Chapter 4: "The Fugitive"
McGonagall frowned, pursed her lips, and nodded.
Harry told her that he found it an odd coincidence that Fawkes showed up only moments before Snape did. He recounted for her in detail how Fawkes had saved his life in the Chamber of Secrets years ago. Fawkes' appearances were never coincidental.
McGonagall rested her chin on steepled fingers as Harry went through his fresh perspective on the recent matters. Now she had something to mull over. It was true; Fawkes and Dumbledore were tied together in some mystical way. And Fawkes seemed mighty interested in Snape's recovery, even though, he had yet to offer his own tears for healing. Perhaps there was more to this than could be seen at present.
The fireplace glowed green. The Minster's face appeared seconds later.
"Headmistress," he began.
"Minister," she returned.
"It has come to my attention that you are harboring a fugitive," he started.
"I'm no fugitive!" Harry began to distract the Minister. "I disenrolled myself now that I am of age. I turned seventeen over summer break."
Scrimgeour looked confused for a moment, "No, not you, Potter."
"By the way, sir," Harry interrupted again, much to McGonagall's amusement. "Have you let Stan Shunpike out of Azkaban yet?"
An exasperated look crossed the Minister's face, "We're not back to that again, are we, Potter?"
"It's not going away until he's released. You and I both know he is not a Death Eater nor in any way affiliated with the Dark Lord," continued Harry.
"Minerva," he looked annoyed, "Shut the boy up or send him out of the office!"
McGonagall gave Harry a diminutive hand gesture to back off a bit.
"So what can Hogwarts do for you today, Minister?" McGonagall continued.
"I want Severus Snape," he came right out with it.
"Whatever makes you think I have him here?" she swept her hand in the office. "You see anyone here but Harry and me?"
"You are just as helpful as Albus," he grumbled. "I can see that now! I'm on my way. Stand aside."
McGonagall motioned to Harry to leave quickly.
Harry scurried out. He immediately set out for the hospital wing and Hermione and Snape.
"Come on. The Ministry is steps behind me. I don't know how long McGonagall can hold them off," he panted.
Hermione looked up startled, "What's going on!"
"Later. Help me get him to the Room of Requirement. Now!" Harry rushed. "Dobby!"
A pop and Dobby appeared and began to fawn over Harry.
"Not now, Dobby. We've got to move the Professor before the Ministry can get to him," Harry yelled.
Hermione and Harry had loaded Snape onto a stretcher.
"Dobby, you and Peeves keep the Ministry aurors busy. Go!" Harry ordered.
"Anything for Mister Harry Potter!" Dobby jumped with glee.
Hermione and Harry swept through the back halls and secret passages with Snape on a stretcher. They could hear quite a commotion several corridors over. Peeves and the house elves were doing their best to cause as much mayhem and confusion as possible. Harry willed the room of Requirement to open.
Inside was a fully equipped hospital room and potions laboratory. He shoved Hermione inside with Snape's limp body.
"You stay there until I come and get you, okay?"
She nodded. Hermione was on her own with an unconscious patient who was well known for a volatile temper should he awaken. She was more than a little unnerved by the prospects of a hostile patient inside and hostile forces just the other side of the door.
Around three in the morning, Harry returned under his cloak of invisiblity. Snape was still alternating between raging fever and moderate fever and still quite unconscious much to Hermione's relief. Harry had brought both Dobby and Fawkes with him. Naturally, Crookshanks was still parked on Snape's bed. Hermione was not quite sure what to think of the growing menagerie. She did know she was relieved to see Harry.
"So is the coast clear?"
Harry shook his head, "Not at all. There are aurors crawling all over Hogwarts."
"Well, at least we'll be safe from You-Know-Who!" she exclaimed.
"Hermione, it's okay to say his name," Harry reminded her. "He may kill us, but he can never defeat us."
"Well said, Potter," chimed in a soft, silky voice.
Both Harry and Hermione jumped then looked to Snape.
"The Dark Lord is planning an attack against the Muggles. You must get me Professor McGonagall. I failed to head it off. And I managed to get myself caught in the process," Snape spoke urgently.
"We know," assured Hermione. "You got that much out when we brought you inside."
Snape eased back on his pillow, "Then let the Ministry have me. Azkaban is what I deserve and worse."
"Professor, we will do no such thing," Harry found himself saying.
"And why not, Potter?" Snape inquired.
"Because we know what happened," Hermione picked up the conversation. "Fawkes brought Professor McGonagall the memory. As soon as the Minister sees it, I'm sure he'll call off the hunt for you."
Snape snorted.
"I'm afraid he's right, Hermione," Harry added carefully. "The Minister only wants a trophy. He cares little for the truth or for anything resembling justice."
"How terribly astute you have become, Potter," Snape added.
"Professor, we may never like one another, but can we call a truce, sir?" Harry offered his hand.
Snape looked at it a moment then joined his hand to Harry's with a nod, "Truce. I'm too tired to fight any more. I have failed and would just as soon have the Ministry end my miserable existence."
"Here, here, now," Minerva stole into the room and into the conversation. "We'll have none of that Severus. These young people have been diligent in protecting you. We will not have their efforts be made in vain."
"Minerva," he looked at her pitifully, "I deserve to die. Let it end now," he struggled to get out of bed.
Minerva gently pushed him back, "You'll do no such thing. You are part of the Order and we take care of our own."
"That's right Professor," both Harry and Hermione offered in concert.
"You will lie still and get well. I've informed the Ministry of the planned attack, so your job is complete. The aurors will take it from here on. Now, Severus, you concentrate on getting yourself well. The Order has need of your skills…and I don't mean as a spy. Your spying days are done, understand. I'm leaving Hermione in charge of you," Minerva turned to leave then turned back, "You behave yourself Severus, or you will be dealing with me. For now, you are staying here. Come Harry."
With a swoosh, McGonagall presented the back of her robes to Hermione and Snape. Harry trailed out behind her. Snape lay back against the pillow and stared at the ceiling. His hand absentmindedly ruffled Crookshanks coat.
"You know he's not a cat," he finally spoke to Hermione.
"No?"
"No, he's part Kneazle," Snape went on. "He's a natural legilimens of the animal world. He tells me that he was the one who found me. He was on the Headmaster's orders to watch over me," he almost chuckled.
Snape rolled onto his side facing Crookshanks and Hermione, "I am no longer your professor, nor is it likely I ever shall be again. I think it's time for you to call me Severus, Hermione."
She smiled, "That may be harder to do than it is to offer."
He nodded, "Are we in the Room of Requirement?"
"We are. We had to leave the hospital wing when the Ministry arrived earlier tonight," she told him.
"How long have I been unconscious?" he wondered.
"It seems like only a few hours things have moved so quickly. But I guess it was about two days, or two nights ago, that we recovered you in the Forbidden Forest. We found you Friday afternoon and it's now very early Sunday. But I think you'd been there a while because you were damp from the dew," she replied. "How did you get back? And how did you get so beaten up?"
"I apparated back to the gates the night before you found me. Of course, the beatings were administered by other Death Eaters, on the Dark Lord's orders."
"I would have thought after you killed," she paused then continued, "the Headmaster that Voldemort would have held you in high esteem."
Snape looked at her cautiously, "How do I know I can trust you?"
"What an odd thing to say, Professor," she remarked. "We've tended your injuries, and yet you wonder if we are trustworthy?"
"No matter," he verbally brushed it aside, "it does not matter now. Let's just say the Dark Lord was none too happy with me when I failed to bring Potter along with Draco and myself. The other Death Eaters relayed how I did not kill any other than the Headmaster. When the Dark Lord discovered from Draco that I could have easily stunned Potter and dragged him along, I was 'disciplined.' It was during that time that I overheard the plan to attack the Muggles' government."
"And then you came home," Hermione added softly.
"And I somehow managed to escape and come home, yes," he concluded. "I can't remember how I escaped though. All I remember is getting to the gates of Hogwarts. I remember stumbling through the forest until I could no longer move. I do not remember you finding me."
"I know about the pensieve, but I still don't understand how you could do it," Hermione inquired.
Snape rolled over away from her and was quiet for a while.
"I was caught in the middle of several unbreakable vows and wizard debts. They were of my own doing, too. I was foolish as a young man. I betrayed Lily, not knowing it was she at the time when I told the Dark Lord about the prophecy. It was too late when I went to the Headmaster and confessed my, my…"
He lay still for a while longer. It was all that Hermione could do to keep still herself.
With a sigh, he continued, "I failed to uphold my life debt to James. I don't like to admit it, but he did save my life when Black sent me to my death at the hands of Lupin. Thus, I made an unbreakable vow to protect Harry. The Headmaster was the bonder. I was now in his debt, too. Had it not been for the Headmaster, I would have been in Azkaban for life for my deeds. The vow did not specify that I had to like the boy, only that I protect him with my life. As you can imagine, I could hardly tell that to the Dark Lord when he tortured me for not having brought Potter back."
More silence. Hermione nibbled her lower lip which quivered with a quiet sob for the man who lay before her.
"Before the term started, Narcissa made me take another unbreakable vow to protect her son Draco and carry out his mission should he be unable to do so. I could hardly turn her down as Draco is my godson and the Headmaster expected me to perform my duties as a spy. I had to find out what the Dark Lord was planning and hoped that this would be a way in. I could not get Narcissa to tell me. Nor could I get Draco to tell me what the plan was until it was nearly too late. I had no idea about how Draco planned to get the Death Eaters into the castle. I had warned the Headmaster about Draco's plan to kill him so that Lucius could be redeemed in the eyes of the Dark Lord. But he called upon the life debt I owed him instead of heeding my warning. I was caught between the vows and debts. He refused to let me pay with my own life. He said…" Snape broke off for a moment and composed himself before continuing, "That's why the Astronomy Tower happened. I have hated myself for what happened ever since. It was what I had feared most would transpire," Snape concluded. "So, they say confession is good for the soul. And now you know the full story, but I feel no better than before. I am still an utter failure."
He still faced away from Hermione, "I would greatly appreciate it if you said nothing of what you have heard tonight to another living soul."
She reached out and patted his shoulder and ran her hand gently up and down his arm, "Not to worry, Severus. You're safe here."
She felt his body shudder under her hand. He tucked his head in and balled himself up again. Crookshanks adjusted to the movement and settled into the crook of his long legs.
He nodded, "I'm tired. I'm going to try to sleep."
"Perhaps a sleeping potion, sir?"
"No, leave me with my own nightmares. They are a constant reminder of my ever-present failures. Thank you, no. Good night, Hermione."
"Good night, Severus," Hermione whispered as she made to lie down on a bed next to his.
Hermione lay down on the bed next to his and slept soundly for the first time since they'd found him in the Forbidden Forest.