Snape knew perfectly well that Dumbledore hadn't wanted Pettigrew dead, any more than he desired the death of any other Death Eater тАУ hence the Order's reliance on spells that subdued but did not kill. And that was why he had no intention of ever revealing to Albus just how much plotting had gone into today's "dreadful accident". But if the Headmaster imagined that Snape would willingly leave such an obvious threat to Harry alive and kicking, he was well and truly senile.
Snape watched dispassionately as Shacklebolt tried to scoop Pettigrew into an evidence bag. Bits kept dripping off the sides, much to the lanky Auror's disgust.
Dumbledore could be a powerful ally, but it would have to be on Snape's terms тАУ not his own. Snape could no longer blindly trust the Headmaster, not only because of the older wizard's past mistakes тАУ from the Dursleys to Sirius тАУ but also because it was obvious that he had a completely different opinion as to how best to prepare and protect Harry for the battle ahead.
Snape knew that he had chosen a long and lonely road for himself, one on which there might be allies, but none with whom he could share the big picture. He trusted no one to take as good care of Harry as he himself would, not even those who were truly devoted to the boy, such as Sirius or the Weasleys or possibly even the Headmaster. No, only he was willing to do whatever it took to protect the boy тАУ whether that meant ruthlessly eliminating a threat like Pettigrew or depriving Harry of some of the dubious pleasures of childhood, such as innocence about his ultimate role in Voldemort's downfall.
Still, it would all be worth it if, at the end of the day, Voldemort was vanquished and Harry was alive. He would deal with his conscience at that point, and pay whatever penance he had to pay. So long as Harry survived, it would be worth it.
TBCтАж
*Chapter 40*: Chapter 40
Late that afternoon, Snape was correcting papers at his desk in his quarters when Harry burst in. Snape rose to his feet, but before he could scold the brat for his noisy entry, Harry tossed his bookbag onto the couch and grabbed him around the waist. "We did it, Da!" the little monster yelped in delight. "We got him! Your plan was brilliant! Did you see how the snakes chased him around the room? Did you see how s'prised everyone was? What was the spell you used to turn him back into a human? I didn' even hear you say it! Did you see I did what you told me and stayed out of the way? What happened to Neville's potion? He said you said he doesn't have to take Potions any more, is that true? Did th' Headmaster figure out what happened? Wasn't Moony great? Madame Bones is scary, isn't she? For a minute there, I thought she was gonna hex you! Why doesn't she like you? Did I do a good job? Huh? It was good that Draco got kinda huffy, wasn't it? Did you know he was gonna do that? What happens now? Will Padfoot be able to come here to Hogwarts to visit us now? Didn't I do a good job? Did you see how I didn' do anything тАУ not even when he tried to grab me? I just stood there and acted s'prised like everyone else!"
"Of course I saw everything, you foolish child. I was right there, was I not?" Snape huffed, but he couldn't bring himself to give the boy the sharp rebuke his unseemly behavior deserved. After all, he was the first person to actually compliment Snape on his cunning plan. "Sit down."
Harry obediently seated himself on the couch, but he was too excited to sit still. He began to bounce in place. "Did you see how s'prised Ron an' Hermione were? Ron's still pretty upset about Scabbers an' Percy's really upset. Th' Headmaster came an' got Ron out of Charms this afternoon t'talk to the Aurors some more. Did you know that? And they're gonna talk to the rest of the Weasleys too. They're not going to get into any trouble, are they? What will the Aurors ask them? Do you think -"
"Potter!" Snape had seated himself next to the brat and the constant bouncing was making him seasick. One Sticking hex later and Harry jerked to a halt with a comical expression of surprise. "Oi!" he yelped, finding his posterior immovably adhered to the heavy couch. He squirmed around, but couldn't work loose.
"Stop that infernal fidgeting," Snape said sternly. "I need to speak with you and I cannot do it while you are acting as though you are sitting on a nest of fire hornets. You know perfectly well the hex does not cause you any pain."
"I didn't say it did," Harry protested, his surprise at Snape's words successfully distracting him from his efforts to pry his bum off the sofa. "I know you won't hurt me."
Snape cleared his throat, doing his best to ignore the lump that the boy's trust-filled expression had caused. "Yes, well, then you need not wiggle around like that. I will release the hex when you demonstrate you can sit properly like a young gentleman and carry on a civilized conversation."
"Y'sir." Harry obediently settled down and even folded his hands in his lap.
"That's bet-" Snape began, only to have Harry interrupt, his eyes once again shining with excitement.
"But you did see what happened, right? I mean, with Pettigrew tryin' to grab me an' all? It was awf'ly brave of Neville to grab me out of the way, wasn't it?"
Snape sighed. He was beginning to have a certain sympathy for Lucius Malfoy's draconic methods for teaching his son pureblood etiquette. "Yes, I saw what Longbottom did. It was quiteтАж helpful."
"Are you gonna award him points?" Harry asked, a glint of mischief in his eye. He knew his father's reputation for not awarding points to non-Slytherin Houses.
"No," Snape said, cutting off that line of inquiry before it could progress any further. "I am however going to reward you."
Harry's excited chatter broke off with a gasp of surprise. "Me? What for?" he asked.
Snape scowled at him. Stupid books, insisting on positive reinforcement. "You followed my instructions, did you not? And resisted any absurd Gryffindorish feats of bravado? You did not attempt to capture Pettigrew yourself nor interfere in any way with the adults in the room."
Harry nodded, eyes wide. "You told me not to."
"Quite right." Snape did not add how surprised he had been at the boy's obedience. James Potter would never have been able to resist jumping in once the apparent chaos had erupted, nor would that idiot Black. That was why тАУ despite the mutt's loud protests тАУ only Remus had participated in the plot. Snape had had no faith in Black's ability to remain on the sidelines and step in only if the plan had failed and Harry was in immediate jeopardy.
"And because you did as you were told, you have earned a reward." He ignored the incredulous joy breaking over the boy's face and accio'd a small box. "Here."
Harry eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper. "Wow!" he yelled. "A whole box of chocolate frogs! Thanks, Da!" He hurled himself at the man, somewhat hampered by the still-active Sticking hex.
"Yes, yes, you're welcome," Snape muttered, embarrassed. The brat was acting as if he'd been given some priceless treasure, not just a few sweets. He hastily patted the boy's shoulder before sitting him up again.
Harry stared at the box of frogs with a mixture of disbelief and delight. He had never before received any kind of present for behaving properly. In his experience, doing as he was told was the only way to avoid a smarting bottom or an angry diatribe. He had never heard of getting rewarded for it!