Ficlet: Coward

Title: Coward
Characters: Minerva, Severus, Remus, Dumbledore, Eileen
Word count and rating: 850 words, G
Notes: For bethbethbeth, a belated birthday ficlet. Various lines taken from the Book-That-Must-Not-Be-Named.



“Coward!” Minerva yelled. She was furious that he had dared attack her. “Coward!”

But he was gone. Out of sight already, a broken window the only evidence of his treachery and departure.

No, the suit of armor outside would corroborate her story. Filius and Pomona had seen his wand raised against her.

Double agent, her arse. She had always known it would end like this.

Minerva shook with rage.

*

The appointment was so unlikely that she had immediately climbed the stairs to the headmaster’s office upon hearing it.

“The Carrows?” Minerva demanded, voice low.

“Indeed,” Severus said slowly, staring at her until she itched to look away. Loyal or disloyal, Eileen Prince’s son had always had an unhealthy love of power over others. Minerva rarely gave him the pleasure of experiencing it.

“There is bold, and then there is foolhardy,” she hissed. “You put us at risk.”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “You assume there is an ‘us,’” he said.

Minerva stared at him. “I wager my life on ‘us,’ young Severus,” she said. “When will you understand that?”

*

“Don’t move!” Minerva commanded, wand drawn.

The shadow at the end of the corridor raised both hands in surrender. “It’s me,” the shadow said, sounding exhausted. “Remus. Black seems to have escaped.”

Minerva’s sigh seemed to fill the castle.

“How convenient.” It was Severus now, at her shoulder, wand still raised. “Minerva, keep your wand trained on Lupin. I’ll return in a moment.”

Only after Severus’ footsteps had faded into the corridor did Remus speak again.

“I give him the opportunity to poison me every month,” Remus said. “Listening to him, you might think it was the other way around.”

“Hands in the air, Lupin,” Minerva replied, imitating Severus’ drawl. “And keep that humor where it belongs.”

*

The Headmaster had been opposed, at first. “He is too young,” he said slowly. “Hardly older than the students. He will abuse the opportunity.”

“Better here than elsewhere,” Minerva countered. Privately, she concurred, but Eileen had stood fast. Convince him, she had said. Whatever it takes. “You taught him as a boy, Albus. You know him.”

Dumbledore templed his hands and closed his eyes.

“He looks up to you,” Minerva said, crossing her fingers under the table. Eileen had showed her the memories of Severus’ last stay at home. His fear was palpable. “He needs guidance.”

Dumbledore looked up at her, eyes bright and concerned. “I will arrange the interview.”

If only it were that easy.

*

There was no owl the bright summer morning Eileen and Severus arrived in the garden of Minerva’s Hogsmeade cottage. Just the tell-tale double pop of Side-Along Apparition and a squawk and the sound of four trunks and a cage squashing her tomatoes.

“Minerva!” Eileen called. “Are you awake?” Minerva held the heavy wooden door open for them. She hugged Eileen as she passed, silencing her apologies before they began. Severus brushed by them both.

Minerva had already made breakfast and put sheets on the extra beds, but Severus still glowered at her.

*

Eileen Prince was married in a stylish, white Muggle dress that skimmed the tops of her knees. She had small bouquet of primroses and a lavender hat pinned on her dark hair at a jaunty angle.

She was also as sick as a Krup. Minerva held her hat as she leaned over the toilet.

Either nerves or morning sickness. Neither boded well.

“Tell me it will be fine, Minnie,” Eileen said softly. “Please.”

“It will be fine,” Minerva said. She passed Eileen some tissue, and Eileen wiped her mouth.

“How do you know?” Eileen whispered.

“Love,” Minerva said simply.

Eileen blanched. “I don’t even--”

“I”m not talking about Tobias,” Minerva said.

*

The day Severus Snape flew out the window was the day Minerva McGonagall almost lost her faith. When she realized he was gone, she closed her eyes and let out a long, shuddering sigh.

When she opened them again, Filius and Pomona were staring at her, and Harry and Luna had joined them by the broken window.

“He jumped,” she said shortly, forestalling their questions.

“You mean he’s dead?” Harry asked. He was not; they could all see his dark form flapping against the evening sky, incongruous and ridiculous.

Coward!

Horace arrived, a sure sign a crowd was forming. “Harry? My dear boy, what a surprise....Minerva, do explain...Severus...what?”

Minerva pulled back her shoulders and tried to remember where she kept her faith. It was stored somewhere near humor, she was certain. “Our headmaster,” she said dryly. “Has taken a short break.”

That made it sound as if he were sitting by the sea with a drink, Minerva thought. The very idea of Severus sitting by the sea made her want to laugh. But perhaps he was. Perhaps he'd given up the whole thing as a bad job. Perhaps he was back in her cottage in Hogsmeade talking with his mother. Or perhaps he was sitting out on school grounds somewhere, searching for the courage of his convictions.

Now was the time to do so, if there ever was.

Be brave for us, Severus, Minerva thought. Be brave.

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