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Not As It Seems	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 4953 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Not As It Seems

Chapter 13

Hermione was nervous as they approached the castle. She knew that she could trust Snape to do the right thing. She was worried that something would happen before she could tell what she knew.

She climbed out of the carriage with Pansy and Millicent, and then waited for Pollux to take her arm and escort her into the castle.

Inside, she saw Ron take Harry off to one side, and speak to him urgently, gesturing to Hermione and Pollux were standing. Harry made a slicing motion and Ron stopped talking. Harry said something quickly, and then turned away and took Draco�s hand.

Ron�s face nearly turned purple when Harry turned away from him, and he reached for his wand.

�I wouldn�t do that, Mister Weasley,� Snape said from a shadow. He stepped forward with Aquila next to him.

�This is all your fault!� Ron shouted at Aquila. �Everything was fine before you started interfering! You probably brought them over here, too!�

�This is absurd,� Castor said. �I have never seen that woman before in my life. What is this lunatic raving about?�

�Apparently, this young man wishes to blame me for his misfortunes,� Aquila said. �Who are you?�

�This rude young man is Ronald Weasley,� Snape said. �He has been Mister Potter�s friend since they started school. Since Mister Potter and Mister Malfoy started seeing one another, he has decided that Mister Potter is under some kind of spell. He seems to have a similar opinion of Miss Hermione Granger. I assure you, Miss Granger is more than capable of undoing any spell or curse thrown at her.

�The polite student,� Snape went on. �Is one of my Slytherins. His name is Castor Von der Lippe. His twin brother, Pollux, was sorted into Ravenclaw, and has formed an interest in Miss Granger, over there.�

�I see,� Aquila said. �The young lady has another suitor, and it is my fault, despite not knowing either of them.�

�Mister Weasley blames others for his own misfortunes,� Snape said. �He is a fair-weather friend at best.�

�Perhaps we should go see the Headmaster,� Aquila said. �He will need to know about your change in circumstances.�

�Yes,� Snape said. �Staff members are supposed to inform the Headmaster when they get married.�

�Married?� Ron bellowed. �Who would marry that greasy bat?�

�I did, young man,� Aquila said sharply. �You�re Arthur Weasley�s son, aren�t you? I wonder, how your father would react to your attitude?�

�I�m absolutely appalled,� the voice of Molly Weasley echoed through the room. �Ronald Weasley, you and I are going to have a long talk. Professor McGonagall wrote your father and I all about your attack on Hermione.�

She swept past her errant son to where Hermione and Pollux were standing. She examined the bruise and the split lip, and then smoothed Hermione�s hair in a motherly gesture. She turned to Ron with a look that would have frozen boiling water.

�Come along, young man,� she said. She led him away, with a scowl that would have frightened a troll.

They watched the two Weasleys disappear into the interior of the castle, and then Snape turned to his wife.

�Let me get you settled,� he said. �I will see the Headmaster after that.�

�Of course, Severus,� Aquila said, acting the perfect part of a pureblooded wife. �Whatever you say.� She nodded to Harry, and then turned and followed Snape towards the stairs that led to the dungeons.

Harry said his goodbyes to Castor and Pollux, and he headed towards his dorm, to put away his trunk. He was dying to find out what was in the box from Voldemort.

~*~*~*~

In the dorm, Harry quickly put his trunk where it belonged, and then he pulled out the special box.

It didn�t look remarkable on its own, but it seemed to radiate magic. Harry put it down on his bed and stared at it for quite a while. Finally, he untied the ribbon holding it closed and lifted the lid off of the box.

Inside, on a walnut burl stand, was a statue of a basilisk. Its yellow eyes were unlidded and glowed slightly. Its red crest feathers were raised in a threat display.

Harry smiled at the statue and placed it on his nightstand. It wasn�t until he put it down that he noticed small protrusions that were perfect to cradle his wand and his glasses. He put both items on the stand, and the enchanted statue moved forward to curl around the wand, and lay its head on the glasses.

~*~*~*~*~

At dinner that night, Hermione was sitting with Pollux at the Ravenclaw table. Ron gave Harry one contemptuous look and then looked away, talking quietly with Seamus, Dean, and Colin. Neville looked at them in horror for a moment, and then he moved away to join another knot of students.

Harry looked up at the main table to see Snape in conversation with Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded, and then he tapped his fork against his goblet. The bell-like tone got the attention of everyone in the room, and all of the students turned to face him.

�I have an announcement for those of you either failing potions or excelling at them,� Dumbledore said. �Professor Snape has no desire to see any of you fail in his subject, considering the state of things. He feels that those of you who are exceeding even his expectations can assist those who are lagging behind. He is setting aside Tuesday and Thursday nights for both groups of students. He expects both groups promptly at seven. He will be in his office tonight, in case anyone has a question about whether or not they should be there.� He smiled at everyone and turned his attention back to his meal.

~*~*~*~*~

As soon as the meal was over, Hermione nearly ran down the stairs and all but skidded to a stop at Snape�s office door. She could see him sitting at his desk, grading papers.

�Excuse me, professor,� she said hesitantly.

�I have been expecting you, Miss Granger,� he said without looking up. �Come in and shut the door. What arrangements I make with you are none of anyone else�s business.�

Hermione entered the room, and closed the door behind her. She noticed that complicated privacy spells activated the minute the door was closed.

�You may speak freely, Miss Granger,� he said. �No one outside of this room will know what is said.�

�Professor, Harry�s in terrible danger,� Hermione said, approaching the desk.

�That is nothing new, Miss Granger,� Snape said. �What makes this year different from any other?�

�He�s in danger from the Headmaster,� she said anxiously.

Snape�s head snapped up as if it were on a spring. He stared at her intently for a few moments, and then he put down the quill and sat back.

�Explain,� he said.

�It was after Ronald hit me,� she said, sitting down in a chair next to the desk. �I was in one of the out of the way seats, researching the assignment you gave us for over Christmas. I heard someone in the next aisle, so I stopped doing anything. I thought perhaps it was some students with a secret. You�d be surprised what happens in the library.�

�No, Miss Granger, I would not,� Snape said. �Go on.�

�It was Professor Dumbledore,� Hermione said, her face becoming pale. �He was talking to someone I don�t know. I�ll never forget that man�s voice, though.� She shuddered with the memory, and then turned haunted eyes to Snape.

�They were talking about Harry,� she said. �The other man said �Are you sure he�ll do it?� Dumbledore said �Don�t worry, my boy. Harry believes me completely. When the time comes, he�ll face Tom with hate in his heart and a curse on his lips. He will die, of course. There�s no way around it, after that resurrection spell that Tom used. Besides, he�s far too dangerous to allow to gain his full power. Harry will die defeating Lord Voldemort. He will be mourned as a hero, and no one will know how dangerous he was.� The first man scoffed, and then said �You better hope the werewolf didn�t mess things up, old man. The last person we need him talking to is a spawn of Slytherin, and Aquila Black doesn�t look a thing like Bellatrix or Rudolphus Lestrange.�

�They walked away with the Headmaster assuring the man that he was mistaken,� Hermione said. �Professor, we�ve got to talk to Harry! He�s being set up to die!�

�So, the old coot�s showing his true colors,� Aquila�s voice startled Hermione so badly that she let out a cry as she jumped out of her seat.

�Don�t worry, child,� Aquila said. She crossed the room to Hermione and guided her back into her seat.

�You look like you could use a brandy,� Aquila said. �Unfortunately, we�ll have to settle for a calming potion. I�ll get you one.�

�Wait!� Hermione said, clutching at her sleeve. �Was that man right? Are you a descendant of Slytherin?�

�Many people are, Miss Granger,� Aquila said. �It has been a thousand years since Slytherin walked the Earth. Many people carry his bloodline.�

�But that man thinks you�re Voldemort�s daughter!� Hermione insisted, still clutching Aquila�s robe. �Are you?�

�What would you say if I said I was?� Aquila inquired.

�I don�t know,� Hermione admitted. She released Aquila�s sleeve and waited while the older witch brought her a calming potion. She took it without protest, and waited a few moments while it did its work.

�What do you believe should happen, Miss Granger?� Snape asked, his entire attention focused on the young witch.

�Dumbledore�s been manipulating Harry,� Hermione said. �He knows something that nobody else does, except that man. That man was evil.�

�What do you mean?� Aquila asked, stroking Hermione�s hair soothingly.

�His voice was so cold,� Hermione said. �It made my skin crawl. He sounded like � I can�t explain it, Professor. He sounded like a predator. He reminded me of a story I read when I was a child. It had a lot of animals in it, and there was a tiger that hunted humans just because he could. That man�s voice reminded me of that: something cold and calculating that does things because it can.�

�That doesn�t sound good,� Aquila observed. �Perhaps I should put out inquiries, to find out who has been here recently. Perhaps you should, as well, Severus. You may be able to find out who visited over the holidays.

�Rest assured, Miss Granger,� Snape said. �I am not dismissing your concerns. You have never been one to carry tales. I will investigate this. You should keep what you know a secret, and do not let the Headmaster question you privately.�

�There is an alternative, Severus,� Aquila observed. �I brought a pensieve with me. Miss Granger could extract the memory, removing it from her mind. We could view it, giving us an idea of the man�s voice. I could then put it into a phial, making it available to Miss Granger without risking her being exposed by the Headmaster.�

�Why don�t you like the Headmaster?� Hermione asked, looking up at Aquila.

�The Headmaster is not what many people believe him to be,� Aquila said. �Many years ago, he found out that one of his muggleborn students was from a bloodline that had long ago died out in the Wizarding world. He made sure that she was separated from her friends and allies �for her own good�. He manipulated that student so that she ended up controlled by one of his supporters. He told her family that they needed to be strict with her to save her. He told them that she was going to arrange the murder of her own child. He told her family that they had to mistreat her son to make him strong. All of it was lies.

�He�s afraid, isn�t he?� Hermione asked, looking up at Aquila, a shrewd look on her face. �You�re talking about Harry�s mother, and the Headmaster�s afraid of Harry, and something that Harry will be able to do.�

�The Headmaster has some kind of plan,� Aquila said. �He thinks too little of magical bloodlines and too much of muggles. We don�t know yet what Harry can do, but it�s a threat to Dumbledore�s plans.�

�Harry�s my friend,� Hermione said. �I don�t want to see him used, and I don�t want him to die. Was that man right? Are you Voldemort�s daughter?�

�You never answered my question before, Miss Granger,� Aquila said, smiling at her. �What would you say if I said I was?�

�If you are,� Hermione said. �Can you get your father to stop hunting Harry? If he�ll leave Harry alone, I can talk Harry into not fighting him when Dumbledore wants him to.�

Aquila smiled at her, and then walked over and sat on the edge of Snape�s desk.

�My father is the man most people know as Voldemort,� she told Hermione. �I am going to cast a spell before you leave this room, so that you cannot discuss this with anyone who does not know you know. He has no argument with Muggleborns or halfbloods. He wants magic strengthened in the blood. He was considering trying to recruit you to assist in research, and because you are a powerful witch.�

�Really?� Hermione asked. �Does Harry know about this?�

�Yes,� Aquila said. �When Harry was staying with me, so was my father.�

�I�d better go,� Hermione said. �Can you cast that spell, now?�

�Of course,� Aquila said. �You should go up to your common room. Too much more time might be suspicious.�

Aquila took out her wand and circled it over Hermione�s head, chanting in Parseltongue. A mist settled over Hermione, and then faded.

�I don�t feel any different,� Hermione said.

�You won�t,� Aquila said. �You just won�t be able to talk about some things. Don�t worry about it.�

�Good night, Miss Granger,� Snape said. He waved his wand at the door, and it opened. The privacy spells lifted just before the door opened.

�Good night, Professor,� Hermione said. �I�m looking forward to Tuesday.�

�Good night, Miss Granger,� Snape said. �I expect a great deal of assistance from you with students like Mr. Longbottom.�

�Of course, Professor,� Hermione replied. �It will be my pleasure.�

�One last question, Miss Granger,� Aquila said. She could see students waiting in the hallway. �What kind of cookies do you like?�

�Treacle, Madame Snape,� Hermione replied. �But Professor Snape doesn�t allow eating in the classroom.�

�This isn�t during class time.� Aquila said, smiling.

TBC
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Not As It Seems