Swept From the Past

Chapter 20: Mrs. Black

Professor Burns woke up the following day in her bed. Her cloak and her gloves had been put on her chair, as usual. She realised she had slept in her clothes. How did she manage to come back here? She couldn't remember. The last thing she remembered was a feeling of safety and warmth. And actually, she didn't want to remember. The illusion of security and tenderness was more unbearable than anything. But she would deal with it later.

She looked around. Something wasn't quite right. There was something different in her bedroom. Then she noticed that a vase full of red roses stood on her table. She frowned. What was that rubbish? She stood up to examine the flowers better. She looked at them suspiciously. There was a card in it. She put her gloves on and took the card delicately, in order not to touch the thorns. Maybe they were poisoned. Then she read the message:

"Dear Professor Burns,

I find myself in a dilemma. I wanted to give you a Christmas present, but I know you would never accept it. So I opted for these flowers. Of course it won't mean anything to you. I will probably make the situation worse with this mark of interest, as always. But how could I make you understand I care about you otherwise?

You can throw these roses away if you want. But you must know I gave them to you. Flowers have a language. You know what red roses are for.

Merry Christmas,

Severus Snape."

Professor Burns scowled. "That's a trap," she said. "How dare he offer me red roses?" she continued angrily. "Very amusing, Snivellus! When I'm finished with Bellatrix Lestrange, you'll be next. You'd better pray for her to kill me!" She paused. "Red roses..." she repeated. She snorted. "Tell me Snivellus... what is this in the language of flowers?"

She touched the flowers with her left hand. They shrivelled and died.

***

The thirty-first of December came. Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room. She was seated on an armchair in front of the fire, reading a book. Crookshanks slept on her knees and purred. The Weasleys and Harry were outside, fighting with snowballs. But Hermione had refused to come. She remembered her last snowball fight with bitterness.

She hadn't uttered a word to Ron since he had kissed her. She would have wanted to confide in someone. But it was too humiliating. Hermione heard the door to the common room open. She cast a quick glance. Ron entered. She sunk into the armchair, hoping that he would not notice her presence. What was Ron doing here? Why hadn't he stayed outside with the others?

"Hermione--" Ron said.

"Leave me alone," Hermione replied sharply.

Ron didn't say anything more. But he remained stubbornly in the room. "What're you doing?" he asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione retorted coldly. "I'm writing a letter to Viktor."

There was a silence.

"Er..." Ron said. "Er..."

God, how irritating he was! Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, was there something you wanted to say?" she snapped.

"What?" Ron replied. His face had turned red. He looked awkward.

Hermione didn't respond. She turned back to her reading. At least, she tried to make Ron think she was reading. A few seconds passed.

"I'm sorry, ok!" Ron shouted suddenly. Then he went out of the common room and snapped the door behind him.

Hermione didn't expect Ron to apologise. She was surprised. Ron looked really afflicted by the situation. Hermione bit her lip. She felt a little guilty. Ron probably wanted to make up with her. But the memory of her humiliation was still fresh in her mind. Hermione promised she would try to be a little less cold with Ron. After all, it was New Year's Eve.

She gently pushed Crookshanks from her knees and stood up. Then she left her common room. She didn't know if she wanted to go outside, but she needed to walk a little. Maybe she would go to the library. Or maybe she could visit Dobby? She decided going to the kitchens would be a good idea.

When she entered, she saw that the plates were laid out on a single table in the middle of the room, exactly like in the Great Hall. Twenty elves were preparing dinner. Hermione was surprised to see so few of them. But she remembered that there weren't very many people eating at Hogwarts this evening. A few house-elves stared at her. But they didn't bow like they did the previous times. Hermione felt happy. She was convinced S.P.E.W. had worked. She just wondered why some of them looked angry. Maybe they had too much work to do?

"Miss Hermione Granger," Hermione heard someone say. She turned back. It was Dobby.

He was dressed differently from the other house-elves as usual. But for once, his clothes matched. At least, they were the same colour - blue. Dobby wore a sweater Hermione recognised as having been knitted by Mrs. Weasley. A big 'R' was placed in front, so it must have come from Ron. Dobby wore shorts that descended below his knees. He wore a blue sock and a grey one with green stripes. He also had a cap on his head with holes for his ears.

"Hello Dobby!" Hermione said.

"Dobby is pleased to see Miss Granger here!" Dobby responded.

"Could you please call me Hermione, Dobby?" Hermione asked.

"Dobby will never dare call Miss by her name," Dobby replied, "but he will try to call her Miss Hermione instead."

"All right," Hermione retorted. After all, it was a start. "You are very well dressed today," Hermione said.

"Dobby has been helped, Miss," Dobby retorted. "By Cooky."

Cooky? That was strange. Hermione was sure she had already heard this name somewhere. "Who is Cooky?" Hermione asked.

"Cooky is Professor Burns' house-elf," Dobby replied.

Suddenly, Hermione remembered she had seen Cooky's name in The Quibbler.

"Dobby can introduce her to Miss Hermione, if she wants," Dobby said.

"It would be a pleasure," Hermione replied.

Dobby smiled. "Will Miss Hermione follow Dobby?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. Dobby led her to a door. Hermione went though it and found herself in a room adjoining the kitchen. Twenty bunk beds were arranged along the walls of the room, some to the right and others to the left. Hermione thought of Kreacher, who had just a cupboard off the kitchen as a room. The Hogwarts' elves were treated better than Sirius' old house-elf.

"That's where the house-elves sleep, Miss," Dobby said. "But it's almost empty at this hour. The castle needs to be cleaned very often. There are many rooms like that in the castle." He paused. "Cooky!" Dobby called. He looked upward.

Hermione noticed the presence of another house-elf, sitting on her bed. The house-elf seemed old. She had big yellow eyes, a twisted nose, and large bat-like ears. She was wearing a Hogwarts uniform. Cooky descended from her bed. She bowed in front of Hermione.

"Hello, Cooky," Hermione said.

"Cooky is pleased to meet you, Miss," Cooky replied.

"Cooky gave Dobby advice to choose his clothes," Dobby said. "Cooky has a good taste. She has a lot of clothes. But Cooky only wears them on her free time."

A lot of clothes? Hermione was surprised. "You have clothes?" Hermione asked. "But I thought you were in Professor Burns' service?

"Cooky has been freed by Captain Burns' parents," Cooky replied. "They were good masters. They wanted to pay Cooky, but Cooky refused. Now, Cooky is flattered to serve Captain Burns, although Cooky is free."

Hermione was dumbfounded. So the Burnses had freed their house-elf?

"Cooky is in Hogwarts for a long time," Dobby said. "For around twenty years."

"Twenty years?" Hermione asked. "But you said you were at Professor Burns' service!"

"Cooky came to Hogwarts when Captain Burns was still at school," Cooky said, "when Cooky's masters was murdered." Her eyes filled with tears. Hermione had a handkerchief in her robes. She gave it to the elf.

"Cooky thanks Miss," Cooky said. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose loudly. "When Captain Burns left Hogwarts for London for the Auror training program," Cooky continued, "she asked Cooky to stay in Hogwarts. She wanted Cooky to be happy with other house-elves. Now she's back, Cooky decided to serve her again."

Hermione found that touching. Cooky seemed to be very attached to Professor Burns.

"How was Professor Burns when she was younger?" Hermione questioned.

A flash of sadness passed into the elf's yellow eyes. "Happier," she replied.

Hermione would have wanted to ask more questions. But she heard the door open behind her. She turned back. Professor Burns entered.

"Miss Granger," Burns said coolly. "What are you doing here? I thought the students didn't have the right to come here."

"I came to visit Dobby," Hermione replied.

"Hmmm," Burns responded evasively. She didn't seem very interested to know more. "Cooky," she said, "do you know where my school syllabus is? I can't find it."

"Master Snape asked Cooky to bring your school syllabus to him," the elf replied. "He said Captain Burns had forgotten to inform him about the next lessons. Master Snape said he would give it back to you tomorrow."

Master Snape? Hermione was puzzled.

"There's no Master Snape," Burns replied sharply. "There's just a Mister Snape. How many times must I tell you not to call him that? He's a Potion master. Not your master." Burns rolled her eyes and looked irritated. "Don't forget you are free," she continued. "And tell Snivellus that if he wants something from me, he has to ask me."

"Will Captain Burns excuse Cooky?" Cooky replied. "Cooky is old. She has taken bad habits."

Burns turned back and left without a word.

"Master Snape?" Hermione asked.

The elf looked awkward. "Er... when Cooky arrived," Cooky replied, "she... thought 'Master' was the title of Mister Snape. Since, she never stopped calling him 'Master.' Captain Burns doesn't want Cooky to call him that."

Since Burns hated Snape, that seemed normal. Hermione said goodbye to Dobby and Cooky. She went in the direction of the Great Hall to have dinner. She wondered what would happen the following year.

***

Two days after, Professor McGonagall was in Dumbledore's office when someone knocked at the door. Filch entered. He had a confused look on his face.

"Headmaster," he said. "Someone from the Ministry is asking to see a certain Mrs. Black."

Professor McGonagall wondered what it was all about. Mrs. Black? The only Mrs. Black she knew was dead, her screaming portrait hanging in Grimmauld Place. What a strange request from the Ministry!

"Really, Argus?" Dumbledore answered softly. He looked at Filch quietly behind his half-moon spectacles. "But we don't have any Mrs. Black here."

"That's what I told him," Filch replied, "but he insists that she's here."

"Let him enter, Argus," Dumbledore said.

"All right, Headmaster," Filch responded.

A few seconds later, a small, bald man entered the room. He was dressed in a violet robe. He had a violet, pointed hat, and round glasses. He carried a little case, which seemed extremely heavy. "Thanks for receiving me, Headmaster," the man said warmly. "I'm Mr. Tyron from the Department of Muggle Procedures and Frauds. I've been sent by the Ministry of Magic. I have a subpoena for Mrs. Black." He gave a piece of parchment to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore read the parchment. "I'm sorry," he replied, "but we don't have any Mrs. Black here, Mr. Tyron."

"Oh..." Mr. Tyron said. "But I know for sure she teaches here..." he added. "Let me see... yes!" he said enthusiastically. He took another piece of parchment from his case. He read the message quickly. "Mrs. Black... who married Mr. Sirius Black in April last year... in France." He turned the parchment "Oh, yes, it's here... her maiden name is Miss Katarina Burns."

Professor McGonagall frowned. What? Professor Burns had married Sirius Black? Minerva cast Dumbledore a quick glance. But he curiously didn't look surprised. Minerva wondered why Burns had married Black, after what had happened to her fifteen years ago. She thought Burns would have never tried the experiment again.

"Argus," Dumbledore said, "could you ask Professor Burns to come in my office? I would like to congratulate her."

Filch, Minerva, and Mr. Tyron jumped. Minerva wondered why Dumbledore gave such a response. Filch looked surprised, but he nodded and left.

"Congratulate her?" Mr. Tyron asked.

"That is what people do in such circumstances," Dumbledore replied. "I would have wanted a little more time to buy her a wedding present. It is customary to offer something to the bride and groom."

Minerva was puzzled. However, something told her the Headmaster knew about this marriage already.

"But this union is a fraud!" Mr. Tyron retorted. "First, the union was never registered with our offices. As you know, each wizard's marriage must be registered by the Ministry of Magic. Second, Sirius Black is a dangerous criminal. As an Auror, Miss Burns had the duty to capture him and bring him back to Azkaban. Espousing him proves she had contact with him. According to law three hundred and fifty sixth of our magical code, article B, that's considered a betrayal. Miss Burns could be imprisoned for that."

Minerva wondered what Professor Burns would do to get out of trouble this time. When the Ministry investigated someone, it never ended well. They wouldn't abandon the charges like that. Especially with such proofs against Burns.

Someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," Dumbledore said.

Professor Burns entered.

"Professor Burns," the Headmaster said. "May I introduce Mr. Tyron. He works for the Ministry of Magic at the Department of Muggle Procedures and Frauds."

"Oh," Burns replied quietly. She didn't look especially anxious. "Good morning Mr. Tyron."

"Good morning Miss Burns," Mr. Tyron retorted courteously.

"I would prefer if you called me Professor Burns or Captain Burns," Burns said softly. "I feel like an old maid when I'm called Miss."

Professor McGonagall was surprised to see Professor Burns so polite.

"That's precisely the reason for my presence," Mr. Tyron said.

"Congratulations," the Headmaster said. "It's always a pleasure to know a colleague got married."

"You're welcome," Burns replied.

Professor McGonagall wondered what that little game meant.

Mr. Tyron looked dumbfounded. He cleared his throat. "Er," he said, "I'm afraid that I can't congratulate you like I should, Professor Burns. I have a subpoena for you." He handed the parchment to her.

"Thank you," Burns replied coolly, "but you can keep your piece of paper. I'm sorry you had to come here to bring me this ridiculous subpoena. But be assured I compliment the Department of Muggle Procedures and Frauds for its serious work."

Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. Mr. Tyron's eyes opened wide. Dumbledore looked amused.

"Are you saying you refuse to appear before the court?" Mr. Tyron asked.

"Actually," Burns replied, "Yes. The Department of Muggle Procedures and Frauds must not have been informed that I have been pardoned by Minister Fudge. As such... your summons doesn't have value anymore."

Pardoned? Minerva McGonagall couldn't believe her ears. Minister Fudge had pardoned Professor Burns? Although he had sent her a Howler? Fudge had been furious. Minerva remembered he had talked about 'a certain arrangement with Sirius Black.' Fudge still considered Black a dangerous criminal, so why had he given her a reprieve?

Mr. Tyron's mouth fell agape. Then he scratched his head awkwardly. "I will check everything in the Ministry. Sorry for having bothered you, Captain Burns."

"You did your job," Burns retorted. "Have a nice day."

Mr. Tyron took leave of them. He closed the door behind him.

"I don't understand," Minerva asked.

"Minister Fudge had no interest in bringing Professor Burns to Azkaban," Dumbledore replied.

"Indeed," Burns retorted. She laughed. "Fudge and I have a deal. Sad, sad world, where you can corrupt everyone with money."

McGonagall frowned. "Did Fudge really pardon you in exchange for money? He seemed furious with you."

"He was," Burns retorted. "But since he gets a percentage of my wealth, he chose to let me alone. The perfume of illegality smells good! After all, most of the Death Eaters were acquitted because they paid their judges. Why couldn't I do the same? Getting married to an innocent man is not as grave as working for Voldemort!"

"Did you know, Headmaster?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Of course I knew," Dumbledore said. "I was present. Alastor was Sirius' witness."

Minerva sighed and rolled her eyes. She felt angry. Why had no one told her about that marriage? She hoped no one else would discover it.

***

A few days later, everyone was gathered in the Great Hall to have breakfast. Harry was glad to see that Ron and Hermione almost spoke to each other. Ron and Hermione's responses to each other were cold, limited to 'yes' or 'no,' but it was better than before. Harry noticed Professor Burns was not seated at the teachers' table, as she usually did. But she would probably arrive in a few minutes. Suddenly, a hundred of owls flew in the Great Hall and delivered their letters. Hedwig landed on the table. She had an edition of the Daily Prophet in her claws.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped. Harry turned his head to her. Her face had whitened. "Look at the Daily Prophet!"

Harry took his edition and stared at the headline:

"CAPTAIN BURNS, POWERFUL AUROR OR WIFE OF THE DANGEROUS CRIMINAL SIRIUS BLACK?

"Captain Burns, the powerful Auror known for her brilliant missions on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, is again embroiled in controversy, writes Lola Portman, Special Correspondent. Indeed, we've recently learned that Miss Burns has secretly entered into an illegal marriage with the dangerous criminal Sirius Black on the eighth of April last year.

"She has always acted dangerously," said Lucius Malfoy, a former schoolmate of Miss Burns, "and I'm not surprised she married Black! She had dated him, when we were young."

According to our research, Katarina Burns had great success with men. The list of her former lovers includes: Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, James Potter, father of famous Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Gilderoy Lockhart, and Peter Pettigrew.

The notorious Sirius Black was incarcerated at Azkaban for the murder of his friend, Peter Pettigrew, and the violent destruction of a Muggle Street fifteen years ago. In light of these new revelations we can suppose that Captain Burns helped her fiancé to escape from Azkaban three years ago.

Captain Burns, as she likes to be called, works now in Hogwarts as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She has been hired by Albus Dumbledore to carry out this function for what he called "the good of the students." Dumbledore had, before hiring Captain Burns, given the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts to an old, insane Auror, Mad-Eye Moody, and to Remus Lupin, a dangerous werewolf. His other appointments include the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, whose Hippogriff almost killed a young boy, Draco Malfoy, during class..."

"She married Sirius?!" Harry exclaimed, bewildered. He looked up to stare at the teachers' table. He saw he wasn't the only one puzzled by the news. Snape had become completely livid. His jaws were clenched and he squeezed the paper in his hands.

There was great agitation in the Great Hall. Of course, every student talked about Professor Burns. When she entered, everyone stared at her in near total silence. She appeared deep in thought, and didn't notice immediately that everyone stared at her. Suddenly, she stopped and looked around.

"Why are you--?" she asked. Then she paused, and saw the Daily Prophet in the students' hands. She quickly grabbed one of the newspapers, and read it. Her features hardened progressively. She crushed the exemplar and threw it on the floor with anger. She left.

Harry didn't move from his seat. He was astonished. What? She had married Sirius? She had married Sirius and he, his godson, didn't know? Harry was really infuriated.

"Harry," Hermione said, "maybe this is not the truth. You know, that's just the Daily Prophet--"

"No," Harry interrupted. "Now it's time for me to ask Burns for explanations. It doesn't matter if she knows I watched in her Pensieve and inquired about her. And even if she's really ill... I can't keep silent anymore! I want to know what happened! I've had enough of these secrets!" He stood up. Hermione and Ron stood up too. "Don't follow me," Harry said sharply. "This is something I have to deal with all alone."

He ran into the corridors to go to Professor Burns' office. He entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, but the door of her office was locked. Harry uttered a spell to unlock it. He wanted to look into Burns' Pensieves. But the door didn't open. Harry decided he would stay here until Burns came. He waited for several minutes. Then he heard steps outside. Someone would enter the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Harry caught his breath, expecting to see Burns come in, but Snape appeared by the door.

The Potions master saw Harry. He scowled. "What are you doing here, Potter?" he asked coldly.

"I'm waiting for Professor Burns," Harry replied.

"Come back later," Snape hissed. "I have to talk to her first."

"No!" Harry retorted. He wasn't about to let Snape scare him away.

Snape grimaced. "Potter!" he shouted. "Out! Or I'll give you detention!"

"I don't care," Harry replied sharply. Harry felt Snape was furious. "I have to talk to her!" he continued. "Now!"

"Out, Potter!" Snape yelled. "This is none of your business!"

"This is my business!" Harry retorted angrily. "It was Sirius! My godfather! She married Sirius! She loved him! She dated him when they were young and he married her! And he didn't tell me! Neither did she!"

"Potter," Snape barked, "you'd better leave, or I'll--" Snape didn't finish his sentence. Professor Burns entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"You married Sirius?" Harry exclaimed.

"You married Black?" Snape hissed at the same time.

"I don't want to talk about that," Professor Burns snapped.

"You married Sirius?" Harry shouted again.

"Yes, I married Sirius," Professor Burns responded. "Leave now. The both of you!" she added, looking at Snape.

"NO!" Harry and Snape shouted both at the same time again.

"So I'll leave," she replied.

"You can't leave!" Harry yelled. "YOU KNEW MY PARENTS. YOU MARRIED SIRIUS AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

"I didn't know your parents very well, Potter," Burns responded.

"You're a liar!" Harry snapped. "I've seen you were friends with them!"

"And where have you seen this, Master Potter?" she retorted coldly.

"In your Pensieve!" Harry replied. He was too furious to hide this anymore.

"Of course, in my Pensieve!" she said, accentuating the 'P' of Pensieve. "I guess that was the day Alphonso forgot to lock my office! So since you looked in it, you probably know the truth, eh, Potter?"

"I just saw three memories," Harry responded. "And I didn't look in all three Pensieves. Just in one of--"

"You have three Pensieves?" Snape interrupted. He looked puzzled and alarmed. "For yourself? So that's why you don't know anything about Potions anymore? You put your memories in it! Are you insane? This is very dangerous!"

"Oh, shut up, Snape!" Burns retorted violently. "I use the number of Pensieves I want! This is none of your business!"

"I guess it is--" Snape replied.

"I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH!" Harry shouted louder.

"Ok, Potter," Burns said. "I'll tell you the truth. Then you'll leave me alone. I married Sirius, but for only two reasons. First, I... owed it to him. Second, I had a pledge to accomplish."

"I don't understand anything!" Harry replied.

"Shut up, Potter!" Burns snapped. Harry stopped speaking. "A long time ago, Sirius..." she paused. "...well, in short," she continued softer, "he saved my life. And... then he was sent to Azkaban. I wasn't able to do anything for him, although I knew he was innocent. I tried, but it was too late. Many years later, he escaped and I found him in a big forest in South Africa. Everyone in the Wizarding World wanted to bring him back and imprison him again. I helped him to hide. He was your godfather, your real family, except for those bloody Dursleys. He considered the fact that, if he died, you would be all alone again, without legal parent to take care of you. That's why I agreed to marry him, because... it was the only manner to accomplish my other pledge... to Lily..."

"My mother?" asked Harry.

"Lily wanted me to become your godmother," Burns said. "But... for several reasons... I refused. So when Sirius proposed to me, I saw the occasion to repair the damage. When wizards get married, they are linked by a magical contract. For example, if the husband dies, the wife has to accomplish the duties of her husband. In this case, taking care of you."

"But you loved Sirius?" Harry questioned. Of course, she loved him, he saw it!

"God, Harry..." Burns replied.

Harry was surprised. That was the first time he heard Burns call him by his name.

"The ceremony was just a formality so the Ministry would regard me as your legal guardian," Burns continued. "We went to the town hall. We signed forms. We kissed to keep up appearances. And we separated when we left the place. That's all."

"But..." retorted Harry, disturbed, "I saw you with my mother. You wrote you couldn't date Sirius in the evening because it was full moon. You wrote you missed him!" She lied to him! He knew it!

Burns closed her eyes and sighed. She turned her back to Harry. She took a bottle from her robes and had a drink. "That was a long time ago..." she said. "It doesn't matter now."

"But you loved him!" Harry exclaimed. "You went to the Spring Ball with him! I read a love letter you wrote to him! And you told my mother--"

"We weren't talking about Sirius, Harry..." Burns said.

"Yes, it was Sirius!" Harry yelled. "He winked at you! He--"

"Of course he winked at her, Potter!" Snape interrupted sharply. "He was in love with her!"

"But..." replied Harry "...the name my mother wrote started with an 'S'." Harry's eyes flew open wide. The truth suddenly hit him. The strange kindness Snape had shown when Burns had her crisis; the love he seemed to feel for her... "That was him?!" Harry exclaimed. He pointed at Snape. "And the letter--"

"Yes, Harry," Burns responded. She looked exhausted.

Harry was shocked. "You dated him?" he asked, bewildered. "But how... why... when? And... why did you say you never dated any Hogwarts teacher?" Harry shouted.

"Technically," Burns replied, "he was not a teacher yet. He was a Potions assistant."

"But it couldn't be something serious!" Harry exclaimed.

"We were engaged, Potter!" Snape breathed angrily. "That's why she didn't become your godmother! Katarina couldn't--"

"Don't call me this name!" Burns interrupted. "NEVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN, STUPID BASTARD!"

Snape looked moved by her violent reaction. "If Black hadn't been there," he said, "nothing would have happened."

"If Sirius hadn't been there," Burns shouted, "you would have probably killed me on our wedding night!"

"No!" Snape snapped. "Never! I just said that because--"

"I don't care!" snarled Burns. "I should have killed you, instead of trying to kill myself!"

Kill herself? Harry's mouth fell agape. So... the gashes on her wrists... was it possible that Burns did it to herself? She had tried... suicide? Because of... Snape?

"When you left me," Snape said, "I felt as if I had died." Harry couldn't miss the quaver in his voice.

***

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