A Hogwarts Legend: Changing Paths [3]

Chapter Thirty Four

Unedited

Chapter Thirty Four - "Wow, PMS is a bitch."

"Shocking business ... shocking ... miracle none of them died ... never heard the like ... by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape ..."

"Thank you, Minister."

"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I'd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!"

"Thank you very much indeed, Minister."

"Nasty cut you've got there ... Black's work, I suppose?"

"As a matter of fact, it was Potter, Po-Swift, Eaglestone, Weasley and Granger, Minister ..."

"No!"

"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately. A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behaviour. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They weren't responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape ... they obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. They've got away with a great deal before now ... I'm afraid it's given them a rather high opinion of themselves ... and of course Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of licence by the Headmaster -"

"Ah, well, Snape ... Harry Potter, you know ... we've all got a bit of a blind spot where he's concerned."

"And yet - is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally I try to treat him like any other student. And any other student would be suspended - at the very least - for leading his friends into such danger. Consider, Minister: against all school rules - after all the precautions put in place for his protection - out of bounds, at night, consorting with a werewolf and a murderer - and I have reason to believe he has been visiting Hogsmeade illegally, too -"

"Well, well ... we shall see, Snape, we shall see ... the boy had undoubtedly been foolish ..."

I lie listening with my eyes tight shut. I feel very groggy. The words I'm hearing seem to be travelling very slowly from my ears to my brain, so that it's difficult to understand. My limbs feel like lead; my eyelids too heavy to lift ...

"What amazes me most is the behaviour of the Dementors ... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?"

"No, Minister. By the time I had come round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances ..."

"Extraordinary. And yet Black, and Harry and Emily, and the girl -"

"All unconscious by the time I reached with. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, conjured stretchers and brought them all straight back to the castle."

"I can't believe the Potter's had another child! It's unbelievable, I just suddenly remembered her!"

"Black used a very powerful spell before he got sent away. He wanted to bring back her memories just before he killed her, I expect."

There's a pause. My brain seems to be moving a little faster; and as it does, a gnawing sensation grows in the pit of my stomach ...

I open my eyes.

Everything is slightly blurred. Somebody has removed my glasses. I'm lying in the dark hospital wing. At the very end of the ward, I can make out Madam Pomfrey with her back to me, bending over a bed. I grab my glasses from the bedside table and put them on. Ron's red hair is visible beneath Madam Pomfrey's arm.