The Man Who Came In From The Cold

K Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. This story is rated T.

Summary: Snape is on the run from Voldemort and the Ministry of Magic, both of whom will stop at nothing to silence him. He finds unexpected refuge in the most unlikely of places.

The Man Who Came In from the Cold

Chapter 005: Meanwhile Back at the Ranch…

Snape had just made it back before the snowfall grew heavier again and the wind picked up. He had found a useful tome on Herbalism and settled down in the library, ignoring the occasional sounds of the staff going about their business in taking care of the house. He did not like the idea of anyone poking around his things and had already terrified one of the housekeeping staff with a thorough bollocking when he caught her removing the soaking wet clothes from his room that he’d hung up on the backs of the chairs, over the radiators and the shower door. With D’Arcy’s intervention a more suitable arrangement was made and Snape made it a point to ignore the rest of the household for as long as he could until dinner.

It wasn’t until one D’Arcy’s manservant came in with the deepest of apologies for disturbing him and turned on several lamps that Snape realised how dark it had gotten outside. He was informed that dinner would be served in at seven o’clock in the small dining room.

The former professor nodded faintly and then returned his attention to his book, though the words began to blur on the page. This time yesterday he had been surrounded by Dementors with little likelihood of escaping the Kiss. His good fortune was enough to give him a headache.

But he began to wonder now, about those he’d left behind.

xxxOOOxxx

‘The Ministry is confident that the accused will be apprehended in a matter of days…’ Harry said aloud as he read that night’s Evening Prophet ‘For God’s sake they’ve been saying that for months!”

He threw the paper across the room so hard it barely missed his godfather’s head.

‘Oh do us all a favour, Harry and just give a rest!’ Hermione snapped. ‘Can’t we talk about something else for a change – like the fact that this house is a wreck and it needs sorting out! Just because Dumbledore isn’t around doesn’t mean that things should fall apart! Snape isn’t the only thing we have to worry about you know! I can’t take any more time off from work for compassionate leave and they are watching me like a hawk – you really need to get it together!’

The latest confrontations between Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters and the Order and its allies had left few people untouched. Every day yielded new atrocities, some the likes of which were unprecedented. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the news that Snape had been apprehended. There was no love lost for most of them. No one seemed to care except Hermione, Ginny and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley that the former Hogwarts professor wasn’t even to be given a trial. One would think Severus Snape was the twin of Lord Voldemort the way some carried on about him.

Harry looked around the kitchen, which truth be told, had seen better days; especially with the seeming never-ending traffic through its compact space. They were in an old house on Grimmauld Place in a part of North London that had definitely fallen off the radar of the fashionable set.

It was his home along with his godfather, Sirius Black. But Grimmauld Place was also used as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Tonight was the first time in a long while that many of the surviving members of the Order could come together and, as always, Harry did nothing but vent his anger and frustrations about the one man he hated more than any other.

‘This is Snape we’re talking about,’ his godfather, Sirius Black, interjected. ‘With his expertise with the Dark Arts he could be right under our noses and…!’

‘His so-called “expertise with the Dark Arts” is probably grossly over-exaggerated and especially by people who don’t really know him,’ Hermione snapped.

‘Like you, Hermione?’ Fred demanded with a dismissive look.

‘Over-exaggerated?’ Ron asked incredulously. ‘Hermione – what about Harry’s Advanced Potions Book from 6th Year? Or is that something else you want to conveniently ignore about that greasy git!’

‘Enough!’ Professor McGonagall shouted as she slammed platters of food on the table. ‘Can we not talk about that vile, wretched man for one night!’

There was a loud CRASH from outside which caused everyone to jump.

‘That bloody Tonks,’ Fred said grimly. ‘Why don’t we just put up a sign on the door for You-Know-Who saying “Harry Potter and the Other Enemies of the Dark Lord”!

Just then the back door to the kitchen flew open with a loud BANG. Tonks blew in, knocking over a small shelf near the door and causing a potted plant to fall into the cauldron of stew on the table in the process. Remus Lupin managed to catch her before she hit the floor.

‘TONKS!’ Molly Weasley shrieked as she picked out the plant. ‘It took me over an hour to…!’

‘Forget that – I’ve got some news; something a lot more important than that!’ Tonks panted breathlessly.

‘What? Have they got him? They finally bring that murdering bastard in?’ Harry snapped as he flew out of his chair.

‘Harry that will be enough,’ Remus said sternly, silencing The Boy Who Lived with a pointed look. ‘What happened Tonks? Have they found him?’

‘No – the Ministry’s had to call off the search at the moment because of the weather…’

There were collective moans around the table.

‘Then what other news is there worth hearing about?’ Harry snapped.

‘Like what the heck was Bellatrix Lestrange doing meeting with Minister Scrimgeour!’

Molly dropped the replacement cauldron of stew she had been bringing to the table as every head turned towards Tonks.

‘Bellatrix Lestrange at the Ministry of Magic – meeting with the Minister of Magic? You are working too hard, mate!’ Ron sputtered. ‘Next it’ll be Crumple-Horned Snorkacks joining You-Know-Who…’

‘It wasn’t at the Ministry you idiot! I saw it with my own eyes at Malfoy Manor!’

Lupin looked at Tonks who was visibly shaking. Her hair had reverted to its usual mousy brown and her skin was pale and clammy. She seemed ready to faint.

‘Fred, Ron; get everyone into the dining room – now please.’

The two young men took off for other parts of the large house where Order members could be found resting or searching out the hundreds of dark objects that were secured about the place. Tonks started to speak and Mrs. Weasley silenced her. She and Lupin helped the young Auror upstairs to the large dining room where Order meetings were generally held.

‘You don’t really believe that load of rubbish – do you?’ Ron asked Harry.

Harry shrugged his shoulders and fetched his newspaper.

‘We haven’t heard from Kingsley in weeks!’ Hermione hissed in a low whisper. ‘He just vanishes into thin air – him – one of the most decorated Aurors this side of Mad-Eye Moody? It doesn’t make sense!’

‘I heard Dad say that there hasn’t been so much as a note to anyone,’ Ginny offered quietly. ‘Kingsley was working as Scrimgeour’s Private Secretary on Scrimgeour’s orders and he just ups and leaves? Dad’s not saying much but I know he and mum are worried…’

‘And there hasn’t been a single word in the papers, not one,’ Harry said slowly. ‘I read all three editions every day plus the weekend papers. The only thing mentioned has been…’

Hermione moved from across the table and sat down next to him.

‘Someone has mentioned him? Who? Where?’

‘Mr. Lovegood in The Quibbler…’

‘Oh for God’s sake,’ Hermione said rolling her eyes, ‘Everyone knows that old rag is just a load of nonsense…’

‘It might look like crap, Hermione, but if you read between the lines there are some things worth thinking about, just like before…’

Ginny looked at Harry incredulously. Hermione was ready to pounce, but was restrained by a withering look from Ginny.

‘We can talk about this later. I’ll…um…see if your mum needs any help,’ Hermione said as she got up and walked to over to the stairs which led to the upper floors. ‘Ronald?’

‘What?’ Ron said blankly as he stared at his sister.

‘Why don’t you come and help me?’

‘Help you do what?’

‘Honestly!’ Hermione huffed as she walked over and hauled him out of his seat. She pushed him up the stairs ahead of her amidst a great deal of complaining. The sounds of their bickering faded away and Ginny let out a sigh of relief.

‘So – do you fancy telling me what you think?’ Ginny said softly as she moved next to him and put her arms around him.

‘Mmm, I think I quite fancy something doing else at the minute,’ Harry replied before kissing her.

‘A bit reckless, Mr. Potter…’

‘So you can see that I haven’t quite lost my grip on reality just yet…’

‘Mmm hmm…thank Merlin for that.’

‘It’s been too bloody long. Promise me that tonight…’ Harry murmured as he savoured the warmth of the one person in the world he couldn’t live without, now more than ever.

‘I will – our usual place at the top of the house…’ Ginny said leaning into him once more.

After a few minutes both had to force themselves to stop. Harry looked at his fiancée appraisingly.

‘I’m sorry this has to be a secret…’ he whispered hoarsely.

‘So am I,’ Ginny whispered as she touched her forehead to his before kissing him. ‘But I’d rather have you in secret, than not have you at all. I can’t go through that again…’

‘Neither can I.’

Harry got up from the table and sighed as he straightened his clothes, trying not to think of the risk they were taking by not only becoming romantically involved again, but becoming engaged. Voldemort was still determined as ever to get to him and would use any means at his disposal – including the people closest to Harry, especially those he loved. But he couldn’t bear to let Ginny go now that she was back in his life again. They’d split up for just over three years and he had never known it was possible to grieve the loss of love and that it could hurt so much. Ginny might as well have been dead then the pain was so bad. If nothing else that convinced him just how much he loved her and what she really was for him.

He checked the food Mrs. Weasley was preparing, fully aware that she’d have their heads on a stick if they let it burn. Ginny got up and started laying out the serving dishes.

‘I went to see Mr. Lovegood last weekend while I was at yours,’ he said. ‘That long walk I took on Saturday…’

‘Mr. Lovegood? You talked to him about this? But Harry – this is Order business!’

‘Exactly,’ Harry said, looking at her pointedly.

Ginny thought for a moment and then opened her mouth in surprise. This was definitely one of the best kept secrets in the Order.

‘He seems to think that Scrimgeour forced the issue with the transfer so that he could keep an eye on Kingsley – he hasn’t trusted him at all since that whole thing with finding Sirius fell apart. And he apparently wasn’t too happy about Kingsley’s work with the last Prime Minister…’ Harry continued.

‘The Minister’s still harping on that? Harry, it’s been what seven or eight years now since Sirius escaped and there wasn’t much to Kingsley’s job at Westminster anyway – it was a demotion!’

‘Exactly,’ Harry said, drumming his fingers on the nearest counter top. ‘But what if…’

Ginny moved next to him and looked up into his emerald eyes. She couldn’t remember when she last saw him look so serious – and worried.

‘What if Scrimgeour found out something about Kingsley – like he’s a member of the Order?’ Ginny offered.

Harry let out a breath and then shook his head ‘no.’

‘What if Kingsley found out something he shouldn’t have…’

‘And the Death Eaters got him? Seems strange….’

‘No…What if he found out something that he shouldn’t have – and Scrimgeour got him!’ Harry said tensely.

But before Ginny could answer such a wild proposition, they were interrupted.

‘HARRY! GINNY! Start sending up the dinner please!’ Mrs. Weasley called down to them.

Several flicks of their wands and the serving platters and bowls were filled and navigating the route to the dining room.

‘Harry,’ Ginny said grabbing him as he moved towards the stairs. ‘Do you realise what you are saying?’

‘That Scrimgeour is a ruthless old bastard who won’t let anything or anyone get in his way? Yeah – I’m dead sure that’s what I’m saying…’

‘But what could Kingsley have possibly found out?’

‘If Tonks wasn’t just seeing things and Scrimgeour was really at the Manor – Merlin only knows. Come on – I’m hungry and the only way we’ll know is to go have some dinner…’

xxxOOOxxx

Dinner was a tense affair as everyone crowded around the table.

‘Right – so what’s this rubbish about Scrimgeour and Bellatrix Lestrange?’ Ron blurted out as he reached for more food than he could possibly manage in one sitting. ‘You are a bit strung-out you know…’

‘IT’S NOT RUBBISH! I KNOW WHAT I SAW!’ Tonks shrieked, very near tears at the suggestion that she’d had another breakdown.

She was tired of people making out that she was feeble-minded just because of the situation with Lupin some years ago. She’d gotten over it. Well… at least she tried to…

‘Ignore him, Tonks – so what exactly did happen?’ Hermione asked, hoping she sounded diplomatic enough.

Tact wasn’t always a virtue and she tried to be careful with Tonks since the poor woman was so sensitive to the point of being fragile these days. Lord only knew what inspired her to be an Auror… everyone knew when Tonks was coming well before she got to them, tonight was just the tip of the iceberg. Still, she’d handled herself well enough in some of the battles for the Order.

‘The one day, the one day that I finally decide to go and see if I could reason with Mother…find out what’s going on with her and my aunt.’

‘Your mother? What was she doing at the Malfoy estate? I thought she’d fallen out with Narcissa?’ Sirius sputtered, nearly chocking on a bit of new potato.

‘I don’t know! But yes, she did and now they seem to be talking again. When I got there the place was quiet – too quiet. It really set my nerves on edge because you know what Narcissa and Lucius were always like with their servants and house elves all over the place. The garden had to be tended to every single day, rain or shine… You couldn’t make a move without tripping over one of the help.’

‘But it’s a bloody blizzard out there!’ Ron said before shoveling another load of food in his mouth. ‘Iss thoesnth maa nanee sensh…’

There were times when Hermione was ready to hex him, and this was definitely one of them. Ron got a look at her scowling face and wisely paid attention to his dinner with his mouth closed.

‘My dear cousins are very fastidious when it comes to their personal surroundings,’ Sirius said sarcastically. ‘Lord Voldemort himself couldn’t stop them; I’ve heard stories about Lucius being summoned and not breaking a sweat as he gave orders to his staff…’

‘The rich can easily afford to be so pernickity and stuck up even when it’s stupid to be that way – that’s why they are…’ Mrs. Weasley said with a pinched expression.

‘Is that meant to apply to all of us or just the Malfoys, Molly?’ Sirius enquired darkly.

‘I’m not going to argue with you Sirius,’ said Mrs. Weasley as she poured herself a glass of wine. ‘Tonks you were saying?’

‘There wasn’t anyone about; no one walking the grounds – nothing,’ Tonks answered with a scowl. ‘So I walked around and decided to go have a look at the cottage – the guesthouse. I got there and I saw it with my own eyes – Bella was with Scrimgeour and from what I could tell he had been summoned and wasn’t too happy about it!’

There was much consternation at this and everyone offered his or her opinion.

‘Scrimgeour summoned?’ Hermione said loudly over the others. ‘But that would imply that it wasn’t some one-off. Anyway – Bellatrix is still on the run; wouldn’t he have gone with a detail and arrested her? She’s supposed to be shipped back to Azkaban and he could have been killed!’

‘Well the Minister seems to have his own ideas about that Hermione!’ Tonks snapped. ‘But I didn’t have any back-up either and I didn’t think either one of them would too pleased to see me, especially if he was on his way to see Lord Voldemort!’

‘Incredible,’ Mr. Weasley murmured as the room fell silent.

Ginny looked at Harry, her eyes pleading with him to say something about what they’d discussed. This was too important even though the others might not agree.

‘Well – it may get even more bizarre in a minute,’ Harry said.

He quickly told them what his own thoughts were based on the blind news item he’d read in The Quibbler gossip pages and how he’d gone to Mr. Lovegood.

‘Harry, how many times do I have to tell you that paper is a load of rubbish with all that madness about things that aren’t real!’ Hermione said exasperatedly. ‘And since when is Mr. Lovegood an expert?’

‘Mr. Lovegood is that rarest of beings, Hermione; a person with a truly open mind – which is why it’s better to have him on our side than against us,’ Lupin said, ‘The Prophet is controlled by the Ministry. They wouldn’t dare publish anything other than information sanctioned from the Minister’s office. The right people will read The Quibbler and they’ll get it; that’s why we are much better placed this time around, unlike the last war. Harry makes a valid point: sometimes what we need to see is right there in front of our eyes, willing us to recognise it for what it is.’

‘Is that a fact?’ Hermione said giving him a look that couldn’t be missed and then glancing at Tonks.

She looked around the table craftily.

‘The same could be said about other people, I guess; that perhaps we see what we want to see instead of the truth of who they really are…’

‘Anyone in particular in mind, Hermione?’ Fred snapped.

There was only a slight shrug of her shoulders as Hermione turned her attention to dinner. There was no point to having yet another argument about Snape.

‘Why do you defend him! After everything he’s done! The way he’s treated everyone!’ Fred continued. ‘My brother is dead because of that murdering coward! And I don’t care what you say – he was a Death Eater and Dumbledore should have bloody well known better! What did it get him and George except killed!’

‘Dumbledore isn’t dead,’ Hermione sniffed. ‘…and he must have had a very good reason to trust Professor Snape. The man has actually done some good – well, a lot of good while we were at school certainly. Harry probably wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for him! Why are you so determined to see him as only a monster?’

‘And why are you determined to see him as some ruddy saviour!’ Fred roared before leaving the table and storming out the front door.

‘Harry told us what he saw that night! Are you trying to say that one of your best friends is a liar!’ Sirius hissed before leaving.

There was a loud BANG at the top of the stairs as the door to his bedroom shut.

Hermione started to say something but a look from Lupin silenced her.

‘I think that’s enough discussion for tonight,’ Mrs. Weasley said rising, looking upset.

‘We’ll clean up, Molly. Why don’t you and Arthur see to Fred?’ Lupin offered.

‘Thank you, Remus. I think we need to,’ Mr. Weasley said as he went to get their coats. ‘Ron – come on; in his state you may be the only one he talks to…’

Ron nodded and then followed his parents out. There was a quiet rustling as they prepared to leave.

Tonks looked over at Harry and Ginny and then at Lupin and Hermione as the sound of the front door shutting reached them.

‘Well – I um… I better get home myself…’

Ginny looked at the young Auror and then at Hermione.

‘Walk you to the door?’ she asked politely.

All things considered, she shouldn’t encourage Tonks to stay the night. It would only make things worse for everyone concerned.

‘I can see myself out…’

A few steps and Tonks had gone, leaving by the front door this time.

Hermione didn’t say a word as she went into the kitchen followed closely by Lupin. She started stacking pots and pans in the sink and then squeezed out washing up liquid. Her ability to switch on and off at will was maddening. It frustrated him to no end.

‘What’s gotten into you?’ he asked.

‘What are you talking about, Remus,’ she said turning on the taps after summoning the reset of the dishes from the dining room.

Lupin moved behind her and plunged his hands into the hot sudsy water on top of hers.

‘Sometimes I wonder if you haven’t actually fallen for him; or rather, this ideal version of him you keep offering up to us all…’ he murmured into her ear before kissing her neck.

‘I would have thought last weekend disproved that…’ she said removing her hands and turning around.

She turned her face up to his for a lingering kiss.

‘Last night certainly did,’ he murmured as he held her and ran a soapy hand over the slight swell of her belly. ‘I must be insane…’

‘Then what does that make me?’ Hermione asked as she held his hands on her belly and covered them with her own.

‘Why are you so determined to see nothing but good in him when it’s so bloody clear what kind of man he really is and what he’s capable of?’

‘Because no one else will… He’s been convicted and damned without being heard. It’s not right, no matter what anyone thinks he’s done.’

xxxOOOxxx

Snape listened intensely. Thank Merlin it was finally quiet. The conflict between the D’Arcy’s had reached breaking point during dinner and God help him, he could not endure another minute in this house. He might be signing his death warrant – but he would not remain.

He’d had enough of that sort of thing growing up – and all the creature comforts in the world would not be inducement enough to endure it again.

A note was left for D’Arcy where he thought his host or at least the manservant was sure to find it and then left.

xxxOOOxxx

‘The Heads of the Auror Office and Magical Law Enforcement have recalled everyone.’

‘So the Ministry has called off the search?’ A little inclement weather and they call off the search…’

‘The opposition are starting to complain that I am spending too much time, money and resources on tracking him down,’ Scrimgeour said tensely. ‘I could not push for those assigned to track him to carry on when the rest of the government is shut down.’

‘All this time and there is no sign of him? The Ministry seems to have lost its touch, Scrimgeour, since the changes at the top.’

Scrimgeour’s eyes glittered strangely as he looked at the figure that was Lord Voldemort. It was one thing to speak of the bogeyman in abstract terms; it was another to be faced with him. The Dark Lord was no mere bogeyman – he was everyone’s worst nightmare come to life.

‘All this time and even your own servants have not met with success.’

‘Scrimgeour you forget your place!’ Bellatrix Lestrange snapped as she moved forward. ‘I…’

‘You – will remain silent!’ the Dark Lord hissed dangerously.

He stood and walked over to the Minister of Magic.

‘Had I known it would be this easy…’ he whispered vaguely as he circled the politician. ‘… and yet you have not turned entirely, have you?’

‘The only interests that matter to me are my own. This situation with Snape is highly embarrassing to the Ministry. Why the Prophet…’

‘…Prints only what you yourself approve. And, to my understanding, quite often it is your public relations office which crafts some of the more, ahhh, interesting material to be found in its pages.’

Scrimgeour did not move, nor did he speak. A wise man knew when to be silent. Voldemort looked at the politician warily.

‘This business with Snape – it sets a precedent we cannot have repeated.’

Scrimgeour said nothing and kept his eyes fixed on a spot of the wall past the Dark Lord’s shoulder. Voldemort stopped circling in moved into the politicians face, causing the man to shrink back.

‘Ahh – not so brave are we now…’ Voldemort said idly as he took a seat near his fireplace.

‘Not so foolish is more accurate, Lord Voldemort.’

The Dark Lord looked up at the man who had remained standing. He cocked his head to one side as if studying him.

‘You have quite a bit of work to do – to restore the public’s faith in you…’

‘’Indeed…’

‘I have a little proposal for you – though whether or not you choose to act upon the idea is entirely up to you of course.’ the Dark Lord said idly with a menacing smile.

Scrimgeour felt as if he had been kicked.

‘And what is it that you propose, Sir?’

Voldemort smiled.

‘Lucius Malfoy…’ he began.

‘…Is in Azkaban where he belongs…’ Scrimgeour interrupted.

‘He is in Azkaban, yes indeed he is; However, he is not particularly useful behind bars, now is he?’

‘For you I rather suppose he is not.’

Voldemort folded his spindly fingers in front of his slit of a mouth.

‘What if Mr. Malfoy happens to – escape…’

‘Now see here! It’s bad enough that…’

‘CRUCIO!’ Voldemort said leaping to his feet.

Scrimgeour twisted and turned in agony, unable to scream as the curse tortured him from the inside out.

‘Lucius Malfoy will conveniently escape just as Sirius Black did. Except this time your Aurors will not be so imbecilic such as to be outwitted. They will recapture him by any means necessary – and he will not survive it! Your officers will have been justified as their lives were at stake! The Prophet gets front page news, you get a bit of glory and I have one less idiot who would turn traitor and sell his soul to the Muggle Devil himself to keep himself out of Azkaban – or whatever it is that the Fates have set in store for him.. Have I made myself clear?’

The Dark Lord released the curse and Scrimgeour lay curled up in a fetal position on the floor, his fine tailored suit getting covered in filth – and his own vomit and bodily fluids. His mouth moved convulsively, yet no sound came out. Had he been heard, he would have been screaming.

‘I didn’t hear that,’ Voldemort hissed as he stood over the politician.

‘Yes…’ Scrimgeour croaked at last.

‘Yes – what?’

‘Yes – My Lord!’

xxxOOOxxx

Snape crunched along in the snow, trying to ignore the raw tightness in his chest. The weather was too bad to be in the outdoors. As this was farming country his best bet would be to find an outbuilding of some sort and bed down in it. He had enough food to last a few days with careful rationing. He should be alright enough before he had to go out of doors again.

He hoped he would at any rate…

He walked for several hours, barely seeing where he was going. His instincts told him he wasn’t anywhere near Rozel. It felt more like the middle of nowhere. He crunched along shivering from the cold. His things were too heavy to carry and he began to face the fact that he was not really in the best of health and shouldn’t be doing this.

Despite this, the former professor moved determinedly ahead.

He was near to collapsing when he saw it.

There was a large structure right ahead; a structure that looked like it could be a barn.

xxxOOOxxx

After carefully finding his way around the structure, Snape was relieved to find it was indeed a barn. He found a small door on one side and was able to let himself in. The structure was large and there was a loft that ran a decent length of the building. He was too tired to notice the livestock. He found a ladder to the loft and forced himself to climb up.

He arranged a few pallets of straw and some sacks into a makeshift bed in a recessed alcove where he wasn’t likely to be discovered. Fortunately there were a number of items in storage in the loft, so there wasn’t much work to do.

‘I must be mad…’ he murmured before passing out from exhaustion.

He was too tired to care about consequences of his leaving the D’Arcy’s.