It's Never Two-Sided

AN: First off, sorry about this being late. It's finals week for me, and things such as time and relativity are being skewed all over in favor of studying and helping friends study by watching movies (no lie!). Also, since these new chapters are almost hot-off-the-press, there are probably going to be a few mistakes since I don't have as much time to review them. Oh, and one thing that you'll probably notice, and please let me know if it's a problem, is that during some conversations there is less description of what's going on. This is because I write the conversation first, then add in the actions and description in later. They're always there in my head, I just take longer figuring out how to write it. Like I said, if that becomes a problem, let me know. I'm always up for constructive criticism. ^_^

Answering:
thrnbrooke: It's here! And I think McGonagall was exagerating (just a little bit). There's some more info on that in this chapter, so have fun!

Rachel:
Yo comprendo un poco; no hablo. ^_^ (I'm from Texas, there's Spanish everywhere.)
Yay! I thought it was original. Ginny never seems to get an honest inheritance in fanfiction; she's always either a golddigger or dirt poor, or something.

Now on with the chapter!

Chapter Thirteen: Thirteen Weeks 'til Christmas


After a lovely four days of cleaning corridors, sans magic of course, and several more lectures by both their Heads of House, Halle and Malfoy had mastered the fine art of Not Talking to Each Other, their fine-tuned inimical understanding letting one know when one needed a clean rag next the other, and their utter hatred guiding said rag from the hand of one right onto (or next to, depending on the teacher present) the head of the other. Who says harmony has to be nice?

They would have been done after only two days of detention, but as they were finishing the first set Snape had made a comment about how lovely a couple they made, and the glares they both turned his way made him turn around and leave the room without even a sneer. He and McGonagall decided that another two days' detention was in order, taking up even their normal lunch break and dinner time.

So it was a very surprised Halle that listened to Hermione lecture her on How To Be A Good Date, and that if Ginny had even one complaint—well, she wouldn't, now would she?

Afterwards Halle decided to sit in the common area for awhile. The smile Hermione'd given her had been quite frightening, and she didn't want to face it again by going up to the girls' dormitory just yet. Neville had apparently overheard, though, and sat down next her on the couch.

“So you and Ginny...” he started, but apparently didn't know where to go.

Halle sighed. “Yes, me and Ginny. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. I just... well, that is... look, if you ever want to double-date, to be safer or something, me and Shay are totally available.”

“...you and Seamus?”

Neville grinned. “Yeah. He'll probably kill me for telling you, but I think it's okay. It's his da, really; the bastard's got him all shook up about sins. I mean, he tolerates the magic, but for him to be with another boy? That's a major sin. Especially for... what did he say they were? Cataholics.”

Halle nearly fell off the couch laughing.

“It's not funny; he said he wouldn't even be with me, but he's never been able to... well, to get it up for girls.”

Halle attempted to sober up, but the smile kept quirking her face. “Neville, would you like to go somewhere more private so I can listen to you more seriously?”

“Yeah, sure. I can't believe I'm talking about him out loud; he'd be so angry...”

“Alright. How about the Quidditch pitch?”

“I don't fly very well.”

“Who the hell said we're going to fly?”

~*~

“You seem perturbed,” the wizard said as he sat back in the comfy chair.

“I am concerned about the interaction between Miss Potter and Mister Malfoy's magics,” the woman replied, toying with a lemon drop on the desk.

“You think it could mean they fit?” he asked.

“It is a definite possibility,” she answered.

“It's highly improbable, though. And besides, I do believe that the bond between Miss Potter and Miss Weasley is... growing.”

“You approve?”

“I am happy that they have found some joy in this hard time.”

McGonagall nodded. “It's dangerous, but not too much more than it was already. They will stand together, and be stronger for each other. Their minds as well as their magics are quite compatible; it might actually be the deciding factor in this war.”

Dumbledore did not answer.

~*~

Neville sat and Halle lay on the benches that served for seats during the games. It wasn't really chilly, being only the end of August, but Neville still wrapped himself tightly in his cloak.

“He's afraid of his da finding out, really,” he continued. “He says he doesn't think all that Cataholic stuff is completely right.”

“Catholic.”

“And, well, he says he loves me, and doesn't want me to get into any trouble either. With my Grandmum, he means.”

“Why would your grandma be upset with you?”

“Because she's always talked about her great-grandkids. She says she really wants them to be Purebloods, but that a Halfblood witch would be alright. Plus she's still a little mad about me breaking my dad's wand.”

“Well, then you can adopt some kid, can't you? And I mean, isn't it a little early to be worrying about kids?”

“Your parents had you right out of school.”

“And I shall never know why,” Halle said, then added, “because I don't understand the use of having children so soon. I mean, most people don't even know what they're doing yet; let alone have the funds to both find their perfect job and raise kids at the same time.”

“Not like either of us will have problems with that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on Halle; everyone knows how well-off your dad was. He didn't even need to work, and he'd have made more money than anyone else in his class.”

“And you?”

“I'm the only heir of the Longbottom family; I'll always have a house and enough to support a family.”
Halle nodded. “So the only problem is kids, right? So why not just adopt? There's going to be plenty of orphans after this war is over. One of them has to meet your grandma's expectations.”

“Yeah,” Neville said, suddenly much more sober. “Halle, tell me truthfully—do you think we'll get out of this alive?”

Halle sighed, and sat up. “I don't know, Neville. But I do know one thing—we're not going to if Voldemort isn't stopped.”

Neville nodded. “Halle, I know I'm not much, but whenever, however you need me, I'll be there for you.”

Halle smiled. “You are very well more than enough, Neville; you've proved that already. Hey, do you think we should start up the DA again?”

“Yeah. I'd be completely useless if it wasn't for the DA.”

“No you wouldn't. You'd just be our resident botanist who we keep locked in the back room and feed scraps twice a day. Three times, if you make an important discovery.”

“Thanks, Halle. That really means a lot to me,” Neville droned.

“You're welcome. I think it's time to get back inside; Hermione and Ron will be wondering where we are.”

~*~

Severus Snape had just finished the last of the essays the idiotic miscreants had written, using up a total of three bottles of red ink, and was sitting down to a nice brandy when his fire flared.

“Severus!” a woman shouted. Well, not really shouted, but the command and volume of her voice was effective enough. “What is this letter about?”

“I will tell you after you step through the Floo, madam.”

“Don't you 'madam' me, Severus! Tell me what you meant this instant!”

“I refuse to speak to such a lovely woman through a disgusting and altogether too impersonal veil of green.”

The woman sighed, then stepped through. “You know I am fast running out of choices, Severus. I'd have thought you kind enough to leave me one.”

“It is not I that leaves you no choice, Narcissa. It is a necessity that this conversation be as secure as possible.”

The blonde nodded. “I know. Now, what is it that you deemed urgent enough to send me a Whisperer* for?”

“It's Draco.”

“Is he not doing well in his studies? Or has he taken an unfathomable liking to a Mudblood? Whatever it is, I'm sure you can set him aright.” The Pureblood wasn't even looking at Snape, rather she was eying the glass of liquor he had set on the side table.

“It is not Draco that needs righting, Narcissa. He is pouring all his strength into doing what the Dark Lord asks of him—”

“So it is his studies, then,” she interrupted, now holding the glass up to the firelight.

“No! Narcissa, the boy is in over his head. I cannot satisfy the Oath without help; I need you to take him away. The Dark Lord does not suspect you of intellect, if you and Draco flee now—”

“We cannot flee! That is why I made you take the Oath, Severus!”

She whirled around to face the Potions Master, barely managing to keep the liquid from spilling before he plucked the glass out of her hand.

“What is stopping you, Narcissa?” he fumed. “I know that Lucius' fanaticism is finally locked away in Azkaban, so you can't think he'll be able to stop you.”

“Once he gets free—yes, once he gets free, Severus, he'll come looking for us with all he's got.”

“I have no doubt that you could manage to elude him. What is really keeping you from protecting your son—your only son, from harm?”

“There is nothing I can do.”

“There is everything you can do! The Dark Lord plans to draw him nearer, perhaps even to have him for His own—”

“Then let Him have him, then,**” Narcissa hissed.

Severus almost fell over at that. “Woman, have you gone mad?”

“It's only until June.”

“Oh, and what happens in June?”

“Then we can all leave.”

“...Cissa, you can't be thinking—”

“Oh, as if you could possibly know what I'm thinking! Even if I let you into my mind, you couldn't understand my reasons, Severus. You never had a sister.”

“No, but I know what it feels like to lose one.”

“Then you know what you would do to get her back.”

Severus nodded in defeat. “I will keep watch over Draco, but I still can't understand how you can trade him—”

“Love of a sister, love of a man, love of a child—how can we weigh these things against each other, Severus? I will try to bring things together sooner, but there is not much I can do.”

“Just do your best, Cissa. I'll make sure your little dragon keeps from harm.”

Narcissa nodded as she stepped back into the fireplace. “Please do; Merlin knows I couldn't,” she replied, and was gone.

Severus would have chased after her to find out what that last comment had been about, but he knew she'd have already locked and warded the Floo by now.

Extremely perturbed and not likely to get much sleep, Snape threw his brandy onto the fire and set about brewing another potion the Dark Lord had set him to. It wasn't due for quite some time, but he might as well use the time he had. Perhaps one of these nights he'd finally be able to get some sleep.

~~~~~~

*It's like the opposite of a Howler... like you couldn't figure that out on your own.
**Extra cookies to anyone who can tell me where this is from!