Certain Dark Things || Book Two

ix. dumbledore's decision

Harriet had no words. Her mouth moved, and yet she couldn't make a sound come out.

The Potions Master stepped fully from the hearth and his robes settled about his lanky frame, the grim man fitting well with Grimmauld's less than chipper decor. Harriet couldn't begin to guess what Professor Snape did over his summers, but it certainly wasn't sunbathing; he was paler than ever and exhausted, black smudges marring his eyelids, oily hair windblown and sporting a few bits of leaves. The expression he wore was caught somewhere between vindicated and furious—which did not bode well for Harriet.

In an instant, Elara came to her side, dripping suds and water from her wet sleeves, a spoon held in her hand instead of her wand. "How did you get through the Floo?" she demanded.

Snape didn't answer. He sneered and took two steps to the side. Harriet wondered what he was doing—and then the fire sputtered again, flaring bright green, and a second wizard stepped past the grate as they swept into the kitchen.

Headmaster Dumbledore made for a far more impressive, if less terrifying, figure than Professor Snape.

"Ah, Harriet. There you are," the older wizard said with gentle smile. "You gave us quite a fright, my dear."

Harriet continued to gawk like a gormless fool. Elara came to her senses first.

"Excuse me, H-Headmaster? But how did you—?" Elara gestured at the fireplace with her spoon, then dropped the wet utensil on the table, cheeks turning pink.

"Of course. Pardon our intrusion, Miss Black, and rest assured, your home's formidable wards are still perfectly intact. You see, we suspected Miss Potter might be here and, worried about her safety, I asked a favor of a dear friend and old pupil working in the Department of Magical Transportation at the Ministry." Dumbledore gave a mild shrug after his explanation—which Harriet took to mean he asked a former student to help him and Snape do a little secret breaking and entering through Elara's protected Floo. Harriet, shocked and still a touch hysterical from her eventful night, choked on a laugh.

Snape glared.

"Forgive me for saying, Headmaster," Snape spoke in his most oily tone, the one he always used before verbally eviscerating Longbottom's worst potions. "But I believe Misses Black and Potter can overlook our intrusion, considering a man is dead and Potter here might well be guilty of his murder."

Both Harriet and Elara gaped. How does he know?! "I—I didn't!" Harriet cried, all thoughts of claiming ignorance escaping her head like bubbles popping one by one. Standing in front of her headmaster and professor, Harriet felt very much like a criminal about to be charged with the most heinous of crimes.

"No, it was that snake you insist on strutting about with! Wrapped around your insolent little neck—!"

"Severus," Professor Dumbledore said, lifting a hand. Professor Snape cut off abruptly and lowered his head, dark hair falling forward around his stiff face. "I believe our dear Potions Master is simply concerned for you, Harriet—." Elara stifled a snort. "You see, when we learned of a threat made against your person, Professor Snape went to check on you at home. He was surprised to learn that, not only were you not there, but you hadn't been seen by your relatives since last summer."

All eyes fell upon Harriet and she felt her face heat, the disapproval clear in Dumbledore's voice. "So?" she retorted. "That's not—. It doesn't—. You said someone threatened me?"

The quick misdirection didn't fool either wizard, but the Headmaster was content to answer her. "Yes. Indirectly, really."

"It didn't feel indirectly when he tried to curse me!"