"You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Severus rounded a corner, attempting to skulk his way to the astronomy tower when he instead was faced with Argus Filch grabbing at his student in front of what seemed to be the entire castle.
BANG!
In front of 100 student witnesses, Albus Dumbledore, and half a dozen other professors- Severus Snape hit Argus with a spell to forcibly remove him from Potter's face where he had been screaming his death threats.
The fact that his spell caused Argus to slam into the opposite wall and acquire a minor laceration was of no consequence to him.
"What is the meaning of this?" he hissed at the caretaker.
"Harry Potter's gone and killed my cat, my Mrs. Norris," Argus howled, glaring angrily past Severus towards Potter.
Severus turned and saw Potter standing beside Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood. He checked him carefully but aside from an unhealthy pallor to his face and a slight shake to his limbs, he seemed unhurt. He slid his eyes over and saw as Albus detached the mangy cat Argus owned from a torch bracket. There was also graffiti painted on the wall...
The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware.
... that, that cannot possibly be good. His subtle but probing glance at Potter received a infinitesimal shake of the boys head.
Potter hadn't done this.
"Come with me, Argus," Albus said to Filch. "You, too, Mr. Potter, Miss Lovegood, Miss Bones."
Gilderoy stepped forward eagerly.
"My office is nearest, Headmaster — just upstairs — please feel free —"
"Thank you, Gilderoy," said Dumbledore.
Severus curled his lip as he followed behind the others, Minerva squaring her shoulders in stride beside him. They entered Gilderoy's office and Severus very nearly lost his composure then and there. The vanity of the man was incomprehensible. There were at least twenty photos, paintings, and what seemed to be a charmed tea kettle, all plastered with Gilderoy's image across them.
Disgusting.
As Severus gazed around with disdain, Albus began studying and prodding Argus' dead cat.
"It was definitely a curse that killed her — probably the Transmogrifian Torture — I've seen it used many times, so unlucky I wasn't there, I know the very countercurse that would have saved her..."
Severus could not decide which was more irritating in that moment of time. Gilderoy's inane ramblings, Argus' heaving sobs, Minerva and Albus' mutterings, or Potter's pale face and flickering gaze which never once settled on Severus which rendered him unable to better judge the child's current mental state.
Luna Lovegood was, for once, the least annoying person in the room.
Severus would never admit it, but he was actually quite fond of the little mad witch. She was an exceptional potioneer who followed the safety rules and guidelines to the very letter. She also always seemed to be willing to assist the less able members of her house; not that they allowed her an opportunity to assist them, but Severus appreciated it nonetheless.
"... I remember something very similar happening in Ouagadogou," Gilderoy blathered, his voice breaking through Severus' thoughts like a sharp knife. "A series of attacks, the full story's in my autobiography, I was able to provide the townsfolk with various amulets, which cleared the matter up at once..."
The images of Gilderoy on the walls were all nodding in agreement as he talked. Severus saw Potter edging away from a particularly vicarious painting that had on a hairnet and was winking at the child.
At last Dumbledore straightened up.
"She's not dead, Argus," he said, softly to the caretaker.
Gilderoy stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented.
Praise Merlin.
Severus held no love for Argus nor his cat. He was simply pleased that something finally caused Gilderoy to stop speaking.
"Not dead?" choked Argus, looking through his fingers at Mrs. Norris. "But why's she all — all stiff and frozen?"
"She has been Petrified," said Albus ("Ah! I thought so!" said Gilderoy). "But how, I cannot say..."
"Ask him!" shrieked the mad caretaker, turning his blotched and tearstained face to Potter.
Severus gave him a cold look and took a small step closer to Potter. If the man so much as twitched in Potter's direction he would find himself as stunned as his cat apparently was.
"I didn't do anything! I swear," Potter defended himself. "I just found her, and the wall, like that!"
Albus turned his blue eyes to Potter, his face uncharacteristically solemn. "Harry, I need the absolute truth. Have you done anything recently that you wish to speak with me about? We can find a more private venue if you'd like to explain," he added, glancing at the witches flanking either side of Potter.
Severus was about to defend the child when he was beat to it by Luna Lovegood.
"Don't be silly," she giggled, her blue eyes drifting around the room languidly. "Harry isn't a real snake."
That... that was the only thing Severus did not appreciate about the girl. When she did speak it was typically nonsensical statements such as that. Of course Potter was a real Slytherin, no other student had ever embodied the house as well as he.
Severus watched carefully as Albus intensified his gaze on Potter, opting to ignore the tiny blonde witch.
"Harry," he prodded firmly. "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"
Severus had a feeling of foreboding at the Headmasters intense gaze. Surely he was not attempting to legilimize a twelve year old minor without consent in a room full of witnesses?
"Nothing, sir," Potter spat. "Though I'm starting to get a headache," he added with a subtle twitch of his left index finger.
Which Severus believed was Potter-Code for, 'yes, Albus is absolutely attempting to legilimize a twelve year old with nearly impenetrable mental barriers'.
"If I may speak, Headmaster," Severus cut in smoothly. "Potter and his friends were undoubtedly in the wrong place, in the wrong time." Miss Bones gave Severus a small smile, seemingly pleased by his defense.
"Why were you not at the feast?" Albus inquired quietly, directing his question solely on to Potter.
"We went to Sir Nicholas' Death Day Party, sir," Miss Bones said.
"And afterwards?" Albus prodded. "I do not believe any of you would have passed this corridor to reach either your common rooms nor the Great Hall?"
Severus felt his wand hand tense slightly as Albus continued attempting to corner Potter in a lie.
"Harry isn't feeling well," Miss Lovegood said softly. "He wanted to find Professor Snape and the nargles said that he would be looking at the stars soon."
Minerva glanced at him and raised a single brow. Severus scowled in response. He had actually been headed to the astronomy tower to relax- the 31st of October was always a terrible night for him and he rarely felt like spending the evening in his isolated dungeon room. Though he couldn't imagine how Lovegood knew this, nor what on Earth nargles are meant to be.
"Is this the truth Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir." Potter lowered his head and shifted his feet around. "I just- just wanted to ask for a potion, you know? I didn't think I'd sleep too good tonight with it being the- the anniversary and all."
He let out a slight sniffle and Miss Bones rubbed his back gently. As terribly false as Severus was sure the story was, it was also masterful. Minerva looked at the small boy with pity shining clearly on her face and Albus had regained a slight twinkle to his eyes.
"The boy is lying!" Argus shrieked. "My cat has been petrified and I want him punished!"
"His name is not boy," Severus hissed. After his immersive trip down Potter's traumatic memory lane he would never be able to hear anyone refer to the child as boy without feeling his stomach recoil. He would sooner call him James than he would 'boy'.
Potter inched slightly backwards, moving closer to Severus. Apparently his irritation at being protected from himself did not extend to irritation at protection from others.
"We will be able to cure her, Argus," said Albus. "Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris."
"I'll make it," Gilderoy butted in. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep —"
Severus was about to inform the idiotic, stupid, thick skulled, infuriating man what he thought of him attempting to fulfill Severus' role when-
"I believe Professor Snape is the highest ranking, and youngest ever, Potions Master in the United Kingdom," Potter said icily.
The three professors stared at Potter in momentary silence. Minerva had a slight smile in the corner of her lips, Gilderoy was turning a satisfying shade of red at the dressing down, and Severus? Severus was gazing down at Potter's head blinking roughly.
Never had he been so vehemently defended since Lily. Even at the time of his arrest Albus' defense, while adequate, had not had that much heat behind it.
Yes, apparently he was quite forgiven for making the cardinal mistake of treating Potter as if the traumas of his past may impact his present day mental health.
"You may go," Albus said to Potter, Bones, and Lovegood. "If any of you," he gave a look of significance to Lovegood and Bones, "later recall any information that may assist us with the matter please come speak with me immediately."
Miss Bones must have seen through the thinly veiled message because she scowled at Albus before making a show of gripping Potter's hand and pulling him from the room, Lovegood trailing behind them.
Once the door closed behind them Minerva turned to Albus.
"Do you think it is possible?" she asked.
"I believe," Albus glanced quickly at Minerva and Severus, "that we should leave Gilderoy and Argus to the rest of their night. Argus, please take Mrs Norris to your quarters, she can rest comfortably until Severus and Poppy have procured the restorative drought. Good night gentleman." With a small gesture of farewell Albus made for his office. Severus followed him, as he was sure the man wished him to, along with Minerva.
When they passed the spot where the cat had been hanging Severus looked again at the message on the wall.
'The Chamber of Secrets' shone in blood red letters. Severus prayed that no student linked the legendary chamber to the House of Slytherin. His snakes were already unfairly discriminated against and this would only increase the prejudice against them.
"Come," Albus murmured after sighing unhappily towards the wall. "There is much to be discussed."
When Severus left the Headmasters office it had reached nearly midnight. Albus spun a story to them that Minerva had been partially aware of, and Severus not at all.
Tom Riddle had located and opened the Chamber of Secrets once before. He had commanded a monster within the chamber to attack his fellow students and ultimately killed one. It did give Severus a moment of regret to know that Rubeus, the gentle giant, had lost his chance to complete his magical training based on the manipulations of a teenage Dark Lord. Though, Rubeus should not have harbored creatures such as acromatula within a castle full of students.
It seemed now as if either the events of the past were unfolding again. Or, as Severus had argued and fervently hoped to be true, a student was playing a malicious Halloween prank.
He recalled how Albus had commented on his suspicions of Potter. 'Do keep an eye on him, won't you?' He would certainly be keeping an eye on Potter. The last thing the child needed was to become wrapped up once again in suspicious circumstances in Albus' theories. He would have to find Potter tomorrow and warn-
"What in Merlins name are you doing here, you foolish child?"
It seemed as if Potter had found him. He was leaning against Severus' door, a wild look to his eyes.
"It wasn't me," he said immediately. "Please, I swear I didn't do it. You have to believe me." Potter was ranting and seemed to be deeply unsettled.
"Quiet Potter, follow me." Severus made to enter the door to his private quarters and saw that Potter was standing stiffly, his eyes flicking between the door and Severus rapidly.
"You require a calming drought, I require a headache reliever. Come along," he prodded him.
Potter slowly shuffled up beside Severus, though maintaining a slight distance. Severus opened his private entrance and waved him inside. He went to his store to grab the required potions, leaving Potter to gaze around uncertainly.
"Here," he said, thrusting a lavender colored potion towards Potter. "Drink this, then explain why you are outside my door at midnight needlessly protesting for your innocence to me."
He was momentarily impressed by Potter's trust in him as he drank the potion quickly.
The child's trembling limbs ceased and he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
"Can-can I sit, sir?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Certainly."
Severus guided him to his sofa and watched as Potter slumped down on to the seat.
"Why were you in that corridor?" he asked the child.
"I didn't do it," Potter said, evading the question. "I didn't attack that cat and I didn't open the Chamber of Secrets."
"I believe you," he said simply. "I do not believe you needed to wait outside my office to convince me of this."
Potter pushed his glasses up and pinched the bridge of his nose. A gesture of irritation he likely gained from Severus, as amusing as that was.
"When I got back to the dorm everyone was weird," Potter said. "They were acting like they were scared of me... even Theo was acting weird. I told them I'm not the 'Heir of Slytherin' but nobody listened."
Severus attempted to find a way to word his question without using the word 'feelings'.
"And why did that unsettle you?" he asked. "I believed you found the fear of your housemates to be emboldening?"
Potter shrugged, "It's different when they're scared of me because of something I actually did, then I wanted it and earned it. This time they're scared of me for something someone else did. And..." Potter hesitated and squinted hard at the floor, "... it's different. They're not just scared it's like they're... impressed? Or they think I'm some hero for killing a little cat."
"The cat is alive," Severus reminded him gently. "And with a little bit of luck- this whole evening will be proven to have been a ridiculous prank and your housemates will once again treat you with the terror you have earned."
Potter grinned at him before yawning hugely.
"You should go to sleep Potter," he told him, not unkindly. "Things will undoubtedly look better in the morning."
Potter agreed quietly and thanked him for the potion before leaving his quarters.
Severus prayed that this would be a horrible prank and that his advice would not be unfounded.
He truly could not have foreseen the events that would soon take place within the castle.