Chapter Eighty-Five: Jumping at Shadows

Chapter Eighty-Five: Jumping at Shadows

Monday, 29 March 1999

Poppy watched Hermione walking up the drive with Rath, the tall, thin wizard nodding his head as she said something to him, but then shaking his head and responding. They paused a moment, talking, then Rath nodded to her and headed off across the grounds to go around the castle, and Hermione continued up the drive by herself. A moment later, Poppy saw Severus walking down the drive from the castle. Hermione picked up her pace when she saw him, coming to a trot. Even from a distance, Poppy could see the expression of concern on the young witch's face. It must have been very alarming for Hermione to have Gareth Apparate to the estate after the Aurors' visit, and then not return.

Raising his hands, Severus gestured to Hermione to remain calm, then he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Poppy saw him say something, then he turned, and they moved toward the castle together, his hand still on her shoulder. He seemed to be speaking quietly to her, and Poppy could almost sense the way that his steadiness calmed Hermione. As the two approached the stairs to the castle, Poppy lost sight of them.

"Strilpa!"

When the house-elf appeared, Poppy gave her a sign to put on the Potions classroom door requesting that the class wait quietly in the hallway outside the classroom until Professor Snape arrived. Half an eye still on the windows, and the gates to the grounds, Poppy then went and checked on the few students who'd had the worst of the Mackled Malaclaw bites. They seemed fine, but given how bad their luck was bound to be that week, she decided to keep them in the infirmary until the next morning. Some of the bad luck would have dissipated by then, hopefully.

There was a potion that could mitigate some of the misfortune damage, but it wasn't in the regular stock of most apothecaries. Perhaps St. Mungo's had some. If she had been aware that Hagrid was going to have Mackled Malaclaws in his classes that day, she would have had some on hand. Poppy was very fond of Hagrid, but there were limits, and as matron, she could hardly let this pass. She would have to speak with Minerva and Severus about it.

Severus was good about supplying a list of all the potions that each class was going to brew, and if there were changes in his plans, he sent her a memo. He had done so since his first year teaching, in fact...after the first Potions class accident when she'd had difficulty treating students who had inhaled fumes. She'd looked at the lesson plan and had assumed they'd been brewing Scintillating Solution, when in reality, it had been a Confundus Draught gone badly wrong. Her treatment had made them worse, not better. Severus had promised then that he would make sure that she would always have up-to-date lists of potions his classes were brewing, and that if he varied them on the spur-of-the-moment and there was an accident, he would make sure she knew what the new potion was.

Although Severus had been a rather unpleasant colleague for those first few years he taught, he had always been relatively responsible, if occasionally too harsh on the students. Hagrid was pleasant, cheerful, and likeable, but he really needed to become more responsible about certain things he called "formalties." He didn't seem to understand that the formalities were there for a good reason.

Poppy was just returning to her office when she caught a glimpse of Albus and Moody coming up the drive. She drew her wand and cast her Patronus; her duck waddled quickly through the window and sped its awkward way to the two wizards. Poppy saw Albus catch her duck and receive its message. He looked up toward the infirmary windows and nodded and waved. They would come up to her.

When the two wizards arrived in her office, Dumbledore took a seat in one of her guest chairs without Transfiguring it. Poppy thought that was a certain sign of fatigue.

Before either wizard could do anything more than greet her, Poppy had called for Strilpa and ordered a chicken sandwich, a cup of cream of leek soup, and a pitcher of apple juice for Albus. Moody accepted her offer of a sandwich, too.

"Thank you, my dear," Albus said. "Lunch will be very welcome. Your message said that Severus had told you he remembered what it was he noticed in the memory?"

"Yes, and I'm sure he's right, but Professor Snape said that you should view the memory again to confirm it. The spell was cast from the figure's right side. Her...or his...right-hand side."

Strilpa reappeared with the wizards' lunches.

"I think you're right," Moody said, reaching for his chicken sandwich. "It's not clear, but it does appear that way. It could be that the person is standing at an angle, though, their back to us and their left hand leading, a kind of duelling stance. That would give the same impression. But I think it's more likely that Dumbledore here did it than Professor Gamp, so we'll go tell them that it's most likely a right-handed witch or wizard." He took a big bite of his sandwich.

Albus, who had almost finished his cup of soup already, nodded. "I agree. I don't think we can entirely discount that the attacker's left-handed, but it's far more likely to be someone who uses their right hand. We should view the memory once more, though, as Severus says."

"Mm-hm," Moody agreed as he swallowed a bite of his sandwich. "Won't take long. Then we can pop down to the Ministry and clear this up."

"I hope they're feeding Gertrude," Poppy said as she watched Moody shove the last of his chicken sandwich in his mouth.

"I'm sure that if they didn't, Madam Tyree and Minerva would have something to say about it," Moody said. "Though hunger can be a motivator for someone who has a difficult time telling the truth."

"If Plummer stayed with her and participated in the questioning, I'm sure she's had her lunch and hasn't been mistreated," Albus said. "They probably hope to . . . to jog her memory a bit for some of the earlier attacks so that they can eliminate her as a suspect."

"Mmph. There's ways of joggin' the memory and ways of joggin' the memory, though, if you take my meaning," Alastor replied. "I should know. I've used a lot of 'em myself."

Poppy blanched.

"But that was with Death Eaters," Moody added quickly. "Definite Death Eaters. Nasty ones."

Albus reached out and patted Poppy's arm. "Don't worry, my dear. They know that Gertrude has friends who are looking out for her and who wouldn't be pleased if she were harmed. The repercussions would be quite unpleasant for them if they were to do anything to her. As it is, I am displeased that she was not simply questioned further in her own home."

"They're gettin' desperate to catch the person," Moody said. "It's only a matter of time before someone else dies. They can't afford to overlook any potential suspects."

"Would you have suspected Gertrude if you'd been there, Alastor?" Poppy asked.

Alastor shrugged lightly. "Can't say. Maybe I would have, maybe not. Depends. The witch does have cause to hate a Death Eater, I'm sure. Can't blame her for that. So maybe, yeah, if her answers weren't satisfactory, or if she got under my skin. But Plummer's a careful Auror, one of the best, and she's heading the investigation now. If she thought that it would help the investigation to bring in Gamp, she'd do it, and not out of any personal animosity, either. And even clearing Gamp would help the investigation, y'know."

"I suppose." She saw that both wizards had finished their lunches; she waved her wand and banished the plates. "You two go look at the memory and then get to the Ministry. I have some students in the infirmary, so I can't go with you. But would you tell Gertie that . . . that I hope things have gone well and she's home soon? I will worry until someone tells me she's back home."

"We'll get you word as soon as possible, although we might be able to tell you in person," Albus said. "We'll be as quick as we can."

"Then don't stand dawdling about my infirmary," Poppy said briskly. "Do what you need to do!"

"Severus! There were Aurors at the house this morning, then Gareth left for the estate, and he hasn't come back. I went around and Rosemary said that they both left, that the Aurors took Madam Gamp away! And that..."

"Hush, Hermione, I know all about it." He put his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "The Headmistress was already in London, visiting Miss Bulstrode at St. Mungo's, so McGonagall and I sent her a message. She went straight to the Ministry, I'm sure. McGonagall is down there now, too."

"Someone should tell Rosemary what's happening. She was very upset...and she couldn't contact Alroy and his father because they're in their Muggle offices. She said she might send an owl anyway."

"Come in and I'll tell you what we know, then you can go back and speak with Rosemary."

Severus brought Hermione into the staff room, where he quickly told her what he had learned from Gareth and what he had remembered seeing in the Pensieve the night before.

"Professor Dumbledore is looking for Moody now. When they return to Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey will tell them about the figure seeming to be right-handed. I am sure that Professor Gamp will be home before teatime."

"I hope so! Madam Gamp would never do anything like this. She's been very distressed by the attacks. When the Prophet published the names of some of the other victims last week, she was very upset. She said that Clarence Whittaker was a sweet wizard who'd never done anyone any harm."

"You go back and tell Madam MacAirt that Professor McGonagall has it all in hand and not to worry. Now I have to teach...if they have to wait more than ten minutes, they're sure to get up to no good." He put his hand on the door handle.

"Wait, Severus...I want to apologise to you."

Severus turned and raised an eyebrow.

"That is . . . I talked to Fleur this weekend. We talked about a lot of things . . . she helped me to see that I, that I over-reacted. That I hurt your feelings."

"You spoke with Fleur Weasley about me? About . . . us? Hermione . . ." Severus closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Not really. Well, I did. But I've just been confused about a lot of things lately, and I needed someone to talk to. I just needed another witch to talk to."

"Hermione, I have to get to class."

"I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. I can see now that I . . . well, I sort of led you on. I didn't mean to. Not exactly. I didn't know what I was getting into. I shouldn't have said or done some of the things I did. So I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

Severus nodded. "Thank you. It was unpleasant, and unexpected. But for the best, in the end."

"For the best," Hermione echoed softly.

"Yes. For the best. Now I need to go teach." He hesitated at the door. "You are one of my friends, Hermione. Your friendship was very important to me last year...and it still is. You saved my life. I don't even mean what you did in the Shrieking Shack, but everything else you did before that. You were like a life preserver, Hermione, or like a lighthouse. You brought me moments of light in a very dark time. I was remembering that light that night when I kissed you, when I believed . . . when I believed that you wanted more from me than my friendship. And so I offered it, and in the way which I thought you would respond to. Your reaction did hurt, but it was for the best. I hope we are always friends, Hermione, and that someday, we will be able to talk about this better. But I can't today. Even if I didn't have to teach, which I must."

"And I have to go see Rosemary," Hermione said. "I am sorry, Severus."

"For just that evening?"

"What?"

"To put it succinctly, among other things, you have also recently implied that I would exploit Miss Weasley's distress merely in order to advance the chances of the Slytherin Quidditch team."

"Oh, that. I did apologise already. But yes, I'm sorry for that, too."

Severus nodded. "And I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"Thanks for helping with Madam Gamp."

"Of course."

"See you."

Severus nodded.

Hearing the door to the infirmary open, Poppy looked up from reading the report she had written about the Mackled Malaclaw injuries. She immediately stood and came around her desk and out of her office.

"Minerva! How is Gertrude?"

"Back at the estate," Minerva replied.

"Thank goodness! Come in, have a cup of tea. Have you had your lunch?"

"I had some biscuits at the Ministry, though that hardly counts as lunch," Minerva said. "They did feed Gertrude, and I have to say, it didn't look as though their food has improved in the forty years since I stopped working there. Fish paste sandwiches and watery vegetable soup. I felt like I'd stepped back in time, smelling that soup."

"Well, sit down here and Strilpa will bring you some lunch. You'll have to tell me all about what happened."

"Just a small sandwich and some tea," Minerva said. "And I'll tell you everything."

Poppy duly requested a sandwich and pot of tea from Strilpa, then turned back to Minerva after Strilpa Disapparated.

"Is Albus back, too?"

Minerva nodded. "He'll be able to teach his last classes of the day, anyway. Gareth brought his mother home to the estate."

"That's good. It must be a relief to Rosemary, as well."

"Aye, I'm sure of that. Grandmother Siofre is braving Muggle London to find Quin or Alroy and let them know what has happened. Gareth said Rosemary spoke of sending them an owl regardless of their Muggle business obligations today, and we don't want them to get a belated message and go storming off to the Ministry."

"I'm sure that Quin would be in high dudgeon if he thought they were holding her," Poppy said, "so it's best if they hear the most current news directly from your grandmother."

"No doubt."

The tea arrived, and with it, Minerva's sandwich. Poppy poured them each a cup of tea.

"So tell me what happened."

"I arrived at the Ministry and it took a few minutes for me to find out where they'd taken Gertrude. They had her in a meeting room on Level One near the Minister's office, rather than bringing her to the MLE...or down to Level Ten...for questioning. Grandmother Siofre was already there with her. She'd arrived not long after they did, in fact."

"Oh, that is a relief."

"They were trying to get Gertrude to remember where she was at the times of some of the previous attacks. They had been going to use a potion to help her recall her whereabouts, but Siofre put a stop to that."

"A good thing, too! Those potions can be quite variable and have unexpected side effects, especially if they're not administered with care."

"Aye, well, Grandmother Siofre told them that the only way that they would use a potion on Gertrude was in St. Mungo's under the supervision of a Healer of her choice, not theirs, and only when she judged it necessary to clear up their confusion."

"Good for her!"

"After I got there, they moved on to questions about the victims, which ones Gertrude knew, when she'd last seen them, and that sort of thing."

"She must have known most of them; after all, she taught at Hogwarts for almost forty years."

Minerva nodded as she took a sip of tea. "She did. She hadn't taught Clematis, but she knew her vaguely, along with most of the Longbottom family. But she'd taught several of the others. She'd never met Millicent Bulstrode and only knew her as a Beater for Puddlemere United from reading the Prophet. Of course, it could very well be that whoever is doing these attacks is unacquainted with most of the victims...doesn't know any of them personally. Anyway, Gertrude didn't have a close relationship...or any relationship at all, really...with any of them. She hadn't seen any of them in years. She hasn't got out much since she returned from the island, and she lived there for close to two decades."

"So what happened? Why did they let her go? Was it the Pensieve memory?"

"I think they would have let her go home, anyway, since they couldn't come up with a good reason to hold her and they weren't getting any new information from her, but after Albus and Moody showed up with their statement about the attacker likely being right-handed, they were happy to send her home with Gareth and with no restrictions on her movements."

"Oh, that's a relief! Our holiday is coming up next week, and one of the main reasons I'm going at all is because Gertrude's going. And she needs to have a good holiday with old friends. It will be good for her...especially after this. It must have been an upsetting experience."

"It was. She was stoic, as always, but she was disturbed by it. But unless they lose their minds entirely, I think the MLE will let Gertrude alone now. Besides, I think that if she has the time to reflect on it in peace, she probably will be able to remember where she was for at least one of the early attacks, and hopefully also have some witnesses for it...provided that they can remember the occasion, too."

"I doubt that I can remember where I was for most of them, myself," Poppy said, "Although during term, I'm usually here, and if I have patients or appointments, I have records of them, and if ever I'm not at the castle, it's remarkable enough that I would remember it."

"You were also Severus's alibi for a few of the attacks, so that gives you an alibi, too, if they were ever daft enough to think you'd do something like this."

"Now that a professional Quidditch player's been injured, I think people will be even more afraid," Poppy said. "Jumping at shadows."

"I hope this doesn't turn into a . . . a witch-hunt, to use an apt Muggle term." Minerva shook her head. "People turning in their neighbours and colleagues for any mildly suspicious behaviour."

"Like in the worst days of the Riddle wars."

"Let's pray that it doesn't go that far." Minerva sighed. "I am going to ask that none of the staff leave the grounds alone...they either have to go with other staff members or meet someone right outside the gates. Obviously, I can't force anyone to do this, but I hope they'll see that it's in their own best interest."

"Probably not a bad idea," Poppy said. "And Severus won't feel quite as singled-out. He's trying not to moan about it, just as I'm trying not to fuss, but I know that he finds it difficult to have to make so many adjustments. Good thing, though, since he's had good alibis whenever he's been away from the school."

"Albus and I will set examples. I will make sure that neither of us leaves the grounds alone."

"I'm on board. I'm sure that I can have someone come for me on Easter morning. Dylan or Geoff."

"I was going to pay a couple of off-duty Hit-Wizards to take the train with the students on Thursday and again when they return, but I'm going to make a formal request for some Aurors from the Ministry, as well. It's short notice, but given that it's our children they'd be protecting, I think they could find a few Aurors happy to take the duty."

"I don't think it's likely that the train would be a target," Poppy said. "All the victims have been alone, and if Moody's right and it's just one lone attacker, they'd never try to attack an entire train. Not to mention that from what you and Severus have both said, the person has an obsession with the children who were injured and killed in the war. I can't see them attacking the Hogwarts Express."

"I don't think they would, but I want everyone to know that we're taking the danger seriously. I think we'll even have someone at the Prophet mention it in the paper."

"That sound like a good idea. How was Millicent?"

"That visit this morning seems a long time ago now. She was well. Her mother was there when I arrived. They both seemed pleased that I came to visit. The Healers are working on nerve and muscle regeneration, but Millicent doesn't think she'll be able to play Beater again. You need two strong arms to do that."

"There are some new techniques I've read about for regenerating nerves, all kinds of tissue. There's a Healer who's even regenerated injured organs with these techniques, but I haven't heard of any Healers in Britain who are using these new methods yet. Maybe she could go abroad for treatment."

"Perhaps, if the Quidditch team will pay for it. I don't believe the Bulstrodes can afford such a thing." Minerva stood. "I have other work to do that doesn't have anything to do with mad vigilantes, as odd as that may sound to us both."

"Speaking of other work, here's a copy of my report on the injuries in Hagrid's fifth-year class today," Poppy said, handing Minerva the report. "Could you or Severus please speak with him about giving me updated lists of the creatures he's having his classes observe or handle? I didn't have the appropriate remedy on hand today because I didn't know what creature they'd be handling."

"What was the creature?"

"Several Mackled Malaclaws," Poppy replied.

"Mackled Malaclaws . . . don't injuries from those lead to consistent bad luck in their victims?"

Poppy nodded. "For up to a week. So make a wide berth when you see any fifth-year Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs coming!"

"I'll remember that...and I will speak with Hagrid about it myself, then have Severus follow up and get the updated lists from him."

"Thank you, Minerva."

"Of course. By the way," Minerva said, stopping in the door, "are you coming to dinner on Saturday? Albus asked me this morning."

"Oh, yes. It was a busy weekend, then I'd been going to tell him at breakfast, but I didn't go to breakfast, then lunch was, well . . . you know. So yes, you can tell Albus that I will be very glad to come to dinner on Saturday...do I hear that you are less than enthusiastic about it?"

"I'm happy enough about our all having dinner together, but I'm somewhat concerned that Albus is seeing himself as an aged Cupid, trying to play matchmaker. For Severus in particular. So you might want to be prepared for that...I don't know who he has in mind for him, but he's also invited Helena and Aine, amongst other people. I think the evening could either be a lot of fun or one horror after another. Either way, I don't think you'll be bored!"

"As long as there's some good wine, and maybe something a bit stronger later in the evening, I'm sure I'll survive," Poppy said with a laugh.

"Gertrude will likely be there, too."

"Oh, very good."

"And Quin."

"I'd assumed so, since you mentioned Aine."

"You aren't uncomfortable with that?"

"Quin? Have you ever been uncomfortable with Quin?" Poppy asked.

"I choose not to answer that," Minerva said drily.

Poppy laughed. "No, it's fine. Severus told me last night that he was coming. I don't believe he knows that Quin will be there, but he'll survive, I'm sure. It will be good for him."

"Mm. Probably. I'll see you at dinner this evening," Minerva replied, looking at the clock on Poppy's bookshelf, "which is not very far off now."