Swept From the Past

Chapter 15: Grindelwald

Hermione was in the Restricted Section of the library, hidden under Harry's invisibility cloak, when she heard Dumbledore's voice. She quickly hid behind a pillar. The Headmaster could see through invisibility cloaks. If he noticed her, she would have problems.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, "I understand that you are worried about Professor Burns, but our main problem is that Remus has been captured."

Professor Lupin captured? Hermione almost gasped from shock, but she managed to control herself.

"The full moon is only two weeks away," the Headmaster continued. "If we don't find Remus before this date, I'm afraid it will be too late. The Order must act quickly."

"Headmaster," Snape replied, "Professor Burns will try to rescue him. I know what she is able to do. But you should have seen her when she found out about Lupin... She looked insane, possessed. You know this is all my fault." Snape paused. "She thought she spoke to Black!"

Sirius? Burns thought she spoke to Sirius? Hermione blanched.

"I know, Severus." Dumbledore sighed. "Believe me, I know."

"You know what the Death Eaters will do to her if they find her." Snape exclaimed. He looked alarmed. "What Bellatrix Lestrange will do to her! Professor Burns will take risks to save Lupin! I won't--"

"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted. "Professor Burns is a professional. I doubt she knows where Remus was taken. She won't go and knock at every Death Eater's door to ask where he is. She will investigate first."

Snape looked unconvinced. Hermione noticed that he didn't care about Lupin. He focused on what could happen to Professor Burns. Hermione never thought Snape could care so much about someone.

"But why did she leave when she received the owl?" Snape asked. "She should have gone directly to you to inform you."

"Professor Burns doesn't work for the Order," Dumbledore said. "At least, not directly. We have the same purpose. We help each other, but she has her own methods. I can't command her, and she can't command me. And since you have read her mail, she probably thought you would inform me."

What did that mean? Did Dumbledore really have no power over Professor Burns?

"Is she really the captain of the Lost Pirates?" Snape asked. "Malfoy told me they are impressive fighters."

"They are, Severus," Dumbledore said. "The Lost Pirates are wizards that had been rejected by society. People who lost everything because of Voldemort. Some were already orphans; others saw their families killed in front of them. A few were tramps and alcoholics, mutilated by Death Eaters. People who suffered a lot and who didn't have anything to loose. They are at Captain Burns' service. She gave them hope, and the chance for revenge."

"But how did she manage to--" asked Snape.

"Those people wandered in the streets," Dumbledore replied, "hoping to find death, despised by everyone. Captain Burns had what they needed. A place to live, and enough money to do what she had to do."

"I don't under--" said Snape.

"I can't tell you more, Severus," the Headmaster retorted. "This is not the time. Professor Burns asked me to keep silent."

The Lost Pirates? Hermione had heard Luna talk about them when they were in Hogsmeade, but she had thought it a joke. So that was true? Hermione was reminded of SPEW in a way. Professor Burns didn't free house-elves, but she helped desperate people and gave them a purpose. All right, maybe Hermione's reasoning was a little simplistic. After all, they obeyed Burns.

"The Lost Pirates are devoted to her," Dumbledore continued. "If she wants to find Remus, they will do anything to discover where he has been taken."

"Headmaster," Snape insisted. "You said that Katarina gave them what they needed, a place to live and money..."

Hermione was surprised. Katarina? Snape called Professor Burns by her name? Surely not in front of her! Burns had said at the beginning of the year she wanted people to call her 'Professor Burns.' Her rule also applied to the teachers. Knowing Burns, she wouldn't appreciate such familiarities. Especially coming from Snape.

"But," Snape continued. "How? She hasn't come back to the Burns' Manor for fifteen years! And all of that... that costs money! She was comfortably off, but not rich enough for that!"

"She received a second inheritance," Dumbledore replied. "Something she didn't expect. Something that had been prepared for her long ago."

"But she doesn't have any family anymore!" Snape exclaimed.

"That's right, Severus," the Headmaster responded. "It came from someone who died a long time ago. You know who I'm talking about. When Katarina freed her power, her inheritance was given to her. She used it."

The Headmaster and Snape left. Hermione cast a quick glance behind the pillar to be sure she was alone in the library.

Someone who died a long time ago? Hermione bet that was Grindelwald. And the story of 'Lost Pirates' disconcerted her. Hermione remembered having seen a book called Infamous Pirates of the Twentieth Century in the Restricted Section. Maybe there was something about Grindelwald in it! But first of all, she had to warn Harry! No, she couldn't. The Gryffindor common room was closed. She had to wait until midnight. Then Harry would be there to let her enter. The best thing to do was to stay in the Restricted Section, and consult the book about Grindelwald.

Ten minutes later, Hermione located Infamous Pirates of the Twentieth Century. She opened the book and looked at the table of contents. She found Grindelwald's name. She sighed. She went to the page and found a picture of the mage when he was in his thirties. He was rather handsome. He had fine features, piercing blue eyes, dark hair, and a slight beard which fitted him well. Hermione read the pages:

"Lord Sigurd Grindelwald, the Second (1895-1945). Lord Grindelwald was born in Cork, Ireland [...] His family was one of the most respected in the wizard community, and one of the wealthiest. Sigurd Grindelwald had two older brothers, who died when he was young. He became the sole heir of the Grindelwald's fortune, and the guardian of their power."

The guardian of their power? What did it mean? Hermione continued reading:

"Lord Grindelwald had two passions in life: the sea and his young wife, Emerald Jamsee. He came from a great tradition of sailors. The Grindelwalds crossed the oceans on their ships in Her Majesty's service, and fought against the pirates. Lord Grindelwald commissioned one of the greatest magical ships ever seen. He called it the 'Emerald Star,' in the honour of his wife. She was the model for the figurehead. Since a woman on board was considered bad luck, Emerald Jamsee never accompanied her husband on his trips.

In 1940, when Grindelwald was on the Pacific Ocean, Emerald Jamsee was kidnapped and killed. People said Lord Grindelwald almost died from sorrow and fell gravely ill. He turned to the Dark Arts and became a very powerful Dark Mage, full of hatred for those who had murdered his wife."

Hermione felt sad for Grindelwald. She imagined what he had felt, when he had discovered his wife had been killed. Life had changed him and turned him to the Dark Arts. Everyone knew Grindelwald was a Dark Mage, but almost no one knew why. Professor Burns had probably felt the same way, when her marriage had been spoiled. Hermione looked back at the page:

"He searched for them all around the world, crossing the airs and the oceans to take his revenge. He and his crew, called 'The Lost Pirates,' sank and pillaged many ships. He was branded an outlaw by the government, who set a price on his head. He was one of the most dangerous pirates of the Twentieth Century."

The Lost Pirates? Like Burns' men? But Hermione didn't understand why Grindelwald 'crossed the airs and the oceans.' It didn't mean anything! Anyway, maybe she would learn something further?

"Some say that Emerald Jamsee gave birth to a child before she was kidnapped. But that remains a mystery."

Hey, that was interesting! A child? Of course, it couldn't be Professor Burns, but why not her father, or her mother?

"In 1945, Grindelwald's crew was vanquished. The Dark Mage was finally defeated by one of his own friends, Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore, known for his incredible powers, was persuaded by the Ministry to intervene and stop Grindelwald. The two men had a violent discussion, in which Grindelwald refused to relent. It ended in a terrible fight. The final battle with Dumbledore was so violent that it drained Grindelwald of his vital energy and powers. Known to have a weak heart, Grindelwald succumbed in the final attack. No cure could be found. Before dying, Grindelwald said that 'only his wife could have saved him.'"

So that was why Dumbledore had no power over Professor Burns. The Headmaster had tried to reason with Grindelwald once before. Dumbledore had used force against him, and it had caused the Dark Mage's death. Burns was the kind of person who didn't fear authority. Dumbledore probably knew that arguing with her would make things worse.

"No one ever talked about the Emerald Star after the Dark Mage's death. Some say that it sank and was destroyed, but others think it was protected by a spell. The legend says that Grindelwald enclosed a part of his power in his ship, a power which could only be harnessed by someone of Grindelwald's bloodline."

The ship was probably the inheritance Dumbledore spoke about. 'Something that had been prepared for her,' the Headmaster had said. It could explain a lot of things. Burns was the Captain of those Lost Pirates. She gave them a 'place to live,' the Emerald Star, and 'money,' or wealth. All that she had had inherited from Grindelwald. Hermione wondered where the ship was moored. If Grindelwald had faked the ship's destruction, someone must have seen it. But why had no one talked about it in the papers? Even Luna had not mentioned it!

Hermione turned the last page and found a second photograph of the Mage taken in 1943. She gasped. Grindelwald was dressed exactly like Professor Burns. He wore a dark-green, hooded cloak. His hands were covered by short, black, leather gloves. His hair had turned grey, and his blue stare was icy and menacing. Hermione was convinced Burns was his granddaughter.

***

It was nearly midnight. Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room as quickly as she could. She had to warn Harry about Lupin! As usual, Harry waited for her by the door.

"Harry," Hermione exclaimed, breathless. We have to talk! Just you and me!"

"Everyone's already asleep," Harry replied. "And I didn't tell Ron I was waiting for you. I didn't want to hear you quarrelling." He paused. "What's going on?"

They both entered the common room.

"I overheard Snape talking to Dumbledore," Hermione said. "They said Lupin was kidnapped by the Death Eaters!"

"What?" Harry exclaimed. The colour drained from his face.

"Dumbledore said he would gather the Order," Hermione continued. Dumbledore was worried that Lupin would not survive past the full moon, but Hermione decided not to tell Harry.

"We have to do something!" Harry shouted.

Hermione blanched too. "Harry," she exclaimed. "I had to tell you what happened. But you can't go after him yourself. This is out of the question." Damn! Why did she inform him? For once, she had been too impulsive. She should have known Harry would have wanted to help.

"I will not let it go," Harry yelled. "Lupin needs my help!"

"The Order is working on that, Harry," Hermione replied. "And so is Professor Burns. You can't do anything. You're just a student."

"What did the Order do for Sirius last year?" Harry shouted. "What did Dumbledore do for him? Nothing!"

"When Dumbledore arrived," Hermione retorted, "it was already too late!"

"Exactly!" Harry replied. "Too late!"

Did Harry forget the circumstances of Sirius' death? Sirius had not been captured by Voldemort. Harry had been trapped, and Sirius had come to rescue him. Hermione felt Harry's accusations were unfair towards the Order and Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore and the Order are not responsible for Sirius' death!" Hermione continued. "I know you're sad and angry because Sirius died, but that doesn't give you the right to say that! And the Headmaster told you to practise Occlumency to shut your mind to You-Know-Who!"

"Are you saying I'm responsible for Sirius' death?" Harry yelled.

"No," Hermione replied, "there's no one to blame, except Bellatrix Lestrange! I'm just saying you have to trust Dumbledore. If you try to help Professor Lupin, you'll only make the situation worse. Dumbledore has enough to do. For once, Harry, let him take care of everything. You are not responsible for Sirius' death. But if you interfere, you could be responsible for Lupin's!"

Harry stopped breathing. Hermione saw she had hit on something.

"Voldemort probably knows you will try to save Lupin," she continued. "For Sirius, you didn't know it was a trap. But now... please... don't intervene!"

"But I can't let him die!" Harry exclaimed.

Hermione felt he was confused. His voice was less resolute than before. Harry seemed helpless. Hermione knew she had to say something reassuring to him.

"Snape said Professor Burns would do anything to save Lupin," Hermione said. "He looked worried because he thought she would take risks. I... I think he's in love with her."

"I know," Harry replied. His voice had softened.

"You know?" Hermione asked. She was surprised Harry noticed that. Why hadn't he mentioned it before?

"Well," Harry replied, "it's difficult to use the word 'love' and 'Snape' in the same sentence, but... I noticed he sometimes stared at her strangely. He tries to hide it, and I wouldn't have believed it, if..." Harry didn't continue.

"If?" Hermione asked.

"Remember the day I looked into Burns' Pensieve?" Harry responded. "When she had her crisis? I stayed behind. Snape didn't see me. He acted... he was very kind with her. And he called her 'Kat,' like my mother and Lupin did."

Hermione was thinking. Maybe it was time to reveal to Harry all that she had learnt about Professor Burns. She felt guilty about hiding information from him. And there was something else... linked to Ron.

She was ill at ease at the thought of speaking about the love-triangle with Ron. Ron wasn't very romantic. He would probably laugh, saying that it was stupid to fight over a girl. Hermione was scared of hearing such a thing from Ron. It would hurt her. And anyway, she wasn't speaking to him anymore. The Kissing Lipstick comment had been clear enough!

"Hermione?" Harry asked after a long silence.

"Harry," Hermione said. "I have discovered a few things about Professor Burns. And I developed several theories, but I hesitated to tell you. I feared you would go and ask her, and since she's ill... I didn't want to hide it from you, but... I wanted to know more before telling you."

Harry didn't reply. Would he be angry? Hermione bit her lip.

Harry stared at her. Then he spoke. "That's all right, Hermione," he responded. "There's something I... I didn't tell you either. About the Prophecy."

"The Prophecy?" Hermione asked.

Hermione listened to Harry. He told her what had happened in Dumbledore's office at the end of Fifth Year. What he had learnt about his fate. His last words echoed in Hermione's mind, "and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."

"So?" asked Harry. He looked apprehensive.

Hermione felt shocked at first, but she managed to recover. She didn't want to scare Harry. After all, he was probably scared enough already. "I'm sorry, Harry," she said finally. "I wish Dumbledore could destroy You-Know-Who in your place."

"But he can't," Harry replied

"That Prophecy... that explains a few things," Hermione retorted. "If I understand it well--"

"Either Voldemort kills me," Harry interrupted, "or I kill him or we kill each other. But we can't both survive. At least one of us must die."

Hermione didn't reply. She didn't know what to say.

"I didn't want to tell you," Harry said, "because I knew it would scare you, and that you'd feel sorry for me. I didn't tell Ron either. And I won't for the moment. Except Dumbledore, you're the only one who probably knows. But now... I don't really want to speak more about the Prophecy. I spent my whole summer holidays thinking about it. Tell me about Professor Burns."

Hermione told Harry everything, even her discovery about Grindelwald. Each time she added something, he looked dumbfounded.

"Don't tell Ron, please," Hermione pleaded, when she had finished. "If Ron knows Snape's in love with Burns, he'll laugh. I don't know exactly what happened between Sirius, Burns, and Snape, but I think it's delicate. Remember Burns is... dying. McGonagall said Grindelwald's power consumed him. Infamous Pirates of the Twentieth Century said the same thing. That's probably what Lupin meant when he said you could cause a lot of damage. Burns' life is frail. We must be careful not to hurt her."

***

The following day, Severus Snape entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts class. He hadn't seen Burns at breakfast, and he feared that something had happened to her. Soon, the first years came in. Severus tried to stay calm. He'd had enough of worrying about Burns. The first and last thoughts of his day were to wonder if she was still alive. She could be killed at any moment. And Severus couldn't even reason with her. He couldn't even speak to her. How could he make her understand that he cared more for her than for his own life?

One minute... two minutes... three minutes... His heart beat faster, his breathing accelerated. Would she enter?

The door opened. Burns came in. Severus sighed inwardly. But as usual, his relief would be brief. Burns limped slightly. Her right leg seemed to cause her discomfort. Severus assumed a stoic expression and waited for the hour to pass. When the lesson ended, he stood, determined to have a discussion with Burns. He didn't know what to say. There was too much to say. But he just couldn't let her risk her life!

"Professor Burns," he said, "I told the Headmaster about Lupin."

"I thought you would," she replied without looking at him.

"So..." Severus continued, "Do you have any idea where he is?"

"I guess the Headmaster is in his office," Burns replied.

The Headmaster? Severus frowned. Again, she was making fun of him!

"I was talking about Lupin!" he exclaimed.

"Why are you asking?" Burns replied. "You probably know where he is, since your friends did the trick!"

"I don't know where he is," Severus hissed. "And they are not my friends."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot," Burns retorted ironically, "they are not, since you turned over a new leaf the day Voldemort was defeated."

"I turned against him a long time before," Severus whispered under his breath.

Burns snorted. "Yeah, of course."

Severus understood her sarcasm. He was about to reply, when a man entered the room. Burns turned back and stared at the man, a questioning expression on her face.

"Captain Burns," he said. "Pamblery says the price is not enough. He won't help you unless you give him something much more expensive. Something--"

Pamblery? Winfred Pamblery, who worked at the Ministry?

"So what?" Burns interrupted. "Give him what he wants!"

"But," the man replied, "He wants something from your private collection. Your grandmother's river of diamonds--"

"Give it to him!" Burns responded. "I don't care! She's dead anyway."

"But, Captain," said the guy, "it's just a werewolf!"

So Katarina did it for Lupin? Severus saw her features hardened. She moved forward and knocked the man hard on his face.

"Say that again, and you will be just dead," she replied sharply. "He's a man. And you're lucky I thought you were too, when I saved your life!"

The man bent his head. "I apologise, Capt'n," he said.

"Give Pamblery that bloody river of diamonds!" Burns ordered.

"There will be a problem, Captain," the man replied.

Burns raised an eyebrow.

"Pamblery also demanded you as part of the deal," the man continued.

Severus' felt ire growing inside of him. That was out of the question! She would not...

"What?" Burns demanded. She grimaced. She looked shocked and disgusted. "Me? A price?" Then she laughed. "I should have known. I heard he used to blackmail women. He's a pervert!" she said ironically. She smiled. "Mr. Pamblery wants to speak about prostitution? All right. Tell him that our deal is cancelled. No river of diamonds. No price, whatever it is. However, tell him that I have in my possession several photographs that would be of interest to his wife... and the Daily Prophet! I think the name of the girl was Cindy or Bunny, something like that. I bet he will co-operate freely in exchange for those photos. I had hoped for an honest deal, but if he insists..."

Severus felt better. Pamblery would not touch her. Watching her kiss Malfoy was bad enough, but now... He would never abide such a thing.

The man nodded and left. Burns turned back to Severus. "Oh, you're still there?" she asked. "You should pay attention, Professor Snape. Maybe I have the same kind of photos of you!"

"No you don't," Severus replied. "I will never see a prostitute."

"Oh," Burns replied, "I guess that's because you're not rich enough."

Severus clenched his teeth. "When you've finished with those ridiculous attacks," he hissed, "maybe we'll be able to talk normally."

"Talk about what?" Burns replied. "Oh, maybe about the way you taught Potter Occlumency last year?" she snapped.

Severus was distraught. He didn't expect such a reply. Potter? Occlumency? Why did she speak about that?

"That was a good trap, wasn't it?" Burns continued. "You had Dumbledore's confidence. He told you to teach Potter how to close his mind. And you finally scared the boy and cancelled his lessons. Everything to favour the link he had with Voldemort. Well done!"

Severus' mouth fell agape. He wasn't prepared for such an attack. She had so many reasons to censure him, but she had chosen to speak about Potter.

"I didn't--" he said.

"You what?" Burns interrupted. "Didn't stop his Occlumency lessons? Didn't allow your master to make Potter see Sirius in danger? Didn't delight when you knew Sirius had been killed? Like when he was taken to Azkaban fifteen years ago, although he was innocent?"

"I stopped the Occlumency lessons," Severus hissed, "because Potter watched my memories in Dumbledore's Pensieve, when I left him alone in the room. I didn't do it for the Dark Lord."

"The Dark Lord," Burns repeated with a snort.

Severus felt how disdainful that was. "I agreed to give Potter lessons because the Headmaster asked me to do so," he whispered under his breath. "But I will not be subject to the disrespect of an arrogant student. Potter's little peek into the Pensieve was not a part of the deal. And the boy didn't have any aptitude for the lessons anyway. He wasn't making any progress under my tutelage."

"What a good excuse," Burns retorted. "If Voldemort had asked you to make Potter learn Occlumency, you would have obeyed immediately." She threw him a knowing stare. "I suppose that was amusing to know Potter would be trapped. That Sirius would go and save him. To know this time, Sirius would be killed, instead of being imprisoned."

"I didn't kill Black," Severus hissed, "and he was not taken to Azkaban because of me. Was I delighted when I knew he had been killed? Yes."

"One day, you'll pay for that," Burns snapped.

"I've already paid," Severus replied. "You are unfair with me. I take responsibility for my mistakes, but I refuse the role you give to me. Don't blame me for all that turned bad around you."

Severus turned back and left. His heart sank. She would never forgive him. She would never understand how much he had already paid.

***

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