the man in and seated him across the table from Albus. As at the trial, the moment Severus was seated, restraints came around his body, binding him at the feet, hands and chest. Once Severus was properly restrained, the Aurors dipped their heads to the Headmaster and exited the room, leaving the two men alone.
Albus looked at the man before him. Severus was rail thin. His bones prominent in his face and fingers. His eyes looked down, his face unmoving. The gray uniform hung on his frame, and as Albus looked over his form, he could make out the slight dusting of the disinfectant that had been used to clean Severus.
"Severus," Albus said, waiting for a reaction from the other man. Albus was still, seeing how long it would take Severus to react to hearing his name. Perhaps two hours had passed before Albus noticed a fluttering of Severus' eyes. His head snapped up and for the first time since being led into the room, Severus looked at Albus. His face still blank, his obsidian eyes stared at Albus, who was unsure if Severus was actually seeing him.
"Severus," repeated Albus.
He was rewarded with a quick blink of the eyes before him. With a smile and a twinkle in his eyes, Albus reached into his robes and drew out a small tin. Opening it, he extended his hand to Severus.
"Lemon Sherbet?"
*******
TBC...