Author: Parseltongue
Title: Oubliette
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Harry – Severus
Rating: NC-17 for content - just to be on the safe side.
Warning: Death of a minor furry character (and no, it’s not Sirius! He is after all, Canus Major!) This started out light & fluffy and then my muse hijacked it!
Betas: La Mort Cramoisi. Oreacat. Thank you both. Your suggestions and editing skills have helped to make this a better story. Any remaining errors are solely mine.
Summary/challenge: A couple of your own choosing gets stuck somewhere together and have to share a very small space.
Part of the Cliché Fuh-Q-Fest.
Author’s Notes: Longer than the damn story! (Well, almost). The Harry I write about is 18. He’s legal!
I’ve mucked with the facts and timeline, too, so, this is AU as well. I’ve totally disregarded OoTP. Sirius is still alive and well and annoying the hell out of Snape.
My were-folk can change at times other than the full moon. The change is still forced on them by Luna but there is some freedom of will also.
Any similarities between this story and another are coincidental and I apologise in advance to any other author already published if my work even remotely resembles theirs.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Arthur & Ginny Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, etc. They belong to JK Rowling and to whomever she sold the rights. I am making no money from this. It is a piece of fan fiction and as such is written for pleasure – mine and anyone else who cares to read it.
Oubliette: a dungeon with no opening but at the top: a secret pit in the floor of a dungeon into which a victim could be precipitated. From the French – oublier, to forget – Latin – oblivisci – to forget.
Oubliette
“Only you, Potter, could land us in this predicament!”
“Sev, it wasn’t my fault!”
“I told you not to touch that… tawdry piece of … of …”
“Rubbish?”
“It was not rubbish! A fifteen hundred year old ring is not considered rubbish!”
“If you say so, Sev. Personally I think the thirty-two emeralds surrounded by thirty-seven diamonds topped with a ruby the size of a pigeon’s egg made the ring downright ugly. Just like Voldemort to covet something as disgustingly overdone as that rock pile.”
“Be that as it may. I warned you not to touch it, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but…”
“But oh, no, you had to go and touch it …”
“I didn’t have a choice, if you recall. You were on top of me!”
“I was not on top of you!”
“You were, too!”
“I was pushed!”
“By who?”
“By whom …”
“Oh, by Merlin’s hairy balls! Who fucking shoved you, you prat?"
“Language Potter!”
“Oh, shut up!”
A rush of rustlings, dry, hollow rattling, groans and grunts followed the snarled retort.
“Ouch! You impertinent brat, get off me!”
“I’m trying to!”
“Stop squirming you inconsiderate whelp!”
“I’m trying to get to my wand.”
“Oh, is that what it’s called these days? And here I was thinking you just wanted a quick grope.”
“God, you’re insufferable at times.”
More muffled rustlings and a definite squeak before all movement stilled.
“Hear that?”
“Of course I heard it, Potter.”
“Sounded like a rat!”
“What only one?”
“Ah, ha! Lumos!”
The white light from the wand tip made both men wince and squint. Silence for several heartbeats before rustling once more commenced. Harry gulped, loudly.
“I didn’t know rats could grow that big, did you, Sev?”
Silence.
“Sev?”
Light, shaky breathing near his ear made Harry look closely at his companion. Severus’ eyes were riveted on the huge rodent calmly washing its whiskers two feet from where they were entangled in each other.
“Harry?”
“Yes, Sev?”
“Do you have any scruples about using an Unforgivable again?”
The usually mellifluent voice was raspy, with a slight tinge of panic threaded through it.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because if you don’t want to turn furry once a month for the rest of your life I suggest you use it. THAT is a were-rat!”
“It is?”
“Yes!”
“And I can’t just use the immobilising spell on it?”
“What! You slept through your DADA classes as well as my potions classes? One tiny little scratch from THAT and …”
“No, but what …”
“That were-creature is less susceptible to ordinary magic courtesy of the late and never to be missed reptilian nemesis of yours. He LOVED were-rats! He fed them on a special diet of HUMANS!”
“EEEEWWWWW!”
“Oh, so eloquent, Potter! I am quite sure THAT hasn’t had the chance to dine since the finally departed madman was disassembled and turned to dust by you-know-who. It’s likely to be EXCEEDINGLY hungry. So, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble would you please immolate the bugger so we can try and get out of here before some of his friends decide to turn up for hors- d’oeuvres, namely, us.”
“But … if it’s a were-rat like you say…”
“Yes?”
“It’s … human. I can’t just …”
“Oh, please, save me from Gryffindor ethics! THAT hasn’t been HUMAN since it took its first snack on a human being!”
“You don’t know that for sure!”
“Oh, yes, I bloody well do! I was there, Potter, when Riddle cast the spell on the first of the were-rats! I KNOW what he did to them. Believe me, if this one could talk it would ask you to
put it out of its misery. It may very well have been human once but not anymore. That insane monster FORCED the change on the rats, bid them bring others to him in their form and then, bound his hex to their souls! To seal the binding he used bone and blood all wrapped up in a virgin human sacrifice!”
“That’s … that’s …”
“Disgusting, immoral, unconscionable, reprehensible, odious, vile. Yes, I know! Would you PLEASE put that thing out of its misery! Or if you can’t, shift out the way and let me do it!”
“No!”
“Harry, please …”
“I’ll do it.”
Harry turned to face the rat, his wand raised. The rodent stopped washing its whiskers and turned to face them. Harry gasped. Instead of the beady black eyes he’d been expecting this one’s eyes were ruby red. The lips curled back to reveal three-inch, glistening, sickle-shaped, white fangs. The were-rat raised its front paws and flexed them. Light bounced off razor sharp black claws. The large, hairless, pink tail slid lazily side to side.
“Be careful, Harry, the tail is just as lethal, and …”
The rat leapt straight at them, mouth open, claws flexing, its screeching searing their eardrums.
“Avada Kedavra!”
Green fire leapt from the tip of Harry’s wand and struck the rat square in the chest. It dropped and twitched, then the edges blurred and before them lay a form Harry recognised from his school days.
“Oh, God, it’s… it’s... Edmund…. Brocklehurst. He ...he sat behind Draco in Potions class. I ...I … never knew.”
Harry turned dazed eyes on Severus.
“Did you …?”
Snape shook his head.
“He was not a Were whilst at school, Harry. Albus has a list of all the Were-students and his name was not on the list. I would have known if he had turned once a month. I would have delivered a potion to him as I did the others that required it and I would have helped to keep him sequestered during the change, as he was a member of my house. No, this cruelty had to have happened during his last summer home. I am sorry. If I had known I would have …”
“Spared me the task?”
“Yes.”
“What’s one more corpse to my growing list?”
“Don’t …”
“Don’t what! Blame myself for another death? Why not? I have so many, what’s one more? I’m so very good at killing people, just ask my friends. You know, Sev, associating with me is
very bad for people’s prospects for a long and healthy life. I mean, just ask, Hermione or Ron or Hagrid… or … oh, silly me. You can’t, they’re dead. And I’m alive. I’m the Boy Who Lived!
And now I’ve killed, again. Another name for the tally of the great Harry Potter, slayer of all and sundry! The ministry might as well just make me their Executioner, I’m doing the deed often enough! ”
He drew in a ragged breath and swallowed, hard.
“I’m turning into a monster. It’s getting easier.”
Severus winced at the whispered words and reached out and drew the shaking figure close, enfolding him in his arms, tucking his head under his chin. Harry buried his face in the folds of the potions master’s robes and shook.
Several minutes passed before there was a muffled, shuddery breath. Harry raised his head, tears held in check and eased from the embrace and sat up. He sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. Severus wrinkled his nose.
“That’s disgusting!”
Harry nodded, and sniffed.
“Yes, it is, but I can’t find my handkerchief.”
Snape snorted and raised an eyebrow.
“You mean mine, don’t you?”
“Would you like it back when I’ve finished with it?”
Snape shuddered.
“No, I would not!”
Harry looked down at his hands. He stared at his wand.
“Ollivander knew.”
“What?”
“Ollivander knew. When … when the wand chose me he said that there was only one other wand like mine. That it had done great things, terrible things, but great things none the less. I suppose he says that about me now, too.“
He gave a hollow laugh.
“How prophetic of him? I wonder if Fawkes knew?”
“Knew what, Harry?”
“To what Darkness his tail feathers would end up serving.”
“You’re control it better than most. We all have a Dark side. Look what mine led me to do.”
“But …”
“I have spent the rest of my life trying to make up for the reprehensible actions of my youth. We all do things we regret. Remember this. You showed more mercy than the Ministry does. Things have not changed for the Were-folk accused of murder. They are still bound in silver chains, tied down on a table and their throats are cut with a silver knife. You have spared him the terror of that. If for no other reason he would thank you for the painless passing.”
“How …?”
“Do I know of this?”
Harry nodded.
Severus sighed, and lowered his eyes.
“Five years before you arrived at Hogwarts a student ran away into the Forbidden Forest. Several other students had bullied him unceasingly and he couldn’t stand the harassment any longer. He was bitten by a werewolf before Albus and I could rescue him. We took him to the infirmary and Poppy treated the bite. He seemed fine and returned to classes. As the first full moon after his bite neared I kept a close eye on him and brewed the Wolfsbane potion for him. On the night of the full moon he drank it and I left to see to the other students affected by Luna.”
Severus drew in a deep, steadying breath.
“What happened?”
“He changed and at midnight, broke the wards on his door and went hunting. Albus and I managed to reach him as he launched himself at one of his harassers and stupefy him, but not before he’d bitten the ringleader. The boy was hysterical and spewed all manner of vile words at us. He owled his parents and there was an enquiry. The werewolf was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to die. As he was a member of my house I was required to be present as was the ‘victim’, so that justice was seen to be done. Thomas … was absolutely
… terrified. He was a child, twelve years old and sobbing from the burning pain caused by the silver chains. When, …when they placed him on the table he … his demeanour changed. He
laughed and told Roderick he was glad he was going to die. There wouldn’t be any more pain for him but for the rest of his life Roderick would know what being an outcast and tormented was all about.”
“Where was Thomas’ family?”
“They refused to attend. They disowned him.”
“Poor kid.”
“Yes.”
“What happened after … after the Ministry murdered Thomas?”
Dark eyes flicked to emerald green and then down to entwined fingers. Severus spared a brief thought as to when their fingers had become entwined and then marshalled his thoughts.
“The Were-folk left Hogwarts and went to Durmstrang. They refused to stay where there was such injustice. They were gone by the time I returned from the Ministry. On orders from Cornelius Fudge no further students who turned at the full moon were to be accepted to Hogwarts. The ban is still in force today, though Albus....”
“But … but that’s so narrow minded. With proper precautions they‘re perfectly safe. I mean look at Remus. He ... he’s fine with the Wolfsbane. Perhaps if the Were-folk had been treated more fairly they wouldn’t have sided with Voldemort. Merlin! As you sow so shall ye reap! This policy has got to change, Sev!”
“Yes, I agree. But it can wait until we are free of wherever we are.”
Harry nodded and stood before looking around, properly, his eyes stopping briefly on the crumpled form so near to them. He teetered on the uneven floor and looked down at his feet. It took a moment before he registered what it was that he was balanced upon and gasped. Bones. Human bones, scattered like matches cast from a box. So many. The floor was littered with skeletal remains, a thigh bone here, an arm bone there, followed by a tiny pile of hand or foot bones casually spilled as in a game of knucklebones. Many of the bones were snapped in half and showed definite tooth marks. He looked round and shuddered. Skulls threaded, like beads on a chain, ten to a ‘thread’ hung on the far wall. He counted five threads and swallowed as he noted the disparity in size of some of the grinning domes. He looked down at Severus and held out his hand. His mate took it and used it to assist himself upright. His eyes took in the ‘decorations of their ‘room’ and his lips curled in a first class sneer.
“I forbid you to feel remorse for that creature. The terror he has fed upon, the souls he has denied. I hope they curse him forever. This charnel house must be dealt with!”
Harry nodded.
“I agree, Sev. All the salt in the sea will not cleanse this place. How can we purge the evil here?”
“With assistance. Albus, Minerva and the other staff will help.”
Harry grasped the material of his robes and pulled them over his head. Clambering awkwardly round, trying not to tread on Severus’ feet, he approached the still form and placed his robes over the body.
“Do …do you know if any of the family survived the war, Sev?”
“Yes. None.”
“Then we’ll dispose of the body in the proper manner.”
“As you wish.”
Harry scrambled back to Snape his hands outstretched, fingers touching the stone walls to aid in his balance. He wrinkled his nose in distaste as his fingertips slid through the cool slime decorating the walls, the sad sighing of the bones underfoot making him shiver. He drew a deep breath and strove for a light-hearted tone, fighting against the grim reality that he was crawling over the remains of fellow humans.
“You know, Sev, Voldie really had a great line in tacky places to imprison people. This place rates a what, an eight and a half, wouldn’t you say?”
Severus looked around, eyes roving over the stone walls bereft of hand holds or footholds, a good twenty feet high, to the metal grate work inset into the covering metal bars above their heads, to the white strewn floor. The dank, musty smell of continual damp irritated his nasal passages and he glared at the swathe of cobwebs in the far corner of their prison.
“I mean, no water, no light, cold, damp, spider infested, no amenities…”
“No chains, whips, or torture devices. I think it rates a six.”
Harry stopped his perusal of the black slime covering his fingertips to look at Snape.
“A six?”
Severus nodded.
Harry sighed, and delved carefully into his jeans pockets. He withdrew a crumpled mass and used it to wipe the black slime form his fingers. He held up the filthy lump and shook his head.
“I don’t think even Dobby can restore this to its once former glory.”
Severus turned from surveying their prison and looked at the grimy material held between Harry’s left thumb and forefinger. Recognising the remains as one of his fine linen handkerchiefs Severus crossed his arms in front of him. He looked down his nose at the contrite look Harry had on his face and pursed his lips.
“I quite agree. Incendio!”
Harry yelped and let go the silver and green edged square as it burst into flames. He waved his hand theatrically in front of his face as a burst of acrid smoke flared as the slime burnt.
“You could have warned me!”
“Why? What’s wrong? Lost your fast reflexes since defeating old red eye?”
Harry snickered, and then chuckled, before giving in to the humour of the moment and laughing wholeheartedly. Severus sniffed, but the corners of his mouth twitched and a small snicker escaped. Laughter echoed off the stone walls for a few minutes until Harry managed to gradually control his mirth.
“I’m sorry, Sev. I’m not laughing at you.”
“I know.”
“It’s just I remembered the look on Voldie’s face when you called him that and told him to shut his whining mud-blooded clap trap.”
“Yes, it did rather startle him for a moment or two.”
“Right before the potion you’d brewed especially for him coursed through his system and crippled his magic. You know, I almost felt sorry for him when he realised he was the equivalent of a squib, and then I remembered the deaths laid at his door and I saw red, literally. I remembering screaming as my scar burnt and then I was lying on the ground with you holding me, your tears falling on my face.”
Severus shivered.
“I thought I’d lost you. I’d only just found you and …”
Harry shook his head.
“Nah, you can’t lose me. I’m like a bad penny. I keep coming back.”
Severus reached out and drew the lean form into his arms and held him tight.
“For which I am eternally grateful.”
Harry slid his arms round the trim waist and sighed.
“Like you holding me.”
Severus looked down and kissed the wayward raven curls before sighing. He gently moved Harry away from him.
“I too, appreciate the close comfort but we need to get out of here. I’m sure our precipitous departure has caused no end of confusion and panic.”
Harry looked up and nodded before using his seeker fast reflexes to slip a hand round the back of Severus’ neck and drag his head down for a kiss. What started as a chaste touch of lips soon escalated to a full, tongue duelling, map every tooth and crevice kiss complete with moans and wandering hands.
“Oh, isn’t that just so sweet.”
They sprang apart and looked up. Harry smiled as he recognised his one time nemesis.
“Draco! How did you find us?”
Severus’ dark eyes narrowed.
“You had a locator spell on us did you not, Mr. Malfoy?”
Draco shifted uncomfortably, though Harry noted, he did not deny the accusation.
“Why, pray tell?”
Draco swallowed hard at the smooth enquiry. Severus’ soft, oh, so reasonable tones, heralded his formidable anger, which was at best, volatile, and at worst, lethal. He gripped his wand tightly and removed the bulk of his form from the direct line of fire.
“I … er …um …”
“Eloquent as usual, Draco. Spit it out, boy!”
“I needed to be able to find you.”
“Why?”
The polite enquiry from his potions master in no way reassured Draco that he wasn’t about to be hexed into oblivion in the next few minutes.
“I … er…”
“Yes, yes, we covered that much already. If you don’t want to be incapable of entertaining a bed partner for the next eighteen months you’d best give me an answer, NOW!”
Harry buried his face in Severus’ robes and chuckled. Draco would be shaking for Severus never made idle threats and he wasn’t about to intervene in the familial fight. It would serve the interfering bugger right if he ended up with the longest recorded case ever, of blue balls!
“Albusaskedmetokeepaneyeonyoubothbecausethere’saceremonyyouneedtoattendat Hogwartsthisaftrenoonandhewantsyouthere.”
Draco drew a quick breath and hurried on.
”He’sgotsomegoodnews.”
Silence as both men digested the garbled reply.
Severus straightened and drew in a deep breath. Harry stepped back and folded his arms over his chest, his face drawn into the lines that Draco recognised as ‘Potter about to explode! Run for your life!’ signs and gulped loudly, and appealed to the one person who could protect him against Harry’s wrath.
“Sir, don’t shoot the messenger, please!”
“Why not? I haven’t used a really good hex in months!”
“Um, Father wouldn’t take too kindly to losing his only son and heir.”
“I’m sure I can recompense him for such a minor detail as that.”
Draco tried appealing to Harry’s sense of fair play and justice.
“Harry! Please, we’re friends.”
“We are, are we? Since when?”
Draco blinked at the very Slytherin reply and sputtered his reply.
“Since … since … since I helped you realise you love Severus.”
Harry sighed and nodded.
“True, but this discussion isn’t over, yet, Malfoy!”
Draco sighed. The use of his surname meant that Harry was well and truly angry with him and if that was the case, he shuddered, Snape would be even more so because he’d upset his bond-mate. Some days it didn’t pay to get out of bed!
He looked at the rusted metal before him and sighed once more. It wasn’t going to be easy getting them out of the oubliette.
“I don’t think this thing has been opened lately. I might need to get some help. “
Harry smiled at Severus’ bristling indignation that either of them needed assistance to get out of the chamber of horrors. He chuckled when his mate snapped out his next order.
“Draco, stand back!”
Malfoy junior complied swiftly. He knew that tone of voice.
“Not been opened recently? We shall see about that!”
Harry suppressed a chuckle at his spouse’s steely resolve and swallowed it hastily when Severus turned to face him.
“On the count of three, Mr. Potter?”
“Of course, Professor Snape.”
“One, two three ...ALOHOMORA!”
Draco ducked behind a convenient stone pillar as both wizards spoke at the same time.
A great, shuddering and groaning was heard before the walls resounded with a crash that shook the area.
Harry looked up. What had been a barrier was now a gaping hole. It seemed that they had ripped out the entire barred section. He waved his wand to dissipate the cloud of dust that was sinking down towards them. Severus turned to him and smiled briefly.
“After you, Mr. Potter.”
Harry shook his head.
“Together.”
Once more they spoke in unison, “ Wingardium Leviosa!”
They began to rise from the dank hole and were soon standing beside the dark pit. Harry crouched by the opening and invoked the spell once more. Slowly the black draped form rose out of the pit. Draco stepped round the pillar in time to see it set gently to one side. He cocked
an enquiring eyebrow at Severus who shook his head. Harry stood up and dusted off his hands and trousers before turning to face Draco.
“Where are we?”
Draco raked a quick glance around and shivered before answering.
“Riddle’s old mansion.”
Both men shuddered.
“Draco?”
“Yes, Harry?”
“Will … will …you go ahead and tell the Headmaster that we have an ex-student to lay to rest.”
Draco nodded and looked at Severus.
“Edmund Brocklehurst.”
Draco gasped and he glanced at the lax hand resting outside the black robes. He looked at Severus who shook his head and glanced at Harry. Draco closed his eyes briefly and then turned to go.
“Oh, and Draco, tell him we’ll need a pyre. Edmund was a Were-rat.”
Draco shuddered and there was a loud pop as he disapparated.
Severus walked over to the shrouded body and tucked the cloth round the naked form. He noted the narrow, fingers, almost skeletal in their appearance complete with extremely long, curved, thickened nails. He lifted the edge of the material and saw the tips of canine teeth protruding from thin lips. He heard footsteps and dropped the material. He looked up as Harry came to stand by him.
“You did Edmund a favour, Harry. He’s not been in human from for a very long time.”
“What do you mean?”
Snape pointed to the thin fingers with the unnaturally long nails.
“When a Were-person spends too much time in its animal form it begins to take on the characteristics of the animal and when the return to human form occurs there are obvious signs. His elongated fingers and nails, canine teeth that are longer than normal are just such
portents. The Edmund Brocklehurst that we knew has not existed for a long, long time. Thank you for being so merciful to him.”
“I didn’t feel merciful, Sev. I was scared for you and myself. It was easier to kill him than not.”
“I doubt that. Rash Gryffindor that you are, I know you do not kill indiscriminately. Better that you delivered the coup de grace than the Ministry.”
He stood and looked around.
“Let’s see if there is anything to transfigure for a stretcher. I’ve no wish to carry him back in my arms.”
“I can …”
Severus shook his head and touched his hand to Harry’s cheek.
“No. I would not ask that of you and neither shall anyone else.”
Harry sighed, and nodded. They turned to look around the area and whirled, wands out as a loud crack sounded. Three hooded Aurors stood beside Arthur Weasley. Harry swallowed hard and lowered his wand as he recognised the Minister Of Magic. Arthur stepped forward and faced Harry.
“Harry, were you responsible for the death of the Were?”
Harry swallowed hard once more and nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
He held out his wand. Arthur shook his head.
“Keep it for now. Let’s ascertain the circumstances first shall we? Ginny, would you …?”
Harry glanced up as Ginny drew her robe hood back, the familiar Weasley red hair glinting in the light. A sharp pang cut through him as he remembered another shock of bright red hair and the cheeky grin that usually went with it; one that he would never see again.
Ginny drew a deep breath and stepped towards the covered form.
“Miss Weasley, his name is Edmund Brocklehurst.”
There was a sharp indrawn hiss and Ginny paled, her hand going to her mouth. She faltered, then drew in a deep breath and crossed to the corpse. She knelt down and lifted the corner of the robe and looked down. He hand holding the edge of the robe tightened till it was white. She drew the robe back further and left it draped over the hips. She withdrew her wand from
her robes and held it over the body. Then she levitated the cloth so that it covered the corpse again before she stood and gripping her wands firmly in her hands looked up at her father.
“Yes, it is Edmund Brocklehurst. I recognise the duelling scar on his left cheekbone. The one he was so proud of and refused to have removed by Madam Pomfrey. He is deceased. It was quick and virtually pain free. There are no signs of distress on the body.”
“You have that recorded, Albert?”
“Yes, Minister.”
“Please file it with the correct department once we are finished here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Arthur looked at Harry’s pale features and the narrowed gaze of Severus and turned to the other Auror.
“Wendell, please ascertain that it was Harry’s wand that removed this threat.”
The second Auror stepped forward and held out a small thin, flexible rod. Harry held out his wand but all the Auror did was to pass the rod over the wand and nod.
“Yes, sir. Mr. Potter’s wand was the instrument that was used to remove the threat posed by Brocklehurst.”
“Thank you, Wendell. If you and Albert would be so kind as to remove Brocklehurst to the area set aside at Hogwarts, I will escort Mr. Potter.”
“Certainly, Minister.”
Wendell walked over to the still form and from his robe sleeve took a small item. He placed it o the floor and revoked the previous shrinking spell. A stretcher grew. Albert crossed to him and they both pointed their wands at the corpse and spoke, “ Wingardium Leviosa.” The corpse lifted from the ground and settled on the stretcher, the black robes still covering it. Both male Aurors then used the same charm to lift the stretcher. Albert stood at one end and Wendell at the other and Albert brought an old tin cup out of his pocket and twisted the handle. The portkey activated. There was a whoosh of air and the spot was vacant. The stretcher and its guardians had disappeared. Both Arthur and Ginny exhaled loudly. Harry looked at Arthur.
“So when’s my hearing? Will it be before the full court of the Wizengamot?”
Arthur shook his head.
“There will be no hearing, Harry. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Harry exploded.
“Nothing wrong! I used the killing curse on another human being!”
Arthur shook his head.
“What you killed, Harry hasn’t been human for quite some time. You have executed a dangerous and much sought after war criminal who had been sentenced to death in absentia for his part in the war. There will be no hearing, just another file marked, ‘closed’.”
“I’m not the Ministry’s executioner!”
Arthur nodded.
“I agree.”
“I’m not even an Auror! What makes me so special?”
Arthur smiled briefly.
“Apart from the obvious or excluding the obvious?”
“Why don’t you tell us, Arthur?”
The Minister glared at Snape as he gathered Harry to him. Ginny turned to Harry, tears spilling down her cheeks to splash onto her robe. She sniffed and managed a brief smile.
“Thank you.”
“Th …thank me?”
Harry was bewildered. Ginny looked at her father who nodded. She drew in another deep breath and spoke through her tears.
“You know Percy took the mission to destroy the Riddle wards?”
Harry nodded.
“I tried to talk him out of it. It was a suicide mission and we all knew it. He …he wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t back down. I tried, Ginny, truly I did.“
Ginny nodded.
“Yes. I know.”
She risked a quick glance at her father who nodded once more.
“There was a good reason why he wouldn’t budge. Three …three months earlier he’d been on a mission for the Order in Knockturn Alley. He was attacked but managed to get away. Only, … only he was bitten.”
Harry paled and staggered, ending up leaning against a stone column. Severus stepped up behind him and curved his arms round, drawing him back against his body once more. Ginny sniffed and clasped her hands together before continuing.
“By a Were-rat. He cried as he told us that he’d managed to knock the thing out and get away. He … he rocked back and forth as he told us how Brocklehurst had transformed his teeth and
bitten him through to the bone on his arm, spitting into the wound he caused and laughing as he did so, telling him that he would be happy to introduce another Were-rat brother to his Lord. You know what that meant. We all did. We ...we swore to keep it in the family and Mum … Mum told Dumbledore that Percy was ill and … and couldn’t go on any missions for a while. He … he didn’t ask why just nodded. Fred …and George built a …a cage and ...and Percy
used it. It was awful. He ...he wasn’t my obnoxious, overbearing big brother anymore. He ... he was this wild animal and he raged at the confines of the cage. It took the combined power of the whole family to keep him there, unharmed. He only went through the transformation twice. After the mission came up, he told us what he planned to do and why. We tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen. Said it was his life and he’d spend it how he liked. He … he said he couldn’t live like that, as a Were with no rights and he was terrified that he’d break the cage and hurt one or more of us when the transformation happened. So he volunteered and … well, you know the outcome. We tried to find Brocklehurst. It wasn’t out of duty to the cause or anything noble at all. We wanted revenge, for Percy. Our one regret has been that Brocklehurst seemed to have escaped the net. It was a very bitter taste in our
mouths. The whole stinking mess did have one redeeming point, though. It made us re-evaluate how we thought about Were-folk. It’s a little different when you’ve got one in the family.”
Ginny’s mouth had a bitter twist to it.
“So, in the end Percy’s death did have a purpose.”
Ginny nodded and drew in another deep breath before letting it out. She raised her chin and looked Harry in the face.
“Yes. Thank you for doing what none of us had managed to do. You’ve given us Percy’s killer and I thank you for it.”
Harry nodded; his throat choked with held back tears. Arthur stepped forward and drew his daughter into his arms and held her as she sobbed. His own eyes were overly bright and filled with tears. When he spoke his voice was rough.
“I want to thank you too, Harry for what you have done.”
He raised a hand as Harry opened his mouth to speak.
“I’m speaking as a father, Harry, who’s seen the murderers of both my sons brought to justice. Thank you. I really don’t care at this point how it was done, just that it was. I know that’s not fair to you, but I’m selfish enough to know that you’ll deal with it and move on. Thanks to you so can my family.”
“How very Machiavellian of you, Arthur. The ends justify the means. I see that the taint Fudge left on the job had finally seeped through your high ideals.”
Weasley managed a short, harsh bark of laughter that caused both Harry and Ginny to flinch.
“Severus, you will really appreciate the irony of the next few hours.”
“Why?”
“I’ve finally managed to have the laws against the unfair treatment and social ostracization of Were-folk repealed. They now have the same rights as any other wizard. Harry’s actions here have provided the ‘martyr’ for the memorial to all the fallen Were-folk. Ironic isn’t it that by getting rid of a feral Were-rat we have the beginning of a new era. Harry will be remembered by all the Were-folk as the one who freed them. “
Severus looked Arthur in the eyes.
“You and Albus are a good pair. You’ve both used Harry for your own ends.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes, we have, and you are both required to be at the ceremony this afternoon.”
Harry glared at the Minister Of Magic.
“And if I don’t?”
“You’ll jeopardise the new found freedoms of the Were-folk. If you are not present it will be seen as though you oppose the Were-folk their rights. Do you really want to deny your Godfather’s lover his new rights, Harry?”
“You unmitigated, bastard!”
“Of course I am, Snape. I’m a politician. It goes with the territory.”
Harry sighed and nodded.
“We’ll be there.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not doing this for you!”
“I know that Harry, but I thank you anyway.”
Harry looked at Arthur Weasley all feelings of once felt kinship shattered, and drew a calming breath.
“There …” his voice caught and he coughed. “There are at least the remains of fifty people in the oubliette. They … they need to be gathered and … laid to rest away from this … killing field.”
Arthur grimaced and Ginny gasped, and shook, her fingers clutching at her father’s arm.
“I’ll see that it occurs with dignity. There’ll be no mention of the circumstances other than that the remains were discovered by chance.”
Harry nodded and watched as Ginny and her father disapparated, and then he turned and buried his face in Severus’ shoulder, his voice a little muffled against the cloth.
“You know, the Sorting Hat was right.”
Snape pulled back so he could look Harry in the face.
“About what?”
“It said I belonged in Slytherin.”
“Did it really?”
“Uh, huh, only I begged it not to put me there, so it put me in Gryffindor instead.”
“Yes, well, probably a good thing at the time.”
“You may not realise it but the only people who have ever been honest with me are Slytherins. The rest of my so-called ‘friends’ have manipulated me shamelessly and I’m tired of it. I really don’t want to have any more to do with them.”
Severus cradled his mate’s head against his shoulder and spoke into the dark hair.
“We have a few hours before the mandatory appearance shall we go home?”
“Yes, please. I need a cuddle, and a bath wouldn’t go astray either.”
“Are you implying I smell?”
“No implying at all, after that tumble in that stink hole we both need to clean up.”
Severus leant down and rested his head on Harry’s.
“I know you don’t like to travel by portkey but I really do think it would be advantageous to do so.”
Harry nodded and tightened his arms around his mate.
“'s fine. Now, Sev, please?”
Severus reached into his robe pocket and withdrew an old coin. He smiled at it and tapped Harry on the shoulder. Harry looked up at the coin held between Severus’ thumb and forefinger, squinting at it. He reached out to touch it and began to chuckle.
“A penny, Sev? Where did …?”
The rest of the words were lost as the portkey activated and then they were standing on the front door step to a small cottage, complete with jasmine and wisteria cascading over the front
porch. Harry sneezed three times in quick succession, narrowly missing his mate each time. He sniffed and stepped back.
“Sorry.”
Severus sighed and offered another pristine linen square in sacrifice. Harry reached out and dragged it to his mouth and nose as another series of sneezes shook him. Severus turned and opened the door and stepped inside, Harry close on his heels.
A House Elf popped into existence and bowed.
“Welcome, Master Snape and Master Harry Potter-Snape. How may Mingly be of assistance?”
“A light meal for two in one hour please, Mingly. In the master bedroom.”
“Certainly Master Snape.”
The House Elf popped out and Harry stuffed the sodden ball of material into his front pocket and looked around. The hall was tiled in light green. A row of brass ser