A Surprise to Them All

            “Hermione, it’s been three years and you don’t even have any leads” Harry said, tired of the constantly repeated conversation they have had every 6 months or so since the war ended.

            “But I know you guys caught another group of rogue deatheaters. Did they say anything?” Hermione pressed.

            “No, they knew nothing about his body. Also, I hate to be the one to bring this up again but, even if they did take the body it is highly unlikely it is still intact. Therefore, I don’t understand why you are so insistent with needing to know what exactly happened.” He ran his fingers through his still unruly hair, patience running thin.

            “Because I left him there! It’s my fault!” Came the heated reply. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before speaking again. “Harry, somebody has to know something. I’ve asked around at every source I have and nobody from the light has him or knows what happened. He’s a hero and he deserves a hero’s burial like the rest of them.”  She gave him the same desperate look she had been giving him since he agreed to start the search for Snape’s body.

            It’s not as if he didn’t agree with her or care about what happened but she was becoming obsessed. She had begun to search before she went back to finish her N.E.W.T.s but was able to hold off until she graduate, only asking here or there if anybody had heard anything. However, now that she has graduated she has been in his office every 6 months demanding to know if he had any more information. Today he noticed that she once again was not eating or sleeping properly and he was worried for her health.

            He was at the end of his rope, he had one more thing he could try but it was a long shot and if it didn’t work she was going to have to let it go. His supervisors were starting to wonder about his constant visits to the deatheaters they captured and he didn’t want to lose his peaceful ministry job as Auror investigator. It gave him a chance to help without having to be in danger anymore; he enjoyed it and didn’t want it taken away now that he was doing well.

            “Okay, Hermione, I have one more favor to call in but if nothing comes of it I NEED you to move on…your becoming obsessed, love, and it’s worrying me.” He said with a sigh.

            She squealed, jumped up and hugged him. “Thank you! Thank you! I promise, if you can’t find anything that I’ll drop it.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and pranced towards the door. “Okay so I’ll let you get back to work and you’ll let me know as soon as you hear right?” She tried to sound casual knowing that if she pressed he would only worry more.

            “Yes I will, promise. Come over next week for dinner. Luna would love to see you and by then I should have heard something.”

            “Okay, thank again, Harry. This means a lot.” She gave him a sheepish smile and walked out of his office.

            Harry groaned, letting his head hit his desk “How do I get myself into these things?” He was not looking forward to calling in this favor. Mostly because he had been holding it close for possible future help but also because it was going to involve talking to someone he really didn’t like. He knew she needed this though and hopefully this would get her the closure she seemed to crave.

Author's Note: Once again, please review. Sorry if this seemed short, I just want to set the stage so that I can get to the plot. The next chapter will have Harry asking for a favor, getting a response and what he decides to do with it.