The Vow And It's Consequences

Chapter 15

An Unlikely Trio Part Two

Severus observed the woman across from him, who was the epitome of calmness. She didn't seem the least bit bothered having been called up from her job, and confronted with three people, two of which were in the law enforcement. Normally even innocent people felt as thought they did something wrong when they saw a Police officer. It set them on the defensive, wondering what they could be accused off, even if they'd done nothing. Fortunately for Tara, Severus could see through her 'masks' to see she was actually rather concerned. Not for herself, but for a child, a child she may have missed caused her to feel like a failure. She was trying not to overreact of course, until she knew exactly what was going on.

"During the process of this interview, everything you say will be recorded is that understood?" asked Severus placing the Muggle digital recorder on the table. Lucius didn't understand what it was, but Minerva and Severus did. They had both been raised in the Muggle world; both had a parent that was non-magical. They'd had very different childhoods though, whereas Minerva's father had accepted his daughter as a witch, Severus' father had not. Minerva's sister had not been magical, but they'd got on rather well.

"Yes," said Tara, nodding her head, her foot stopping its tapping, it was a nervous habit she'd had since she was a child. She'd gotten into trouble at school a lot because of it; the constant tapping had driven her teachers to distraction.

"Please state your name for the benefit of the conversation," said Severus, while he said their 'fake' names and 'fake' profession.

"Tara Digby, Social worker for Surry Council," said Tara breathing deeply feeling very troubled. She couldn't keep her mouth closed any longer, she just had to ask. "What's going on? Who is this about?"

"I believe that you have visited Mr. Mrs. Dursley a total of eight times is this true?" asked Severus, barely able to contain his fury.

"The Dursley's?" asked Tara, frowning, yes she could remember visiting them. The first time was very hazy at best, she couldn't remember much about it at all. She did remember returning here and filing a report, stating that both boys were fine. "Yes I've been there." she said, straining to remember why she had such hazy recollections of that family. She could remember the first family she'd visited how is it that she couldn't remember much after visiting them eight times? And why the hell had this not bothered her before? Had she hit her head today or something? It was beginning to feel like it.

"Can you tell us about the first meeting?" enquired Minerva, seeing as Severus was not going to talk, if anything he seemed rather disturbed by something.

Taking a deep breath knowing it was important, she began to describe what she could remember. "I drove to Privet Drive, and sat in the car watching the house for fifteen minutes. We like to observe our surroundings and if possible watch for the children before we declare ourselves there. Unfortunately we cannot see the children alone, the chances of a child admitting the abuse is next to none, especially with their abusers there. We can only observe and learn what we can from that. I saw two boys, playing but when I asked him who he was, he told me his name was Piers, so he wasn't Mr. Potter the boy as to which I'd been sent to see."

"Continue," said Minerva, sending the poor woman a sympathetic look, she seemed to be really struggling to remember. The fact Severus was so quiet, made her think that perhaps she wasn't to blame.

"I told them who I was, and they let me in immediately and seemed very welcoming but slightly angry that anyone would accuse them of anything. Something I have of course seen to often, I do not take anything in the face of value. I thought perhaps that the callers we had were concerned about his weight perhaps. His cousin isn't it? Yes, he was extremely obese. I was guided around the house, they showed me everywhere…." said Tara, unwittingly a memory she'd forgotten about came forth. She had no idea that the man sitting opposite her was removing the memory charms she had placed upon her person. Tara gasped, how could she have forgotten? It was inconceivable to her. "I noticed at once that there was only one bed in the room Petunia claimed her son and nephew shared…how could I have forgotten?" she was inconsolable.

"If you can just tell me what you can remember now, I'd greatly appreciate it." said Severus grimly, he knew the magic wrapped around her mind. He didn't need to undo any of the blocks; she'd never had a chance to do her job. That fact alone made him warm up to her slightly, after the interview was over; he'd break one completely for confirmation that it was the old fool. Pensive memories were probably more damning than speaking the truth under Veritaserum.

"We sat down and had coffee, they were very nice, and introduced us to both boys. They had new clothes, had with them new toys, both were very happy to answer my questions…" said Tara, her headache was getting to the point she couldn't stand it anymore. Tears were stinging in her eyes, Merlin it was painful, and she'd never suffered from migraines before. It was the last thing she remembered before she passed out.

Minerva quickly dived for the Muggle, stopping her from hitting her head on the way down. Lucius automatically set a charm on the door, stopping people from entering as Severus walked over to the unconscious female. He cast the spell that would let him enter her mind, and tore through the very first Obliviate attached to her mind. You could tell someone had been, there were spaces in their memories, it was like a film reel with pictures missing, blurry images were also a good indicator.

"Severus what is going on?" asked Minerva, looking extremely worried, she also hated being in the dark.

"She saw Harry; she immediately called the police and ambulance to have him removed. No amount of money convinced her to keep quiet, considering they don't get much it's a surprise really. Unfortunately something or someone must have alerted Dumbledore and he Obliviated everyone. She immediately came back here and filed a report that all was well. The other times she came, she was drugged, the Dursley's must have some sort of forgetfulness potion." growled Severus. His magic reacting to his anger, causing the room to heat uncomfortably.

"So he has been interfering," said Minerva her eyes closed in horror, he knew, they had definitive proof that Dumbledore had been aware of the abuse. "Can't we just go to the Ministry with what we have now? I cannot in good conscience allow him near children…how many others has he ignored?" she told them defeated and hollow.

"You will just have to keep an eye on everything, and everyone come to that. Simply just bring up the first years getting a full history scan their first year at Hogwarts." said Severus.

"If you prefer I can petition the school board for that to happen?" suggested Lucius.

"Perhaps that would be for the best," said Minerva, Severus of course nodded.

"What do we do with her?" asked Lucius getting to the more pressing matters at hand. The woman would probably end up being Obliviated again, she'd been violated enough magically, but there was nothing they could do. In fact they were probably being merciful, she seemed to feel really guilty that she'd missed something - and she didn't even know the child. It was weird, it's the first time he'd ever felt bad for a Muggle he hadn't touched, who couldn't defend themselves against their magic. He rarely tortured Muggles', only if the Dark Lord told him to. Otherwise he would only put them out of their misery. Nothing stopped him having to watch Lestrange having…fun as she'd called it. He had much to feel guilty about, but his life hadn't been an easy one. People thought that money solved everything, and they were always happy…the idiots couldn't be further from the truth. "Perhaps it would be best she forget everything again?"

"Indeed," said Severus, pointing his wand at her, and he promptly caused her to forget everything she had remembered while Severus had been in her mind, and the Obliviate Severus had completely uncovered (with Dumbledore features in it most prominently).

"….Ma'am? Are you okay?" said the three of them, crouched before in staring at her in concern.

Tara stared around in confusion, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing she remembered was getting a really bad migraine. She clutched at her head, grateful that it seemed to have gone now. "I am sorry, I just had such a bad headache or migraine…my mother used to get them this violently too." she said apologetically. As the three concerned newcomers helped her up.

"Thank you for your cooperation," replied Severus sitting himself back down.

"Did I miss something?" she asked quietly. "About the child? Is he okay?"

"He is fine," said Severus reassuringly, he couldn't tell her anything; especially not that Harry had been removed from their care.

"That's good," she said simply, relaxing, wondering what the whole thing had been about. If he was fine, why had she been asked all those questions about a child that was well cared for?

"Could you please let…Olivia in on your way out please?" asked Minerva, officially ending the first meeting.

"Of course," said Tara, rubbing at her forehead absently, thinking to herself to remember and buy something her headaches and migraines, she certainly didn't want to be caught out like she had today.

"Thank you," said Minerva shaking the woman's hand as she stood.

Tara nodded at the men before she left the room, remembering to take her handbag with her. She was much more subdued leaving as she had been upon entering the room. Once she was outside, she told Olivia to go on in; Olivia was older than her by seven years. "They are ready for you now." she said as she made her way back to her office.

Olivia took a deep breath as she entered the room, wondering what was going on. She couldn't deny she was extremely nervous and worried. Had they found out about her? Was she going to be arrested? She shook of her thoughts as she stood in front of them. "You wished to see me?" she enquired.

"Olivia Halliwell?" asked Minerva, "I am Marion McDonald, the officer is Samuel Smith and the lawyer is Luke Matthews." the older woman said, introducing them. The men nodded as their names were called, before Minerva asked her to take a seat.

"You were called to the Dursley's five times in the past few years…that is correct is it not?" asked Severus watching the woman closely. She was nervous, too nervous for his comfort. He didn't draw any conclusions though, because she might be just feeling guilty about something innocuous.

"Yes," said Olivia, her eyes wider than normal, forcing herself to remain relaxed. They were only asking her questions, there was no way they could possibly know.

"Tell us about the first meeting," said Lucius, his mercury eyes regarding her suspiciously; she had Christian Louboutin shoes on, with a matching bag. They were not copies. He should know his wife absolutely loved his design; his wife spent a lot of time in France buying his designer stuff. Louboutin was actually a wizard, who had branched out into the Muggle world. There were just more Muggles than Wizards or Witches come to that, it will have been a rather profitable choice to make. He was one of the richest French wizards out there. Very well known in both worlds, at least to the upper wealth social circles. He leant forward, imparting the knowledge he had to the others. It had been a good move to make, they hadn't known. Severus wasn't into fashion and apparently it wasn't Minerva's thing either.

"Well I was invited in; the place was extremely clean and well maintained. Mrs. Dudley was busy folding up the laundry, but immediately put on the kettle and made me feel extremely welcome. I could hear both boys up the stairs, playing loudly, having fun." said Olivia, her heart beating like a drum out of control. Her palms were drenched in sweat, but she dared not move or fidget. "I had a conversation about the calls we had received, they were understandably upset with the accusations levelled their way. I had a conversation with both boys, and came to the conclusion the concerns were invalid."

"What did Mr. Potter look like?" asked Severus, his black eyes flashing viciously, he knew she was lying; she had no defence against him snooping around in her mind. She would rue the day she decided to take the bribe and forget about a child inches from death.

"Look like?" she said her voice slightly higher than normal, "Do you know how many children I visit?" she was getting defensive now.

"You have visited this home five times, you should be able to describe him at least vaguely." said Severus frowning as he looked at the computer, he had to hand it to her, she was rather good, might have fooled other Muggle authorities, but he wasn't a Muggle, he was a Master spy.

"Average height, skinny, like his Aunt, dark hair and brown eyes," said Olivia, basically describing a child version of Petunia, hoping and praying she wasn't going wrong.

"Brown eyes you say?" asked Severus, nodding his head, playing her expertly. Minerva looked ready to throttle the girl as she began to understand what Severus was doing. Even Lucius vividly remembered that Harry had green eyes, not because he'd seen the child awake, no it was reported the night Voldemort was defeated. His eyes, the new mark upon his forehead…everything about him. He remembered Lily's eyes though, even if he'd only seen her for one year before he graduated Hogwarts.

"Yes," said Olivia relaxing, if she'd seen the so called social workers face, she'd have ran for the hills.

"You saw him every time you visited?" questioned Severus.

"I did," said Olivia adamantly, more confident now. "Is he okay?" she asked putting a concerned face on.

"If you call being in critical condition for days okay, then yes he's fine." said Severus a sneer curling at his lips.

"Critical condition?" stuttered Olivia wide eyed, "What happened? Has there been an accident?"

"An accident? If one can call being beaten within an inch of his life an accident then yes." said Severus his sarcasm getting worse the more he spoke to her. "For your information, Harry Potter doesn't have brown eyes, he has green eyes, you haven't met him even once have you?" his black eyes were boring into hers, daring her to lie to him again.

Olivia began to feel very panicky now, "Yes, I mean…he said he was Harry Potter." she said defensively, her voice now two octaves higher.

"And the money you received from the Dursley's?" asked Severus his voice filled with danger, and promise of a violent death.

"How dare you?" said Olivia puffing up in outrage, her face going red, making her blonde hair look sickly. You have no right to make accusations like that! About anyone's character."

"We have written confessions from Mr. And Mrs. Dursley, each day you were due to visit they took out eight hundred pound from their bank." said Lucius, another piece of the puzzle falling into place.

"It didn't come to me, I am a social worker, it's my job to help children and I would never let them down." said Olivia looking sick now.

"Lies," said Severus, "By the end of the day I am going to make sure you never get near children again. It's because of people like you our children are placed in further danger." it wasn't a threat it was a promise.

"To think others do it out of the goodness of their heart, but are hated because of the few nasty ones." said Minerva shaking her head in utter contempt for the woman standing on front of him. "Do you even care about the child who's suffering you were paid to forget nearly died?"

"I didn't, I've never ignored a child." spluttered Olivia wide eyed in protest.

"Yet another lie, I have enough suspicion to have you arrested," said Severus, "Trust me I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure you are put behind bars for a very long time."

"I am not lying!" wailed Olivia terrified, her skinny frame shaking with the terror that the police officer was invoking in her.

"You better not leave the country, otherwise I will make sure there's a manhunt for you, each step you take you'll wonder if it's your last." swore Severus, casting a tracking charm on her back unnoticed, and one to stop her from leaving England should she think about it. He'd take it off her as soon as Lucius and himself had handed the evidence the real police officer. She utterly turned his stomach; at least one of them had common sense and compassion.

"Do you think perhaps Mrs. Figg has been Obliviated also?" asked Minerva as they exited the building.

"Figg?" enquired Lucius, "As in the Figg family? Why would they be in the Muggle world?"

"Arabella, the squib." explained Severus, "She has been charged with keeping an eye out on Harry since he was put on the Dursley's doorstep."

"I had no idea the Figg's had produced a squib," said Lucius in surprise. Then again it wasn't something spoken about. Nobody went around admitting they'd had squib children, it just wasn't done. When they found out they were shipped off to the Muggle world to live. Of course Argus Filch is a different matter, the Filch's hadn't minded their son was a squib.

"It was three generations ago," said Severus wryly, "She's around eighty years old I would say."

"Maybe I should pay her a visit," suggested Minerva.

"I doubt very much he Obliviate's her, he'd have to do it every time she saw the him. If you regularly Obliviate someone, you begin to realize something is going on. She may be a squib but was raised a Witch for the first eleven years of her life. She would probably get suspicious very quickly." replied Lucius gravely.

"So she had to know," sighed Minerva inhaling deeply, betrayal was everywhere it seemed. Harry had saved both worlds, even if one would was unaware of that small detail. This was the thanks he got? People who were supposed to protect him, taking money and leaving him to abuse. The Headmaster of a school Obliviating social workers to get his own way. "What is his end game?"

"Excuse me?" asked both men stopping and turning to face her curiously.

"What is Dumbledore's end game, what does he want? Why did he allow Harry to be abused? Why didn't he stop it? What does he want in the end of it?" asked Minerva as she began walking again, they were trying to find a small dark spot so they could Apparate away again.

Lucius and Severus shared a look, before the blonde reluctantly nodded. They had already understood Dumbledore's game.

"The Dark Lord isn't truly gone Minerva, the Dark Mark is still visible, barely but nevertheless it is there. He's clinging to the mortal plane, bodiless." replied Severus his voice as grim and hollow as the conversation he was having. "Hence Dumbledore's use of the word Defeat, not destroy. If you remember Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald but he's in prison not dead."

Minerva gazed at them completely horrified by Severus' words, then and then she realized how little Dumbledore confided in her. She had been stupid enough to think she had been his companion. Little by little what she was learning was slowly destroying everything she believed in. Thank Merlin for her Gryffindor courage, otherwise Minerva wouldn't have had the heart to continue on.

I was going to make both Social Workers taking a bribe, but someone suggested make it one good one bad and I really liked that idea! so that's what I decided upon. and now poor Minerva has finally learned the full scope of Dumbledore's plans will she end up screwing it up? or will she maintain her composure...making the two slytherins proud and admit there might be more to Gryffindor than brashness? :P next chapter I think we will focus on harry and him being told about magic. will harry deny its existence even after seeing it? believing it to be tricks or believing so rigorously that Vernon would kill him for accepting magic? or will harry be awed that Severus was 'freakish' like him that he feels he can talk to him since he's not normal and Vernon had always told him he shouldn't be near normal people :P R&R PLEASE!