False Prophets
Petra’s eye sockets feel sunken and achy. She has only made it through the day on a steady feed of strong coffee, and is going to need to go for a fly or something later or she will be twitching all night. She stalks down the corridor thankful that her last class for the day is finally done. Just office hours to go.
She has her coffee mug in one hand, her wand in the other, and a sheath of papers hovering haphazardly next to her. Her shadow is also back, walking two steps to every one of hers, just behind her left elbow.
‘How was your summer Miss Allen?’ Petra asks, without looking away from her notes.
‘We went to France.’ The girl responds, following Petra down the stairs. ‘It was hot. Did you know there are currently ten main species of Dragons, fifty sub-species, and 12 recognised hybrids?’
‘I didn’t know there were so many subspecies.’ Petra responds. ‘Is this your new topic of interest?’
‘Yes. There’s Draconem Viridis – that’s the Welsh Green. Draconem Ignis – the Chinese Fireball. Draconem Ferrum – the Ukranian Ironbelly…’
‘Hello Bridget, Petronella.’ A voice sing songs to Petra’s other side. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Draconem Nigrans – the Hebridean Black; Draconem Septentrionalis – that’s the Norwegian Ridgeback…’
‘Oh dragons! That’s fun.’ Luna smiles. ‘My father once saw a Portuguese Long-snout…’
‘They’re extinct.’ Bridget pauses her recitation to inform them.
‘Oh that’s a shame.’ Luna says.
‘Actually, I’m glad you’re both here.’ Petra stops, and bundles her papers into a roll with a wave of her hand. ‘You both got the permission slips for Mabon?’
‘Yes.’ Both girls nod.
‘I’ve also written to both of your parents to ask permission to participate in the ritual itself if you would like to. Luna’s done it before, so I’m sure Xeno will agree, but I have to do things by the book this time; as it’s an official extra curricular.’ She tells them. ‘Miss Allen, would you be interested in participating?’ She asks.
‘I don’t know. What would I have to do?’ Bridget asks.
‘Well, you don’t have to do anything exactly, it’s more of a meditative exercise, the ritual…’ Petra trails off as she becomes distracted by raised voices further down the hall. ‘Um… how about you come to my office in…’ Petra checks the time. She can definitely hear arguing now – it sounds like Harry and Draco. ‘Better make it 5 o’clock.’ Petra turns and strides quickly down the corridor towards the source of the disturbance. Just before she rounds the corner, there is the crack of a couple of spells, followed by the voice of Alastair Moody.
~~~~
Harry’s morning classes had both been outside, which he was glad of. The storm from last night had passed, and though the ground was rather a quagmire, and the sky grey, it wasn’t cold, and it felt good to be out in the fresh air. With all of the events on his mind the castle was beginning to feel rather oppressive already.
They spent the first part of the morning doing pretty gross things to weird plants, but it was easy and mindless work. Then they studied the Blast Ended Skrewts Hagrid had already shown him the other day. Draco’s rather uppity about it, though Harry can see his point. They do seem like rather absurd, and admittedly useless creatures. One can’t even feed them, on account of them having no mouths. Harry would never say as much to Hagrid, but Malfoy has no qualms of course about stating his opinion as rudely as possible.
Harry bites his tongue rather than get into a barney over it, but he hangs back after class to talk to Hagrid a minute. Hermione rushes off, apparently wanting to eat quickly before getting in some library time during lunch break, but Ron waits for him. They enter the hall just as Hermione is leaving.
‘Oh Harry, you should see the paper – or, oh maybe you shouldn’t. It’s a load of rubbish really. Just ignore it.’ She hurries out. ‘I’m sorry I have to go, but we’ll talk later ok?’
‘Alright Hermione.’ Harry chuckles. He’s had a good morning all in, and he has no intention of reading the newspaper over lunch no matter what’s in it. Besides, he wants to talk to Oliver Wood about organising some Quidditch practice, and maybe a couple of friendly games. Just because there’s no cup doesn’t mean they can’t still fly for fun.
Wood isn’t there, but they both ignore the paper anyway, preferring to moan about double Divination which they are going to have all afternoon.
‘I almost wish I’d picked Arithmancy!’ Harry jokes.
‘Huh, yeah, well I’ll stick to Divination thanks.’ Ron huffs. ‘Easy O isn’t it. All you have to do is make up some bollocks about “troubled times ahead” or “darkness in your aura” or something.’ He grins.
Harry tries to smile back, but he cannot help but feel rather apprehensive. Severus and Petra don’t seem to hold much faith in Trelawny’s predictions, despite the prophecy she had made about Harry himself – a prophecy that had at least partly come true. He hasn’t told Ron and Hermione about that yet. What would they think about him being the subject of a prophecy made by their barmy divination teacher.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
Draco is trying to catch his eye as they leave the hall, but Harry ignores him too, he’s really not in the mood for dealing with Malfoy’s snark right now. They climb the stairs up to Divination, Harry feeling less and less enthusiastic with each step. Trelawny had given him a dire warning about his imminent death last year, and it seems that it might become a habit because no sooner has he entered the room than she is crowding him with another portent of doom.
‘I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass…’ She croons.
Well she could at least be a little more specific. There are plenty of things for Harry to dread. It could be anything from having to squeeze Bubotuber puss again, to his father being arrested, to the return of the Dark Lord – and all that entailed.
‘Harry.’ Ron mutters, elbowing him in the ribs.
‘Er, what, I mean yes Professor?’ Harry stumbles out. He hadn’t been listening, and cringes internally. It was unlikely that Trelawny would take points, or track down his parents to complain about him, but then she wouldn’t really need to track them down, she might just let it slip in the staff room. Harry was supposed to be proving himself responsible, and not paying attention in class on his first day back probably counted toward irresponsible in his parent’s eyes.
‘Saturn dear boy.’ Trelawny blinks at him as if he is completely thick. ‘Your dark aura… Saturn must surely have been an influence upon the day of your birth. You were born in midwinter yes? Perhaps on the solstice…’
‘Midsummer actually Professor.’ Harry states, and he can’t help but sound a little condescending. It felt good to prove her oh so very wrong. ‘The day before Lughnasadh. You know, the opposite side of the wheel.’
Ron is covering his mouth, and holding his nose to keep himself from choking with laughter, and Trelawny just blinks at him again, seeming not to notice his rather sarcastic tone. She mutters something about mirrors and inversion as she floats off to prattle rubbish at some other student.
‘You were spot on Ron.’ Harry grins as they make their way back down stairs after the lesson. ‘She did warn me about troubles ahead, and my dark aura – hey maybe you’re psychic!’ He laughs, feeling so much better now. Perhaps Trelawny was wrong about all of it. As Snape said, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Unfortunately his good mood is soon burst with the arrival of his favourite frenemy.
‘Hey Potter, Weasley!’ A haughty voice calls out. ‘Looks like both your parents have made the front page today.’ Malfoy waves a copy of the Daily Prophet. ‘The writer seems to think daddy weasel might be up for a promotion, which is lucky for you looking at the state of your house. Maybe you can afford to move somewhere with more than one bedroom.’ He smirks.
‘Ignore him.’ Harry mutters, pulling Ron along, and turning to cut across the courtyard. ‘He’s been looking for a fight all day I think.’ Harry mutters.
‘Listen to this!’ Malfoy says loudly, hurrying along the covered walkway, then jumping through one of the arches.
"WEASLEY’S WHEELIE WASTED
Causing further embarrassment for the Ministry this week, hapless Muggle Artefacts officer Archie Weasley teamed up with retired Auror Alastair Moody to fearlessly rein in a gang of misbehaving dustbins!”
‘Oh dear, they didn’t even bother to get his name right.’ Draco snorts before continuing.
“Ex-Auror Moody, apparently too far past his prime to deal with the rogue rubbish on his own, called in fellow bungler Weasley for help, but only after muggle police officers had been called to the scene.
Never one to handle conflict calmly, Moody proceeded to accuse said officers of an attempt on his life. Whether he is paranoid from his years in the war, or had perhaps imbibed a few too many sherries, one can only guess. It’s difficult to know which is preferable seeing as Mr Moody has been appointed to the staff of Hogwarts this year as Defence Professor. Let’s hope he has more to teach the students than how to take out the trash!
After subduing the wheelie bins, Archie Weasley, who himself was in trouble not too long ago when his illegal flying car went on a joy ride around the skies of Great Britain, had to obliviate the muggle law-keepers in order to avoid causing further problems for an already strained Ministry. Though the entire debacle certainly could have been handled with more grace, one has to wonder if Weasley is wasted in the MMAO!”
‘You are a bunch of trouble makers aren’t you.’ Draco smirks.
‘Oh can it Malfoy.’ Ron bites back.
‘Can it! Oh, good one Weaselby!’ Draco laughs. ‘You know you can always come and raid our bins if you get desperate, though mummy weasel looks like she’s quite well fed enough.’ He says, pointing to a picture of the family outside the Burrow.
‘Shut up D- Malfoy.’ Harry huffs. ‘The Burrow is a much nicer home than some big empty mansion.’
‘You would think that.’ Draco sneers. ‘Call that place you live a manor house? I’ve seen bigger coach houses, I’m surprised the Aurors could even find it. How does it feel by the way, to have your father under scrutiny by the MLE?’ He shoves the paper into Harry’s chest, and seems to be glaring with a look that Harry can’t quite decipher.
‘How…’ Harry glances down at the paper in his hands. ‘You’d know.’ He manages to mumble feebly as he takes in the headline.
‘Take that back!’ Draco spits, pushing Harry, and drawing his wand, then raising his eyebrows, as if in expectation.
Ah. He’s been looking for a fight. Draco had said they’d have to pretend to hate each other when they got back to school, though Harry hadn’t really expected Malfoy to do such a good job of it. He almost did hate him again at this point. I mean, was it really necessary to go belittling Ron like that in front of everyone?
‘You take it back.’ Harry says, not bothering to pull out his own wand. It’s unlikely Draco’s going to risk getting a detention for hexing a fellow student – his Head of House’s son no less. This is just for show. Hopefully. ‘Come on Ron.’ Harry rolls his eyes, and grabs his friend’s arm, quite ready to drag him off if necessary. The last thing they need is Ron filling his mouth with slugs again – or worse. Thankfully Ron seems happy to just get out of there, and they step through an archway towards the hall, when a spell sparks off the stones right by Harry’s head.
‘Hey!’ He calls out, turning back, wand twitching into his hand after all. Malfoy really was in a foul bloody mood if he was escalating things this far. But when he looks back Draco has disappeared, and in his place is a small white furry creature. Behind that a furious looking Professor Moody is striding across the courtyard, brandishing his wand.
Oh no.
~~
‘That’ll teach you to hex someone in the back!’ Moody growls as Petra enters the courtyard.
A group of students is gathered haphazardly near to the corridor which leads from the courtyard to the hall, and Moody is waving his wand at a small furry creature.
‘Stop that!’ Petra shouts as the Professor sends the poor creature flying up, and then crashing into the ground.
‘Poor creature!’ Luna exclaims from just behind her.
What the fuck is wrong with that man? Petra wonders as she strides over. Torturing defenceless animals.
‘Mum!’ Harry calls, running over. ‘It’s Draco.’ He says as they meet in the middle.
‘Professor Moody.’ Minerva intones, entering the courtyard from the side close to her classroom. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Teaching.’ He growls, as some of the students begin to laugh.
‘It’s Draco.’ Harry repeats, looking anguished, and pointing back to the animal.
‘Is that… is that a student?!’ Minerva exclaims in shock.
Petra was ready to intervene before she knew that the animal was in fact a student. That Harry seems to be saying that the ferret is actually Draco only makes her anger worse.
‘Finite Incantartum!’ She shouts, not pausing in her stride as Moody stumbles back slightly and the ferret takes on a human form. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing Moody?!’ Petra turns her wand to his chest.
‘I’d put that thing down if I were you lassie.’ Moody bites out.
Minerva lays a hand on Petra’s arm, which she shrugs off, but lowers her wand and turns away to check on Draco.
‘We never use transfiguration as a punishment Professor, surely Dumbledore told you that.’ Minerva is chastising the DADA teacher. ‘You may take house points, give detentions, or speak to the student’s Head of House, but corporal punishments of any kind are no longer used at this school.’
Petra crouches down next to Draco who is sprawled on the floor. She offers her hand, but he scowls at it and pulls himself up.
‘I don’t need your help.’ He huffs.
Petra simply retracts her hand and stands up, looking him up and down to check for injuries.
‘My father will hear about this!’ Draco squawks at Moody who simply chuckles.
‘Oh yes, do do that sonny. You make sure to tell him old Moody’s keeping a close eye on his son.’ He intones.
‘Alastair.’ Petra scowls.
‘Head of House hey?’ Moody ignores Petra and nods to Minerva. ‘Aye, that sounds like a good idea. Snape isn’t it? About time he and I had a chat. Come along Malfoy.’ Moody indicates for Draco to go ahead of him.
Draco glances at Petra who nods for him to comply. The boy scowls heavily but does as he’s told, relaxing slightly when he sees that his Charms teacher is following them.
‘Home for dinner tonight.’ Petra instructs Harry as she passes, noticing the crumpled copy of the Prophet in his hand. That had been another delightful addition to the day which they needed to talk about later. Bridget seems rather upset too, but Luna has her arm around her friend, and Petra knows that she will comfort her very ably.
She strides to catch up with the limping Professor Moody, walking just behind him as he is walking just behind Draco.
‘No need for you to join us Professor.’ He growls over his shoulder. ‘I’ve got this under control.’
After what has just happened, Petra doesn’t trust her former comrade to be alone with a student, but she thinks perhaps it would not be prudent to say as much, so instead she simply continues to accompany them in silence.
~~
‘Enter.’ Comes the standard greeting after Moody raps on the door with his staff.
‘Professor Snape.’ Moody announces, placing himself firmly in the centre of the room and glaring down at the Head of House. ‘Do you teach all of your students how to hex people in the back, or is that reserved only for the children of Death Eaters? Not that that doesn’t include the vast majority of the students in your house.’
Severus glares at Moody from behind his desk, but holds his temper, placing his quill down slowly next to the stack of parchments.
‘Professor Moody.’ He drawls. ‘What seems to be the problem?’
‘Malfoy here tried to hex Potter in the back. Lucky I was there to stop him.’
Severus notes Draco’s dishevelled state and casts a diagnostic charm.
‘It appears Mr Malfoy has also been subjected to a transformation spell.’ He comments. ‘Who did this to you?’ Severus asks his student.
Draco looks down submissively – a slightly Slytherin gambit to invoke extra sympathy Petra thinks, though she can hardly blame him.
‘Perhaps you would like to explain Professor Moody.’ Petra prompts.
‘Me, explain to him?’ Moody chuckles a rasping laugh. ‘I don’t need to explain my actions to anyone lassie.’
‘You brought Mr Malfoy here to answer to his Head of House did you not? Because as a Head of House Severus has authority over his student’s punishment. And authority over you.’ Petra states, and even Severus raises a brow. That was quite bold of her. Moody’s glass eye rolls dangerously.
‘You forget yourself. Little lady.’ He growls. ‘I trained you. And the only person superior to me is Dumbledore himself.’
Petra had indeed been trained by Moody, and seen him at work, thus she was quite aware of his tactics. He would goad his suspects, get them angry so that they would spill things they didn’t mean to.
‘Thank you for bringing Mr Malfoy to my office.’ Severus interrupts, keen to simply get rid of Moody in the most efficient manner possible. ‘I assure you he will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. Now if that is all?’ He glares at the man, and flicks his hand to open the door in a not so subtle hint.
‘Right.’ Moody chuckles wryly. ‘I know how that works, let your Death Eater buddy’s kid get away with breaking the rules without so much as a slap on the wrist…’
‘The alleged incident was perpetrated against my own son Professor, therefore I am…
‘Ah yes. The “ex” Death Eater and the boy-who-lived. I’m sure you’re taking great care of him.’ Moody growls.
‘You dare come into my office, after assaulting a student, and accuse me of intending to harm my own son?!’ Severus bites back.
‘If the shoe fits.’ Moody snarls, advancing forward dangerously, but Petra steps in front of him.
Moody’s eyes flick between Severus and Petra.
‘Still need a girl to fight your battles for you Snape?’ He mutters.
‘If you think this is what Petronella looks like when she’s fighting, then you are the one who has forgotten her.’ Severus simply smirks back.
Moody opens his mouth as if to retort, then seems to reconsider.
‘We’ll talk later Snape.’ He sneers. ‘I’ve got my eye on you.’ And with that he eventually leaves.
The tension in the room dissipates with his departure, but with it goes Draco’s resolve. He folds in on himself and begins to tremble, looking nothing like his usual arrogant self.
Severus summons a bruise salve and crouches down in front of the boy.
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ Draco mumbles.
‘Alright.’ Severus responds. ‘Will you allow me to apply this? Where does it hurt?’
Draco would like to say that it doesn’t, but there’s a warm throbbing on the back of his left shoulder from where he had been slammed hard into the stone floor. He looks up to see that Blishwick has left the office, so pulls off his robe, and unbuttons his shirt, wincing as he pulls his arm from the sleeve. Severus scowls at the large purple bruise there, and runs another scan to make sure there is no further injury.
They are just finishing up when Petra knocks, waiting for Severus’ word before she enters. Wilhelmina is laid across her shoulders, her long scaled body winding it’s way down the Professor’s arm. The snake flicks her tongue out as they approach Draco, and she glides forward smoothly, almost seeming to defy gravity as she slithers from Petra’s arm onto the boy’s lap. Though snakes do not have very expressive faces, one would be forgiven for thinking that she appeared concerned for one of her favourite humans.
‘Hi Mina.’ Draco murmurs, gliding a hand down her back.
The snake flicks her tongue again, and winds up towards his face, the orange light of the fire glinting off the black marbles of her eyes, and shimmering over her scales as they shift.
Draco takes a shuddering breath, then looks up.
‘I want to make a formal complaint, he says, looking his Head of House properly in the eye for the first time.
‘Good.’ Severus nods his approval. ‘Think through what you wish to say tonight, and I shall help you complete the paperwork tomorrow.’
‘I’ll add my own statement.’ Petra says. ‘And Miss Allen has offered to give a witness statement. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to see you are in one piece.’
‘Thank you Professors.’ Draco nods, then stands to leave.
‘We will discuss the matter of you firing a hex at my son later.’ Severus intones, then softens his voice slightly. ‘In the meantime if you need anything…’ Severus says.
‘I know, thank you sir.’ Draco manages a small smile and heads off to the Slytherin common room.
~~~~
Harry walks down from Gryffindor Tower with his friends later that evening, but leaves them in the hall and continues on down to the dungeons. He is working against the flow of Slytherin students coming up, but none of them give him any trouble. Only Malfoy would bold enough to pick a fight with the son of their Head apparently, though Harry sees no sign of him this evening.
He enters the apartment through Severus’ office and kicks his shoes off by the door.
‘Sev’s just showing his face in the hall.’ Petra says, sending three plates to the table while she opens a bottle of wine. ‘He’ll be back shortly.’
‘Was Draco alright?’ Harry asks, taking a glass from the cupboard and going to fill it at the sink, but Petra puts a hand over the tap.
‘Aguamente.’ She instructs him with a nod.
Harry sighs and taps his wand to the glass, reciting the charm.
‘It always comes out room temperature.’ He complains.
‘You need to focus…’
‘My intent on making it cool, yeah I know.’ Harry rolls his eyes.
‘So cool it down.’ Petra tells him.
‘Er… glacio…’ Harry says, waving his wand. ‘Oh come on.’ He huffs, his water now a block of ice.
‘Try frigo next time.’ Petra smirks, then taps her wand to the glass. The ice splits into cubes and the glass refills with water.
‘Thanks.’ Harry grins.
‘Draco suffered a few bruises, but no major physical injuries.’ Petra answers his earlier question as they sit down and Petra starts dishing up the shepherd’s pie. ‘Did he really try to hex you in the back?’
‘I think he probably missed on purpose.’ Harry frowns. ‘I doubt he’s that bad of a shot.’
‘Agreed, but if he takes it too far, you let one of us know ok?’ Petra tells him.
‘Sorry I’m late.’ Severus says, entering through the door to his office, and slinging his teaching robe on the hook. ‘This is getting long.’ He tugs lightly on the ends of Harry’s hair, which is now way down past his jaw.
‘You can talk.’ Harry looks up at his father’s shoulder length locks.
‘Not a criticism, but if you want it cut…’ Severus offers.
‘Nah, I like it.’ Harry shrugs.
‘I told you he’s going to be a dirty metaller like us.’ Petra winks.
‘I am not a metaller.’ Severus scowls.
‘Alright a goth then.’ She smirks and Severus scowls at her.
‘So, did you read the article?’ Petra nods to the paper folded on the corner of the table. Their copy looks even worse for wear than the one Draco had given Harry earlier, as if it had been crumpled, thrown on the ground and stamped on. It is even a little singed at the edges.
‘Yeah.’ Harry scowls, stabbing at a piece of broccoli, and smashing it into the mashed potatoes. It was not a pleasant read.
PROFESSOR IMPLICATED
This reporter has just learned from an anonymous source that Potions Master, and Head of Slytherin House Severus Snape, was interviewed by Aurors last week in relation to the terrible attack that took place at the Quidditch World Cup. Professor Snape has been teaching at Hogwarts since 1982, though his appointment at the time was met with some controversy.
At the end of the war, Snape was arrested as a Death Eater, but later released without charge, following a statement given by Albus Dumbledore himself. In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed last year that Snape, along with his unmarried partner, a Miss Blishwick, intended to adopt none other than Harry Potter himself. Despite much dissent, the couple were granted custody of the boy-who-lived, though shortly afterwards then head of Child Services Tania Berry resigned (or was fired?)
Their troubles were not over though, as earlier this year, the child’s godfather Sirius Black, himself only just exonerated for the crime of mass murder, filed for custody of Potter.
Now once again the Snape-Blishwick-Potter family (what a mouthful that name must be to read out in class!) is under scrutiny. We have heard conflicting reports about whether the family were in attendance at the World Cup, with some suggesting that Potter was there without his adoptive parents. Why then would Aurors wish to interview Professor Snape?
Some might speculate that, given his past, the MLE might suspect him of being involved in the attack. One must hope that this is not the case. Either way, I for one cannot help but be concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the boy-who-lived. Thus far the string of guardians he has been placed with seem to be dubious at best.
Pictured left in his full teaching robes, Professor Snape will of course be assisting Headmaster Dumbledore in hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament (features on page 2), which returns this year and is being held at Hogwarts School. Along with the other Heads of House Snape will be welcoming teachers and students from both Beauxbatons school and Durmstrang Institute, which incidentally is currently lead by Headmaster Igor Karkaroff – himself an ex-Death Eater. I’m sure the two will have much to talk about.
Professor Snape has declined to comment. A spokesperson from the MLE stated that Snape was interviewed as a witness, and there are no plans to question him further at this time.
‘It’s complete bullshit!’ Harry exclaims. ‘I mean, half of it’s wrong or made up, and the other half is basically accusing you without any evidence, or going on about completely irrelevant nonsense. She’s just talking out of her arse.’
‘Are you finished?’ Severus intones with a raised brow.
‘No. Yes.’ Harry huffs, and then wonders if he’s about to get told off for swearing. ‘It’s just… how can she get away with printing made up… rubbish?’
‘Precisely because she has been very careful not to outright lie. Only to insinuate.’ His father intones. ‘Her sloppy reporting and minor inaccuracies will be dismissed as typos, or given a minor correction in next week’s issue.’
He pauses a moment.
‘People are making moves. As we expected there are many who will wish to discredit and undermine us.’
‘Who? Fudge?’ Harry asks.
‘You do not need to worry about that.’ Severus states firmly. ‘We are ready. They will fail.’
‘Whatever happens, nobody is going to take you away from us.’ Petra adds, her face hard, and her eyes two stormy pools.
‘I know.’ Harry says, with a flash of a smile.
~~~~~