That's excellent advice," Hermione said with a nod.
"Now, let's talk about practicalities," Healer Williams interjected, amused. "The preliminary hearing was decided to take place two days after Harry's waking, at Gringotts, to accomodate Harry's security requirements. Therefore, Healer Spleenbash will visit tomorrow morning to secure your memories of the incident. We should've waited with Hermiones, considering the Unspeakables' rather ardent interest, but the goblins were eager to write the list of charges and Hermione didn't have the heart to make them wait."
"Can I see it?" Harry asked, all levity forgotten.
Hermione lowered her gaze. "I'd rather you didn't. It'll only make you angry."
"I don't care," Harry said, taking her hand. "Snape made himself my enemy, but I want to know whether it'll be Azkaban for him, or Sirius' idea of justice after all."
"You shouldn't say things like that," Hermione whispered. "You're better than that."
"I'm really not," Harry answered, his amusement now completely gone. "He tried to really hurt you, 'Mione. I won't ever let people get away with that if I can help it."
"You found me very quickly," Hermione said. "He didn't have much time to harass me, thankfully."
"It doesn't matter. If Brady hadn't put that parsel spell on you, he might've gotten away with it." Harry narrowed his eyes at Hermione. "What are you trying to hide?"
"Nothing. I just ..." Hermione blew out her breath when his stare didn't let up. "Okay, it's stupid but ..."
"But?" Harry pressed.
Hermione's fingers clenched around Harry's. "I'm very good at physically defending myself, but what good is it when a wizard can disarm me so quickly and just stun me anyway? I felt so weak and incompetent in that moment, Harry. Everything happened so fast. I ... I don't want you to see that, because then you might think that I've badgered your for nothing. I don't want to lose that time with you."
"You won't," Harry hurried to say.
"And it's hardly your fault, Hermione," Healer Williams added. "Going by your account of events, Snape was disillusioned when he grabbed you, and disarmed you as soon as his portkey deposited you in Dumbledore's house. He's a fully grown and trained wizard, and a Death Eater to boot. The aurors discovered the Dark Mark on his arm when they processed him into the holding facility at Gringotts. I daresay that few civilians would've known how to react in such a situation."
Harry glared first at Healer Williams and then at Mr. Finch. "Snape actually is a Death Eater?!" Under his robes, the snakelings began to squirm with agitation. Goldie and Sweetie were also hissing quietly to bring them Snape so he could be bitten posthaste.
"He is, which is why Lord Black saw fit to confine Potions Master Snape here, instead of at the Ministry," Mr. Finch said. "It's an open secret that the Dark Lord still has a lot of sympathizers there. And then there's Dumbledore, who apparently wants his pet Death Eater back very much."
"Remind me to show you the newspapers of the last days," Williams said dryly. "You'll at least feel vindicated, even if Europe is going spare over what's happening in Britain right now."
Harry needed a moment to process all this. The desire to have one of his elves pop him to Hogwarts so he could give Dumbledore a much deserved punch in the nuts warred with his need to stay close to Hermione, who was still downcast and embarrassed by her earlier admission.
"I hope Dumbledore's gonna get fired over this," he finally managed to say. "There's no way he didn't know about Snape."
"No, there isn't," Mr. Finch agreed. "I'm sorry to say that you and Miss Dagworth-Granger will have to sign several more contracts and writs as the trial progresses, but the sting of the blood quills will be worth it." He stood and bowed. "I thank you for your trust in my services. I'll see you in two days at the preliminary hearing."
The two teenagers, who'd risen promptly to return the bow, wished him a good evening and promptly slumped back down in their chairs when the lawyer was gone.
"You took it rather well, all things considered," Hermione ventured after a short silence. "I don't know how you do it."
"It's mostly repression and ignorance, though I can't do that forever, can I?"
Hermione smiled crookedly. "I don't think so."
"You mentioned the news, Brady. How bad is it really?" Harry asked with a sigh, rubbing both hands over his face. "Anything I should've seen before I show myself again?"
"You should probably see all of it eventually, so you'll be prepared." Healer Williams opened his bag and took out a stack of newspapers and chose the oldest, and edition of the WIT. "Hermione heroically even refrained from reading more than the Daily Prophet so you could be outraged together. Let's start with this. See the headlines?"
"Young Heiress Abducted At Hogwarts, Black Heir Comes To The Rescue," Harry read, face slipping into a grimace. "Really?"
"That's one of the less sensationalist ones. The abduction made the radio news that evening because several students immediately wrote home, and the next day the European press had already caught on. Gringotts was very forthcoming with the name of their prisoner, and as your family is Snape's actual jailor, there was nothing the British Ministry could do to hush it up. They were hating their own laws a lot in that moment." Healer Williams put the paper down and raised the next one. "Look at this one."
Hermione coloured. "Kidnapper Revealed To Be Death Eater, Black Heir Narrowly Prevents Tragedy." She glanced at Harry. "Not that it isn't true, but ... wow. I really get now why you hate your fame, Harry. It's horrifying."
Williams chuckled. "It could be worse. You should read the articles the press has published about Snape, Dumbledore, and the whole dismal situation at Hogwarts, and that's not including the rainbow press. The WIT has bought the entire Herald edition and look what they've done with the material over night. I like this one: Parents Demand Death Eater Professor's Head On Pike, Unearth Archaic Law To Make It Happen."
That, at least, made Harry laugh a little, even if he was still feeling rather numb about the brouhaha Snape's insanity had caused.
Flipping through the pages, Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "There's a ton of stuff about Dumbledore in there which the Prophet didn't even mention ... he's what? Married to Grindelwald? That's not in any of the biographies I've read!"
"At this point I refuse to be surprised," Harry said, crossing his arms. "Next people will tell us he had an affair with Snape."
"Thankfully not, apparently. Oh, they've really painted Hogwarts with a very dark brush," Hermione continued. "There's a table comparing it to the other large European schools - I wish I'd thought of that! - and Hogwarts is losing badly. The only saving grace ist he teachers, actually, even if they're hampered by the Ministry's guidelines. Ooooh, and look here! A lawyer opened an official inquiry about the tuition. Looks like it'll become a class action suit very soon! I hope everyone gets their money back, even if they've long since graduated."
Harry could hardly keep up with the things the newspapers had uncovered these last four days. Only part of it was about him, thankfully, and the basilisk was miraculously still secret for the time being, but he obviously hadn't done himself any favours by running off to get Hermione out of Snape's clutches. He might have been a local celebrity who'd stirred up some international interest due to Sirius' impending trial, but now the rest of the world seemed interested in jumping on the crazy Boy-Who-Lived band wagon as well.
"I don't like it," he pouted when Hermione was done laughing about several reader's letters that made him appear like some sort of mythical hero. "These kids have no right to ... to imagine me as their prince or something. Bloody hell. As if those stupid books weren't bad enough."
"Madam Stone, the lawyer, not your tutor, is working hard on getting those out of circulation, and the first damages have already been paid, but a lot of them are now getting a second wind due to all the attention. The used books market is thriving. Sorry." Healer Williams looked pityingly at Harry. "Even worse, someone snuck a recent photo out of Hogwarts and sold it to a paper. Wait ..." He fumbled with the latest newspaper and found the page. "Here it is. You and that hippogriff, it's a good motif at least."
"Who did it?" Harry asked angrily. The Harry in the photo waved and shrugged helplessly, as if commiserating with his unfortunate situation. Picture-Buckbeak was unconcerned as ever, poking picture-Harry into the shoulder with the flat of his beak and demanding attention.
"Not Colin Creevey," Williams answered readily, "but your friend Ronald. When questioned by your head of house, he admitted to stealing it from Mr. Creevey, who, by the way, is beside himself with worry. Ronald got two hundred galleons for it, although the family has already returned the money to your father to avoid a very public scandal."
"That's something, at least," Hermione murmured. "I never thought that Mr. Weasley condoned such behaviour."
"No, he doesn't. In fact, something good came out of that debacle," Healer Williams said. "Lord Black managed a Floo talk with Arthur Weasley and asked point blank what was wrong with his two youngest children. He insisted on being satisfied and Mr. Weasley, feeling himself obliged as a cadet to the Black line, promised to find out."
Harry gave up his tense posture. "Really?"
"Yes, Harry. He vowed to do so, even as it dawned on him that his wife may have hidden certain crucial pieces of information from him." Williams sighed. "Your father got the impression that Mr. Weasley didn't have the control over his family he should have, but receiving the vow did a lot to quell his misgivings ... for now. We'll have to wait and see what Mr. Weasley's inquiries will turn up."
"Do you think Mr. Weasley will think to look for the use of family magic?" Harry asked.
"If he doesn't, your father will certainly point it out to him. Mr. Weasley's acknowledgement of the family ties took the taboo away. It probably wasn't Ronald's intention, but he handed the means to solving this mystery to us quite neatly."
Hermione pondered this for a long moment. Finally, she said, "I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but what if that's actually the case?"
"What?" Harry asked, a little sharply.
"You heard right. What if Ron did it to ... to help us along?" Hermione asked. "He's a strategic genius, even if he doesn't seem to have many other useful talents, and he's been labouring under several strong behaviour changing spells for months. What if this is his attempt to reach out?"
"Everything I've heard of the boy so far paints a different picture, but I obviously don't know him as you do," Healer Williams said slowly. "It could've been a deliberate act, but it could've also been a happy accident."
"I don't believe in Ron's goodness," Harry muttered darkly. "Not anymore."
"Should you get to question him, you can find out," Hermione said to Williams. "Harry needs to know. You will, won't you?"
"I will, and for Ronald's sake I hope that it was a cry for help and not yet another act of petty cruelty in a long line of them." Healer Williams checked the time with a lazy wave of his hand. "It's getting close to bed time. I won't tell you to leave, Hermione, but bear in mind that Harry still has a lot of recovering to do. Does nine sound fair to you?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you for allowing us some time together."
Williams smiled. "Consider it a little gift from Harry's father. And speaking of which ..." He reached into an inside pocket of his robes and got out a sealed letter. "This is for you, Miss Dagworth-Granger."
Hermione accepted it and gasped quietly at the sight of the red wax seal. "It's really the Black crest. It's ... imposing. It doesn't seem so stately in the books."
"Magical family seals rarely do," Williams replied. He smiled fondly at the two teenagers. "Enjoy the calm before the storm, you two. One of Harry's elves will send you to bed later."
"Thank you, Healer Williams." Hermione could hardly take her eyes off the letter.
The healer took his leave then and Hermione reverently opened the missive.
"What do you think will be in there?" she asked, nervously tracing the neatly folded corners.
Harry shrugged. "His thanks for your articles, probably."
"Do you suppose he's angry at me for dragging you into yet another hair-rising adventure?"
A grin crept onto Harry's face. "He wouldn't waste proper parchment for a private bollocking, believe me. It'd have either been a howler, a mean prank, or something nasty via lawyer. Besides, if anyone deserves a bollocking, it'll be me for not thinking things through. As soon as Brady springs me, I'll begin looking over my shoulder!" At her alarmed expression, Harry sighed. "It'll be alright."
"Okay ..." After taking a deep, fortifying breath Hermione flipped the page open. "I'll just read it out loud ..."
Harry kept his eyes trained on her as she began to read.
"Gringotts Italy, Rome
November 4th, 1993
Dear Miss Hermione Dagworth-Granger,
It has come to my attention that my nemesis Severus Snape has attempted to ruin your life, and that my son and his little elf friends have hunted him down and arrested him mere minutes after your abduction.
For that, I'm deeply sorry; no person should have to endure the questionable attentions of that greasy git, even if I'm glad that my boy was able to stop that utter waste of magic before he could finish what he started. Therefore it'd greatly ease my mind if you allowed me to cover the cost for proper mind healing. Not only does the hook-nosed slimeball not deserve any room in your thoughts, both you and Harry deserve to explore your relationship without his shadow hanging over you.
To that effect, I've asked Healer Williams to introduce you to a compatible mind healer, which hopefully has already happened. If not, please feel free to choose as you please, cost certainly is not a consideration.
That bit of unpleasantness out of the way, please allow me to convey my utmost gratitude for your pragmatic yet gripping presentation of the facts regarding my case. Harry's steward at Gringotts told me that the Hogwarts Herald edition was sold wholesale to the Wizarding International Times, for three thousand galleons no less. Congratulations! As far as I know, no student paper ever managed this feat. Your name was favorably mentioned several times as well and the honour is well deserved.
I do not wish to come across as wishing to pay for your work, but I must insist on offering a boon for your brave involvement. No one has done as much to help justice prevail as you did, and Harry assured me that you've always been one to involve herself when confronted with injustice, which is a commendable trait in any person.
Therefore, please allow me to present an offer of full Sponsorship to you and your parents.
It's the least I can do to help a witch of your generous character and active mind to find her way in the magical world - and to lend a layer of protection that your parents unfortunately are ill equipped to provide. Please allow me to do for you what you've already done for me: provide assistance, shelter, and means as needed so you can grow up to be the best witch you can possibly be.
It would give me great pleasure if you were to accept my offer, so take your time discussing it with your parents and Mr. Finch before you decide.
Awaiting your answer,
Your friend,
Sirius Black
Lord of the House of Black"
For a moment, Hermione stared silently at her letter. To Harry, she seemed utterly stunned; even her mouth was open a little as she was breathing shallowly through it.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked eventually, getting a little worried.
Hermione started. "Yes! Yes, I am. I'm just ... a little overwhelmed." She raised wide, vulnerable eyes to Harry's. "Did you know about this?"
"Not a thing," Harry answered. "I hope you'll take Sirius up on his offer. Getting Snape out of our heads can't happen quickly enough."
"I ... yes. I will. Definitely. And ... and the offer of Sponsorship? Is that alright with you, too?"
Harry frowned. "Why wouldn't I be okay with it? I'd say you deserve it! You got things going, he sure is right about that, and it's obviously true that you need more protection that my friends and I can provide." He scowled at that.
"You did just fine, Harry, truly. You found me - you saved me! But it's a huge thing to offer," Hermione argued. "We've talked about it a little after Ginny's play for mentorship, do you remember? You've just got your father back; I'd never want to intrude on your relationship. And this ... this sort of guarantees that I'll be underfoot often."
"Well, Sirius does what he wants," Harry said, not really seeing the problem there, "and he'll probably hound you if you refuse. Hah, hound. Besides, I'm pretty happy about having another thing keeping us close."
"And refusing such an offer is just not done," Hermione murmured, heaving a gusty sigh. "I don't want to offend your dad, of course, and I'm truly very grateful for the incredible offer. But I'll have to talk it over with my parents. It's a life-changing decision, no matter which way one looks at it. Are you sure you wouldn't mind me being around? There'll be meetings to discuss my education, at the very least, and probably more if we like each other personally ... as I said, it'd take time away from you two."
Harry tilted his head questioningly at the letter and took it when Hermione shyly nodded. Softly, he stroked over the black ink of Sirius' handwriting and smiled when a tiny touch of magic brushed against his awareness.
"It's only fair that he gets to give you the shovel talk, too," he said, grinning at Hermione's surprised sputter. "Beyond that I'd be happy for him to have more friends. Besides, who says that those meetings have to be private? I mean, they can be, and some stuff probably should be, but if you don't feel short-changed, there's nothing keeping us from talking about things together, or is there?"
"No, there isn't. You're right." Hermione grabbed Harry's hands, her own a little sweaty with nervousness and excitement. "Oh my god, Harry. Ever since learning about the wizarding world, I thought I'd have a successful but rather unspectacular life. Then I met you and now there's adventure and possibility around every corner."
"But also danger," Harry countered. "I know that it's not my fault, but you're my best friend and I want you to be safe. I really don't have a problem with you getting sponsored. You should do it."
"My parents will flip," Hermione whispered and then grimaced. "Ginny, too. Oh my god, and can you imagine what Ron'll have to say about it?"
"I don't care what other people think. If you're fine with it, that's all that matters."
"I guess you're right ... I'm just afraid of other people acting out like Malfoy because they feel somehow slighted." Hermione gripped Harry's hands more tightly. "I don't think I can live like that, Harry."
"You won't have to. Sirius will protect you - he will be able to, you know." Harry raised his captured hands and placed a little kiss on Hermione's white knuckles. "Do you want to Floo call your parents?"
"I ... yes. I do." Flustered, Hermione bit her lip. "I'm completely stupid right now. It's embarrassing."
"Tell you what. Let a Potter elf take the letter to your parents and ask them to call you when it's convenient. You can send the explanation for what Sponsorship means along, that'll be less questions to answer."
Hermione nodded. "Alright. Sounds perfect."
As she was still mostly stunned, Harry took the letter, called Jules for a copy of the relevant information and the Floo address to Hermione's room, and then sent the little elf off. Once Jules was gone, the tension left Hermione's body and she slumped into Harry's arms.
"Sorry for being such a ninny," she mumbled into his shoulder.
"Nah, I understand." Harry burrowed his face into her wild hair and closed his eyes as he breathed in her scent. "I'm just sorry for dragging you into all this. I never wanted you in so much danger."
"Not your fault," she reminded him. Quietly, she breathed Harry in just like he was doing. "Things will be different now."
"Yes." Harry saw no way around it. "I've no idea how, though."
"Me neither."
They fell silent and just took comfort in each other's presence.
"It be nearly nine," Happy squeaked a long while later. "Happy be calling security elves now for Harry Potter sir and Harry Potter sir's Miss Mione."
"Thank you," Harry murmured. Carefully, he cupped Hermione's shoulders and pushed her upright. "Will you be alright?"
"Yes, thank you. Healer Rodriguez gave me sleeping potions. She said I can take them until I start the mind healing. They're not very strong."
"Okay. That's good." Harry looked at her, only now really seeing the signs of exhaustion on her face. "I'll talk to Brady, too. You're not alone in this, promise."
They nuzzled each other for a few minutes longer and then said their reluctant goodbyes.
Harry was missing Hermione almost immediately, and it took a long while for him to fall asleep, despite his exhaustion.
oOo
"Well, well, look who's found his way back to Gringotts so soon," Healer Spleenbash greeted as she strode into Harry's room, followed by Sharptooth. "Greetings and lots of gold, Heir Potter. No, no, do not offer me refreshments, youngling, I do not have time for pleasantries. There's a dirty wizard awaiting my tender mercies. Here is the pensieve ... let's begin."
Healer Williams grinned at her. "Greetings to you too, Healer Spleenbash. How wonderful to know that our mutual enemy is suffering by your skilled hand. Steward Sharptooth, may your clan's riches ever grow."
"So mote it be," Sharptooth replied, shrewd eyes nearly glowing in the semi-darkness of Healer Spleenbash's office.
"I'm glad to see you both," Harry said earnestly. "Brady helped me meditate, so we can start right away, if you want."
Healer Spleenbash bared her teeth in a terrifying smile. "Oh, I want. But first, the modalities. Chief Ragnok wishes to see the memory of your rescue mission." She pulled a sealed letter from her sleeve and placed it on the table. "Officially, he seeks proof of Dumbledore's dishonourable behaviour both as your guardian and as Hogwarts' headmaster. Unofficially, he's as curious as nine hellcats to find out how you managed to tear down some of the strongest family wards in the country."
Harry took the letter and opened it. After reading it once quickly and a second time much more thoroughly, he said, "He must be really curious." He handed the letter to Healer Williams, who fairly pounced on it. "And he even promised absolute secrecy."
Healer Williams whistled, impressed. "He's offering five thousand hectares of land in Nicaragua. The land has been deforested before the magicals there bought and secured it, but it's still a very good offer."
"Do you think it'd be worth it?" Harry asked. "Will the elves be able to grow things there?"
"Yes, of course. Chief Ragnok thought to approach your father and Steward Sharptooth as well, and both encourage you to accept, if you're so inclined."
"Dobby," Harry called, smiling when his friend appeared at once. "Hey you, I've got possibly fantastic news. Chief Ragnok offers me a lot of land in exchange for the memory of our latest adventure. Five thousand hectares in Nicaragua, isn't that great?"
Dobby's eyes bulged nearly out of his skull and he let out an involuntary squeak.
"I don't know where it is, but I'll ask so you can check it out," Harry continued. "If you say it's good, I'll make the deal."
Dobby darted forward and fiercely hugged Harry's legs. "Dobby be so happy!"
"Do you have the coordinates?" Healer Williams laughed. "I rather think the little guy wants to leave right away."
Smugly, Healer Spleenbash fished another piece of parchment from her sleeve and handed it over. "Of course. Gringotts prides itself on always being prepared."
Harry gave Dobby the parchment and not a second later, Fawkes suddenly flamed into the room, grabbed Dobby's arms with his huge talons, and flamed away again in a vortex of fiery magic.
"I guess Dobby's got everything figured out," Harry said lamely, stunned.
Healer Spleenbash was hardly less so, and had to clear her throat twice to regain her voice. "Let's get to work then, Heir Potter. Travelling with a phoenix will see your elf back rather sooner than later, and I'm pretty sure that you'd like to be prepared for his arrival."
Under her supervision, Harry went through the memory of Hermione's abduction several times before letting Healer Spleenbash extract it. Afterwards there was some more haggling with Sharptooth over the right to watch the memory, which was swiftly solved, and then they all watched the projection in tense silence.
Harry couldn't quite believe how majestic and terrifying their travel through Hogwarts' wards had been, or that seeing the magical world through Blue's eyes would affect him this much. There was a lump in his throat that the little snake was doing his best to flick away with sweet, tiny snake kisses.
"We did magnificently," Sweetie declared as they reached the moment of her heroic first bite into Dumbledore's wards. "Brother and I helped."
"You helped so much," Harry agreed and kissed both her and Blue's little heads in thanks. "Without you, we'd never have gotten through." He smiled a little soppily at the preening snakelings.
Healer Williams caressed Goldie and her quiet brother soothingly. "They're upset that they weren't with you when it happened."
"And I'm glad they were safe," Harry replied at once. "I wasn't really thinking, which was stupid. Snape could've hurt us, house elves or no."
"Thankfully you and your friends managed to apprehend Snape before irredeemable damage was done," Sharptooth said, smirking scarily at the still image of the crumpled Snape. Whether Healer Spleenbash had knowingly chosen that moment to stop the projection, or hadn't cared, Harry couldn't tell, but it was rather satisfying.
"Those two are still disappointed." Williams handed Goldie and the quiet one back to Harry. "Maybe you could spend some more time with them in the next few days."
"You're always welcome," Harry told the two snakes and helped them settle around his arms. "You'd have done very well, I'm sure."
"Our bite is very strong," Goldie hissed, sounding a little sad. "We should've helped siblings."
"Being small is inconvenient," the quiet brother added. "And very annoying."
"I want to see it again," Sweetie said, slithering in lazy circles on the table. "Inside the pensieve. I want to see all the magic around me like brother always does."
Harry could tell that everyone was eager for the experience, but he himself had no wish to relive that traumatic afternoon yet again.
"You can, but I'll stay here," he said, crossing his arms. "Er, have fun, though, I guess."
All the snakelings except Blue promptly crept back to Healer Williams, Sweetie even going so far to choose Healer Spleenbash for a perch. The goblin didn't show much surprise outwardly, but the short welcoming pat was telling enough.
"You sure that you want to stay here?" Harry asked Blue.
"Seeing magics isn't special for me," the snakeling replied, taking up his favourite spot around Harry's neck and sprawling as much as a slim snake could. "I stay here and keep you company."
"Alright, then let's go," Williams said, smiling softly at the sight. "The sooner we'll be back."
"Don't go wandering while we're in there, youngling," Sharptooth warned. "Gringotts is quite busy right now, the guards won't have time for play."
"I won't," Harry promised. "I brought a book, and Betty said she'd bring me a snack."
The memory took around thirty minutes to play out, although Williams had assured Harry that the whole ordeal had been much shorter in reality, only a little more than ten minutes.
When Harry had asked how that could be, Williams had said, "What your mind perceives does not have to be the same as objective reality. Sometimes, minutes feel like hours - usually when something unpleasant happens - and sometimes hours of happiness pass in the blink of an eye. Such is the magic of time, it's all to do with context and perspective."
While the two healers, Sharptooth, and the three snakelings were gone, Harry settled down to read his book on martial broom fighting. Blue read along, hissing questions every now and then and generally showing much more interest than Harry thought possible for a ground-dwelling being.
"Harry train that," Blue said when the time was almost up and the tray with snacks almost completely plundered. "I like flying, and I can bite enemies when necessary."
Harry grinned broadly. "Oh, I will. The Come And Go Room will be big enough. Maybe it can even form into an indoor Quidditch pitch!"
"Maybe it can form a teacher," Blue hissed lazily. "Would be much easier for Harry."
"Yeah, it would be easier, but that's probably asking too much." Harry closed the book and slipped it into his bag. "Having the room at all is already a gift and I feel sort of bad for keeping it to myself."
"Harry is a Hogwarts Heir, it's your right," Blue countered. "The house elves said so. Kin comes first."
In that moment, the six memory watchers were flung from the pensieve and landed roughly in their chairs.
"Wow, what a ride!" Williams said. He stared at Harry and Blue. "Blue has one hell of a mage sight."
"Very impressive, just like this one's ability to corrode magic," Healer Spleenbash agreed, helping Sweetie off her arm. "The Chief will be pleased."
"You should've beheaded that slimy excuse for a wizard, Heir Potter," Sharptooth growled. "None should live when they plan on injuring an innocent youngling so."
"Obviously I'm not confident in the Ministry's ability to hold a fair trial," Williams said, "but Mr. Finch is prepared for their tactics."
"No one will be able to see my memory except for the people at the trial?" Harry asked, suddenly anxious. "And it'll vanish afterwards?"
"Yes," Williams said patiently. "Sure, Magical Britain could decide to violate the injunction the ICW has issued, but that'd cost them one billion galleons in damages, as well as the automatic loss of your British citizenship, so the Unspeakables still wouldn't have any legal right to claim you for study. As for illegal tactics ... the ICW war mages are alerted. The subdivision dealing with child endangerment takes its job very seriously."
"I bet the people at the Ministry are furious," Harry mumbled.
"Oh, we know they're furious," Healer Spleenbash said cheerfully. She gestured with her long, bony fingers, urging the silvery memory mist into a vial. With a flash of light the vial then sealed itself. "We expect quite a few friendly-worded demands for your time, of course, but you may rest assured that your lawyer has this well in hand. You can, however, expect to receive quite a few galleons in micro damages for trying to circumvent the ICW."
Harry flushed uncomfortably. "It feels wrong taking that money. It comes from people's taxes, right? They shouldn't have to pay for what the Ministry is doing wrong."
"First of all, the public is positively slavering for that information," Healer Spleenbash said dryly. "And second, if you don't want to keep that money, you can always invest it in worthwile projects. Margot Muschelschaum's Day School comes to mind. They're always grateful for donations, and it could be argued that the public owes them their support anyway."
That sounded good in Harry's opinion. "They can have the micro damages, I don't want it. Although ... I totally forgot to ask what they might do to my house elves. They did most of the work getting those wards down."
"Legally, since you're the head of your family, they're literally viewed as an extension of your body," Sharptooth replied. "Their bond to you won't allow anything else. Therefore they can't be punished by the Ministry unless they're sentencing you. They might try to do that, of course, but it's unlikely with the ICW having a weather eye on the situation, and of course with Mr. Finch in your corner."
"Oh, okay. That's good."
"Besides, Naddy's advice to mark Snape as your prisoner while the magic in that house was all over the place took the elves out of the equation altogether. As far as the aurors are concerned, you flung Snape into that wall." Healer Williams grinned. "She's a clever little thing."
As if she'd been called, said house elf suddenly popped onto the table, a tray with several plates full of a light lunch in her hands. "Naddy nearly always be knowing best. Wizards be eating now, it be lunch time already. Also, Harry Potter sir's Miss Mione be waiting outside. Master Brady be calling her in now." She turned to the goblins. "If honorable goblins be wishing to lunch with my Master Brady and the young ones, I be getting lunch for you also."
Sharptooth nodded. "We'd appreciate it. The usual fare will do."
Naddy popped away and the door to Healer Spleenbash's office opened, letting Hermione and Betty in.
"How did it go?" Hermione asked at once, barely taking the time to buss a kiss onto Harry's cheek. "Was it very horrible?"
"Yes," Harry grumped. "I'd rather not show you."
Two plates popped into existence before Healer Spleenbash and Sharptooth, both filled with unidentifiable plants and roots, and something that looked suspiciously like fat, writhing larvaes in a thick sauce.
"Too late, we agreed to share," Hermione huffed, completely unfazed by the squirming goblin food. "We'll watch them together tomorrow and you won't change my mind." She snatched one of the plates off the tray and began inhaling the food as soon as Williams and Harry had taken up their forks. "Gosh, that's so good after my exercises. Who is the cook today?"
"I am," Betty beamed. "Dobby be very proud of Betty's progress."
Harry took a bite of the chicken curry and could only agree. "You've got every right to be proud. It's fantastic. Thanks, Betty."
Betty blushed with pleasure, hugged Harry's knee and popped away amidst the fond chuckles of her friends.
They busied themselves with their food and then it was back to his room for Harry to get a much needed nap in.
Hermione, who wasn't ready to part with him again so soon, looked mournfully at the two healers until they relented and allowed her to spend nap time with Harry. As soon as they were alone, Hermione abandoned her specifically conjured bed and crawled under Harry's covers. It was a good thing that goblin magic hid the snakelings under Harry's clothes, or she might've had a scare at their contiuous movement.
"Tomorrow is our talk with the judge," she whispered into Harry's neck. "I'm a little afraid."
"I'm more concerned about Snape's lawyer. He'll probably spout a lot of rot," Harry said. "I'm glad we won't have to hear it during the trial, and that the whole thing will be sealed."
"Me too."
Harry began petting her hair and shoulders. "I really thought third year could be quiet for once since there hasn't been any sign of shady Voldemort activity so far."
Hermione snorted. "To be fair, it all has to do with the Dark Git anyway." She craned her head to look searchingly at Harry. "Do you think he'll be gone for real one day?"
"Yes," Harry said simply and kissed her forehead.
oOo
Judge Hyacinth Monroe was over ninety years old, had a face full of craggy lines that hinted at both humour and anger, and came across as a total hardass. This might or might not have to do with the fact that his parents had chosen to saddle him with a female name, although Harry honestly couldn't imagine anyone teasing this behemoth of a wizard because of it. He was so huge, in fact, that the desk in the secure visitor office at Gringotts seemed just right for him, while everyone else felt dwarfed in its presence.
Mr. Chilton, who had been appointed as Snape's legal advocate, seemed to be the complete opposite: he was of far smaller stature, had a head full of dark hair, and seemed to take extraordinary care of his apparel to the point of pompousness.
Harry suspected that someone with a lot of money had secured his services.
Once introductions were over, Judge Monroe pointed to two chairs in the second row and said in his gravelly voice, "Heir Potter, Heiress Dagworth-Granger, please be seated. Gringotts advised me that you've elected to let your lawyer speak for you. Is this still the case?"
"Yes, it is," Harry said, watching with interest as two rolls of parchment on the judge's desk flashed brightly.
"Good, good. Mr. Chilton, please present your letter of mandate before we commence."
Mr. Chilton pulled a roll of sealed parchment from his briefcase and handed it over to the judge, who unceremonously opened it.
"Everything seems to be in order," Judge Monroe said and this parchment flashed as well. "Then let's begin with the sighting of everyone's memories. They'll play an important role in this trial and I expect as little bias as possible, and no tampering at all. Let me have it."
Mr. Finch stepped forward and placed two vials onto the large, gleaming desk. "Gringotts oversaw the extraction and sealed the vials with the usual spells. They've been under dragon guard until I came to retrieve them this morning, Your Honour."
Judge Monroe tapped both vials with his wand, eliciting an elaborate sequence of flashing lights and runes. "Accepted. Mr. Chilton?"
"Er, Professor Snape declined offering his memory of the incident," Mr. Chilton said.
"And his reason?" Judge Monroe asked.
"He's still very upset and confused by everything that's happened. Furthermore, he's not comfortable laying out his romantic interest in Heiress Dagworth-Granger in that manner." Chilton cleared his throat. "I understand that the young lady is rather sought after?"
"I should hope not, as she's well under the age of consent," the judge fairly growled. "Very well then, I'll mark Professor Snape for questioning under veritaserum. You may take your seats, sirs, and do remember the vows you've taken."
After the lawyers had settled down, Judge Monroe poured the first of the memories into the large pensieve on his desk. It was Hermione's, which made sense, Harry supposed, since it had all started with her abduction.
With baited breath, Harry watched Hermione's forced portkey travel to France - they all could see a street sign in the periphery - where Hermione showed a remarkable presence of mind and landed a nasty looking hook right into Snape's face when the man was distracted by the swift appearance of Saffron and Eli, the two elves Harry had tasked with Hermione's protection. Unfortunately, Snape was neither stupid, nor weak. He managed to grab Hermione again and growled out, "Dumbledore Manor!", whisking Hermione away again.
Portkey travel already sucked, but it sucked even more watching it second hand, Harry decided. Rushing through that wormhole, when everything vibrated and spun was a special kind of torture.
Thankfully, it didn't last longer than a couple of minutes. Snape and Hermione were spat out in the living room Harry had found them in later, and to Snape's rage Saffron and Eli had managed again to cling to Hermione and get through Dumbledore's wards.
"How did you ... kill them!" Snape screamed at the three Dumbledore elves who had come to investigate. "They're trespassing!"
It was heartbreaking to watch the horror on the elves' faces as the magic of their bond forced them to comply with the order. They attacked Harry's house elves swiftly and Saffron and Eli, already disadvantaged by the wards fighting them, stood no chance, especially since their primary worry visibly was Hermione's safety.
Snape in all his glory didn't even look at the fight; he used Hermione's moment of shock to rip the wand out of her hand, break it and toss it aside.
"You got one lucky punch in, Granger, but it won't happen again," he snarled. Blood was streaming from his broken nose and his black eyes were feverish with hate. "I merely wanted to kill you, but you know what? I have a better idea. What is the saying? Waste not, want not."
Harry anxiously bit his lip when Snape tried to grab Hermione, only to be rebuffed by Madam Pomfrey's protection spell, as well as a fierce slap to the reaching hand by the girl herself.
"Leave me alone!" Hermione cried, her eyes flickering behind Snape for a moment, to the fighting house elves. "No! Don't kill them, please!"
Snape used the chance to grab at her again, with the same result, this time visibly more painful.
"Ouch. Right, I forgot." A nasty smile spread over Snape's sallow face, revealing his crooked teeth. "Poppy's pesky little chastity spell. No matter, it's taken off easily enough." His smile widened. "I'll even let you stay awake for it, because it wouldn't be any fun otherwise, would it now?" The forced cheer then fell away and he coldly said, "Moppy, Jolly, Krissy, hold her in the corner until I'm done with her."
Rage bubbled up in Harry again, not just for Snape being a disgusting bastard, but for also ordering Dumbledore's elves to corral her in while his magic washed over her. He felt violated on Hermione's behalf and hated himself for not actually killing the man when he'd had the chance.
It took Snape four or five minutes of continuous chanting and wand waving to actually break the spell, which at least kept him from talking, but his leer was nothing short of monstruous when the spell finally fell away in a sickly flow of light. In contrast, Dumbledore's house elves were looking miserable and horrified.
Then, Harry saw himself silently appear in the room with an impressive flash of phoenix fire, his half dozen or so elves shimmering away from him like ninjas and plucking away Dumbledore's house elves like they were nothing more than helpless children. They didn't fight too hard, though, and Harry once more felt deeply grateful for their relative disobedience.
Hermione's shocked yet relieved cry of Harry's name spurred on Snape's hateful little monologue, each word more damning than the last and then ... then everything happened very quickly. Dobby flung Snape away like a ragdoll and then there was a moment of Hermione clinging to him and crying her eyes out as relief washed over her like a drug.
The memory ended there and Harry felt so fiercely protective of his girlfriend right then that he didn't know what to do with himself. His magic got away from him, reaching out and tangling with Hermione's cramped fingers in his hand.
A moment of silence made the memory even more poignant.
Mr. Chilton cleared his throat at last, nervously tittering, "Yes, Professor Snape was quite overcome with passion, wasn't he?"
Even Mr. Finch looked incredulously at Snape's lawyer.
"I hope that you defence is not based on that inane statement," Judge Monroe said baldly.
"Er," Mr. Chilton tugged a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at the fine sweat on his forehead, "in fact, Professor Snape filed a Request For Early Approach ... it must've gotten lost in the mail if you haven't seen it yet ..."
Mr. Finch rose, waiting for the judge to achnowledge him. "You mean to say that Professor Snape, a teacher at Hogwarts who is known for unprofessional behaviour as well as frankly appalling personality defects, filed a Request For Early Approach to forge a romantic relationship with Heiress Dagworth-Granger, a young woman he has, several times in the hearing of his students, called an insufferable know-it-all? That same young woman he has barred from his class because she dared point out his defects in a rational manner?"
"Yes," Mr. Chilton said, regaining some of his confidence. "She is very young, of course, and having her in his class only added to his conflict. He drove her out to ease his way, obviously."
"At the cost of her education?" Mr. Finch asked dryly. "How thoughtful."
Judge Monroe snorted. Loudly. "I see that this is the same defence the Malfoy Heir is using. Frankly, it is disgusting, but I'll allow it."
Chilton smirked.
"However," Judge Monroe continued, "I'll only do so to discourage other idiots from trying that same tactic in the future. Make no mistake, Mr. Chilton, your client is the worst sort of wizard; his being a Death Eater is not his only fault, merely the most apparent. Trying to use an outdated law to ruin a bright young woman's future because she called out his faults is beyond the pale."
"Outdated the law may be, but it's not unlawful," Mr. Chilton pointed out, not quite gleefully, but close to it. "It is Professor Snape's right as an eligible bachelor to approach Heiress Dagworth-Granger's magical guardian with his Request."
"And it is Heiress Dagworth-Granger's prerogative to accept to decline," Judge Monroe answered. He returned Hermione's memory to its vial and poured Harry's into the pensieve. "Let's continue before the morning gets away from us even further."
Harry's memory started and he took Hermione's book on goblin healing from his robe pocket to pass the time. Hermione's sporadically tightening grip on his hand told him well enough how the viewing was progressing, and when it was finally over, she turned and hugged him again, eyes wet with tears and whispers of gratitude leaving her mouth.
"I think we've inopportuned Heiress Dagworth-Granger and Heir Potter enough for today," Judge Monroe said as he cleaned up. "No, Mr. Chilton, I won't entertain any more discussion, no matter how impressive Heir Potter's actions were. Even saying as much as you did was inapropriate. Save it for the trial." He nodded at Mr. Finch and the two teenagers. "Good day to you."
He left through a door at the back of the room, his black judge's robes sweeping behind him.
"You know," Harry said to Hermione, "if I can have a crush on Neville's gran, I can have a crush on Judge Monroe, right?"
"Only if I can have a crush, too," Hermione said, lifting her chin at Mr. Chilton's glower.
Mr. Finch turned towards them. "It's time to go back to your rooms, but I have it on good authority that Healer Williams plans on spoiling you with ice cream from Fortesque's ice cream parlor."
"We're going," Harry said, tugging Hermione to her feet. "Good day, Mr. Chilton."
Chilton's face soured even further and Harry could agree that being a snob to people who deserved it felt good.
End of part 21