BLOOD OF THE MOTHER by BertaS Nov. 2005
Chapter 24
Description: The meeting at the ministry.
Disclaimer: They are not mine. They all belong to JKR.
Is That A Threat?
Madam Bones looked up as they were shown into the Directors office, "Welcome Gentlemen, I am sorry. I really think this could have been handled with less fuss." She smiled, "Do have a seat."
Sev smirked, as he moved the chair so that he could see the whole room including the door, "I have learned, that where Harry is concerned, things almost never go as smoothly as we would like."
Harry chuckled, "That's the most massive understatement I think I have ever heard."
The door suddenly flew open and the Minister Pro Tem found himself on facing the business end of a staff held by Severus Snape. His eyes went wide and his fear was evident.
Harry laughed again as he lay his hand on Sev's arm, and glanced at Madam Bones to see her stifling a giggle, "People really are just going to have to stop doing that, someone is eventually going to get hurt." He raised an eyebrow at the man in the door as Sev relaxed, "You really should be more careful when entering a room. We wouldn't want to have to look for another Minister so soon now would we." He gestured for the man to come in and sit down.
The man's nostrils flared, "Is that supposed to be a threat of some kind, young man?"
"Mr. Thornprick, be assured that if Mr. Potter where threatening you, you would not need to ask such an imbecilic question." He smiled evilly, "You should be honored that My Liege has seen fit to advise you, safety precautions are something that he is an expert on."
Thornprick edged around so that he was as far away from Severus as he could get. "I was not aware that you where going to accompany the boy, Snape. May one ask, what you are doing here, armed?" he gave Amelia a look that said he thought this was her fault.
Sev just smiled, "Actually no one even asked to check it." He shrugged a bit, looking admiringly at his staff.
Amelia cleared her throat; "I may have to speak with the security on the matter. However, we have other things to discuss at the moment. Dickey, um excuse me, Minister you had a problem with me clearing the charge of improper use of underage magic?"
The Minister seemed uncomfortable. "I wouldn't say I had a problem. I just fail to see how marking someone in such a way could possibly be a matter of life and death. And you know as well as I, that blood magic is forbidden." He sniffed and looked at Severus, "May I ask to see this, 'Mark of Potter'?"
Severus didn't move, "You may ask any thing you like." He arched an eyebrow at the Minister Pro Tem.
There was a short silence and Amelia coughed, "Professor, would you please show me your left arm?" she seemed, to Harry, to be having trouble keeping a straight face.
Severus immediately pushed up his sleeve and laid his arm on the desk for them all to inspect. The snake was moving in a lazy circle around the lily as it slowly ate its own tail. Harry looked at it surprised, "Sev, when did it start moving?"
Severus shrugged his cheeks coloring slightly, "I did not notice it doing so until this morning, my Liege."
Thornprick snorted, "Explain why it was necessary to break the law to do this, Mr. Potter?"
Harry looked at the man with narrowed eyes, "Take any man with the dark mark to my residence on Privet Drive, you will note that he will quickly pass out shortly after breaching the wards, if not removed he will go in to shock and die it is my understanding that this is what happened to Lucius Malfoy. By the time I discovered the Professor on my front stoop, he had collapsed and was already in shock, at the time I did what I felt was necessary. The only other possibility would have been to remove him from within the wards, this was not an option as there were several Death Eaters standing at the end of the walk."
"What made you think to 'mark' the Professor as a… a… a minion? How does a boy your age even know how to do such a thing? And why would you not just let him die, he was at the time the enemy was he not?" Thornprick threw the questions at Harry as though he was disgusted. It was rather obvious that he was not able to perform this type of magic.
Harry looked at the man thinking a moment, when he answered it was in a hard cold voice, "Minister Thornprick, it was never my intention to create such a mark, however the Professor has not ask me to remove it." Harry looked at Sev his voice softening, "Which I would try to do if ask." He moved he eyes to Amelia, "When I claimed my birth right, Professor Snape offered his pledge as my liegeman which I accepted." His voice hardened again, "He is not," Harry's eyes met those of the Minister Pro Tem again, "my 'minion', nor has he ever been, my enemy, he is my friend and a member of my family. Allowing him to die was never an option."
The temporary minister snorted then sneered, "Just what kind of 'relationship' do you have with this boy, Snape? I have heard some rather abnormal rumors recently. I'm not sure that we shouldn't have you up on charges of some kind."
Severus mouth dropped open and he just stared at the man.
Harry snarled as he stood, "I have had enough of that kind of accusation. I am not sleeping with Severus Snape. However if I should decide that I wanted to do so, it would be none of your, or anyone else's business."
Harry's eyes where like green ice and his robes were moving as if in a strong breeze. "Severus Snape has been a spy for the light for longer than I have been alive, he has saved my life so many times I have lost count. I would like to see him receive an Order of Merlin for his services. And. You. Will. See. To. It. You will also drop these ridicules charges against me." Thornprick just swallowed hard and nodded eyes wide.
Harry watched him intently as he quickly signed the release. The man must have felt like a mouse in a vipers' cage. There was no doubt in his mind that he did not want the Boy-Who-Lived-Again as his enemy but he did not know how to fix the situation.
"Now if you will excuse us I have another matter to discuss with Director Bones. Good day, Dickey." Harry watched the man scuttle out the door. He then turned back to Madam Bones and drew an envelope from his pocket and threw it on the desk, "Is this enough to get a conviction?"
As he watched her open the envelope and read through the contents, he glanced at Sev and realized that his friend was shaking. Harry made a conscious effort to calm down and laid his hand on Sev's shoulder. The older man looked up from the edge of his seat, his mouth opened then closed, obviously frightened and fighting back tears. "Its okay Sev, it's not your fault." Harry whispered as he hugged the man.
Madam Bones was shocked by this by-play but was even more shocked by what she was reading in the report from the staff at Gringotts. Evidently during the reading of a will it was discovered that many of the recipients of the bequests had compulsions on them, all apparently from the same originator. They where all evidently willing to testify if the culprit could be caught. The list of spells was extensive ranging from truth spells to a lust compulsion. There were however no names on the document.
"Might I know who the parties involved are? These are very serious charges." Amelia said looking very grave.
Harry and Severus shared a look before Harry answered, "We believe Albus Dumbledore is the one who placed these spells, on members of the Order of the Phoenix. I have not had time to have the other members checked out as to whether or not they also have been tampered with." Harry again looked at Sev this time he seemed to be asking for permission continue.
Severus Snape was showing much more emotion than the Amelia had ever thought him to be capable of as he choked out the words, "Go ahead."
Harry rubbed his shoulder and leaned toward him, "You sure?" The older man nodded, his hair completely obscuring his face.
"When I removed Severus' old Mark, hidden underneath it, were spells similar to subjects number four, five and six, I realize that these won't count in court because there is no record of them being there or of how they where removed. There were also older spells, which we think where placed there by Severus' mum and grandfather. These included emotional suppressants, which were reinforced by the spells that were on the Mark itself. This is why the Professor is a bit out of sorts, he is not used to dealing with these emotions." Harry continued to gently rub Severus' back.
Amelia nodded, "I see. Professor Snape, do please forgive me. You have always seemed to be such a strong person that seeing this side of you is a bit, um, surprising."
He looked at her wiping at his face trying to get himself under control as he said, "I find it to be a bit," he took a deep shuddering breath, "disconcerting myself."
She smiled, "I believe we all do when we get upset. May I recommend a nice long bath when you get home?" at his nod she continued, "On this," she lifted the report refocusing on Harry, "If I could have the names of all parties involved, I will start an investigation. It actually ties in with the ongoing investigation into corruption in the ministry."
Harry tapped the papers with his wand and grinned, as the names appeared in place of the words 'subject number whatever'.
"Do you know if there is a way to get a complete list of Order members?" she asked.
Severus pulled a paper out of his pocket and handed it to her smiling slightly, "This is all the members that I know, talk to Minerva or Mad-Eye or maybe Dedulas Diggle they have been members the longest I believe."
Amelia nodded and stood, "Thank you both for coming, I'll have someone escort you out, Merlin knows what Dickey will have done by now."
She walked to the door with them searching the outer office where many of her people were apparently out of the office, "Mr. Jones where is every one?"
The young man that Harry remembered from the atrium stammered out, "Oh, um, a Memorial service or something, seemed kind of odd, I mean, there was no memo but a lot of the older guys just kind of, left this morning. I heard snatches of 'back in the old days' talk, you know what I mean? Ma'am?" he looked totally embarrassed.
Amelia nodded smiling, "Yes, I think I know. Would you please escort my guests to the atrium, after that find Alastor Moody and inform him that I would like a meeting as soon as his schedule will allow."
Jones saluted, "Yes Ma'am. Uh…" he seemed to deflate, "any suggestions on where to find him?"
Harry giggled, "Try the Leaky Cauldron. I assume he is at the going away party for Sirius Black." At the perfectly astonished look the man gave him Harry cracked up completely.
Madam Bones was laughing as well, "I wish I had known. I would have liked to have attended. Go to the Caldron, Jones, give Moody my message and let every one else know that I want them back here in the morning, hopefully sober."
Turning she addressed Harry and Sev, "Professor, Mr. Potter, I will see you in a couple of days for the beginning of the trials." They shook hands and departed.
Harry and Sev arrived home in time to have Dobby feed them a delicious meal and usher them into their respective baths for a long soak. Their evening was quite peaceful Harry reading in the library and Sev brewing something in the basement.
The next morning there was a special delivery of 25 hangover potions delivered to Madam Bones, which she was quite grateful to have.
A/N I couldn't help having Sev do something nice, I envision the note attached saying something along the lines of "No one likes being arrested by a hung-over Auror".
I am back to my normal working hours so I can at least breathe again. No more overtime
Next chapter should be the start of the trials.