A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 31 ~ A Plan


“Eli! Eli! I need you,” Hermione called the moment she entered her apartment.

The house elf winked in, looking a bit surly.

”Yes, Miss?” he asked her.

”Eli, I need to see Professor Snape immediately,” she said to him.

Eli folded his arms.

”The master is in his labs. He cannot be disturbed,” he said, a small, satisfied look on his face.

”But Eli, this is important. I really need to talk to him,” the witch said, frowning at the elf. “Are you refusing to let him know?”

Eli shook his head.

”No Miss. There is protections. No one, not even Eli can enter the labs. You must waits until he is finished brewing,” the elf said.

Hermione’s face fell.

”Well, then, will you please tell him I need to see him as soon as he’s finished, Eli?” she asked him.

Eli nodded curtly.

”Thank you, Eli. I know you don’t like some of the things I do concerning your master, but I’m only trying to be friendly. He’s been alone so long. I’m not trying to do your service. I’m really not. I could never replace you. You’ve been with him for years,” the witch said softly.

Eli blinked up at her. Yes, he was upset with Hermione for just that reason. But now he knew for certain she wasn’t trying to take over. The elf nodded soberly.

”I will tells him, Miss,” he said, winking out.

Hermione sighed and paced the apartment worriedly. What was happening to Rod now?

******************************

Rod was in a guarded room in the psychiatric ward of St. Mungos. Several healers were asking him about Tom, but he wouldn’t tell them anything. Tom was there, watching. Finally the healers left. Tom wasted no time coming down on him.

”You see what you did?” the spirit hissed, “Got yourself locked up. You should have let the blasted girl meet her fate.”

“I couldn’t do that,” Rod said, moving his lips slightly. An Auror was looking in the small window at him.

”You’re going to reveal me, aren’t you?” Tom said.

”No. I told you I wouldn’t do that. Not purposely,” the young wizard said.

”Not even to keep from going to Azkaban?” the spirit pressed.

Rod was silent a moment. He really didn’t want to go to prison. But he had promised the spirit. He always tried to be a wizard of his word. He had nothing else.

”No, not even to keep from going to Azkaban,” Rod said.

”What a fool,” Tom thought, smiling at the boy.

The door opened again, and a short, balding wizard with white hair and a large mustache walked in and sat down next to the bed.

”My name is Ichabod Finwilly. I am your counsel appointed by the Ministry. I’m going to try and get you out of this mess, but I need your cooperation. You have to tell me who taught you that spell. It is a banned spell and dark magic connected to a wizard who was the bane of our society. Your use of it has caused a panic in the Ministry. We need to know who taught it to you,” the lawyer said.

Rod looked at him.

“I only used it to save Rose. I didn’t do anything wrong. She would have been killed if I didn’t use it,” the wizard said.

The lawyer waved his hand as if swatting away an irritating bug.

”It doesn’t matter why you used it. The problem is that you had the ability to use it. Only dark wizards use that type of magic. Now we’ve looked at your school record, and recently you injured three students . . .” he began.

”No I didn’t. They were injured by their own spells!” Rod retorted angrily. “They tried to ambush me. I would have been cut to ribbons if I didn’t protect myself. And I’ll tell you this, not one of them would have gone for help for me. Other than that, I’ve never been in trouble for anything at Hogwarts.”

Finwilly stared at the boy. He wasn’t cooperating at all.

”You don’t understand the gravity of the situation. I’m here to help you. You have to tell me everything if you want to get out of this,” the wizard said.

”But the Aurors questioned me under Veritaserum. Didn’t they find out the truth?” Rod asked him.

”No. Your answers weren’t . . .weren’t usable,” the lawyer said.

Tom hadn’t told Rod that he pointed him out and no one saw him.

“Not useable? How is that possible?” Rod asked him.

“I don’t know, but the healers found you of sound mind, so an insanity plea is out of the question,” Finwilly said.

”Insanity plea? There’s nothing wrong with me!” Rod declared.

”No there isn’t. So you have to tell me the truth. Who taught you the spell?” the lawyer asked again.

Rod fell silent and looked at the wizard sullenly.

“How’s Rose Weasley?” he asked the lawyer.

”I don’t know. That is not our main concern, young man. You’re going to do a lot of time in Azkaban if you don’t cooperate. I’m not going to be able to represent you properly if I don’t have the information,” Finwilly said, looking exasperated.

”How long?” Rod asked him.

”At least ten years,” the lawyer replied.

Hell, he’d be twenty-seven then. Still young.

”I need time to think,” Rod said, trying to buy some time.

”You’ll have all the time you need in wizard’s prison,” the lawyer replied, “You’re lucky. Usually the Ministry doesn’t bother with charges in matters like this. They just ship you off. You ought to be grateful they’re being so merciful.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. I saved a witch’s life. They should take that into consideration. If I were dark, I would have let her die. It’s easy to see that,” Rod said.

Finwilly sighed.

This wasn’t going to be easy at all.

******************************

When Snape exited the labs, Eli gave him Hermione’s message.

”All right, Eli. I will go over directly. You may tell her,” the wizard said.

“Yes sir,” Eli replied, winking out.

When Snape knocked on Hermione’s door it was yanked open.

”Oh, thank you for coming Professor. I have a problem. Rose was almost killed today in a Quidditch match at Hogwarts between Gryffindor and Slytherin,” the witch said.

Concern immediately creased the Potions master’s face as he entered. Quidditch matches between those two houses could turn quite nasty. Injuries were virtually assured, though usually they consisted of broken bones.

“How is she?” he asked.

”Fine. She’ll survive. She was hit with a Quaffle, then driven toward a wooden spike sticking out of one of the support posts. She was almost impaled,” Hermione said to him. “Her head is cracked and her face is badly bruised but she’ll be fine. But . . .”

”But what?” Severus said impatiently.

”She would have been killed if it wasn’t for a boy, a Slytherin named Rod Dormers. He saved her,” Hermione said.

”A Slytherin?” Snape said, his brow furrowed.

”Yes. And he’s been arrested for it. You see, he flew out of the stands to save her. He flew, Professor. There’s only one spell I know of that allows a wizard to fly without a broom. Locomordres,” the witch said.

Snape looked at her, both brows raised. Where could the boy have learned that banned spell?

”He’s going to go to Azkaban,” the Potions master said, “That spell is banned by the Ministry. It’s been banned for years.”

”That’s precisely the problem. He saved Rose. If he hadn’t used that spell, she would have died. I can’t let him go to prison because he saved my daughter. It wouldn’t be right,” Hermione said.

”He should have thought about that before he acted,” Snape replied.

Hermione looked at him incredulously.

”What? Are you saying he should have let Rose die?” Hermione asked the wizard, her hands on her hips.

Oops.

”No, I’m not saying that,” he said, doing his best to backpedal.

”What the hell are you saying then?” Hermione asked him.

”I’m just saying the law is firm on this. Use of Locomordres is punishable by imprisonment. There’s nothing anyone can do,” the Professor said.

“He needs a lawyer. He’s just been arrested. They didn’t send him to Azkaban yet,” Hermione said to the wizard a bit hopefully.

”They’re probably trying to find out who taught him the spell,” Snape said.

”I want to try and help him,” Hermione said to the wizard.

”Good luck,” Snape said, making Hermione frown again.

”I can’t believe you. Don’t you think that he’s being railroaded for doing what was right? Don’t you think he should be helped?” Hermione said.

”He’s a Slytherin. He knows every action has a reaction. He chose to do what he did and now he has to face the repercussions, Hermione. It’s a part of the Slytherin philosophy. Do only what you can get away with,” the Professor explained.

Hermione frowned at him.

”Fuck ‘Slytherin Philosophy.’ You know something, Professor? I was just starting to believe that you actually had a heart and the capacity to care about someone else other than yourself. I guess I was wrong. I came to you hoping you could give me some advice, some support, something. I should have known better. Thanks for nothing. You can leave now,” Hermione said coldly, looking at him with disdain.

Snape felt his stomach clench.

”Hermione,” he began.

But Hermione was completely pissed.

”Just go. I’ll find a lawyer myself and get him decent representation,” she said, walking to the door and holding it open imperiously.

Snape looked at her. She met his eyes coldly.

“Go,” Hermione repeated.

Snape stared at her a moment, then walked through the door. He hesitated and turned to find the door slammed in his face.

Hermione hated him.

****************************

Snape returned to his home and paced his study for several minutes, thinking hard. Then he sat down and penned a letter to Bartleby, telling him the situation and to go down to the Ministry as council from Sparse Venues to take on the boy’s case and find out what he could, then report back to him. He gave the solicitor all the pertinent details, saying that Sparse Venues was willing to pay for representation because he saved the daughter of one of its employees. That was perfectly acceptable if it were a good company.

Which it was.

”Eli!” Snape bellowed.

The elf appeared. Snape held out the parchment.

”Take this directly to Bartleby and I want you to wait there until he returns and bring back whatever information he has for me,” the wizard commanded.

”Yes, sir,” Eli said, taking the letter and winking out.

*******************************

Finwilly was still trying to get information out of Rod, when the door suddenly opened and Bartleby walked in. Finwilly stood up.

”Er . . . excuse me. I am engaged in speaking to my client,” the lawyer hemmed importantly, “Please wait until I’m finished.”

Bartleby looked at the Ministry insignia on Finwilly’s robes.

”What side are you working for? The client or the Ministry,” the solicitor inquired.

Insulted, Finwilly turned a deep crimson.

”I take offense at that statement, sir,” he blustered.

”If you took offense at that, you’re going to love this,” Bartleby said, then looked at the sullen boy sitting on the small cot, “Mr. Dormers, is this man your lawyer?”

Rod looked from Bartleby to Finwilly and back. He was aggravated and tired.

”No. I don’t have a lawyer,” he replied.

“Would you let me talk to you? I am here because of Rose’s mother. She wants to help you,” the solicitor said.

”Rose’s mother?” the young wizard said, interested.

”Yes, Mrs. Hermione Weasley,” the solicitor said.

Tom’s eyes narrowed. There was only one Hermione he knew of. Harry Potter’s mudblood friend. She must have married the Weasley boy. Damn. Why hadn’t Rod let the girl die?

”No,” Tom hissed at him, “Don’t talk to him. He can’t help you.”

Rod flinched a bit then said, “Yes, you can talk to me. But don’t ask me a lot of questions. I’m tired of questions.”

Bartleby looked at Finwilly.

”I believe you were on your way out, sir,” he smirked at the wizard, who shook his finger at Rod.

”You’re off to Azkaban boy, believe me,” he snarled, exiting the room in bad temper. He didn’t have any information to give the Minister. He was going to be pissed.

Bartleby sat down, pulling the chair close to the bed and offering Rod his hand. The young wizard hesitated then took it, shaking it. Finwilly didn’t do this.

”Now Rod, my name is John Bartleby and I am a solicitor for Sparse Venues. I am being paid to represent you because you saved the daughter of one of our employees and have no resources of your own. We want to get you out of this mess, but in order to do that, you’re going to have to tell us how you learned the spell,” the solicitor said reasonably.

Rod scowled at him.

Two hours later, Bartleby returned to his office, having done no better than Finwilly in getting any information out of the boy. He was protecting someone. Slytherins were taught not to turn others in. Apparently this boy had taken the lesson to heart. A shame really. He was going to do a lot of time because of this standard.

He quickly wrote Snape back, letting him know the boy was sullen and uncooperative. No one could represent him. He was protecting someone and basically was a lost cause. There was no way to help someone who wouldn’t help himself. He sent the missive back by Eli.

Snape read the letter, then sat there for a moment . . . torn. Right now, Hermione was probably checking the directory and calling lawyers. It would be a waste of time. Not one of them had anything to compel the boy to tell the truth. It was obvious he was quite loyal to whoever taught him the spell. But who could have done it?

It was also obvious the boy wasn’t all bad, because he saved a witch of a rival house . . . openly. He saved the daughter of a woman Snape found himself with growing feelings for. A woman who thought he was the scum of the earth right now. If he wanted to pursue Hermione, he would have to rectify this. He’d have to do something, something that would impress her, make her forgive him.

It was almost like Lily all over again. But Hermione was no Lily.

He thought she might be worth it.

Snape sat down again and sent instructions to Bartleby.

This time he was to contact the Minister of Magic himself.

*********************************

Bartleby read the instructions, rather shocked. Was this matter really so important to the wizard? He went into hiding before this boy, this Rod Dormers was even born. Why would he risk . . .”

Well, it was Bartleby’s job to handle the wizard’s business and follow his instructions to the letter. He changed his robes, warded his office and apparated to the Ministry.

There was a knock on the door.

Irritated, Minister of Magic Winslow Utterton looked up, his jowls even heavier with worry concerning this Dormers boy. He wasn’t telling anyone anything and the situation was grave.

”What is it?” he snapped at the unopened door.

”There is a Mr. John Bartleby here sir, wishing to speak to you,” a muffled male voice said tentatively.

”Tell him I’m involved with important matters at the moment and to make an appointment,” the Minister groused. His head hurt.

There was a muffled conversation.

”Mr. Bartleby says he has information concerning the situation with Rod Dormers, sir,” the wizard said.

Winslow sat up straight.

“What are you waiting for man? Let him in!” he bellowed.

The door opened and John Bartleby entered, offering his hand to the Minister, who stood up and shook it, eyeing the solicitor.

”Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Minister,” Bartleby said, taking a seat in the cushy armchair in front of the Minister’s desk.

Not in the mood for pleasantries, the Minister got right to the point.

”You have information about the Dormers boy?” he asked him.

”Actually, I have something better. Someone who wishes to question the boy. Someone who feels he can get through to him,” Bartleby said.

The Minister snorted.

”He’s been questioned by Aurors while under Veritaserum, healers and two lawyers. He hasn’t said a word. Who do you have that can get to him?” the wizard asked Bartleby.

”He wishes to tell you himself sir. You see, he hasn’t been in the public eye in some time and would like to meet with you first before meeting with the boy. When you see him, you will understand why. And I must state that he doesn’t meet with anyone under any circumstances. It seems he has a vested interest in this case and has a history that might move the boy to reveal his secrets,” the solicitor said, “But there will be conditions that have to be met, allowances that will have to be made.”

Utterton was intrigued.

”Tell me, what kind of allowances. I would see Salazar Slytherin himself if it would help me with this situation. Panic is bound to roar through the wizarding world if the truth isn’t found out. They might believe the Dark Lord has risen,” he said.

Bartleby nodded and proceeded to tell the Minister what would be needed.

”Done,” the wizard said, “When?”

”Tomorrow morning,” Bartleby replied.

***************************

A/N: Uh oh. Getting serious. Thanks for reading.