unbroken_halo (unbroken_halo) wrote in pornicators, @ 2006-11-25 15:26:00 |
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Original poster: occasusvenustas
Title:: Silver Hammer
Rating:: R (for violence and language, no p0rnyness, sorry)
Pairing:: Severus/Harry
Summary:: Called to Hogwarts to investigate a serial killer, Harry's life changes in a way he never expected.
Disclaimer:: I don't own anything ever at all so no sueing.
A/N:: I'm sure someone will get the references, but I don't want to spoil anything. After the long debate of what to do at the end, I've finally come up with something so I hope everyone likes. X-posted to my journal and various comms. Enjoy!
“We’re pleased to have you here in any capacity, Mr Potter. You know we’ve been trying to get you to come back and teach for ages.”
Harry smiled a little. “I know, Minerva, it just happened that my passions lay elsewhere.”
“Not much of a surprise,” Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts, said with a smile. “I do remember when you were taking your O.W.L.’s.”
Harry sat back and clasped his hands over his crooked knee. “So apart from the one attack, has there been any indication that we may have a repeat incident? I know the Ministry are jumping to conclusions with this whole investigation but I have a sinking suspicion that they may be spot-on with this.”
“No other attacks,” Minerva said, “but there is a strange feeling in the air and I don’t like it. It’s too familiar.”
“Chamber of Secrets?” Harry offered.
“Much the same, only this time I can be positive it was a person. Monsters rarely use blunt objects to attack their victims. Trolls, maybe, but we would have known straight away.”
Harry licked his lips, thinking deeply. “Since we have agreed that my position is to be kept completely secret from everyone except you, my task is going to be more difficult. I won’t be able to be in as many places as I would like to be.”
“I still feel safer with you in our walls,” Minerva said solemnly. “Not because of your past, but because I have been shown you are an excellent Auror and have taken your job very seriously.”
“Thank you,” Harry said. He pushed the chair away from the desk with his foot and stood up. “I ought to get settled in for the night. It’s going to cause a bit of an uproar, having Lupin gone off on holiday with me to take his place. I expect the students to be rather excited about it. And some of the staff,” Harry hesitated.
Minerva laughed. “Severus will get over his disappointment and perhaps he will be able to aid you in your task.”
“He cannot know,” Harry stressed.
“Understood, but you know Severus, he can sniff out any trouble in this castle.”
“Must be the only use for a nose that large,” Harry muttered. Minerva chose to ignore that comment though she did cast Harry a disapproving look as she showed him the door.
“Keep me informed and I’ll do whatever I can to accommodate your needs.”
“Thank you, Minerva,” Harry said. “With any luck, we can stop this killer before it has the chance to hurt another soul.”
By the time Harry had everything unpacked and settled into his new quarters, he was ready for a long sleep. Without changing into pyjamas, Harry collapsed face first on his bed and closed his eyes. He didn’t open them again until the next morning.
Of course, being Harry Potter, he was late for his first day and slid into his seat at the Head Table just as the students were tucking into their breakfasts. Minerva gave him a stern look before she tapped her goblet with the side of her spoon, gaining the attention of the students.
“As you all may have heard, Professor Lupin has had to take a bit of time off for health reasons. We are very pleased to announce we have found a wonderful replacement for him and I do hope you plan to treat him with the respect he deserves.” Minerva signalled for Harry to rise. “Mr Harry Potter.”
There was a collective gasp and bit of chatter amongst the students as they all looked closer to make sure he was really THE Harry Potter. Harry rose briefly and nodded his head towards the student body. He decided against any sort of speech and just as he lowered himself back down to his seat he caught the icy glare of Deputy Headmaster, Severus Snape.
Ages-old dislike between both men caused a little flare of anger to rise in Harry’s chest. Taking a deep breath, Harry poured himself some tea, helped himself to some porridge and focused on his mission.
When the meal was over, Minerva escorted Harry to the staff room where a few of the new professors were waiting. They all turned when Minerva and Harry entered. Harry saw several old, familiar faces and smiled his hello at them while waiting for Minerva to do introductions.
“This is Professor Brett Carrington,” Minerva said, introducing Harry to a man that somewhat resembled Gilderoy Lockhart with his large, very white smile and blonde hair. “He’s new with us, just this year, taking over Care of Magical Creatures for Hagrid.”
Harry nodded and extended his hand. “Pleased.”
“Likewise,” Carrington said with a wide smile. “Never thought the likes of Harry Potter would be teaching at this school.”
“Hogwarts will always be my home,” Harry said a little coldly.
Minerva, sensing immediate conflict, hurried Harry off to meet the three other new professors. When the meet and greet was over, Harry excused himself and headed to his classroom to begin setting up his lesson plans. Harry knew Defence was an appropriate subject if he was going to teach any, however he had never planned on being a teacher and was terrified of drowning on his first day.
Lupin, thankfully, had left Harry a comprehensive lesson plan and after a few minutes, Harry felt a little less afraid. His first class of the day he had sixth year Slytherin and Hufflepuffs. It wasn’t long before the students began filing into the room, taking their seats. They were all whispering amongst themselves as Harry situated himself, leaning against the front of the desk.
“Good morning class,” he said. They all mumbled a hello. “I expect you all know who I am so I won’t bother to introduce myself. Professor Lupin has left me detailed notes pertaining to your class so I know exactly where you are and exactly where I should begin. Before I begin, are there any questions?”
One timid Slytherin lifted his hand. Harry nodded at him. “Why did you decide to come teach us?”
“Because education is the most important thing in this world. I would not be where I am today had it not been for the things I learnt here at Hogwarts…” Harry crossed his arms and looked round at the class. “Alright, let’s begin with names and house.”
----------------------------------------
By the end of the day, Harry was exhausted and ready for a long night’s sleep. Of course that wasn’t exactly in his cards. He had to attend dinner in the Great Hall and then begin his patrol of the castle. It was likely Harry wasn’t going to get much sleep during the duration of his stay at Hogwarts.
He drank several cups of strong tea with his dinner and as soon as every child was soundly in their beds, Harry began his patrol of the castle. He didn’t take anything except his wand and didn’t expect to run into anyone or anything during his first night out.
Of course again, he was dead wrong. As he rounded a particularly dark corridor, Harry saw a shadow and pressed himself against the wall. He slowed his breathing down, trying to make no noise at all. The shadow drew nearer and just as Harry went to pull out his wand, a stark-white hand shot out and grabbed him by his shoulder.
“Potter,” the familiar voice drawled.
Harry rolled his eyes. “Snape.”
“What are you doing skulking about the corridors?”
“Just making my rounds,” Harry said.
“Your rounds?” Severus sneered. “You’ve been here a mere few hours. You do not have rounds.”
Harry licked his lips. “Minerva asked me to-”
“I don’t doubt it,” Snape interrupted. “Regardless, this is not your area. This is the Slytherin corridor and I do my own patrolling, thank you.”
“Well I-”
“Kindly be on your way,” Snape said, giving Harry a firm shove towards the front of the corridor.
Harry started to walk away, feeling ashamed, when he suddenly remembered he wasn’t a student any longer. Stopping, he turned back to Snape. “You can’t force me out of here, Snape. I have a job to do-” His anger and pride had almost caused him to let it slip.
Snape quirked an eyebrow. “I suspected you were sent here for reasons other than to take over for that beast, Lupin. Minerva, of course, will say nothing but don’t think you can keep this a secret for long.”
“I’m only trying to do Minerva a favour,” Harry protested, which wasn’t exactly a lie.
“You’ve never been able to fool me, Potter. Don’t think you can this time.” With that, Snape turned on his heel and stormed out of sight.
With a heavy sigh of frustration, Harry continued his rounds and met with nothing but chilly walls and a few ghosts floating here and there. When Harry’s head finally hit the pillow, he realised this was going to be a much longer, much more trying mission than he was used to. Lucky for him, Harry Potter always loved a challenge.
-------------------------------------
Weeks passed with nothing; not a hint of the killer. Only Snape constantly tailing Harry and the would-be Lockhart constantly poking his nose in Harry’s business. Harry was quite good about keeping to himself, though, and keeping his frustration quiet.
There was also something about Carrington that Harry couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something that made him extremely uneasy. Something about the way he looked at Harry, and at Snape, and even some of the children.
Still, Harry didn’t want to jump to any conclusions and he was having enough trouble as it was asking questions without raising suspicions.
The first person Harry decided to prod was Snape. He decided to get the most difficult out of the way. Dinner was just ending and Harry had consumed just enough wine to give him the courage to ask what he wanted to ask.
“Professor Snape,” Harry said, taking the empty chair next to Snape’s.
Severus looked over at Harry, his expression making it clear that he was appalled by Harry’s presence so near him. “Yes, Potter?”
“I was wondering, er…” Harry hesitated. “Might you be free after dinner for a nightcap?”
“A nightcap?” Severus asked. “Is this a joke?”
“Not at all. Or perhaps you need some assistance with your potions? Or marking essays?”
“Why?” Severus demanded.
“I thought a chat between us might be nice.”
“Nice?” Severus repeated with a sneer. “Nice? Since when have you wanted to make nice with me, Potter?”
“Since we’ve become co-workers. Since the war is over and perhaps it’s time to let the past go.”
Severus stared at Harry with a blank expression. Harry inwardly winced, expecting the rejection. “I suppose you could help me prepare some ingredients.”
A bit surprised, Harry smiled. “Excellent. I’ll meet you at your lab in fifteen minutes.”
“Bring nothing with you,” Severus hissed.
Harry nodded. As he rose, he caught Carrington’s eye and was surprised to see a very malicious gleam in them. Harry shivered as he made his way to his quarters to change out of his teaching robes. Fifteen minutes later, Harry approached Severus’ open lab door and entered.
Severus was already there, seated at his worktable with a boiling cauldron in front of him. “You can start with the slugs,” Severus said, gesturing to a cutting board. “I’m sure you recall how to slice them properly. You did, after all, get semi-decent marks in my classes.”
“Semi-decent?” Harry muttered sarcastically. “Is that what D’s are called these days?”
Severus snorted but didn’t reply. He continued to stir the brew and add in various powders. “What exactly do you want from me, Potter?” Severus asked after several silent, tense moments. “I know it’s not to make amends. I know you hate me.”
Harry licked his lips and tried not to admit it. “Severus, may I call you Severus?”
“No,” Snape said.
“Fine,” Harry replied snappishly. “Professor, then. I don’t hate anyone.”
“You’ve always been a bad liar,” Snape countered.
“So, if you think I’m lying, why did you agree to meet me?”
“Curiosity got the best of me,” he admitted. “I’m not a fool, Potter. Even you must know that about me. I know what you’ve been up to since the war. Why are you here, top Auror?”
Harry flushed. “To help Minerva-”
“Spare me,” Snape said with a sigh. “You’re here because of the murders.”
Harry opened and closed his mouth but no words came out. Harry had spent years in training to be the top undercover agent. He could think of a lie in the most stressful and pressing of situations but when Snape stared at him with those deep black eyes, Harry went mute.
“I’m not asking for details. I just want to know what you want with me.”
Harry looked round the room, desperately trying to decide if his cover was really blown. When he finally looked back at Snape, he realised it was. “Have you seen anything? Noticed anything suspicious?”
“Don’t you think if I’d noticed anything at all, I would have solved the problem?” Snape asked.
“I-” Harry said and shook his head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“And the Ministry has no leads at all, forcing you to play teacher at the latest attack site?” Snape asked.
“That about sums it up,” Harry said with a small shrug. With that, both men fell into silence, working on Snape’s potion for the next hour.
Eventually, Severus stood, wiped his hands off and looked at Harry. “It’s all we can do for tonight. Your help wasn’t needed but the information was.”
Harry rubbed his face roughly. “No one is supposed to know.”
“And who might I tell?” Snape asked with a sneer. “The killer?”
Harry shrugged. “Only you and Minerva know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Snape nodded and let Harry show himself out. Harry closed the door behind him and when he turned, he was startled to see Carrington standing near the door.
He wore a strained smile, arms crossed a little tighter than normal. “Evening, Professor Potter.”
“Professor Carrington,” Harry said with a nod.
“Helping old Snape out there, were you?”
“Just assisting a colleague,” Harry said with a shrug, trying to sound casual. “What brings you by?”
“Oh, just wanted to see where you two had got to.”
“Why?” Harry pressed.
“Well, with these attacks,” he said in a low voice, “one can’t be too careful. You never know who the killer might strike next. We don’t even know who they might be.”
“Very true,” Harry said with a cold stare, “but mark my words, the killer will be caught.”
“We can only hope,” Carrington said. He didn’t move until Harry had turned the corner.
When Harry peeked down the corridor again, Carrington was gone. The man had just gone from suspicious professor to top suspect in Harry’s eyes. Harry went straight to his quarters and wrote a letter to his office, asking for any background information on the new professor. With any luck, Hedwig would be back by the end of the next day and Harry might have his killer caught before anyone else could possibly get hurt.
------------------------------------
Harry Potter’s luck went only two ways. Very good or very bad. It was just how it worked with him. Often times his luck was very good but lately it had been going in the opposite direction. It was quite late one night when Harry decided to pass by Snape’s office. Since Snape knew about Harry’s true purpose for being at Hogwarts, he thought he might just take advantage of that and ask Snape for a bit of help. Or at least some inside information on Carrington while he waited for the Ministry’s information to arrive.
Before reaching the door, Harry heard voices and paused. It was a young female and Snape chatting very quietly near the door. Harry paused when he could see inside and spotted Snape with his arms crossed, his face drawn and stoic.
The girl was a Ravenclaw and Head Girl, Joan Moore, and she was talking to Snape in a low voice, leaning into him slightly. Harry spotted her flirting straight away but Snape seemed to be oblivious to it.
“I only trust you, Professor,” she drawled. “If anyone else were to come near the ingredients I would be horrified.”
“I assure you, Miss Moore, no one would dare touch your precious potion ingredients,” Snape sneered. “Not a soul in this school, besides myself, cares about such things.”
“Which is why you are the only professor worthy of teaching at this school. Most of the others are a joke.”
It was pure disrespect, but the sort of disrespect that Snape loved. He smirked. “I wish I could argue with you, Miss Moore, but I’m afraid I cannot.”
“So tomorrow night then?” she asked, leaning into him just a bit more.
Snape, wary of his personal space, leant back so far he touched the wall. “Tomorrow night it is.”
“Excellent. Thank you Professor, this makes my week.”
Harry was about to step forward, as it was clear the meeting was over, but before he could, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Carrington standing there with a slight glare in his face.
“Why do I always find you here, Potter?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Why are you always trying to find me?”
“I just happened by, as it was on my way to the…”
“Dungeons?” Harry offered with a slight smirk.
“Professor Snape’s office. I had a question for him.”
“He’s a bit busy at the moment,” Harry said, gesturing towards the door.
Carrington and Harry both turned just in time to see Moore walking out of the class. She headed down the hall and before she turned the corner, a seventh year, Maxwell Edison, approached her, wearing a large smile.
“Seems he’s free now,” Carrington said. “Might I have a word with him… alone?”
“I’ll just be outside. Snape and I have business to discuss,” Harry said sharply.
Carrington glowered as he brushed past Harry and slammed the door. Irritated, Harry began to pace down the corridor. He could hear Moore and Edison still chatting just round the corner.
“What were you doing in Snape’s office?” Edison was asking in a strained voice.
“Just talking to him about a potion,” she said lightly. “Why?”
“Well I was hoping to catch you so I could ask you if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow. We have a free night.”
Moore hesitated. “I don’t know… I have to do some research.”
“We can go early,” Edison insisted.
“Well… alright, I suppose that will be fine, but I need to get back early.”
“Not a problem…” their voices trailed off as they walked down the corridor, away from Harry.
Harry remembered those carefree days. Well, maybe carefree was a bit of a stretch. He remembered the crushes he had at Hogwarts and what a disaster they had become. Perhaps that was why Harry ended up a complete pouf.
Feeling anxious again, Harry approached the door to Snape’s office just as it was opening. Carrington shot Harry a self-satisfied look as he marched down the corridor. Harry frowned and knocked lightly on Snape’s door.
Snape was now at his desk, face in his hands. “What bloody now?”
“Just me,” Harry said.
“I have a very foul headache, Potter. Is this important?”
“Just a bit,” Harry said. “We can go somewhere more comfortable if you’d prefer.”
“Such as?”
“My quarters,” Harry suggested.
Snape’s head snapped up and he frowned. “Your quarters?”
“I have a few questions about some of the staff and it’s more secure in there,” Harry said with a shrug.
“If you’re referring to that ponce, Carrington…”
“I am,” Harry said.
Snape sighed and then rose. “Fine, but I do hope you have a decent brandy.”
“If not we can send for some,” Harry said with a smile. He tried to ignore how happy he was that Snape was coming into his quarters with him.
They made the short walk to Harry’s room and before long, they were seated on Harry’s sofa with glasses of brandy.
“So what about Carrington makes you suspicious?” Snape asked after a few moments.
“He has an odd way of showing up everywhere I am,” Harry said. “Well, everywhere I am that you are, if that makes sense.”
“He’s been annoyingly present in my life since he started teaching here,” Snape said.
“Do you know anything about him?” Harry asked. “Besides that he aspires to become the next Gilderoy Lockhart.”
“And we can only hope he meets the same fate,” Snape muttered under his breath. “No, I don’t know much about him. I try to avoid talking with him as much as possible. He seems to be a decent professor, or at least he knows somewhat of his appointed subject.”
“But nothing suspicious?”
“He’s always acted strange,” Snape said with a shrug as he drank his brandy down and paused to pour another two fingers. “Not strange enough to rouse any of my suspicions, however.”
“He just seems to be around,” Harry said. “I’ve sent for some background information on him but it’s not arrived.”
“I highly doubt he’s your man,” Snape said lightly. “Then again, I don’t know who it could possibly be.”
“I’m keeping my eyes and ears open,” Harry said firmly. “I want to catch this murderer before another person is killed.”
“I do wish you luck,” Snape said, tipping his glass. “As much as I like to threaten my students with death, only a few I’ve ever taught have deserved it.”
“Weasleys?”
“Among others,” Snape said with a very slight smile. “Unfortunately none of those deserving have gotten theirs.”
“I do hope you aren’t referring to me, Professor,” Harry said with a wink.
“I think you’ve suffered yours enough,” Snape said, and he sounded serious. Snape paused to finish the rest of the brandy and waited for Harry to pour him another two fingers. He swallowed a bit and then said, “I really do not believe it’s Carrington.”
“I’m keeping an eye on him, though,” Harry said.
“Are you sure you’re not watching him for other reasons?” Snape muttered into his glass.
“I may be a totally obvious pouf,” Harry said with a small laugh, “but Carrington is not my type.”
Snape nearly spit out his mouthful of liquor. “You? A pouf? Are you not the same Harry Potter I caught with that Weasley brat?”
“The very same. Probably one of the reasons why I am so queer.” Harry paused and shook his head. “No, probably one of the things that made me notice I was a queer.”
“I see.”
Harry sat back against the sofa back, took a long sip of the brandy for courage and then asked, “How long have you been, Snape?”
Snape’s eyes locked on Harry. “Me?”
“You’re not obvious,” Harry said, “but I did happen to speak to Lockhart during one of my investigations from an incident at St Mungo’s. He may be completely mad but he remembers the strangest things.” Harry bit down on his lip a moment before saying, “And that must be the reason you hated me so much for the Chamber.”
“Lockhart sealed his own fate by being the fake and the idiot that he was. He should have stuck to hair care products,” Snape said.
“Regardless, I am sorry. I never meant for him to-”
“The past is the past,” Snape interjected quickly.
Realising how sore a subject it must be, Harry quieted. “So about you…”
“Why do you care?”
“Curious,” Harry said.
“Since I was seventeen.”
“Lupin?” Harry asked.
Snape said nothing but the flash in his eyes belied his attempt at aloof silence.
“It was the Shrieking Shack,” Harry said. “When you caught Remus and Sirius in each other’s arms I knew. Well I didn’t know right then because I was a child but thinking back on it, it was quite clear.”
“Since we’re ripping me apart,” Snape said a little meanly, “what about you. Who was your first?” Snape held up his hand, “Wait wait, let me guess… Malfoy?”
Harry let out a small laugh. “How could you tell? Don’t tell me it was the totally obvious way I stalked him in sixth year.”
“I think it was fairly obvious from year one,” Snape said dryly.
“He was quite pretty,” Harry said, “but he wasn’t my first. Malfoy would never have me.”
“So who might the first be?” Snape pressed.
Harry lifted an eyebrow. “Do you think you might venture a guess?”
“If you say the Weasley twins…” Snape warned.
“In my defence,” Harry pointed out with a big smile, “the twins have had nearly every man and woman in Britain. But no, they weren’t my first, and it was just Fred.”
“So…”
“Wood,” Harry said.
“Oliver Wood?” Snape asked with wide eyes. “That big, burly, Quidditch playing maniac?”
“The very same,” Harry said. “And he was probably one of the best I’ve ever had. We lasted a year, but our schedules didn’t work well.”
“How so?” Snape asked, slurring his words just a bit as he went in for a third round.
“Oliver travelled most of the Quidditch season and when he was home, he wasn’t satisfied with seeing me nightly. He wanted me more often than that. My job is far too demanding for that sort of thing. I can’t take time off and I don’t ever get home until well after dark.”
Snape sat back and scratched his chin. “So the first man you ever had sex with was Oliver Wood?”
“No!” Harry said. “My first relationship, which was what I was counting,” Harry said. “I don’t count one-offs and since I turned eighteen I refuse to have them.”
“I see,” Snape replied and stared at Harry with sleepy eyes. “And now? Who might the lucky man be?”
“Lucky man?” Harry asked curiously but Snape didn’t clarify so Harry answered him. “I’m alone. Been alone for years, now. I’m not interested in the bullshit half-arsed relationships anymore.”
“You sound like a woman,” Snape complained.
“I am gay,” Harry pointed out.
“And Carrington really isn’t your type?” Snape asked.
“No, not at all,” Harry said. “Why?”
“I’m just curious what your type is,” Snape said. “More of a Malfoy?”
“Do you mean my type to look at?” Harry questioned. “Malfoy does have that sort of look, as does his father. But I’ve never been attracted to a person like that for long.”
“Why not?”
“Because they’re usually like Lucius or Draco,” Harry said with a laugh and sipped his drink. He was feeling light headed and oddly comfortable with Snape this close to him. It didn’t even occur to him that it should be weird having Snape prod him about his love life. “I can’t be attracted to a person physically if I’m not attracted to them mentally.”
“So who is mentally attractive to you?” Snape asked.
“You are,” Harry blurted and then flushed deeply. “I mean… well I…”
“How so?” Snape demanded hotly.
Harry shifted in his seat and rubbed his face. “Well you’re smart,” Harry said lamely. He paused but Snape was clearly waiting for more. “You don’t bother with trite, pointless rubbish like who thinks what about the girl next door and what is more fashionable to wear. You prize knowledge and you pay attention to what’s around you. “
“And what of the fact that I hated you because you were your father’s son?” Snape asked.
“I saw exactly why…” Harry said and then hesitated, “well some of the reason why and I can’t say I blame you. You might have your moments, Snape, but we all do.”
“So you find me attractive?” Snape asked.
“Increasingly,” Harry admitted. “I didn’t want to tell you, but there it is.”
Snape nodded slowly, seemingly unsure of what to say. And then, before either man had a moment to say anything, Snape leant in and kissed Harry. It was a soft, chaste kiss, dry lips pressed against Harry’s, and then Snape’s face was gone.
Harry swallowed thickly and couldn’t take his eyes of Snape. “I…”
“I’m not sorry,” Snape said.
“Good,” Harry said.
“If you meant what you said,” Snape said.
“I did,” Harry said.
“Would you consider something perhaps… with me?”
“I never thought you’d consider me,” Harry gushed. “I never thought-” Before Harry could finish his thought, his mouth was occupied by a warm, prodding tongue. Snape’s hands wound round Harry’s waist and drew him closer.
Snape was warm. So very warm. Harry moaned and pressed himself as close to Snape as he could get. They couldn’t seem to get enough of each other, and though it was probably the alcohol making them think so, it just seemed so right.
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Harry woke before he opened his eyes. He could feel Snape next to him and was too terrified to let on he was awake. What if Snape had changed his mind? What if he had just been drunk… or fucking with his head?
Feeling panicked, Harry began to fidget a little. His cover was blown when he jumped as Snape touched his arm.
“Potter,” Snape said in a low, sleepy voice.
“I think you can call me Harry after last night,” Harry said a little tensely.
“Harry, then,” Severus replied and waited until Harry looked at him. “You can tell me what the problem is.”
“Do you actually care?” Harry asked.
“Oddly enough, yes.” Severus paused. “You seem extraordinarily uncomfortable.”
“I just didn’t know how waking up was going to be,” Harry confessed. “I know you said I act a bit like a woman at times, I won’t deny that either. I’m just not sure… I mean, last night do you remember… were you…”
“I was fully in control of myself,” Severus said. “I will not allow myself to be in situations where I do not know what is going on or what is truly on my mind. I will not say things that aren’t meant to be said, regardless of how much liquor is coursing through my body.”
“So you meant it?”
“I do not sleep with people randomly either, Mr Potter.”
“Harry,” he corrected.
Severus rolled his eyes, but playfully. He reached out and pulled Harry in for a kiss. The kiss was short lived, however, because a loud pounding at Harry’s door interrupted their morning play.
With a groan, Harry pushed back the covers, climbed out of the warm bed and fetched his dressing gown. He wasn’t sure how debauched he looked as he walked to his front door and flung it open.
All thoughts of appearance were thrown out the window when Harry laid eyes on a very frazzled, nearly panicked Minerva McGonagall. “Harry, oh my, it’s happened!”
“What’s happened?” Harry demanded, pulling her inside.
“Another one!” she hissed as Harry closed the door. “I’ve just got word.”
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know,” she said, wringing her hands. “I’ve just been informed by Madame Rosmerta down in Hogsmeade. She believes it’s a student! I came to you straight away. I thought you might need to inform your-” Just then, Severus walked into the room and Minerva fell quiet. Her eyes darted from Severus to Harry. “I…” she said.
“It’s okay, he knows,” Harry said with a wave of his hand, totally unconcerned about anything but the attack.
“I see… I…” she said and looked at Severus again. “Well, we must go now, Rosmerta has everything quiet but it likely won’t last long unless we take immediate control of the situation.”
Harry nodded and both he and Snape rushed to change. “I’m coming with you,” Snape said as they pulled on their robes, socks and shoes.
“I thought as much,” Harry said. “I’m not calling in any of my team until we can be certain of exactly what happened.”
“And what do you plan to tell Minerva?”
“About what?” Harry asked. “Clearly she knows that you know.”
“About finding me here in the morning,” Snape said.
“Ah. Tell her whatever you wish. I’ve never intended on keeping anything a secret but if it makes it easier for you-”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Snape said. Before they reached the bedroom door, Snape kissed Harry again. “You’re shaking,” he said. “There’s still a chance it’s not a student.”
“If it is,” Harry said and paused, shaking his head, “I can’t let more children die, Severus. I can’t.”
“We’ll figure this out,” Snape promised and together they headed out.
They made the walk to Hogsmeade in half the usual time and met Rosmerta outside the Three Broomsticks. Rosmerta looked positively hysterical and could barely form sentences as she led them inside to the back room.
Behind stacked tables and chairs, a body lay under a sheet. Blood stained the sheet covering the body but otherwise there was no sign of a struggle. Harry walked round the body for a while, not touching it quite yet.
“I don’t think the murder happened here,” he said. He scratched his chin and scribbled a few things out on a piece of parchment. “Is she identifiable?” he asked the hysterical innkeeper.
“Yes, I knew who she was straight away,” Rosmerta said through her tears.
Harry knelt down beside the head and slowly pulled back the sheet. It made a sickening sound, as the sheet had adhered to the head wound, but when the sheet pulled away from the face, Harry immediately recognised the student. It was the young girl he had seen in Snape’s office.
“Joan Moore,” Snape whispered.
Harry looked over at Snape who had gone paler, if possible, and his hands had a very slight tremble to them. “When did you find her?” Harry asked.
“Early this morning,” Rosmerta said. “She was just… just… lying here. I couldn’t… I mean…”
“It’s okay, you did the right thing,” Harry said. He stood up and walked round the body. “I’m positive this girl wasn’t killed here. We need to transport her back to Hogwarts and deal with it from there.”
“How?” Minerva whispered.
“Transfigure her,” Harry said. “We’ll carry her back carefully and I can do a more thorough investigation of her body.”
With shaking hands, Minerva pulled out her wand and turned the body and the sheet into a large handbag. She bent down to pick it up but couldn’t make herself touch the thing.
“I’ll get it,” Harry said and approached Rosmerta who was silently crying.
“I knew her. She was always so sweet and pleasant. A lot of the other students didn’t like her, she was a lot like Severus, you know, broody and sarcastic, but I knew her. She wasn’t a bad girl.”
“We’ll find her killer, I promise,” Harry said, embracing her lightly. “Please get some sleep. Shut down the pub until tomorrow and take some time. Please.”
Rosmerta nodded mutely and watched Harry gingerly lift the handbag and carry it out of the pub. The three professors made their way back up to the castle, unnoticed and silent. When they got to the hospital wing, Poppy sectioned off a bed for them and Minerva changed the body back.
Harry pulled the sheet completely from the body and saw the girl’s robes were sprinkled in blood and bits of bone. She wasn’t wearing shoes but she still had her thick, woollen socks on, though the bottoms were completely clean.
“She was killed inside somewhere,” Harry said and began to write more. He did a silent examination of the body, scribbling page after page of notes. When he finally looked up, he saw Snape sitting in a chair, staring at the body. Minerva had long-since retired from the scene, her nerves clearly shot.
“Severus,” Harry said quietly.
Snape started a bit. “What?”
“You knew this girl well.”
“She was one of my top students,” he said.
Harry knelt beside Severus’ chair and took his hand. “This is my fault.”
Severus looked at Harry with a fierce glare. “How dare you say that? Did you murder this girl?”
“No,” Harry said solemnly, “but I haven’t done my job. I should have stopped this killer before another person was hurt.”
“It is not your fault,” Severus hissed, squeezing Harry’s hand tightly. “If you believe that, you really are a fool. And I cannot love a fool.”
Harry licked his lips and looked down. “I don’t mean to blame myself, Severus, but people so young are not supposed to die.”
Severus nodded silently, stroking the top of Harry’s hand with his thumb. “A lot of things were never supposed to happen, but they did.”
“I just need to catch this maniac and be done with it.”
Severus let Harry’s hand go. “Where do we start?”
“Her quarters,” Harry said. “I’ll get Minerva to fill my class and I’m going to investigate her bedroom.”
“I’m going to help you,” Snape said, and it was clear from his face that there was no way Harry could dissuade him from that notion.
Minerva made sure all the students would be away from their rooms for several hours and both Harry and Severus had their classes covered. Luckily for the investigation, Joan Moore was Head Girl so she had her own quarters. There would likely be no surprise visits from any of the students while they were searching.
Standing in front of the door, Harry cast a charm to find out if any spells had been used on the door but there were none. “She probably let them in willingly,” he said.
“Or the door was unlocked,” Snape said dryly as he tried the knob and found it open.
Harry let out a tense laugh as they walked inside. They were momentarily startled by the state of the room when they entered. It was clear the girl had been murdered right there. Blood covered the door, the wall and the floor. Her things were in complete disarray, papers, books and clothes flung everywhere.
Harry bit his lip and walked round the chaos for several moments. “This was done after she was murdered. This wasn’t done during a struggle.”
“How can you tell?” Snape demanded.
“Because of the state of her body. I’d say it was likely she was killed without warning. Her body doesn’t show any signs of struggle at all. I think whomever did this to her went through her things.”
“So what now?” Snape asked.
“We go through her things to find out what they were looking for.”
Snape sighed but followed Harry along, picking through every fallen piece of paper, item of clothing and book lying about. It wasn’t until an hour later when Harry finally came upon something.
Covered in streaks of blood, placed in a haphazard pile, were a stack of torn out journal entries written by Moore. They had been crumpled with bloodied hands and left in a corner beside the wardrobe.
“Severus I’ve found something,” Harry said, reading over the pages.
“What is it?”
“Her diary entries,” Harry said. “Bloody handprints all over them.”
“Anything you can use?”
“Possibly,” Harry said and stood up. “There’s more… involving you.”
“Me?” Snape demanded.
“She was in love with you,” Harry said softly.
“What?” Snape hissed. “In love with me?”
Harry handed over the entries which were full of; Snape did this, Snape said that, Snape is the only one I can trust. Snape is the perfect man for me, I just need to make him see that.
Severus read over a few pages and then handed them back to Harry. “I never noticed. I merely thought she was passionate about the subject.”
“She was,” Harry said solemnly, “but for different reasons than you thought.”
“I was supposed to meet with her tonight. That would have been,” Snape trailed off.
“Awkward,” Harry offered.
“Can we go? I really need a drink.”
“It’s early,” Harry said, taking Snape’s hand. “Can we try tea until later tonight?”
“If you insist,” Snape said and followed Harry back to Harry’s quarters. There, Harry fetched tea, packed up his notes and sent Hedwig along to his office with them. As they sat on the sofa, Harry went over the past twenty-four hours, trying to see if he had missed anything.
“I did see her in your office,” Harry said, thinking hard. “And… and Carrington was there.”
“I doubt he’s so much as looked her way,” Snape muttered.
“No, but he has looked your way,” Harry pointed out. “He always turns up when I’m trying to see you.”
“Anyone else you noticed?” Snape asked, changing the subject.
“Just that other boy, what’s he called… Edison?”
“Maxwell?” Snape asked.
“Offered to take her to Hogsmeade,” Harry said. “Of course she was killed here, in her room, so I doubt the two of them made it down to Hogsmeade.”
“That boy is rather weird, though,” Snape said. “Perhaps we can ask him a few questions.”
“I’ll have one of my team do it after the students have been informed and they perform a second investigation. I can’t look involved.”
Snape sighed and rubbed his face hard. “I didn’t think it was going to come down to this.”
“Neither did I,” Harry said. “And this is one of the many reasons I can’t stay in a relationship.”
Severus’ eyes snapped up. “You don’t think I can handle this stress?”
“Well I-”
“You’re speaking to a former Death Eater who had the stomach to murder Albus Dumbledore.”
“On orders,” Harry stressed.
“Could you have done it, orders or no?” Snape demanded. “I’m surprised you have the stomach to look me in the face.”
Harry grabbed Snape’s hand. “I know you, Severus, and I know what you had to do. I know what we all had to do. At this point we’re all murderers in some way, and all have our demons. If we can’t handle that about each other, I think we’re doomed.”
Severus licked his lips and took a long drink of his tea. “It’s difficult, but I think I can handle it, if you can.”
“Happily,” Harry said.
The corners of Snape’s mouth twitched up, an attempt to smile, and it warmed Harry’s heart. He hadn’t expected this during his stay at Hogwarts but he wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
--------------------------------------
The Aurors arrived several hours later and as they did their investigation, Minerva informed the student body as well as the staff. The girl’s family had been informed already and her body had already been taken away.
They weren’t any closer to catching the killer and Harry kept his eyes open, watching everyone in the crowd, especially Carrington, when Minerva broke the bad news. Everyone seemed in deep shock, however, and no one gave anything away.
In the corridor, after the dinner, Harry heard a couple of girls chatting that made him wonder. “That killer did us a huge favour,” one girl said.
“I know. God, she was so weird, always moaning after Snape.”
“I heard Maxwell was crying, though.”
“Yeah well he’s just sensitive. He doesn’t like when bad things happen.”
“We should go check on him!”
“What are you doing?” came a quiet voice behind Harry that made him jump.
Harry turned and saw Severus standing there. “Those girls,” he said, pointing to them as they walked by, “Who are they?”
“Rose Peck and Valerie Tisch. Sixth year Gryffindors, why?”
“They weren’t speaking very highly of Joan.”
“None of the students liked her much,” Snape said.
“I see,” Harry said. “They also said they saw Edison crying.”
“Like I said, rather weird,” Snape said. “So what do you have to do now?”
“My team will compare their evidence with mine and then they’ll let me know if any leads have come up. Otherwise, I keep doing what I’m doing.”
“I’m exhausted,” Snape said.
“Shall we go to bed?” Harry offered.
“In mine. I can’t leave Slytherin quarters again. I’m Head of House.”
Harry nodded and followed Snape down to the dungeons. Snape’s bed was cold but the two of them managed to warm it rather quickly. Sweating and exhausted, they lay in each other’s arms, enjoying the dark of the night.
“What happens when you’re done here?” Snape asked.
“What do you mean?”
“When you stop teaching,” Snape pointed out.
“I’m not in this for a short go,” Harry said. “We’ll work something out.”
Snape kissed the back of Harry’s shoulder lightly. “You’re always in danger of death, aren’t you?”
“But I have my dumb Potter luck,” Harry said with a sleepy laugh. “Try not to worry.”
-------------------------------------
Weeks passed without a single lead. Harry kept on what he was doing but no one gave a single clue. He and Snape drew closer, which was wonderful, despite the reason Harry was actually there. He never thought he could love someone like Snape but he was rapidly changing his mind.
They were rarely alone in their quarters, and Harry actually found the constant company pleasant. The students were taking the death rather well, though Harry didn’t expect different. It would have been the same as Crabbe or Goyle dying in his own school years. When it was Cedric, however, the school body was devastated.
Harry tried not to think of his past, though. He needed to focus on the present and solve this case. He didn’t know, and how could he, that the case was rapidly coming to an end.
Severus and Harry were in the staff room, kissing slowly beside the door, when Carrington walked in unexpectedly. The two men broke apart slowly, not caring that they had been seen.
“Oh,” Carrington said with wide eyes. “I didn’t mean to interrupt; though I hadn’t been informed the staff lounge was a place for teenaged sex.”
“Funny,” Harry said.
Carrington’s usual smile was gone from his face, replaced with a nasty glare. “Honestly, do you think that’s professional behaviour?”
“I think it’s none of your business,” Snape drawled.
“It is when I walk in on it.”
“Don’t you have a class?” Snape asked.
“I let them out early today,” he said. “Why, are you going to be in charge of my curriculum now?”
“I’m not getting involved in a childish row,” Harry said, throwing up his hands. “I’m going to finish preparing my lesson plans. I’ll see you tonight, Severus.” Harry kissed Severus again deliberately before walking out of the lounge.
Snape and Carrington had a stare-off for a few minutes before Snape decided it was stupid and headed out of the room. Carrington was close behind him, though, and quickly grabbed Snape’s arm.
Snape stopped in mid-step and wrenched his arm away from Carrington. “What do you want?”
“Why Potter? I thought you were different. I didn’t think you’d be a celebrity chaser too.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed. “Trust me; I do not love Harry for his celebrity.”
“Don’t tell me it’s his wit or charm,” he said with a sneer.
“It’s none of your business,” Snape hissed.
Carrington grabbed Snape by the shoulders and shoved him against the wall. “It is when I’ve loved you from the moment we met. It’s all my business.” With that, Carrington pressed his mouth to Snape’s, kissing him hard. “You have to love me! Why can’t you love me!” he asked against Severus’ mouth
Snape reached for his wand but before he could grab it, they heard a gasp and both turned. Edison was standing there, looking both shocked and ill. “Professors?”
Carrington let Snape go and took a step back. “Why aren’t you in class?”
“You let us go early,” Edison reminded him. “What are you doing to Professor Snape?”
“What adults do is none of your concern,” Carrington said.
“It is when you were trying to force him to kiss you,” Edison hissed. “You bastard. You disgusting bastard! What makes you think someone like Snape would love a disgusting, foul ponce like you, Carrington?”
Both professors were shocked by the harsh words. “I’ll let you dish out a detention,” Snape said quietly, “and I’ll deal with you later. And believe me, I will deal with you.”
As Snape walked away, he heard Carrington say, “Tonight, my office, eight o’clock. If you’re late your house will lose all their points.”
Snape hurried off to find Harry and tell him what had just happened. Snape wasn’t sure it actually meant anything, but he wanted to make sure Harry knew.
--------------------------------------
At eight o’clock that evening, Maxwell Edison showed up at Carrington’s office and was ordered to do lines. The boy set his rucksack down and took up his quill, ink and parchment. With a satisfied smirk, Carrington turned back to his own work; plotting how to rid Snape of Harry Potter.
“I’m still positive Carrington is a suspect,” Harry said after dinner that night. He and Snape were lounging on his sofa, sipping coffee and talking.
“I don’t know,” Severus said. “He was forceful but he didn’t seem dangerous.”
“Severus-” Harry warned.
Severus held up his hand. “Just let me deal with this man. I think it’s nothing more than a fancy.”
“I fancied you, but I’d never do that to you.”
“He’s different. He’s…”
“Insane,” Harry offered.
Severus snorted and kissed Harry lightly. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Snape checked his watch and saw it was nearly nine o’clock. “I’m sure the detention has finished. I’m going to talk to him and finish this once and for all.”
“I’m going with you,” Harry insisted.
“Even if he is the killer,” Snape said, “I used to work for Voldemort. I can handle a child murderer.”
“If you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m coming after you,” Harry said.
“Deal,” Severus said and kissed Harry once more before leaving.
The walk to Carrington’s office was quite short and he wasn’t prepared for what he was about to find. The door was cracked open and Snape reached out, slowing pushing it open. He gasped. There was Maxwell, standing over Carrington’s fallen body. Blood covered the floor, the wall and Maxwell.
In the boy’s hand was a large, heavy silver hammer, also dripping with blood and gore. Maxwell turned his head when Snape walked in and Snape saw how crazed the boy’s eyes looked. “Finally he saw my point,” Maxwell said with a hysterical laugh. “Said he loved you. Said you’d love him. What a fucking fool, just like that idiot, Moore. Thinks you’d love her because she liked your potions. They’re idiots. They all should have known you love me.”
He didn’t dare move. “Put the hammer down, Edison.”
“My name is Maxwell,” the boy said, eyes flashing.
“Maxwell,” Snape corrected. “Drop the hammer.”
The boy let it clatter to the floor loudly. Snape winced but didn’t move from his spot. “Fucking fools,” he said.
“Why did you kill him?”
“I knocked sense into him,” he said and then let out another hysterical giggle. “He would never have known. He’d never leave us alone.”
Thinking on his toes, Severus reached for his wand but before he could speak an incantation, Maxwell had the hammer again. It crashed down over Severus head hard. “Harry!” Severus cried.
He heard one thing before he went down, “You said Harry!?” And then the world went black.
----------------------------------------
Feeling nervous, Harry decided to break his vow of ten minutes and headed out of his quarters. He had a bad feeling and he just wanted to make sure that all was well. As he neared the office, however, Harry noticed red markings on the floor. Bending down, Harry touched the mark and felt the wetness.
“Blood,” he whispered.
The next thing Harry heard was a whooshing sound. Reacting on instinct, Harry rolled to the side and heard a loud clang as metal hit the stone floor. Harry’s eyes shot up and saw Maxwell Edison standing there, holding a bloody hammer.
“What are you doing?” Harry demanded.
“He said your name,” Maxwell sobbed. “He’s not supposed to love you! He loves me! He can’t love me if you’re still alive so-”
Harry didn’t let the boy finish. He whipped out his wand and stunned him. When the boy was down, Harry quickly bound his body and rushed off to Carrington’s office. When he walked in, he was in complete shock to see Carrington lying dead and Snape injured badly. Snape had been hit once in the head and blood was trickling from the wound.
Harry fell to his knees and touched the side of Snape’s neck. He was alive. Levitating the body, Harry rushed Snape to the hospital wing and threw him at Poppy. “I have the killer,” he gasped.
“Oh my! Oh Snape! Who?”
“I need to find Minerva,” Harry said. “Please… please save him. Don’t let him die.” Hating to walk away, Harry knew what he had to do. Rushing out of the Hospital, Harry rushed to Minerva’s office and brought her down to the bloody hallway.
Minerva gasped, pressing her hand to her chest. “Mr Edison?”
Harry quickly told all he knew in one breath and showed Minerva the murder scene. “I thought it was Carrington,” Harry admitted. “Clearly I was looking in the wrong place.”
“I’m going to secure this corridor so no one sees the mess. Can you take care of the boy?”
Harry nodded and took the unconscious body of the murdering teen to Minerva’s office. From there, Harry was able to contact the Ministry who sent people along straight away. When the boy had been safely carried away, out of Hogwarts and unable to hurt anyone else, Harry went down to the Hospital wing where Minerva was watching over Severus.
“Has he woken, yet?”
“He won’t wake for a while,” Poppy said. “I’ve given him a few things so he can heal.”
“But he will be okay?” Harry asked.
Poppy nodded. “Luckily.”
When Poppy walked away, Harry leant in to Minerva. “Maxwell didn’t mean for him to die. I think he wanted him disabled so he could kill me.”
Minerva shook her head. “That boy… I just don’t understand.”
“I think a few people have said the same thing about Tom Riddle,” Harry muttered.
Minerva smiled just a little. “Perhaps you’re right. But Carrington and Miss Moore…”
“I wish I could have figured it out sooner,” Harry said, bowing his head.
“But you did figure it out and you saved Severus’ life.”
“I should have gone with him,” Harry whispered.
Minerva took Harry’s hands. “I’ve never seen Severus love anyone before you, Harry. He’ll be fine and I think you two are going to be exactly what you both have needed for a long time. Now, I have to go tidy up a few things and I know Carrington has family that needs to know about this.”
Harry nodded and didn’t move until Minerva was out of the room. When the door shut, Harry walked to Severus’ side and without hesitation, climbed into the bed with him. Severus let out a small groan as Harry shifted things until he was comfortable.
In his deep coma-like state, Severus still managed to get his arm round Harry and only then could Harry fall asleep.
When morning came, Harry opened his eyes to see Snape staring down at him. Snape was no longer bandaged and his eyes looked clear. “Lazy arse,” Snape muttered.
Harry laughed and sat up a bit. Snape’s arm was still wrapped round him tightly and he didn’t loosen his grip at all. “When did you wake up?”
“The potions wore off sometime before dawn,” Severus said. “I’ve spoken with Poppy already and she says a few days of bed rest and I’ll be ready to go back to teaching.”
“I see,” Harry said, unable to look Snape in the eyes.
“You’re blaming yourself and I want you to stop. You did what I asked you to do and you also saved my life.”
“Poppy saved your life, I merely brought you here,” Harry said.
“You don’t think that if Edison had got back to me he wouldn’t have finished me off?” Snape pressed.
“He loved you.”
“He was also psychotic and would have killed me in the end,” Snape said. He pressed a kiss to the top of Harry’s head. “You did what you were supposed to do.”
“I wish it had been sooner,” Harry said. “I was watching the wrong person.”
“No one would have guessed,” Severus insisted. “I was in total shock.” Harry bowed his head, nodded and said nothing. “What’s happening to him now?”
“He’s being detained. There will be a trial, then he’ll be sentenced. You and I will both have to testify as witnesses, especially you since you were so severely injured.”
“What will they do with him?” Severus asked.
“Depends on the judge,” Harry said.
“Are you okay?” Severus finally asked. “Did he hurt you?”
“He didn’t manage to get me,” Harry said. He took in a shaking breath. “When I saw you lying there and the blood and I was so afraid-”
“I told you I have faced much worse. You won’t lose me like that, Mr Potter, let me assure you.”
Harry snuggled down into Severus’ side, feeling particularly clingy in that moment, as one tends to feel when they almost lose their lover to a maniac. “Can I live here with you?”
“And teach?” Severus asked, holding Harry tightly.
“No, I’ll keep on with my work. But if you’ll have me every night-”
“Did you think you had to ask?” Severus asked.
Harry lifted his face for a gentle kiss. “I think I love you.”
“You can keep those sappy sentiments to yourself, if it’s all the same to you,” Severus said dryly.
“I’ll take that as an I love you too.”
“You know me so well already,” Severus said with an eye roll. He paused and then kissed Harry harder. “How soon can you move your things in?”
“Tomorrow,” Harry said with a laugh.
“Just don’t touch any of my things and all will be well,” Severus said, but this time it was clear he was saying it with a smile. “I wouldn’t change anything for the world, Harry, and I hope you believe that.”
-------------------------------------
Four months before Maxwell was well enough to sit in front of a judge. The Wizengamot was preceded by Cornelius Fudge, who was no longer Minster for Magic, but still Chief Warlock and well respected in the Wizarding community. Fudge had since learnt his lesson about jumping to conclusions and had become a fair judge.
Both Harry and Severus were pleased he was overseeing the trial. When it began, Edison appeared in the centre of the room, bound magically to a char. He looked tired, ragged from his stay in prison and no longer looked like a seventeen year old boy. He turned his head and attempted to lock eyes with Severus but Severus would not give him such pleasures.
The trial began quietly enough, Harry and Severus giving testimony. A few other people had been brought in in defence of Edison’s character, most importantly the two students Valerie Tisch and Rose Peck. They defended Edison’s character with extreme passion but it was clear Fudge would not be swayed.
Fudge opened his mouth to deliver the sentence. “Maxwell Edison, your case has been heard and deciding the sentence in this case was not difficult for me…”
“Let him go!” Valerie screamed hysterically.
“He’s innocent!” Rose chorused.
“Silence!” Fudge bellowed, “Or you will be arrested as well. Maxwell Edison, it is my decree that you-”
Fudge couldn’t finish the words. Somehow, as Fudge began to deliver the sentence, Edison managed to free himself from the bindings, grabbed the hammer from the evidence pile and flew at fudge. The hammer glinted in the light of the torches just before it crashed down on Fudge’s head.
The entire court was in such shock that Maxwell had got Fudge three times before he was caught and restrained. Blood splattered over most of the Wizengamot. People were screaming and crying and Maxwell was grinning insanely.
Severus and Harry had risen to their feet, wands drawn and pointed at Maxwell but it was clear the boy was restrained. Fudge, who had been mortally wounded, had slumped to the floor beside his chair, blood oozing down to the floor.
A medi-wizard had been called but it was clear nothing could be done. In the insanity, the court was let out, Maxwell was detained once more and Harry and Severus found themselves in the corridor, pressed against the wall to avoid the mad rush of people.
“You know what this means for Maxwell now, don’t you?” Harry whispered.
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Severus said.
“The Veil,” Harry said. “He was probably going to be bound and detained for a good portion of his life but Fudge is dead. There’s no chance for him to live now.”
Severus swallowed and nodded. “How can a child so young be such a killer?”
“Something is clearly wrong with him,” Harry said. “It’s too late for that now. No one will take that into account. Not when he murdered the Chief Warlock in the middle of his trial. He’s walking dead now.”
“Do you want to petition for his life?” Severus asked.
Harry looked down at his feet. “Remembering what he did to you,” he said and trailed off. “Do you think me a heartless bastard for saying no?”
Severus laughed and pulled Harry close to him. “I would kill him myself, if I possibly could. Do you think I am cruel?”
“I think you’re human,” Harry said. “And I love you.”
Severus hesitated and Harry was expecting the don’t be so sappy comment. This time, however, Severus cupped Harry’s cheek and said, “I love you too. Now, let’s go home. We’ve done enough here.”
Harry nodded and together they walked out of the Ministry, glad to be rid of it for a while. They just wanted a little time to forget. A little time to forget and just be.