Sorting It Out
"Go ahead, I wish to stop at the hospital wing to check on Malfoy," said Severus.
Goyle looked nervously after Professor Snape as he headed for the hospital wing, but obediently followed Hagrid to the headmistress's office.
Severus entered the hospital wing and found Draco arguing with Madam Pomfrey.
"I'm fine and I have to speak with Professor Snape!" he snapped, his gray eyes flashing indignantly.
"I'm sorry, you may not leave until I've released you."
She examined his eyes once more as he buttoned his shirt.
"Is he all right, Poppy?" asked Severus.
"He had two broken ribs and a broken nose," she replied sternly. "But he has a concussion, although it's slight."
"If he agrees to rest for the next two days, will you release him to me?"
She smiled faintly and said, "You know I will, Severus, but watch him closely. If he doesn't take care now it could be serious later."
"I know it. Thank you, Poppy," he replied, appreciating again how fortunate they were at Hogwarts to have this unflappable witch as their school nurse. "Draco, come with me."
"I suppose you meant it about keeping me quiet for two days?" asked Draco, rolling his eyes.
"I won't cast a Silencing Charm on you, but you will rest," replied Severus. "Spare me your protests."
Draco followed him to Professor McGonagall's office, stepping onto the stairs first, wondering as they rose higher what would happen next.
Professor McGonagall looked up as they entered. Before her sat four students, eyes all downcast.
"Are you all right, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked.
He nodded, wondering where he should go. He spied Goyle sitting off to one side, near Hagrid and Professor Flitwick, and he moved quietly to join his friend. He sat down, watching what was occurring.
"Explain to me why I should not immediately expel all four of you," she said to the four guilty parties. "Furthermore, since you could easily have killed three of your schoolmates, the Ministry should be informed."
"We're not criminals!" said Zacharias Smith, looking horrified. "It's just…" his voice died away and he glanced sullenly down again.
"Miss Parkinson, have you anything to say?" asked Professor McGonagall, her lips tightening when the girl shook her head defiantly.
Seamus Finnigan's face was red and he looked ready to burst, but he also remained silent.
The door opened and Professor Sprout rushed in and surveyed the scene.
"Pomona, we have a problem that concerns every house in the school," said Minerva McGonagall tersely. "These students, along with others I haven't identified yet, physically attacked several of their classmates."
"Merlin! Mr. Smith and Mr. Macmillan! What's to be done?" asked the witch, her eyes wide.
Minerva had been doing some thinking. A confrontation between victims and perpetrators at this moment would not be productive. These students all had previously unblemished records, so she was hesitant to expel them and turn them over to the Ministry without understanding what was happening. She offered the thought to Severus, who nodded slightly and offered a suggestion. Relieved, she spoke slowly.
"Pomona, please take your students now and speak with them. We must get to the bottom of this dreadful situation. Severus, I ask that you and Professor Tonks speak with Miss Parkinson. I'll see Mr. Finnigan," she said grimly. "Professor Flitwick may speak with Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Goyle, perhaps in the hospital wing so they can check on Mr. Crabbe."
They all began to rise, and the four guilty parties looked more frightened at knowing they'd be separated.
"Hagrid, will you check on Zelda?" Severus asked the half-giant. "I don't know when I'll be free. When I return home, please tell her Mr. Malfoy will be spending the next two nights with us, so I may supervise his recovery."
Draco heard him and looked startled. But a glint appeared in his eyes. It looked as though he might be pleased about this plan.
"After you, Miss Parkinson," said Severus suavely, ushering the sullen girl to the door.
&&&&&&&&&
Professor Tonks was waiting at the door to Severus's office, looking very grim.
"Good evening," she said coolly, eyeing Pansy Parkinson coldly. "I've heard we have a problem."
The three entered the office. Severus lit the lamps, but not the fire, hoping the dank of the dungeon would increase the young woman's discomfort so she would speak with them.
"Miss Parkinson, in the company of three other students, attacked Crabbe and Goyle a short time ago," said Severus. "Goyle is physically all right, but Crabbe is in the hospital wing."
Tonks looked at Pansy narrowly. "Well?" she asked coldly. "What in Merlin's name is happening, Parkinson? Have you all gone mad? They're Slytherins, your housemates!"
Pansy's face went white and she finally spoke. "They're bastards! Their stupid fathers helped ruin things for all of us. The whole school hates us; we've got nothing to look forward to, but bloody Death Eater Malfoy and his retarded friends are Chosen Potter's new best friends and I hate them!"
Silence fell as her shrill voice echoed off stone walls and died away.
"Did you plan to kill them?" asked Severus softly, his black eyes boring into hers.
Confusion clouded her gaze for a moment as she thought. Her face fell slightly, but then she looked intensely up at him, tears of fury springing to her eyes.
"No! But we wanted them to hurt! Someone should hurt besides me. I hate my life!" she finished passionately, her fists clenched in her lap.
Severus and Tonks looked at each other. Tonks felt she was in over her head, but this visceral adolescent rage was something Severus remembered with painful familiarity. It seemed this bitter girl had made choices that would ruin her life. He felt wretchedly inadequate to deal with this and realized Tonks shared his uncertainty.
The silence grew for several long moments. Pansy was rigid with tension, realizing the consequences of her acts could be terrible.
"Pansy," said Severus, his voice barely above a whisper, "I wonder what you think we should do with you."
Having expected immediate and dire punishment, this was frightening. Any answer she might give was the wrong one.
She stared at the adults before her, looking more frightened every minute.
Tonks watched closely. Severus obviously wished to help the girl in spite of the fact that she was a part of a violent, destructive gang. She knew him too well to believe he'd let her escape the consequences, but she couldn't reach Pansy the way Severus could.
Severus looked suddenly at Tonks, offering his idea of what was to come next. Her Legilimency was not as powerful as she'd have liked, but she understood him perfectly.
"Professor Tonks will briefly stay here with you, Miss Parkinson. I wish to consult with Headmistress McGonagall," he told the girl.
He left the room and strode quickly up the stairs to the headmistress's office, sending his Patronus ahead of him. The wall opened and he stepped onto the moving stairs, still moving upward.
"Severus, I'm glad you're here," said Minerva as he arrived. "I had no idea how disturbed these students have been by the war and its' aftermath. They've committed violent, destructive crimes this school year, against people and against property, but I hesitate to call in the Ministry. Rufus Scrimgeour is a hard man and would undoubtedly wish to make an example of them. Yet after I spoke with Mr. Finnigan, I cannot help but feel these young people are victims as well as perpetrators."
"Will you send for Michael right away? I believe he can help us craft a solution," said Severus. "But we must know the extent of this and deal with all the participants."
"Where's Potter?" asked Minerva. "I expected to see him soon after he brought Crabbe to the hospital wing."
"I'll find him," said Severus, having wondered the same thing. "Meanwhile, I don't believe these students should be allowed to return to their common rooms while we work on this solution. They should also be watched. Will you work on that while I search for Potter?"
She nodded. "You, Miss Tonks, Pomona, Filius, Molly and I must discuss this. I hope these young people can be helped."
"So do I," he murmured.
Minerva McGonagall watched him stride quickly to the door and disappear. His own unhappy teen years and his bitter decision to become a Death Eater must play into his determination to give these students a chance to change. Knowing what a remarkable wizard he was and the service he'd rendered to their society, she would trust his instincts.
&&&&&&&&&
Severus whipped out his wand and sent his Patronus to Potter, wherever the boy was. He paused by the gargoyle in the hall and waited for a response. When it came, he headed for a place he never entered, the Gryffindor common room. The painting was swung wide and Hermione Granger was waiting for him.
"Some of them are here," she told him. "I'm glad you're here, Professor. Ginny and the other sixth years have the younger students in the dorms, so you can speak to these seventh years here, if you wish."
"Thank you," he replied, following her into the room.
Harry Potter sat with his wand in his hand, keeping his eyes on the small group of students before him. Ron Weasley sat across the room from Potter, his wand also trained on the group. By his side was Neville Longbottom, who Severus was pleased to see didn't flinch when he saw his hated potions professor. The Patil twins sat on the couch with Lavender Brown. Susan Bones sat stiffly upright in an armchair.
Severus studied the young witches. A variety of emotions were written on their faces and they all remained silent. It was unexpected, but convenient that they were all in the Gryffindor common room.
"The Headmistress will speak with you soon," he told them softly. "We have some of your cohorts. Will you tell me who the rest are and how this came to happen?"
Parvati Patil grasped her sister's hand and looked terrified.
"I don't know," said Lavender weakly. "Some of us were talking and it just happened."
Susan Bones said nothing, but the defiance in her eyes reminded Severus of Pansy Parkinson. Resignedly he sent his Patronus to Minerva, hoping she'd solved the problem of where to put the students. He looked at Potter then, hoping for information.
Harry looked grimly at Professor Snape, hating what he was doing to his classmates. But he knew this couldn't continue.
A Patronus flashed into the room.
Severus said to the four witches, "Please come with me. Miss Granger, I hope that you, Mr. Weasley and the others will attend to the needs of the other Gryffindor students now."
He looked piercingly at Potter, who responded defiantly for a second, but then looked slightly relieved as he offered the needed information.
Ron approached Professor Snape and offered him something.
"Sir, their wands," he said grimly.
Severus nodded his thanks and ushered the four students out of the common room. They took the stairs to the seventh floor and he saw the girls look at each other in some surprise when he opened the door to the Room of Requirement and bade them enter.
The room was in a new configuration. Immediately inside it was a small antechamber where Professor McGonagall waited. She grimaced when she saw the faces of the four new arrivals.
"Please go through those doors," she told them, watching as they reluctantly obeyed.
"The others are all here," she said. "Miss Tonks is sorting out the girls and Kingsley is watching the boys. I've spoken with the Heads and we've decided that while they must be held accountable for their actions and there must be consequences for their actions, we wish to offer them a chance to make amends and go forward with their lives. We must determine how this can happen, however."
"Good," Severus replied. "They didn't ask to be born into this violent, tumultuous time. It seems that the adults around them have failed in significant ways."
"Michael wishes to speak with all of us briefly," said Minerva. "By the way, Tonks told me that you handled Miss Parkinson admirably."
""I felt inadequate, but I tried," he replied. "I must speak with Potter soon. He now knows the extent of this group and we must be sure we've caught them all."
"Perhaps you can speak with Michael later then," she said. "Find Potter so we can finish this."
Severus left the Room of Requirement and went down the stairs to the hospital wing. Malfoy and Goyle were sitting next to a bed where Crabbe was now awake with his head bandaged.
"Are you all right?" asked Severus.
All three nodded, but Malfoy looked even paler than usual, thought Severus, offering silent appreciation to Madam Pomfrey. She was always right, he thought.
"Goyle, please stay here with Crabbe tonight, while we sort things out. Madam Pomfrey won't object. Malfoy, please come with me."
Obediently, Draco rose and followed him down to the dungeon. Severus sent his Patronus to Potter once again and they waited at the foot of the stairs for him.
"Hey, Draco," said Harry as he thudded down the stairs. "I hope we're almost finished with this. I'm ready for a relaxing round of N.E.W.T. exams."
Watching the young men, Severus saw that they'd actually become friends, in spite of all their wretched school history. A remarkable thing, something that might make one hopeful if one were mad enough to indulge such feelings. He brought them to his quarters, knowing how pleased Zelda would be to see the two brats.
&&&&&&&&&
"Zelda," called Severus as they entered the drawing room.
Dobby ran from the sitting room with Rowena by his side and said, "Mrs. Professor Snape is in here. Dobby is going to bring her some supper."
"Severus! Is everything all right?" asked Zelda, coming to meet them.
He petted Rowena, put an arm around her and said, "It's being sorted out as we speak. May we join you for supper?"
"Sure," she said cheerfully. "Dobby, please bring enough for all four of us."
"Dobby will hurry," he said eagerly. "Dobby will be right back."
He disappeared instantly and Zelda said, "Come into the sitting room and tell me what you can. Draco, are you okay? I heard you're going to be our guest tonight."
"I'm fine," he said dismissively. "Madam Pomfrey thinks I have a concussion, but I don't."
"We're glad to have you anyway," she said. "Harry, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he told her with a faint smile. "I didn't realize it, but I'm hungry."
Rowena ran to him and he bent down to pet her. It had been a grim evening and it was nice to hug a warm dog.
"It's hard to believe we were just with Lily and Elijah," he said quietly. "I hope this will be the end of it."
Dobby returned with their meal, so they went to the table and ate in silence. Zelda watched Draco, noticing his comparative lack of appetite. She saw that Severus wasn't really hungry, but was forcing himself to eat. She had little appetite because of her pregnancy, so only Harry did justice to the hearty meal. When he'd finished, they went to sit by the hearth.
"Who are the others?" Severus asked Harry. "Do you know why it began?"
He took a deep breath and said, "We learned that one person was behind this from the beginning. Ron got Seamus talking a while ago and we realized that none of these people were instigators. They were bitter and a bit mad, but they were being encouraged to act by someone who never got directly involved in anything they did. They're all really messed up, but we could understand them, in a weird way."
This sounded suspiciously like a junior Dark Lord in the making, thought Severus, a vague idea beginning to coalesce in his mind.
"I'm surprised to find students from every house involved together," he said.
"They have different motives for getting sucked into this, but they're all angry and frustrated," said Draco. "Pansy's a mess, but her anger allowed her to be part of a group at a time when Slytherin was changing in ways she hates. She's never been good at being alone."
"Michael can help, if they'll let him," said Harry. "I don't know what'll happen, but I hope they can have a second chance, somehow, if they want it."
"Professor McGonagall is deciding how she'll proceed right now," said Severus. "I'm expected to join them. Draco, stay here with Zelda and I'll ask Dobby to fetch your things. You should go to bed soon."
Draco frowned, but the hospital wing was his alternative, so he nodded reluctantly.
"Harry, what's your plan now?" asked Zelda.
"I'm going back to Gryffindor Tower to help Hermione and Ron settle things there," he said. "Can I come see you tomorrow morning?"
She smiled fondly and nodded. "I'm glad this is finally settled, so you kids can finally have a break. What a sorry end to a delightful weekend. Come down at half past seven for breakfast, if you can."
Rising, she hugged him quickly and turned to Severus.
"I suppose duty calls, doesn't it?" she pouted, then chuckled as he took her in his arms and hugged her, disregarding the presence of Malfoy and Potter.
"I'll seal the door until I get back," he told her. "It shouldn't be too long and if you need anything, call Dobby. Until this situation is finally resolved, I must know you're safe."
She kissed his chin, her eyes twinkling affectionately and said, "We'll be fine here. See you soon, I hope."
As they prepared to leave, Zelda frowned and said, "Hey, Harry, you never told us who the destructive little mastermind is, did you? Who is it?"