Chapter 8 Doing his Job
Frank Longbottom was able to catch up to Prof. McGonagall after dinner. He had spent much of the afternoon considering the thoughts that weighed down his conscious.
He was still uncomfortable expressing them so started with his dissent over the decision to punish the four Gryffindors by just removing one from the quidditch team next year. Losing Lupin as a prefect was no punishment either since he was just a spy for the Marauders. He never disciplined or reported anyone.
It was to no avail though because McGonagall closed the topic of discussion with, "It is the Headmaster's decision to give the boys a second chance. They'll have the entire summer holiday to change their tune, and their parents are being made aware of what occurred and possible future consequences."
Frank had his doubts about their parents. He knew his own mother could sort them all out in a couple months, but they broke the mold when Augusta Longbottom was forged.
Broaching the subject hesitantly, Frank started with, "You know, I've caught these four out of bounds in the past, Professor."
"Of course, Longbottom."
"Well, it didn't take a Ravenclaw to realize that there was an easy enough way to catch them. I started keeping an eye on Snape in my spare time. Nothing weird, just keeping him in line of sight in the library and taking notice of him in the halls and such."
"You set a trap for your housemates using a Slytherin as bait?"
"I don't think Snape knew. He certainly didn't seem thankful when I ended any altercation quickly. Anyway … Snape is a target for more than Gryffindors. It took a while for me to catch on that Slytherin house is not entirely composed of clutzes, y'know. It's always older students. They'll catch him in the head or shoulder with their bookbags when he's seated. They'll physically smash into him in the halls and on the stairs."
"If it's true then Mr. Snape should complain to his head of house, Frank. I'm not in the position to mete out punishments unless I see it happen or Snape is somehow incapacitated from making a complaint."
"Yeah, I know … what happens in Slytherin, stays in Slytherin. But Professor, there has to be something. Unless he's suddenly taken an interest in quidditch and is falling off his broom or getting flattened by bludgers, there's no other reasonable explanation that I can come up with for him being so banged up and bruised."
"You are telling me secondhand information, Longbottom. From your account, you were not present until after Snape had acquired a robe."
"I was with him after in the Slytherin dorms when he got dressed."
"What were you doing in the Slytherin dormitory, Longbottom?"
Displeased with Prof. McGonagall being intentionally obtuse, Frank explained, "I didn't feel it fair to send him in alone when I had suspicions. Additionally, I did not want any delays to be caused by his housemates." He then added with audible exasperation, "And I'm glad I did. Do you know they've carved 'Blood Traitor' on his trunk? How likely is it that he'll turn in a couple of those fellows when the rest of them think the same?"
Slowly Prof. McGonagall replied, "Well, I am glad at least that you are able to consider the possible repercussions. It's not like Snape can be plucked out of Slytherin and dropped into another house. Slytherin is his house and family. And it's a well-known saying that one can choose their friends, but they cannot choose their family."
"Well, that's just it, isn't it?" asked Frank. "I think Evans is Snape's only real friend, and the Slytherins don't like it. They are just a lot more demonstrative than the Gryffindors are towards Evans. The Gryffindors prefer to attack Snape, rather than one of their own. On the other hand, the Slytherins see no problem with attacking one of their own.
"The Gryffindors have been on my back about Alice because she's a Hufflepuff, but they don't do more than talk. And the Hufflepuffs don't bother Alice at all because they're happy because she is happy."
Prof. McGonagall smiled, "Well, we'll just have to hope that Miss Evans and Mr. Snape continue to overcome this adversity, Mr. Longbottom."