Chapter 52: Regime Change
"Hey guys, listen to this: The Quibbler says that the Rotfang Conspiracy was probably behind the attempt to assassinate the Minister for Magic," Biscuit announced.
Severus scowled. "Somehow, I doubt that."
"So are you going to open your packages, or are you gonna wait until next Christmas?" Biscuit asked as he gave treats to the newly arrived owls. "Who's a pretty birdie?" he asked, smiling as they gobbled up his offerings.
Fawkes snorted. What's so pretty about an owl? he wondered. They come in such boring colors.
Severus eyed the packages. They didn't seem to be cursed. He might as well get on with it.
He opened the one addressed to 'Captain Hook' first and, as expected, it proved to be from Rita Skeeter. It was a copy of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. She had signed it 'To Captain Hook, with thanks, Rita. P.S. My book about Severus Snape should be coming soon!'
At least she didn't add any pink hearts, he thought. He wondered if there was anything that he, or anyone, could do to stop the Snape book, but he knew that there wasn't. Even the assassination attempt hadn't slowed Rita down for long.
The one addressed to 'Severus Snape, wherever he may be' was much more worrisome. He opened the accompanying card. "To 'Captain Hook', with thanks, Minerva," it read.
The old gal must have found out about his visit!
Carefully, he charmed the box free of its brown paper wrapping. It was a bottle of Glen Mystic!
Kat and Biscuit applauded.
"That's much better than a book!" Kat said. "You're going to share it, aren't you?"
"Of course you are, Slade," the Captain announced, "but not until we're off duty. Passengers are depending on us and we've got cargo to deliver!"
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"Thank you, Bingle," Minerva said as the Elf handed her the Helmet of Hufflepuff. It was a simple bowl-shaped bronze cap with nose- and cheek-guards. It was rather corroded and dented, but Minerva could make out some runes around the rim and some complex intertwined floral patterns on the cheek guards. A small bronze animal, presumably a badger, crouched on the top.
"It's from our Keeping Room. You can keeps it as long as you needs to," Bingle told her. "We doesn't mind."
"That's very kind of you," Minerva said as she donned the helmet. She looked in the mirror. It's like something out of Beowulf, she thought.
She could hear the helmet's voice in her mind: "Hello, Headmistress," it said. "Do you suppose I could trouble you for a new lining and a bit of bronze polish? I'm not looking my best these days."
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"I guess Minister Shacklebolt is right," Harry said. "I shouldn't have used the Cruciatus curse on Carrow. But he made me so furious. I hated him, and I kind of enjoyed watching him twitch and scream. Maybe it was the Horcrux that made me do it, that piece of Voldemort's soul in my head."
"Well, the Horcrux is gone now and so is Voldemort, so you don't have to worry," Ron told him.
Hermione looked thoughtful. "Maybe, but I don't think you should blame it on the Horcrux. I think it's important to recognize that we all have the potential to do things that are nasty, or even evil. We have to do our best to resist those impulses, especially when we're under pressure." She remembered how her spell had scarred Marietta Edgecombe's face. She had wanted those scars to be permanent at the time. Now she was ashamed to think about it. She wondered what had become of Marietta.
"Does anyone know what's up with Ginny?" Ron asked, changing the subject. "She packed a bag and went off with Bill and Fleur. She told Mom they were going to help her get ready for the exams."
"That's what she told me, too," Harry said. "Then she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and off she went."
"It's wonderful that she wants to sit the exams," Hermione said, "and I think the change of scenery will be good for her. She's been awfully distant lately, and, well, sort of crabby. Very crabby, in fact. I think the war affected her more than she lets on."
"I think it's affected all of us," Ron admitted. "I have nightmares about that locket sometimes." And the Dementors, and the Acromantulas, he thought, and I can't bear to think about how Fred died.
"We're all expected to go back to life as usual now that it's over," Hermione said, "but nothing will ever really be the same again."
Then Harry asked the question that had been in the back of everyone's mind. "Has anybody seen George lately?"
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"You want me to interview Slytherins about what they did in the war?" Melody asked when Clayton told her about the plan. "And the interviews will get published in The Prophet?"
"We would really appreciate it," Clayton told her. "It will help people realize that not all Slytherins are bad. And that will help all of us get our Houses back."
"I guess I could, if it doesn't interfere with my studies. Are you volunteering to go first?"
Clayton looked uncertain. "I suppose so. I'm not ashamed of anything I did. It ended up kind of embarrassing, though."
That piqued Melody's curiosity. "Really?" she asked. "Tell me about it."
"Well, okay," Clayton said hesitantly. "Like I told you before, a bunch of us worked to get all the little kids to safety. We took them side-along, one at a time, apparating to the Bletchley place where Mr and Mrs Bletchley looked after them. Then we gathered in Hogsmeade. We joined up with some Ravenclaws and a couple of Hufflepuffs there."
"Hufflepuffs? That must have been Malcolm and Fern," Melody said. "They said they saw you there."
Clayton nodded. "The tunnel from the Hogs Head was filled with flames so almost everyone else went off to try the tunnel from the sweet shop. I ran up the road to the school instead. The front gate was wide open. It had been blasted off its hinges. The courtyard was full of Death Eaters and Snatchers and all sorts of crazies. They were screaming like wild animals and casting curses at the windows. Some of them were circling on brooms, and a few were trying to climb up the outside walls. I could hear muffled explosions coming from inside the castle. It was awful!
"I was hopelessly outnumbered so I pretended to be one of them. I started yelling nonsense and waving my wand around over my head. I was trying to get through to the front doors, but just when I got close, a couple of Death Eaters came running out. One of them grabbed me by the arm. 'We've got to get out of here!' he hollered, 'there's Dementors in there! Dementors!' I tried to pull away but he apparated and took me with him!"
"It's just as well that you didn't get inside," Melody said. "You might have had both sides trying to curse you."
"I was kind of worried about that," Clayton admitted. "I transfigured my Slytherin robes into everyday clothes because I hoped it might disguise me."
"So where did you end up?"
"We spun around a bit and then landed in a kitchen. That's when I recognized him. It was Mr Nott, Theodore's dad. He thought he was rescuing me! Mrs Nott was frantic, asking us if we'd seen Theo. She started crying when we said we hadn't."
"The poor lady must have been sick with worry," Melody said.
"She sure was. Mr Nott was obviously shaken by his encounter with the Dementors, but he said he'd go back and look for Theo. I said I'd go, too – I thought it might give me a chance to slip into the castle – but Mrs Nott wouldn't let me leave. She …" he hesitated.
"She what?" Melody asked.
"This is the embarrassing part," he said sheepishly. "I tried to leave anyway, but before I could apparate, she turned me into a potted plant – it was a Dieffenbachia, I think – and I couldn't move!"
"Goodness!" Melody said, trying very hard not to laugh. "I've heard that Mrs Nott was head of the Transfiguration Club when she was a student."
"She levitated me to a spot by the window and told me that I was going to stay right there where I would be safe until Mr Nott and Theo came back."
Melody took out a notebook and started writing notes. "It must have been terrible for you, Clayton."
"It got worse. I'm not sure how long it was, but after a while several Aurors arrived looking for Mr Nott. They didn't recognize me, of course, but they took Mrs Nott away for questioning. They didn't have any reason to hold her, but it was at least two days before they let her go. By the time she got home I really needed to be watered."
"Oh, dear!" Melody said, scribbling rapidly.
"Mrs Nott started crying again. She still had no idea what had happened to Mr Nott and Theo, but she changed me back, gave me some water, and let me floo home. And that was it, really. I didn't get to do anything heroic, my mum and dad were really mad at me for making them worry, and …" he paused for a moment and then added, "suddenly I have a really intense interest in plants and herbology!"
"Herbology is very important," Melody observed, "and I'm glad you didn't get killed."
Clayton nodded. "Me too. Please leave out the part about the Dieffenbachia, okay?"
"I won't mention it," Melody assured him. "And I won't reveal the Notts' names, either." Maybe interviewing Slytherins will be fun, she thought. I wonder if I can get some sort of extra course credit for it?
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Minerva surveyed the meeting room. The faculty were all present and watching her expectantly. Even Horace looked attentive. She glanced at the empty walls – she had ordered the Elves to put all of the portraits out in the hall.
"I have an important announcement to make," she said, "and I don't want any arguments from anyone. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I have realized that the time has come for me to step down as Headmistress."
There were some audible gasps from her audience.
"No!" Hagrid bellowed, which almost burst everyone's eardrums. Minerva ignored him.
"I have accomplished my objectives. The war is over, the castle has been repaired, and classes are back in session. It is time for me to step down and devote myself to teaching again. As an added benefit, I can frame my resignation as a gesture of apology for having expelled all the Slytherins before the battle. Any injury to my pride will be a small price to pay for school unity. I have already submitted my letter of resignation to the Board of Governors."
She surveyed the room again. Most of the staff looked stunned. Horace's mouth was open so wide that a Hippogriff could have flown into it. Poppy seemed to have forgotten to breathe.
"Professor Sprout has agreed to take my place as Headmistress, and I'm sure that the Board will accept her. She is the logical choice because Neville Longbottom can take over most of her teaching duties. She can help Neville as needed. Professor Flitwick will become Assistant Headmaster and he will assist Pomona, as will I. Are there any questions?"
Professor Vector raised her hand. "Pomona, how do you feel about this?" she asked.
Professor Sprout stood up. "I can't say I'm completely happy about it," she said, "but I agree with Minerva that it's the logical thing to do. Sadly, I will have to cut down on teaching and puttering in my greenhouses, which I love so much. Neville is quite capable of filling in for me in the classroom, however, and I know that Minerva and Filius will help me with my new managerial duties.
"I would like to add that I think Minerva is very brave to take responsibility for her actions. I hope that my reputation as a Hufflepuff will give the students confidence in my fairness and aid in the healing process."
There was silence for a few moments and then Filius started clapping, after which the others joined in.
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The boat was well under way and the passengers were settled in their quarters when Severus completed his security inspections. His protective spells were holding well and no threats were detected.
He could feel the vibrations of the magic engines as they propelled the boat through the water, and he could smell the aroma of exotic spices from the curry that Biscuit was simmering in the galley. Fawkes and Mavis were perched in the passengers' lounge, chattering quietly. All was well and he could relax for a while.
Perhaps he could catch up on some reading. He levitated a box of books out from under his bunk and took out the copy of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore that Rita had sent. No, not that! He had read it before, and one of the last things that he wanted to think about at the moment was Albus Dumbledore.
Perhaps Poisonous Plants of Amazonia? Or maybe A History of Babylonian Wizardry? Then he spotted the copy of Moby Dick that the captain had loaned him. Yes, that would do nicely. He got comfortable on his bunk and let the book transport him into another world.