Chapter 40

Minerva felt as if she were witnessing a moment in History. It might be silly, a little thing in the great stream of events, but she honestly had never felt more in awe.

It had been worth it to live so long and grow so old if only to be ready to fully appreciate a moment like this one. A moment when two unhelpable boys had realized that they could help each other.

She felt her heart about to burst with emotion.

More than anything, she felt relieved. Part of the fear and the stress that had began building up inside her again after the first task had been released the moment that she had heard the word 'mermaids' coming from Harry's mouth.

She was dying to know if Severus' Christmas presents had had something to do with Harry's sudden realization. Unfortunately they would likely never know. Although she intended to ask him some day, if he survived the Tournament and if Severus ever relented about keeping the Vow a secret.

Part of her was still seething about the revelation of the boy not knowing how to swim. Which child didn't know how to swim at fourteen? She was certain that those appalling Muggles were responsible for this unacceptable shortcoming in Potter's formation.

Not that swimming by itself would be a sufficient skill to handle the second task, of course. It might even be irrelevant. Undoubtedly good as it was that Harry had figured out the Merpeople's involvement in the second task, Minerva was still worried. The boy was still far from safe, since no doubt the Goblet was planning something nasty in the bottom of the lake.

But at least now Harry would be able to prepare in some degree. With any luck, he would not depend entirely of Severus' protection. Minerva knew that her colleague had been worrying about not being able to do anything during the second task, with the boy underwater.

There was also hope for some sort of collaboration between champions, reflected Minerva as she watched Harry and the Bulgarian sharing a long, intense look. She had been concerned at first, when Severus had told her that those two were flying together at night, but now she was beginning to think that Krum was not bad nor dangerous at all. Definitely not the Durmstrang stereotype, since he had chosen a Muggle-born as his date and had now saved Harry Potter.

She was certain that Harry didn't care about winning, and that he would be willing to team up with Krum to survive the Tournament. The question was whether Krum would be interested in the same thing. He had put his name willingly inside the Goblet, so he must be interested in winning. And being older and obviously well prepared he would not need any help from a younger champion. He probably would have been able to crack the clue on his own eventually, or to handle the task without any special preparation.

One could hope, though. Having an older champion helping him would no doubt increase Harry's chances of survival considerably.

Minerva glanced at Severus, trying to assess how he was taking this, but no one would be able to tell that he cared at all just by looking at him, even though no doubt he was deeply relieved as well.

"You truly are a moron, Potter," he said with a sneer, finally breaking the silence and the moment. "Sharing information with the opposition... You should have been sorted into Hufflepuff."

Minerva frowned, but didn't say anything in case Severus was doing something Vow-related. Ever since that night when he had sworn to tell Harry whenever he was being stupid she was never certain of why the man was insulting the boy. He was so good at it, and he had genuinely insulted him for so long, that all his insults sounded authentic. The look in his eyes, the tone, the facial expressions, everything conveyed true loathing and derision.

She knew that now some of his insults were constructive and carefully designed, and she also suspected that he no longer hated Potter as much as he used to, but there was a part of him that still despised the boy and that insulted him even when in private with Minerva, so she could never be sure.

Probably not even Severus was sure anymore of why he was insulting him.

She wondered about his last comment. Her first impulse was to want to slap him for saying something against the possibility of collaboration between champions, but perhaps Severus was using reverse psychology. If someone knew how to manipulate the boy through his insults, no doubt it was the Death Eater in front of her. Although it was a risky move, since Potter's Gryffindor pride might get in the way and make him want to deny all Hufflepuff affiliation.

Harry turned to glare at his most hated Professor.

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," he spat.

"I beg to differ," argued Severus coldly, "Slytherins at least have surviving instincts, something you seem to lack."

"Slytherins only care about themselves," shot back Harry. "And they are all evil."

"Ignorant as ever, Mr. Potter. Only an idiot would refuse to prioritize self-preservation just because it's a Slytherin virtue. Between your Gryffindor stupidity and your Hufflepuff niceness, not to mention your complete lack of Ravenclaw researching skills, you will be dead before the year is out. How is that better than surviving?"

"I will likely die no matter what I do," said Harry angrily. "It's not like I have any idea how to deal with mermaids. But maybe Krum won't die now that he knows. That's better than everyone dying."

"Like I said, you are a moron," said Severus derisively.

"Like I care what you think," sneered Harry.

Minerva wasn't yet sure what to think of the exchange, nor what the effect might be on Harry or even Krum (who was also watching with an interested expression), but she felt inclined to grant Severus the title of Master Insulter. Somehow while advocating for Slytherin values he had managed to reinforce Hufflepuff tendencies in Potter and even to throw some Ravenclaw advice to the mix. Even though Minerva was proud of having Harry in her House, she had to admit that the boy could benefit from developing non-Gryffindor traits. Severus had also provoked Harry into exhibiting his nobleness (although the man no doubt would call it stupidity), which might recommend him in front of his fellow champion.

She couldn't be sure if he was doing it on purpose, though.

"I'm done with your disrespect, Potter," said Severus in a flat tone. "I think detention until Easter is called for after roaming the castle at night, disturbing everyone's rest with that bloody egg's wailing and flying without permission. In addition to the thousand lines for stupidity."

"You are the moron if you think I will serve detention with a Death Eater," declared Harry firmly.

"Mr. Potter!" scolded Minerva, "Your language is unacceptable. Professor Snape is a teacher in this school, and as such you owe him your respect and obedience."

"I owe him nothing," argued the boy fiercely. "Voldemort killed my parents and wants to kill me, I won't spend a single minute alone with one of his lackeys if I can help it." He turned to look at Krum. "And that includes Karkaroff. He's a Death Eater too, you should be careful around him."

Krum seemed surprized at the revelation, but he looked not nearly as shocked as Minerva had been when she had been informed of it by a really angry colleague after the Yule Ball. A moment later the Bulgarian's surprize had been replaced by a thoughtful frown.

Severus, on his part, was now looking much more murderous than he had looked so far.

"I think it's time for you to return to your ship, Mr. Krum," he said to the Bulgarian with a threatening look. "You will keep this information to yourself if you know what's good for you. Cross me, and I promise you Durmstrang will look like a light-leaning school compared to what this place will become for you."

A shiver ran down Minerva's back. She had never heard Severus pronounce such a dark threat, and with such a serious tone. This was not the Potions Professor, she realized, but the Death Eater. She felt sorry for Krum, who seemed like a decent young man with good intentions that had gotten caught in the cross fire between Severus and Harry. And between two Death Eaters.

She felt like she should intervene, but a warning look from Severus made her hold her tongue. This was serious business, not just school stuff.

Krum looked thoroughly threatened, although not afraid. It was actually hard to tell what might be going on behind that scowl. At least he seemed more comfortable handling threats than most Hogwarts' students, probably because he came from Durmstrang. Instead of cowering or bristling, he just held Severus' dark look for a long moment until he finally nodded and turned to go.

"Wait, Krum!" called Harry. The older champion paused, although he was visibly anxious to see the last of them all. "Don't try to listen to the egg alone. It's dangerous."

Krum held Potter's eyes for a moment before nodding. Then he glanced one last time at Severus, nodded respectfully at Minerva and Poppy, and scowled away.

The Infirmary subsided into silence once more after the Bulgarian had left. Minerva saw that Poppy looked as if she really needed to sit down, so she quickly conjured a chair behind her.

Harry was still glaring at Severus in a very provocative way. Severus, on his part, was regarding the boy with a thoughtful expression while tracing his lips with a long white finger. Minerva thought that she recognized the 'designing constructive insult' look, although it was much more serious than usual. Perhaps there was something of 'Death Eater trying to maintain a cover' there as well.

Did she really see all those subtle things on his colleague's face? Perhaps he wasn't bothering to keep up his mask as strictly as usual, since both Minerva and Poppy were some sort of accomplices of his, and Harry was too caught up in his blind resentment as to see anything different to what he expected to see on Severus.

Or perhaps she was getting to know Severus far better than it was healthy for her mind, and so she could guess what his true expressions would be behind his masks.

"I don't know how you learned about Karkaroff," said Severus finally, "but that is not information that you should have since you clearly don't know how to handle it without mucking things up." Harry opened his mouth to object, but Severus cut him off. "I am talking, Potter, and you will listen even if I have to cast a Silencing Charm on you. I will not tolerate any more yelling nor disrespect from you." He waited to see if the boy would challenge him, but Harry just locked his jaw and glared at him. "As you know, I am a Death Eater. Whether my true allegiance is to Dumbledore or to the Dark Lord, it's not up to you to figure it out. The Headmaster trusts me, that's all you need to know. It would be beyond arrogant from you to believe yourself more intelligent or capable of seeing through deception than Albus Dumbledore. So as far as it concerns you, I am a spy working for the side that is trying to keep you alive. Part of my job is to deal with other Death Eaters, like Karkaroff, and convince them that I'm on their side, occasionally protecting their covers as well as mine.

"There is a reason why Dumbledore keeps this kind of information from indiscreet brats like you. Exposing a Death Eater can have very serious consequences, it shouldn't be done lightly and the decision certainly shouldn't be made by a fourteen-year-old. You might think you know it all, Potter, but you actually don't understand anything of what is going on and you can only complicate things more by interfering. That is why you also will keep to yourself what you know about Karkaroff, as well as everything I'm telling you right now. You will stay out of businesses that don't concern you."

"This does concern me! Voldemort is probably trying to kill me with this Tournament, and y-"

Harry found himself suddenly mute. He took his hands to his throat and scowled at Severus murderously. Minerva wondered if Severus had done that to keep himself from strangling the boy and therefore keep him in good health. He never reacted well to anyone saying You-Know-Who's name and he had clearly reached the end of his patience with Potter.

"I warned you," said Severus coldly. "Your only concern should be to survive the year, Potter. It's stupid of you to focus on anything else when at present you can only be harmed by threats related to the Triwizard Tournament. The Goblet of Fire doesn't allow anyone external to touch you now, and that includes me." Potter's eyes widened in surprize. Had he really not known that? Had they neglected to tell him, or had it gotten lost in the obliviation? "If you are still alive when the Goblet turns off at the end of the year, then it will be stupid of you to go near any Death Eater, especially Karkaroff, since no doubt someone will try to finish you off.

"So that is the situation. Now stop being a moron and wasting attention and time worrying about Death Eaters that will not have a chance of trying to kill you before you die on your own during the tasks. You would also do well to at least pretend to show me the proper respect, if not because it's stupid to provoke a dangerous Death Eater at least because you will disappoint your Head of House if you don't."

Severus lifted the Silencing Charm with a flick of his wand. Harry was still mostly glaring at him with mistrust and resentment, but he glanced at Minerva with uncertainty and fear in his eyes.

"I will not serve any more private detentions with a Death Eater, sir," he said finally, more respectfully than he had spoken so far tonight but just as firmly as before.

Man and boy held each other's glares for a long moment. It really was impressive Harry's ability to withstand Severus' gaze, very few students and people in general had the nerve to do that.

Finally, Severus nodded.

"You are being stupid by worrying about me at the moment," he repeated. "However, refusing to spend time alone with a known Death Eater is actually the smarter use you have ever put your stubbornness to. And it's not like I enjoy seeing your ugly face more than I absolutely have to, so Professor McGonagall will supervise your detentions. But I will expect the thousand lines over my desk before you die in the second task."

For once, Harry seemed at a loss for anything insolent to say in answer to his Professor. He didn't even argue about the lines, even though a thousand were an exaggerated amount of lines.

Five minutes later Minerva had finished arguing with Poppy and Potter about keeping the boy under observation until morning and was standing outside the Infirmary with Severus. She took a deep breath.

"I think I need a drink," she said.

Her colleague nodded and without comment followed her to her private quarters. He must be more affected by this crazy night than he let show if he was accepting a drink.

The first thing Severus did when entering her quarters was as usual to raise a notice-me-not charm all around. She as usual considered to protest, since it was rude to cast wards in another person's home without at least asking for permission, but in the end decided to allow it. Truth be told, she wasn't a fan of Moody's intrusive eye either. And she could always be reached by Floo or other means if someone needed her and couldn't find her quarters.

To her surprize and amusement, Severus allowed Deirdre to jump onto his lap and stay there, going so far as to absently scratch her ears while Minerva levitated a glass of Scotch to him. It had taken a while for them to stop hissing at one another at first sight, but clearly they had finally warmed up to each other. It wasn't really surprizing, since Severus was a cat person. He had had one of his own until around five years ago, although no one in Hogwarts except Dumbledore had ever seen it. She had always pitied the poor animal, but now that she saw him with Deirdre she suspected that it had been more than fine. And it had probably been good for Severus too. To break his self-imposed isolation.

"I didn't expect you to explain to Harry about your cover," she admitted after a quiet minute. "I thought you couldn't risk him to stop hating you."

Severus snorted.

"Potter won't stop hating me just like that. We had issues long before he knew I was a Death Eater." He sighed. "I had to tell him, anyway, since he was being stupid. He needs to focus on the task and stop playing detective. And he really needs to learn not to piss off Death Eaters."

Minerva nodded in agreement. She doubted Harry would listen to anything Severus said, but she really hoped he did. His detective hobby had almost gotten him killed too many times already. Of course, it didn't help that Dumbledore often seemed to encourage such behaviour, she thought bitterly.

"He's probably right, though," she pointed out very cautiously after a moment. "If Karkaroff is a true Death Eater, people should know to be careful around him, especially his students."

He shook his head.

"Karkaroff is only relatively harmless now because he's pretending to be harmless. If he were to be exposed, his behaviour would turn unpredictable and dangerous. In any case, he was pardoned by the Ministry, same as I, so he isn't a Death Eater anymore, technically." His mouth twisted in a mocking smile. "I would have never thought you would ever be so interested in discussing Death Eater matters."

Minerva rolled her eyes.

"I just don't think children should be in the care of a Death Eater." She saw his colleague's eyes darkening, so she rushed to clarify. "I mean a true Death Eater. Karkaroff might have been pardoned, but you clearly think he's still dangerous. You said that he might be behind the Tournament, and that he might try to harm Harry if he survives the year."

"You're just as nosy as Potter is," he said in annoyance. "Karkaroff is being watched by Moody and myself, and we will make sure he doesn't have access to the brat if he survives. For now, the best course of action is to let him believe he's safe, then the Dark Lord will painfully deal with him and that will be it."

Minerva shivered. Being a Death Eater's confidant definitely wasn't good for her nerves. She decided to change the subject to something lighter.

"You know that I won't give Potter detention until Easter, right?"

Severus shrugged.

"Your detentions are useless anyway. I'd rather he uses the time to do research or play his underdog routine with Krum."

"You think they will team up, then?" she asked anxiously.

"If Potter is not too stupid, he will at least offer. Another matter is whether Krum will be stupid enough as to accept. He is playing to win, and Potter can't offer anything to a potential alliance."

"He did kill a dragon," Minerva reminded him. "That might have impressed Krum."

Who hadn't been impressed by that? Severus still had not acknowledged Harry's prowess out loud, but no doubt he must have been impressed too. He didn't say anything now either, though.

"I didn't know that champions could help each other," she said after a moment. "Won't the Goblet disqualify them if they work together?"

Severus shrugged again.

"Krum and Potter already helped each other tonight, and they are both still alive. My guess is that the Goblet allows interactions between champions so they can kill each other... or possibly betray each other."

Minerva shook her head trying to dispel her indignation. Of course it would be to add drama and gruesomeness to the competition. Only one champion could win at the end, after all.

They subsided into silence once more, slowly emptying their glasses. Severus looked as if he needed a Calming Draught more than a glass of Scotch, reflected Minerva. He had been really stressed out lately, ever since the article. Ever since the night of the Vow, actually. Or since September. Although last year he had also been stressed out because of Remus and Black... Now that she thought about it, he had also seemed particularly strained during the Chamber year (who hadn't, though?) and during the Stone year. Ever since Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts, she concluded.

It must really be stressful to be that boy's personal protector. Stressful enough it was to be Potter's Head of House. And the job seemed to be getting more difficult with each passing year. Not to mention that Severus had a Death Eater cover to maintain at the same time. Dumbledore should give him a raise.

"Did you know that Potter doesn't know how to swim?" asked her colleague after a while.

"No. I would have told you if I had," she said working herself up into a rage instantly. "I bet it's those Muggles' fault."

"More likely the brat was too lazy to learn," said Severus dismissively. "Although Petunia should have forced him to learn anyway instead of indulging his laziness. Not that that excuses Potter's stupidity tonight."

"Oh, cut the boy some slack, Severus!" she chided.

"He almost died tonight, Minerva!" he yelled, making Deirdre wag her tail in annoyance.

"He didn't though," she reminded him. "He's still alive, Severus. And he cracked the clue. He's doing as well as we could hope for, all things considered. Better, even, since he might have earned himself the help of another champion. You can allow yourself to relax a bit, maybe get some real sleep for a change."

Severus continued glaring at her for a long moment, but he finally sighed and seemed to deflate. He really looked as if in dire need of rest. Perhaps she should suggest to him to take Dreamless Sleep? She had a feeling that any suggestion would be badly received, though, so she kept quiet.

They sat there without talking and drinking Scotch for a long time, the silence only disturbed by the crackling of the fire and Deirdre's purring. Minerva smiled internally at that. Cats had calming properties, in her opinion. And Severus seemed calmer by the minute.

To her complete disbelief, eventually the man propped his feet up on the coffee table, laid his head back on the couch and closed his eyes, his frown slowly relaxing until he looked like a normal human being instead of the eternally angry Death Eater they all knew.

It was extremely sad to remember that he had already been an angry person at eleven years old, the first time she had seen the awkward child right before his sorting into Slytherin. If someone had always completely belonged in that house, it had been Severus Snape, but suddenly Minerva wished she could have had him in her House instead. Maybe with different influences he would have taken a different path. And it wasn't a completely crazy scenario, since Severus was definitely brave and determined, and even at eleven he probably would have chosen to be with Lily if he had been given a choice.

Would that have been better, though? It was hard to imagine a non-Slytherin Severus. It just felt wrong. It also blew her mind to try to imagine him sharing a dorm with James Potter and Sirius Black. She probably would have resigned as Head of Gryffindor.

Things had happened just the way they had to happen, she thought sadly as she vanished Severus' empty glass and levitated a blanket over the sleeping man and cat.