A kindly look, that time. "I already did, when you and Severus disappeared into the potions lab to arrange for his wand to disgorge Petrificus."
So the headmaster knew already all about Harry's hex-breaking abilities? Harry noted that, but went right back to the topic uppermost in mind. "If you apologised then why was Draco practically in tears when we got back to the bedroom?"
Dumbledore sighed. "I thought it best he understood a few facts about expulsion. The Ministry cannot charge him, let alone convict and imprison him, without a certain amount of proof. This works to our advantage, assuming we can outwit those who actively seek to manufacture evidence against him. However, expulsion is an entirely different matter. Hogwarts is a private institution. Students are permitted to remain entirely at the pleasure of the Board of Governors. Any student can be summarily expelled at any time for any reason whatsoever."
"Or no reason at all," Snape added.
"I thought..." Harry frowned. "Severus made some threats to expel Ron. I thought teachers were in charge of deciding that?"
"Teachers may make a recommendation to expel; the final decision is up to the headmaster, after which parents can appeal the decision to the Board if they wish. All of this is spelled out in the school's charter, Harry. The Board can also move to expel a student. Draco will be allowed to present a defence, but should the Board proceed with the expulsion, there is no right of appeal."
"Not even to the Ministry?"
"Hogwarts is a private institution," the headmaster repeated. "We are subject to educational edicts as I am sure you recall, but the composition of the student body is not a Ministry matter."
"What if the Ministry passed a new charter saying it was..."
"Do you seriously want Fudge deciding who is entitled to a magical education and who is not?" Snape challenged. "Or, Merlin forbid, some idiot determined to promulgate a pureblood aristocracy? All the half-bloods and Muggleborns would find themselves summarily ejected from the school!"
"To think you once advocated that very thing," Dumbledore murmured.
"My son," Snape returned, "does not need to be reminded of that! He is well aware that when I was his age, I held decidedly different ideals and aspirations than I do now. He also knows how I came to understand the truth about wizarding lineage."
"Your son," Albus questioned, "or both of them?"
Snape waved an irritated hand. "I've discussed the matter with Draco as well. At length. He remains more prejudiced than I would prefer, but I understand the reasons for that."
"Draco's all right," Harry protested. "I mean, he used to think blood was everything, and now he says it isn't. He told Hermione she was clever, and he insisted that she be involved in my training so she could be prepared to help out if I get attacked when I'm back in class. And yeah, he's still stuck-up and all, but... well, he's all right, that's all... none of that is going to help him, is it? If the Board of Governors can expel at will..."
"They can. My fear is that Lucius will ensure that they will."
"Why don't they know better than to listen to the likes of him?" Harry erupted. "It's ridiculous! He tried his best to kill students at one point! And they've got to know he belongs in Azkaban. And he's spent months trying to get Draco kicked out of the castle -- don't you think this'll look just a little bit convenient, this whole frame-up?"
"I think Lucius has considered quite carefully how to proceed," Snape murmured. "Well, let's get on with it, shall we? Headmaster, Harry and I will need to speak with Remus Lupin at once. We witnessed the murder on a rather fascinating map, one I believe you have at least a passing familiarity with? Lupin may be able to shed some much-needed light on the entire incident."
Dumbledore narrowed his gaze. "Ah, the map Crouch had for a time." He glanced once at Harry. "Which you made good use of last year to outwit Dolores Umbridge."
"Yeah, thanks for returning it to me."
"What else could I do, given that you have so little of your father's?"
"It wasn't just his. Remus helped make it. So we have to talk to him about how it was made."
Dumbledore tapped his fingertips together, then glanced rather sternly over his half-moon spectacles. "Remus Lupin is occupied at present with Order matters. Vital Order matters, one might say. I would rather not disturb him."
"We most likely only need a few moments of his time, Headmaster," Snape said, the polite words a thin veneer over hard, determined tones.
"It is not a matter of time," Albus explained, turning his back on them to walk over to the couch and sink into it. He gestured for them both to be seated as well. Harry waited until his father took the cue, then followed suit. "What Professor Lupin is doing... well, let me just say that I would prefer he concentrate on it, and not on Hogwarts matters. And too, we should not forget that he had Miss Parkinson in class when he taught here. Yes, yes, far better to leave well enough alone and allow him to focus on his assignment."
"I somehow doubt," Snape drawled, "that Remus Lupin is going to be overcome with a paroxysm of grief that one Slytherin has died and another is accused. In point of fact, he detests both Draco and Pansy. He complained to me more than once that they both were unfailingly disrespectful to him, and insisted I intervene as Head of Slytherin." A thin smile curled Snape's lips. "Naturally, I refused. His lack of classroom management skills was his own problem."
Harry thought that entire speech was unfair, from the presumption that Remus would be uncaring about a Slytherin death to the information that Snape had been as unhelpful as possible towards his Gryffindor colleague. But since arguing those matters wouldn't help convince Dumbledore to put them in contact with Remus, he stayed silent.
Besides, his father had a real thing about respect, didn't he? Probably it was better all around to wait until they were alone before he called Severus an arse.
Dumbledore didn't go so far as to call Snape names, but he made it pretty clear he was thinking them. "Really, Severus!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in a theatrical way that actually called Draco to mind. "Slytherin or no, the young lady was his student, and I can't believe Remus Lupin so hard-hearted as to be completely unaffected by her tragic end. And to hear from your own lips that you aided your students to make his year here rougher than it need be! Moreover, when you knew full well that he was often weakened from his battles with the moon? For shame, Severus, for absolute shame."
"If he was too weak to be teaching, then he should not have been teaching!" Snape roared, the issue still obviously a sore point with him. A really sore point. In fact, such a sore point that his usual strategic demeanour had shattered.
"We don't have to tell Remus about Pansy dying," Harry rushed to say, both to give his father time to calm down and because it was true. "We just need to ask him how the map was put together, and what he knows about how it might have been fooled. That's it, really. We don't need to bring up Draco or Pansy at all."
"I'm afraid I really still must refuse."
"And why is that, Headmaster?" Snape challenged, leaning forward in a way Harry could only think of as predatory. Harry reared back almost instinctively, a bit unnerved even though he knew his father's anger wasn't directed his way.
"I have my reasons," Albus answered in a level voice.
"Do you doubt my discretion? Or Harry's? Perhaps it has escaped your memory that each of us is an expert Occlumens who has resisted Voldemort himself?"