Mr and Mrs Weasley were sitting side by side in silence on a bench in their garden. They had found shelter from the wind, and the April morning was sunny. Mrs Weasley had loosened her muffler and turned her head to receive the sunbeams in her face. Her hands were closed on a mug of tea. They had no table, but had suspended a tray with the teapot in the air between them. Mr Weasley laughed softly.

“Look, Molly – a wagtail! It’s the first one, this year. Where’ve you been, mate?”

“I’m glad you could take a day off, Arthur,” said Mrs Weasley without opening her eyes. “Do you think we should ask Narcissa Malfoy to stay for Easter Dinner?” she added after a pause.

“Why not? She looked a bit cut down to size when she turned up this morning. Making excuses for intruding and everything. She had difficulties getting through the wards, too. It was lucky she had that communication stone of hers and could give notice to her sister. It would be nice to have one of those... or two. Quicker than owl post, they are.”

“I guess she’s used to the security measures. It must be the same at Malfoy manor. I wonder what has happened to make her leave her family in this precipitated manner? Oh, well, I suppose she’ll tell her sister, and Dromeda’ll tell me eventually. Narcissa will probably find our house too simple, but that’s her problem,” said Molly Weasley. ”Those communication stones are far too expensive, Arthur,” she added.

“I guess so, but all the same... They would spare us quite a lot of worrying,” said Mr Weasley.

“I feel a little uncomfortable around Narcissa. I did kill their sister, after all. With Dromeda that’s not a problem, but Bellatrix and Narcissa were closer,” sighed Mrs Weasley.

“Just because they were on the same side in the war doesn’t mean that they were close. You forget that Bellatrix stayed in Azkaban for fourteen years and that her sole loyalty lay with her Master. Moreover, you killed her in fair combat,” replied Mr Weasley.

“I know and I don’t regret it, but when I see Harry’s reaction to the killing in Paris, I wonder if I, too, have not been adversely affected by what I did - mixed with the grief over Fred of course. But I’m stepping out of the fog, Arthur. By Merlin, I just hope nothing will happen to the other children. It was a close shave, I understand, in Paris?”

“You don’t want to know just how close,” said Mr Weasley grimly.

Mrs Weasley opened her eyes. With her acute sense of hearing she had perceived a faint rattle from the gravelled path.

“Someone’s coming. They’ve already crossed the protective wards.”

Mr and Mrs Weasley both turned and stretched their necks to spot two tall, black-clad figures approach. They recognised Snape and Mrs Steadfast who headed towards the entrance door, before Mrs Steadfast spotted the couple and turned towards them.

“What a marvellous place, Mrs and Mr Weasley! So peaceful,” she called out to them.

“The garden’s a mess,” Mrs Weasley stated soberly. “But it is a fine morning.”

“Aren’t all gardens a mess this time of the year? But there are croci and daffodils in numbers!” Mrs Steadfast was delighted. Mrs Weasley smiled at her as she rose. She put her tea mug on the tray and directed it with her wand.

“Let’s go inside, shall we?” she said. ”Would you like a cup of tea, Mrs Steadfast? Severus?”

“We’d better do our duties first, but I wouldn’t say no to a cup later and I’d love to sit in your garden. Probably won’t have the time to stay long enough for that, though… How are the young folks?” asked Mrs Steadfast.

“Ginny’s not up yet. On returning, yesterday, she slept all afternoon and woke up in the evening. She couldn’t go to bed again until late and she kept Ron and Hermione up too. She seems fine, though. Harry was so hot and weak when he returned that I was quite afraid for him. But he took some potion you had given him, Severus, and went to bed. I checked on him a couple of hours later and the fever had subsided to some extent. He’s sitting in the living-room. He hasn’t eaten anything yet, though. Do you want me to wake Ginny up?”

“I think it’s just as well, Mrs Weasley. Miss Granger and your son too, please. We’ll go and see Harry first while you do so.”

Snape let Mrs Steadfast precede him into the house and into the living-room. She stopped and blocked the door as she gave away a small exclamation. She took a few more steps inside to let Snape pass. Harry was half-sitting, half-lying in the sofa with a sleeping toddler on his chest. He had put a pillow behind his own head and was leaning back comfortably with his arms surrounding the child in a protective embrace. They were both fast asleep. Harry looked very pale, except for some red spots on his cheeks.

“Adorable!” exclaimed Mrs Steadfast in a hushed voice, “Who’s the baby?”

“He’s my grandson.” A tall, dark woman with heavy-lidded eyes had entered the room from the other end.” Snape winced slightly as she appeared. She looked very much like her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange. She went up to them and greeted them politely. “Harry is a great favourite with Teddy. He’s the child’s godfather. Very serious about his commitment, the young man is. I guess he feels especially for Teddy being an orphan, just like himself.”

“I’m sorry about your daughter and son-in-law, Mrs Tonks. And your husband too,” said Mrs Steadfast. Snape inclined his head in silent respect.

Mrs Tonks looked away.

“Things have been rough...” she said in a muffled tone, “...but are getting better. I must struggle on for Teddy’s sake. The Weasleys have been so supportive and hospitable. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them. And my sister’s being very helpful, too.” She gestured at the door opening where a slender and fair woman had appeared, very unlike herself.  “I’m sorry, I need to speak to Mrs Weasley. Narcissa, would you take the boy up to his bed, please? I suppose they’ll want a word with Harry undisturbed. Teddy should sleep for another half an hour or so.”

Narcissa Malfoy nodded and stepped into the room. She and Snape stared at each other while Mrs Steadfast withdrew a little. Finally Narcissa advanced toward Snape and took his hand.

“Severus,” she said and her voice was stifled with emotion. “I haven’t seen you since... since those horrible days when we were the servants of the Dark Lord.” She shuddered.

“I must own my surprise to meet you at the Burrow, Narcissa,” said Snape.

“Oh... so much has happened during the last months... I cannot believe it myself... I‘ve found reason to... reconsider my... my opinions of things. Once he was gone, it became obvious to me what a terrible grip the Dark Lord held us in and what a relief it was to… to be rid of him. My contribution to his demise, at the very end of the battle when I helped Harry pretend he was dead, placed me among the victors. It was rather disconcerting... I hadn’t planned my actions... But afterwards... afterwards, I’ve forced myself to examine my own prejudices. There was such madness in the Dark Lord’s reign. I assure you, Severus, my change of opinion isn’t only an adjustment to present times.”

Snape hummed noncommittally as she spoke, still letting Narcissa clutch at his hand.

“It has been so turbulent at Malfoy Manor since the Dark Lord disappeared, you cannot imagine...... At first Lucius went in for adaptation - forcefully. You know him. He tried to claim that he had been hoodwinked once again, that he had repented, just like last time. He visited people with influence and tried to let his purse speak. I don’t think he realised that people were weary of political games, though. Right after the battle, people nursed their consciences more than their bank accounts, and felt nothing but loathing for an allegedly reformed Death Eater who wanted to buy his way out of taking responsibility for his deeds. He also tried to let my actions reflect over the whole family and take credit for them. Naturally, I didn’t protest. I didn’t want Lucius to go back to Azkaban. He wrote to Harry Potter several times in the summer, but got no reply. I tried to tell him that the boy probably had enough to deal with, but Lucius was vexed and angry because of the dismissive attitude from several parties. He started to grow bitter.”

Narcissa let go of Snape’s hand and gesticulated in the restrained and slightly haughty manner of hers that was so characteristic. Only a slight trembling in her hands betrayed her upset nerves.

“On top of bearing with Lucius’ temper, I’ve been excessively worried about Draco. My son was traumatised by the atrocities he witnessed last year, and from the way our family was tortured by Voldemort. I think it just didn’t add up in his mind. He hasn’t been well at all. I thought I discerned some beneficial effects, at first, from the treatment he received by Healer Schufflert at Hogwarts. You and I corresponded about it by owl during the autumn. You were very supportive, Severus.”

Snape nodded slowly, whereas Mrs Steadfast withdrew even further into the room.

“But now, I feel that I don’t know them any longer…” continued Narcissa. ”Draco’s so reserved. I’m no longer in his confidence, although I hear in his voice when he speaks to his father that he’s just as bitter as Lucius. After a while I, too, wrote to Harry Potter…” She gestured at the sleeping young man on the sofa. ”I wrote to him when it was decided that I would indeed face trial for my actions during Voldemort’s reign. Potter replied promptly that he would gladly testify in my favour. When Lucius saw the letter...” Narcissa broke off and shook her head in disbelief as tears rose in her eyes and she looked at Snape, miserable.

“He couldn’t even be happy for my sake...” she whispered. “The boy didn’t say so in his letter, but he didn’t mention Lucius, and I think that Lucius realised that there was nothing in it for him. Harry Potter would never testify in his favour. What could he say, anyhow? I don’t understand what Lucius hoped for. The boy can only testify as to what really happened, right? And they don’t do joint trials - we’re facing separate ones. Lucius’ bitterness, in particular toward Harry Potter, increased and he poured out all his venom in front of me, ending up with the demand - can you believe it, Severus? – the demand that I refuse Potter’s help out of loyalty to my husband. He exacted it of me, Severus! This was during Christmas.” Narcissa drew a deep breath.

“I fled the manor in the middle of the holidays. I contacted my sister who I had not seen for twenty years. I had heard about my niece’s terrible fate and the little orphaned baby. I felt that I no longer cared that my sister had been married to a wizard of... Muggle descent.” Narcissa stumbled only the least little bit over the words. ”I wanted to see her again, get to know her, help her if I could... At the same time it gave me an excuse not to stay at the manor. Lucius was mad, of course, and threatened me with... with a lot of things... I had not made up my mind yet... not yet.”

Narcissa paused to take another deep breath. She looked at Snape with determination.

“I’m leaving him, Severus. I’ve applied for a divorce. I’ve had the forms filled in for some time now, and this morning I signed them and sent them by owl to the Ministry before coming here.” 

Snape’s eyes widened a little.

“You’ve known each other since you were fourteen and he seventeen, Narcissa! You’ve always been loyal to Lucius,” he said, disbelief resounding in his voice.

“I know, that’s why it took me so long to decide. When you wounded him in that duel – I’m sorry I’ve not penetrated what it was all about - those things they wrote about you, no doubt? He had sold you out, had he not?”

Snape made a grim face.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he did, but I was home so little at the time that I didn’t realise what he was up to. Anyhow, he ended up at the hospital and it made me realise that all I felt was relief that he would be out of my way for some time. I didn’t have to be afraid that he would turn up and hurt me. So I went to see him at St Mungo’s and told him I wanted a divorce. It was cruel, I guess, considering that he was wounded and weak. Believe it or not, but he broke down and pleaded with me not to leave him. He made Draco write to me and I yielded to their pleas not to split up the family. Like you said, we’ve been husband and wife for twenty-five years. So I tried again for some weeks... And I guess he tried as well in his own way, but he’s as incapable of adjusting emotionally to another human being as a troll is incapable of following simple instructions. He still refuses to meet Dromeda for example. And he cannot handle his bitterness. I think he has entered in contact with the out-lawed Death Eaters and that he’s helping them - at least financially. I’m afraid he’ll drag Draco into that unhealthy business, as well. This year my son is still at Hogwarts and is protected in a way, but what will happen next year? I tried to bear with it during the Easter holidays because Draco was coming home. But I cannot, I cannot submit to his ways… not any longer… I’m suffocating. And I’m afraid... They still expect me to desist Mr Potter’s help... Our trials are coming up within the next few weeks.”

Narcissa shook her head while Mrs Steadfast looked at her with overt, and Snape with guarded, interest.

“Yesterday morning, when the news of the attack in Paris reached us, including Mr Potter’s involvement... They were not surprised - at least not Lucius, I’m sure.” Narcissa Malfoy might have been oblivious of the fact that Mrs Steadfast was in the room until then, but subsequent to this confession, she gave the head of the Aurors a quick, shrewd glance. “I don’t want to be involved anymore. I don’t want him to drag me back into that dark world. I’m repulsed by him, Severus. There’s no going back now. I fled the manor and stayed at a friend’s before arriving at the Burrow this morning to see my sister.” Narcissa made a pause.

Just as Mrs Steadfast made an attempt to say something, Narcissa approached Snape and took his hand in hers again.

“Enough of me... What about you, Severus? I’ve been so intrigued by your fate, by your actions. I couldn’t believe at first that you had fooled us all for so long. You duped our Lord! You dared! I’ve seen you at his side so many times. You were calmer, more composed than any of us. Servile of course, like we all were, but patient, inscrutable and unmistakably loyal. I know Bellatrix doubted you, but that sprung from jealousy and he... the Dark Lord... never did!”

“Oh, he never really trusted me, either. It wasn’t in his nature to trust anyone,” muttered Snape.

“I’ve meant to ask you, Severus.” Narcissa’s voice faltered a little. “When you made the unbreakable vow and promised me to help Draco, did you do it for my sake, or was it because you had already promised Dumbledore to kill him before he was too weak?”

“A bit of both, I acknowledge, Narcissa,” Snape said courtly. “I’ve always held you in great esteem and was touched by your concerns for your son.”

Narcissa Malfoy pondered this for a while. As Mrs Steadfast opened her mouth to speak, the elegant lady forestalled her once again:

“You, too, have changed.” Narcissa looked closely at Snape, grasping his hand harder. “Your eyes used to be... to look... dead. I used to wonder what ailed you, but Lucius always only made fun of you... Lucius treated you unfairly, you know, despite your loyalty to him. Why, in retrospect I might as well tell you that he was always condescending and poked fun of you when you weren’t there. But I always liked you, Severus. You were such a dejected figure, though. I’m speaking in particular of the period after the Dark Lord’s first disappearance and before he came back, those thirteen years of false security. I asked Lucius why you were so inconceivably sad. I’m not even sure he saw what I meant. He only laughed and answered that you liked to plague yourself with longing for other men’s women.”

Snape frowned at her and shot a quick glance, first at Mrs Steadfast, then at Harry in the sofa who still had his eyes closed.

“I wondered whether Lily Evans had been that significant in your eyes and objected that she had been gone for so long, and was it really possible that you grieved her after so many years? But he dismissed the idea, laughed and said that there were other men’s women to languish for, and he made it sound like... or was it my vanity that made me believe that...” Narcissa’s voice dropped huskily with false modesty.

Snape drew his breath sharply and tore his hand away from hers.

“I’m clearly not interested in hearing what wild speculations you and your husband might have made about my person at your private moments, Narcissa,” he spat at her. She recoiled with a flicker of dread in her eyes, but instantly picked up the thread, soothingly and ingratiatingly.

“I’m sorry, Severus! I didn’t intend to... I only meant to point out what an unfaithful friend my husband was to you. Don’t you see that we’ve been equally used, you and me? But look at you now! You’re the headmaster at Hogwarts - and Lucius is nothing. Things have definitely changed. You’re in a position of power - and it certainly suits you. Where you used to be stiff and out of place, you now move with ease. Moreover you show temper like you never did before. In the past you could at most turn waspish and unpleasant, but not display shear anger like you just did. It becomes you, I must say, and makes you more alive than I’ve ever seen you... Why, you’re so different from your former self that I almost...”

 At this moment, Mrs Steadfast could not keep quiet any longer. She sneered loudly.

“He probably Occlumencied you as swiftly and as effectively as a thundercloud hide the moon and then he took his pent-up frustration out on little children in his classroom! Nothing admirable in that if you ask me! Don’t pretend to be flabbergasted, Mrs Malfoy. You know his reputation as a teacher, I dare say. It was for a good cause, I admit that, Severus, and you had to play your part, but you’ll excuse me for not finding you as marvellous as your not-so-good-friend’s wife does. I should not’ve wanted to meet you at the time when you wore your mask of Occlumency. And that’d be the only thing that we agree upon, Mrs Malfoy and I, namely that we prefer your present self… on those rare occasions when you’re not insufferable. Now, could we please finally get down to business?”

Snape fidgeted from frustration and embarrassment and was at a loss of words. He did indeed look like a thundercloud.

Mrs Malfoy who dared not contradict Mrs Steadfast approached Harry obediently and stooped over him to lift Teddy away. At that exact moment, Harry opened his eyes wide. He instinctively drew the little boy closer to him in a protective gesture, without letting out a sound. Narcissa stopped briefly in her movement.

“Dromeda asked me to take Teddy upstairs to let him finish his nap in his own bed. Professor Snape and the head of the Auror office are here to speak to you,” she said softly.

Harry sat up a little more straight and glanced at Snape and Mrs Steadfast, still without saying anything. Reluctantly and gently he handed Teddy over.

“He might wake up if you put him down on a cold bed,” he muttered.

“I’ll sit with him a while, then,” said Narcissa and carried the child away.

Snape looked closely at Harry with his eyebrows knitted, but Harry did not meet his gaze. At that moment, Mrs Weasley entered the room along with Ginny who was dressed, but looked sleepy. She muttered some greetings at the address of Snape and Mrs Steadfast, sat down beside Harry, curled up against his shoulder and shut her eyes. Ron and Hermione appeared as well. Ron was yawning.

“Can we speak while you give Harry and Ginny their treatments?” Mrs Steadfast said to Snape who nodded. She gestured for Ron and Hermione to sit down on a pair of grouped armchairs. Mrs Weasley took place on the other side of Ginny on the sofa and Mr Weasley settled in his favourite armchair in front of the fire place, turning it a little so that he would face the others.

As Snape unloaded a range of bottles from the inside of his cloak, Mrs Steadfast started to ask questions to find out whether anyone had known or suspected the destination of Ginny’s and Harry’s holiday trip, whether they had seen anything suspicious around the Burrow that made them think Harry and Ginny had been tailed from there, or whether they had any other idea of how their whereabouts had been exposed. Mr Weasley asked about the French Auror’s credibility. Mrs Steadfast defended her friend and finished by saying that if Roger had been involved in the attack, he would not have been targeted and ended up with serious wounds as a consequence.

“How is he?” Harry wanted to know. Mrs Steadfast sighed and lowered her eyes as she told them. The Avada Kedavra that had hit him had passed through less than fifty percent of his body volume which was the only reason he had survived at all. But it had gone through a large part of his chest with the consequence that his heart was considerably weakened. He had been taken to a Muggle hospital at first which had delayed the treatment and worsened the prognosis. Part of his face was lame, so was his left arm.

“Are you going to visit him?” Harry wondered.

“Not quite yet... Maybe this summer...” muttered Mrs Steadfast. When Harry looked puzzled, she added a bit defensively. “He’s got a wife who... is very dedicated to him and... who doesn’t like me very much...”

Harry tried to look non-committal, but Mrs Weasley wrinkled her nose at the implications of Mrs Steadfast’s revelation, because they had all got the impression that Roger was a very particular personal friend of Mrs Steadfast’s. Snape’s face was hidden behind his long black hair as he bent over Harry’s leg, and Mr Weasley started to talk about something else.

“Kick at my hands,” Snape suddenly said to Harry without looking at him. As Harry hesitated, Snape repeated. “Kick gently then press against my palms as hard as you can. I want to test your muscle strength.”

“Okay,” Harry muttered. “I can walk without limping at any rate.” He did as Snape had asked him to do.

“He’s still weaker in his right leg, but it isn’t so bad. I think it’ll be completely restored.” Snape spoke to Mrs Steadfast who glanced at Harry, a little disconcerted that Snape did not address his patient directly.

Ginny and Harry inhaled a final dose of Dewcup potion and Harry received a blood replenishing draught as he was ghastly pale and because Snape had forgotten to give it to him the previous day. Harry and Snape only exchanged monosyllables and avoided to look at each other. Ginny woke up little by little, but contrary to the previous day, there was nothing giggly about her. She was as serious as the others, a bit pale maybe, but otherwise she looked healthy.

“No nightmares?” Snape asked her.

“I’ve slept well. Except for you waking me up,” Ginny answered sulkily.

“You?” Snape asked Harry.

“Ordinary nightmare,” muttered Harry and looked away. “It woke me up, that’s all, but I was able to get back to sleep.”

“I found him in the morning, sleeping in this very armchair in front of the fire,” said Mr Weasley. Mrs Steadfast scrutinised Harry’s face.

“I find it kind of comforting with a fire,” Harry said stubbornly. “I slept well in that chair.”

“You don’t look that well... Still that Magic-Versus-Self Reaction going on?” Mrs Steadfast asked Snape.

“I’m afraid so, but the temperature is lower, although he looks weak. It’ll take some time for him to recover.”

Harry looked away again and leant forward to pick up a book on the sofa table. Snape glanced at the tome on Ancient Magic and Protective Incantations and lifted an eyebrow inquisitively, but Harry ignored the silent question.

“Let’s have tea in the kitchen while the young persons breakfast,” proposed Mrs Weasley. “Harry, you ate nothing when you came back yesterday, and you’ve had nothing yet this morning. You must be starved.”

Harry looked nauseated, and Snape pursed his lips.

Seated more closely together by the kitchen table, Snape drew up a Muffliato spell around them.

“You’ve got visitors,” he said shortly as way of explanation when Mrs Weasley frowned at him.

“We trust our guests,” she retorted indignantly.

“Mrs Tonks, perhaps, but you’ve not known Mrs Malfoy for very long. I have, however, and just because she states for the moment being that she’ll leave Lucius, it doesn’t mean that’s how it will end.” Snape spoke emphatically. Mrs Steadfast seemed eager to agree with him and Mrs Weasley dropped the subject.

Ron, Hermione and Ginny helped themselves to some toasts and Mrs Weasley made the teapot go the round with her wand. Snape filled another cup with a draught that he gave Harry who accepted it without questioning. Once he had taken a gulp, however, he rose with an expression of panic and distaste on his face, looking wildly around until going up to the sink to spit it out.

“That was worse than anything you’ve given me! Are you trying to poison me?!” he exclaimed.

Ginny and Mrs Weasley riveted their eyes on Snape.

“I assure you that I would proceed with slightly more subtlety if I wanted to poison Mr Potter,” Snape said with irritation. Mr Weasley gave up a short laugh. “It’s a nurturing potion. He doesn’t eat,” Snape stated flatly. Harry made a wry face and looked at Mrs Weasley.

“I’ll have anything rather than swallow that,” he said and picked up an apple that he started to nibble. Mrs Weasley watched him with concern.

“Chocolate maybe?” she said. “It’s Easter, after all.” And she conjured up a big basket full of chocolate eggs on the table. “Please, help yourselves. Have one, Harry.”

Mrs Steadfast looked enviously at Harry who obediently placed an egg beside his apple. Mrs Weasley levitated one over to Mrs Steadfast who beamed back at her.

“No children at my home this year. I didn’t think I’d get any chocolate. Lucky me to have passed by the Burrow! Now, tell me, have you been bothered by the journalists yet?” she asked.

“No, not at all, the protections work perfectly. They cannot reach the house or even penetrate into the garden,” said Mr Weasley.

“Excellent, they gave us hard work yesterday. I’m glad I managed to keep them out of St Mungo’s Hospital,” said Mrs Steadfast. Harry looked up at her.

“How did you do that?” he asked with relief and gratitude in his voice. “I had not even thought about it.”

“I pretended to have you at hand at the Ministry all the time and promised them news every hour or so. Like that they stuck to me.”

“They’ve been unusually objective in their reports,” said Mr Weasley and Hermione nodded in agreement. “The ambush in Paris is an amazing story in itself, so there’s no need for them to exaggerate. All winter, they’ve gone about you in such a negative way, accusing you of being the heir of Voldemort and I know not what absurdities. But there’s no mention of such things now. You’re pictured as the exceptional wizard you were elevated to after Voldemort’s death, Harry.” They smiled at him, whereas he pulled a disgusted face in response.

“I don’t know which is worse,” he muttered.

“Now to the question of security,” said Mrs Steadfast. Everybody straightened their backs and turned their heads expectantly towards her. “Security has been increased at Hogwarts,” she explained. ”There are more Aurors patrolling the grounds. And I’m afraid we have to cancel the school ball scheduled in May.”

Ginny sighed deeply and looked incensed, but did not say anything.

“There’s too much people. It’s uncontrollable. Not as the situation is right now,” apologised Mrs Steadfast. She hesitated slightly, took a deep breath and turned to Harry. “I’ve spoken to Simmings,” she said gently. “I know you have nothing against him, that you’ve even become friends, and he has agreed to be your assisting Auror during the rest of the term.” Harry met her eyes calmly.

“Tell Simmings that if I had wanted an assisting Auror, he would definitely have been my choice,” he said. Exclamations of surprise and shock were heard all around the table.

“I told you he’d be as stubborn as ever,” Snape said indignantly to Mrs Steadfast. “You’ll have to make him see reason! Tell him that if he doesn’t want to be expelled, he’ll just have to accept his Auror!”

New exclamations and heated words were exchanged across the table.

“Listen to me!” Harry’s voice, however weak, had a sharpness that made the others shut up and turn their heads towards him. “This is my decision and mine only to make. No... let me speak. Yesterday, you let Ginny have her Obliviating treatment. That was her way of dealing with what happened. Now, you must let me deal with it my way – and that is not to be locked up and smothered by others. I cannot hide, and I need a certain amount of freedom.”

Snape sighed with a mixture of regret and reluctant recognition in his face.

“Moreover,” Harry continued stubbornly in his weakened voice, “I don’t think they’ll try so soon again. Think for yourselves... I’ve conquered Voldemort and now I’ve killed this Machivato guy. He was the best they had, as I understand things. If I were them, I’d be afraid of me... You’ll acknowledge that not so many will want to meet me in a wand-to-wand fight.”

Mrs Steadfast scrutinised him with a frown and opened her mouth.

“I’m not saying that I’m invincible - I know I’m not,” Harry interrupted her. ”But Death Eaters and the like have often stricken me as irrational kind of people. Voldemort himself was clearly superstitious, or he’d never had paid attention to a prophesy about a baby. What I mean is that it’s a good thing if they’re afraid of me. All I need to do now is to return to Hogwarts - where the spy for Voldemort’s residual supporters is supposed to reside - and look unaffected. Brag a bit maybe,” Harry looked nauseous, “...or maybe I won’t have to do that... others will do it for me and I’ll only have to nod and agree.” His voice trailed off.

“I’m not so sure you could put that show on in your present state of health,” said Mrs Steadfast.

“It’ll take a long time for him to recover,” confirmed Snape.

“I have two more days before I go back to Hogwarts – I’ll be okay,” retorted Harry shortly.

“I agree with Harry,” Mr Weasley said suddenly. “The Dark forces have been defeated once again, at some cost, but that’s still the truth, although it’s easy to forget in the midst of all the fear and anguish. They – whoever they are, do we know? – will need to regroup, and it’s more likely next time - if there is a next time - that they’ll attempt an organised joint attack or an ambush carried out by several persons than an attack from a single wizard or witch. Group attacks should be easier to unveil by scouting activities from your Office than to keep track of single persons.” He spoke to Mrs Steadfast.

“You’re probably right. We’re still on to this group called ’The Shiftings’. You remember the note we found at Death Eater Wentworth’s home, referring to ’M’? With all probability that was Machivato. But we got nothing out of the former Death Eaters we interrogated yesterday evening. I’m not allowed to use Veritaserum on them yet. The evidence is too weak, alas.” Mrs Steadfast sighed. “If we only had someone on the inside...”

Her gaze rested absent-mindedly on Snape for a moment. Suddenly, she inclined her head to the side and looked sharply at him.

“You didn’t like that idea at all, did you, Severus? But I didn’t even ask you... You were appalled at the thought of going into secret service again. I saw it in your face. Is it possible that the master of Occlumency is tired of using his proficiencies?” She spoke teasingly while scrutinising Snape closely, but he maintained an impassive face.

“I’ll do what is demanded of me, if it can be of any use,” he said.

“You were not in the least tempted. You’d rather leave for the moon, I saw it in your eyes,” she answered. Snape leant forward and replied in a steady voice:

“When I met Lucius Malfoy yesterday he actually suggested that I try to negotiate my way back among the Death Eaters. There are a lot of people who believe I’m only duping all of you right now. I might have a chance to ingratiate myself with the Death Eaters again.”

Harry looked sharply at him. Snape did not move a muscle in his face. Mrs Steadfast examined him closely and shook her head.

“You’re still too good at it. I thought I had you for a moment,” she said.

“It sounds risky to attempt such a come-back,” intervened Mrs Weasley.

“It might be a trap,” said Ginny.

“Surely your credibility must be exhausted with them?” said Mr Weasley.

“I don’t think he should do it!” Harry said sharply to Mrs Steadfast who suddenly flared up.

“Are you two not on speaking terms again?” she said, looking from Harry to Snape. “Or why do you keep talking through me? You’ve barely looked at each other today and hardly spoken a word to one another. I thought you became friends as the day went along yesterday? You stood up for each other in front of judge Tempatino. What’s the matter now, tell me?”

“Nothing... nothing’s the matter,” said Harry after an awkward pause and looked down. “I’m not cross with him or anything, it’s just... I’m grateful for what he did for me yesterday and all... He helped me...”

“He’s sitting over there. You can tell him to his face. Don’t speak to me,” Mrs Steadfast hissed at Harry and pointed at Snape. Harry turned stiffly towards his teacher and headmaster.

“I’m grateful, Professor...”

“Don’t thank me, by all white hot goblin swords!” Snape spat out and banged his palm on the table so that he made the tea-cups clatter and everybody, including Harry, jump. “You have no reason to... on top of everything...” He turned with irritation to Mrs Steadfast. “Don’t interfere, Audrey, and make him say things to me. We’re not angry at one another - you must be content with that. Just leave it! Maybe we simply want to leave each other in peace.”

“I’ll never make you two out. I simply don’t understand what’s going on between you...” Mrs Steadfast muttered “...but as long as you cease talking through me when you want to communicate with each other... And as long as you don’t go about murdering each other behind my back...”

“Of course not! How ridiculous! We’re on the same side, if you haven’t noticed. Is there anyone else in here who doubts my intentions toward Potter? Maybe you all believe that I might be the spy at Hogwarts?” roared Snape.

The others stared at him. Ron squirmed on his chair with an expression of incredulity on his face. Mr and Mrs Weasley started to mumble diplomatic words. Finally Mrs Steadfast interrupted them.

“We trust you, Severus, I’ve already told you that I do. And I’ve never considered the option of sending you back to the Death Eaters as a spy. You’ll tell me more about what Lucius said to you, however.”

“Later,” answered Snape darkly. Mrs Steadfast sighed.

“Later,” she repeated.

There was a silence. Harry looked feverish and his gaze was far away while he swept his hand distractedly over the table surface.

“The wizard... Machivato... reminded me of someone... or something... I haven’t seen him before - that’s not what I mean - but there was something familiar about him... I saw him only for a second... when he was dead, I mean. He had transformed into a monster as he fought... When he died, he assumed his proper shape and showed his own face... I only got a glimpse before I turned away and was sick. I saw him again in my dream tonight... There was something about his face, I cannot say what. An ordinary face, square chin... extinguished eyes...” Harry winced and gripped the edge of the table top and went silent.

“Tell me if you remember what it is he reminds you of,” said Mrs Steadfast gently. “We have some photos of him. We’re going to show people in Hogsmeade and at Hogwarts to investigate whether anyone has seen him around prior to the attack. The efforts will probably be abortive; he might have been transfigured all the time. A metamorphmagus is virtually impossible to trace.”

“I don’t think he followed me from here. I think he waited for me in Paris,” Harry said in a low voice. “Someone sent him a message I was going there. I don’t know how they found out. Someone at Hogwarts, most probably… Perhaps Mr Burgess...”

“We’ve no reason to suspect Mr Burgess,” interrupted Mrs Steadfast. “I told you, it’s a poor guy, not very strong.” Harry looked at her without saying anything for a while before he asked:

“Have you found out anything about Machivato? What do you know about him?”

“Machivato is a taken name. We only know that he is of British descent, but we don’t know his real name nor whether he has a family. He has been known to be rife in France and southern Europe: Italy, Serbia, Albania, Spain, Portugal, for at least three years. He appeared at about the same time as Voldemort came back. He has done terrible things, brutal robberies mostly, but the last year of Voldemort’s reign, the actions became more politically marked, directed against Muggles and Muggle-borns. He’s not known to have any followers so he must’ve enjoyed working on his own. Although it’s clear that he must’ve collaborated with someone in Britain.” They pondered upon this piece of information.

“I never knew of Voldemort’s collaboration with Machivato. Never heard the name before. Voldemort kept his different followers separated and his plans secret. He must have had an idea about gaining powers in Europe and why not the whole world...That’s where a wizard like Machivato came in,” said Snape.

“How much are the Muggle families told? Do we tell them anything? I mean most of the victims in Paris were young people like us, their families must be devastated,” asked Harry. Mrs Weasley put her hand on his sleeve and shook her head.

“We cannot tell them, Harry. They won’t believe us.”

“Mrs Weasley’s right, it would only upset them and cause resentment toward the wizard world,” said Mrs Steadfast with a concerned look at Harry.

“They’ll not even know why their children died. They’ll have so many questions. They’ll be told it was a drug, a gas, whatever, but there’s no evidence, right? And they died because of me...” whispered Harry looking down on his hands.

“Don’t plague yourself, Harry,” Hermione whispered back with tears in her eyes. Ron cleared his throat.

“It’s not as if you asked to be attacked, mate. You cannot take this upon you.” Harry looked gratefully at them through a haze of tears as he rose from the table. He did not seem to know what to do with himself. The apple and the chocolate egg lay almost untouched in front of him.

“Teddy’s been crying for a while,” he muttered. “Can I have a break and go and see him?”

“I think we’re finished,” said Mrs Steadfast. “One more thing only, Harry, please.” She spoke gently. “When I see you like this, ill and weak, I have difficulties imagining you coming back to Hogwarts in full vigour. Someone, if there is a spy at Hogwarts, might take advantage of your weakened state and try to attack you again. Will you please reconsider accepting an attending Auror? You do realise, don’t you, that you not only increase risks for yourself, but you put an increased pressure upon your friends, too. More responsibility will lie on them to accompany you and watch over you.”

“I don’t ask them to...” Harry begun to say when he was interrupted by his friends.

“Don’t pressure him, Mrs Steadfast. He has a right to decide for himself,” said Ginny.

“We respect Harry’s wish, Mrs Steadfast, and we don’t feel that he puts us under risks. I mean it’s clearly not his fault that people go after him,” repeated Ron.

“Harry has been under threats ever since he started at Hogwarts nearly eight years ago. We chose to be his friends then and we still want to be his friends today, regardless of the threats other persons subject him to,” added Hermione. ”I’ve a feeling we let you down yesterday, Harry. Everything was so chaotic. Let us make it up to you. We’ll stand by you.”

Mr and Mrs Weasley, Mrs Steadfast and Snape looked at them with exasperation, mixed with admiration and a streak of envy.

“You’ve got loyal friends,” said Mrs Steadfast in a low voice.

“Yes, the very best,” Harry answered with more strength in his voice. “And I’ll be okay by Tuesday, you’ll see... I need your help later, Hermione,” he continued. “Book thing...” he added to Ron and Ginny who wrinkled their noses.