They were in no state to argue. They dragged themselves to their feet and followed Professor Astaroth down the stairs and out of the stadium, which was still full of the shouts and cheers of the spectators, most of whom had not noticed the altercation.
Severus hoped that Astaroth wasn't planning to punish his own Slytherins. Admittedly Rodolphus had started the fight by leaping on Black, but Black had been provoking him, and very cruelly. He'd brought on his own beating!
A glance at Black's face told Severus that Bellatrix had been particularly nasty to her cousin; his face bore several red stripes, none of them deep, but all trickling blood down his cheeks that he made no attempt to stem. For his part, Rodolphus was limping pronouncedly.
Severus became aware then of a warm wetness trickling down his front and raised a hand to touch his slick neck, and was astounded to discover his fingertips were stained in his own blood, dripping, apparently, from his nose, his split lip, and the three long gashes across his cheeks. He hadn't even known he'd had this much blood in him. Lily Evans glanced at him and then didn't seem to be able to look away. The horror on her face was really quite unsettling.
Astaroth silently led them back to the castle, the roar of the crowds in the Quidditch stadium gradually fading with the distance. They climbed staircase after staircase to the seventh floor, finally reaching his office, where he held the door for them and then slammed it with a loud bang. They all jumped. Astaroth walked slowly behind his desk and leaned over it towards them.
"Who," he demanded, his effeminate voice reaching a dangerously high pitch, "is responsible for this?"
Had it been any other teacher, they would all have started talking at once and blamed each other; but Astaroth was one of those very daunting teachers whom it is really much wiser to not answer in such a situation, no matter whose Head of House he may be. 'Splenetic' did not even begin to describe his ire at its greatest point, which they were witnessing now. Despite the many times he had carefully overlooked Severus and Rodolphus' participation in pranks on the Gryffindors, he was still a teacher.
But even when he slammed his fist down on the desktop, they all remained silent. Severus had the bizarre thought that, were Astaroth's bones not held together by his sallow white skin, they would surely have splintered apart with the impact.
Astaroth dropped two pairs of spectacles over his violet eyes and glared at Potter. "You must have been the one started it all," he said harshly. "Always looking for trouble, aren't you? That's how you get your," his thin lips peeled back in a sneer, "kicks?"
Potter was holding the two pieces of his broken glasses together at his temples, though they were clearly useless, as both lenses had shattered. Severus felt a surge of grim pleasure to see bruises already darkening around Potter's eyes. Potter flushed slightly but refused to reply. Astaroth rounded on Black.
"And you, Black, Potter's faithful sidekick, what do you have to say for yourself? Pleased as punch to have implicated all these normally upright students in your brawling?"
He brusquely gestured to the Slytherins. Rodolphus looked astonished to have been included in his sweeping wave.
"It wasn't enough for you to ambush Mr. Filch in the dead of night, was it Black?" The reddening of Black's cheeks was visible even through the streams of blood. "Had to take it a step further? Well, this is too far! Attacking Mr. Filch, attacking fellow students—you could get suspended for this, you know." Potter stared fixedly at the floor.
But Severus' initial belief that Astaroth would go easier on them for being Slytherin was dispelled when the violet eyes leaped to him.
"But don't think I can leave you out this time," he growled, his eyes flitting from Severus to Rodolphus to Bellatrix. "Like idiots you lost your heads. Fighting at a Quidditch match—disgraceful!" he shouted suddenly, smashing his fist into the desk again.
The loud bang made them all cringe. Lily Evans let slip the tiniest whimper of fear—by her horrified look, she hadn't meant to do it.
Instantly Astaroth was distracted. His voice took a syrupy quality as he stood and leaned over his desk till his nose was three inches from hers.
"Ah, Miss Evans, of course. I thought you were due for an incident of disobedience. I haven't had the great fortune to punish you, but sometimes Fate turns benevolent! And for a transgression of no lesser magnitude than brawling! There are so many options: house points, weeks of detention, a day's suspension..."
His purple eyes sparkled with spite, but to her credit Lily did not quake. Indeed, she outright refused to look at Astaroth, keeping her eyes on her shoes.
"Did you hear me?" Astaroth shouted, but Lily stayed motionless. Her hair had been mussed in the tussle. Severus thought it looked like a fiery nimbus set about her pale sullen face.
"The only question now is," Astaroth roared, infuriated by their continued silence, "who shall I tell the Headmaster was the instigator: Potter, Black, or Evans?"
"Evans was trying to stop us."
Severus wondered who had spoken. It took him a moment to realize that it was him.
All present turned and stared at him, except Lily, whose gaze remained fixed on the floor. "What?" Astaroth asked icily.
"Evans didn't do anything," Severus said flatly. Of course she had, she'd slapped Potter round the face. Her avoidance of everyone's eyes indicated quite clearly that she was ashamed to have let herself lash out at a housemate, but that she was steeling herself to accept the consequences.
Yet he was remembering the incident with the giant squid, how he had tipped the boat and she had claimed it wasn't his fault. She had saved him from embarrassment and in return he had helped to disgrace her in the eyes of her housemates. He was shocked to find he was ashamed for having humiliated her. He had suddenly found a name for the mysterious awkwardness between them: empathy. Now they both knew what it was like to be an object of ridicule, and it was his fault. Well, now he would make things right. "She was trying to stop us," he said shortly.
Astaroth flipped down two more pairs of spectacles onto his nose, and stared hard at Severus through six layers of glasses. For a moment Severus feared he was going to start shouting again, but then the violet gaze was arrested by his hands. "Your wand, Snape?"
Severus looked down at his hands, in which were clutched the remnants of his wand: a streak of ashes stuck to his sweaty palm, and the broken tip, which he had rescued from the floor in a moment of grief. He was not even certain whether wands could be replaced, so here he felt no compunction for naming the perpetrator. "Potter broke it."
This unleashed a flood of dissent from Potter. "It was self-defense, Professor! He was trying to curse me!"
"So you broke his wand?" Astaroth said loudly, shouting over Potter. "Breaking someone's wand is not considered self-defense on any grounds! You could be expelled for this!" Potter's face drained of colour and he fell silent.
"A wizard's wand is his greatest weapon, his closest friend, his only protection!" Astaroth thundered, grabbing the front of Potter's robes and dragging him close. "You had no right to snap it out of sheer malice! You can look forward to going home tomorrow, you filthy little-"
"CHRYSOGONUS!" bellowed a voice. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
They all looked round wildly as emerald flames suddenly sprang up from the fireplace and Professor McGonagall climbed out. Severus had never seen her so angry. Her eyes were nearly bulging out of her head and she was white around the nose. She must have just come from the Quidditch match when she'd noticed they were all gone—she still carried a Gryffindor pennant in one hand.
"Minerva," Astaroth said slowly, his hot rage turning frigid as she strode towards his desk.
He released Potter's robes and the boy jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding being shoved aside by the livid Professor McGonagall. She planted herself in front of Astaroth's desk and slapped both hands on the desktop.
"Chrysogonus, what is the meaning of this?"
"I am disciplining students," Astaroth snarled, "who were fighting at the Quidditch match."
"These three are Gryffindors," McGonagall said coldly, gesturing to Potter, Black and Lily Evans. "Why did you not call me immediately?"
"I was trying to determine which students started the fight," Astaroth said, equally icy.
"Completely impartially, I'm sure," McGonagall said sarcastically.
"So you doubt my abilities as a teacher?" Astaroth asked, becoming angry again. The students were completely forgotten. Rodolphus kept shooting Severus terrified glances.
"You could say that."
"Oh, wonderful! The truth emerges at last! Please, continue to undermine my authority, you're doing a stupendous job!"
"Chrysogonus, you seem to think that your long career with the Ministry entitles you to prerogatives that none of the teachers here have! I understand that at the Ministry you once had sweeping powers, but you cannot simply waltz in here and brutalize students as you used to do with the felons you captured! The Ministry may have lost control but here we are not-"
"Lost control? The Ministry?" Astaroth interrupted incredulously. "What you're saying borders on sedition, Minerva! What would the Minister of Magic say if he heard such insurrectionary remarks had come from a Hogwarts teacher?"
"Bartemius Crouch?" McGonagall said with a snort. "What, is he going to accuse me of high treason? You must know it was only as a personal favour to your precious Minister that Dumbledore took on an ageing, mad retired Auror!"
"I have had an illustrious career! I was catching Dark wizards before you were born!"
Now they were nose to nose, screaming at each other, their faces suffused with rage.
"You're an Auror, Chrysogonus, not a teacher, and you never will be a teacher until you learn what teaching is!"
"You're so clever, why don't you teach both subjects then!" bellowed Astaroth.
"Well, why don't we just ask Albus if I can, then at least we'll all be rid of you!" roared McGonagall.
"You could ask me," Dumbledore said calmly from the doorway, "but my answer would be no."
Both teachers recoiled and nearly fell over in their shock. "Albus!" gasped Astaroth, clutching his chest. "How did you find us?"
"Oh, I was only in the Great Hall when I heard raised voices," Dumbledore said mildly. "Seven floors is not so far to sprint. Would someone like to tell me what this is about?"
The two teachers looked very embarrassed. McGonagall seemed to come back to her senses, and she said stiffly, "Professor Astaroth found these first years fighting at the Quidditch match and brought them to his office for punishment. However, he failed to notify me, although half the students belong to my house."
"It slipped my mind," snarled Astaroth.
"I'm sure it must have fallen right out while you were busy screaming at them and threatening them with expulsion!" McGonagall shot back.
Dumbledore peered at the six students over his half-moon spectacles. His blue eyes had lost their usual amused twinkle. "Fighting?"
Severus was uncertain of whether he could jump in and blame Black for starting the brawl, but Potter said quickly, "Lestrange attacked Black, Professor."
"He was provoked," Bellatrix interrupted.
"It's true, he said some very offensive things," Rodolphus put in.
"I did nothing of the sort!" fumed Black.
"You did too, you liar!" Lily snapped.
"Potter broke my wand," Severus said.
Dumbledore's eyes instantly fastened upon him. Severus held out the tip. Dumbledore nodded. "And the rest of it?"
Severus held out the hand with the smear of ash. The Headmaster frowned. "I see."
"Perhaps," McGonagall said wearily, "perhaps you could help with their punishments, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "If you insist…"
"Not Evans," Severus said quickly. "She was trying to stop us." He wondered if he was overdoing it by repeating himself, but if she was punished for this he'd have to think of another good turn to do to repay her.
"Very well," Dumbledore said, looking mildly curious. "On the word of your classmate, Miss Evans, you may leave." Lily Evans hurried from the room, head down.
Dumbledore surveyed the remaining students' injuries. "Twenty points from Slytherin and Gryffindor. And one night's detention each. And, Mr. Potter, I would like you to pay to replace Mr. Snape's wand."
"Fine," Potter said shortly. He pulled out a satchel of coins and thrust it at Snape.
"But," Dumbledore continued, "while we are on the subject of destruction..." He took Severus' wrist and held the ash-smeared hand out to Bellatrix, who instantly looked wary. "Miss Lestrange, I assume this is your doing?"
She nodded uneasily.
"I was under the impression that your attendance at Hogwarts was contingent on your taking medication to control this problem. If it continues, I will be forced to remove you from the school until you are cured. Please do not let your treatment lapse." Bellatrix nodded again, quickly.
Dumbledore at last gave a thin smile. "I trust that it would not be asking too much for a collective apology to Professor Astaroth and Professor McGonagall for upsetting them?"
He waited while the first years mumbled, "I'm sorry, Professors," then said quietly, "I do not want to know how it all began. I only want you to promise that we never have to deal with such a situation again. Mr. Snape, I will owl Mr. Ollivander, the wand-maker, and ask him to come here to fit you for a new wand.
"That is all; you may leave." His eyes strayed to their bleeding faces. "And I suggest that some of you pay a visit to Madam Pomfrey."
He turned to the two teachers. "Now Minerva, Chrysogonus, perhaps we ought to have a chat as well."
The first years half-ran from the room, and found Lily Evans slumped against the wall outside. She straightened up when she saw them. "You're lucky we didn't all get expelled!"
"You're lucky Snape stood up for you," Rodolphus sneered.
Severus glared at Lily. "We're even now—but stay out of my business from now on!"
"Believe me, Snivellus," Lily said frostily, "if I ever see you again, it will be twenty million years too soon." She stalked off.
"You're dead, Snivellus," Potter hissed, jabbing a finger in Severus' face before he and Black spun and stormed after Evans. They passed Petula and Maud, who were racing towards the Slytherins.
"Merlin's beard, look at your faces!" Maud said in amazement. "We'd better get out of here fast, before Filch figures out who's bleeding all over his nice clean floors."
"Won't the trail of blood tip him off?" Severus muttered.
"I need to pick up my medication from Madam Pomfrey," Bellatrix said shamefacedly. "I don't want to be expelled."
"Oh, Bella," sighed Petula, as she and Maud led Bellatrix away.
Rodolphus was bent by the door, frowning intently. "I'd kill to hear what Dumbledore's saying to McGonagall and Astaroth, but he must've put an Imperturbable Charm or something on the door. Just imagine what-"
He was interrupted by a hysterical explosion from round the corner.
"WHAT IS THIS?" screamed Filch.
Rodolphus and Severus jumped and stared at each other.
"BLOOD? WHO IS BLEEDING ALL OVER THE CASTLE?" Filch roared. Mrs. Norris agreed with an outraged yowl.
Without a word both boys bolted in the opposite direction of Filch's strident voice.
"My God, he'll kill us!" whimpered Rodolphus, attempting to stem the blood still trickling from his nose.
"At least Potter and Black are bleeding more than us, maybe Filch'll follow their trail instead of ours," Severus responded grimly.
His eyes rove the corridor as he ran, seeking a hiding place. A giant vase—they wouldn't both fit in there. A window—seven storeys wasn't such a long drop, was it?
Then he spotted a door across from a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "In here!"
He wrenched open the polished door, yanked Rodolphus in after him, and slammed the door.