PB11

Disclaimer – I own nothing – just check my back account if you don't believe me.

Chapter 11

Minerva McGonagall wandered back to her quarters, head in a whirl. Sirius Black … who had been the apple of her eye, along with James Potter for so long … was innocent after all. And Albus had known this all along.

Oh, she understood why he had done it – keeping Harry Potter with the Dursleys had been of paramount importance, and Sirius would have spoilt and indulged Potter. He'd not have allowed a broken toe, let alone let Harry Potter die so the Dark Lord would die as well.

Minerva's breath caught. She'd been so angry when Sirius had betrayed the Potters … and now it turned out that it was Peter. That was only marginally better, as Peter was also a Gryffindor. Why hadn't it been a Slytherin. Of course the Potter's didn't have any Slytherin friends after Lily had finally been rid of Snape – so there were none available to be accused of betrayal.

Minerva hated Slytherins … her animosity had started back in her own school days, after having to deal with Tom Riddle and his bunch. Those pretentious gits had made her and her friends' lives miserable. They were subtle, of course, rarely doing anything they could be called on.

At first they had been nice to her as they thought her as someone that was there idea of a pureblood. In most circles her blood status was considered 'pure' – or at least 'pure enough. The small hamlet in Scotland that she and her family lived in had several magical families. They made some of the best firewhiskey in the magical world. Minerva's family grew the hops – using the magical enhancements needed. Another family had the brewery. There was the family that made the unbreakable bottles with enchantments to enhance taste. Several families worked at the brewery or ran the bakery and pub.

Life was good in their little town, and they attracted enough magical visitors to ensure they met those from elsewhere and married from outside the village to avoid inbreeding. Muggleborns and halfbloods were welcome … few bothered with worrying about that. There was even a muggle or two in one faintly scandalous family.

Minerva's beloved grandmother was muggleborn – and Minerva hadn't hesitated to let others know it. Tom and his friends had sneered at that, shunning her and making rude remarks about animals in her ancestry – out of earshot of others, of course.

Then a friend – Myrtle – was killed and she had been told by Albus that it had been Tom who had done it even though Hagrid had been blamed. Oh, how she hated Tom and his Slytherins! Her hate had spread to all who wore silver and green … such as Snape – a wretched boy, dark from the first. Thank Merlin Lily had been rescued from him. Perhaps he'd become useful to Albus, for a time, but she'd been promised it would be of short duration.

Minerva had developed a crush on Albus over over a period of time – starting during her Hogwarts years - if only she had realized that her hopes would always be in vain she might have found love elsewhere. However, she had gotten her Mastery in Transfiguration and had accepted the job as Professor – taking Albus' place as Transfiguration Professor and soon becoming Deputy Headmistress.

She had pursued a stellar career in Transfiguration … following her mentor's field, hoping to gain his approval and admiration, and perhaps win his love in that way. It was hard to tell if she had, though he heaped praise on her at times – but he only did that when he had something difficult to ask of her.

Overseeing her Lions as Head of House had been difficult at times, and Albus had needed to do some persuading to add that to her already lengthy list of duties. But, he pointed out, it wasn't like she had a family to worry about … the Lions could become her 'children'. Albus had thought that was a good argument, not realizing he'd driven a knife home by saying that. It had been the day she'd buried any hope of his noticing she loved him.

Still, she'd remained at his side, ensuring the Gryffindor House remained 'the elite'. She'd helped him wear down the Sorting Hat – getting the most promising students into their House and herding many of the others where they wished.

Horace, Filius and Pomona had expressed dismay over the state of things one time while sipping tea in the teacher's lounge. They had not been aware she had overheard them. They were discussing how the four houses had always gained and lost 'power' at Hogwarts rather predictably – at least they had in the past. Every ten or fifteen years a house would gain in status and then slowly decline and relinquish it to another. During Headmaster Black's reign Slytherin had gained status at first, then Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff and then Slytherin again.

During the next Headmaster's tenure the Gryffindors got their chance again, then the Hufflepuffs. Then Headmaster Dippet arrived and the Ravenclaws were on top, then the Slytherins again, then the Hufflepuffs.

Once Dumbledore arrived to his post the Gryffindors were on top – sometimes a House would threaten their spot, but fail. The other Houses were never able to oust them … oh, someone else might get the houses cup once in a while – lately the Slytherins were taking the cup and doing well in Quidditch but there was no chance they would be seen as 'the top House' while the Headmaster and Deputy flagrantly favored the Lions.

Minerva had been alarmed at their obvious bitterness, but Albus had barely let her finish her story before waving it off. He seemed to feel they had no recourse. Minerva was less sanguine … what if they ever learned that they were essentially stealing whatever student they wished for Gryffindor and mixing up the others however they liked?

At first it had not bothered her, but slowly over the last few years she began to wonder … was Gryffindor winning – or were other Houses, masked as Lions winning? Was it really a win for her, then? Or was she only doing what she always sneered at Slytherins for saying … 'a win was a win, no matter how it was accomplished?'

She had overheard a few other things over the past decade that she hadn't related to Albus. The other Heads of House had said that Gryffindors were becoming resented … that the members of the other Houses recognized the injustice of Albus and his Deputy constantly favoring Gryffindor. When the students graduated and went out to work they tended to avoid giving Gryffindors any 'favors' … feeling as they did that Lions had already been given enough at school.

Oh, Gryffindors did get jobs – just not the best unless another Gryffindor was in charge – and that was happening less and less. Hufflepuffs had always run the Ministry with Ravenclaws and Slytherins helping with any information and cunning that was needed. Gryffindors might get into the Auror corp. – but they were not a majority there, either.

That bothered Minerva greatly … she'd thought they were ensuring that Gryffindors ran things … instead they were rather despised by three – quarters of the wizarding world. She shook her head – she'd thought they would be looked up to, that others would simply see that they were favoring the 'very best students'.

Now, she was faced with how to assist Sirius – if she could. Albus was just too busy to see to it himself until school was done, that was all. It would take a delicate touch to ensure Sirius was free and not implicate the former Head of the Wizengamot in wrongdoing … if she could. She could at least look into it … and present Albus with a plan.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

Rita Skeeter had attended the Leopardstown Races with her photographer in tow, along with a few friends – mostly underlings in the Daily Prophet offices who were currying favor – but a few were actual friends.

Among the underlings was muggleborn who had directed the others on how to dress and whispered directions to them if anything was confusing – like the lit up board showing odds and the race results - and how, exactly, to place a bet.

Rita scribbled furiously, intending a spectacular article on the race world. They got a good shot of the Malfoy grey winning and Lucius accepting the cup. She noted down Harry Potter's excitement as the well – known (at least in the wizarding world) Rusty strode onto the track. The race commenced and their entire crowd cheered as the bay crossed the finish line first. The photographer snapped a picture as the racer crossed the finish line … and fell.

Rita cried out in horror, along with everyone else as the pack of horses went by – terrified that Rusty and the jockey would be trampled. Rita watched breathlessly as Harry and that Snape fellow ran to the horse. Her eyes were quick – and she knew what to look for, so she saw the wand peeking out to cast a spell … she was quite sure that the leg had been broken … and then suddenly wasn't. Clever, clever man, she thought, scribbling it all down quickly.

The horse was taken away and Rita stalked after them, from a distance and waited for Harry to re-appear. Only Lucius came back out from the trailer, though, and Rita hurried up.

"Mr. Malfoy! Will Harry Potter's racehorse friend recover … or will he need to be put down?" Rita hoped the answer would not be bad … although that would likely sell more papers.

Lucius glanced at her and hesitated. Narcissa said that Skeeter was, perhaps, annoying – but she seemed sympathetic, and if kept friendly she would be useful.

"Rusty is expected to recover, though I don't expect him to race again. Harry is concerned for him, of course and he and Professor Snape have gone with him back to Malfoy Manor." At Rita's lifted eyebrow Lucius smiled tightly. "Harry would not enjoy the remainder of the races while worrying about Rusty … and Professor Snape is one of his teachers and can look after him until we return home."

Rita grinned happily – it was always nice to interview a Slytherin. They always gave clear, concise answers with almost everything needed for the reporters. They usually knew what information the reporter was looking for and included it … or at let them know up front they would not be giving it.

Lucius looked at her carefully. "Would you like to verify Rusty's continued existence yourself tomorrow? I'm sure Harry … and Rusty … would be charmed to renew their acquaintance with you for an afternoon tea?"

Rita's eyes gleamed as she glanced at the casual look on Lucius' face. Oh, she knew they were getting something out of this … though she couldn't imagine why her interview could be important to them. Sure, the two exonerated ex-Death Eaters could likely always use good publicity, but the look in Lucius' eyes said he was keen to get her to the Manor in the morning and she was quite willing to go along with it.

Rita nodded with a smile and Lucius nodded back. "I'll have a portkey sent to you."

Rita scurried back to her friends with a gleam in her eyes.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

Rusty snorted with his eyes rolling, pulling back on his halter. Apparition even when very drugged was risky with a horse. Luckily he was too sedated to do more than toss his head in objection. A couple of house elves that worked in the stable scurried out, squeaking and clucking and Rusty was soon in his stall.

The vet from the Magical Menagerie Trauma section arrived and began his examine while Harry told him the particulars of the injury.

"A good job on the bone repair, Professor." The vet remarked. "There is damage to some of the ligaments and tendons – I'll apply a poultice that will relieve the inflammation, but it will need to heal on its own. Unlike Granians and the other winged horses, regular horses have no magic – so most potions don't work on them. Once he's healed we'll know if he's still rideable. He may not be able to bear weight on that leg again if it doesn't heal correctly."

"As long as he's okay …" Harry breathed, giving the horse some peppermints from his pocket. Rusty munched them absently, not really sure what was happening as yet.

Severus was sitting, watching the scene and sipping on a pepper – up. Apparating the two of them plus one Equine had depleted his magic a great deal. It had been a bit foolish of him, of course, but he couldn't resist sparking that scowl and eye twitch from Lucius that always occurred when Severus reminded him of their comparative power levels.

Years ago Severus would do it to remind Lucius that he was a valuable ally. These days he only did it now and then to annoy Lucius for his own amusement.

Lucius coveted the raw power, not realizing it was worthless most of the time without control. Severus' control of his power was precarious. Spells like apparition where you just needed to blast the power and offensive or defensive spells where fine control was unneeded he was excellent with and the raw power was very useful. Charms and transfiguration … well, that was a different story – those he struggled with because the extra power just got in the way and made the spells go awry.

He'd learned Legilimancy and Occlumency in an effort to get control of his power. Unfortunately the damage had been done long before he entered Hogwarts. His father's beatings and verbal abuse had made his temper explode – not to mention his accidental magic. Once he'd turned eight his magic had started manifesting frequently and the explosions between his father and him had been at least weekly, with his magic leaving his control many times. This had made efforts to gain control later nearly impossible.

In third year he'd gotten desperate enough to speak to Professor Flitwick and Filius had explained that the frequent violent explosions of magic while underage had damaged parts of his core that assisted with control. Filius had given him books to assist him – the mind magics were considered one of the best ways and they had worked for him in some areas of magic.

Potions had been one of his favorite subjects – the lower years did not require any 'wand-waving' and he'd fought hard to learn control by the time he reached fifth year and started needing spells for them. In the end it was the subjects he liked best that he learned the control for – Potions, Defense – and of course offensive magic, Runes and Arithmancy he'd learned though they were not his top subjects. Charms and Transfiguration he continued to struggle with and he would never be an expert. The Patronus charm and the Animagus ability were really the only high level charms he'd learned well. Transfiguration was mostly a bust – he'd been lucky to get an E on the Owls.

He'd learned his limits, and did not wish for more – he could beat most in a duel and had his Mastery in Potions at a ridiculously young age … and he could make Lucius' eye twitch, so he was quite content, really.

He watched Harry with a smile – another with raw power to envy, and he should have no trouble with control – ensuring that Harry had learned control through practicing wandless magic. He was sure that Harry would use the power well. An owl flew in just as the vet left, though the vet promised to return the next day.

Severus chuckled at the message. "It seems that Ms. Skeeter will be visiting tomorrow to interview you and get more pictures of you and Rusty."

Harry beamed, "Good, he deserves more attention."

They left the still sleepy Rusty to the attentions of the elves and went to get supper. They had a wonderful evening talking of their plans and Severus pulled out a few yearbooks from his time in Hogwarts. He'd realized that Harry needed more information on his father. Petunia really hadn't known him and Severus … well he'd decided the yearbooks would help.

They'd poured over the pictures and they had prompted Severus to be able to tell stories of James and his friends that didn't involve pranks. Quidditch games, the clubs, Hogsmeade weekends, etc. He'd given the yearbooks to Harry as 'a last Christmas gift', and shooed him up to bed.

Later, Severus flooed to Hogwarts briefly to tell Albus that he 'was kissing Harry Potter's rich butt' just the way Albus wished. Albus had beamed, happy that Severus still hated Harry, but was doing his job well. Severus grabbed a few pertinent books from the back of the library in a room only teachers could enter. Beginning Occlumency exercises would help Harry learn more control – even without traumas Harry had enough power to need some extra controls.

He did his best to go by McGonagall's door without making any sound, but the silence wasn't needed – she was talking to someone whose head was sitting in the fire of the floo.

"I told you I can't say who I'm speaking of … but I do need to know how to get someone re-tried, or rather tried for his crime in the first place. He needs the evidence looked into again … and I'm going to look for the perpetrator …" Minerva sounded faintly desperate and Severus was shocked … Minerva was going behind Albus' back to see about freeing Black.

"I doubt you'll get anywhere very fast, Minerva." The voice answered wearily. "If Albus thinks he can get whoever this is retried in the summer, you may as well wait – all the hoops you'll have to jump through will likely take that long anyway if he's already in Azkaban.

Severus walked on, thinking. Having Minerva running around looking into things a bit might be … useful.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

Severus and Harry read the morning Daily Prophet with awe … they had actually placed Rusty's accident on the front page along with a screaming headline of "Tragedy at the Track!" There was a heart – stopping picture showing Rusty striding across the finish line in front and the subsequent fall. Rita had managed to be accurate, but still very dramatic, describing the fall and injuries in graphic detail and how Harry had looked heartbroken and traumatized and then how deeply affected he was likely to be by the death of his late Aunt's favorite horse.

Her interview with Lucius followed and Rita promised her readers she would faithfully report her findings at Malfoy Manor the following day.

Rita arrived for tea as scheduled and did some of the interview while they nibbled on scones and sipped Narcissa's expensive tea. Severus, being in an excellent mood, managed to be charming … well, his own brand of sarcastically venomous charming … luckily Rita quite enjoyed that sort of biting wit and mentally noted down some of his more amusing barbs and insults to use in future articles on some of her subjects – or victims, depending on how you viewed them.

Severus led them to the stables where the vet was looking Rusty over. He was quite happy to provide information on the injury and assured her Rusty would recover, though it was now apparent he would not race.

"No, but I hope he can be my new riding horse." Harry smiled, feeding Rusty another peppermint. "Mr. Malfoy sent me his papers last night … said he knew I was attached to him and gave him to me as a present." Harry beamed at the charmed Rita, who immediately got a picture of Rusty and his proud new owner. People loved this sort of 'heart-warming' story around Christmas.

Rita and Severus wandered back to the Manor and she shooed the photographer to the floo. She eyed Snape with a bit of a crafty smile. He had an 'in' with some of the most interesting people, currently.

"We should do lunch in the future – before you have to scurry back to Hogwarts, perhaps …?" Rita purred.

"Do call me Severus, Ms. Skeeter." Severus smiled, she was going to be useful … and interesting, he felt.

"… Severus … and please call me Rita." She beamed at him. "Drop me an owl?" Severus nodded to her and she left, sure that she'd scored several wins today.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

Severus and Harry managed to fit in a few strategy sessions before the Malfoys and Dursleys returned. Severus gathered them all into the big parlor and seated around a large coffee table piled with books, files and what looked like the remains of several plates of blueberry scones.

"Before I left Hogwarts to attend the Races, I managed to 'attend' one last meeting between Minerva and Albus …" Severus faithfully recounted all he had heard. Harry was already aware, but he took no pleasure in hearing it again.

Lucius had thought he'd been as shocked as it was possible to be, but this was over the top even for the old Gryffindor vulture. He wondered how Albus managed to keep the phoenix at his side. Did the creature simply not understand what was happening, or perhaps Albus' belief he was in the right of things keep the phoenix believing Albus was truly still 'light'.

"I understood from Petunia that the wizard prison is a terrible place … how could they bring themselves to toss him in there if he was an ally?" Vernon asked in horror.

"Ambition is a vicious mistress." Lucius muttered in answer to the question. He was moderately familiar with her, himself.

Vernon hesitated, and then nodded … after all ambition was rampant in the muggle world as well – he had watched as corporate bigwigs stabbed each other in the back and climb over each other trying to get to the top.

"We have to free him." Narcissa said firmly. She had little love for her smug cousin who'd always insisted he was so morally superior to any Slytherin. He'd delighted in telling her that she and Lucius would be in Azkaban before the war was out. It had surprised her greatly to hear that he had betrayed his friends … it had made no sense, but she thought that he'd simply gone mad … just as his mother had. "If nothing else we should keep him out of Albus' hands."

Severus nodded and Harry smirked rather evilly and added his own information. "Severus told me something else – Professor McGonagall has been sniffing around, asking how to get a case reviewed and all. She doesn't seem to actually be doing anything constructive, though. I had him have a few of Lucius' 'ministry friends' to keep an ear out …" Harry grinned at the amused looking Lucius. "… her questions are causing a bit of a ruckus because she's asking how to reopen a case when a trial never actually took place. This has them horrified because as far as they know, no one has ever been sent to Azkaban without a trial."

Severus and Lucius shared a smirk. They loved it when Harry showed some cunning. Harry had said that the hat had indicated he could have gone to any house, but they liked to believe that Harry would have been in Slytherin if the hat hadn't been tampered with.

Severus nodded in agreement. "I checked some records and it just says there was a 'closed trial and sentencing'. I expect that the presiding judge – Barty Crouch – just said, 'you're guilty – life in Azkaban'. Albus was probably behind it all … or at least he is obviously aware of it all."

"I'm surprised that veritaserum wasn't used …" Draco said in troubled tones.

"Oh, if it had been done in public and before the Wizengamot there would have been … they all would have wanted to hear an entire confession … get every last detail from him using the truth serum. But only Barty was there, and he already had decided Black's fate, so there was no need." Lucius grimaced.

"Well, I wager that Severus and Harry have a plan to extricate my beloved cousin?" Narcissa sighed in resignation.

There were disturbingly similar smirks on Severus and Harry's faces as they sat there, stirring their tea, looking like smug cats. Narcissa lost any trace of a smile as she listened to their 'little plot'.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

The very next day found Narcissa miserably wondering how she'd been talked into this as she was rowed toward Azkaban. She had a wizardspaced invisible pocket in the side of her cloak. Severus in his raven form was there, along with Harry's invisibility cloak.

Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z~Z

A/N – Well, haven't decided how hostile to make Sirius. So I'm posting this while figuring it out.