Power in All Its Glory

Chapter 33: True Confessions

Professor Snape hesitated before the stairway to Dumbledore's office. He was surprised to see it open, almost as if the headmaster was waiting for him. Although Dumbledore often had a freakish way of knowing what went on at Hogwarts, Snape was fairly sure that what he was about to tell him would come as a bit of a surprise.

Even with all the preparing he had done this morning, knowing he could do little else, he went through what he was going to say once more.

The picture would be clear in a few hours and then Dumbledore would see them both in a most compromising position. At least this way, he would have some control. He thought he could convince Albus to show some mercy, to let Hermione graduate … at least he hoped that he could.

Snape had to convince him. He could not let her down. With this thought pushing him forward, he stepped onto the moving stairway.

The door opened at the top, and Professor Dumbledore stood as Snape stepped into the room.

"Ah, Severus, my boy," he said smiling. "Just in time. Please, come in and join us."

Snape glared at him. Damn the man! He had been about to speak but was thrown by the professor's greeting. Join us? Was he really daft? Or had he been talking to his portraits again? No matter.

"Headmaster," he began determinedly. "There is something I wish to discuss with you."

"I do agree there is much to talk about."

"Sir. If I may." He moved closer, placing both hands on the large desk as he leaned towards the elder wizard. "I know that you have put your trust in me. Not just during this investigation, but on many other occasions. I have always appreciated your confidence in me but in this instance, I am afraid … I have let you down."

"Severus …"

"Let me finish, Albus." At the other man's nod, he continued. "The investigation is a sham. This whole thing was invented … but at this point, even that is irrelevant."

The headmaster again looked as if he wanted to interrupt, but Snape quieted him with a glance.

"What I am trying to tell you, Albus, is that … I am in love with Miss Granger."

Even the headmaster looked a little surprised at this. But, he could not be any more surprised than Snape himself. It was not at all what he had rehearsed in his head. Although, when it came down to it, he supposed that it was what he most wanted him to know.

"None of this is her fault." He paused, trying to regain his composure. Then he said, louder and stronger, "If you are going to blame anyone, Headmaster, then blame …"

"No! Do not listen to him!"

They both turned in surprised to see Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway.

Draco looked at him with contempt, which took the Potions master by surprise.

What the hell?

"It is not her fault. You cannot blame her for this."

Isn't that what he had just said? Was the boy's hearing gone? And why would he care about Hermione anyway? And since when did he put anyone before himself? Then Snape remembered something … something that had been just out of reach when he had entered Draco's mind. He was protecting someone, but whom?

"I will not let you ruin her life, Snape."

"Professor Snape, Draco," Dumbledore reminded him.

"Headmaster," the young wizard continued. "This is all, my fault."

"Really?" Professor Dumbledore did not look convinced.

"No!"

The voice was soft, but it captured everyone's attention. Professor Trelawney drifted nervously into the room.

She lifted her chin up and seemed to gain some confidence as she moved closer. All eyes were on her, wondering what she was going to say next.

"Headmaster," she said hoarsely. "Draco is not to blame."

"Sibyll," Draco said, pulling her away from the others. "You don't have to do this. I can take care of it."

Snape looked from one to the other, his mouth slightly ajar in surprise. This was definitely not going as he had planned. What the hell was going on?

And then they all started talking at once.

Professor Dumbledore held up his hand for silence. The room went quiet, and all eyes were once again on the headmaster.

"I am afraid," he explained quietly, looking at them all over his half-moon glasses, "that I cannot accept any of your confessions. You see, the person responsible has already confessed." He motioned toward the other side of the room where a person, partly concealed by darkness, quietly sat.

Hermione.

"I already told you, Miss Granger is not to blame," Snape snapped. There was no way he was going to let her take responsibility for this.

"Severus …" the headmaster began, but was interrupted by the person sitting on the other side of Hermione.

"I did it. All of it." Neville stood up and moved into the light.

All the other confessors in the room stared at the young Gryffindor. Snape was the only one who voiced what they were all thinking.

"Impossible! This is ridiculous!"

"I believe that this is the very thing that has driven Mr. Longbottom to such extreme measures … his talent is not taken seriously."

"What tal … " Snape's comment was quickly squelched by a look from the headmaster.

"Please continue, Mr. Longbottom."

"I set this all up. I wanted to hurt Professor Snape and Malfoy for the way they treated me. I didn't mean to hurt you, Hermione, or Professor Trelawney. I let the power get to me. It was exhilarating. I'd never felt anything like it before, but it became too much." He bowed his head in shame. "I let it consume me until everything was out of control. I am sorry, everyone." This last was said in a whisper.

Snape glared at the boy. Could it be true? Could Neville Longbottom have orchestrated this whole affair? All by himself? It did not seem likely.

Then Snape had another thought. Longbottom was a Gryffindor. Could the boy have made up his confession just to save Hermione? He was fairly certain the young wizard had some feelings for her.

"Are you certain, Albus?" He needed some assurances that this, all of it, was finally at an end.

Dumbledore seemed to understand. He held up something in his hand and Snape recognized it as the dreaded photograph.

"He knew what was on it, even before it appeared," he explained simply. "And he was able to describe how he made it, and how to undo it."

The older wizard held out the photograph to Snape.

His eyebrows rose in surprise at the image before him.

The picture showed Professor Trelawney, asleep, cuddled up to a likewise sleeping Draco Malfoy. His pale muscular body in distinct contrast to the pink tutu he was wearing.

Snape handed the picture to the young wizard next to him. Draco looked at it in disgust before handing it off to Professor Trelawney. She gazed at it fondly with a dreamy smile on her face. Professor Dumbledore took the picture from her as he addressed them all.

"Now that we have this all cleared up …" He motioned toward the door, clearly dismissing everyone.

"Wait," Snape held up his hand. "Is that it? Surely, Headmaster, the boy should be punished, after all the anguish he has put everyone through." The Potions master was thinking of Hermione. In fact, he was surprised that she hadn't hexed her fellow Gryffindor, before now.

"Mr. Longbottom and I have already discussed his punishment, Professor Snape, but I can tell you that he will be allowed to graduate with his classmates.

As Snape started to argue, the elder wizard continued.

"After all, if we were to start expelling students, we would most likely not stop at one. And then there is the matter of the staff …" He let that hang in the air and then said with a twinkle in his eye, "Everyone deserves a second chance. Don't you agree, Severus?"

Snape did not answer. He definitely was not satisfied, but he knew that they had been fortunate. He had to accept the headmaster's decision, for Hermione's sake.

As the others hurriedly left the room, obviously worried that Dumbledore would change his mind, Snape lingered. He was in no hurry to leave. Now that the danger was over, one thought had returned.

Had he really made that announcement to several people, including Hermione? The words seemed to ring loud in his memory …

"I am in love with Miss Granger."