Part 21
Both Snape and Dumbledore were absent during lunch. Harry could only imagine what was going on right now - and what it meant for him and Hermione.
"You look like you're thinking what I'm thinking," Hermione muttered as she spooned sweet potato puree onto her plate. "I bet a galleon that we'll be called to the headmaster's office right after class ends."
"Dumbledore wanted to see you yesterday already," Harry reminded her. "I'm just waiting for Mr. Finch's note. Wanna bet that Snape will be there and demand a retraction, and a grovelling apology?"
"Not particularly." Hermione blew out a breath. "I honestly forgot the Malfoy situation for a moment. Our meeting with them should be tonight, shouldn't it?"
"I think so," Harry said.
Parvati across from them snorted inelegantly. "No wonder you've forgotten that, our paper really stunned all of Magical Britain. Lav and I had a look into the mail room after class, there are already letters in there, and some were red and smoking. We can be lucky if Hogwarts is still standing when everyone had time to really digest our news."
"Good lord." Hermione put down the spoon and rubbed her hands over her thighs. "Are there any news about Snape or Dumbledore yet?"
Parvati grimaced. "Snape actually went to class, but apparently he was a monster to the fourth and seventh years. I don't know why Dumbledore allowed it, since everybody wants him gone so much."
At that, Lavender piped up, "On the plus side, the DMLE will come calling tonight. Susan Bones told me so. Maybe Snape'll do a runner before then. I'd much rather do study hall than suffer another hour in his presence."
"Who wouldn't?" Neville murmured and flushed a little when his yearmates goggled a little at him. "What? Just because I'm lucky enough to have class with Madam Stone now doesn't mean I've forgotten what Snape's class is like."
"It's only been a couple of weeks anyway," Hermione agreed and smacked Seamus' arm. "Stop being dumb gits, I know you're better than that."
"Ow," Seamus complained. "That actually hurt."
"Right. Sorry, Neville," Dean said with a little glance at Hermione. "Still, the sooner he's gone, the better. I don't even care anymore how it happens."
"Nobody does," Ron said with his mouth full. Everybody around him groaned but he just barrelled on, smugly declaring, "Maybe the hippogriffs will eat him. Or better yet, the spiders in the Forbidden Forest. Or hey, maybe the dementors will suck out his soul ... even if it probably isn't very tasty."
"Huh." Dean cocked his head a little. "I could live with that, actually."
"You're both horrible," Parvati complained, only to be drowned out by the protests of the other Gryffindors, who were firmly of the opinion that Snape deserved whatever punishment was coming his way.
Harry tried not to feel too hopeful about that glimpse of Ron's former personality, but it was hard and put a damper on his appetite. Hermione, who nearly always seemed to know what was bothering him, just took his hand under the table and held it tightly, affording him enough comfort to eat at least enough to not feel hungry all afternoon.
Then they trudged to Arithmancy with the Hufflepuffs, which was mostly spent discussing the news about Sirius Black. Especially Susan Bones asked a lot of questions and took it with dubious grace when Harry repeatedly rebuffed her attempts to weasel further information from him. It helped that Jerry, his now confirmed house elf valet slash bodyguard, poked Harry every now and then, reminding him to keep quiet.
Finally, Professor Vector punished the Hufflepuff girl's curiosity with a ten point loss and the threat of detention if she didn't cut it out.
"But everybody wants to know!" Susan protested. "Hermione can't just throw all of that out there and expect us not to ask questions. Besides, my auntie and the aurors need to know."
"Your aunt is well able to ask her questions in an official setting," Professor Vector said tartly. "With Mr. Potter's legal representative present, because he's a minor and any information obtained your way might well be inadmissable due to that fact. Don't let me catch you bullying him again, Miss Bones. The consequences to you might not be grave, but the same cannot be said for your aunt. Lord Black has hired the best lawyers in all of Europe, don't think he won't set them on anybody who dares harm his family."
"Yes, Professor," Susan said reluctantly, but her chin had that stubborn set to it that Harry knew so well from Hermione.
"Mr. Potter, I suggest that you refrain from answering any questions at all from now on if your lawyer's not present," Professor Vector said. "It wouldn't be your fault if your father's lawyers tore someone apart for interfering, but I know that you'd take it hard, regardless. I think we can all agree that Hogwarts is currently experiencing enough drama without adding the threat of personal ruin to it."
Harry nodded gratefully and, when no one was looking his way, stroked Jerry's quivering ears soothingly and muttered a quiet thank you for his watchfulness.
The rest of the class passed in tense silence. While not as aggressive as Susan Bones, by far, the other students were nonetheless violently curious and followed Harry and Hermione as they hurried off to their last class of the day, Transfiguration.
They had just turned a corner, away from the stream of students, when suddenly a slight flimmer, like heated summer air over asphalt, appeared in the air.
"Harry hold fast!" Blue hissed in warning.
But it was too late. A second later, Hermione's hand was ripped from Harry's and her cry echoed even as she was already gone.
"Hermione!" Harry screamed, provoking answering shrieks from the other students. He felt his magic heaving up in fury. "Dobby!"
At once, Dobby appeared, half a dozen other elves behind him. All their eyes were huge, taking in the horrifying dance of magic all over his body.
Running footsteps alerted him to people coming to investigate, but he didn't care.
"Find her and bring her back!" Harry ordered in a tone he'd never before taken with any of them. "And one of you tell Sirius. Go!"
All of them popped off immediately, only Jerry remaining by Harry's side. Dismayed cries sounded when Harry's classmates realized what had happened. To protect himself from their inquiries - and fervently hoping that the teachers wouldn't find him right this moment - Harry put up a Muffliato, hissing the incantation out in parseltongue to ensure absolute privacy. A magical barrier set by Jerry held the students back, who were hammering and shouting fruitlessly at it.
"They not be taking long," Jerry reassured Harry. "No wizard can hide Harry Potter sir's Miss Mione for long. Dobby be bringing her back."
Even as he said it, Dobby was popping back, eyes even wider and expression frantic. "Harry Potter sir be coming now! Dobby be following Miss Mione across the channel and then back, but he not be able to take Miss Mione away from bad man. Dobby be popping Harry Potter sir though Hoggywarty's wards. It be unpleasant. Snakelings better be staying here."
Outside the wards, the students surged in surprise at Dobby's appearance.
"We will not!" Sweetie protested sharply.
"Harry needs us!" Blue cried.
"They come with me. I'll protect them." Harry placed his hand in Dobby's. "Jerry, send as many elves after us as you can. Who knows what's awaiting us."
"Jerry will!"
"Then let's go, Dobby. Hurry."
Harry nearly yelled when Dobby's magic gripped him tightly and unceremonously squeezed him through several rough tunnels, all the while tossing him around like a flipper ball. Colours flashed all around and through him, filling his lungs and stomach, mouth and eyes.
You won't stop me!, he raged at the restricting magic. Back off now, Hogwarts!
A trill cut through the angry howls, both Harry and the magic's, and a pair of large bird feet closed around Harry's upper arm. Huge, fiery wings buffeted Harry against the strongest currents.
"Fawkes!" Harry cried, or he thought he did. The ride was definitely messing with his awareness.
Another warbled trill echoed through the magical storm.
Together, it seemed to say, and Harry immediately followed the impulse and reached out as well as he knew how with his free hand.
There was his link to Dobby dragging him along, as firm and full of trust as always, and then there was something wild and independent grasping at him from several directions. Feeling suddenly fiercely grateful, Harry acknowledged the support the snakelings and Fawkes were offering, and with everything he had he latched onto it, gasping when he suddenly seemed to sprout wings and a vision that defied his comprehension.
Whatever he'd believed to see before, it absolutely paled in comparison to what he could perceive now. Thousands of arcs of magic, elegantly intervowen and connected, spanned the horrifyingly dark space they were hurtling through. The vibrant, fuzzy net grasped at them all, trying to trap them like flies in a spider's web, but Harry refused to let it. He used the newfound wings, as one with Fawkes in that moment, to twist and dance around the cloying magics, and what they didn't manage to evade, they burned away with their combined power.
Then, abruptly, they were through the giant, all-encompassing ward net and the ride became so smooth as to almost seem like stillstand.
We've arrived, Harry thought, together with Dobby, who knew exactly where to drop them off.
"Miss Mione be in there," Dobby said after a rough landing on a sandy road, pointing at a small manor on an even smaller hilltop. "It be Old Dumblydore's family house. It be heavily warded and protected by poor, wretched house elves."
"What?" Harry asked. "Dumbledore's house?"
"He not be present, but mean Potions Master Snape is." Dobby began to tug on his ears. "Potter elves be trying to break in, but Dumbledore elves be listening to Snape, even though they not want to. They be forced to do terrible, terrible things." He suddenly gasped. "Harry Potter sir's Miss Mione be needing help!"
"Get me in there," Harry demanded, stumbling a little under Fawkes' weight settling on his shoulders. "Then send someone to the aurors. And to Brady! We'll probably need him."
Again, Dobby grabbed Harry's hand and pressed all of his considerable magic forward, against Dumbledore's wards. Fawkes gave a sharp cry and beat his majestic wings. And just as he thought about how dead useful it would be to be able to see Magic, it happened. Harry's normal view vanished under the heavy veil of magic, showing what was really going on around Dumbledore's property.
"There is no weak spot," Blue hissed with frustration. "Old man is very good at warding. Fiery Fawkes and Dobby are not strong enough to carry us through."
"I will bite the old man's magic," Sweetie declared and, without waiting for a comment, lunged out of Harry's sleeve and actually bit into the dome of protective magic that was locking them out.
At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then a small, dark spot appeared in the angrily writhing ward net. It looked like a small cavity, or a mould spot in between bathroom tiles.
"Again, Dobby," Harry ordered. "Keep strong, Fawkes. We'll burn through that ward!"
They pushed again, all their magic combined for their purpose, and the small black spot actually began to grow larger. The ragged edges ripped further and further. Already it was large enough to allow Harry's pinkie finger through.
"Greasy Git Professor be attacking Miss Mione," Jerry wailed. "I be helping!"
Harry gasped when the little elf's magic artlessly latched onto him, binding itself to the pool of magic already available. The spot behind his breastbone sang with vibration and heat and he had never felt more grateful in his life for his friends' unconditional support.
"We'll have to get her out of there," he choked out. Foregoing his wand, Harry placed his hands next to the rip in the wards. Just like they had burned Professor Quirrel in his first year, they now did tremendous harm to the resisting magic, until he could curl his fingers into it and really tear.
The wards writhed violently and tried to repel all of them, only to recoil just as violently when Sweetie and Blue both bit it again with all the ferocity their small bodies could muster. A moment later, the edges of the rapidly expanding hole began to dissolve into pink smoke. It looked spectacular through Blue's eyes and mixed with the floating sparks Fawkes' wings set off as they beat against Dumbledore's protections.
For several moments, Harry got lost in the dual sensations of tearing up a magical construct, and accepting more and more of his elves as they offered their strength. He was overcome with their love and loyalty, just as he was overcome with the strange ethereal sight of magical currents and nebulas making up the reality around him.
Suddenly, Fawkes began to sing, the vibration taking form as a streak of scarlet power. It darted through the hole in the wards and, amazingly, began to attack it from the inside, dealing tremendous damage from the unexpected direction.
"We be going now," Dobby's voice sang in Harry's vast, seemingly empty mind.
Connected as they were, they all dissolved into another streak of warm light and materialized in a small confusion of large ears, beautiful feathers, and long, sinuous bodies.
"Harry!"
Hermione's panicked voice tore Harry out of his daze. He had to blink a couple of times and yet the horrifying picture didn't change: Snape had Hermione backed into a corner. Her wand was lying broken on the floor a few yards away, just like the two Potter elves that, somehow, had managed to go with her when she'd been abducted.
"He won't help you, Granger," Snape snarled before Harry could speak. He clearly hadn't noticed Harry's arrival, so focused was he on her. Spittle and blood flew from his lips. "You won't get out of this, you little bitch. I'll make you pay for ruining my life! Who knows, you might even like having me for a husband; you young witches are insatiable, after all. Not that you'll have a choice."
Harry decided that setting Snape on fire would be a great thing to do and let his wands slap lightning quick into his hands.
Dobby, however, was even faster.
With a little snap of his powerful fingers, Snape was flung away from Hermione and right into an antique looking sideboard. The wood crashed and several of Snape's bones broke with sickening cracks. He slumped down, not unlike Lucius Malfoy all those months ago, and remained there. At once, half a dozen Potter elves were on him, binding him with their magic.
"Harry!" Hermione wailed and ran into Harry's open arms. "You're here! Oh my god! I was so afraid!"
Harry staggered under the strength of her grip. "I know, 'Mione. I know. I'm so sorry it's taken us so long. You're safe now." He kissed her hair and held her tightly enough to hurt, but she was far from complaining. If anything, she was pressing herself against him even further. "He's out cold, Dobby already has him in chains. The other Potter elves have subdued Dumbledore's house elves. Look."
"He ordered them to hurt Saffron and Eli." At that, Hermione burst into great, heaving sobs. "He killed them!"
"They not be dead, Miss Mione, but it not be looking good," Dobby said, carefully touching the downed elves' hands. "Dobby be calling Naddy. She be knowing about house elf injuries."
At once, Naddy appeared. She was all business and began to order Harry's elves around as she saw fit. Her last act before vanishing with the two hurt elves was to order Harry to break Snape's wand.
"That way, he be your prisoner. You also be hitting him with stunner. Dobby better not be caught by bad Ministry people," Naddy explained. "Ward breaking be confusing wizard diagnostics, but you hurry now."
With that she was off, and Harry entrusted Hermione to Jerry's gentle care to do what Healer Williams' elf had advised. He'd much rather have Hermione break the man's wand, although she encouraged him to do it for her readily enough. Afterwards, he hit Snape's unconcious body with two rather mean stunners and asked all the elves to place even more chains around him. Even Dumbledore's house elves did so, and with quite a bit of vicious satisfaction, too.
Suddenly it was very quiet in the house.
Miserably, Hermione blew her nose and asked in a tiny voice, "What now?"
"Now we wait for help," Harry answered. Putting his arm around her, he led her towards the sofa and helped her sit down. "Your wand is gone, I'm afraid. What happened?"
She blanched and clenched her hands into his robes. "He ... he used something to get us out of Hogwarts, and ... and I think we actually went to France for a second. Your elves found us there, though, and tried to attack. Snape activated the thing again before they could and it landed us here." She licked her dry lips. "He immediately raised the war wards. Saffron and Eli managed to come with me, again, I don't know how. He ordered his house elves to kill them but I guess they disobeyed." She looked at the shivering, horrified creatures and smiled tremolously. "Thank you. So much."
"It be wrong, wrong thing to ask of us," the oldest of the house elves squeaked. He looked ragged and half dead on his feet. Going against Snape's explicit order seemed to put a serious strain on them all.
"You did very well," Harry said quietly. "House Potter owes you a great debt. Please don't hesitate to ask for whatever you need."
The three Dumbledore elves bowed deeply, shivering, and Harry's house elves looked at him with deep gratitude.
Returning his attention to the shaking girl in his arms, Harry placed another kiss onto her clammy forehead. "What then?"
Hermione sobbed again. "He ... oh, Harry, I can't even think it."
"He didn't touch you, did he?" Harry whispered anxiously. "What he said ..."
"No!" Hermione shuddered and gagged. A little calmer, she repeated, "No. But he was working towards it. I tried to defend myself - I think I got one good wallop in - but then he got my wand away from me and broke it. Then he ... he took off Madam Pomfrey's protection charm after it hurt him, and he ... he wanted to ... force himself on me. To ... to ruin my life, like he said. He said that I'd have no choice, after, because I was a mudblood with no standing, and that he deserved my money for the job I'd cost him."
She began to cry again and Harry thought he'd die from the hatred he felt for Snape.
Fawkes fluttered over to them and settled into Hermione's lap. With little trills he encouraged her to put her arms around him and when that was done he began to sing, long and melodious.
All the elves quieted down and Hermione relaxed completely in Harry's arms.
"He's good," she murmured drowsily. "I hate Snape so much."
"Me too," Harry growled.
"Help be coming," Dobby announced, ears perked. "It be aurors and Harry Potter sir's Finch and Brady."
"Oh thank god," Harry exclaimed. Suddenly he was very, very tired. The stark, real world began to lose focus and a bit of that astonishing mage sight crept back, showing the dancing and glittering magic all over the room. Hermione's form changed from human to otherwordly beauty, the colours of her agitated, yet exhausted magic a beguiling mix of purples and dark oranges and calm cobalt blues, with soft streaks of all kinds of greens, pearl, and earthy tones lending balance to their overwhelming brilliance.
She was absolutely breathtaking even now and Harry couldn't help but feel pride in having her for a friend.
"Harry!" he heard Healer Williams frantically call. "Harry, are you alright? By the Lord, he's exhausted! No! Don't touch him, Auror. You go take care of that child abductor over there! Mr. Finch, you'll have everything in hand here? ... Great."
"Brady," Harry whispered. He took one hand from Hermione and let it fall onto the man's forearm. "'m so tired."
"I know, Harry." Williams' blue-green eyes seemed overly large as they peered into Harry's. "You and Hermione are safe now. You rescued her. It's time to go back. Your friends will keep watch until the scene has been fully processed."
"You're sure?" Desperate, Harry clung even tighter to Hermione while at the same time reaching out beseechingly with what little magic he could muster in his fingertips.
"I'm sure," Williams promised. His small smile was as warm as the answering magic pouring from him. "Sleep, Harry, everything will be fine."
And Harry went under.
oOo
When he woke up, Harry instantly knew that he wasn't alone - and that he wasn't at Hogwarts.
"Easy, Harry," Healer Williams' voice said soothingly. "You have the snakelings with you, all of them, as well as quite a few of your house elf friends."
"Where am I?" Harry asked roughly. He accepted his glasses and the glass of water Williams offered. Carefully, he took a few sips until his throat no longer felt so dry. "What happened?"
"You're at Gringotts currently, in the hospital wing. Sharptooth arranged for it, since my residence at Hogsmeade wasn't up to our security standards yet and Sirius vehemently forbade us from taking you to St. Mungo's."
"Hermione?"
"She's here, as well. Her parents insisted on keeping her out of Hogwarts for the time being and Sharptooth had no issue securing a room for her. Her healer of record is with her. She's fine, I promise, just shaken up." Williams sighed and patted Harry's arm. "You're incredible, you know that, right?"
Falling back into his pillow, Harry groaned. "I panicked and did something stupid. I should've called for help and stayed at school instead of haring off like an idiot."
"Viewed logically, yes, you probably should have," Healer Williams agreed gently. "Hermione is protected by the single most effective protection spell on earth, Snape would've killed himself trying to assault her."
"I know. But I forgot when it happened. It was so sudden and I couldn't do nothing," Harry said miserably. "She was just gone and it felt so wrong."
"Of course it did. And no matter what people have to say on the matter, Hermione is very grateful that you were the one rescuing her. Just imagine the trauma of seeing her professor killed for trying to rape her. No matter the circumstances, she'd have suffered greatly for it."
Harry swallowed loudly and confessed, "I wanted to kill him for even trying. I could've, after Dobby smacked him down."
"But you didn't, and I don't think you would have, given more energy and time." Healer Williams took his hand off Harry's arm and instead ran his fingers through the boy's hair. "You set out to rescue your friend, and you achieved that goal admirably. The forensics at the scene said that you all but shredded Dumbledore's family wards. They couldn't believe that you've done it by yourself."
"That's because I haven't," Harry said. "I had a lot of elves, and Fawkes, and Sweetie and Blue with me. They all helped. We got through the wards together." He paused as sudden tears welled in his eyes. "How are Saffron and Eli?"
"Naddy is taking care of them, they're healing nicely," Williams assured him. "Dumbledore's elves suffered considerably for disobeying Snape's order, though, and it's not certain what'll happen to them now."
"It wasn't their fault," Harry protested. "Even being told to obey Snape is a crime! They're victims, same as everyone else."
"Mr. Finch will certainly argue their case, but I'll be honest. British law is very unfair to house elves. Right now they're caught up in the case, meaning that Dumbledore can't cut them loose without facing a huge fine for destroying evidence, but he's made it clear that he's very disappointed in their part in Hermione's abduction and will likely give them clothes as soon as may be."
"What?" Harry scrambled back up, nearly dislodging his loyal snakeling companions. "That doesn't make any sense! He told them to obey Snape's orders! He must have! And now he's going to punish them for doing as he asked?"
"As I said, house elves don't enjoy many protections in Great Britain."
"But the DMLE will know that Dumbledore's involved," Harry pressed. "Nobody tells their house elves to obey someone else like this for a lark. He's at least guilty by association!"
Williams paused, clearly searching for the right words. "This whole thing is ... it's very ugly, Harry, and Snape trying to harm Hermione for telling the truth about him may be just the tip of a very nasty iceberg, I'm afraid. Dumbledore is definitely implicated, the problem is that, as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, he's enjoying diplomatic immunity. It's up to the ICW to revoke that immunity so he can be questioned and, if appropriate, tried, but that'll take some time. Until then, he'll still be at Hogwarts and build his defence."
"I can't believe it. Hogwarts is the worst school, ever." Harry ground his teeth and only let up when Blue flicked his cheek with his little tongue. "Do I have to go back there? I guess I'm in a lot of trouble, anyway."
Williams' face gave it away, but the healer said, "You are, for leaving Hogwarts without permission, and for destroying Dumbledore's wards. But you know that your father and his lawyers will do everything in their power to put those accusations into context, and Hermione's parents have already declared their intent to sue Snape, Dumbledore, Hogwarts, and everybody else who's getting in their way. Last I heard, Mr. Finch roped his protegé into taking on the Grangers so he'll have his time free for you. This means the young man will also get to deal with the Malfoy settlement, which is quite a feather in such a young lawyer's cap. The Grangers have also declined letting Hermione leave Hogwarts formally as they want to see the whole weregild thing through. Mrs. Granger's exact words were, 'Now more than ever.'"
"Yeah, I can understand that." Harry petted the four snakelings for a minute and then asked, already exhausted by the news, "Just how long was I out of it?"
Healer Williams laughed, warm and loud. "Only four days. You were magically exhausted and for all that you woke quickly enough. Your father was worried, of course, and tried to come here as soon as he knew where I'd taken you. Thankfully the goblins in Italy restrained him and talked him out of it. In fact, Walker will use this newest disaster to further the case."
"Will that work?" Harry asked. "Right now, I don't think I can believe anything anybody tells me."
"Then at least believe that you, in my personal opinion, did the right thing. I've excused you from school for another week to fully heal your exhaustion, you should use it to rest and regroup. We can talk it all over at our leisure." Healer Williams smiled. "Even better, Hermione's parents excused her from school as well and allowed her to stay here until you're ready to leave. She's just waiting for you to invite her in."
"Really?" A huge weight slipped off Harry's shoulders. "Can she come in right now?"
"Of course. Snakelings, you'd better scram." Williams waved his hand a little once the four snakes had hidden themselves under Harry's pajamas and the door opened noiselessly.
Immediately, a small tornado in the shape of a girl rushed into the room and towards the bed and flung itself without any hesitation at the boy.
"Harry!" Hermione cried, nearly strangling him with the strength of her hug.
Right after her, Crookshanks jumped onto the bed and burrowed his head between their bodies, purring happily.
A little horrified, Harry felt his eyes go wet at the very real proof of her continued existence and relative wellbeing. "Hey, 'Mione. 's so good to see you. Hey, Crooks."
"Are you okay? Are you still tired? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" she babbled into the skin of his neck. "I was so worried when you blacked out."
"Careful, Hermione," Healer Williams cautioned through his chuckles. "He's fine, but he's currently no match for your, ah, enthusiasm."
Hermione squeaked and scrambled off Harry. "I'm sorry!"
"I'm not. Come back here," Harry demanded. "I was just asleep. How are you?"
"Better," Hermione said, although she still looked rather vulnerable to Harry's eyes. "Do you want to know what happened to Snape?"
"They'd better not let him go," Harry said, tucking Hermione to his side and sighing happily when Crookshanks lay down on the other side.
"They can't," Hermione replied with obvious relief. "Since you broke his wand for his attack, and you're the heir of a noble and ancient house, you and your dad got right of first judgement. It's positively medieval, but right now I'm very glad about it."
"Where is he, then?" Harry asked. "Azkaban?"
"He'd definitely deserve it, but no. Right now, he's enjoying the goblin's hospitality," Williams said.
Harry snorted. "Somehow I don't think that's an improvement."
"It isn't," the healer affirmed with a grim smile. "But since Sirius is confined to Gringotts Italy for the moment and can't oversee Snape's stay in the dungeons of his family's manor, he decided that letting the goblins have some fun was the next best thing."
"What's going to happen with Snape?" Harry wondered. "Will he have a trial?"
"Yes, definitely. Madam Bones is positively livid and ready to charge Snape with everything she can possibly get away with." Williams cleared his throat. "The thing is that you two might get out of testifying personally because you're minors if you don't want to, but that is a somewhat involved affair. You'd need a legal representative, so it must be Mr. Finch or an equally qualified law person because Sirius and the Grangers certainly can't do it. One is still a wanted criminal in Britain and the Grangers are mundanes; both prevents people from taking up legal positions, I'm afraid."
"What would that mean for us?" Harry asked.
"We'll have to make our statement in front of the judge and declare Mr. Finch our legal representative," Hermione said quietly. "It's different than having him as just our lawyer because he'll actually speak in our stead and fend off all sorts of intrusive questions. It's sort of like Sharptooth is your steward instead of just your account manager. Taking this step will make Mr. Finch into something like family, in a business sort of way."
"Oh." Harry needed a moment to process this. "Is he ... is he willing to do that for us?"
"He is," Healer Williams reassured him. "The whole firm is very invested in setting all of your affairs to rights, and I've heard from Mr. Finch himself that he's quite taken with you specifically, Harry. He'll be by later to formalize the agreement - if you're ready to take that step, of course. You can always decide to give your statement yourselves, if that's not for you, although your parents don't recommend it."
"What do you want to do?" Harry asked Hermione. "Is it okay if a guy represents you? I know that you prefer a female doctor."
"I've had a couple of days to think about it," she admitted, "but I'm still not sure. In a way it'd be good, wouldn't it? Having a man stand in for me could shake things up a little. On the other hand I'm ... please don't be mad, but I can't help but suppose that men in general find my situation not really ... important, I guess. Men rarely understand what women have to live with every day in our society. A female lawyer would probably understand much better and argue my case accordingly."
"You know that it might be possible to win Ms. Stone for your case," Williams said, "but I think you should have a talk with Mr. Finch first. Sirius chose him to help Harry for a reason. Out of all the cut-throat lawyers of that firm, he's the most sympathetic to an adolescent's sensibilities. Walker and Stone are far more happy destroying corporations and countries, although their work is always excellent and they'd both represent you admirably."
"I'll talk with Mr. Finch, I promise," Hermione murmured. "As I said, it might be good to shake things up. The Wizengamot is mostly made up of old men, so women are already at a disadvantage, and who knows whether they'd even really listen to one, anyway, lawyer or not."
"In any event you'll have to submit your memory. Healer Spleenbash will oversee the extraction of yours, Harry," Healer Williams said. "She is quite committed to finding out what really happened after Snape insulted her to her face while she healed his injuries. Needless to say that Snape refused to submit his memories; he'll be questioned with veritaserum."
"Oh, did she draw the short stick or lost a bet or something?" Harry asked. "I should probably apologize for that."
Healer Williams actually snorted with laughter at that. "You may, of course, but it's hardly necessary. She's sort of adopted you and views it as her duty to straighten out any trouble you find yourself in. Exhausting yourself magically in the attempt to rescue your friend certainly counts as trouble, so you'll just have to deal with her, eh, mothering. Such as it is."
"Er, if I have to provide a memory ..." Harry debated for a second whether to exclude Hermione from this conversation and decided that it was still necessary. In parseltongue, he went on, "If I have to provide a memory, people will know how I got through all the wards. I don't think that'd be good. The snakelings are too young and I don't want people to know about them. Who knows what they'll try to do to them."
"I'll petition Chief Ragnok and your father to view it first, if you want me to," Williams promised. To Hermione, he said, "There are unfortunately things that shouldn't be known yet. I hope you won't feel slighted; it's also for your safety."
"I know that," Hermione said softly. "I don't much like it, but I understand." She brightened a little. "Can I have a book on goblin healing while you're extracting Harry's memory?"
"Consider it done," Williams said, visibly relieved. "Now, since you haven't eaten in a couple of days, Harry, I'll let your elf friends take over. Don't eat too much at first, but do drink as much as you feel you need - just not all at once. I've already asked your friends not to overwhelm you."
"They won't," Harry said, already smiling. "When can I see Eli and Saffron?"
"In a couple of days, or so Naddy told me. Right now they're almost completely healed, but they still need a lot of nutrition to get their strength back. Naddy asks that you order them to take it easy for at least another week because they're already impatient to prove their worth to you."
"They already did that," Harry said. "Jerry."
Jerry hopped off the little stool he'd sat on at the far corner of the room and eagerly jumped onto the bed. "How may Jerry help?"
"First of all ..." Harry reached out and pulled the helf into a one-armed hug, making the elf half hang over Crookshanks' huge, fluffy form. "Thank you. I thank you so much for helping me find Hermione. What you all did was amazing."
"It be privilege to help my Harry Potter sir," Jerry muttered and blushed.
"Can you please tell all the others that I'm really proud of them? I'll talk to you all soon, as soon as I'm out of here, I promise. And tell Saffron and Eli to take it easy. Whatever they need, you'll make sure they get it, yes?"
"It will be done, Harry Potter sir," Jerry squeaked. "I be getting clothes for Harry Potter sir now. Harry Potter sir not be wanting to meet his Finch in his pajamas."
He popped away and reappeared immediately with a full set of clothes. A snap of his fingers saw Harry dressed. From there, Betty took over, snapping her own fingers to set a table for three with some light foods and a large jug of elf berry lemonade.
"You be relaxing now, Harry Potter sir," she fussed. "Magics be needing much care. Harry Potter sir's Miss Mione, too!"
"We'll be good," Harry said, stroking her cheek. Under his shirt the snakelings writhed a little restlessly, but thankfully Hermione didn't notice as she was alredy getting up. "The food smells really good, thanks."
Satisfied, Betty popped away, leaving only the three Potter elves who'd had babies in the room. The little ones clung to their parents and wailed thinly, clearly wanting some attention.
"Sorry, I ..." Harry pointed helplessly at them and Healer Williams indicated for him to go.
"Can I see them, too?" Hermione asked. "They're so tiny!"
The elves bashfully accepted Hermione's inclusion and Mora, the youngest of the parents, even allowed the girl to stroke her baby's tiny hand.
"They're all doing well?" Harry asked the elves, who were beaming with pride. "It's been a while since I've seen them last."
"All be well," Cinnamon squeaked. "Babies be strong and curious. Cinnamon be having to watch out in the kitchen. Peppy be wanting to help."
"Isn't that just adorable?" Hermione cooed and sighed happily when said Peppy stared at her with large, moss green eyes and tentatively reached out with one thin arm.
"Miss Mione be careful," Cinnamon warned. "Babies not be having much control. They not be meaning to, but playing might hurt good witchies and wizards. Or worse, little ones be liking witchie or wizard so much they accidentally try to bond. It not be fun for anyone."
"Oh!" Hermione glanced at Mora. "Uh, wow. Thanks for trusting me with your child, then. I'd never try to do that, of course."
"Mora be knowing that Holly be far too young," Mora answered shyly. "She be mostly sleeping yet. But Peppy be older. He be awake often and looking for mischief."
Happy, the only house elf dad of the little group, cleared his throat a little, politely directing Harry and Hermione's attention to himself. His kid was clinging to his body like a little possum, contentedly snuffling into his uniform, now that Harry was close. "Babies be more curious now because Potter elves be without proper guidance for so long. Harry Potter sir's presence be settling them right down as they get to know their master. That's why we be here, and for Harry Potter sir's protection, of course. We be hoping that this be alright."
"That's fine," Harry promised. "I meant it when I said to tell me what you need." He grinned and rubbed his index finger over Peppy's wrinkly head, causing the tiny thing to squeal with laughter. "They are rather cute, so it's not a hardship at all."
Baby watching thus commenced, Healer Williams directed Harry and Hermione to the table and carefully oversaw Harry's meal, reminding him twice to take it easy and not stuff himself with everything in sight.
Afterwards, it was time to receive Mr. Finch.
Accepting a cup of tea, Mr. Finch opened his leather briefcase and took out a whole sheaf of thick parchment pages.
"These, Mr. Potter, are the forms you and Miss Dagworth-Granger are required to oversee and sign. This is the contract for my duty as your representative for the stated court appearance, and this is the settlement paper the Malfoy family has sent for your perusal. Miss Dagworth-Granger received hers three days ago but has refused to make a decision until you were well again."
"Oh, right, the Malfoys," Harry sighed. "We should probably get that out of the way first, since we missed the meeting." He took the time to read the offer fully and began to scowl halfway through. "Sirius warned me, but they really are trying to short-change me. One hundred thousand galleons for nearly killing me and not much else. What about you, 'Mione? Is it any better?"
Hermione huffed and handed her parchment over. "No. It's even more insulting than yours, considering what Mr. Finch told us when the weregild first came up. They offer a hundred thousand galleons in a tightly controlled trust fund, an apprenticeship with a Potions Master that I know works for them, and a magical vow on the life of their son that he won't try to harm me again as long as we're both at Hogwarts."
Mr. Finch's mouth tightened slightly even as he nodded. "Mr. Potter's offer being arguably more valuable than Miss Dagworth-Granger's is the actual insult in this already insulting situation. Mr. Reader, that is the new family lawyer for the Grangers, and we have taken the liberty of outlining a counter-offer, with the intent of raising your expectations instead of lowering them as the negotiations proceed. I thought that giving them three opportunities to do the right thing after the first sally is fair; however, the opportunities for amendment may be as plentiful or few as you deem fit between now and Yule. Your parents, Miss Dagworth-Granger, have authorized me to accept your decisions as theirs, since you are the injured party."
She accepted the outlined counter-offer and nearly laughed as she read it through. "This is much better."
"What does it say?" Harry asked. After a wary glance at Mr. Finch's placid face, he amended, "If I may know, of course. Sorry."
"Oh, you definitely may know," Hermione told him. "Mr. Finch proposes three-hundred thousand galleons in damages, free of all stipulations, a lifetime all access pass for the International Wizarding Library which is worth another fifty thousand galleons, and the purchase of a small property for my use worth no less than then a hundred thousand galleons. In addition, Draco Malfoy is to leave Hogwarts forthwith, never to return as long as I am a student there, and he is to swear a magical oath to leave me alone for as long as he lives."
"Oh, that sounds much better," Harry said. "Do you think they will agree?"
"They most likely will not," Mr. Finch said in that dry voice of his. "While the stated terms are the absolute minimum for attempted murder of a minor member of Britain's magical society, the Malfoy family will likely think the demands far above Miss Dagworth-Granger's station. Their next offer might be higher than their first, though not by very much - and so will be our next counter offer higher than this one. We shall see how long it takes for them to understand the game they're playing."
"If they haven't learned after three refusals, they deserve to be brought to trial and pay the proper weregild anyway," Harry said. "I'll leave it to you, Mr. Finch. Whatever you and Sirius think is fair is good enough for me. Well, as long as Hermione also gets what she deserves and Malfoy definitely has to stay away from us."
"Yes, I agree," Hermione said. "I don't need the money, but I want Malfoy gone from our lives. You seem to have it well in hand, and I'd by no means wish to suspend any pleasure of yours, Mr. Finch."
Healer Williams snorted loudly in the background and Finch actually smiled.
"My thanks, Miss Dagworth-Granger. Please sign here and here, that'll generate a form letter of rejection, and that's for your agreement to the counter-offer. You too, Mr. Potter. Very good." The lawyer placed the signed parchments into his briefcase and shuffled the remaining forms into two neat stacks. "I understand that your position regarding my involvement in Potions Master Snape's impending trial is a difficult one, Miss Dagworth-Granger. Have you come to a satisfying conclusion yet? If not, there's still some time before the preliminary hearing."
Hermione coloured a little. "I have. I'd like you to represent me."
Mr. Finch blinked once, visibly surprised. "You do?"
"Actually, yes, now that you're here in person." Repeating her reasons for doing so to him, Hermione then asked for her form to sign.
Mr. Finch handed it over readily enough, though he still seemed a little surprised.
Harry signed his next, noting that Sirius had already scrawled his full signature underneath the legalese. Seeing it brought him an unexpected little thrill of pleasure, almost like homesickness, but in a good way.
Once these parchments were put away as well, Harry said, "Well, I guess that's Snape taken care off, at least. If they let him walk, people will probably lynch him in the streets."
"They just might," Williams said, getting up from his seat by the house elves and joining them at the table. "You should see the headlines of the European press. People were going crazy over the abduction. The European Guild of Potions Masters has immediately expelled Snape from its ranks, and of course Mr. Reader is preparing a demand for weregild as we speak. In mundane terms, you could also call it injury award. While Potions Master Snape did not significantly harm Miss Dagworth-Granger physically, the trauma of being forced through Hogwarts' wards and having a personal protection ward taken off with the intent of marriage via rape and underage pregnancy was considerable."
"Right." Harry huffed, fighting down the rage that wanted to be let out. "Will he go to Azkaban?"
"Yes, he probably will," Mr. Finch said. "The aurors who've been called to the scene examined everything thoroughly and left a certified copy of their findings with me directly afterwards. This will severely hamper the ability of ... concerned parties ... to tamper with the evidence. However," and he turned to Harry, "there is the matter of your involvement, Mr. Potter."
"How bad is it?" Harry asked resignedly.
"It is unofficial as of yet," Finch explained, "since the ICW is very interested in protecting you to ward off even more trouble from Lord Black's legal team, but it is my unfortunate duty to inform you that the destruction of Headmaster Dumbledore's family wards has attracted the attention of the Unspeakables of the British Ministry."
"I don't know what that means," Harry said. "Who are they?"
"The Unspeakables are studying rare magical phenomena and are authorized to disregard certain civil rights to do so," Healer Williams said. "They're a mix of a wizarding secret service and a band of whacky scientists. These last few days it's been a constant battle to keep them away and your father is rather certain that they'll continue trying to get you into their hands for studying."
"They can forget it," Harry said bluntly.
"Lord Black was of the same opinion," Mr. Finch said with another of his bland, rather scary smiles. "He told me to inform you that you are to provide your memory for the Snape trial only, with a very clear restriction of access to it besides. It'll also be destroyed immediately after the conclusion of said trial. The ICW has already agreed to these terms with an unbreakable vow, to much protest out of the British Ministry. The vow is the price they had to pay for keeping such a high profile trial in Britain, and so they grudgingly agreed. The penalties for a breach of contract, no matter how small, would be debilitating to Magical Britain, both magically and economically. They won't risk it."
"I think I'm a little in love with your dad," Hermione confessed, eyes shining with both awe and mirth. "There are shows on the telly where people throw their money around like he does, and it's always entertaining, but to actually witness it ... who knew the law could be so dynamic and interesting?"
"We live for opportunities like this," Mr. Finch said, dry as always but with a distinct air of satisfaction about him. "It helps that Lord Black is rather creative in his revenge-taking."
"How so?" Hermione inquired.
"I can't go into the particulars, of course, but several members of the Wizengamot may never be the same once Lord Black's grievance with them becomes known." Mr. Finch smoothed the lapel of his expensive robes. "At this point some of it is contingent on their good behaviour, of course. Your father is hardly unreasonable, all things considered."
Harry shared a look with Healer Williams and had to bite his lower lip to keep from laughing.
"He also asked me to impress upon you the importance of personal integrity. He said, and I quote: If you must blackmail unpleasant people, make sure to be discreet and to uphold your end of the bargain - but don't hesitate to squash them like the little worms they are if they try to cross you."
Choking on his inappropriate laughter, Harry stuttered out an acknowledgement.