Dumbledore's Superiority
The students chattered excited and relaxed about the end of the exams and their plans for the summer holiday. Leonor was annoyed. The joyous fuss contradicted her blue mood. It was the last day of the job. The exams were finished, and Lupin said goodbye with gratitude. He would soon take the drink and sleep in his study while the moon diffused its white shimmering light.
Severus was distant as usual. Hattie delivered a brief note with a deep bow. The paper was again exclusive.
"We meet on your last day. I will find you."
"Did Professor Snape say something in addition?"
"Master said nothing, he only ordered to bring the letter immediately." Hattie bowed again, and her ears flushed pink.
"Hattie?" Leonor commanded menacingly.
"Master was very angry. He studied in the restricted section very often and left the school a couple of times. Dumbledore was not pleased. Hattie will punish herself to bespeak master's secret, but Mistress must not go to Gringotts."
Hattie swayed fearfully on her heels, wringing the clean tea towel with the small hands and started to slap herself into the face.
"Master and Hattie don't want Mistress to be reckless," screamed the little elf continuing with the painful slaps.
"Stop it!" Leonor caught the elf's arms and lifted Hattie to the air.
"I'll order you to stop punishing yourself. Professor Snape told me already. It's no secret, you understand?"
The old elf hung motionless for a moment. Leonor let her down and Hattie made a deep, relieved curtsey before vanishing with a little plop.
XXX
Leonor wandered the castle to say goodbye and to transfer the message to practice soon as a healer in Hogsmeade. The idea transformed from a wish into a solid decision. The marketing progressed whenever meeting witches and wizards.
A treatment for the two girls had also been delivered. She would be in contact with them to see if there was any improvement over the summer holidays. She'd likely need to make amendments but needed some results and possible side effects to improve the formula. Pauline would be engaged in travelling between the girls and some St. Mungo's patients to be observed for long term-recovery. Leonor was looking forward to some very busy forthcoming month. Everything for the departure from Hogwarts was prepared.
Leonor exited the staff room and passed Lupin's office. The door was left a little ajar. She walked in double checking. The Wolfsbane Potion was untouched and cold. A yellowed parchment laid unfolded on the desk. Black dots moved in a smart sketch of the castle floors. She could recognize familiar names. Dumbledore was with the minister of magic in his study. Severus was in the hospital wing together with spots labelled Pomfrey, Black, Potter, Granger, and Weasley. Leonor was fascinated by the map, took it and followed Severus from the hospital wing to the seventh floor. Severus avoided the main stairs using hidden passages to the west tower. He was slow as if Black didn't support the walk, and Leonor arrived via the official way first. She watched Severus emerge behind a tapestry, Black unconsciously on a stretcher. Dumbledore and Fudge waited at Flitwick's office door and the four disappeared into the room. Leonor prepared herself to eavesdrop the conversation. She couldn't explain the longing to do so but established the well-trained FBI procedure. Leonor circled the area casting a strong 'Auditas hex' and hid by a disillusionment charm. She held her breath when Fudge and Snape left. Dumbledore stayed behind and started a conversation with Black. Leonor understood every word and followed Dumbledore later veiled, dropping the map back into Lupin's office. She would have liked to stop and warn the enraged Snape, but she couldn't, not with Fudge in tow. She watched Potter and Granger leaving and returning to the ward at precise bell chime of the large clock. Her mouth fell open watching Buckbeak flying across the lake. Black must have been on his back. The theory became reality when Severus and the minister of magic raged into the ward once more. Leonor bit her lips, but she would not intervene. The damage on Severus was done earlier by Dumbledore's words; Black's escape was only the icing on the cake. Leonor believed Dumbledore would explain it to him later and followed Dumbledore again upstairs. She entrenched herself in good sight of the gargoyle and the corridor waiting to see Severus, but neither Dumbledore left his office, nor anybody came to visit. Waiting felt endless. It was around midnight. She decided to walk to the dungeons. Severus needed to know.
XXX
The torches in the dungeons had been extinguished at the late hour. The dark corridor revealed a weak flickering gleam of light below the heavy door. Snape was still in the office. Leonor approached hesitantly. She still bit her lips but put the wand into her sleeve hoping he would keep his temper.
Leonor's hand touched the handle and pushed the door slowly open. Severus leaned with his back against the mantelpiece. Parchments, quills and all objects of his desk were scattered on the floor. Cloak and frock coat lay unorderly at the armchair, both mottled with soil and dry leaves. A broken bottle swam in a pool of liquid.
"Leave!" said Severus violently.
"No, Severus. I won't."
"I'll curse you to leave." His temper was flaring. The whiskey glass in his hand burst on the opposite wall.
"I overheard everything of Dumbledore's words."
"Leave!" Severus expression was blind fury, a wildfire uncontrollable in the wind.
"I eavesdropped the conversation with Black."
"Don't lie. You can't eavesdrop at the school." Severus made some long strides and approached Leonor with his wand. She stepped backwards instinctively.
"You want me to keep the information to me?"
"Spit it out. I've heard enough nonsense already."
"I don't want you to bite my head off for something I'm not responsible for."
He sniffed the air contemptuously and flicked his wand. The bottle repaired itself and refilled with whiskey. Another snap moved the objects back to the table. Severus regained some composure with the simple charms, but still, send menacing glances towards the late intruder. Leonor felt undecided. A part of herself wanted to give Severus all the information she had earwigged. That part made her stand in the dungeons, remembering the man in dress pants and white shirt with the relaxed expression. The stern, mindful and almost caring face would have guaranteed all the attention of the female students; everybody waiting to see the first smile. The other part constantly warned to not interfere with political and personal relationships. These things had to be sorted out between Dumbledore, Snape, and all the others. The other part despised the man so often unpleasant, mean and generally perceived as a menace. Whatever Severus' role or job was, she needed to find out, or she would never understand the changing temper. Leonor conjured two fresh whiskey cups preparing herself for a long talk.
"I need a drink."
She handed the glasses to Severus. He poured the golden liquid over the ice cubes. Both emptied the cups in one go. Leonor transfigured Severus' desk chair into one with a lower backrest and for herself a stool and placed both in front of the fireplace. Wands were unnecessary now. She put her wand on the desk and requested the same from Severus. He obeyed grudgingly, likely he felt superior. Leonor would never be able to wrestle him down. Leonor took a deep breath before turning very close. They stood face to face and Leonor motioned her hand softly over the buttons of his shirt. The buttons opened by the magical move.
"Take your shirt off."
Severus hesitated, a mixture of surprise and curiosity gaining the upper hand.
"Take it off and sit back into the chair," Leonor ordered emphatically holding his gaze until he moved to the mantelpiece. Leonor sat on the small stool moving it to a comfortable position. Her hands were cold but would soon be warm and soothing. She started to work on the lower part of his back moving up to the tense muscles on the shoulders and neck. Severus didn't move nor talk. Leonor's plan succeeded; men were thrown off guard easily. She told the eavesdropped facts without interruption.
James Potter and Sirius Black made Peter Pettigrew to the secret keeper when the Potter's went into hiding. They thought that Peter was too weak to be useful to Lord Voldemort and wouldn't be suspected to have important information. Pettigrew betrayed the location of Potter's family to the evil master. After James and Lily Potter had been killed and Sirius discovered the treachery, he called Pettigrew to account, but Peter saved himself by causing mayhem in a muggle settlement. Pettigrew fled from the place by transforming into an Animagus, a rat. Pettigrew was hailed as a hero. Only a finger of him remained at the crime scene and everybody believed Peter died trying to save the muggles. Sirius was an Animagus too and was able to transform into a big black dog at will. This is how he escaped from the wizard prison, Azkaban after being detained there twelve years for a crime that he did not commit, the murder of Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles. Peter Pettigrew escaped tonight and it's likely he will return to serve the Dark Lord again.
"Finished! Some things cannot be solved with magic." Leonor said quietly and handed the shirt back to Severus. His dark eyes soaked up her features, expressing a relaxed state of inner turmoil.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm a healer. It's my job. The mind cannot relax if the body is strained. I see you've healed the scratch on your forehead already." Leonor shrugged and tried to look uncaring, but a little smile turned her lips upwards blowing away the idea she'd do it for everybody.
"Black's innocent?" said Severus in disbelief.
Leonor nodded. "Neither Black nor Lupin betrayed the Potters. Nobody suspected Pettigrew, because of his weakness. Potter and Black had no clue about warlocks and dark mind games. The weak seeking powers are always a target. Defeating somebody in a battle is just one way of resistance. The power of will is so important and Potter made the weakest of their group saving the life of his family. Dumbledore volunteered for being the secret keeper. I'd never chosen anybody else if I had the opportunity."
Severus agreed. He paced the room slowly and stopped to give Leonor a deep searching look.
"Why does he blame me?"
"Of course, he couldn't explain in presence of Fudge, yet he could have chosen other words to make you stop, something defensive, something fatherly. I've been waiting in front of his office before I came down. I thought he would call you for an explanation." Leonor paused; another thought grew in her mind.
"Severus, Dumbledore plays a strategic game. He fought Grindelwald and the Dark Lord. Black's important to get all information about the Death Eaters in Azkaban. He's an Animagus. What animal is better to spy or transmit secret information than a trustworthy dog? Lupin was important to get a teacher at all. He never told Lupin about the dead end after one year. Lupin's full of hope to return. You've crossed the old man's plan to save an already lost ally. You didn't knuckle under. In the eyes of Potter, you ordered to kill his innocent godfather. Tomorrow you'll be blamed getting Lupin sacked. I hope I am wrong, but Dumbledore uses his pawns in a chess game very well."
"The headmaster trusts me."
"Maybe, if you are useful."
"I already spread the message to dock points from Slytherin if they don't find the beast in the castle by tomorrow morning." Severus locked eyes with Leonor again. She felt Severus' regret for the rash action and shrugged with a little moan.
"You could stop the Slytherins, couldn't you? They would keep quiet if you would award some points, but Dumbledore wants Gryffindor to win. Anyway, it doesn't matter, you deliver the natural explanation for Lupin to quit. The position is cursed and if it's not you, something else will happen. It is the ideal situation to blame it on you and the Slytherins without divulging the real reason."
"What makes you so sure about it?"
"The recent history!" stated Leonor bluntly. "It would have been so important to the Dark Lord to get control of the school! I heard rumours in Knockturn Alley. He bragged of 'infiltrating' Dumbledore's 'dome' a few years before his downfall at a 'get-together' with faithful followers in low ranks. It has been gossiped about an 'unsuccessful' visit of the Dark Lord at Hogwarts in the year before the teachers started to change frequently. But I don't understand why you are beside yourself if Potter is involved? His parents made a mistake and he's orphaned. You didn't even like his father's friends. There are more children with a similar fate. Personally, I think Longbottom suffers more than Potter."
Severus became awkward, an unmeasurable pain in his eyes. Leonor didn't understand, but her treatment had been effective to keep his temper. Severus turned without a threat and said indifferently, "You cannot finish the Gringotts assignment, cancel it." The conversation about Black was finished.
"You've to explain it, if you cannot say 'please'. I'll stay tonight. Flitwick caught me on the floor and told me something happened to Lupin. I'm not officially dismissed. Tomorrow is Saturday. I suppose you have time." The last sentence was a statement. She left with a brief 'good night'; tired and positive to fall soon into a deep relaxed sleep.
Severus felt tortured by the present and the past. He could not place Leonor's behaviour. The touch paralysed him. It was easy to wind down, to sort out all thoughts while she was close. She reported free of any judgment and without any bias. Lupin should have warned Dumbledore about possible ways to infiltrate the castle and the Animagus. Lupin chose to keep the Marauder's secrets against the safety of the children. Severus had been right, but it didn't do him any good. The old scar was bleeding again. He missed Lily but knew his own fault had driven her away into Potter's arms. The humiliation felt fresh and strong like eighteen years before. The personal risk of working as a double agent had not been enough either. Potter believed himself above Dumbledore's suggestion and made a 'rat' to save his family. It was close to dawn when Severus fell into a troubled sleep. Pictures emerged and dissolved showing an angry red-haired teenager mixed with a slender dark-haired woman caressing him tenderly through the confused dreams.