A Tangled Web (Post-DH)

A Tangled Web

I would like to add a special disclaimer. This chapter includes a scene which appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, "Out of the Fire". The spoken dialogue in that one scene is therefore all Rowling's.

Chapter 1: The Trap is Set

The dungeon Potions laboratory was chilly and damp despite the warm June day outside, and lit only by magical light from torches hung in the age-tarnished metal brackets set at regular intervals along the walls. Severus Snape, standing over a bubbling cauldron of bright-red potion, squinted at his own miniscule handwriting on a parchment unrolled to his right. Was that digit a five or a six? He straightened, rubbing the bridge of his hooked nose. Six, obviously. With the ingredients he had already added, an odd number of stirs made no sense. Picking up his wand, he was about to begin the next step in the process when there was an urgent knock on the door.

Severus swore under his breath. With OWL and NEWT exams in progress, his teaching load was somewhat lighter than usual. Obviously, it was too much to expect to have an afternoon to himself before the end of term, though....

"Come in!" he called out.

The heavy oak door opened to reveal Draco Malfoy, fifth year prefect of Slytherin House. The last time Malfoy had intruded on his private time had involved a half-dead student stuck in a toilet, Severus recalled, a matter that had left the current Headmistress out of her depth. It was not very clear to Severus what, if anything, the woman was qualified to handle. This matter seemed likely to be of a similarly serious nature, for Draco's usually perfectly groomed blond hair was slightly askew, his pale face flushed, and he was breathing heavily, as though he had come in a hurry.

"Ah, Draco," Severus said smoothly. "Do come in. I have just been working out some details of a potion I plan to present in my NEWT class."

Draco glanced over at the cauldron with some interest, and then regretfully back at Severus.

"Professor Snape, sir," he said, a bit breathless, "Professor Umbridge has asked to see you in her office."

Severus inwardly cursed the new Headmistress. He had better things to do with his time than endeavor (or seem to endeavor) to meet her whims. Unfortunately, he could not ignore the woman. He moved back towards the cauldron to bank the flames. Umbridge would have an emergency at such a touchy stage in the process.

"Sir..." Draco trailed off. "She says it is urgent," he added.

"Very well, Draco, I am coming," Severus said. "I feel confident that the Headmistress can spare the time I need to ensure the building does not burn down while I deal with the newest crisis."

Draco grinned, acknowledging Severus's wit, and waited for his Head of House to set things to rights on the workbench and leave.

"So, Draco," Severus asked as they walked towards Umbridge's office, "what is the nature of today's emergency?"

"It's Potter, sir," Draco said, a satisfied smirk on his face as he contemplated the trouble in which Potter had apparently landed himself.

"Potter," Severus repeated dismissively. His stomach twisted, whether from worry, or loathing, he could not have said himself. The boy had a talent for trouble. "What has the 'Boy Who Lived' gotten up to now?"

"Professor Umbridge caught him trespassing in her office," Draco said gleefully. "Apparently he was trying to speak with someone using her Floo. She thinks it might be Dumbledore!"

Severus resisted the urge to correct Draco's failure to use the Headmaster's proper title. Dumbledore was, for the moment, a fugitive from justice. A state of affairs from which the Dark Lord and his supporters, Severus himself included, would be expected to take no little satisfaction.

"And you just happened to be nearby?" Severus asked.

He listened distractedly to Draco's boastful account of the Inquisitorial Squad's role in the capture not only of Potter, but also of his little gang of Gryffindors, his accomplices in the break-in. What they thought they were playing at, he could not fathom. If this really was an attempt to contact Dumbledore, Severus was going to wring Potter's neck himself rather than leaving that pleasure to Umbridge. Potter ought to have come to him if there was a serious reason to contact Dumbledore. He could contact Dumbledore with no risk of exposing Dumbledore's location, and no risk of expulsion for Potter.

"Well done, Draco," Severus commented as Draco ceased his explanations.

Malfoy smiled and opened the door to Umbridge's office. Severus followed him inside, taking the scene in rapidly.

"You wanted to see me, Headmistress?" said Severus, keeping his face black and his stance casual in a display of his complete indifference to the situation.

"Ah, Professor Snape," said Umbridge, standing up with a broad, insincere smile. "Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

That was certainly not going to happen, Severus decided instantly.

"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter," he said, looking at her with mock concern. Well, she believed she had, anyway. Evidently, she knew no more of Potions than of the subject she taught. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

The stupid woman had the grace to look embarrassed.

"You can make some more, can't you?" she said, her voice suddenly sweet and girlish.

If she proceeded to bat her eyelashes at him, he might just do something he would later regret.

"Certainly," said Severus with a smirk. "It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."

"A month?" Umbridge squawked, dropping her pretense at sweetness in her anger. "A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"

"Really?" said Severus, looking over at Potter with some interest. Would the idiot boy realize he was addressing the question to him?

"Well, it doesn't surprise me," he continued, his eyes still on Harry. "Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."

Potter met his gaze unflinchingly, his face commendably blank. A highly unlikely scenario swam into view in his mind as Severus employed his Legilimency. He saw Sirius Black, in the Hall of Prophecy, under torture by the Dark Lord. How Potter thought this might occur without anyone noticing in a place as busy as the Ministry, on a workday afternoon, Severus could not quite understand.

"I wish to interrogate him!" repeated Umbridge angrily, and Severus looked back at her now openly furious face.

Hopefully, Potter would realize his looking away meant that he had received the message.

"I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!" she demanded.

"I have already told you," said Severus smoothly, "that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison Potter - and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did - I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling."

Severus looked back at Potter, who was staring at him intently. Apparently still hoping to communicate, alas. Well, Umbridge would at least serve to prevent him from doing anything rash.

"You are on probation!" shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Severus looked back at her, his eyebrows raised. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

Probation, with a week of term left. Now there was a threat to conjure with, Severus thought to himself. He gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave.

"He's got Padfoot!" Potter shouted. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"

Severus stopped, with his hand on the door handle. Blast the boy; surely, even Potter would understand that he could not acknowledge any of these attempts at communication openly?

"Padfoot?" cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Severus. "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?"

Severus looked back at Potter.

"I have no idea," said Severus coldly. "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

He closed the door behind him with a snap, before Potter could start naming names or Umbridge could fire him, and swept away down the corridor towards the Entrance Hall. Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad had Potter well in hand, but just in case there was something to the vision Potter had shown him, Severus had to investigate.

A visit to Order Headquarters was, lamentably, unavoidable. He could no more use the Floo than could Potter, since the Headmistress's fire was the only one not monitored by the Ministry. There was no one else he could send in his stead, as he was the only member of the Order remaining at Hogwarts. And he was most certainly not going to send a Patronus message to Black. The prospect held considerably less appeal than speaking to the man in person, and that was saying a lot.

On his way to the Entrance Hall, Severus considered his next move. At this time of day, someone might see him leaving the castle. He preferred not to make it obvious that he was leaving the grounds entirely. He would dip into the Forest and skirt along it to get close to the gates. On his way back, assuming, as seemed likely, that he would not be compelled to stay and organize a rescue mission for Black, he could stop to collect some fresh ingredients for Veritaserum to explain his absence, in case anyone asked. Neither the first, nor, he was sure, the last time he would be missing supper over one of Potter's boneheaded escapades.