Like Moths To A Flame

Eighteen: The Bearer Of Bad News

Harry

The start of recess grew longer with each passing minute, and still Hermione did not return to the courtroom. Harry was starting to get nervous, and rightfully so, because if he had to tell Severus Snape that his wife was missing, he would literally flip out and go on a rampage.

Finally, the court called him up to the Minister's pulpit. Kingsley Shacklebolt leaned over and whispered, "Where is Hermione, Harry? Didn't you two go out to lunch?"

Harry fingered the collar of his robes. "Yes, which is why I'm worried. It's not like her to be late for anything. She also recently told me about...you know, her recent nuptials to someone we both know. I'm a bit scared of telling him that his wife has gone missing from work, he and I really had no lost love between us, if you get my meaning, sir."

Kingsley took off his blue cap, and rubbed his shiny bald head, his lined brown face crinkling with deep concern. "I cannot leave the courtroom, Mr Potter," Kingsley said, "Court is still in session." He wrote down something on a bit of parchment, and handed it to him. It was an address to a Catholic Church.

"Sir, please. Snape hates me," Harry practically begged. "I'm talking like 'I wish you were boiled in Draught of Living Death, kind of hatred.' Now, I have no freaking idea why Hermione tied herself to that git, but he is scary as shit when angry, and he's going to think I took her first."

If he expected sympathy from the Minister of Magic, he was sadly mistaken. "Mr Potter, you are a trained auror. Are you going to stand there and tell me that you are terrified of talking to your former Potions teacher, simply because the wizard hates you personally? Is that what I am hearing right now?"

Harry could feel piss run down his leg. "Y-Yes, Minister. Snape hates me. He won't listen to reason."

Kingsley Shacklebolt's dark brown eyes bored into him. "Oh, well that is just too bad, because either you choose to tell Mr Prince about his wife's disappearance, or, you can choose to clear out your desk. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Henry James Potter?!"

Harry had never been called by his formal name in quite that fashion before. But under the Minister of Magic's hard, intense gaze, he felt like an errant little boy once again. He quickly left, piddling down his leg all the while, and knowing that there were wet spots on his pants. Gross.

He grabbed his personal things, and apparated to St Mary's Catholic Church. The church was large, ornate, and gothic, exactly the sort of church a former deatheater might frequent. Oh, goody. The only thing he could believe was that Severus Snape would, no doubt, be able to play a fairly convincing Priest. He certainly dressed like one in all the time he knew him as his Potions teacher at Hogwarts. He tried the big door knocker in the shape of a large gargoyle, and then the doorknob. The front door was unlocked.

He went inside, just as the heavens decided to open up and downpour above them. Inside, beautiful stained glass windows of Christ and His disciples were shown in great evidence, as well as the Blessed Virgin. A huge marble crucified Christ on the cross hung high above the formal altar where a kneeling figure covered head to toe in black robes, was praying the rosary, and making the Sign of the Cross.

Harry watched this Priest pray, and he had to admit that religion must be a solace to most people, but not him. What had God ever done for him but take away every person that meant a damn to him? The answer was nothing.

He moved to leave, and he heard Snape's voice, "Are you here for penance or redemption, Mr Potter?"

"I...um, I came to deliver bad news...r-regarding Hermione," Harry stammered.

Snape rose an eyebrow, and sighed heavily, "Do kneel by the altar, Potter, you act like I am going to bite you, or curse you."

Harry reluctantly knelt beside his former Potions teacher. He noticed Snape's wedding band, and it really felt like a kick in the nuts, because it made Hermione being married feel more real to him.

"You may curse me yet," Harry said, and took a few deep breaths. "Hermione is missing. We went out to lunch, because I'm a witness in the deatheater trials."

Snape scowled at him. "And you failed to stop whoever grabbed her. I wish I could say that I was surprised that you couldn't stop whoever kidnapped my wife, but I suppose some of the blame lies at my doorstep. I trusted that the aurors would keep her safe while she was doing her job."

Snape got up to pace around the room. Snape muttered curse words under his breath, and then he turned to him, a cold smile playing about his face.

"Sir?...Professor?"

"You are coming with me, Potter," Snape said firmly. "You and I are going on a little adventure, and if you do not consent to this, so help me, I will Imperio you."

"That's illegal!"

"You want to redeem yourself in my eyes? You will go with me," Snape said firmly.

"Fine! But we're not doing anything illegal, I am an auror," Harry asserted.

Snape smirked. "Whatever. You go ahead and die by your narrow Gryffindor ideals. I am going to survive, thank you very much."

So it was, that two former rivals at Hogwarts teamed up, and attempted to find Hermione. But the problem was, was that this teaming up was just what their enemies wanted, and in the middle of the night, while on the run, Harry Potter caved under pressure, and was taken in by the New Salemer's in exchange for the Prince's to be reunited at last...