A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 77 ~ Garnering a Granger

The next morning after a hearty breakfast, a bath for the two werewolves (which Severus greatly appreciated) and some light doctoring on Remus’ shattered left arm, Rubin, Albus, Severus, Remus and Eloise set off for Hogwarts.

Remus was going to be treated by Madame Pomfrey, since St. Mungos didn’t accept werewolf patients. After he was seen, they were all going to sit down and discuss their next move. Albus wanted Hermione to sit in on the talk to see what she could add.

Fenrir’s body was moved to the barn and a stasis spell put on it. His head was deposited in a burlap sack, also with a stasis spell on it to keep it fresh. His body had returned to human form at sunrise. It was his final transformation. Remus insisted on carrying Fenrir’s head himself, his eyes going a bit black-veined when it was suggested someone else carry it because of his arm.

“It’s not a bone, Lupin,” Severus snapped at him, “It’s a head.”

Remus bared his teeth at Severus who gave him an “I wish you would” look, his hand clamped firmly around the base of his wand in his pocket.

Sensing the beginning of what could be a very unpleasant altercation, Albus said to let the wizard hang on to the head.

Linking arms, the group apparated outside the castle. Albus removed the ward on the gates and they all entered, walking across the grounds toward the castle.

”I haven’t seen Hogwarts in years,” Rubin said, his eyes shining as they approached the school, “It hasn’t changed much.”

”Only the curriculum, Rubin,” Albus said smiling.

Eloise was staring at the castle in fascination. It was beautiful. She started when she saw people zooming around the turrets on broomsticks. What a strange and wonderful world she was in.

The group entered the castle and received curious stares as students greeted the Headmaster and Professor Snape, who snapped at them to stop gawking and get to class. They skittered away, not even looking over their shoulders.

Severus headed down the dungeon corridor to retrieve Hermione from her lab as the rest of the group continued on to Albus’ office.

Eloise didn’t much like the shifting stairwells and clung to Remus’ good arm as they ascended and stepped on to corresponding landings. She was relieved when they finally got off and headed down a nice, stable corridor. They stopped in front of a perfectly horrendous statue of something that looked like a demon. Albus said the password and Eloise snarled in reaction as the statue came to life and leapt away, revealing a spiral staircase behind it. She could have sworn the ugly statue grinned at her wickedly as she walked up the stairs. She shuddered. The magical world was very, very strange.

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Hermione was in her lab, once again wearing the huge magnifying goggles when Severus entered. When she saw him, she launched herself at him, pulling him down by the neck and kissing him soundly.

Severus pulled back and stared into her enlarged eyes.

“You’re back! I was so worried about you!” Hermione said to him.

Severus frowned slightly.

”Could you please remove those spectacles or whatever they are? Your resemblance to Sybil Trelawney is quite disturbing,” the wizard said to her.

Hermione released him, removed the goggles and set them on the counter, then covered her work with the glass bowl. She turned to look at him.

“So what happened?” she asked the wizard.

“Remus was successful. Fenrir Greyback is dead,” he replied.

Hermione clapped her hands together in joy.

“That’s wonderful!” she said, “Was he injured?”

Severus nodded.

”A shattered arm, shredded ear and some scratches and bites on his face. But he’ll live. No doubt Poppy is treating him now,” the Potions Master replied.

”He’s here! Oh Severus, I want to see him,” she cried, pulling off her lab coat hurriedly.

”That’s why I came to retrieve you. We are having a bit of a meeting and would like you to sit in on it,” the wizard said, “We need to decide how to move forward now. There was quite a price on Fenrir’s head, literally.”

“How much?” Hermione asked him.

“One million galleons,” Severus replied evenly.

Hermione’s eyes turned to saucers and her mouth worked silently for a moment.

“A million galleons?” she repeated

”Yes. Over the years the pot has grown, outside sources, families, organization etc adding to the reward. It topped out at a million. Now, it belongs to Remus and I imagine Mr. Fezwig. We are of the opinion that while the Ministry will turn half the money over to Rubin, they will not give Remus his due because of his malady. A werewolf doesn’t need half a million galleons,” Severus said as Hermione scowled.

“Oh really?” she said, her jaw set, “Well, we’ll just see about that. Let’s go.”

Severus smirked as Hermione stormed out of the lab, her little legs taking big strides. He followed her, his black eyes on her body, noting the angry signals it was sending off. If this were any indication…whoever tried to thwart Remus Lupin was going to get quite an earful from one Miss Hermione Granger.

When they hit the dungeon corridor, Hermione began marching up it. Severus stopped in front of his office door and let her get a little distance before he called her.

“It would be faster to floo to Albus’ office,” the wizard said.

Hermione walked back, an irritated look on her face as Severus opened the door, then stopped…frowning as he saw Bartholomew in his file cabinet. Bartholomew froze.

“Pro…Professor Snape,” Bartholomew said, surprised as the wizard swooped in and stood in front of him, frowning.

“Bartholomew,” the Potions Master said curtly as Hermione stood behind him, wide-eyed, “What are you doing in my file cabinet?”

Bartholomew swallowed.

”I was looking for old class work you assigned for reviewing, sir,” Bartholomew said, then added, “I mean…since I am teaching the class I should have access to the work of previous years to make sure I am following your basic format. I just want to do a good job.”

Severus’ lip quirked.

“You mean you want to make sure your students can pass my final exam,” the Potions Master said.

“Well, yes…I do,” Bartholomew admitted.

Severus studied the assistant for a moment.

”Proceed,” he said shortly, walking to the wall and pulling it open, “I suspect your students are going to need all the help they can get.”

The wizard walked through his study, followed by Hermione, then the wall closed. Bartholomew let out a sigh of relief. The wizard was allowed access to Severus’ office and in fact, his files as well. The Potions Master was just giving him a hard time.

“Doesn’t it bother you that Bartholomew might be able to enter your private study?” Hermione asked the wizard as they approached the fireplace.

“He wouldn’t dare,” the wizard said darkly, “Besides, only you and I can pull the torch to open the wall. It is warded to our signatures. If anyone else attempts it…well, let’s just say the results will be loud, painful and long-lasting.”

Hermione hadn’t known this…but should have figured Severus would not leave his rooms unprotected.

She walked up to the fireplace and watched as the wizard tossed in the floo powder.

”Dumbledore’s office,” the wizard said.

The flames turned green and Severus stepped aside.

”After you,” he said with a slight bow.

As Hermione walked past, he swatted her on her soft ass, the witch squealing and still doing so when she entered Albus’ office, red-faced with her hand covering her right buttock. Severus entered behind her, looking solemn Hermione quickly regained her composure as Eloise smiled at her knowingly.

“Ah Hermione, glad you could join us,” Albus said, “You know Remus of course, and Eloise, and Rubin.”

”Yes,” Hermione said, nodding at each of them with a smile, “Hello everyone.”

They all greeted Hermione. She and Severus sat down in adjacent armchairs Albus had arranged in a circle. Hermione looked at Remus’ arm in the sling and the streaks of salve on his face and ear.

“How are you, Remus?” she asked him softly.

“Fine, Hermione. Poppy treated my arm and said it should heal completely in about a week. She also gave me some salve to promote healing and prevent scarring on my face and ear,” he replied.

”That’s good,” she said, looking down at the burlap bag between his feet curiously, “What’s in the bag?”

Severus smirked. Hermione hadn’t learned her lesson first.

“Let her see, Remus,” the Potions Master said.

“No! It’s Fenrir’s head, Hermione,” Eloise said, glowering at Severus, who quirked his lip.

“Fenrir’s head!” Hermione gasped, then frowned blackly at the Potions Master.

”We brought it as proof of Fenrir’s demise. Remus has to turn it in at Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures. Of course, the main worry is they will confiscate the head and not give him credit, collecting the reward on their own and dividing it among themselves,” Albus said darkly.

“They’re nothing but thieves,” Eloise hissed.

“Reward?” Remus said, sounding a bit lost. He hadn’t even thought about a reward for killing Fenrir.

“Oh yes, my boy. There is a million galleon reward on Fenrir’s head, which you have conveniently resting on the floor between your feet,” Albus said with a broad smile.

Eloise’s eyes went round. She wasn’t sure how much that was in pounds…but she was sure it was a hell of a lot of money.

“A…a million galleons?” Remus gasped, seeming unable to process such a large amount of money.

“Yes,” Albus reiterated, “A…million…galleons.”

Remus stared at him, then at Eloise…then at Rubin.

“Rubin, we…we’ll split it. I couldn’t have killed Fenrir without your help,” he said to the farmer, who held up his hand and shook his head.

“You can have it. I don’t need that kind of money. I’m old, settled and having enough money invested that I live comfortably. I wouldn’t have the first idea what to do with it. You however, you have a whole lifetime ahead of you,” the farmer said, looking at Eloise meaningfully.

Remus looked at Eloise.

“Yes. Yes I do. We do,” he said softly as his eyes met hers. She gave him a smile. But then Remus frowned.

“But they won’t release that money to me. I’m a werewolf. I can’t even have an account at Gringotts,” Remus said bitterly.

”They will release it to you, Remus,” Hermione said vehemently. Suddenly magic swirled in the air. An oath.

Oh good gods.

Severus pinched his nose as Hermione’s next crusade took form. The “Making Remus a Wealthy Werewolf “ crusade. More than likely he’d be in for a sexual dry spell.

”We’re all ears, Miss Granger,” Albus said with a smile. He had hoped Hermione would take the initiative.

And she did.

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Prophet columnist and reporter Rita Skeeter sat at her desk in her small office, fiddling with a quill with her big, manicured and rather mannish hands. Her photographer Bilbo was fiddling with his camera, sitting in a folding chair against the far wall as he removed the lens and blew into it, holding it up to the window and looking through it.

”I tell you Bilbo…I’m tired of scraping about for interesting stories. There’s nothing going on now since they rounded up the Death Eaters. The rumors about them practically kept me going. Now it’s all court dates and sentences, mundane, dull, boring actually. My readers like stories they can sink their teeth into, and there’s hardly anything out here. I can’t stand it,” she complained, viciously digging the point of her quill into her desktop, “I actually had to pull out an old column yesterday, Bilbo. If this keeps up, Gabby and I are going to be looking for a new place to live.”

Rita was paid by the story and according to the story’s worth as news. She hadn’t been making much money lately. Gabby was her pet weredog, and he ate voraciously.

“Something will come up, Rita. It always does,” Bilbo said, still fiddling with his camera and not looking up.

Rita frowned at him.

”You’re such a comfort, Bilbo,” she said sarcastically.

Bilbo looked up at her, the sarcasm going right over his fat, little head.

”I try,” he replied.

Rita sighed in exasperation.

Suddenly there was a knock on the office door.

”Oh, what is it now?” Rita grumbled. Probably one of the secretaries with another warning from her boss about getting a story to him pronto.

”Who is it?” Rita called out bad-naturedly.

”It’s Hermione Granger,” Hermione called from the other side of the door.

”Hermione Granger?” Rita mouthed at Bilbo who looked at her with shock.

Hermione Granger was not Rita’s most favorite person in the world. The little witch had bested her a number of time, and still had the means to blackmail the reporter if she wanted to. Hermione was the reason she was out of work for a while, though she got her job back when Hermione arranged an interview with Harry years ago that put her back in the spotlight as a star reporter.

Rita patted her hard, unmoving blonde curls, adjusted her green jeweled glasses and took her quick-quotes quill out of her handbag, just in case.

”Come in, Miss Granger,” Rita said, her eyes narrowed as the door opened and Hermione walked in. Rita hadn’t seen her in some time but the witch had matured a bit.

“I wish I could say what a pleasure it is to see you, Miss Granger,” the reporter said as Hermione sat down in the chair in front of her without an invite, “but I can’t”

”The feeling’s mutual, Rita,” Hermione snapped, her eyes dark with dislike, “But pleasure or not…there’s a reason I’m here. I have a story for you. An exclusive story.”

”Don’t tell me. You’ve developed a spell to end world hunger,” Rita sneered at her.

Hermione stood up.

”Fine Rita…you want to pass on this? I'll find another reporter to accompany us to the Ministry and write the story as it happens. The only reason I came to you in the first place was that I noticed your column has been rather…uninteresting and I know you know how to sensationalize matters. It could have worked out for everyone involved but…” Hermione said, starting to walk toward the door.

Rita looked at the witch. Hermione was unbearable, but she wasn’t stupid. She had something big going on…Rita’s reporter instinct could tell.

”Wait. Wait, Hermione!” the reporter cried out, “I’m sorry. You know we don’t get along. I couldn’t help taking a stab at you. Please, sit down and tell me what this is about.”

Hermione looked at her coldly.

”Please,” Rita said again. She couldn’t let the witch leave.

With an aggravated sigh, Hermione sat back down. Bilbo was aiming his camera on her, using her to check his focus.

”Now what is this story about?” Rita asked her.

”Fenrir Greyback is dead,” Hermione said.

Bilbo looked up from his camera, his eyes narrowed. Oh man. Photo Op if he ever heard one.

”Dead?” Rita gasped.

”Yes, and no one knows yet except the people who witnessed his death,” Hermione continued.

“There’s a million galleon reward on Fenrir’s head,” Rita said in a low voice, her wheels turning. What a story this would be…and she’d have an exclusive.

”Yes…but the question is will the person be allowed to collect the reward?” Hermione said, feeling the reporter’s excitement.

”What? Of course he will if he has proof Fenrir’s dead and he killed him,” Rita said.

”Oh, he has proof all right. Fenrir’s severed head,” Hermione said, dangling the juicy information in front of Rita.

”Oh dear gods. His head? His head, Bilbo!” Rita said to the photographer, who was sitting on the edge of his seat now…his finger already on the camera’s shutter button in anticipation. Rita looked back at Hermione.

“So who killed him?” Rita asked in a low voice.

”Remus Lupin,” Hermione replied.

Rita could have orgasmed right there.

”Remus Lupin? Remus Lupin the werewolf? Oh…they’re not going to want to give him that money. He’s a werewolf. But still…is that right? He did kill the most elusive and deadly murderer in the wizarding world…most likely at great peril to his own life. So what if he’s a werewolf? He deserves that money…doesn’t he, Bilbo? Yes. Yes, he does. Oh this is going to cause quite a controversy. Quite a controversy,” Rita spouted, talking to herself as she began to figure out how to approach the story to make it the most compelling. She looked at Hermione.

”Is anyone going with him to the Ministry?” Rita asked.

”Yes. His fertile mate, Eloise Hedgeberry…she’s a muggle who was bitten by Fenrir. She has full rights because she is under British law…” Hermione began.

“A fertile werewolf bitch? Oh my gods…this is…this is NEWS!” Rita raged.

”Oh there’s more. Albus Dumbledore will be with him, as well as Professor Severus Snape and Rubin Fezwig. They all witnessed Remus kill Fenrir firsthand,” Hermione said, “And I’ll be there too.”

This time, Rita did get a gush in her knickers.

”Circe, Albus Dumbledore…Severus Snape…who is Rubin Fezwig?” she asked Hermione as her quick-quotes quill came to life and started scribbling down the basic facts of the matter.

He is the farmer who owns the land Fenrir was killed on,” Hermione replied.

“Excellent. Wonderful…oh my,” Rita said under her breath. Then she looked thoughtful.

”You know…I really think there should be someone else there,” Rita said, “When are you all planning on going to the Ministry?”

”Today. After I leave here,” Hermione said.

Rita looked a bit conspiratory as she studied Hermione.

”Do you think you can wait until tomorrow morning? I would like to send a few owls out. Nothing big, but something that can make Remus’ story even more compelling,” she said.

Not to mention make her readers foam at the mouth.

”Who are you going to contact?” Hermione asked, hoping there wouldn’t be a leak before they got to the Ministry, “We don’t want this to get to the Ministry before we do.”

”Oh no. Who I’m going to contact won’t say a word to the Ministry…until they get there. And when they do…they will say it loud,” Rita said.

Hermione narrowed her eyes.

”I won’t agree to this unless I know who you are contacting,” Hermione said stubbornly.

Rita frowned. She had wanted the element of surprise, but…hell. It would still be a hot story she could milk for months to come.

“All right. Have you ever heard of FOW?” Rita asked her.

Hermione shook her head.

They’re an organization no one puts much stock in. But there are at least five hundred of them. I interviewed the president of the organization a year or two ago as filler for my column. FOW stands for the “Friends of Werewolves.” They are fighting for werewolf rights. This is just what they need to get the ball rolling. What a fuss they’ll make!” Rita said.

Hermione smiled broadly.

“All right, Rita…tomorrow morning it is,” she beamed.

The reporter beamed back at her.

”Remus Lupin is going to be one wealthy werewolf,” the reporter said, “And I’m going to be right back on top again. Right Bilbo?”

Bilbo nodded, smiling broadly He was going to get some fantastic photos. Fantastic photos meant fantastic galleons.

”Right in one, Rita,” he replied, looking at Hermione as if she were made of gold.

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A/N: lol. Rita Skeeter will get ‘er done! Lol. They couldn’t have found a better ally. Hermione is one sharp cookie. I’ve used Rita before in “Daddy Dearest.” She was martyred for joining the side of Good, but I thought it would be nice to bring her back. She’s such a hoot. Thanks for reading.