Author's note: Thank you to all my readers – new and old. And a special thanks to those who have left a review. Enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter 33 – The Inquiry
Sirius felt strangely disconnected from the commotion around him. He was seated on the floor with James beside him, two arm's length away. Aurors milled around trying to figure out what had happened. In his line of sight was Professor Keenan's body; someone had at least the forethought to drape him over with a white sheet.
The Aurors had treated them roughly at first; possibly believing they were suspects. It wasn't until the adults noticed their age and the outward injuries James had suffered that their demeanor softened. The ligature marks on their wrists (James's much more pronounced) was another glaring clue that they'd been held captive. A stern looking female Auror was the one to take down their names and ages. She then instructed them to sit quietly until their statements could be taken separately; making it clear they were not to speak to each other.
Sirius glanced at James. His friend was leaning his head back on the wall with his eyes closed. No one was really paying attention to them, so it would have been easy to have a quick conversation. Unable to think of anything to say, Sirius pulled his knees closer, resting his head on his forearms.
Conversation flitted around them, and Sirius ignored most of it. He wasn't purposely eavesdropping when he heard:
"Is the area secure, Fawley?"
A younger female voice answered. She had a slight foreign accent. "Yes, if there were any Death Eaters…they are long gone."
"No Dark Mark outside." A third voice stated, a gruffer and older male voice.
"Really?" Fawley asked.
"I was hoping that was a good sign…" This voice sounded vaguely familiar, and Sirius picked up his head to take a look.
"Afraid not. One male deceased. And two teenage boys in custody."
"Teenagers, did you say?"
"Yes…right over here-"
Sirius's stomach dropped. Three Aurors stood before them, and one of them he recognized immediately. It was Professor Keenan's friend – Auror Anderson. James must have been listening too because his eyes were now open and he stared back at the adults in equal bewilderment.
"I know them," Anderson informed his colleagues quickly. "I met them when I did the presentation at Hogwarts. Sirius Black and James Potter."
Fawley frowned. "That's the names they gave us, but we weren't sure if they were telling the truth…"
Anderson looked puzzled by her comment. "Why would you think they were lying?"
"Well you can't be too careful nowadays, sir…never know when someone is trying to cover up their true identity."
Anderson nodded. "Have they been given medical treatment at least?"
Fawley turned slightly pink. "Someone was supposed to look them over…"
Anderson crouched down in front of them deciding on his own that their medical needs had not been met. "Any serious injuries we need to know about? Any pain? Dizziness?"
Sirius didn't know how he wanted to answer that question. Did he want to tell this room of Aurors how he'd been cursed?
James took the initiative to speak first. "Besides the obvious?"
Most of James's injuries were noticeable -the deepening bruise on his face; the swelling of his lip; the wounds around his wrists. Sirius also knew his friend would have additional injuries that were hidden under his robes. After all, he'd watched James being kicked viciously several times.
"Yes," Anderson answered, watching them carefully.
"It hurts a bit every time I take a breath," James admitted a bit too nonchalantly.
"The Death Eaters beat him viciously," Sirius interrupted. His voice didn't sound like his own; it was dry and hoarse.
James turned towards him. "And they used the Cruciatus Curse on Sirius."
So, James had heard him being tortured. It had probably been the cause of James being captured to begin with.
"Cruciatus Curse?" the older Auror repeated giving him an appraising look. "That type of Dark Magic lingers in the body. It takes time to recover from that."
"Bandage their wrists…get a cold compress for the bruises…and some water…" Anderson commanded to Fawley. She hopped away instantly to follow his instructions. Anderson stood up with a heavy sigh. He surveyed the area and then began to walk toward the covered body.
Sirius felt a wave of panic.
Someone should stop him!
Someone should warn him!
Despite wanting to, Sirius could not find the strength to be the one to do it. And then it was too late. The body was uncovered, and there as a sharp intake of breath. Anderson stared down at his dead friend, and Sirius couldn't look away. Anderson replaced the sheet, and his Auror training must have kicked in because his voice only broke slightly. "I can identify the deceased. Alexander Keenan. He was a Professor at Hogwarts. The two teenagers in custody are his students."
Fawley had returned with a medical kit, and she began work on James's injuries first. Sirius strained to listen the conversation between Anderson and his senior colleague.
"Hogwarts Professor?" The other Auror shook his head sadly. "Wait until the Daily Prophet hears about that…"
"Better than a dead student," Anderson replied glancing back towards them. He was right. It could have easily been James or him lying dead on the floor. Then he remembered with a sickening feeling. It was supposed to be him lying there.
"You knew the Professor?"
Anderson took a deep breath before nodding. "Friends since Hogwarts."
"I'm sorry for your loss," the older Auror stated solemnly. "I can take this over, if you need time to-"
"Unless that's an order…I'd like to stay."
"You're still the Lead if you feel up to it." The older Auror looked around. "The question that still needs to be answered is why a Hogwarts Professor and two of his students were in this shop to begin with. Hogwarts is still in session…isn't it?"
"As far as I know." Anderson was looking over at them again. Perhaps he hoped they'd shed light on that question without being prompted.
Fawley handed James a cold compress to hold to his bruised face. "Are we questioning them here? Or are we taking them back to the Ministry?" She gestured Sirius to hold out his arms so she could bandage his wrists next.
"To the Ministry?" Anderson repeated. He looked at Fawley as if he wasn't quite following her train of thought.
"We still need to take their official statements…find out what happened. Should we do it here? Or at the Ministry?"
"Is there a reason you believe we should take them to the Ministry? Something I'm missing?"
"We can't rule anything out technically until their statements are taken." She gestured around. "It might be easier to get them to speak candidly away from this all."
Sirius didn't like the idea of being taken to the Ministry. He wasn't eager for a formal questioning, but he had a suspicion his parents would need to be contacted and that's what worried him. He doubted Ministry Officials would be understanding of the situation with his family.
Anderson appeared to be thinking along the same lines. "Away from here is good, but not the Ministry….Hogwarts. We'll take them back to Hogwarts, and someone can take their statements there."
"Is that allowed?" Fawley turned towards the older Auror as if hoping he'd talk some sense into this breach in protocol. The other Auror shrugged looking toward Anderson to field that question.
"I'm in charge," Anderson said. "It's my call. Their safety is paramount…and as they are underage, we shouldn't be questioning them without a guardian. At Hogwarts their Head of House or the Headmaster can serve as that."
Fawley didn't argue as she finished the bandaging. If she wondered why their parents weren't being contacted, she let it go. Sirius didn't dwell on it either. He'd let the adults worry about getting around that particular issue. "Let's see if you can stand and walk around without falling over."
Sirius's body still ached from the curse, but he had no trouble getting to his feet and walking around. However, James swayed slightly the moment he stood up. Sirius and Fawley were both there to steady him, and his dizziness eventually subsided.
"I'm fine," James insisted despite the fact that his face had lost all color.
"He's not," Fawley stated shortly. "Potter's in no condition to travel far."
Anderson nodded in agreement. "Where's Longbottom?"
"Here!" Frank Longbottom appeared from behind a bookcase with a small notebook. He gave them a nod of recognition. He was three years out of school; having been in Gryffindor, a Prefect, and then Head Boy. Sirius had heard that he'd entered the Auror Training Program along with his girlfriend, Alice.
"Here's the plan. Fawley you'll take James Potter. Sirius Black is with you, Longbottom. You'll side along apparate as close to Hogwarts as possible. Stay close, but separate. We'll send word to Hogwarts to meet you at the gate. Instruct the staff to keep the boys in separate rooms until their formal statements are taken. It is very important that the boys are not given a chance to discuss their answers. Understood? Any questions?"
Fawley and Longbottom had no questions, and before Sirius knew it, they were being whisked away. Anderson lifted the ward to stop apparition over to building. It had been cast too late to prevent the Death Eaters from fleeing. Fawley disappeared with James, and then it was Sirius's turn with Longbottom. Apparating was never a pleasant feeling, and Sirius would have fallen over if Longbottom hadn't steadied him at their destination.
"Have all your fingers and toes?" Longbottom asked him.
The humor had no effect on Sirius. He didn't even crack a smile.
"All right there, Longbottom?" Fawely called out.
"Yes. You?"
"No issues on our end." Fawley surveyed their surroundings with her wand out. "We'll start walking first."
It was a short four-minute walk for the two pairs to reach the gates around Hogwarts. It was another several minutes before they saw Professor McGonagall hurrying towards them from the castle, her face grim.
Longbottom and Fawley spoke in low urgent voices to Professor McGonagall. Sirius didn't bother to try to listen. He was starting to feel overwhelmed. Besides the questioning they'd have to undergo with a Ministry Official, they were also going to have to answer for the Hogwarts' rules they'd broken.
James met his eyes from a few feet away; some of his color had returned, but he looked terrible. The feelings storming through his mind were mirrored in his best friend.
"Potter, I want you to be honest with me," McGonagall said addressing them directly for the first time. "Can you walk on your own to the Hospital Wing?"
"Yes, Professor," James answered. Sirius wasn't sure how much pain James was in, but he knew if the tables were turned, he would have had the same response.
"Longbottom is going to take you to the Hospital Wing, Potter," McGonagall instructed. "Black, you'll come with me to my office."
Fawley gave them a brief nod before she walked away to Apparate back to Hogsmeade or wherever she was needed. Then the four of them headed towards the castle parting at one point towards their destinations.
Professor McGonagall unlocked her office and ushered him in. Sirius took a seat not meeting his Head of House's eyes. He couldn't deal with being reprehended and he couldn't deal with any sympathy.
"You are not to speak to anyone about what has happened until you have given your formal statement. You are not to leave my office. After Madam Pomfrey has checked over Mr. Potter, she'll come here to look you over. Is there anything you need urgently?"
"No, Professor," Sirius answered dully.
"I'll check in with you soon." Sirius heard the door lock, and he took a large breath, exhaustion suddenly hitting him. Being at Hogwarts was better than being at the scene of the crime, but now that he was alone, he was left with his thoughts only. He jumped to his feet, paced around, glancing outside the window. Then he sunk back down in the chair.
Professor Keenan was dead.
It was still so difficult to wrap his mind around the idea. Even though he'd seen the body. Even though Keenan had sacrificed his own life to save his.
He didn't know what to do with himself. Then he saw it – the box with the letters his parents had sent still sitting on top of McGonagall's desk. Had that all really happened only a few hours ago? It felt like a lifetime ago. He lunged forward grabbing a hold of the box. This had all started because of those stupid letters! If they hadn't wanted to celebrate the good news, they would have never left Hogwarts. He had a sudden urge to destroy them – burn them. He glanced towards the large window. Maybe he'd just chuck it right outside?
The door to the office opened and Madam Pomfrey shuffled in.
"How's James?" Sirius asked immediately, placing the box of letters back on McGonagall's desk.
"Nothing I can't fix," she replied. "Now let's focus on you. I hear you were hit with the Cruciatus Curse?"
"I'm fine," Sirius insisted. He didn't want deal with Pomfrey's over attentiveness.
"Hmphf…I'll be the judge of that." She proceeded to check him over fully. She applied a healing paste on rope burns on his wrists and rebandaged them. Then she fished out of her apron a small square wrapped in gold foil. "Chocolate. Eat this all. It will make you feel better."
Sirius had absolutely no appetite, but Madam Pomfrey insisted that he eat at least two of the four squares under her watch. As Madam Pomfrey was packing up her bag, Professor McGonagall entered.
"How is he, Poppy?"
"Signs of shock…as expected. He should be resting...or lying down in the Hospital Wing preferably."
"That's not possible at the moment. I can bring in a cot."
"I don't need a cot," Sirius argued. "I'm fine."
Madam Pomfrey ignored his interruption. "It is likely he'll have waves of malaise over the next few hours and into tomorrow. One can never tell how someone will react to Dark Magic, but Black has shown a sensitivity to it before."
McGonagall gave a curt nod. "I'm having one of the House Elves bring him up a cup of tea and of soup."
"Finish that chocolate," Madam Pomfrey instructed firmly as she walked out.
Sirius took another bit of the chocolate. It tasted more bitter than the usual chocolate, but he did feel more himself with each bite.
McGonagall looked at him silently for several seconds, and then her stern expression softened slightly. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"
"No."
"The Ministry Official will hopefully be here soon. There's plenty of books on my shelf to read if you are bored."
"And I can always reread those lovely letters from my parents."
It took McGonagall a moment to understand his reference. She walked over and tucked the box into one of the drawers in the desk, locking it inside. She must have guessed his plans to destroy the letters. "There's soup and tea coming. I'll check in on you soon. Is there anything else?"
"How much trouble are we in?"
He didn't know what he wanted from his Head of House…but he wanted more of a reaction. She was treating the situation so robotically. He'd rather she started shouting at him for irresponsibility.
"That is something that will be discussed later, Mr. Black." As McGonagall touched the doorknob, she turned back towards him. "Be truthful during the questioning…but there's no need to give more information than necessary."
She left with that. Sirius sighed deeply popping the last bit of chocolate into his mouth. A House Elf dropped in a few minutes later with the tea and soup. He sipped on the tea, but left the soup untouched.
Time slowed and his restlessness only grew. He needed a distraction. He looked once more at the now cold soup, but the idea of taking a sip turned his stomach. He didn't want a chance to think. He jumped back to his feet only to feel a wave of dizziness; the room spinning. He sunk back down; his heart was racing and he didn't feel well. And that made him think of Remus…and Peter. They'd have noticed their absence by now. What would they be thinking about their absence?
Another hour or so passed; and the next time McGonagall checked in on him, Sirius took up her offer to use the bathroom. He lingered in front of the mirror splashing cool water on his face repetitively. The water was refreshing, and he wasn't eager to return to the stuffy study.
Sirius wasn't sure if he had dozed off for a few minutes or longer before he was startled awake by people entering the office. Beside Professor McGonagall was a short statured woman with curly blonde hair; she poked her head into the room.
"As you can see Mr. Black has been locked in here since his arrival. He was allowed out to use the bathroom once. I supervised him the entire time. The school nurse is the only other person he has spoken to, and it was only so she could look over his injuries."
The woman gave a cursory look around the office and nodded curtly. She opened a notebook writing something down. He was then taken to the Headmaster's office where the questioning would be done. As with the walk to the bathroom earlier, they encountered no other students. Sirius wasn't sure if this was by chance or the halls had been cleared prior.
Sirius paused at the entrance to the office. He wanted this over and yet he suddenly wished he'd taken the time to think of his answers. He took a deep breath and then stepped in.
"Go on in, Potter," McGonagall said opening the door to the Hospital Wing.
James had just finished talking with the Ministry official that had been dispatched to take his statement. She had been very thorough with her questioning and James felt exhausted. The woman had brought his wand with her. The Aurors had been held briefly as evidence. She'd been ready to hand it over to him, but Dumbledore had intervened. James had been so taken back by Dumbledore's actions that he hadn't bothered to argue or ask when he was getting his wand back.
James hadn't made an issue of being questioned without his parents present. If the Ministry Official was satisfied with the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall acting as his guardian, he wasn't going to make waves. Not if that caused the Ministry Official to then insist the Blacks be contacted as well. He was safe and telling his parents would only cause unneeded worry.
"Can I see Sirius after he's questioned, Professor?" James asked.
"I think it is for the better that you spend some time apart, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall answered.
James felt a mixture of shock and betrayal. "But…why? Professor…you can't expel him…I talked him into-"
"No one is being expelled tonight. You both need rest…and perhaps a reflection of your actions would do you good."
"I've got it from here, Minevera," Madam Pomfrey said bustling in from her office. She gave James a stern look. "You look as white as a ghost, Potter."
James wanted to protest more, but Professor McGonagall walked right out without giving him a chance. He knew he was in no shape to go running after her. Madam Pomfrey steered him back over to the isolation room. So, he was going to have to spend the rest of the night in here alone. James felt a wave a sympathy for Remus, who had spent many days recovering in here from his werewolf transformations. He wished he'd thought to ask McGonagall if she'd spoken to Remus and Peter.
Madam Pomfrey fretted over him for several minutes. She appeared to believe the questioning had been undone all her earlier healing. Perhaps she was right because James didn't feel well. The pain near his ribs every time he took a breath had returned, and he felt very weak. The nurse watched as he drank three different potions; two of them very bitter and the third had a strange salty aftertaste. She left him to alone to rest telling him it was normal if he started to feel drowsy. It was a common side effect of the healing potions.
Madam Pomfrey locked the door behind her. James had no intention of leaving the room without permission (mostly because he lacked the strength), but he was concerned by the staffs' diligence. James certainly understood the need for keeping him separate from Sirius before they gave their statements. It was necessary action, but now what was the purpose? His wand still confiscated and now separated from his friends…where was this all leading towards? Detention? Expulsion?
And more than anything he was worried about Sirius. He wondered how his questioning was going. Sirius was impatient in the best of circumstances, and James had found the whole ordeal very trying.
The woman from the Ministry, Ms. Crawley, had been polite enough. Though it had been a bit disconcerting how she managed to show no emotion even when he described being viciously beaten by the Death Eaters. He'd also been thrown off by what she focused on. Her main concern was why theDeath Eaters had been in the Shop to begin with. He obviously had no idea. And then she'd asked if he thought Keenan's friend, Rose, had purposely lured them into the shop. That idea hadn't crossed his mind at all, and he answered honestly, stating he didn't believe that Rose had any idea she was leading them into a dangerous situation.
Then she wanted to know the circumstances that had led to Professor Keenan's death. Speaking of that had been the most difficult. He remembered the flash of green light that he had been so sure was heading right at him. Instead the Killing Curse had been hurling towards his best friend, and it would have killed him, if Keenan hadn't pushed Sirius out of the way. Professor Keenan had died a hero. Of course, this had led to a whole barrage of questions on why a Death Eater would want to murder a pure blood teenager.
James had to explain that the one of the Death Eaters had claimed he knew both their fathers, and that they had both slighted him. The Death Eater's actions thereafter were in retaliation. As strange as it sounded, the Death Eaters' reasons for being in the shop and the ultimate death of Professor Keenan were in fact not related.
James had tried to keep his emotions in check. The woman had required him to spell out exactly why he thought Sirius would be the target, and his patience had almost run out. He wasn't sure if the woman really didn't know about Sirius's circumstances or if this was some Ministry employed question tactic.
The woman then asked him repeatedly if he recognized any of the masked Death Eaters, especially the leader. He'd grown irritated telling her there was absolutely no reason why he'd keep that information from her. He wished he could give her names. He wanted those men caught.
Professor Keenan was dead.
This thought kept popping into his head despite his efforts not to think about it. It still felt so unreal. James shifted his body in bed, restless, and a wave of pain washed over him. The potions didn't seem to be working as well for the pain as before.
He tried closing his eyes…only to have the memory of Sirius's screaming surface. He'd never heard someone being tortured before. And James had done exactly what the Death Eater had hoped he'd do. He'd emerged from his hiding spot to save his best friend, and his action had only put them all in more danger.
The Death Eaters had used him as a hostage. Even though he'd fought against them as best he could. He'd used the wooden leg to get several hits in, but it had been for naught as they'd subdued him in the end. The Death Eaters had punished him severely for his attempts to hurt them; the bruising all over his body a testament to that. Professor Keenan might have sacrificed his life to save Sirius, but it had all started when Keenan had first lowered his wand to protect James. After that they'd been helpless…at the complete mercy of bloody Death Eaters.
James pushed the guilty thoughts out of his head. He didn't want to focus on that. And he guessed Sirius was feeling the same way. It was one of the reasons he wanted so desperately to see Sirius. This was something – this guilt- that they needed to face together.
When Madam Pomfrey went to check on him again she administered a second dose of the pain potions. The potions must have finally started working because he did end up falling into a restless slumber. Something startled him awake, he opened up his eyes, turning towards the wand light.
As James's eyes adjusted to the light, a rat perched on the shoulder of the figure in front of him, jumped off.
"Remus?" James asked blearily. "Peter?"
"What's happened? No one will tell us anything! Where's Sirius?"
Peter now in human form had stepped closer to the bed. "What happened to your face?"
James stared back at his worried friends. He faltered as it suddenly felt like an impossible task to explain what had transpired over the last few hours. James cleared his throat. It was best to start at the beginning; his suggestion to go to Hogsmeade.
Snape followed Mulciber and Avery down to the common room. They sought his company out more since the incident by the lake…since his friendship with Lily Evans had dissolved. He hadn't forgiven them for standing by while Potter and Black had humiliated him. Lestrange was pushing him to forget it because they ultimately had stopped Potter from removing his underwear. In fact, he suspected they'd been 'entertained' by Lily -the Mudblood - taking down Potter a peg or two. He knew better than to make a big deal out of it. It was in his best interest to pretend to have moved past it.
All of Slytherin had been summoned by their Head of House to the Common Room before breakfast. Slughorn looking less put together than usual, stood solemnly in front of the room. The Prefects took a quick roll call and quieted the room.
"I have grave news to tell you. Yesterday afternoon, Professor Keenan lost his life."
There were shocked gasps and murmuring as everyone digested the news.
"Keenan's dead?" Lestrange voiced, his eyes glinted but he managed to at least not look ecstatic by the news.
"Professor Keenan…and yes I'm afraid so."
"What happened? How did die, Professor Slughorn?"
Slughorn looked distinctly uncomfortable. "That's all I'm at liberty to tell you for the moment. There's no reason to be afraid. The death did not occur on the grounds of Hogwarts. The staff will be putting in extra security around the castle as a measure of extreme caution. Classes are cancelled for today. Everyone is to stay in the Common Room until told otherwise. Breakfast will be brought up to you."
Professor Slughorn rounded up a few of the Prefects to go with him and left the remainder to keep order. Slughorn was so eager to leave that he swept by a group of frightened first years without any additional word of comfort.
Professor Keenan had been competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but Snape had never warmed up to him after sensing his favoritism towards Sirius Black. He wondered why Slughorn had been so evasive about the manner in which Keenan had died. Perfectly healthy young adults usually didn't fall dead without a reason.
It was later in the morning when the lockdown had been lifted and they could leave their Common Room, that Snape learned the rest of the school was calling Keenan's death murder.Rumors circulated that Keenan had been slaughtered for being a Muggleborn. Others were saying it had been a robbery gone wrong.
Snape didn't dwell on the details of the death or get swept up in the rumors circulating around. It was upsetting a Professor had died, but it really no effect on his own life. Classes might have been cancelled for the day, but there were still end of the year assignments to finish. He still needed to worry about his future even if Keenan's had been cut short. And keeping busy kept his mind off Lily.
Dinner that night had been a very solemn affair. Black Banners had been hung in place of the usual House Colors creating a somber atmosphere. Students whispered quietly amongst themselves. The Headmaster had been absent all day.
Snape was eager to escape to the Common Room, but he quickly regretted it. No one was in a scholarly mood in the dungeons that night. The library hadn't been much better lately. He always felt that the other students were laughing behind his back.
Avery had been absent most of the day after being signed out by his father. And without Avery by his side, Mulciber was in a particularly strange mood. When Avery did return, he burst into the Common Room glancing around with an air of supreme superiority.
He made a beeline for where Snape and Mulciber were seated. "My father – you know how he is top level in the Ministry?" He made sure to raise his voice so everyone in the Common Room was able to hear every word.
"How could we forget?" Walker, another one of their roommates, asked sarcastically. Avery was known for adding that information into every and any conversation.
"Shut it," Avery responded mildly. "If you don't want me to tell you the most interesting news-"
"Just tell us," Mulciber interrupted irritably.
"James Potter and Sirius Black were there when Keenan was killed-"
"What?" Snape demanded. The word was out of his mouth before he realized he'd reacted out loud.
"I knew this would interest you, Snape," Avery said looking very pleased with himself. "Aurors found them by his body. It's been kept out of the Prophet. Some rubbish about protecting the identity of under age wizards. Of course, my father said if word got around…well there's not much the Ministryor Dumbledore can do to stop it."
"Slughorn said it didn't happen at Hogwarts," Walker stated as if that made it impossible for it to have involved Black and Potter. Walker clearly wasn't aware that the Gryffindors were consistent rule breakers.
"It was at a shop in Hogsmeade. Death Eaters were there-"
"Keenan took them to Hogsmeade? Is that even allowed?"
"I think they snuck out," Avery said, shrugging.
Sneaking out to Hogsmeade was exactly something the Gryffindor duo would do, and Snape found himself growing irritated. He shouldn't care about their rule breaking. And now that he'd thought about it, had he seen any of Potter's gang today? He'd been purposely ignoring the Gryffindor side of the room during meals to avoid accidently seeing Lily, so he wasn't absolutely certain.
"Anyway," Avery continued. "I've saved the best news for last. The Killing Curse wasn't meant for the Mudblood."
The statement was met with a loud silence.
"It was meant for Potter?" Snape asked narrowing his eyes.
"Oh no – Black. Keenan pushed him out of the way, so the curse hit him instead." Avery looked smugly around his captive audience. "I suppose if there is any use of a Mudblood, it's to shield the life of a true wizard, even if he is a blood traitor."
This statement was met with laughter. Snape did not join in, and luckily no one noticed. Snape wasn't sure how he felt about this news. In his opinion the world would be a better place if Sirius Black was removed, but he knew better than to say that out loud. A Death Eater had attempted to kill a blood traitor student and ended up killing a Muggleborn Professor? Honestly if he hadn't heard it directly from Avery, he would have assumed it was a made up.
Avery spotting Regulus entering the Common Room, headed towards him. Regulus might not have the same temper as his brother or his cousin, but he'd always been sensitive when it came to the rumors about Sirius. Bellatrix had graduated before Snape had started Hogwarts, but he'd heard the stories of her wild moods. He knew Avery would not tread lightly on the subject, and there was likely to be some sort of verbal altercation.
Snape was debating about making a quick exit. Just as he was ready to begin gathering his things, Lestrange appeared from the dormitory.
"Regulus," Lestrange called out; startling Regulus who looked as if he was debating if he could get away with murdering Avery. "A word." It wasn't possible that Lestrange could have heard Avery's news, but his timing had prevented things from getting out of hand.
Regulus disappeared up the stairs with Lestrange, though not before muttering something darkly to Avery as he passed.
Avery returned to where they were seated looking peeved. "What's his problem?"
Mulicber rolled his eyes. "Not everyone likes being reminded about their blood traitor relatives."
Avery glared. "You're no fun today. What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Mulciber responded. "I'm ready for the school year to be over. My father said I have to stay until the end – even though Professor Mudblood's dead and exams are over."
"Then you'd miss out on all the fun…"
"What fun?"
"The fallout of when the information about Black and Potter begin circulating," Avery stated with a knowing look.
Mulicber perked up slightly. "I hadn't thought about that."
"If there is even a fallout," Snape muttered. Nothing negative ever seemed to stick on Potter and Black.
"Oh, there will be Severus," Avery replied darkly. "I'll make sure of it."
Author's note: Thank you for reading, and a review would be appreciated.
I jumped ahead a bit to show Snape (and the rest of the school) finding out the news, but next chapter will backtrack to Sirius's point of view of the morning after Keenan's death. The story is wrapping up soon. Only a few chapters left.
Happy 4th of July if you are American!