Secrets from the Past

Chapter Four – Secrets from the Past

Neither Severus nor Poppy was in the Infirmary, Hermione discovered. It made sense when she thought about it – it was hardly the place to perform an autopsy. In fact, as she thought about it, there really didn't seem to be a logical place for such an operation at Hogwarts – they obviously didn't maintain a morgue. Her next best guess was Snape's private lab.

As she headed to the dungeons, she met the mediwitch coming down the corridor. "Ah, Hermione, I was wondering if you'd know where to find us. We're using the Potions classroom. It's got a Distraction Charm on it, with a password of 'moonstruck'" At Hermione's puzzled look she added, "Severus wanted more room to work than was in his lab. I'm going up to the Infirmary to get some of my reference books." She made a face. "His books are more about how to destroy werewolves than about how they're put together."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." With a nod, she continued down the stairs, recognizing the effects of the Distraction Charm as she neared the room where she'd learned so much. "Moonstruck," she murmured, and felt the charm fade. Voices coming from within made her pause just outside the door.

"Severus, are you ever going to let it go?" It took her a moment to recognize Argus Filch's voice, completely unaccented in marked contrast to his normal speech, and raw with pain. She couldn't hear any response, but the caretaker continued. "It's been decades, and it wasn't Remus' idea. You know that!"

"I know nothing of the sort!" Snape's voice.

"Why didn't you give him a chance to explain? We grew up together, the three of us. We were friends! Didn't that count for anything?"

"Why are you still taking his part? He tried to kill me, Argus!"

"It. Was. Not. His. Idea," Filch repeated slowly. "Read this, Severus. For the sake of our shared blood and bone, read it." There was a crackle of parchment, and Hermione could imagine a scroll being shoved into Snape's hands. "Remus would have stood with you against Black and Potter if you had given him half a chance."

A long silence broken only by the rustle of paper. Then: "I didn't realize. I thought he was in on their prank." Sarcasm dripped off the last word. "But why did he go back to them afterward? After what they did to me?"

"You were the only other friend he had at school, Severus. When you cut him off without a word, what we he supposed to do? Become a hermit? They didn't care that he was a werewolf!" More softly. "Is that why you turned to Voldemort, cousin? Because of what Black and Potter did?"

"Yes." The single word was long and drawn out. Almost a hiss. "I was angry! I had been betrayed by one of my best friends! Lucius and his friends welcomed me into their circle, and I saw too late what they stood for."

"And once you knew, you chose to blame Remus for driving you to join them."

"Enough, Argus!"

"Enough? I don't think so. You did your best to make his life miserable. When Dumbledore invited him back to teach, he was so happy. He was hoping for a chance to see you, to explain. But your stiff-necked pride just couldn't admit that you might have made a mistake. So you leaked his secret and drove him away from here, nearly drove him out of the wizarding world – not that you would have cared." The caretaker's voice was bitter.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Would you have listened? Listened to the Squib?"

A moment of silence, and Hermione could imagine Snape seriously considering the question. "Probably not. At best, I would've assumed that he put you under a spell." A pause. "I'm sorry, Argus."

"Make your apologies to Remus, cousin. Find out who murdered him and why." A pause broken only by the crackle of parchment. "Yer assistant'll be here any minute. I'll be getting' back t' work now, Perfessor." As his footsteps shuffled closer, Hermione realized that she'd better not be caught listening to such an intensely private conversation. Quickly she backed away, around a bend in the corridor, her mind spinning as she processed what she'd just learned.

A moment later, the caretaker passed her. He didn't speak, but gave her a wave as he went by. Taking a deep breath, she composed her features as best she could and entered the classroom, not knowing what she'd find there.

Snape was leaning against his desk, his attention riveted on the book in his hands. More books were stacked behind him. Several clean glass jars sat on a table next to the desk, next to a neat row of unlabeled bottles containing a yellow liquid. He looked up at the sound of her footsteps, but didn't smile. Instead, he gestured her toward a seat and put his book down. "This is going to be ugly work, Miss Granger. Are you sure you're up to it?"

Instead of blurting out an immediate answer, she took the time to consider what he'd said. "I think so, sir. I want to find the truth." And I'd love to know more about that conversation with Filch, too!

"Truth can be ugly if it's not what you're expecting."

"It's better than not knowing at all. Remus was my friend and I want to know who or what killed him."

"As do I. I would strongly prefer for his to be a natural death."

"Do you think someone murdered him? He looked sick the last time I saw him. That was three years ago, when he came to tell us about the Book. I thought it was just because of the bad news he was delivering."

"He'd been living rough ever since the end of the fighting. Minerva wanted to offer him his old position here, but the governors over-ruled her." He grimaced. "They got deluged with owls from angry parents threatening to remove their children from the school. Minerva was furious but there wasn't a lot she could do. She sent him a little money every month, and he worked a few menial jobs – but most of what he had went to pay for his Wolfsbane potion. I suspect Minerva hired him whenever she could."

"Why didn't he go to Harry?" she wondered out loud. "He would've helped him out."

"Perhaps. But as I recall, Mr. Potter was less than helpful when you fell on hard times."

"I think I'll manage to forgive him for that one day. I should've known better than to go to him; he's married to Ron's sister." It was her turn to grimace. "I'm getting sidetracked. What else do you know about Remus?"

"You'd do better to ask Argus. They were friends and I know they corresponded occasionally." He paused. "It is nearly dinner time. Poppy and I will start on the autopsy this evening."

"I'll join you as soon as I can. I'll need to get someone to stay with the boys."

"Are you not part of the Hogwarts staff now?"

"Yes..."

"Then one of the house elves will have been assigned to manage your living quarters and your office. I suggest you ask the elf to watch your children also. They are quite adequate caretakers."

Hermione nodded and went to pick up her sons.

~*~

The boys were, unsurprisingly, bubbling over with the fun they'd had. They chattered back and forth to each other about the moving pictures on the cards, the various magical toys, and the books that talked to them.

"And Bran said I was going to be king when I grow up," Art announced gleefully as they made their way down the halls to their rooms.

"And I'm going to be a knight!" Tom added. "Mizz Liana showed us some pictures of kings and knights. And she showed us a game too."

"A game with kings and knights?" Hermione asked curiously. "That sounds fun."

"She said it was a statergy game, and only two people can play it at a time." Tom amplified. "It's got a board with lots of squares on it."

"It's not just kings and knights," Art reminded his brother. "There's bissops and powns."

"And queens."

Wizard chess, Hermione thought. She'd always envied Ron's talent for the game, though she disliked the way the pieces destroyed each other. "Perhaps Ms. Liana will teach you to play it when you're a bit older. What else did you do today?"

"I told Rhea about Dr. Seuss," Tom replied. "Big A, little a, what begins with a?"

"Aunt Annie's alligator!" Art said instantly.

"A, A, A!" The two chorused.

"And what did Ms. Liana say?"

"She liked it and asked if there was more. There is, but I don't know it."

"Rhea thought it was funny. She made an A in the air and it danced around the room."

"And then Mizz Liana said she'll teach us to make letters dance."

"Mum, can you make letters dance?"

"Yes," Hermione answered, amused by the conversation. "I'll show you later. Now let's get washed up and go to the Great Hall for dinner."

The Hogwarts elves had been busy, she discovered, as she opened the door to their rooms. The place was spotless, and all their chosen furniture had been set up exactly as she'd wished. She sent the boys to wash up and wondered how to summon one of the elves without knowing their name. As if the thought were enough, an elf popped into existence.

"I is to be taking care of Miss Granger's rooms," he announced. "Does Miss Granger have any special instructions?"

"What's your name?" she asked.

"I is Skelly."

Long past her SPEW days, she thought about it for a minute. "For right now, just keep the place picked up and cleaned. We'll generally take our meals in the Great Hall. And could you watch the boys tonight when we get back here from dinner? I have some work to do."

"Skelly will keep Misters Tom and Art out of trouble," Skelly promised.

~*~

Dinner was a much less subdued affair than lunch, as the Athelstans appeared with their children in tow. "Since we're living here," Morgan pointed out, "our children can begin to grow accustomed to our ways."

"True," Hermione agreed. She was sitting between Art and Tom. Across from her, the senior Althestans flanked Bran and Rhea.

"Will this seating arrangement continue when classes begin?" Madame Hooch inquired. "While I've no personal objections to young children at the High Table, it will make it difficult to monitor the Great Hall during meals."

"I like having the children here. We've always said that Hogwarts is a family," Poppy declared.

The Headmistress studied the table thoughtfully. "Rise, please." As soon as everyone had moved out of the way, a few well-placed transfigurations reshaped the table into a wide arc with the arms curved just slightly toward the students' tables. "There. Now there's room for everyone to sit on one side."

"Perhaps the table can be spelled to adjust automatically for the number of diners," suggested Professor Athelstan. And with that, the discussion turned to Charms versus Transfigurations and Hermione was able to finish her dinner in relative peace.

Back in her suite, she introduced the twins to Skelly. They took it in stride, having met the Athelstans' elf earlier in the day. After a few last-minute instructions about bedtimes and baths, she headed back to the Potions classroom.

Snape was already there, again leaning against his desk. He looked up as she came in and almost smiled. "You may want to drink this before we begin." He handed her one of the unlabeled bottles of yellowish liquid that she'd noticed earlier in the day. "It's Heliax."

"Heliax? A calming draught?"

"Essentially. I know that he – Remus..." Snape pointed toward the back of the classroom "...was your friend. It will be easier for you to work if your feelings are not in the way."

Hermione couldn't dispute the truth of what he said. In fact, she'd been avoiding looking at the white-swathed form that lay on a table at the other end of the room. She took the vial and drained it with a grimace for the taste. The empty bottle she put in the sink to be washed later. There was an identical bottle there already, and she suspected Snape had taken his own advice. "What do you need me to do, sir?"

"The official cause of death is listed as chronic argent poisoning. I believe we should start by confirming or denying that. Once we know why the subject died, we can look into the how and why."

"If it's chronic," Hermione answered, thinking aloud as the potion took effect, "there should be traces of silver in the subject's hair and nails. Possibly in the skin as well, but that's more fragile." It was much easier to think of an anonymous 'subject', than to think of Remus.

"You're following my line of thinking," Snape said approvingly. "I suggest you start with that. I will begin an examination of the subject's blood." He gathered up one of the glass jars and a knife and walked toward the back of the room. Hermione bit her lip, and joined him at their work.

"The subject's hair and nails show long-term exposure to silver," she said after an hour. "His hair is about six inches long, and there are traces throughout the length. The concentration at the root is slightly higher, as is expected."

"There's silver in his blood, and his bones are riddled with it as well."

"Ditto for his internal organs," Poppy added. The mediwitch had joined them. "So it's definitely chronic argent poisoning. But how and why?"

"What's the condition of the throat and stomach?" Snape asked.

"Nothing obvious," the mediwitch answered. "They show traces of silver, but no concentrations of it. If he was eating or drinking it, we'd see burn scores in the esophagus and digestive tract. There's no sign of that."

"Did anyone go through his personal effects?" Snape asked suddenly. "There might be something there to give us a clue."

"Minerva had everything he owned packed up and shipped here. Argus stored it somewhere; we'd have to ask him about it." Poppy caught the quick glance Hermione threw at Snape. "I'll do that, shall I?" Without waiting for an answer, she set down the jar she'd been holding and left the room.

The Potions Master exhaled once and then began gathering up the tools and equipment they'd used. "Put a stasis spell over the subject while I clean up, please." He took everything over to the sink and turned on the water. "He wasn't ingesting it, yet it's everywhere. That makes no sense." His frustration was palpable.

"Something environmental, then?" Hermione offered, thinking of how her father's cigar smoke had permeated the entire house. "Could he have been breathing silver dust or something like that?"

"Perhaps. If so, his clothes and such might well show traces of silver."

"Are you considering his death an accident, Professor?"

"Again, perhaps. Once we know where the silver came from, we can turn our attention to how – and who, if necessary."

Poppy came in then followed by a dozen floating crates. "This is everything that Minerva sent. Argus says that he told the house elves to keep out of it – but you know what they can be like."

Snape grimaced. "If they've been cleaning whatever's in those crates, we won't find anything."

Hermione opened the nearest crate and picked up the rumpled cloak inside. "I think we're in luck." She displayed an unmended tear in the collar. "Surely the elves would have repaired this."

They methodically sorted through the crates, stacking up clothes, shoes, book and other items while they looked for traces of silver. A box of medicines drew Poppy's attention, and she set it aside to examine in more detail.

"Every piece of clothing he had is contaminated," Hermione said finally. "I don't understand how this could have happened."

Poppy had a thoughtful look on her face. "Silver in his clothing, silver all through his system... I would bet that it was his water supply that was contaminated."

That was enough to set off a teasing memory in Hermione's head. "I remember reading... in less affluent areas, the government puts silver nitrate in the water supply to kill bacteria."

"Let us not mince words, Miss Granger," Snape replied a bit sharply. "By less affluent, you mean poverty-stricken. Much like the neighborhood Lupin was living in."

"Well..." Hermione started to equivocate and then stopped. There wasn't any point in trying to phrase things politely. "Yes. It would explain his slow decline – constant exposure to extremely low levels of silver is consistent with what we've found. It wouldn't hurt a normal human, but it would eventually kill a werewolf."

"And silver in his local water supply explains how his clothing became contaminated. Every time he washed anything, it would pick up traces. It should be easy enough to check to see if that's the cause," Poppy said, picking up a clean vial. "I"ll Apparate there and collect a sample."

The mediwitch returned shortly with a serious expression and a wooden box. "There was silver in his water, but it wasn't the government that put it there." She opened the box and took out a small jar and a thin rubber hose attached to a tiny valve. "This was connected to his water supply. The jar contains silver nitrate. When he turned on the water, the pressure would open the valve and the silver would flow down the hose and into his house. Remus was murdered."