Chapter 14:
There were no rumours floating around the castle, a surprise for once. The Daily Prophet special edition at dinner was news to everyone.
Sirius Black apprehended by Albus Dumbledore!
Peter Pettigrew Confirmed Alive!
Black destroys village!
Citizens terrified.
Potter Secret Keeper in Doubt.
Shacklebolt to lead investigation!
The headlines on their own told the story. There wasn't too much detail in the rest of the edition. The Ministry was being very tight lipped. The only details the paper had were the eyewitness accounts of the fight in the village and the capture of Black. And a lot of demands for instant use of the Dementor's Kiss from the author of the article.
It was Monday. Therefore a mentor session day.
"What's going on?" asked Harry, agitated, but not rude.
"I was expecting a lot more angst than that, I must say," said Snape casually.
"Hermione suggested I shouldn't," said Potter shortly.
"What did she actually say, out of curiosity?" Snape asked.
"She said if I yelled at you I wouldn't be spending the meeting sitting down, mentor session or not."
The corners of Snape's mouth twitched. "She's only partially right. I'd have thrown you out for the evening. I told you, no ruler."
"So, are you going to tell me what's going on?" asked Harry, ever so slightly testily.
Harry had done angry earlier. It had taken Ron and Neville sitting on him to stop him going up to Dumbledore's office to demand answers. Hermione had reasoned that he was coming to Snape's office this evening and if he asked politely, Snape might actually tell him what's going on.
Ron had suggested Snape could also tell Harry to mind his own business and have him scrubbing cauldrons for the evening.
Either could still be true.
"I will if you lose the attitude, Potter," said Snape. "I've told you about managing your anger before."
"Sorry, I… just… I don't get it."
"I'm not really the person you want to explain this to you, Potter, but I will give you the basic facts. Not that we know the full story yet. Auror Shacklebolt is still investigating."
Potter nodded.
"I am aware, as are you, that your parents' secret keeper was Pettigrew and not Black. Pettigrew escaped last June."
Harry's eyes hardened. He really wanted to make a smart remark about who's fault that was. Snape looked at him without speaking. Potter stonily looked away first. Snape reached into the bottom drawer of his desk and retrieved a block of Honeyduke's chocolate.
"I'm impressed you managed that, Potter," he said, passing the block. Harry raised an eyebrow and broke off a strip. "We don't know where he's been for the last nine months, but he has done something to further the return of the Voldemort. There's evidence that I'm not going to share with you that this is the case." Harry nodded. "In summer, the Headmaster secured Alastor Moody to teach DADA this year. On 1st September, Moody was overpowered by Crouch and Pettigrew. Crouch has been here as Moody ever since, disguised using Polyjuice. This was discovered by myself and the Headmaster before the task. Pettigrew had met with Crouch. We saw them on the map. Pettigrew escaped. That's why there has been very little about him in the papers."
Harry chewed the chocolate slowly. He knew most of that already. He waited.
"Black believed, as did the Headmaster, that Pettigrew would stay close to Hogwarts. They believed that if a task were unfinished, Pettigrew would rather finish it than report failure back to… whoever he is working for. We do not know what this task is, although we do know it's not good for your health, hence why I was very disappointed in your choice to compete."
Harry swallowed his chocolate.
"Black has spent the last fortnight hiding in plain sight in Hogsmeade, dosed up on Polyjuice. You are aware of his disguise, I believe. Today he recognised Pettigrew. A fight ensued. Black sent his patronus to the Headmaster. Professor Dumbledore apparated to Hogsmeade in time to stop anyone killing Black. He just so happened to be the person to apprehend Pettigrew as well because the Auror corp hadn't got there yet. Both Pettigrew and Black have been taken to the Ministry. Mr Shacklebolt is in charge of finding out exactly what's going on. He's a fair man. He doesn't rush decisions. No-one will execute, or otherwise, anyone else without a fair hearing and a trial. The Ministry doesn't work like that anymore. Like the rest of us, you will have to wait for more information."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, sir."
"Mr Potter," said Snape, standing up, "Have you come across the Room of Requirement?"
"Sir?"
"Why can't you just answer the question, Potter?" said Snape frustratedly. "Come along."
The room had a matted floor. The walls were made of some material Harry didn't recognise. Snape caught him looking.
"Magic infused Kauri, Potter. An ancient type of tree that grows in New Zealand. It absorbs anything fired at it. Welcome to a space where you can blow off some steam."
"Please don't go spare, but I really don't understand."
"Sometimes I wonder about you, Potter!" Snape conjured a rubber ball and threw it at his head. Harry ducked. "Try again." A second ball flew at Harry. He sidestepped. "Mr Potter, I invite you to answer the question, what's in your right trouser pocket?"
"Oh." Harry looked at Snape. "Oh. You mean like really?"
"Merlin save me from idiots. Yes, Mr Potter."
Rubber rained down onto the floor on the third go.
"You were supposed to attempt a shield, Mr Potter."
"You did that deliberately!" accused Harry, rubbing his right bum cheek.
"I never said I didn't and I certainly don't play fair, Potter." Harry sank to the floor trashed.
"Please can I have a moment?"
"As many as you like, Potter, you could use them to try to think of something that resembles a strategy."
"Thank you, sir, I needed that," said Harry. They'd got back to Snape's office.
"You seemed rather annoyed at one point, Mr Potter, and not because you were losing. Anything in particular?" asked Snape sitting down.
"You did say I could try to hex you back," said Harry, slightly defensively.
"Oh, I definitely did, I don't mean that. I mean you tried to hex me while you were annoyed. Dueling while annoyed isn't advised. You'll lose every were you annoyed about?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, even if that does edge toward fluffy."
"I was angry with you, kinda still am. You accused me of stealing from your stores," said Harry with an edge of a growl.
Snape digested that. "Are you also angry with me for tripping you up by the lake side?"
Harry made a so-so gesture with his hand. "I get now why you were proper pissed about that. I made myself looking plenty stupid enough on my own. But you thought I'd stolen from you. You've been really well, decent, since all this started," he waved his hand expansively, "I know why you ignore me in class, but you're even nicer about that. But I didn't take Gillyweed from you. I wouldn't." By the end of Harry's explanation he knew he sounded odd. Somewhere between affronted, and wanting Snape to believe him. And slightly guilty about the Boomslang, but he'd never admit to that.
"Mr Potter," said Snape, looking Harry in the eye. "I apologise for accusing you of stealing from my stores. I was angry and jumped to what I thought was a logical conclusion. I also apologise for humiliating you in public. I cannot stand bullying in others. It is something I still have to work on it seems."
Harry's jaw dropped. He literally had no words.
"Um, I… er… Sorry, sir, that was the last thing I expected. Thanks."
Snape nodded. Harry didn't realise how gratefully.
"Quick question, Potter, if you bought the Gillyweed a while ago, and none of the other competitors used it, would someone else steal it for you?"
Harry looked awkward.
"Yes?" asked Snape, oh so casually.
"Dobby, sir. He offered me some that morning."
Snape summoned Dobby. Dobby appeared and bowed. "Professor Snape called, sir?"
"Gillyweed, Dobby."
"Dobby is a bad elf!" replied Dobby. Harry just got a hold of Dobby before the elf ran himself into a wall. Snape cast a full body bind on the elf.
"You aren't in trouble, Dobby," said Snape, trying to sound reassuring but knowing he was failing miserably. "How did you know to steal it?"
Harry kept hold of Dobby when Snape released the elf.
"Bad Mr Crouch told me about it, sir. But he said it would keep Mr Harry Potter alive, sir."
"I see. Dobby," said Snape sternly, "You are not allowed to punish yourself for this. You were keeping Mr Potter safe."
"Really?" asked the elf. "You're not angry with Dobby?"
"No, Dobby, I am not angry with you. I am grateful to you. Thank you for telling me about Crouch. You may go."
Dobby popped away.
"I think Ron has it right about house elves," said Harry.
Snape raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Totally barmy, the lot of them."
"He has a point," agreed Snape. "Shall we call it a night there, Potter?"
Harry nodded.
"Oh, and Potter? Do not practise the spells we were doing this evening outside class. Or use the Room of Requirement. You have no need to use that room for a legitimate reason. If there's something you want, talk to me. That room is out of bounds to you unless I invite you. If I find you in there you'll get one of those non-declinable invitations to my office I told you about a while ago."
"But…"
"No."