CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: A TRAIN HOME

It was nine o'clock in the morning not a week later and the Hogwarts train was being driven through a blizzard of snow. Lucy was sat on the train next to Snape in the teachers carriages as she'd gotten permission from him. She read a copy of the Quibbler while he read the Daily Prophet, he turned to her midway through as article:

"Why are you reading that junk?" He asked, sneering at the Quibbler.

"It's entertaining," she responded as simply as he had. Her eyes didn't leave an article on Nargles.

Snape peered at the article in disgust. "Nargles," he repeated, not adding what he really thought about that nonsense. Returning to the Daily Prophet full of its own speculations: 'Potter or Plotter?', 'Will Minister Take Over Hogwarts?', 'Dumbledore: Daft or Dangerous?' And: 'Attack in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic.'

Lucy saw that final headline out of the corner of her eye. "Dad?"

He looked up from the newspaper.

"What's that article about the Department of Mysteries?"

He put an arm around her and then grabbed the right side of his newspaper again so that she now had a full view of it. Lucy looked over and saw the moving image of a skinny man with flaming red hair, his face held a small smile but the article held no happiness:

Mr Arthur Weasley (pictured below) who works in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office was attacked in the Department of Mysteries on Friday. Mr Weasley said that he had dozed off outside and that when he awoke he was attacked by a snake. The Ministry say that they have no idea how the snake got into the Ministry of Magic and they are certain that they have nothing to do with it.

"We have no idea how it got in," states Fudge Minister for Magic. "And by that I mean Arthur Weasley, he wasn't even in his own department! All joking aside, even if we did have it sent into the Ministry we wouldn't have it attacking one of our clients!"

We caught up with Arthur Weasley yesterday (Saturday) in St Mungos hospital where he seemed rather un-phased whilst he read an issue of the Daily Prophet:

"It doesn't bother me that I got attacked by a snake, all that matters is that someone came and found me and then I was taken here to St Mungos hospital. Wonderful place isn't it?" He said

But, he seemed a bit lost for words when he was asked who rescued him, we couldn't ask him further questions due to the fact that a healer shooed the interview team out. She told us that the patient needed rest and we should mind our own business.

"Arthur is rather lucky to be alive!" Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley's wife said when we caught up with her in the visiting room of St Mungos. "I am so glad that he was found and my thanks go out to whoever saved him"

But this case seems rather suspicious. Who did rescue Arthur Weasley? And how was he found? Nobody ever goes down to the Department of Mysteries as we were informed by Fudge, apart from the people who work down there and they don't have a minute of time for anybody else. They just stay in the department of mysteries and get on with their job. The clients who work in the Department of Mysteries are going to be questioned by the Minister very soon.  

Lucy knew she had to go and tell Fred. But she had to escape her fathers clutches first, she needed a distraction...

Her thoughts were disturbed by a first year running down the hallway, screaming, as a boy was chasing her with something. This set Snape into action and he stood up automatically and slammed open the carriage door:

"Out of the teachers carriages, now! No running on the train — Ten points from Gryffindor!" He yelled after them, his voice increasing as they got further away.

Snape stormed after them in protest and Lucy went the other way. She ran down to the students carriages where Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Harry were. When she found their compartment she skidded to a halt and opened the door, standing there and looking everyone's surprised faces.

"Lucy?" George prompted.

"Your dad," Lucy breathed. "He was attacked outside the Department of Mysteries on Friday."

"We already know," Ron looked solemnly at the floor.

"Gee, guys, I'm so sorry."

"He's okay, that's the main thing," Fred scooted over and left a space for her that she took. "You sure you want to go home with Snape for Christmas?"

"Fred," Lucy huffed, she would much prefer to spend Christmas with her friends but there was no way Snape was going to agree.

"Lucy has to look after her father when he gets drunk," Hermione covered her face with a book and giggled behind it when she heard Lucy growling.

"I'd love to see Snape drunk," Harry laughed. "Can you imagine it?"

George pretended to sway and had a dazed look on his face. "Ten points from — " he hiccuped. "GryffinPuff!"

All laughed

"Ten points from — SLYTHERIN!" Fred joined in.

"Mr Potter, I see you yet again are unable to answer the most basic questions on your Potions homework," George continued. "Well nor can I!"

"People will think you're — " Fred raised his hand dramatically. "Drinking all my wine."

That's when the carriage door slid open.

"Misbehaving as per usual are we?" The brooding voice of Snape glared at them all. "Ten points from Gryffindor and if I hear another peep out of you again it'll be more."

He stormed off, cape billowing behind him.

George put on a funny voice. "And if I hear another peep out of you again I'll send you straight down to my dungeon."

All roared with laughter, the amount of noise they made it was a wonder Snape was able to deduct that many points without going into the minuses.

Soon after the train pulled to a stop in King's Cross Station and all began to disembark the train. Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Ron all went ahead as the twins were finally able to collect their luggage. George headed off and Fred lifted his trunk down.

"I guess this is goodbye," Lucy looked up at him disheartened.

"For now," he smiled weakly before pulling her into a hug and kissing her on the lips. They broke away in fear of anyone catching them and headed out of the train. Fred jumped down and then held out a hand to Lucy who took it gratefully. He helped her down and then waved a silent goodbye before heading over to Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin. Lucy, however, headed over to the brooding Snape who was attempting to get his own luggage as well as Lucy's off of the train.

She took his case that was no doubt filled with the same set of robes. Snape looked up to see her take it. "Just in time, Lucy." He looked at her disapprovingly after the earlier encounter.

"Don't use that tone with me, I have to socialise," she gave him an equally disapproving look.

"Wotcher, Harry!" They heard distantly on the other end of the platform.

"Tonks," Harry greeted, she helped him with his trunk.

Fred and George tried desperately to hide anything Weasley's Wizard Wheezes related from their mum while everyone was distracted with Harry and Tonks.

"How's school been so far?" She asked.

"You mean aside from Umbridge?" Harry narrowed his eyes. All laughed and then Ron turned to Mrs Weasley.

"Mum, how's dad?"

Molly gave him a sympathetic face. "He's doing better. If all goes well he should be home by Christmas."

"Thank God," Fred breathed a sigh of relief and she turned to him.

"Fred, dear, on a lighter note. You always mention you're friendly with Lucy was it? Is she — ?"

Remus cut her off. "Lucy Snape?"

Tonks dropped Harry's trunk in surprise. "Snape? Snivellus Snape has a daughter?" She turned to Fred in surprise. "And you're friends with her?"

'If only she knew,' Fred thought and before Tonks had time to grill in further Remus spoke up.

"Yes," Remus nodded and gestured in Snape and Lucy's direction who had just finished getting their luggage off of the train. "There they are."

"I'm gonna go say hi," Tonks hopped over Harry's trunk. Remus cringed and desperately tried to follow his wife.

Snape picked up his trunk just as Tonks came striding over. "Oh, for the love of — "

"Dad?" Lucy questioned and looked up in time to see Tonks coming over.

"Hey! Snivellus!" She called just as Remus grabbed hold of her collar.

Snape narrowed his eyes. "Nymphadora and Remus too. Going for a walk in the moonlight are we?"

"HEY!" Tonks pointed a stern finger at Snape. "Don't say a word about Remus or I'll get Sir—"

Remus slapped a hand over her mouth just in time and all that came out were muddled squeaks.

"Let's go," Snape held out his arm for her to take so they could apparate.

"We were only coming over to ask if Lucy would like to join us for Christmas," Remus voiced.

"Fred would love that," George snickered and Fred brought his foot down hard on his twins who yelped.

Snape looked between the dispersed group and then grabbed Lucy's arm. "No."

And with that he apparated.

The group looked at each other stunned before Tonks spoke up:

"Well at least she doesn't look like her father."