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

Chapter 84 ~ Remus Meets with the Ministry


As they stood before the Council, Hermione felt a movement on her arm through her robes sleeve. She brushed at it a bit, not wanting to seem to be fidgeting. She felt it again, and turned her arm slightly.

There, clinging to the fabric was a small, black beetle.

It waved a foreleg at her.

Rita. Oh good gods. She must have been waiting for them in her animagus form and climbed on Hermione when everyone’s attention was on Remus. Damn, the council had better watch itself.

“Mr. Remus Lupin, step forward,” Charles Baggins, a red-haired red-faced wizard said soberly.

Remus walked forward and looked at the council, waiting. Every member focused on the werewolf, noting his shabby robes and run-over shoes.

”Surely Mr. Lupin, you could have made a better presentation. You knew you were coming before the Council. Your appearance is less than suitable,” Baggins said, a disapproving look on his face.

”Perhaps I would have a set of nicer robes, sir, if those thieves you call Aurors would stop taking my money every time they visit me,” Remus said evenly.

“Mr. Lupin, I find that hard to believe,” Mr. Baggins said just as evenly, “I would think if you were being robbed you would report it.”

”To whom? The Aurors stealing from me? Or the Department they work at? A report would never come up…and nothing would be done about it. Just like Ann Greyback’s continued reports of thievery were never addressed years ago,” Remus said, his eyes darkening.

Charles looked at the other members for help, but not one responded.

”We’ll look into it, Mr. Lupin,” Councilman Baggins said.

Hermione let out a snort, causing everyone to look at her. She met the twelve sets of eyes steadily. Severus shook his head slightly. Hermione was something else.

“Now we understand you claim to have killed Fenrir Greyback,” Baggins said, looking at the wrapped body on the table.

”It is no claim. I killed him and his body rests right on that table in front of you,” Remus declared, pointing at the corpse.

”Mr. Lupin, we have been after Fenrir for years. Tell us how you managed to kill him,” the Council member asked.

“He came to Rubin’s farm in search of my mate, Eloise Hedgeberry. She was in heat and we fought for her. Fenrir was trampled by a herd of cattle. Before he could recover from his injuries, I decapitated him,” Remus explained.

”Decapitated him? With an axe?” Baggins pressed.

“No. With my teeth, sir. I was in werewolf form,” Remus said, smiling slightly as all the Council members paled.

“A good story,” Baggins said, his voice cracking a bit, “I believe you have witnesses to the fact willing to write a statement on your behalf?”

”Yes I do, sir,” Remus said, turning slightly, “Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Potions Master Severus Snape and my mate, Eloise Hedgeberry,” he said, gesturing to each in turn.

All the council’s eyes fell on Hermione.

“And why is this witch here?” Baggins asked, narrowing his eyes at Hermione.

”Moral support,” Hermione replied as if daring the council to try and remove her.

Baggins wisely decided to let the little witch be.

“Very well,” he said as a clerk walked out of a side door with several parchments and quills. He handed a parchment and quill to each of them, including Remus. Hermione refused hers. She hadn’t been a witness after all. Just a planner.

”Write out your statements, date and sign them,” Baggins said, then watched as each took a seat on the long benches meant for visitors and placed their parchments on the wood and started writing.

Another clerk came in, carrying a small black leather covered box which he gave to Councilman Baggins. The wizard placed it in front of him. It ought to help smooth this mess over.

Everyone finished writing their statements and the clerk collected them and handed them to Baggins, who read them over and passed them to his fellow council members. After about fifteen minutes, Baggins collected them and handed the statements to the clerk to be filed.

“The statements seem to all be in agreement. Now to see the proof of your claim,” Baggins said, nodding to the coroner.

The sallow face wizard pointed his wand at the sheet and flicked it. It began to unwrap. The folds fell back revealing Fenrir, his severed head resting above his huge body, the eyes staring at the ceiling and mouth pulled back in a grimace, his pointed teeth showing. Clotted blood covered the neck of his robes and flaked down to the sheet. Every council member blanched as the coroner lifted the head and examined it, turning the neck up revealing the torn flesh and bit of bone.

A council member gagged and ran from the room.

After a few minutes of careful study, checking the wizard’s prints against those on file, he turned to the Council.

“This is definitely the remains of Fenrir Greyback,” he announced.

”Thank you,” Baggins said, his face pale, “Please cover him up and remove him from the chambers.”

They all watched as the coroner neatly rebound Fenrir’s body with the sheet, then levitated him. An Auror standing in the far corner opened the door for him and let him and the body through.

“Mr. Lupin, please step forward again,” the Councilman said, his face set in stone.

Remus walked forward again.

“I hereby declare Remus Lupin has proven to this council that he indeed is the person responsible for the death of the wanted criminal and murderer, Fenrir Greyback. You have the gratitude of this Council and Wizard Society at large, Mr. Lupin,” Baggins said.

He waited for Remus to thank him, but the werewolf said nothing. He knew this was just lip service, especially after what the Ministry attempted to do last night.

Baggins cleared his throat.

”There is a hefty reward for the capture of Fenrir Greyback, Mr. Lupin, in the amount of one million galleons,” he said, pausing for the werewolf’s reaction.

Remus didn’t move. He just kept his eyes on the Councilman.

”This is quite a sum of money, Mr. Lupin, quite a sum. We are ready to offer you services, someone to help you manage it,” Baggins said, “Someone who is quite experienced in handling such large amounts for those who are…are inept.”

Wrong choice of words. Hermione started trembling, she wanted to speak so badly. Severus discreetly placed a pale hand on her arm, slightly shaking his head.

“I don’t need any ‘help’, Councilman,” Remus said, “I only need the money. Despite the fact I haven’t been allowed to keep much of my earnings, I assure you I know how to budget.”

”It is more than a matter of budgeting, Mr. Lupin. As you are aware, werewolves are not allowed to have bank accounts according to Gringotts standing policy which is in tangent with existing laws. What will you do with the funds? Bury them?” Baggins asked him, a nasty bit of mirth on his angular face.

The other council member tittered.

Albus stepped forward.

”If Mr. Lupin is in need of someone to hold his funds for him, I am quite prepared to do so, without the restrictions someone in the Ministry’s employ would no doubt apply,” the Headmaster said evenly.

The entire council frowned for a quick moment, trying to hide their displeasure, but it was clear to see.

“Very well,” Baggins said, his voice thick as he rose and presented a piece of parchment, “Your reward, Mr. Lupin…all one million galleons.”

Remus walked up and plucked the check out of his hand and read it.

”Pay to the Order of Remus John Lupin the Sum of One Million Galleons…G1,000,000”

It was signed by the Minister himself.

Hermione let out a whoop and flung herself on Remus, along with Eloise as Albus patted him on the back heartily. Severus stood back and watched them, his face sober. But he was glad for the werewolf as well. He earned it. Everyone deserved a second chance.

The council watched as Remus’ friends congratulated him for a few minutes, then Baggins cleared his throat again. Everyone looked up at him.

”I have something else for you, Mr. Lupin,” he said, offering the small leather box to the wizard.

Once again Remus approached and took the box.

”Something to honor your service to the Wizarding World. You are the first of your…kind to receive one,” Baggins purred.

Hopefully this would make up for the snafu of the night before and appease the public.

Remus opened the box and looked down on the Order of Merlin Medal, First Class.

“The Order of Merlin,” Hermione breathed, looking up at Remus, “The greatest honor a person can receive in the Wizarding World.”

Remus stared at the medal for a moment.

”You would think so, wouldn’t you?” he said cryptically, Hermione frowning slightly.

Remus turned and looked at Eloise a long moment.

”Come here and take my arm,” he said to her.

Eloise walked over to him with a rather curious look on her face. Remus turned back to the Council.

“If you really want to give me an honor, then give me one that has real meaning. Give me the right to marry my mate, Eloise Hedgeberry, the wizard said as Eloise gasped.

”What?” she said, looking at Remus as if he were mad.

“Eloise, you are my mate for life, correct?” he asked her.

“Yes, Remus. Yes I am,” she replied softly.

”Then for all intents and purposes you are my wife. I want it recognized beyond werewolf form. It would be my greatest honor,” the wizard said sincerely.

Hermione looked over at Severus and met his dark eyes. She smiled softly. Remus hadn’t proposed to Eloise. He didn’t have to. They already had their “agreement.” But it was still romantic as hell.

“Mr. Lupin, as you well know, werewolves are not allowed to marry,” Baggins said uncomfortably.

”Why? Why is that, Councilman? Even if it were to keep them from breeding, you sterilize all the females anyway. Werewolves mate for life, but when one dies, whatever of value they have managed to scrape together is claimed by the Ministry, despite them having mates or children. It’s unfair,” Remus declared, holding Eloise’s arm tightly. “I now have a legacy…and I want to be sure if anything happened to me, my mate will be taken care of.”

”I’m sorry, Mr. Lupin, but the law is the law. We cannot allow you to marry,” Baggins said.

“Fine,” Remus said, releasing Eloise and walking up to the bench. He set the box containing the medal in front of Baggins and walked away.

”Keep your medal. It means absolutely nothing to me,” the wizard said, taking Eloise’s arm, “I bid you all good day.”

With that, Remus Lupin and his mate left the Council chambers, their heads held high. Albus followed as did Hermione. Severus paused to take one more look at the council, then smirked at them and walked away, his robes billowing.

When the door closed, not one council member said a word, but sat there in silence, each wondering what he could do to save his job.

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

Remus and Eloise appeared on the Ministry steps first and the waiting crowd fell silent as if holding their breaths. A group of goblins stood at the front of the crowd, not behind barricades. They too looked up at him with their clever faces.

Remus scanned the crowd, then reached in his pocket and pulled out the check, holding it high for all to see. A roar of approval burst from the crowd and wild applause as they hugged each other and jumped up and down before starting to chant the wizard’s name. Remus repocketed the check and started down the stairs with Eloise. When they reached the bottom, the small group of goblins walked up to them.

“Mr. Lupin,” one goblin said in a business-like voice, “We are representatives of Gringotts Bank. My name is Griphook.”

The goblin offered his gnarled hand. Remus took it and shook it as Hermione, Severus and Albus joined them.

“We would like you to bank with us, Mr. Lupin. We provide excellent services,” Griphook said, his sharp little eyes glittering, “We have changed our current policy. It was decidedly unfair.”

Hermione snorted again. The only reason the little greedy bastards changed their policy was because they wanted that million galleons circulating through their bank and earning them more money.

Griphook gave her an annoyed look.

“It will gather excellent interest, Mr. Lupin and is the safest place in the Wizarding World,” the goblin pressed.

The crowd was silent again.

”Is this just a special arrangement for me, or is it extended to all werewolves?” Remus asked the goblin.

Griphook studied him, then said with a bit of a sigh, “It is open to all werewolves from this day forward, Mr. Lupin. Any one of them can come down and open an account. Our policy of discrimination is over forever.”

A loud cheer went up from the crowd, and Griphook turned toward them, then bowed, obviously drinking in their favor. This might be quite good for business among the general public as well. Maybe they could get a catchy slogan to cash in on their new policy.

”Well, if that’s the case, Mr. Griphook, I will be delighted to open an account with your bank,” Remus said warmly.

Griphook shook his hand again, more firmly this time.

”An excellent choice, Mr. Lupin. Now, if you will accompany us…we will take care of the details immediately.”

Remus looked at Albus, Hermione and Severus apologetically.

”Go take care of your business, Remus. We will catch up with you later,” Albus said, smiling broadly. Hermione was smiling too.

Remus met Severus’ eyes.

The Potions Master looked at him soberly, then nodded in approval.

”It looks like you’ve finally arrived, Lupin. It certainly took you long enough,” the wizard said…then offered Remus his hand.

The werewolf took it and shook it warmly.

”I guess you’re going to miss that little extra money I paid you each month for wolfsbane potion,” he said to Severus, who snorted.

”You seriously underpaid me anyway. I will be glad not to have to brew it anymore. You barely covered the ingredients,” he said snarkily.

Remus chuckled and took Eloise’s hand.

“Let’s go, mate,” he said to her, kissing her cheek, the crowd renewing its cheering.

Together the couple walked away with the goblins surrounding them protectively. Woe to anyone who had any ideas…they could be quite vicious when they wanted to be.

”There goes quite a man,” Albus said, watching the couple.

Hermione smiled, then looked at her robes sleeve. Rita was gone.

”There’s going to be quite a story in the Prophet tomorrow,” Hermione said with a wicked smile.

”Yes. Remus getting the reward is big news,” Albus agreed as they walked a little distance from the Ministry, preparing to apparate back to Hogwarts.

Hermione grinned at him.

“It won’t be the biggest news, believe me,” Hermione said, “Rita bugged the meeting.”

Albus and Severus looked at her for a moment, not understanding. Then her meaning dawned on them. Rita Skeeter was an unregistered animagus. She must have snuck into the Council meeting. Albus laughed long and loud.

”Rita Skeeter. She really is quite an amazing woman,” he said.

*****************************************
A/N: Thanks for reading all.