Tallis approached Hogwarts with a deep sigh.
While the Headmaster was no longer hiding within her walls, he still wasn't entirely certain he wanted to be there.
He loved Hogwarts, really he did, he just wasn't ready to face the madness that he knew would have taken over the students and faculty over the recent happenings.
One of the more immediate benefits to the incarceration of the Headmaster was that he could now apparate to Hogsmeade and walk in to Hogwarts rather than taking the long and tedious ride on the Hogwarts Express. He bit back a shudder at the mere thought of the pandemonium that must be sweeping the Express right now as students fought to spread the news and rumors that they had heard on the trial.
Dumbledore had not yet been sentenced. The Wizengamot had not been ready to reveal the old Headmaster's madness to the world yet. The announcement would be any day now.
Either way though, gossip was flowing fast and free. The Headmaster's involvement with the situation was glaringly obvious by now. Everyone knew that he had been taken into custody shortly after Christmas and had not reappeared since then. There weren't too many conclusions one could draw from something like that.
It was big news though, and he really couldn't blame them for wanting to talk about it. The death of the Wizarding world's boy hero and the arrest of the Leader of the Light could create nothing but a furor of gossip. Regardless of the status as a closed trial, gossip abounded, although it was composed nearly entirely of fiction since none of the facts could be released.
Unfortunately, the fiction often came entirely too close to the truth to be comfortable.
He was tired of the whole topic and just wanted to ignore it all now.
"Ready?" his father asked him softly, bringing him back to the present.
He realized that he hadn't moved a step in quite a while.
"Sorry. Just thinking."
Severus smiled and nodded before turning back to the school and starting forward again, this time with Tallis at his side.
"How much longer do you think it will take them to finish the trial?"
"It's hard to say. They might be ready to deliver a sentence on Dumbledore any day now."
"Before the trial is fully over?" Tallis asked incredulously. "That can't be fair."
"Yes, but if he is proven to be completely mad then it won't really matter as his sentence will be the same no matter what is uncovered at this point to add to it. They'll not kill someone who has lost his mind, no matter how heinous his crimes are."
"What will they do then?"
"It'll surely be Bentham's for him."
"Bentham's?"
"The mad house for Wizards. It's the only one in the British Isles. It's something more of a prison than a madhouse as the muggles have."
"Asylum, not mad house," Tallis corrected absentmindedly.
"As you wish. Either way, now that they are certain that he is mad, he will surely end up there."
"Won't he be able to escape?"
"No. Before anyone is incarcerated in Bentham's they are stripped of their power. Permanently. That's why they are so cautious about committing anyone to Bentham's. There is no going back, no deciding that they had wrongly convicted someone."
"That's why they didn't just throw him in there after I testified?"
"Precisely. They are undoubtedly running innumerable tests right now to ensure that their diagnosis is correct before they proceed. They'll not delay the inevitable though, for fear that he will escape before he is neutralized."
Tallis looked up in shock as his father opened the large doors to the castle. He had been so distracted he hadn't noticed that they had arrived. Minerva was waiting for them in the hall.
"I trust your trip went well, gentlemen?"
"As always, Minerva."
"I wish to speak with you for a moment, Severus."
"Of course. Allow me to drop my bags off in our rooms and I will be ready. Have you moved into the Headmaster's office yet?"
She pursed her lips for a moment. "Yes, I have."
Tallis noted that she sounded almost sad, but there was something more there. He decided to leave it to his father to investigate.
He didn't particularly dislike her but he certainly didn't like her either. The woman was almost criminally unobservant. That he had survived in Gryffindor House for six years without her having a clue that he had been abused was nearly incomprehensible, yet he was quite certain that was the case. Minerva might be accused of inattention but she was certainly not someone who supported child abuse, whatever her mentor might say or do.
The two Snapes walked quickly to the dungeon. When they were safely in their rooms Tallis spoke again. "What do you think she wants?"
"We probably need to discuss the shift in positions that must occur with the loss of Dumbledore. Minerva is in line to be Headmistress which will of necessity remove her from her teaching duties as well as her position as Head of Gryffindor. Not to mention we will need a new Deputy Headmaster."
"Who do you think they'll choose for that?"
Severus sighed and rubbed his face for a moment. "I fear she may ask me. There's no way I can do it though."
"It would be nice for Slytherin to have a representative that high in the school."
"Yes, but I have no intention of remaining at Hogwarts past this year."
"But what about my apprenticeship?"
"You can simply return to the Manor a few days a week for work on potions or you may choose to apprentice under the new professor, should he or she be a Master in the field."
"You don't want me to be your Apprentice anymore?" Tallis asked softly.
"Of course I do Tallis," Severus snapped. He had delayed in announcing his intentions to his son for this very reason. He knew that Tallis would misinterpret everything. "Damn it…I loathe teaching. We both know I am a wretched teacher and the position brings me more misery than anything else."
"What about the war? What about Voldemort?"
"I have a feeling that the war will be over before this year is out. I could be wrong, but I don't think so."
"It is coming, isn't it," Tallis said flatly, a statement rather than a question.
Severus nodded. "You are ready for it, I feel certain."
"But we never found anything…no secret weapon or spell or potion. I have nothing."
"As much as I fear sounding like the old man, I believe that you will defeat him through something that is internal to you—an inborn skill or ability that needs no training or special props to bring out. I think that when the time comes, it will essentially be you, alone, facing him. Of course, with me at your side."
"I won't very well be alone then, will I?" Tallis said with a small smile.
"You will be reduced to only what you are without weapons and tricks. Just you and your own power. That will be enough."
Tallis nodded quietly for a moment. That made sense. That was, after all, how he had faced Voldemort the first time. "If the war doesn't end this year though, you will be in danger if you leave Hogwarts."
"I'll be at the Manor. I'll be safe."
"What will you do?"
"I'm not sure. I might work on a potions book. I've been thinking of doing so for many years now but I've never had the time. Perhaps I'll open a store. I'm just not sure. I've never been able to choose my own way in life."
Tallis nodded in understanding. After being pushed into being a Death Eater by his own father, Severus hadn't really been free to choose his own profession. He had wanted to obtain a Mastery in potions, which he was able to do, but he could not safely look at any jobs outside of Hogwarts which limited him to teaching the students or being a caretaker like Filch.
"You'd best hurry to the meeting," Tallis finally reminded him.
Severus left the room quickly, calming when he felt his son raise the wards when he left. The room had incredibly strong wards anyhow, but they had both agreed that they needed to increase their wards when at all possible. They had come too far to be caught unaware now.
He quickly found himself at the gargoyle which was uncharacteristically standing open. Dumbledore had always taken a sort of sadistic pleasure in forcing people to waste time guessing his password. Not exactly a good way to make yourself available to your colleagues and students who were supposed to be able to seek you out for advice and assistance whenever necessary.
After he entered the gargoyle closed behind him. He must be the last one they were waiting for.
"Severus," Minerva greeted him. "Do have a seat."
Severus sat gratefully on the now dark green seat. He had always loathed the bright colors that the Headmaster had insisted on filling his office with. Minerva, it would seem, was much more sedate in her color palate.
Flitwick and Sprout nodded greetings as well. It seemed that they were all a bit depressed over the situation. It was rather humiliating to have your leader and boss proclaimed an insane criminal. It certainly didn't do much for the image of Hogwarts.
It was even more humiliating for Minerva, whose negligence for her own House was exposed by the death of Harry Potter. No decent Head of House would have missed something like that, regardless of how good of an actor the student was.
"I have called you three here today to discuss what we are to do about the changes in positions. Unfortunately, we are faced with a myriad of changes, and as it is the middle of the term it will be nearly impossible to hire anyone new. We must choose a Deputy Headmaster, a Head of House for Gryffindor, and a Transfiguration Professor.
"I have thought long about these positions and feel that it is time to offer the position of Deputy Headmaster to Severus. Slytherin House has long needed someone in this position and I can think of no one I trust more than you, Severus."
"I am afraid I would make a poor choice Minerva. If needs must, then I will, but I will be retiring at the end of this year."
"Who will fill your positions then?" Flitwick asked, startled.
"I don't particularly care," Severus said indifferently.
"Can you not remain here until your son finishes his apprenticeship?"
"It would hardly signify since he is primarily apprenticing under Poppy and not myself. He will be a Healer, not a potions Master," Severus said firmly. He would not allow anyone to change his son's life to suit themselves. Not anymore.
"I see," Minerva said quietly. "Well, I cannot say this is entirely unexpected. I am uncertain where to move from here though."
The small meeting descended into silence for a few moments as they all thought of what to do.
"Sprout," Severus finally said, breaking the silence.
"Pardon me?" Professor Sprout said, quite startled.
"You should be the Deputy."
"I'm not sure, Severus," she said, blushing lightly. She had never thought the honor would be given to her. Hufflepuffs rarely obtained positions of authority of any kind. She had never hoped for it.
Severus rolled his eyes. "You'd be perfect for the position. You keep odd hours for your plants so chances are students could find you awake when Minerva is not available. Not to mention there hasn't been a Hufflepuff as Deputy or as Headmaster for longer than I can remember."
"It would be an honor," she said slowly, "I just wouldn't want to take the position from Filius."
"No, no my dear," he replied cheerfully. "Severus is right. You would be perfect. I'm rather too close to retirement myself. Not this year, but perhaps in a few more."
"Alright," Minerva said, making a quick note on the parchment in front of her. "Moving on. Who should take over as Head of Gryffindor?"
"Remus seems to be the best option," Professor Sprout said immediately.
"For some unknown reason, Lupin does seem to love the brats. Make him be Head of House," Severus agreed.
"For the time being at least, I can fill in for him during the night of the full moon and his recovery time," Minerva said. "Perhaps we can find someone else for next year to assist him instead of me, but for now this will do. What will we do about Transfiguration?"
Once again, her question was met with silence.
"Perhaps Apprentice Snape could pick up a few of the classes. His Transfiguration scores matched yours, if I remember correctly," Filius finally said.
"They did," Severus said quietly. "I am uncertain if this is a good idea though. The boy has enough to worry about with a dual apprenticeship."
"Perhaps he wouldn't mind teaching three years worth of classes. He could drop the classes he currently team teaches with you to help lighten his load," Sprout suggested.
"The team teaching is not as much for my benefit as it is for his. One of the primary ways that one becomes a true Master is through working with the ingredients day in and day out."
"Your son is ahead of the average Apprentice at this point, isn't he?" Minerva asked, quite certain that this was the case. The boy was too brilliant not to be.
"Yes," Severus said slowly. "I suppose we could back off his training for a semester. Only if he agrees to it though."
"Of course," Minerva agreed immediately. "Would it be better if you spoke with him or if I asked him?" she asked, knowing how shy the brilliant young man was.
"I will mention it to him tonight. He might come to you for more information before he agrees, or he might agree outright. He might refuse. I am really uncertain."
"What about the rest of the classes?" Sprout asked.
"I could perhaps retain one or two years," Minerva said. "Preferably the fourth and fifth years. They need to do well on the OWLs but they aren't as time consuming to teach as the upper years are."
"Vector did quite well on her Transfiguration NEWT, if I recall," Severus provided.
"Perhaps she could pick up the first and second years?" Sprout suggested. "It shouldn't be too much extra work. I know it will be more hours than she is used to, but really it will be less than most of us have to put in since her course is only offered to the upper years anyhow."
"That would leave Apprentice Snape with the third years, sixth and seventh years," Filius said.
"Assuming he agrees," Severus warned.
"Very well," Minerva said, making more notes. "I would like for the four of us, and Remus of course, to continue to meet at least every other week until we get the school completely under control. It will be chaos, recovering from all that Albus has done."
She suddenly looked very old, and Severus realized how difficult this must be for her. It must have hurt terribly to see your mentor fall like that. She hadn't seen it coming at all.
She shook herself back into the moment. "Thank you for coming so early. I will announce our decision to the other professors and, assuming they agree to the changes, we will not need to meet again until the third week of January. Does that suit?"
Everyone agreed and quickly left, eager to prepare for the incoming students who would be arriving in less than 24 hours.