PB16

Disclaimer – The Potterverse belongs to JKR.

Chapter 16

Severus got a good laugh out of Voldemort and a look of admiration from Quirrell when he told them what had happened to Dumbledore … after 'adjusting' the facts a bit.

Voldemort had been angry when he'd heard the Headmaster had retrieved a ring from the old Gaunt Hut. Severus had explained that Albus had been looking for 'a dark artifact' that Voldemort had possessed – in particular a ring that Albus thought had belonged to the Gaunt family that Voldemort had worn to school.

Quirrell had looked a little worried, and the eerie voice from the back of his head muttered uncertainly. However since there was no mention that Albus knew of the Horcruxes, Voldemort seemed willing to accept that "they would get the ring back in the end, so no harm done." Voldemort was troubled about the curse … he, after all did not recall placing it on the ring.

Severus blithely explained away any slight discrepancies. "Dumbledore just wants a jaunty little adventure to but in his memoirs. He had me 'scout around for him' … the lazy old coot. When his back was turned, I added that withering curse to get our little plot going. I will let you know when he's been weakened and placed at your mercy … as we've planned, you'll be able to take over his body and add his magic to your own. With all that added power you'll be unstoppable and you can likely reshape his ugly old carcass to suit you."

Quirrell looked relieved at the thought of no longer having to share his body. The parasite cackled in a manner that made Severus want to throw things in disgust. Had he really ever thought this nonsensical creature capable of leading the wizarding world to glory?

"Yessss, my faithful ssservant." Voldemort hissed out in approval. "With our magic combined together … we will be more powerful than even Merlin ever wasss."

Severus smothered a sneer, and managed to smirk in apparent agreement. He made good his escape while Quirrell and Voldemort whispered and plotted what they would do when they came into all this power.

Severus immediately went to his chamber and pulled the ancient tome of potions out. There were familiar potions in there – most of which were old and outdated - obsolete since the formulas had been improved since the book had been written. However Severus had dug through the discarded grimoire and found some potions that were not in use because of the rare ingredients or that they were so seldom needed.

The ink on the grimoire's pages was faded in areas, which was to Severus' advantage. He quickly flipped to the potion that would counter Albus' curse. There were very few potions that required the Elixir of Life … all of them healing or rejuvenation potions. This one was not only the counter to the curse, but it was easily manipulated to achieve the end that Severus needed. The potion would cause weakness while it was healing – giving the Dark Lord the moments he needed to take over the Headmaster.

Severus grinned as he carefully added to the potion formula; adjusting things so there would be a big surprise for both his soon – to – be – former 'masters'.

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Sirius carefully entered Atrium of the Ministry, disillusioned and keeping to the shadows. Even at the unholy hour of four in the morning he did not want to chance being seen. He'd flooed from the Leakey Cauldron and clutched Moody's leg close, hoping that any security charms did not notice him.

Sirius grinned as he hovered the leg up to hang from the wand of the Wizard in the fountain. The wizard had his arm held high and outstretched as if casting a spell. The leg hung by its strap, dangling out of anyone's reach. Lucius and Sirius had spent hours casting every charm and hex that they and Narcissa could think of to make it impossible to remove the leg from the statue in the fountain. Oh, they would break the enchantments, eventually – but it would take all day … maybe two.

Sirius cast a charm to hide the leg until seven in the morning – rush hour in the Atrium. He just wished he could be there … but Rita Skeeter would be and she'd promised Severus to give him a pensieve memory of what happened and Sirius would persuade Rita to let him have a look as well by promising another juicy exclusive.

Sirius left the Atrium to stalk a certain someone at a wizarding spa called Ravendale. Minerva was now no longer Head of Gryffindor … in a fit of pique Severus had casually suggested Dumbledore make Professor Babbling Head of House, just as he'd said to Minerva - and Albus had done so, sure that Minerva would have time to finally corner Sirius Black. Albus was still convinced she'd arranged his escape, therefore she should 'fix this'.

Severus' latest torture for her was to find out where she intended to scout for Black and have Sirius be there, but 'just be leaving' … or pretend to not hear or see her … or shout things about Albus – like that he 'had to have known Sirius had not had a trial' … or mention other infractions that neither Albus or Minerva wanted known.

It was easy for Severus to find out where she was going … she left her heavily noted maps laying all over her desk for Severus to see quite easily as he made his daily trip to toss a few thinly veiled insults at her.

Minerva arrived at the spa just after Sirius arrived and he hid behind some decorative hibiscus bushes. He waited until Minerva had quizzed a few of the workers about possible sightings and then he came out, pulling on his most tragic face and started pleading with the customers lounging outside to protect Harry Potter from the traitor Peter Pettigrew.

Witches and wizards leaped up eagerly. Rita Skeeter had revealed that morning that, indeed, there was no sign of any trial transcripts. A nervous Barty Crouch Sr. had bleated to other reporters that just because Sirius Black hadn't been tried did not mean Sirius Black was innocent … that indeed, all the evidence pointed to him.

Now, Sirius was surrounded by people eager to ask questions. Sirius could see Minerva fighting to get through the crowd and was continually elbowed back. Hexing her way through the crowd would be unwise … two demotions in the school had left her vulnerable – she could be fired quite easily, now, especially since the school year would be at an end in three more months.

Spring break was coming up, and she feared Albus might take that time to completely replace her. It was a heart-breaking thought for her. Less than a year ago she'd have laughed if someone said this would happen.

She pushed at the crowd, trying to even get enough room to cast a spell … but what to cast? If she immobilized him the crowd would insist that he be turned over to Aurors. She needed to take Sirius to Albus so he could be convinced that Albus had done nothing wrong.

Minerva could hear the escapee weeping about how the Headmaster and Barty Crouch Sr. had tossed him into Azkaban without so much as a single question. To Minerva's horror the crowd seemed to be leaning toward believing Black and there were offers of refuge and suggestions for lawyers he could hire.

Sirius wept that he just wanted a fair trial and then escaped just as Dawlish arrived. The Auror was greeted with icy looks and no cooperation. A few spa customers made hateful remarks about the investigations being done. Dawlish slunk away when he saw Black was no longer present – he was unwilling to stay with Moody not backing him.

Minerva went back to the school to report another sighting of Sirius Black where she'd been mere feet away and yet unable to capture the animagus. Albus reacted predictably - eyeing her with suspicion, and ignoring any explanation of why she'd not stupefied and abducted him in front of a huge crowd. She could see that the Headmaster no longer trusted her at all … she might as well start writing up a resume and go looking into the availability of jobs.

Albus finally dismissed her, quite irritated. She was clearly doing all of this on purpose. He would need to replace her by the start of the next year.

At least he could count on Severus … for now. He was still the most obvious fall guy for Harry's death in the future, although if it could be arranged to happen at the Malfoy estate … well, they could be blamed. He shook his head; no it was easiest to do it at the school, where it could arrange it to his satisfaction. Still, nothing could happen until after the Horcruxes were gone … which reminded him, he needed to meet with Severus.

Albus made his way to the hallway with the potions classroom and various labs that the advanced classes used. There was one lab that Severus had for his own use … and there was now one that was heavily warded that Albus would be using. He patted the heavily charmed pocket in his robe that held the Stone.

Severus had the book and several of the ingredients out on the worktable, a cauldron already set up.

"Ah, Headmaster – the potion formula instructions are quite faded … I believe you should copy it down more clearly on new parchment. I would have done it, but you may have difficulty reading my writing … I've been told it is sometimes not clear…" Severus smiled at the Headmaster – and of course if the formula was in the Headmaster's handwriting Severus could say he had no knowledge of what, exactly Albus was doing when the end came.

Albus nodded serenely, wondering if he could claim the potion as his own invention the book was so outdated he was sure that there were very few copies around. It could be a very exciting chapter in his memoirs. He copied quickly and Severus banished the book back to the Malfoy library. No one could say he'd known of it.

Albus looked over at Severus, who apologetically said, "With this potion … it will likely be more effective if the one who needs it also does the making of it … it will likely take a few days …" Severus looked regretful, but truly, he wanted no trace of his magic in the potion.

"Yes, there are some long simmer times … I can put it in stasis here and there, if needed." He was anxious to get the curse lifted … wearing gloves all the time was getting him stared at more than usual, he didn't want anyone to know that the infallible Albus Dumbledore had gotten cursed. There was no rushing a potion, though.

Severus oversaw the work … he wanted to ensure that Albus messed up the potion properly. He brought the students homework and tests to grade while he watched carefully. He needed the potion to do the job he needed.

Severus and Harry snickered together over things when Harry snuck down to see him every evening. Draco was busy deciding what soccer games he wanted to attend and that he could coordinate meeting up with Seamus and Dean at. Ron hesitantly said he could join for one or two and the others welcomed him into the fold, Draco smiling smugly … he'd talked a Weasley into accepting a Malfoy. Harry let Draco know how the plot was progressing and they watched the smug Headmaster with amusement during mealtimes.

Moody was now a laughingstock and was 'taking an extended leave'. He'd tried for hours to get his leg down from the statue … insisting that he be the one to get it. A crowd soon formed and got larger by the moment. His cursing and shouting got louder and more objectionable as time went by. Pretty soon he was incoherent and literally foaming at the mouth. Rita was standing by with a smile and a quick – quotes quill. By the time a squad of horrified ministry Aurors hustled him away the crowd was certain he needed to retire and Rita had enough to horrify her readers.

Severus reassured Voldemort that things were progressing as expected. Voldemort cackled about his plans and Quirrell smirked happily. Severus felt he was dancing on a knife blade, especially when the Prophet ran its next headline.

"Sirius Black surrenders to Ministry Aurors!"

There was a huge picture of Sirius, Rita Skeeter by his side, striding into the Atrium surrounded by the most thorough and scary lawyers that money could buy. Madame Bones was on the other side of the Atrium, with a resolute look and had been quoted as saying she intended to "find the truth no matter who it led to…"

Severus glanced over at Albus who had turned an interesting shade of puce … the same color as a certain poison as he recalled. Albus stood and glanced at the pale looking McGonagall. She stood along with him and walked toward the floo, stopping by Remus and saying that he would be taking Minerva's classes for a few days.

Remus looked confused, but nodded and went back to reading the paper with horror in his face. Severus grimaced and hoped the wolf was not going to be a permanent fixture. Severus made a quick calculation … the full moon was still two weeks away, things should be settled down by then.

Potions was first that day for Harry and he and Draco produced a perfect calming draught. Severus smiled at them.

"Excellent work … we may need to spill a bit into the Headmaster's lemon drops …" The entire class laughed – even the thickest of them realized that Dumbledore was in deep water.

Transfiguration was next, with the kindly looking groundkeeper there. The class was soon impressed by his knowledge and he seemed able to explain things quite easily. The lecture on animate to inanimate transfiguration was progressing well and he demonstrated how to change a bird into a water goblet. This got him some impressed looks even from Draco.

Remus called for a volunteer and pointed to Ron. Ron eagerly pulled out the squirming, squealing rat and set him on the desk. The rat froze under the shocked glare of the werewolf.

"Peter? … PETER!" Remus shouted. The rat squealed again and leaped off the desk, causing screaming from girls. Remus shot off spells that caught the rat just before reaching the door, changing him back into a small, terrified wizard. The children gaped and Remus quickly petrified Peter and then wrapped him in ropes that he quickly charmed to prevent Peter from changing into his rat form.

Harry and Draco ran to fetch Severus, who arrived at a run to gaze at Peter in shock. Even though he knew Peter was the guilty party and not Sirius he'd thought the wizard long gone to the other side of the world. Apparently he was not that smart.

Quirrell got to the classroom full of chattering children at the same time the Aurors did. Quirrell glared at the rat, his master was angry that Wormtail had been caught. He would have been relieved to have a third minion at the castle … even a sniveling coward like Peter.

Ron tried to explain having a wanted criminal literally in his pocket, but could only say he'd inherited him from his brother, Percy when he'd gotten an owl. Percy was summoned and he'd insisted that he'd found him in their garden ten years before … soon after Pettigrew's well – publicized demise.

"Well, Sirius Black has been exonerated under Veritaserum just this morning … we did not expect to capture Pettigrew a decade after the fact – certainly not this very afternoon." Bones looked over at the ill – looking Remus. "Well done Professor Lupin." Remus managed a sickly smile and nodded.

Pettigrew was hauled away and they were left with a classroom of excited children. Severus shouted for silence and they immediately quieted.

"You just had the privilege of seeing an animagus – a very advanced and difficult transformation that few achieve. Normally you would not hear of it until your NEWTs lectures, but perhaps Professor Lupin could be prevailed on to explain it to you?" Severus gave Remus a 'pull yourself together' glare and Remus nodded in relief. The students were now silent and looking at him eagerly. Severus left as Remus began the new lecture … on animagi.

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Albus and Minerva reached the ministry and were turned away from the interrogation rooms with very little politeness. Minerva sat at an Auror's desk, stubbornly refusing to leave before seeing Sirius Black, even if she had to wait a week.

Albus decided to clean up some loose ends. He'd been planning this for days and felt now was the time before anything else fell apart. Albus got Dawlish alone and handed him some scrolls and a Gringotts key. It was a new ID, a small farm in Canada and enough gold to never work again if he wasn't stupid. Dawlish ran for the floo in relief and didn't even bother to stop at his apartment.

Albus got into the St Mungo's room that Mad-eye had been confined to after heavy sedation. Albus was quite saddened to have to put down his favorite dog of war. Mad-eye could always be counted on, but now … Black had managed to quite unhinge him. Albus handed Mad-eye a flask with a smile and a wink. Mad-eye grinned and took a long drink.

It hadn't been easy to find potions that didn't interact with alcohol, especially the potions needed to make Mad-eye permanently insane and unable to remember anything with certainty. The old Auror seemed to know, at the last minute what Albus was doing. Albus flinched a little at the betrayed look in his old friend's eyes. They had always been of the same mind in regards to Slytherins and other pureblood snobs … dark, every one of them. However Mad-eye was now a liability and if he was in his right mind he would agree with Albus.

Albus waved a sleeping spell over Mad-eye; he would sleep for eight hours – long enough for any trace of the potions to leave his body. As long as no one check him for anything, they would merely think Mad-eye's mental state had deteriorated – something that would surprise no one.

Barty Crouch Sr was a loose end he could not get to, luckily he had never given Barty a direct order. Albus had merely mentioned it was a shame to waste valuable court time on a traitor like Black. At worst he might had to sorrowfully say that he was sorry that his friend had taken him so literally.

He returned to the Ministry Law Enforcement offices in time to find out the not only had Black been cleared, but Peter Pettigrew had been apprehended at Hogwarts, no less.

He could hear Skeeter nearby, whispering "…wizarding world's children bunking with a murderer and traitor for years with Headmaster Dumbledore oblivious to this danger …"

Dumbledore left quickly before Rita could ask for a quote, dragging Minerva with him. He needed to bandage up his image again. He would need to go after Voldemort now instead of later. A nice confrontation in front of the school, perhaps 'saving the Hogwarts students' and driving off the Dark Wizard would be just the thing. Voldemort could not be killed yet since (as far as he knew) only two of his Horcruxes had been destroyed. That was fine … with Voldemort unmasked; the wizarding world won't care what accusations were being leveled at him.

As for Pettigrew … well, Minerva had been Head of Gryffindor and an 'expert' on Animagi, she should take the blame for overlooking an animagus that was right under her nose … she was easiest to throw under the bus – he'd intended to replace her anyway.

He barely heard Minerva's questions and protests, leaving her and heading for his private lab. He sent an elf for Severus and stared at the Potions formula and took the glove off his cursed hand. The black withering was past the wrist, now. He needed to complete this and very soon.

With luck, if Sirius blamed Barty and Mad-eye, along with Dawlish for his incarceration – they had been the arresting Aurors – he could still regain Sirius' trust. He would need to ensure that Minerva kept silent as well. He sighed, he hoped she did not make it necessary to do anything … drastic.

Severus arrived and took in Albus' determined look and almost grinned.

The time for retribution was near.

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A/N – Only a couple chapters left!