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Golden Hearts	By : BetaBloodLust Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Slash - Male/Male Views: 3689 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: See Full Disclaimer Below--Any chapters containing explicit material will begin with warnings for the wary

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own the characters within the Harry Potter series. J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series and all original characters introduced within the series. I make no money from this story. All noncanonical characters are fictional fabrications. They belong to me. Any resemblances to real persons or groups of people are coincidence and should be summarily disregarded, and the doppelganger perpetrators should be shot for impersonating my creations. Have a nice day.

Golden Hearts: Chapter 12: An Offer and an Admission of Guilt

The next weeks of classes passed relatively uneventfully, and though Draco tried to approach Arumus, he deftly avoided his cousin most of the time. When he couldn’t avoid his cousin, Arumus treated him with a cool respect that belied his true desires. Arumus often wore his cool, formal expression, but he was surprised to discover that he was warming to a few of his fellow students, Percival and Jordan among them.

Arumus watched with a wonder he could not hide as the castle transformed in honor of the Halloween Feast. Magically glittering cobwebs appeared to adorn doorways overnight, and the largest pumpkins Arumus had ever seen bedecked the Great Hall, along with live bats.

Arumus stood one afternoon in Potions class, placing the finishing touches on his Bottled Bluster Potion and awaiting the criticism of his favorite teacher patiently. Professor Snape stalked among the cauldrons, sneering at many of the students' inabilities to follow simple directions while offering genuinely constructive feedback to the few students who listened well. If he often offered a sneer with the criticism, Arumus assumed the choice had more to do with exasperation than true malice, in a few circumstances, anyway.

Arumus had recognized Professor Snape's talent at a glance, and though many students found the potions master difficult or even frightening, Arumus saw a kind of kindred spirit. He found a depth and method behind Snape's teaching style that a less astute observer would have missed entirely. Arumus watched his progress until Snape stopped at his cauldron and peered at the contents.

"Once again, Arumus, you have created perfection." Professor Snape spoke softly. He seemed to intuitively understand Arumus' desire to avoid public praise. "I assume you added five additional counter-clockwise stirs?" Snape paused as Arumus nodded. "And a pinch of crushed mugwort, artemisia vulgaris, to be exact... An interesting addition. It would counteract the majority of side effects caused by the belladonna." He didn't sound surprised.

"Yes, sir." Arumus accepted the praise coolly and explained his choice further. "I also thought mugwort would tend to negate the bitterness reported by those who have been unfortunate enough to have their drinks laced with Bottled Bluster at parties. Eleven out of fifteen confirmed cases claimed they knew they had taken something strange because of the bitter aftertaste."

The corners of Professor Snape's mouth twitched as he regarded Arumus. "I see you have been reading Thomas Dornstab's articles. Did you happen to chance across mention of Jarvis Spellden's New Years' Party of '78?"

Now it was Arumus' turn to hide a smile. "Ah, sir, do you mean the riots that started following the party and seeped into the beginning of 1979?"

Snape nodded once in confirmation, and Arumus continued. "Yes, sir, I have read several articles covering the riots. Most sources claim that they occurred because one of Spellden's political rivals supposedly spiked all the drinks with Bottled Bluster and an outdated Courage Concoction."

Arumus remembered the pictures that the old news clippings had featured, many showing the party-goers wreaking havoc on an old farmhouse, eventually leading to Spellden's secretary threatening to jinx half the Ministry's Accidental Magic Reversal Squad with a frightened chicken instead of a wand. He suddenly truly had to apply himself to keep the smile at bay.

"I happen to know that the rumors were true, as I worked briefly for Dornstab while he reported on the riots." Professor Snape allowed a small, cool smile, but it passed after a moment as he spoke seriously. "Arumus, you seem to put more effort than any first year student I have ever observed into homework and research. Why, may I ask, do you go to such lengths?"

Arumus studied the potions master openly, his deep blue eyes meeting eyes so dark that only a keen observer would notice his irises were actually a dark brown rather than black. Recognition seemed apparent in those dark eyes, and suddenly, Arumus realized he was looking into the eyes of a man who must be an accomplished Occulmens. The closed yet searching expression mirrored his own so effectively that he wondered how he had not noticed before this moment. Arumus decided, for the first time in his life, to tell the complete truth, or at least more than he had ever divulged in the space of a few minutes, instead of simply a well-chosen and often misleading portion. He did, however, lower his voice so no one could overhear.

"Sir, I read all the first year books when I was six years old. I used to break into my uncle's study before he relented and granted me unlimited access. I only have to read a thing once to remember it. So, I suppose you could say that I'm..." He paused, realizing a little late that he might offend his professor with the truth.

"Bored?" Snape finished for him, sounding amused. "Don't worry that you've offended me, Arumus. The truth may sometimes offend, but I do value truthfulness above all from my students."

"Yes, sir."

Professor Snape seemed to be weighing something in his mind as he studied Arumus silently. "I wish to speak with you after class. This discussion should not continue before a cauldron." He glanced through the fumes toward the table of Hufflepuffs, and his face darkened. "And Hannah Brown has managed, somehow, to set her cauldron on fire."

"Ah. Yes, sir, she has," Arumus agreed as he glanced toward Hannah. She was trying, unsuccessfully, to smother the flames with her cloak, which had just caught fire as well.

"Brown, you idiot girl!" Hissed Snape as he swept toward her, enraged. "Did you forget to add the salamander skins? I specifically told you to be certain to add them one minute after the belladonna!" He continued to harangue her while he expertly extinguished the flames with a flick of his wand.

"But, Professor, I swear I didn't forget!" Hannah's voice squeaked as she tried to deny the misstep.

"Five points from Hufflepuff for telling outright falsehoods, Brown." Snape said in cold anger. He turned to address the rest of the class. "Clear your areas!" He said, controlling his voice a low, but clearly audible, tone. "Those of you who have not completed the potion successfully by now will not. All unsuccessfuls will turn in one foot of parchment on the properties of salamander skins when used in potions that affect the conscious mind this Thursday."

Many in the class groaned at this pronouncement, but Professor Snape silenced them with a threatening glance. "Class is dismissed once you are finished cleaning your areas."

Arumus waved his wand, using the nonverbal form of Scurgify to scrub his portion of the table clean. Janus Corily, the Slytherin who often sat at the next space, gasped, and Arumus sighed. He had to remember not to use nonverbals, as he wasn't supposed to have learned them yet.

He turned to her. "What's wrong, Janus?" He conjured such a look of innocence that she seemed uncertain.

"I just thought you performed a spell, you know," She paused, gazing into his eyes, and continued, "without... without..." She was apparently losing track of her thoughts.

You know you were mistaken, he pleaded silently to her pale green eyes. You just didn't hear me say the spell.

"Oh... Never you mind." She sighed. "You know, Arumus, you are really... really... cute." She smiled at him happily.

Arumus blushed and broke eye contact to flourish his wand in irritation at his potion, audibly uttering the vanishing spell, Evanesco. This explained why she kept sitting next to him and batting her eyelashes, but he didn't think he was actually cute. Clever, intelligent, and crafty were words he wouldn't altogether mind, but cute was not acceptable.

She seemed to hear her own words, then, and blushing suddenly turned to her own cauldron to clear her things away. Arumus packed his books slowly so no one would notice that he was purposely staying behind. After all the other students had gone, he shouldered his bag and approached Professor Snape.

"Ah, Arumus. Please, have a seat." Snape gestured to a chair at the nearest desk and took the seat across from him, making direct eye contact.

He continued, saying, "You should know that each of your teachers has praised you either directly to me or the headmaster. Each has observed your aptitude, even Lockhart," He sneered when referring to his inept colleague, but he refrained from further insults, saying, "Several teachers have also noticed your apparent boredom, though you hide it so well that most had to question you carefully for nearly two months to discover it." Professor Snape paused.

Arumus smiled his slight smile, feeling warmth at the thought that his favorite professor had probably been the first to notice that he was indeed a bit bored. Arumus truly admired keen powers of observation.

Snape continued, leaning slightly forward. "I took the liberty of asking the headmaster permission that I should provide you with advanced lessons, if you so desire. As the head of your house, it is, of course, my prerogative to choose your tutor, but I am open to any specific requests you may have."

Arumus was surprised, but his initial shock at the generous offer disappeared as he heard the last sentence.

"I am honored, sir. I would be pleased to study with you," Arumus replied, allowing his rare smile to burst through carefully maintained barriers. His happiness seemed contagious because he watched Professor Snape's face transform as he, too, allowed something inside to melt and smiled the first, true smile Arumus had ever seen. For a moment, they sat in silence, sharing something fleeting and ethereal. Somehow, Arumus understood that such a smile was as rare for his teacher as it was for himself.

Professor Snape blinked, and the smile receded somewhat, though it didn't fade entirely. "I am obviously pleased to have such an avid and intelligent pupil," He said quietly, still maintaining eye contact.

Arumus nodded, accepting the compliment. He unblinkingly replied in kind, being sure to maintain the eye contact so that his professor would know the words were not empty. "I am also pleased to have a truly gifted and observant teacher, sir."

"So polite..." Snape mused, thoughtful. His eyes suddenly took on an unexpected and arresting intensity. "I expect honesty at all times, of course. Tell me, Arumus, how many books have you about the subject of Occulmency?"

Arumus realized with this question that Professor Snape would also have studied Legilimency, as he didn't seem the type to do things by halves. The knowledge didn't really matter, though. Arumus avoided lies by instinct because he knew from experience how easy they were to spot. After all, the best way to fool a Legilimens was to continually tell the truth, or a version of it, anyway, but he found he had no desire to deceive his teacher.

"Four, sir," Arumus replied.

"Did each of them explain Legilimency in detail, as well?"

"Yes, sir," Arumus answered without hesitation.

"And how long have you been practicing?"

"Since I was nine, sir, so over three years now."

"I see." Snape paused for a moment. "And why did you, at a tender age, wish to learn these unusual skills?"

Arumus paused, wishing Professor Snape had not asked this particular question. Vivid memories of two muggle children fleeing him, bloodied, terrified, and sobbing hysterically flashed into his mind. Other incidents tried to crowd into his mind, but he focused on his professor's eyes and banished them.

"I was unable to control the magic, sir. I--" He took a deep breath and plunged on, telling the man sitting calmly across the table something he had never admitted aloud to anyone. "The first incident occurred after I turned nine. I nearly killed two muggle children in a blind rage."

The silence hung for a moment. "They provoked you?" Snape asked quietly.

"Yes, sir." Arumus felt the need to justify his decision. "I assumed that Occulmency would aid me because I didn't necessarily need a spell to practice. I had read that the discipline it offered could aid in the control of emotions, and it does."

"No need for details. I understand, Arumus," Professor Snape said softly, and Arumus knew that the words were true and pure because the dark eyes that met his had softened somehow, allowing that golden truth to become visible and doubtless.

Silently, Arumus wondered if his own eyes were truly closed, barred, like his professor's eyes, and if he convinced people so very utterly when he allowed them to see something that was completely, unerringly true so deep in his core.

Professor Snape broke the stillness once more. "You should know that you are quite accomplished. Your studies have been rather complete." He paused briefly. "I would have had to use a considerable amount of strength to dig the truth from you, if I could have managed it at all. You consciously allowed me to read that truth through your eyes, another notable achievement." He paused, his eyes taking on an interested light, searching and slightly troubled. Then he spoke once more. "As I said, I appreciate honesty in my students. Thank you for revealing the truth."

Arumus nodded, but there was something he wanted to know, too. Professor Snape wasn't the only one with questions. "May I ask you a few questions, sir?"

"We have time for one more, I think. You may ask."

Arumus considered his response carefully. Finally, he decided to ask the one question he truly wanted to be answered. "Did you ask those questions for yourself, or because Professor Dumbledore asked you to discover my intentions?" Arumus asked, and though he was unaware of it, his deep blue eyes, catching the light of the flickering torches, were as intense as Snape's own had been moments earlier.

"Bright boy..." Snape commented slyly. He paused for nearly two whole minutes, considering as the seconds ticked by, and then he replied. "Both." Those dark, expressionless eyes seemed to open once more, lengthening to touch the core where truth existed, so very far removed from the everyday.

Arumus recognized something so familiar in Professor Snape's expression that he had to blink a few times to clear mysterious particles, likely dust, from his own eyes. "I see," He said slowly, moderating his tone of voice carefully. "Thank you for the honesty." For a moment, he was speaking to an equal, but suddenly he realized how pompous it was to say a thing like that to a teacher. "Sir," He added hastily.

"Arumus, there is no need to be so formal in private lessons, though I would recommend it in public." The corners of Professor Snape's mouth twitched. "You have a tendency to make requests sound like commands, and compliments on your tongue are at least twice as dangerous."

Arumus was surprised to hear the echo of his uncle's words, though he didn't understand completely how a compliment could be dangerous. "I'm sorry, sir, but what do you--"

Professor Snape stood suddenly, cutting him off, and Arumus followed suit.

"Arumus," he said briskly, "No more questions for now. It is past time for dinner. I expect you to meet me in my office at seven o'clock every weeknight, starting tonight. You may tell your fellow students whatever you wish, as I notice you often refrain from displaying your advanced knowledge of the arcane openly. A smart move if you want your fellow students to accept you..." Snape seemed thoughtful as he ushered Arumus out with a wave of dismissal.

"Yes, sir." Arumus agreed as he left the Potions Classroom.
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Golden Hearts