Chapters 191-200

Absurd Suspicions

‘That’s absurd.’ Andromeda’s voice cut through the stunned silence. ‘I cannot remember the last time I’ve heard such nonsense. You honestly expect me to take the warning of an Inferius whose capacity of speech was created by a botched jarvey-musk potion seriously? Because some members of Muggle churches wear robes, you expect us to believe that the Necromancers we’re dealing with may live as Muggles? And not only as Muggles, but as monks? Monks of the Inquisition, possibly risen from the Dead to kill all Muggle-born witches and wizards? That’s—’

‘It’s not absurd at all,’ Hermione snapped. ‘Remember that Order meeting back in November? It was you who said that Umbridge was neither smart nor powerful enough to raise an Inferius on her own! And since you’re acting Minister of Magic now, surely you are aware of the existence and significance of certain historical treaties?’

She ignored Severus’ warning glare and pressed on, ‘And Draco mentioned several times that Umbridge was in contact with representatives of the Catholic church. I’m sure that Shacklebolt thought it very funny when he put her of all people in charge of that project. Umbridge responsible for a good-will project involving Muggles? What a wonderful joke! But he’s not laughing now, is he? He’s dead!’

‘But, Hermione,’ Lois said calmly, ‘aren’t you forgetting something? The Inquisition doesn’t exist anymore. The Church has stopped burning witches at the stake hundreds of years ago.’

‘Yeah,’ Ron agreed readily. ‘Remember that story Professor Binns used to tell? It’s about the only thing I remember from history of magic.’ He grinned at Lois. ‘A story about a weird wizard who was so hooked on Flame Freezing Charms that he allowed them to burn him a hundred times just for the kick of it.’

Lois shook her head and rolled her eyes, but she did smile at her lover.

‘Witches were not burned in England, Ronald. They were hanged,’ Hermione retorted heatedly. ‘And while it’s certainly true that the Church stopped persecuting witches long ago, the organisation that used to be the Holy Inquisition still exists. It just has another name nowadays. I told you about it, too. When Draco was all out of sorts because of that Muggle at the ministry…’ She stopped suddenly and turned to Draco, remembering something. ‘That Muggle, Draco—you said he asked you something about the resurrection of the body—’

Draco made a face. ‘Yes. If I believe in the ‘resurrection of the body’ and the ‘conjuring of bones’. And you told me that the resurrection of the body is just part of Muggle faith.’

‘Oh no,’ Hermione whispered. ‘I was wrong. I didn’t listen, and I was wrong. He was asking you about Necromancy, Draco. It was not about the creed at all. In the Bible, Necromancers are sometimes referred to as ‘bone-conjurers’.’She frowned. ‘But that doesn’t make any sense! It sounds as if he was trying to warn you. Why would he do that if they were working with Umbridge?’

‘As I was saying before, Severus’ suspicions don’t make sense. And at the moment I am not willing to jeopardize good magical-Muggle relations for the sake of an old spy’s paranoia,’ Andromeda commented acerbically. ‘We certainly have more pressing problems just now.’

‘Andromeda, that’s enough,’ Minerva interrupted. ‘Now, if you please—we need to discuss our strategy. We have to follow any lead to discover who may have collaborated with Umbridge—or the other way around. And that includes Muggle suspects. But our absolute priority must be to break the leeching curse and to destroy the Resurrection Stone. Hermione, since you already worked with Ollivander during the research for the Sempiternal Solution, I want you to contact him tomorrow. We need to find the current Owner of the Elder Wand. Draco—I want you in charge of another search of Umbridge’s office. You are right: you worked with her for the last two years. You may find something that even the Unspeakables missed. At least it doesn’t cost us anything to have you try. If that’s all right with you, Andromeda?
‘Severus, as I understand it, you will need to brew another batch of that Sempiternal Solution…’

oooOooo

Later Harry, Ginny, Severus and Hermione sat in the library of Grimmauld Place, each of them nursing a dram of single malt whisky from a nice bottle of Talisker considerately provided by Minerva McGonagall.

‘You did well today, Harry,’ Severus said abruptly. ‘That was not an easy meeting to be in charge of.’

Harry shuddered. His gaze flicked the reports from the Ministry and St. Mungo’s on his desk in the corner. ‘You can say that again,’ he muttered. Absentmindedly he turned his glass in his hands. Hermione, he noticed, was still slumped dejectedly in the corner of the sofa, deep in thought. Her glass sat forgotten on the coffee table.

‘Do you really believe that Necromancers who are working for a Muggle church in some way could be involved in this mess?’

When the other man’s lips thinned with annoyance, he went on quickly, ‘Look—I don’t think you’re paranoid. At least not anymore paranoid than I am. Or Moody was. But while the Church definitely has a giant track-record of killing—or at least trying to kill—witches and wizards, that incident Draco described really sounds more like a warning. And why in Merlin’s name would they try to kill us first, only to warn us about Umbridge’s Inferi later?’

Severus sighed and took a deep swallow of whisky. ‘Damned if I know. But I cannot forget Colin’s warning.’

Harry nodded. ‘‘Watch the robes, not the wizards.’ That description certainly fits Muggle monks.’

‘And the Church has always employed Necromancers,’ Severus added. ‘Or what exactly did you think that exorcists are?’

Harry stared at Severus. ‘I don’t think I ever thought about that. Though that still doesn’t explain the warning. And we can’t exactly Owl them and ask them, huh? I guess we’ll just have to be extra careful.’