Chapter Fifteen: Out From Under the Whomping Willow

'Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person's throat.' -William Paul Young

'I do not have a good feeling about this,' Lupin said as they stepped into the lift and Dumbledore pushed the button for Level Two. 'We have no idea which Wizengamot Elder will be presiding?'

The day of Lupin's hearing had arrived. Dumbledore had dragged Severus along, so he could testify he would provide the werewolf with Wolfsbane every month. Though if Dumbledore expected him to provide a character reference the old wizard was sorely mistaken.

Severus did not want to be at the Ministry. It had been two days since the inflammatory Evening Prophet had been released, two days he and Victoria had been plotting and working to procure the items needed. A Dreaming Draught and unregistered Portkey had been easy enough to come by, but finding not one, but two untraceable wands was difficult. Given what he planned to do with the wands, he could hardly buy them from Ollivanders. He had spent all of last night prowling Muggle London for the other item on his list. But he could hardly tell the Headmaster what he was up to, so he had no choice but to attend the hearing. The Invigoration Draught and coffee that had comprised his breakfast sat heavily in his stomach.

'I thought this was similar to a hearing on underaged sorcery?' Severus said with a frown. In those matters, the case was simply given to whoever was available at the moment, which was how the Order had been able to get away with having Ahlgrim rule on Potter's hearing.

Dumbledore removed his spectacles and cleaned them on the sleeve of his frightfully teal robes. 'This is a solo sceptrum hearing, while similar to hearings for underage magic, the presiding Elder has much greater latitude in what he or she is allowed to impose, be it fines, community service or whatever else he or she deems appropriate. The only thing the Elder cannot rule on is criminal charges, which of course, require the full Wizengamot for offences that could result in time in Azkaban, or a tri sceptrum hearing for lesser offences. For solo and tri sceptrum hearings the Elder is selected at random. No one knows until the time of the hearing who the Elder will be. It was thought it would be more difficult for a wizard to use bribery or threats to gain an unfair advantage that way.'

Lupin had worn his least drab robes for the occasion and his hands were occupied with smoothing out invisible creases. His face was clean-shaven and he had in the opinion of Severus's sensitive nose, used far too much aftershave. Lupin began ticking Elders off his fingers. 'There's Emmanuel Zachariah, he's completely prejudiced against werewolves, then there's Agatha Catchlove, she tried to to make werewolf hunting a sport-'

Severus rolled his eyes. 'If you're going to list all fifty members of the Wizengamot, at least have the decency to do it alphabetically.'

The lift ground to a halt and the disembodied voice of the Welcome Witch intoned, 'Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services.'

'Here's our stop,' Albus said jovially.

The Wizengamot Administrative centre took up half of the floor, a sea of desks manned by wizards and witches who looked to be drowning in scrolls and parchment. On the other side of the room was a maze of cubicles under the sign Auror Headquarters. Fifty doors, presumably the offices of the Wizengamot Elders, lined the room. Behind a tall desk, a cheery witch was directing a wizard and a witch holding a squalling infant. 'For Adoption Services, you're going to want to speak with Fredrick von Prattlebottom, he's at the desk at the end of the second row, with the top hat,' she said, pointing.

An old wizard with messy hair and dirt-smudged robes stepped forward. He handed the witch a piece of parchment.

'Mr Fezziwick! How are you doing?' She adjusted her triangle-shaped spectacles and read the parchment. 'Ah, another fine I see, perhaps you should consider hiring someone to prune your Fanged Geranium? You can give the fine to Olaf over there, I'm sure you remember him.'

'Good morning, Miss Honeycutt.' The headmaster said, handing the witch the summons.

Honeycutt smiled brightly in return. 'Hmm…' she read the notice and then rolled it up in a little tube. 'Everything appears to be in order.' She slid the tube through a slot in a wooden box sitting on her desk. 'Now to find out the presiding Elder.' The box whirred and buzzed for a moment then emitted a puff of probably unnecessary plum smoke. A slip of parchment emerged from the bottom and the witch tore it away. 'Looks like you'll have-' she stopped and peered over Severus's shoulder. 'Perfect timing!'

Severus turned. Lucius Malfoy and his barrister strode over. Lucius smirked at Severus, looking as if the ruling had already been decided in his favour. His barrister, on the other hand, was perfectly businesslike. His shoes and briefcase were polished to a shine and his greying moustache neatly trimmed.

The barrister stepped forward, sparing a quick glance at the name plate on the witch's desk. 'Good morning, Miss Honeycutt, I am Darrell Radford, representing Lucius Malfoy, did I hear correctly that an Elder has been chosen?' He bade the witch a pleasant morning in the same voice one ordered tea as if social niceties were merely a protocol to be observed and he did not care if the witch had a good morning or not. Quite a bit like Severus himself in that way.

'Yes, you're going to want to go-' she pointed over her shoulder, 'through the door on the far left, the one that's open, but-' Lucius made sure he was the first to head that direction, strutting as if he damn well owned the place, eager to be able to get the first word in.

'Wait!' Honeycutt called after him. 'The Elder needs at least a few minutes to read the-' but Lucius soundly ignored her. Honeycutt sighed, then waved the rest of them forward. 'Go on, I daresay you'll want to see the look on his face.'

Severus peered at her through narrowed eyes, but she merely smirked and pretended to busy herself with paperwork. The four of them followed Lucius. Dumbledore brought up the rear, humming to himself and looking serene.

Lucius, puffed up to his most important, strode through the open door, then stumbled to a halt on the threshold. 'You have got to be kidding me!' he cried.

Severus craned his neck to look through the doorway. Sitting at an enormous rosewood desk, reading a parchment was none other than Wizengamot Elder, Supreme Mugwump and candidate for Minister for Magic, Hailey Ahlgrim.

Her expression was cool, if not faintly troubled as she regarded Lucius Malfoy. Severus remembered that Kingsley had said it was in her office that Umbridge had tried to decapitate her. Then Hailey spotted Severus, and Lucius's barrister looking over Lucius's shoulder and buried her sense of unease with a small smile. 'I am afraid I'm not the kidding sort, Mr Malfoy. Please, do come in.'

Lucius Malfoy remained where he was. 'This is- this is, it's a conflict of interest! She can't rule on this! She's campaigning against me for Merlin's sake! Tell her, Darrell!'

Radford cleared his throat, clearly wishing his client would control himself. 'As I am sure Elder Ahlgrim is quite aware, in this instance, any conflict of interest would have to exist between her and myself or against Professor Lupin in order for there to be grounds for the selection of a new Elder. I have had other arguments ruled on by Elder Ahlgrim, I believe her to be fair and impartial.'

Ahlgrim folded her hands on top of her desk and leaned forward. 'In other circumstances, you would be correct, Mr Malfoy, certainly if this were a criminal matter I would recuse myself, but this is a simple matter concerning a member of Hogwarts' staff. If you were concerned about any prejudice on the part of the Wizengamot, you should have remained anonymous. According to the complaint you are only a "Concerned Parent," as you made the choice to dissolve your anonymity you cannot use it as grounds for the selection of a different Elder.'

Radford inclined his head. 'Elder Ahlgrim is quite correct. Please, do forgive my client's earlier outburst. He was merely overtaken by his surprise. We are both confident you will judge the matter with impartiality and the gravity it deserves.' The last part was directed with narrowed eyes at his client.

'Thank you.' She stood and made her way over to them. Radford nudged Lucius out of the doorway so the rest of them could enter and shake the witch's hand and exchange introductions. Severus worried she would forget she was not supposed to know Severus and Lupin, but she regarded everyone with the same polite interest. 'Please, gentlemen,' she waved her wand and two armchairs near her fireplace flew over to land next to the chairs before her desk. The fifth chair she conjured out of thin air. 'Do be seated.'

Malfoy fumed but stormed over to his seat. Severus smirked inwardly. Lucius had only made an appearance because he was so certain his influence would help his case, and now he landed the one Elder he had less than zero influence over.

Ahlgrim handed a stack of scrolls over to her assistant, a squat wizard with thinning brown hair and keen eyes. 'Clark, after you deliver these to Madam Bones would you mind fetching a spot of tea? Conjured tea never tastes as good as the real thing.' She sat behind her elaborately carved desk.

Clark nodded. 'Certainly.'

'Before I begin I shall go over some of the rules guiding this hearing.' Ahlgrim said after the door had closed. 'This is a solo sceptrum hearing. I will be the only Elder passing judgement on this matter, but all rules governing a full Wizengamot hearing apply, such as your right to have a barrister. You must be honest in your testimony or face charges of perjury. You have the right to refuse to answer a question only to avoid self-incrimination. Refusal to answer a question on any other grounds carries the same penalty as perjury. Are there any questions?'

They all shook their heads.

'Good.' Ahlgrim plucked a plum quill from the glass stand on her desk and set it on the top of a scroll. She tapped the scroll with her wand. 'Recordor. Now, let us begin.' As Ahlgrim spoke, the quill snapped to attention and began transcribing. 'From what I have read here,' Ahlgrim gestured to the scroll Dumbledore had given Honeycutt, 'Mr Radford, representing Mr Malfoy, is objecting to Professor Lupin's presence at Hogwarts on account of his affliction of lycanthropy and is requesting his dismissal according to Educational Degree Eight.' She leaned forward on her elbows, pinning the barrister with a firm gaze. 'Mr Radford, I do not tolerate prejudice in my office, nor does it have a place in the Wizengamot. Please elaborate on the nature of your client's objection.'

Radford inclined his head. 'Of course, Miss Ahlgrim. I apologise for the clumsy wording of the complaint. We have no objections to a werewolf being on the staff at Hogwarts. Unemployment and homelessness are rampant among werewolves due to the very prejudice you described. Our objection is to Mr Lupin being an irresponsible werewolf. He has been employed at Hogwarts before, from September 1993 to June 1994. On June 9th of that year Professor Lupin missed a dose of the Wolfsbane Potion and as a result, nearly bit three students.'

Ahlgrim sat back alarmed. 'Those are serious allegations.' She turned to Lupin. 'Your duty to ensure you do not infect any other individual with lycanthropy is not only a moral duty, it is a legal one as well. If there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation there is the very real possibility of criminal charges. Do you understand that Professor Lupin?'

Lupin swallowed and nodded.

Ahlgrim leaned forward in an attempt to meet Lupin's eyes, which was made difficult by Lupin's steadfast fixation on the floorboards. 'And you still wish to continue these proceedings?'

Lupin nodded again.

Frowning, as if she felt Lupin was making a mistake, Ahlgrim said. 'Very well, though I remind you of your rights, Professor, including your right against self-incrimination. Now, what happened that night?'

'That was the night Sirius Black entered the Hogwarts grounds…' Dumbledore began, telling a slightly edited version of the events in the Shrieking Shack.

While Dumbledore spoke, Severus used the opportunity to examine Ahlgrim's office. If all of the Wizengamot offices were so lavishly appointed it was no wonder taxes were so high. A fireplace with an intricately carved mantle dominated one side of the office. Above the mantle hung a painting of rolling green hills and a sky cast in a myriad of colours by the setting sun. The only movement in the painting was the clouds drifting by as well as the occasional bird. Flanking the fireplace were towering bookcases filled with heavy legal tomes and expensive trinkets that looked to come from all over the world, the result of travel or gifts from far-flung friends and colleagues. Among the baubles was a marble bust of some famous, long-dead wizard, a Pensieve, a wizard chess set that was playing itself, and a Wizard's Wireless. The two wingback chairs Ahlgrim had moved to her desk had originally sat on a plush rug with a low table. The vase on the table did not quite cover the hex mark gouged into the polished wood. Her assistant's desk rested between the two windows while Ahlgrim's desk occupied the other side of the room.

In the corner, a rainbow-hued parrot perched on a brass stand woke from its nap, opened a beady black eye and returned Severus's gaze with interest. On the wall behind Ahlgrim's desk, was another painting. Though Severus did not have much of an eye for art, it was striking. The painting depicted a woman clothed in red bringing a bowl to her lips to drink, while a fleet of ships could be seen through the circular window behind her. The woman's dark eyes were intent, staring at something beyond the frame only she could see. There was something odd about the painting, though it took Severus a moment to grasp it: the painting was perfectly still. The sails stiff in the breeze, the woman's eyes unblinking. The painting was of Muggle origin.

While Severus's mother had been a witch, his childhood had not been one steeped in magic. The pictures he grew up with did not move unless they were on the telly. To see an unmoving painting in the Ministry of Magic of all places was unsettling. Severus wondered if the artwork represented a genuine interest of Ahlgrim's, or if they were mere ornaments to give her the appearance of discriminating tastes.

'…in short, there were extenuating circumstances.' Dumbledore concluded. 'What Professor Lupin did he did out of concern for the welfare of his students. Professor Lupin is a very capable instructor and loved by his students.'

Ahlgrim pursed her lips. Severus began to wonder if his optimism over the ruling was premature. Ahlgrim was rigidly moral. She might rule against them just to prove to herself she was unbiased. 'The reason Professor Lupin had not taken the Wolfsbane Potion was not because of a lack of availability, then.'

Radford nodded. 'He disregarded the opportunity to take the potion and instead chose to be reckless.'

Lupin shifted in his seat.

'The Wolfsbane Potion is a difficult and expensive potion to brew,' Ahlgrim said thoughtfully. 'The ingredients have to be added over the period of a week and the flaxweed has to be added at the high tide, not to mention the silver cauldron it must be brewed in. Where did Professor Lupin procure the potion?'

Severus raised an eyebrow, wondering how Ahlgrim knew so much about the Wolfsbane. 'I brewed it.' All too aware of Lucius's presence in the room, he added, 'At the Headmaster's request.'

'I see.'Ahlgrim regarded the werewolf. 'Professor Lupin,' she said, her voice grave, 'your conduct may have been guided by concern for your students, but by neglecting to take the Wolfsbane Potion you put those same students at risk, not to mention anyone else who might have happened across you. A more prudent course of action would have been to inform a faculty member of the danger and let them handle the matter.' Noticing the haughty expression on Lucius's face she hurried on, 'However, the circumstance that led to you neglecting your dose of Wolfsbane Potion were so exceptional I could not imagine them ever happening again. Still, we cannot take that risk. Therefore-'

Lucius cleared his throat delicately. 'Perhaps you should refrain from deciding until you hear about the instance Mr Lupin did maul a student?'

There was a beat of silence, then Lupin laughed. It was a nervous, uncomfortable chuckle tinged with confusion. 'What?'

Dumbledore put his hand on Lupin's shoulder. The Headmaster looked very old. 'The matter Lucius is referring to happened decades ago, Remus Lupin was wholly uninvolved-'

Lupin was stark white. His eyes darted from the Headmaster to Lucius, to Ahlgrim. 'Professor Dumbledore, what are you saying…?'

Severus's mind was also reeling, though he was better able to conceal it. Was it possible Lupin had not known that Severus had done far more than discover Lupin was a werewolf that night? That he had actually been injured? Impossible. Severus did not want to believe that. The Headmaster would not have kept such a secret… except he had. There was no other explanation.

The anger, the acute sense of betrayal that had hounded him since that night under the Whomping Willow threatened to engulf him, but for once Lupin and Black were not the targets of that rage. The Headmaster's eyes were downcast, focused on his gnarled hands laying in his lap.

The Headmaster's silence was long and damning.

Ahlgrim held up her hand. 'This changes everything. This hearing shall be suspended. We will reconvene at a later date. The victim will need to be interviewed and I need to look into the matter of-'

'There's no need to reschedule,' Lucius's smug grin threatened to engulf his face. 'The victim is sitting in this very room.' He turned to Severus. 'Show her your arm, Severus, your right arm,' Lucius clarified, eyes dancing at his private little joke.

Suddenly feeling as if he were the one on trial, Severus propped his right elbow on Ahlgrim's desk and undid the buttons at the cuff. As he pushed up his sleeve to reveal the four jagged cuts on his arm he was all too aware of the eyes on him and Lupin's sharp intake of breath. Lupin's greatest fear had come true and the man had not even known it until that moment.

Ahlgrim held out her hand. 'May I?'

Severus felt exceedingly vulnerable, but he had no choice and laid his arm across the desk.

Her cool fingers ghosted over the scars. 'Were you bit?' she asked, her voice deliberately light.

The ward around Severus's mind felt the brush of a familiar presence as if Ahlgrim had tapped him on the shoulder. The presence retreated immediately; Ahlgrim was giving him the opportunity to lie out loud, as long as he let her read the truth in his mind. He met her eyes, though kept the wards around his mind locked fast. 'No.'

Releasing her hold on his arm, Ahlgrim rose to her feet. Courtesy made Radford stand as well, with Dumbledore, Lupin and Lucius (reluctantly) following until Severus was the only one who remained seated. 'I need to speak with Professor Snape, privately.'

Radford frowned. 'Elder Ahlgrim, that would be most irregular…'

The door opened and Clark entered carrying a large silver tea tray, which he sat on her desk. His eyes darted to the scars on Severus's arm. Severus shoved his sleeve back down and refastened the buttons.

Ahlgrim busied herself with the tea tray and poured herself a cup. 'No charges are being lodged against Professor Snape; I am within my rights to speak to him ex parte. I will of course disclose anything of probative value. Please, Clark will summon you when we have finished.' She filled two more cups of tea then tapped the tray with her wand causing it to grow legs and scuttle after the exiting wizards.

When the door had closed behind Lucius, Radford, Lupin, Dumbledore and the tea tray, Ahlgrim plucked the quill from the scroll, terminating its recording spell. She then reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a Galleon from her coin purse. 'I am feeling a tad peckish,' she said to her assistant, passing him the coin. 'Would you be so kind as to Floo over to The Golden Snidget and get some spotted dick? It should not take too long, about ten minutes I would think.'

As transparent as the ruse was, Severus was grateful for it. The wizard nodded, stepped into the fireplace and vanished.

Ahlgrim moved to stand in front of her window. Rather than merely golden sunlight, the window displayed the view of an expansive garden with budding flowers and a bubbling marble fountain. Severus wondered how much she had paid Magic Maintenance to add such a lavish feature. She crossed her arms, the plum quill still in her hand. 'How did it happen?'

Sitting before the enormous desk made Severus feel too much like a misbehaving student dragged before the Headmaster, so he stood and wandered over to the fireplace, ostensibly to admire the painting that hung above it. Where to begin? The feud between him and Potter, Black and Lupin had brewed for years until it culminated in the werewolf incident. 'Lupin and I attended Hogwarts together. He and his friends did not get along with me and my friends and the sentiment was entirely mutual. One of his friends, the infamous Sirius Black, particularly detested me.' Severus paused, trying to decide how he could explain the animosity. Black had hated him for befriending Regulus, had hated him caring for Lily, had hated him for existing. The idea that Severus's might have had feelings towards Lily was what drove Black over the edge, however.

'I had a friend at Hogwarts, her name was Lily,' Severus began, hesitant. Though she was constantly in his thoughts, it had been years since he had talked about her. And he certainly would not have done so now if he could have possibly avoided it. 'Black did not like my friendship with her. A friend of Black's fancied her, while she thought him a horrible bully and had told him so. One night Black came to me in a panic. He told me Lily had fallen in a secret passageway and was hurt. I didn't believe him at first. But his fear seemed genuine and I could not risk doing nothing if he was telling the truth.' Severus took a deep breath. 'There's a tree on the school grounds, called the Whomping Willow. It'll pummel anything within reach of its branches, so no one goes near it. But Black told me how to freeze it. So I froze the tree and crawled into an opening near its roots and into a tunnel. Sirius said it would lead to where Lily was.'

Ahlgrim abruptly tore her eyes away from the window. His words seemed to have struck a chord, though how he could not imagine. Perhaps her parents had told her stories about the Whomping Willow.

'Lily was not in the tunnel. But what was in the tunnel was Lupin. He attacked me, I fought back. One of Black's friends, having second thoughts, arrived and together we were able to fend him off long enough to escape. I was taken to the Hospital Wing where I was patched up and forbidden from telling anyone what I had seen. Lupin's lycanthropy was a closely guarded secret. Only Lupin's Head of House, the Headmaster and the school matron knew. Black was assigned a fortnight's worth of detention, deducted twenty-five points from his House and the whole affair was treated as a prank.'

Ahlgirm opened her mouth, then closed it, seemingly torn as to what injustice to address first. 'I do not think Professor Lupin knew what his friends were going to do,' she said at last. 'You saw his face, he had no idea he had injured you.'

Severus reluctantly nodded. Through Legillimency he had known Lupin had no foreknowledge of the plot, though Severus had always believed he had been told what he had done, what he had almost done after the fact. But it would seem that Black, Potter and the Headmaster had simply not thought it worth mentioning.

'I must confess this revelation has eased my conscience somewhat,' she said, her voice cold, 'at least some of the years Black spent in Azkaban were deserved.' Then the veneer of calm shattered and Ahlgrim exploded. 'I cannot believe Albus! The Board of Governors should have been told Remus Lupin was a werewolf, the Ministry should have been notified. Even if doing so would have created resistance to Lupin becoming a student they needed to know. Together they could have come up with a better solution than sticking a werewolf in a hole in the ground!'

He opened his mouth to correct her; Lupin had actually been sequestered to the Shrieking Shack, but Ahlgrim had already barreled on.

'Albus can be so arrogant! I am not denying he is a genius, one of the most powerful wizards of this age, but he's not the only one in England with a brain!' Ahlgrim rounded on him, gesticulating wildly. 'Remus Lupin almost killed you! And Albus decided to keep it such a secret as to not even tell him! Yes he would have been horrified, yes he would have felt undeservedly guilty, but he had a right to know what his so-called friends had done! And then, knowing full well your history, Albus hires Professor Lupin and makes you brew the Wolsbane Potion for him.'

Now that Ahlgrim was championing an opinion he agreed with, Severus discovered her self-righteousness wasn't nearly as insufferable.

Her next words made him regret any marginal shift in his attitude toward her. 'And you…' she said softly. 'You were just a boy, you must have been so-'

A steely glare halted her mid-sentence. 'The less you assume about me, Ahlgrim, the better off you'll be.' His voice was harsh.

For a split instant, Ahlgrim appeared hurt, and opened her mouth to say something, then thought better of it and turned away to exchange the quill with her cup of tea. She sipped it slowly, her eyes troubled. 'Professor,' she asked evenly, 'do you want Professor Lupin to return to Hogwarts?'

Severus was appalled. 'You're asking me? Are you a Wizengamot Elder or not?' he sneered.

Ahlgrim lifted her chin. 'I am merely asking your feelings on the matter. As a wronged party here, your voice deserves to be heard.'

He shoved his hands into his pockets with a huff. It was an easy question, but a part of him wanted to complicate it with his own feelings. He wished he knew what she was thinking. It was easy to take his Legillimency for granted until he suddenly lacked the option. 'I cannot believe I am saying this,' he said slowly, 'but it would be for the best if Lupin returned to Hogwarts. He is a member of the Order and a capable instructor, despite his coddling. But you must tell no one that I vouched for Lupin. You do and I'll cut your tongue out.'

Ahlgrim nodded. 'It will be held in the strictest of confidences.' She frowned around her teacup. 'Black may have served his time in Azkaban, but what of the other student involved? It has not escaped my notice you haven't said his name.'

James Potter. 'It does not matter,' Severus said firmly, willing the matter to be closed. 'He's dead.'

She sighed. 'It is my wish you find justice in this matter, but it seems that is impossible,' she said, her voice soft with regret.

Severus looked away. Ahlgrim had been outraged on his behalf and then had stood in his corner. It was not much, but it was the most he had in a very long time. 'Justice isn't always perfect, surely you know that?'

She nodded slowly. 'It never is.' Ahlgrim rummaged through the drawers of her desk, pulling out a brochure and several leaflets of parchment. The bird in the corner stopped his preening to watch her curiously. 'It is fortunate that out of all the Wizengamot Elders I was selected to hear this matter,' Ahlgrim murmured, her voice light but heavy with meaning. 'I dare say I would be the most likely to rule in Hogwarts's favour. And I'll bet I'm the only Elder who has had contact with the Order.'

The same thought had occurred to Severus as well. 'You believe the Headmaster rigged the selection?'

'Of course he did.' Her voice was calm, but the drawer she slammed shut conveyed her true feelings. The parrot squawked and flapped his wings in annoyance. 'Oh, hush Horatio.' Ahlgrim plucked the quill from her desk and twirled it between her fingers. '"No one can be above the law, dear Hailey,'" Ahlgrim quoted with no faint trace of bitterness, '"for the moment someone is above the law, then it is no longer the law at all, but rather a long list of mere suggestions.'"

Given the mocking slant Ahlgrim gave the words, Severus did not need to ask who she was quoting. 'And when did Dumbledore tell you that?'

Ahlgrim threw the quill onto her desk. 'When my cousin Yvette stole my toy dragon and buried it in the garden. She tried to tell me her father wouldn't punish her for it.'

The silence lengthened until it seemed to wrap around Ahlgrim like a cloak. A hand reached out to idly play with the quill on her desk. Severus supposed the witch had never had to come with the terms of Albus Dumbledore's fallibility before and the idea had obviously discombobulated her. 'I am not sure which is more disturbing, that Albus Dumbledore would violate not just the law, but the spirit of justice I am sworn to uphold, or that he would be so damned certain I would look the other way when he did.'

Severus wondered what the punishment for subverting the selection of a Wizengamot Elder was. It had to be time in Azkaban at the very least. 'What are you going to do?'

Ahlgrim planted her hands on her desk and leaned against the polished wood. She bowed her head. 'Nothing. Any action I take would only hurt Hogwarts School and the Order of the Phoenix. Were the law applied here, it would only benefit of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the end.'

The fire burned green. Ahlgrim started, but it was only her assistant. The wizard stepped out of the fireplace and dusted the soot off his robes. 'My apologies Miss Ahlgrim, the queue seemed to stretch on forever and it turns out they were completely out of spotted dick, rather unprofessional, I do say.'

Ahlgrim's forced a smile to her face, though her eyes remained unsettled. 'Indeed. Now Clark, if you would let the rest of our guests in?' She returned the quill to its proper place, resumed the spell and took her seat behind her desk as Dumbledore, Lupin, Lucius and Radford filed in and sat down. Severus joined them.

'Professor Snape described to me the circumstances by which he received his injuries,' Ahlgrim began, 'Sirius Black conspired for Professor Snape to cross paths with Professor Lupin during the full moon in hopes Professor Snape was bitten or worse. There is no evidence Professor Lupin had any involvement or foreknowledge. It would seem Black's violent tendencies manifested earlier than we had originally thought.' Lupin frowned, his eyes darting over to Severus. 'The testimony I have heard today is disturbing in a multitude of ways. The complaint brought by Mr Radford raises legitimate concerns.

Headmaster Dumbledore, your behaviour regarding Professor Lupin has been arrogant and irresponsible. When you decided to admit him to Hogwarts as a student you should have gone through the proper channels. Would you have met resistance? Certainly. But you would have overcome those obstacles and by doing so codified the right of all werewolves to attend Hogwarts, not just the ones whose Headmaster snuck them in. And what if news of the attack on Professor Snape had gotten out, did you consider what may happen then? Werewolf rights would have been sent back a decade, at least! Perhaps we should be grateful your concern for your own reputation overrode your duty to your students.'

It was with morbid fascination that Severus watched Ahlgrim berate the Headmaster. Lupin's eyes were wide and even Lucius's customary cool mask had slipped. Only the Headmaster himself managed to remain completely passive.

'I am suggesting a fine from Hogwarts of five thousand Galleons. Half of this amount will go to Professor Snape as reparation for his injury and for being prevented the chance for him to obtain his own justice through the Wizengamot. He is also to be adequately compensated for the time he spent brewing the Wolfsbane Potion.

I cannot ignore the safety of these students nor the rights of Professor Lupin to live his life with as much freedom as a wizard with his condition can have,' she added with a pointed look to Lucius who was beginning to look far too pleased. 'I am ordering a compromise, one I think all parties will agree is fair. Professor Lupin will be allowed to teach at Hogwarts, on several strict conditions.' She passed the brochure to Lupin, steadfastly ignoring Lucius's scowl. 'On the nights of the full moon, you are to vacate the grounds immediately after your last class and report here, to Plainsborough Lycanthrope Sanctuary, where you will be given a secure place to transform. The week proceeding the full moon you are also to report to the Sanctuary to receive your dose of the Wolfsbane Potion. If you miss any doses or your monthly visit, I shall have no choice but to reverse my judgement and side with Mr Radford. Any violations of my orders will also be considered a breach of the Werewolf Code of Conduct. No excuses whatsoever. I don't care if Sirius Black breaks in and holds all of Hogwarts hostage.'

'Sending Lupin to your own hospital?' Lucius sneered. 'Having difficulty drumming up business are we?'

So that was the 'hospital' Ahlgrim had founded. That explained how she knew the particulars of the Wolfsbane Potion. It would seem Ahlgrim had been more involved in the creation of the hospital than just as a financial backer.

'The Sanctuary is a non-profit, Mr Malfoy, I am sending Professor Lupin there because it is the only such place on the continent.' Ahlgrim looked at them all in turn. 'Now, I trust this is a workable compromise?' Lupin nodded hollowly. Lucius looked about to argue, but Radford smoothly trod his boot over Lucius's foot. 'Good. I had thought Hogwarts should operate largely out of the purview of the Ministry, however recent events have forced me to change that stance. Headmaster Dumbledore, I ask that you remain here so we can further discuss the operation of your school and what, if any, action needs to be taken to ensure the welfare of your students,' Ahlgrim's eyes rested on Lucius, ever so briefly, 'especially in these dark and dangerous times. The rest of you are free to go.'

Their chairs scraped over the floor in a discordant clatter. Lupin seized Ahlgrim's hand eagerly. 'Thank you,' then his eyes fell on Severus and he quickly left the room.

Sneering, Severus exited the office behind Lucius, who he shoved into the corner as he drew his wand. 'Muffliato. I did not appreciate your little 'joke' Lucius,' he hissed. 'What were you thinking, speaking of such things in the goddam Ministry?'

Lucius merely pointed his nose into the air, straightened his robes and flounced off.

Severus negated the privacy spell with a flick of his wand. Radford joined him in time to watch Lucius storm away.

'Must be lovely to have that smug ponce as a client,' Severus told him with a snarl.

Radford's lips curled in a grin. 'Professor Snape, with my hourly rate Mr Malfoy can be as much of a smug ponce as he likes.' He and Radford exchanged the briefest of glances, commiserating in their shared fate of living in a world full of dunderheads.

'Which is more than your usual rate, I should hope.'

'Doubled, naturally. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an altogether useless appeal on Mr Malfoy's behalf to write. My son's birthday is coming up and I have had my eye on a nice racing broom for him…'

Much to Lupin's dismay, Severus caught up with him in the lift. Lupin cast a doubtful glance back as the doors to the lift shut behind them. 'Should we wait for the Headmaster?'

Severus snorted. 'I think not. I'll be surprised if he gets out before noon. Ahlgrim has an entire skeleton worth of bones to pick with him.'

'So do I,' Lupin muttered darkly.

Severus arched an eyebrow, but the lift doors opened and a witch entered carrying a wooden box that emitted puffs of smoke and smelled of rotten eggs, which prevented him from replying. The witch had her nose clamped shut with a clothespeg and shot them apologetic looks.

Lupin turned faintly green. Even when the moon wasn't full, werewolves had a stronger sense of smell than humans. 'Perhaps a Freshening Charm might help?' he suggested, wrinkling his nose.

The witch winced. 'Sorry,' her pinched nose distorted her voice. 'Squib.'

Luckily, she got off on the next floor.

That he and Lupin had the same destination dictated they journeyed together and once they reached the Atrium they both took a Floo to Hogwarts. Once they appeared in the antechamber off of the Great Hall, Severus made a determined beeline toward the door. The last thing he wanted was to deal with a guilt-ridden werewolf.

Lupin, however, was unable to contain his silence any longer. He reached out to grab Severus's arm, then clenched his hand into a fist and let his arm drop. 'Severus… I am so very sorry. I had no idea I had actually injured-'

'Of course you didn't.' Severus spat.'The Headmaster was too concerned with sparing your feelings, Black was too immersed in his anger, Pettigrew was too stupid to form a thought of his own, and Potter was drowning in his own delusion it was all simply a joke made in poor taste.'

Now that Severus knew the truth, it seemed entirely self-evident. Evident that all those years Lupin had never known how close he had come to killing Severus or cursing him to a fate that would have made death a respite. Evident the Headmaster had never told Lupin the truth. Why should he? Severus's life was worth a fortnight of detention and a handful of house points. He knew that already. Severus wrenched open the door and stalked into the Great Hall. His worn dragonhide boots struck a staccato that reverberated through the empty Great Hall. A set of faltering footsteps told him Lupin had unwisely followed.

'If I had known all these years I had…' Lupin could not bring himself to say the words and gestured vaguely at Severus's arm instead. 'After that night the Headmaster had told me all I had given you was a rather good fright. And I so desperately wanted, needed it to be true I believed him. It was easier to believe James's version of events- you were sticking your oversized nose where it didn't belong and he heroically pulled you out of harm's way when you saw me. Had I known the truth, I would have left Hogwarts,' Lupin looked mournfully about the Great Hall, the long wooden tables, the enchanted ceiling, a hall containing seven years' worth of memories. 'The price would have been too high. Before I attended Hogwarts my parents and I had… managed.' Lupin clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes shut, 'I have lived with this curse for thirty years,' he said thickly. 'If I had infected someone else, inflicted upon them the suffering I have endured all these years… I would not have been able to live with myself.'

Guilt. An emotion Severus was too well acquainted with. And he had no intention of absolving Lupin of any of it. He could sooner cut off his arm than forgive Lupin and the Marauders. That anger, mistrust and hatred was simply too much a part of him to be let go.

His first thought when he had heard the screams and howls of Lupin transforming under the Whomping Willow was that Lily was in danger. His brain had not comprehended anything beyond that and he had charged down the tunnel. The sight of harsh wandlight falling on a full-fledged werewolf would stay with Severus for the rest of his life. The only thing that had saved him in that moment was the werewolf's startled disorientation and Severus's prodigious knowledge of hexes and curses. Together, it had barely been enough.

'You wouldn't have been able to live with yourself?' he arched an eyebrow. 'Perhaps then I should have said something.'

Lupin winced but did not allow himself to become angry. 'I deserved that.'

'Yes, you did.' Severus spun on his heel and stormed away. He was well prepared to ignore whatever idiotic thing Lupin might have said next when the werewolf cleared his throat.

'Lily was right.'

Severus froze, his shoulders stiffening.

It was an unspoken rule that Lily's name never be uttered in his presence. Severus could only speculate whether the Marauders truly knew the depth of his feelings towards Lily, but nonetheless, it was a topic best avoided. That Lily had been selected as the bait to lure Severus into the tunnel told him Black wanted to punish him for his friendship with her. Black likely suspected Severus's feelings ran deeper than he himself had admitted, but to give those thoughts any sort of consideration would have made them too real.

'Right about what?' Severus did not turn to face Lupin, rather he addressed the empty air in front of him.

Lupin chuckled. It sounded forced. 'She was right about a great many things… and wrong about others. She had her faults. She did not forgive readily enough, for one.' He took a deep breath. 'She had told me I needed to do more to keep James and Sirius in line. But I was selfish, I was so happy just to have friends I couldn't let myself jeopardize that… I was not involved in what happened under the Whomping Willow that night, but if I had stood up to how James and Sirius treated you in all the years before that, maybe it wouldn't have gone so far.'

Of the Marauders Lily was not been married to, the werewolf had been her favourite. Black had grabbed her chest one too many times to be anything but cooly tolerated and Pettigrew, terrified as he was of women, hardly so much as squeaked in her presence. But if Severus was being honest with himself, it had been more than that; Lupin had been her friend.

Lily had wanted Lupin to be the godfather to her son. Severus had overheard her and Potter arguing about the matter after an Order meeting one night. Potter had immediately suggested Black be the godfather, the mutt was his best mate after all, but Lily had shot down his suggestion just as fast. She had called Black one of the most irresponsible wizards she knew and said he would give a baby a beer just to see what would happen. Lily had suggested Lupin, saying his gentle nature and level-headedness would make him a good guardian. But, as Potter told Lily, werewolves could not have legal custody of children. Disappointed, Lily had eventually said she would be satisfied with anyone but Black or her sister Petunia.

A week later, Potter had told a delighted Black that he was going to be a godfather.

Potter always got what he wanted.

Severus was tense. He wanted to keep walking. Keep walking until he reached the dungeons and he could lock himself in his quarters. Things half-decayed were being dredged up; he would rather they remained buried.

'I know you don't want me teaching at Hogwarts, Severus. And I understand.'

He and Lupin would never be friends. Their enmity was too great, the roots too strong. But perhaps he could come to tolerate Lupin, to think of him as being a friend of Lily's, rather than a friend of Potter's. Lily would have liked the idea of him being a professor at Hogwarts, of having some influence over her son, even if it was not guardianship.

Steeling himself, Severus turned to regard Lupin. 'It doesn't seem I have much of a choice.' He sneered at him disdainfully. 'At least you don't wear a turban.'

Lupin abruptly smiled, obviously reading far more into that statement than Severus had intended. 'Thank you,' he said sincerely, 'I truly mean it.'

Severus nodded stiffly, then swept off to the dungeons. He had work to do.