A/N: See, I kept my word this time ;) Thank you for all the well-wishes for the baby. Still waiting (and therefore writing!)
The Pureblood Prince
42
Wizardhunt
"I can't believe Hagrid managed it so quickly."
Dumbledore allowed a slight smile to escape the lips behind his greying beard. "Minerva… why you are so full of misgiving toward the poor man continues to puzzle me to this day."
The two Professors stood, patiently waiting, side-by-side by the gates to the school; the bottom of their cloaks soaked with the morning frost that hung upon the tall grass. Professor McGonagall scoffed.
"The 'poor man' has a pink umbrella for a wand…'
Dumbledore met that comment with a chuckle and a twinkle of the eye.
"Precisely why he was the right man for the job."
McGonagall shot him a quizzical frown through her spectacles, but decided to make no more of the issue. She huffed impatiently, a wisp of visible breath floated and disappeared into the early morning, and fervently rubbed at her arms.
"Any longer and I will be heading back to the staff room, Albus. Filius has promised me a slice of his toffee pudding."
"For breakfast? Never knew you had such a sweet-tooth, Minerva."
"Well, it's a right side better than waiting out here in the bitter cold!"
Dumbledore raised an interrupting hand. "Ah, but I don't think that will be necessary for much longer…"
McGonagall followed his gaze down the path to see the gamekeeper walking rather hastily toward them. She cocked her head to see if the girl was following behind him, shadowed from view, but there was no one but Hagrid there.
"Hagrid!" Dumbledore called loudly.
"Mornin' Professors," Hagrid called back as he caught up to them.
"And how did you find our guest?" Dumbledore enquired politely, his eyes were also darting from Hagrid to other various locations.
"Terrible…" Hagrid replied gruffly as he finally came face to face with the pair at the gate. "She were in a right state in the middle of Diagon Alley; bloodied, black eye… the lot. Poor thing could barely stand. Thought it best to leave her sleepin' this mornin'…"
McGonagall placed a hand to her mouth, looking absolutely horrified. Dumbledore, however, merely give a subtle sigh.
"Her husband?" McGonagall probed through her hand.
"To be honest, I didn' think it very kind ter go into that, Professor..."
"No, of course, of course."
"It appears Miss Sinistra was right," Dumbledore confirmed. "Do you have the Advanced Potions book?"
Hagrid shook his head.
"I tried ter ask her, Headmaster, I really tried, but she were so tired and so sad… I couldn't make her suffer any more than she had."
Dumbledore paused for a while as he wiped down his spectacles. Both McGonagall and Hagrid watched him in silence until he was done.
"I understand that we need to be tactful in this situation," Dumbledore continued as he placed the glasses back onto his crooked nose. "But in such dark times as this, time really is of the essence Hagrid. We can prevent her son from suffering the most dreadful of burdens."
"I know, Professor, but she's been though so much-"
"And we can try to ease her suffering by getting the book, by finding out just what kind of hopeful Dark wizard we are dealing with. You must accompany me to Hogsmeade at once."
"Albus!" McGonagall objected. "I'm inclined to agree with Hagrid in this situation! What is Mrs. Snape going to think when you come barging in demanding evidence of her sons misconduct? All she will see is a one way ticket to Azkaban prison!"
"She'll protect him to the end," Hagrid agreed.
But it appeared that Dumbledore had already made up his mind. He was already on the march toward the outer grounds of the school; all McGonagall and Hagrid could do was to follow him. And Hagrid, who had always revered the elder man as a father figure and hero, who worshipped the ground that he walked on, was riddled with conflict.
"Headmaster, please! Can yeh just… just leave it a day? A few more hours to let her sleep?"
"I am sorry, Hagrid" Dumbledore apologised with a sincere air of regret. "We do not have the liberty of time on our hands… feel free to head back to the castle and enjoy your toffee pudding, Minerva."
"With all due respect, Albus," McGonagall answered, keeping up at his heels. "It may be prudent to have another woman there – if you are so intent on forcing a meeting with her so early after a major trauma."
Dumbledore did not look back at her, despite obvious defiance of his decision. He knew the two staff members were deeply conflicted… but presently, he had no time for sensitivity. Not when he could still save her son.
They walked in silence.
Eileen, who had very recently run away from her entire life, and, despite how much she hated herself for it, the man whom she still loved (and would always love), had slept surprisingly well. It was very much broken sleep, but it was sleep nonetheless. She put it down to the company that she had had… Hagrid's arms were much warmer, more consuming, than Toby's cold back.
Despite that, she would take Toby's cold back above that any day. It had once been as warm as an embrace as Hagrid's – something that he would occasionally feed to her, just keeping her satisfied and feeling wanted just that little bit – before he would take it all away again.
She missed her loving Toby, even if he may not have been real.
A knock at the door snapped her out of her dreamlike state. She opened her eyes and realised Hagrid was now nowhere to be seen; blankets had been wrapped around her in his absence.
She hastily removed herself from the heavy bedding and opened the door, fully expecting to meet Hagrid at its frame. She wasn't altogether wrong, but there were two other individuals standing on the landing with him when he greeted her with a very pained smile.
"What do you all want?" she demanded.
"Mornin' Leenie. Look, I know yeh didn't wanna talk ter-"
Eileen slammed the door in their faces. The nerve of him! He promised me no one would bother me and he sends a community of Hogwarts teachers to my door?!
"Leenie, please!" she heard him beg from behind the door. "Just let me in for a sec, I promise I'll come alone."
Eileen made her way to the furthest point of the room as possible, where she huddled herself into a corner. After a few silent moments, the doorknob turned, and, as promised, the half-giant skulked into the room alone.
"Not a manhunt you say?" Eileen spat from the corner, darkened by the closed curtain. "So I can stay here for as long as I like as long as I'm alright with Albus Dumbledore providing daily room service!"
"No, it's not like that!" Hagrid cried. "Honestly! He's jus' concerned about yeh! He wants to help yeh! I told him yeh weren't up for visitors…"
Eileen scoffed. "Visitors. The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry doesn't just waltz around Hogsmeade visiting destitute witches on a whim, during school term no less."
"Leenie, all he wants yeh ter do is hear him out," Hagrid pleaded. He reached one of his saucepan-sized hands toward her but she harshly angled herself away from it. "He can help Severus!"
And that was as big of an arrow to her heart as anything could be. He must've known that he had succeeded in something, because Eileen remained silent. Still glaring in the shadows, but silent nevertheless. After a minute, the two people at the door (obviously listening to this commotion from outside) took this as a tentative cue to enter.
"Mrs. Snape?" Dumbledore called politely from behind the open door. "May we come in?"
"I don't think I can physically stop you…" Eileen muttered.
And if that was cue enough, the bruised girl with messy bed hair, standing in creased clothes that she had slept in, with no wand, no home, no possessions, was greeted by one of the greatest wizards the world has even known. He smiled.
"It is good to see you safe," Dumbledore said calmly.
"'Safe' is quite subjective, Professor Dumbledore."
Without flinching, Dumbledore motioned to his colleague. "You remember Professor McGonagall, of course?"
"Mrs. Snape," McGonagall greeted hardheadedly.
The scene that greeted her was almost comical; Eileen was close to laughter.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of such… abundant company?" Eileen quipped, arms folded so tightly that her hands almost grazed each other at the crevice of her back.
Hagrid sighed and backed away to the back of the room. Dumbledore took a seat at the table next to the fireplace.
"I am very sorry that we had to barge our way in here," he apologised. "In simpler circumstances I would have given you as much time and privacy as you needed to recuperate from your ordeals; but time is a precious commodity that we do not possess much of…"
"Not even to allow me to tidy myself up first?"
"Considering what has happened to you, I am relieved to find you in such a state as you are," he replied, swishing his wand and allowing the flames that shot out of it to infiltrate the timber of the fireplace.
"We won't keep you," McGonagall said gently, after it was apparent that Dumbledore was not going to say it for her. "The Headmaster merely wanted to ask a few questions… about Severus."
"Does he?" Eileen repeated mordantly.
"I will not keep anything from you," Dumbledore continued, staring into the fire. "Two days ago we had a visitor. That visitor had previously come to your house wanting to drop off a book that belonged to your son. The book previously belonged to you, I believe."
"That girl? Yes, I remember." Eileen affirmed.
"She returned afterward. To speak with you about what she had read in the book – but you were not there, and the house was in ruins. According to her the Potions book was full of what she described as very Dark magic… full of curses and hexes…"
"What is your point?" Eileen pressed impatiently.
"Mrs. Snape, I was wondering if you have that book in your possession?" Dumbledore enquired slowly, finally turning to look her in the eyes. "I would really like to take a look at it, to see what we are dealing with."
McGonagall and Hagrid stayed silent with baited breath at the back of the room. Eileen bit the inside of her cheek… then she laughed.
"What we're dealing with?" she said. "What we're dealing with is a very clever boy who had to invent anything to protect himself from being tormented by bullies every day of his school life. But of course you are suggesting that my son is now part of You Know Who's band of thugs?"
"I am not," Dumbledore answered. "I am merely looking objectively at the evidence - "
"Evidence to incarcerate him!" Eileen shouted.
"No, Leenie," Hagrid interjected. She stormed across the room toward the door, where he tried to touch her arm comfortingly, but she violently shrugged it off.
"It's not difficult to see why my son ran away," she continued, her voice injected with bitterness at the two almost-strangers in the room. "But to make that kind of outrageous assumption… thank Merlin that he is bright enough to protect himself!" she gathered up her bag, which made Hagrid move toward her again.
"I'll come with yeh…" he stated matter-of-factly, there was no objection to her making haste to leave the room, to which she was grateful. Which is why she did not object to his presence.
"There is no assumption!" McGonagall pleaded. "The Headmaster wants to help him, Eileen. We just want to find him."
"There's a difference between finding and hunting!"
"It is fine, Minerva…" Dumbledore interjected. "We do not want to cause any further distress…"
"Nice of you to consider me" Eileen bit while flinging the small bag over her arm.
McGonagall looked on at the scene with concern. She began tapping the tip of her foot on the floor nervously. "Where are you going?" she asked as Eileen clicked open the door.
"Fresh air"- was the short explanation given "and then I may pay my dear old mother a little visit". Hagrid looked toward Dumbledore for affirmation that he could follow; it was given with a short nod.
"Well, that was well handled" McGonagall quipped after the two Professors listened to the sound of two pairs of footsteps (well, just one, as it completely drowned out the sound of the others) reach the bottom of the stairs. "I told you that we should have left her calm herself for at least a few days, Albus!"
Dumbledore made his way over to the little kitchenette and flicked on the stove.
"Tea?" he asked politely.
"Albus!"
"Do not concern yourself, Minerva. I have all of the information that I require to proceed with my enquiries – no book needed." He placed the kettle onto the stove.
"She's going to be more keen than ever to look for her son now, and warn him about what you're doing."
"Which is precisely what I need her to do," he replied casually. "We may be able to spare Tobias Snape's life if the Death Eaters know that we'll be keeping watch there."
"And you're sure that's high up on his list of priorities?"
"To prove to his new recruit that he keeps his promises to gain his trust? Yes, I believe it is. Besides, what better message to send to us that he is not below walking into Muggle homes and slaughtering whoever he sees fit?"
McGonagall sighed. "I hope you're wrong…"
"If I am," said Dumbledore, pouring the boiling water into a mug: the teabag awaiting its arrival. "Then at least Eileen will have her son back in her life. She needs her family. I need to give her at least that after the terrible deeds inflicted on her by her own spouse."
He sipped at his chipped mug of tea and made his way back to the table.
"You may head back up to the castle if you so desire," he instructed. He took out a piece of parchment and quill from his cloak pocket. "I will be with you momentarily."
"What are you planning?" McGonagall asked curiously, peeking over his shoulder.
Dumbledore took another casual sip of the tisane.
"I am planning," he said, dripping his quill into an inkpot. "To write a little word of caution to our former student, to buy us some time… oh, and if you could, speak to Hagrid about keeping a very watchful eye on our Eileen Snape – if you would."
It was bitter cold outside, away from the warmth of the Three Broomsticks, even for Hagrid. He wondered how on earth Eileen was feeling with no cloak, and being so skinny as she was…
"Leenie, wait!" he cried as she stormed off ahead of him. To his surprise she halted in her tracks and waited, with her back turned to him, until he caught up.
"You promised me I would be left in peace," Eileen stated matter-of-factly. Hagrid sighed.
"I'm… so sorry…" he said with tears in his eyes. "That's what Professor Dumbledore promised me. I can't go ahead his head when he changes his mind!"
"Dumbledore…" Eileen repeated bitterly, rubbing her arms vigorously. "I can't stomach the thought of being a piece of his chess game."
"Where yeh goin'?" pressed Hagrid.
Eileen shrugged. "I thought I'd wait it out until the inquisition left."
"And not to yeh mothers?"
She stopped rubbing her arms and dropped them despondently to her side.
"I don't think so."
Eileen turned to face him; when she looked up, he almost winced at how the sunlight made her face even more sallow – and hurt.
"Hagrid…" she whispered… he felt his breath catch in his throat as she moved closer to him. "Could you promise me something? And I mean really promise?"
"Y- yeah?"
"You can't tell anybody, especially Dumbledore."
Hagrid swallowed. "… sure. I promise, Leenie."
Eileen took in a breath of icy cold air and reached into her bag. Hagrid's eyes widened as she pulled out an Advanced Potion Making textbook.
"Hide this book; destroy it," Eileen said. "I can't risk anyone finding it in my possession. They'll make false assumptions and come after him if they see what is written in here."
"So yeh did have it."
"I couldn't leave it at Spinner's End," Eileen explained, cradling the book as one would have done a baby. "I didn't want Severus coming back and taking it… silly, I know, I don't doubt he has all of these spells memorised, but… I just couldn't."
Hagrid gulped as she painfully pulled the book away from her chest and held it out in front of him. He took it tenderly in one large swipe and tucked it into his coat.
"I – I understand," he affirmed. "He's yer son. I'll get rid of the book for yeh."
"Thank you, my friend."
Hagrid's stomach seemed to have dropped after she referred to him as such, but he managed to pick himself up by the time she had moved toward him and buried herself into his coat. He took both sides and wrapped it around her back.
"Come back inside and have a drink with me" Hagrid offered, getting too sick of the cold himself. "I mean… just a Butterbeer or somethin'…" he corrected after realising that the last thing Eileen would have wanted to do was to 'drink'.
"Butterbeer?" Eileen asked almost longingly. He realised it must've been quite some time since her slender lips had ever touched such stuff. "Tempting, but a bit juvenile. I think I'd rather a warm spiced mead."
"Oh…" Hagrid responded, somewhat confused. "Sorry, didn't ter suggest – I just thought with yer husband _ "
"Contrary to Toby, I have the ability to retain some form of self-control." Eileen answered woefully.
They both trudged back to the inn, side by side.