Chapter 20

Minerva liked rules. She found that order and structure helped her stay calm, and having rules to follow and enforce contributed to that structure.

The current situation was forcing her to revaluate everything she had ever thought about law enforcement, though. The truth was that, despite her love of rules, she had found reassuring to know that she could break them if it was the right thing to do, or if her emotional weakness got the best of her. After all, some rules were silly or sometimes warranted an exception.

She had no doubt whatsoever that the rule against cheating should be completely ignored when it came to Harry Potter. The boy was only fourteen, and he had entered the Tournament against his will. He might have survived several dangerous situations in the past, but that had been mostly luck or outside help. Whether luck would continue being on his side or not, that was anyone's guess, but Minerva was determined to at least offer him help.

Only she literally couldn't.

Ever since Potter's name had gotten out of the Goblet of Fire, she had wanted to give him advice, maybe to teach him a few useful spells or at least organize his self-studies, but she had not managed to do so. It was as if she were hit by a silencing charm whenever she opened her mouth to say something helpful to the boy. Although it was a thousand times worse than a silencing charm, because she suddenly didn't want to offer him help even though deep down she was still anxious to do it.

Perplexed by this strange phenomenon, Minerva had finally gone to see Dumbledore, and he had confirmed the most horrible of suspicions. The champions couldn't be helped at all, not in anything related to the Triwizard Tournament. Not even the great Albus Dumbledore could do anything about it. And she had seen in his eyes that he had no hope whatsoever. He was a judge, so he knew what the first task was about, and he didn't believe the boy could survive it.

Minerva had yelled and cried a lot that day.

Of course she hadn't given up. She still tried to sneak in useful advice in the middle of her Transfiguration lectures, but over and over again her throat got stuck. She also couldn't write notes at the end of the boy's essays unless they were genuinely related to her subject. Her Patronus refused to go when she sent it to Potter, and the owls refused to take flight whenever she managed to write something down. Despite her disgust, she couldn't help feeling impressed at the power of the Goblet of Fire.

As November 24th drew closer, her anxiety was reaching an unbearable level. She had received a few letters and Howlers from Molly Weasley, and that had made it worse. Nothing of this was Minerva's fault, of course, but she still felt responsible as Potter's Head of House. Besides, even though she had never had children, she could empathize with Molly's maternal feelings. All her students were like her children for her, and especially her Gryffindors. She had also been friends with Lily and James, and known Harry as a baby, so it was personal for her.

Harry wouldn't be the first child she had lost, to be sure. Lily and James had been her children too, as well as many others who had died in the war. It also wasn't the first time that the boy's life was in danger since he had come to Hogwarts. But this was different. It was far more horrible to know that the boy was about to face some deadly threat and be unable to do anything but helplessly watch. Even worst that it would happen in the context of a friendly competition, and supposedly in times of peace. Not that she though they were still at peace, of course. Dumbledore had not shared with her any suspicions he might have (probably to spare her a panic attack), but she could read the signs on her own.

Minerva was torturing herself by reading The Goblet of Fire Through the Ages very late Saturday night when suddenly the flames on her fireplace turned green, and a moment later Severus walked into the room. She raised her eyebrows in surprize. In fifteen years, Severus had never visited her at her private quarters. Even though the Floo connection had always been open, they had both pretended it didn't exist, under the implicit understanding that Gryffindor and Slytherin should not be mixed up at a personal level. Minerva certainly would never have dared to intrude in his private quarters.

She had always thought it was silly that they couldn't be friends (although it was strange the concept of Severus being anyone's friend), especially since they both obviously respected each other. Today wasn't the best day to try for friendship, however. Minerva was grieving in anticipation of the first task, and Severus was probably the last person she wanted to see. The man had been in an awful mood since Halloween, more angry and irritable than usual, and taking it out especially on Harry. Clearly he was irrationally blaming the boy for putting his name inside the Goblet of Fire, even though he knew about the Confundment. All Minerva could say for him was that he at least wasn't visibly gloating about the imminent death of James Potter's son. But he no doubt would not be sorry if Harry died, so she couldn't stand the sight of him right now.

"I need a favour," Severus said before she could kick him out.

The seriousness on his face and especially the intensity in his eyes made her hesitate. She marked the chapter she was currently reading ("Tournaments without winners") and focused her whole attention on her colleague and former student. Severus' defences seemed curiously down, or at the very least he was failing in keeping on his usual mask of coldness and indifference. Minerva was suddenly reminded of the young Severus after the werewolf incident. He had been really shaken at the time.

"What is it?" she asked anxiously while she gestured for him to take a seat.

Severus sat in the armchair closest to the fire, but he didn't answer immediately, instead closing his eyes and rubbing his temples in an uncharacteristic display of anxiety.

"Do you know about Potter's unhelpability?" he asked after a minute, looking up at her with a dark expression.

"Yes," she said grimly. "I've been trying to help him for the last three weeks. Impossible."

He nodded.

"It seems that way. Dumbledore says there's nothing anyone can do."

"You must be pleased," said Minerva coldly.

Severus' eyes narrowed, and he looked at her in a way that made her shiver.

"I am NOT pleased!" he exclaimed furiously. "I don't want the boy dead!"

Deirdre did not appreciate Severus' raised voice and hissed at him threateningly, which earned her a dangerous glare from the man. Minerva had the feeling that she didn't understand at all what this meeting was about.

"Why are you here, Severus?"

"Before I tell you, I want your word that you will not tell Dumbledore or anyone else."

Minerva hesitated. She didn't feel comfortable keeping secrets from Dumbledore. Especially not if it was an important secret from a former Death Eater. She trusted Severus, but that trust was conditional of Dumbledore's trust on him. If he was doing something disloyal...

"I won't tell unless I think I have to," she said. That was the best she could offer. He hoped it would be enough for Severus, because it looked like he really needed to talk to someone. And he must really need help, if he had come to her instead of dealing with whatever was going on on his own as he usually did.

Severus seemed to measure her for a long time before he finally sighed in resignation.

"I need your assistance as Bonder in an Unbreakable Vow."

Minerva would not have ever considered to put that in the list of possible favours that Severus Snape could request from her. An Unbreakable Vow? That was extremely dangerous magic. Why on earth would he want to swear one? And to whom?

"I'm not sure at all if it will be possible to swear it or to bind it," he continued. "We probably won't even be able to bring to us the Recipient."

She stared at him in confusion for a moment, but then slowly understanding dawned on her.

"Harry," she said, feeling her eyes widen in disbelief. Severus nodded.

"I have been researching Compulsion Charms and everything I could find about the Goblet of Fire, but there's nothing useful. Dumbledore says that the damned thing will instantly kill the champions and probably even the judges if someone tries to destroy it or interfere with it in any way. All I can think of that might work is to vow to help Potter through the Tournament, and hope that it will be enough to counteract the Goblet's magic."

Minerva sort of understood what Severus wanted to do, but she was still staring at him in confusion. There were so many things that didn't make sense! She tried to decide what to question first, but whenever she thought of an objection another one rose demanding priority.

"Why not tell Dumbledore?" she asked at last. This was the fishiest part on Severus' absurd proposal.

"Dumbledore is a judge. For what he said, I understand that he is required to ensure that the champions don't receive any information or help that the Goblet doesn't allow. So he probably would oppose my intention of cheating. Besides..." he hesitated, again measuring her with a very Slytherin look. "Besides, what I intend to do might count as interference. If so, the Goblet might react defensively and kill some or all of the champions and judges, Dumbledore included."

Minerva was instantly on high alert. The idea of Albus Dumbledore ever dying was unbearable to her. Until this year, she had never thought it possible (although of course she knew some day he would have to die of natural causes), but she was aware that being a judge in the Triwizard Tournament involved certain risk. There was a reason why Dumbledore kept such a close watch on the Goblet. If Severus meant to interfere with it, however... She had read about several cases when judges and/or champions had instantly died trying to defy the Goblet of Fire. It was a real risk, so of course she could not allow Severus to do it.

"I believe Dumbledore would want to risk it," said Severus as if in answer to her thoughts. "He would willingly die to keep alive his Golden Boy."

She considered that. It was true that Harry Potter wasn't just any student. He was the Boy-Who-Lived. The hero of the wizarding world. But Dumbledore was Dumbledore, the only one You-Know-Who had ever feared. If that monster returned, then they would have need of Albus Dumbledore.

"There is a Prophecy," added Severus. "A Prophecy that says that Potter will be the one to vanquish the Dark Lord. Dumbledore knows about it, and the Dark Lord knows too."

"What?" asked Minerva in shock.

"A Prophecy. A real one. Dumbledore wants to keep it a secret, but I think its existence makes it obvious that he would do anything to keep Potter alive."

If Minerva had been talking to any other person, she would have laughed at the joke. Severus never joked, however. He might be messing with her, knowing how much she despised Divination. But he looked so serious! Of course, he was an expert liar, he could claim to be the Dark Lord himself with a straight face and make even You-Know-Who wonder if he was telling the truth.

She suddenly felt the need of a more serious environment to continue this conversation, and maybe a drink, so she stood up and beckoned her colleague into her study, where she lightened another fire and summoned a bottle of Scotch. This time Severus remained standing, but she sat behind her desk, where she felt more in control.

"Does Potter know?" she asked finally. "About the... Prophecy?"

It was hard to dispel the feeling that she was being messed around, but she knew that there existed real Seers, and that Divination, despite being highly imprecise, was real magic. And it wouldn't be really surprizing for it to exist a real Prophecy about Harry Potter and You-Know-Who.

"No," answered Severus. "And Dumbledore doesn't want him to know yet."

She nodded. Well, that was... good. The boy was too young to be burdened with a prophesized fate.

"It won't matter if he knows or not if he dies on Tuesday," added the man bluntly. "And even Dumbledore seems certain that he doesn't stand a chance. He didn't say anything, but he knows what the task is about, and it's plain in his eyes that he doesn't expect the boy to survive."

Minerva had seen that same look in Dumbledore's eyes. And after reading several accounts about past Tournaments, she was certain too that Harry didn't stand a chance. Not with his current knowledge of magic, and without any warning as to what he would be facing. Luck could only go so far. If nobody helped him...

She decided to assume for the moment that Dumbledore would want for them to do something, if they could, even if it endangered his own life. He clearly couldn't do anything except watch and organize deadly tasks. Minerva had come to accept that no one could do anything, since the champions were unhelpable, but here came Severus with a wild plan. Could an Unbreakable Vow be enough to counteract such powerful magic as the Goblet of Fire apparently had? She had never heard of a Vow used that way. It seemed highly unlikely to her that it would work, but Severus had said he had been doing research on Compulsion Charms, so he must have some reason to think it was a viable option.

Once more she felt overwhelmed by a multitude of ideas fighting for priority inside her mind. She wanted to tackle all the objections she had against the Unbreakable Vow itself, but over and over again she got sidetracked by the same perplexing mystery.

"You hate Potter, Severus," she pointed out.

"So?"

"So why on earth would you be willing to swear an Unbreakable Vow to help him?"

He shrugged.

"It doesn't matter why. Will you help or not?"

Minerva tried to read Severus' face in search of some indication of his motives, but he had put on his mask again, so she found nothing. She sighed.

"I'm not convinced this is a viable idea, Severus," she confessed. "I want to help Harry, and I'm willing to consider the possibility that Dumbledore would want to risk his life to do it, but... Surely you know that an Unbreakable Vow doesn't compel you to do anything, it simply kills you if you fail to do it. As I understand it, your compulsion to keep the Vow would be natural, not magical, so I don't see how it could counteract the Goblet's magic."

"I disagree," said Severus. "Compulsion is compulsion, no matter the cause. Having a Vow threatening with killing me would strongly compel me to help the boy, and that might be enough to break the Goblet's charm."

"Might," Minerva emphasized. "More likely you would die instantly once you sealed a Vow that it's impossible to keep."

Severus took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"I know."

"You would risk your life for Harry Potter?"

A sour expression appeared on her colleague's face.

"I would", he said, as if the words caused him physical pain.

Minerva leaned back in her chair and examined carefully her former student. His black eyes were bright with determination, his lips set in a stubborn expression. He really meant to do it. Severus had always been ambitious and driven, nothing had ever stopped him from achieving whatever he set his mind on. Of course, his mind had been mostly set on dark paths, but it was still impressive. She doubted he had any chance of success this time, however, and it was still eating her up the why.

"If you want my help, Severus, you will have to tell me the whole truth," she said at last.

Severus sighed, and after a moment went to sit across the desk.

"I'm doing it for Lily," he finally confessed.

He didn't have to say more. The surprize only lasted a moment, then what surprized her was not having guessed before.

"After all these years?" she asked, feeling touched.

"Always."

She had known, of course, that Severus had had a crush on Lily Evans when they were young. Minerva didn't always keep track of those teenage dramas, but she had noticed that at the time. Lily's close friendship with a Slytherin —and a Slytherin like Severus— had been cause of gossip even amongst teachers. But around fifth year the friendship had abruptly come to an end (to no one's surprize), and if Minerva remembered correctly Severus calling her a Mudblood had had a big part on their falling apart. She had assumed at the time that the crush was over, as it often happened with teenagers, but apparently it hadn't been just a passing crush. Severus actually having a heart would explain a lot of things. It must be why he had turned around and become a spy fifteen years ago, and why Dumbledore trusted him. It would also explain his general bitterness and his irrational hate of James Potter's son. It must be torture for him to see the boy every day, so like James in appearance, except for the eyes...

"Oh, get a grip!" growled Severus when she pulled out a handkerchief to dry her tears. "And I swear, if you tell anyone, especially Potter, I will crucio you to insanity."

Minerva tried to compose herself, knowing how much weak people irritated the man, and guessing how much more exposing his own weakness must annoy him. So she pushed aside the romantic aspect of it and focused on what the implications were. To protect Lily's son, Severus was willing to swear an Unbreakable Vow that would almost certainly kill him instantly, since the Goblet made impossible for Harry to be helped. The whole plan was clearly the last hope of a desperate man.

"You would most likely be wasting your life, Severus," she said very seriously. "Your life has value too, you know?"

"It doesn't," he said dismissively. "And it's my life to waste, in any case."

Minerva knew better than to try to dissuade Severus from his suicidal project. He was the most stubborn person she had ever met. Apparently not even Lily had been able to persuade him of abandoning the dark path he had been set on as a teenager. He only followed his own mind, misguided as it might be. There were a few objections to be made, however.

"You said that the Goblet might interpret your Vow as interference and react defensively," she pointed out, "killing the champions and judges. So Harry might die as a result."

He nodded.

"Yes. But since his chances of surviving the Tournament without help are slim to non-existent, I think there's nothing to be lost by taking the risk. It would certainly be less painful for the boy to just drop dead than to be torn apart by some creature."

Severus' tone suggested that he would not mind if Harry was in fact torn apart by some beast. That was probably the part of him that saw him as James Potter come again. And yet he was willing to die to keep Lily's son alive. How in Merlin's name did he handle the internal conflict?

It was a solid argument, though. If Harry didn't have any chance of surviving, then risking his life trying to interfere with the Goblet of Fire couldn't make things worse. It would definitely be a mercy to let him die without pain nor fear instead of in whatever way he was likely to die during the Tournament. Of course, they couldn't be completely sure that Harry would die without help, they might be robbing him of his slim chance of survival. He should have a choice too, she decided. Severus would probably want to do it regardless of Harry's opinion, but she would insist on that if he wanted her help.

"How do you propose to do it, anyway?" she asked, genuinely curious. "Harry is unhelpable. I can't even call him to my office to offer him advice, I don't see how I would be able to officiate as Bonder in a Vow intended to help him. And you probably wouldn't be able to swear anything to him."

"We probably won't be able," he agreed. "But I think there might be a way around it. Potter is unhelpable, but I'm not. If you participate of the Vow as a favour to me, you might be able to do it, and even to call Potter here. As to me, I think the key is on the formulation of the clauses. I might be able to swear something if we find the right words."

Minerva nodded thoughtfully. It would require a lot of mental work to convince herself of helping Severus instead of Harry, when she knew the end goal was to help the boy. They wouldn't be able to fool the Goblet with less than authentic non-helpful intentions. But it wasn't really hard for her to see this as a favour to Severus, since it clearly was. She would help him to do what he needed to do, and nothing else. Much trickier it would be for him. Finding the right formulation was a promising idea, but Minerva doubted he would be able to even touch Harry's hand if his intention was so obviously to help him.

"Wouldn't it be easier to make the Vow to someone else?" she suggested. "Filius might be willing..."

"If we don't manage to bring Potter here, we will ask Filius," said Severus. "But I think the Vow will be more powerful if I swear it directly to Potter. That way the Goblet won't be able to ignore the opposition I'm presenting to it."

That might be true, reflected Minerva, but it also sounded more dangerous. Harry was already under the effects of a very powerful Compulsion/Dispelling Charm. Being the object of an Unbreakable Vow aimed to undermine the Goblet might trigger some magical conflict. Clearly Severus' hope was that a loop-hole would emerge from such conflict, but it could easily just make the Goblet of Fire really angry.

Was Minerva really going to be complicit of this madness?