Chapter 2
This was not the plan. This was not the plan! Professor Severus Snape prides himself on his stoicism and generally apathetic existence. Professor Minerva McGonagall is testing every last ounce of already-minimal patience. Fist clenched, out of view under the table, Snape focuses on the sharp bite of nails into his palms and takes a deep breath. “What do you mean he said he was fine? He’s a thirteen year old boy, of course he said that! He needs to be checked over by Poppy! If he really is fine, let the trained mediwitch be the one to determine that!” He is so mad that his whispers are bordering on hissing at this point.
With a stern look that would have some shaking in their boots, Minerva levels him with a glare and then agrees with a purse of her lips. As she turns to cut primly at her salmon, he breathes a quiet sigh of relief. He tells himself that the slight tremor to his hands is just from frustration, nothing else. A quick glance across the hall shows Harry absentmindedly pushing mashed potatoes across an otherwise clean plate. Clean, because there was never anything else on it to begin with. Someone should really help this kid manage his appetite when stressed.
Dinner comes to an end and the transfiguration professor calls out to Potter and the Weasley prefect and sends them to the infirmary. Relieved, the potion’s master makes a quick exit and is determined to continue his thief’s downfall potion study tonight. The original potion has been impossible to make for over a century due to the need for ground basilisk scales. While the variations are passable, he is determined to create an exact copy with substitutions. One of the only remaining sources of original TD potion is in Gringotts– not that the terror twins need to know that. He just wants to know. For research.
Going through the motions, Professor Snape welcomes the new first years to the Snake Pit. He sets the ground rules, implements the usual curfew and study schedule, assigns guides for the first week, and briefly meets with his prefects. They note a bit of homesickness but nothing worse than usual. There was a small scuffle on the train based on old family history, but that will best be addressed by peers. He bids the students good night and retreats to his personal lab. Once there, he pulls out his potion’s notes and a few vials of the spilt trial of TD he had managed to salvage. While pondering the moral impact of giving Potter detention just to study the horned serpent reactions to parseltongue, his floo flashes green.
Within minutes, he is sitting across from Madam Pomfrey with silence weighing heavily in the air. A lesser wizard would be fidgeting endlessly with an aura of anxiety. Professor Snape is not a lesser man, of course, and remains rigid and detached while awaiting the arrival of the Deputy Headmistress. He can feel the calming draught seeping through his bloodstream, actively countering the spikes of adrenaline-fueled stress. It’s less than 10 minutes before the floo flares to life and a harried-looking McGonagall steps through.
Wasting no time, Poppy pulls out a glowing orb of light that pulses once and then hovers between the three of them. The two professors pale visibly as their eyes widen in shock and they eye the artifact. A rare and ancient piece of magic, the Orbis Judicium is a tool used solely by healers that transcends the courts themselves. Thought to be as old as Merlin himself, most wixen go their whole lives without even hearing about the Orb, muchless getting to witness one in use. Not that anyone would ever want to see one in use– more powerful than Veritaserum or the Imperius and legal only in the hands of medical professionals investigating crimes against underage victims…
Severus feels the breath leave his body and cold fear roil in his gut. Underage victim? He knew, of course he knew. He never would have accepted his part in kidnapping the kid if he hadn’t had undeniable proof. But he was going to nudge, hint, and direct Minerva and Albus into this. Did Potter say something?! Does Poppy know that he wasn’t with his family and now he’s under investigation? The potion’s master takes a steadying breath and tries to slow his heartbeat. He did nothing wrong and the child’s fame and Black’s escape mean that this situation needs to be handled carefully. He was supposed to have months to make a foolproof plan that does not lead to Potter ending up with the muggles again.
Paying absolutely no mind to the professor’s spiraling thoughts and mounting panic, Poppy begins the oath. “I, Healer Poppy Pomfrey, open an official investigation into the health and wellbeing of Mister Harry James Potter. Professor Severus Snape, I hereby name you witness by qualification of Ministry Approved Understudy of Healing. Do you accept?”
Not at all how he expected this to go, Severus is feeling entirely wrong-footed. Nonetheless, he completes his vow with a smooth, calm voice. “I do.” The light flashes green, accepting his promise.
“Thank you. Minerva McGonagall, by compulsion of the health globe, Orbis Judicium, you will be forced to comply truthfully. Everything you say will be recorded and copies will be stored directly with St. Mungos and the DMLE. Do you understand?” At her crisp acknowledgement, the globe pulses green again and then turns red. “Thank you. Are you the current guardian of Harry Potter?”
The strict professor starts to answer as she shakes her head “N..urgh”. Looking confused for a moment, she clarifies “as current head of the Gryffindor House, I am Mr. Potter’s temporary acting guardian. However, I am not his primary guardian, muggle or magical.”
“Harry Potter has no medical records on file. Why not?”
McGonagall looks troubled by this question and her lips start to form out various answers, but no answer is forthcoming. A tendril of light travels from the globe and wraps tightly around her. Her shoulders tense and her voice becomes more monotone as the compulsion enforces her answer. “I do not know. Medical records are the responsibility of the guardians– muggle and/or magical. Each head of house is provided with a list of muggleborn children who require a magical checkup within the first week of term. A muggleborn’s guardians can choose to undertake these checkups prior to school starting and a waiver is transferred into the files and removes the child’s name from the list. As Mr. Potter is not a muggleborn, his name was not on the list and there is no system in place for muggle-raised children from the wizarding world.”
“Where are Harry’s muggle medical records?”
The answer comes quickly and easily this time, and the light loosens from around her. “If they were provided, they would be on file. They should be requested by his magical guardian or certified mediwitch.”
“How come Gryffindor House does not require annual checkups?”
“The choice for requiring checkups is left up to each head of house. I choose not to.”
“Why not?”
Again, McGonagall looks a little torn with answering. The light starts to slither towards her and she grimaces slightly. “There is too much on my plate and I a…gh!” She cuts off with a choking sound. “I feel too busy to add that to my plate. It’s the responsibility of the parents or guardians.”
“Mr. Potter is severely malnourished, shows history of injuries not being treated correctly, and has a number of medical-scan flags for abuse. Did you know this?” A stern head shake is accompanied by a soft denial. “Please share how you think this came to be?”
A frown furrowing her brow, McGonagall answers without hesitation. “Well, it’s those muggles, who else could it be?” Without further prompting, McGonagall elaborates “I told Albus that they were the worst sort, I didn’t think it would be a good home for him. But, he insisted! Said they were his only remaining living family members. I brought up concerns to him again after everything last year, but he never listens! He always knows what’s best for everyone and won’t hear any different!”
“Thank you. Severus, as witness, do you have any questions for Minerva?”
Sitting up in his seat, Severus clears his throat awkwardly. “Yes, Poppy. Thank you. Mr. Potter has told me that mealtimes and curfews are not specified or enforced within the Gryffindor common room. Is this true?” She answers in the affirmative. “Can you please explain who is responsible for their wellbeing?” Frowning, the professor indicates herself. “Can you please explain why you don’t implement structure or responsibility within the house?”
His old professor considers him carefully. “I leave it up to the students. They are held to the standards implemented by the headmaster.”
“And you think these children, teenagers, and young adults are actively practicing self discipline?” She shakes her head and gives a verbal denial. As Severus is about to ask his next question, she decides to explain further.
“They learn, Severus. Children and teenagers will sneak out and break other rules. I’d rather them learn that in the safe, controlled environment of Hogwarts where they will learn by detention and points loss.”
“And you believe that is what is best for them?”
She gives a soft, sad smile. “I do.”
“My last question, Professor, is regarding Muggle introductions. Mr. Potter also shared that he was not offered guidance regarding electives or their impact on his future career. In fact, he admitted to not even knowing how to turn on magical lightsources. Why is this not taught to your lions?”
She offers another small smile at this. “Generally, they ask. I encourage them to ask each other, to come to me, to go to their prefects. We are a pride. We stick together, support each other, and have our disagreements.”
Severus hums at this. No wonder the hat tried to put Harry in his house. Harry had unknowingly chosen comfort over growth. “Thank you. That concludes my questions.”
With that, the light globe pulses green and then fades to dark and disappears. The crisp, cool white hospital light feels like a spotlight against them as they each process what just happened. To his utter surprise, it’s Minerva that breaks the silence. “I’m assuming I am only the first of many in this investigation?” The mediwitch gives a grim nod. The older professor settles back into her chair and summons something silently. “I am not charged, though obviously I had my own part to play by neglect.” Despite it not being a question, Poppy grimly nods again. Something clangs softly at the door and it opens to reveal a crystal tumbler filled with deep amber liquid.
Tossing back a shot, McGonagall takes a breath to say something, pauses, and takes another shot. “Are you able to elaborate?”
“I’ll require a vow of secrecy. Mr. Potter is in a very delicate situation and we have to handle this with the utmost care.” The two professors agree without hesitation, each raising their wands and repeating the carefully worded healer’s oath. Another 30 minutes pass in oppressive silence as they read through the copies of Harry’s medical scan results.
Gesturing to her copy, Minerva is again the first to speak. “Glad to see that you didn’t have reservations about me.” Waving off Poppy’s grimace, she continued on “honestly, what I am most curious about is you, Severus.” She turns to look at the man in question and raises her brows in question. “How is it that the one most famous for antagonizing the young Mr. Potter is the one chosen as witness?” Instead of answering, the man in question looks over at Poppy.
A smile crosses her face as some of the tension finally lifts from her frame. “Where should I start? The child was only here because he bullied you into it over dinner. Mr. Potter knew which potion was a calming draught without asking for the first time in 3 years. And, he is bound by oath as a head of house and my stand-in if something were to happen to me. Severus here has been subtly sneaking cases to me since his first year as a professor. Acting like it’s the biggest chore while advocating harder than anybody I’ve ever worked with.”
Severus does his best not to fidget or blush under the scrutiny of his co-worker. No matter how old he gets, her stern look always makes him feel like a schoolboy. Lost in thoughts, he doesn’t notice her reaching towards him until a warm hand lands gently on his arm. He looks up in surprise and meets her hazel eyes. “I’m proud of you, Severus. It might be time for me to re-evaluate my priorities. Thank you.” His heart pounds in his chest as he hears the words he hasn’t even realized he’s always been wanting to hear. From someone… from anyone. With a mischievous smile, she continues “and don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you’re secretly a softie. You can keep acting the curmudgeonly old man!”
He can’t help the half smile that takes over his face. Accepting a tumbler of Scotch, he makes a rather sudden decision to share (some) of the previous month’s events. They toss around a few ideas about the young Potter’s potential caretakers and other living relatives. The conversation, inevitably, comes around to Sirius Black. An offhand comment about his lack of Dark Mark and presence at any Death Eater meetings brings even more variables and questions into the conversation. The evening comes to a rather anticlimactic end as the three determine to meet once a week to discuss care, housing, and justice for the young man in their care.