THE MOST FAITHFUL

THE HEARING

When they reached the dimly lit candlelit living room, Remus hurried to light the large fireplace as everyone scattered around the room.

Hermione and Ginny sat on the floor, scratching on the big carpet, the twins sat on old leather armchairs in the corner, Ron and Harry took their places on the sofa by the fireplace and Byron leaned absently on a dark stool a few steps away. from them, followed on sight by Snape who sat down in another chair by the side of the sofa.

It was an almost grotesque image to see him sitting there among all the others, with his usual black tunic and serious gaze, he seemed almost out of place.

Remus went to join the others sitting around a small wooden table talking softly.

"So... are you a ministry agent?" Harry asked looking at Byron curiously.

"Yes, in Division C actually." he nodded.

"How did you become an Agent?"

"Well after school I went to the academy for three years and then I joined the agents. In the detective section. I found the criminals and the Aurors took the glory." he explained him.

"Have you been to Hogwarts?"

"Yes I was a Slytherin."

"I never would have said that." Harry admitted tilting his head.

"But you are a Gryffindor." Byron said smiling before turning to look at the other boys. "In truth, you are all Gryffindors here, Severus save me, I'm surrounded!" He screamed, waving his arms in alarm.

Snape simply raised an eyebrow at him seriously.

"He was always so emotional even as a young man." Byron commented, straightening himself.

"Were you all in school together?" Ron asked curiously.

"Yes, I was in the same year as Sirius and James, that is, everyone has their own pain."

"You have ... you were in the same year as my parents at Hogwarts." Harry whispered, staring into the nearby flames.

"Yes, we also had several lessons together, your father was a real idiot."

"What? My father wasn't an idiot." he hastened to say Harry looking up.

"Oh yes, he was just striding around the castle with his beloved snitch."

"He was striding." Ron repeated with a chuckle.

"But your mother was great." he continued with a smile. "She One of the best of our year, maybe even better than Severus."

"Talk the one who made cauldrons explode." Snape intervened.

"I was experimenting." Byron defended himself spreading his arms slightly.

"Blowing up cauldrons." Snape repeated, arching an eyebrow.

"My art is not appreciated." Byron whispered, looking down. Harry smiled as he looked back into the flames.

"What's not clear to you about staying away from Potter?"

"I didn't do anything, we just talked a little." Byron said running a hand through his hair, feeling it short again still gave him a weird feeling.

"That's the problem, you talk too much."

"I know you were better at potions, you passed your notes to Lily all the first year." he remembered him with a smile.