Chapter 37
Granger Speaks Out!
Sitting side by side with none other than Professor Severus Snape, Hermione Granger released a statement to a high ranking Ministry official yesterday afternoon.
Ms. Granger is employed as a Spells Mistress, (though we are not at liberty to divulge the name of the company.). Professor Snape is a Potions Master, who teaches potions in England for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, under Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.
"They were not involved together while she was a student, it is preposterous for anyone to even think it of Ms. Granger, whom I mentored for many years, or Professor Snape." said the Headmistress in a candid interview done by floo network. The Headmistress informed us that Professor Snape was and is a trusted member of the facility and anyone who says otherwise can deal with her directly. (This journalist would rather argue with a hippogriff.)
Ms. Granger stated that her relationship to Professor Snape is frankly, "not anyone's business." She further stated that whomever misinformed the community should, "watch out." When asked if Professor Snape was indeed a murderer, Ms. Granger fumed that his role, while working for You-Know-Who, was that of a spy. "Many people are aware of it." she says. "but it is time others knew too. Those that enjoy ridiculing people whom they do not know are no better than she said his name! We lost a lot of people who meant the world to all of us involved, during that war. Where their deaths in vain? We all thought that this would be the end. That all this ugliness would dissipate along with she said his name's death. It is not right, nor is it fair that we are being used as scapegoats and a means to be reelected."
Ms. Granger is obviously referring to the Minister of magic, Rufous Scrimgeour, who is up for reelection this year. "He seems to be the type that needs chaos around him. To rule by fear. To be a tyrant in the worst way. That is what she said his name again did. He is acting just like him, and I think it is despicable. He wants everyone scared of nothing, so he can seem to be calm and collect. Well Minster, I can tell you that thanks to Professor Snape and Harry Potter, the threat is gone. Perhaps he should find another way to scare the public into reelecting him."
And if the Minister hopes to find a new diversion, like creating an international incident with Ireland, he can think again. This reporter sat down for a one on one interview with the Minster of Magic in Belfast, Mr. Greensboro. "I have indeed met Ms. Granger and Professor Snape. Kind people. First I will address the issue of the allegations brought upon the heads of these dear young folk. It is a shame and a scandal that anyone would believe such horse wallop. Myself and me staff think both the professor and the dear Ms. Granger are assets to the Irish community. No such nonsense was going on here, like was said in other circles, mind you. There are no Death Eaters welcome here. Whatever a person's past is, it is important to see what they are doing with themselves. He was found innocent in his own country, I do not plan to retry him simply because he stepped foot on Irish soil. The man is free and welcome to it." The minister continued to say, "the fact that the English are attempting to make us out to be the evil ones here is complete and utter nonsense. Weren't they the ones who allowed the Evil Dark Wizard to come to power in the first place? Weren't they the ones who ignored the signs? Weren't they the ones who put that poor lad, Potter, through so much agony? Why would the public listen to them now? What makes them sure he has things right now, if he hadn't in the past? See here in Belfast, we check our facts first."
Which is true. The Ministry of magic in Belfast did a thorough investigation and concluded that Professor Snape's business in the country was that of a honorable nature. This reporter can only hope that the English Ministry can conduct itself with as much honor and integrity as Ms. Granger and Professor Snape has shown these past few days.
Severus read the article with Hermione standing behind him, reading over his shoulder. Sylvester was squeezed between them, reading as well.
Hermione beamed as Severus folded the paper.
"I can't believe they printed this." Hermione sat opposite him and beckoned Sylvester to join them at the table, much to Severus' displeasure.
"And why not? The Quibbler printed it in London and the Celestial News printed it here in Belfast. So now everyone will read it. I hope Harry does…" her voice faded at the dark look Severus gave her.
Sylvester, in a blink of an eye, apparated from the room.
"Where is he off to?" Hermione said to herself.
"More than likely, he is off to sharpen his claws. Pick his teeth with a toilet bush. Blow his nose on his toes. Who knows what creatures like that do with their time." Elmer's voce rang out from across the room. Severus gave Hermione a hard look that she ignored. She knew Elmer got on his nerves, but sometimes she appreciated the candid comments.
"My Misses!" Sylvester blinked back into the room in a panic. Severus stood and already had his wand drawn. Sylvester's eyes noted this and nodded. "Yes, yes. She is here misses. She is in the lobby!"
"Who?" Severus asked in a low, threatening tone.
"The devil woman is back miss. Back to cause more trouble I think. Sylvester think the misses should let the Master here handle that cursed woman!"
"Brilliant! She's back you say? Oh I am so happy! Things have been rather dull around here. She is just the red pepper I need in my day." Elmer crooned.
"Shut up Elmer. Severus, no. I am going alone."
"No my dear, I am going with you."
"I don't need a baby sitter Severus! I can handle her."
"Obviously you can't. It seems the last time she was here she got you drunk and got information from you. Then, ran off to her little friends and blabbed all that she saw, knew and thought. I am coming and that is final." Hermione sighed. There was no use arguing with him. He was too resolute.
"Then put your wand up at least, you won't need it."
"No." with at one word, he exited the room with Sylvester on his heels. The latter looked overjoyed. Hermione hesitated a moment and then quickly scurried out the door.
"Do tell her to come and visit me, will you?" Elmer's voce cried out behind her.
When Hermione entered the lobby, she found Severus pointing his wand at Ginny. Ginny, looked worse than Hermione had ever seen her. She looked ill.
"Severus, put it down!" he didn't answer, nor did he move.
"Hermione, please…I came to apologize for whatever I said that caused this." her eyes went back and forth between Hermione and Severus. "I wanted to tell you that I didn't talk to the papers."
"Liar." Severus seethed. "have you any idea what you and your stupid little friends have put her through? Do you?" Ginny looked at Severus and her eyes widened.
"It's true then?" she asked in a small voice.
"You have no idea of the truth little girl."
"I mean…you two…then it is true?" she frowned, as did Hermione.
"Lower your wand Severus." Hermone spat at him. "Ginny, sit down." she said just as testily. Ginny slowly made her way to the nearest chair, never letting her eyes leave Severus' wand, and sat. Severus moved towards the desk and leaned on it. Hermione stood beside him.
"Tell me. Tell me what you came to say. Then I have questions of my own." Ginny looked out the window for a moment and then dropped her eyes to the floor.
"I went to see Harry. I went to...well…to ask him what you and I spoke about the other night." Hermione nodded her understanding. "He hates me Hermione. Really hates me. He
said no and that he doesn't feel anything for me anymore. I got really mad…I didn't mean to say anything Hermione, I didn't! But I was so angry."
"What did you say?" Severus asked.
"I told him the reason you, Hermione, said no to him was because you were involved with someone else. I mean, I know it isn't true…or wasn't then…but I just said it. Then, I couldn't think of anyone else male in your life other then him," she pointed to Severus. "and I told Harry you two were…together." Hermione took a sharp intake of breath. Severus sneered at her and then rounded on Hermione.
"What did I say? I said this little twit-"
"Hey!" Ginny cried.
"This twit was pouting so she mouthed off to Potter. Who in turn…mouthed off to the press. Just another way for him to gain sympathy and a moment in the spotlight."
"Actually, Professor, I don't think Harry went to the press." Both Severus and Hermione looked at her expectantly. Hermione was almost as sure as Severus that it was Harry. Perhaps she didn't know her friends at all anymore.
"Then who do you think said all that stuff? I mean, no one else knew, did they?" Hermione asked Severus.
"Are you sure no one has ever seen you two out before? I mean…there wasn't a time when…you two were on a …date or something and someone saw you?" Ginny looked as uncomfortable as Severus and Hermione felt.
"It's not possible." but Hermione's mind flashed to the kiss in the middle of the street on their night out in the village. Anyone could have been standing in the shadows, and they would have never known.
"What makes you think someone saw us together?" Severus asked the red headed witch.
"Well…" Ginny began to cry. "I heard you two were close…very…intense."
Hermione and Severus looked at each other in bewilderment., then back at Ginny. Comprehension dawning on Severus.
"Ms. Weasley…tell me…when was the last time you had a conversation with your brother?"
"Which one?"
"Oh goodness! Percy! He was there…It must be him then…" Hermione's hands covered her mouth.
"No…not that brother. Potter's bosom buddy, Mr. Ronald Weasley." Ginny looked at the floor and the back at them. Her eyes red with tears. Severus knew, before Hermione did.
"He said he had talked to you a few days ago. Then the other night, Percy came to the house and asked to speak with Ron in private. They went outside for a bit and when he got back in…he was really angry. I didn't think too much of it really. I mean, they do talk sometimes. But…after the Prophet started printing the stories, Ron got really depressed. Then he got your letter yesterday. I think he felt really guilty. He's really mad at Percy now too. Because Percy and the Ministry twisted a lot of what he said. I think Percy told him some stuff about you guys to get him all excited, then he just…told Percy everything he knew or thought about you and…" she looked at Severus. "him. With what Ron said and what the Ministry already knew they came up with all this stuff. I'm not sure who saw you two together, but whoever did just went crazy with it. I'm sorry Hermione."
"So when we saw Percy at the Ministry…he used that day to base those stories on?" Hermione asked. Severus felt even worse than before. Ginny's face was twisted in agony and Severus watched his lover's face pale. She was rapidly losing friends. Rapidly losing almost everything she had ever known or cared about. Because of him.
A/N: Things just are not looking good, are they? What did you think of the article? Hermione has big ones to compare the Minister of Magic to Voldemort. At least Ginny fessed up. Boy...what a mess.