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Rise of the Dark Angel	By : isabel88 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 61368 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does, as such, I am NOT making any money off of this....

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Title: Rise of the Dark Angel

Author: Izzyb09

Beta Reader/Co-Author: Tonks-is-cool.

Chapter: 16: Missing Lions, Lunch and Potions

Settings: AU after OOTP: It's canon up to the beginning of the battle at the DOM when they are in the veil room, after that, it's AU and mine.

Pairings: HP/DM; LV/SS; LM/RL; NL (CL)/LL; RL/BL

Warnings: This story will contain mentions of Violence, Child Abuse, Adult Language, Alcohol Use, Slash/Het Sexual situations and Death. Please discontinue reading if such scenes or themes are offensive to you.

A/N: here is the new chapter. Hope you guys like it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing…if I did, Ginny would have died in the CoS, Dumbledore would have choked on his lemon drops and Harry would have stood up for himself against Molly and Dumbledore.

Disclaimer 2: this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Letter or commentary/introduction and flashback

{Parssseltongue}

~…~ indicates scene change

O.P.D.: Saturday 27^th August, ’11

Last time on RDA;

“You two are just too cute,” Pansy giggled, causing the boys to stop and stare at her in shock.

“Did you just giggle?” Blaise asked, staring at her as if she was someone else.

“No,” Pansy shook her head and bit her lip to stop more giggles from escaping her lips. “Giggling is for idiotic, simpering girls who willing act like fools in public eyesight.”

“Say what you want,” Cory shrugged with a smile as he started walking again, the others doing so. “You giggled.”

“I did not!” Pansy protested, but the smile on her face contradicted her words.

“Hmmm,” Draco looked at her but said nothing else.

Pansy shook her head and the five continued on.

Hermione sighed as she sat down on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. Her brain was buzzing from everything that had happened yesterday and today. Ron next to her, but she ignored him. As seemed to be the norm, her mind drifted off to Harry and the last five years of school. No matter how much she thought about it, she still couldn’t understand why she had turned on Harry. Every time she thought about everything he had done for her, shame filled when she remembered what she did.

The door to the common room opened and the voices that came through it drew her attention. She and others looked up when they saw Harry, Cory, Dean and Seamus.

Hermione watched her former friend, unaware that her eyes were filled with hidden longing. She desperately missed her friend—the best friend she ever had—but she knew that it was all her fault their friendship had disintegrated.

“You ok?” Ron’s voice drew her from her thoughts and she turned towards him.

“Just thinking,” Hermione said before she sighed. “Ron, why did you raise your wand at Harry? Did you forget what happened last night?”

Ron scowled and looked away briefly before he sighed. “I don’t know. I just get so angry, especially when I remember everything that happened over the summer.”

“I know,” Hermione nodded, “but remember what Dumbledore said. We need to be extra careful because we need to know how his summer was spent.”

Ron opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Lavender and Parvati rushing over to Harry. The two teens watched the three and how the girls fawned over the pup on Harry’s lap.

Hermione frowned as her gaze drifted to the pup but before she could voice her thoughts, some of the younger years came in and their conversation caught Hermione’s attention.

“So neither Dennis nor Colin is here?” a male fourth year student, Matthew Lewis, asked.

“No,” a female fifth year, Alexandra Everwood, shook her head. “I wonder what happened?”

“Didn’t you guys hear?” a fifth year male, Michael James, asked. “It was in the news. Mr. Creevey was found dead beside a road in Lancashire some weeks back. It could’ve been an accident, but the Muggle police was clueless as to the cause of death. I suppose it could’ve been the Killing Curse as it leaves no visible mark. My guess is, Colin is dead and chances are, so is Dennis.”

“What?” the Matt and Alex were shocked.

“What are you talking about?” Hermione left Ron and walked over to where they were sitting. “What’s this about Colin and Dennis?”

“They’re not in school today,” the Matt answered.

“It wasn’t in the Prophet, I don’t think, but it was definitely in the Muggle news,” Michael told Hermione. “It was during the summer, just a few weeks ago. My family lives in Lancashire, where the Creeveys lived. I’m a half-blood, so I know. I don’t think this affair made the great London newspapers or the BBC top news...no, just our local newspaper, the Lancashire Telegraph. The father, Mr. Creevey, was the first to be found. He was sitting there, quite dead, but uninjured with a look of fright on his face, in his car which was left standing beside a country road leading towards his village. Perhaps it was a heart attack?” Michael asked his audience rhetorically.”

“You don’t think so, do you?” Hermione asked.

“Nope,” Michael shook his head. “It could’ve been the Killing Curse as it leaves no visible mark. When the police started investigations, the Creeveys’ house stood empty; the doors and windows were not broken into and everything was left as if the owners would come back any minute. But, the boys were gone without a trace.

“None of the neighbours witnessed anything. The police started asking questions and searching for relatives. Next day, the boys’ grandparents were also found dead in their flat in a nearby village. They were in their bed, making it seem as if they died in their sleep. Then, a few days later, their aunt—their father’s sister—and her own family had a car accident on their way back from the holidays somewhere on the continent.

“Their car appears to have veered off the road, crashed down a gorge and burned out. It’s baffling the police. Everyone Creevey related is dead; an uncle—their mum’s younger brother—drowned while swimming in the sea while he was on holiday, despite the fact that according to his friends, he was a good swimmer. What a coincidence, isn’t it?” the students that were listening to him, gasped and shook their heads, horrified, and Michael continued sombrely. “The Muggle police have no idea what happened to the family or who did it, but I believe it’s gotta be You-Know-Who’s people. I mean, it can’t just be a coincidence with the all the deaths and attacks You-Know-Who did.”

“But why would V-Voldemort,” Hermione stuttered out the name, wincing slightly when she saw the students flinch. “Why would he order his men to kill the Creeveys?”

Michael looked at her incredulously. Seriously, how could the so called brightest witch of their generation be so obtuse?

“Muggleborn, Hermione,” Michael replied, “A Muggleborn family. You-Know-Who hates Muggles and Muggleborns. Everybody knows that. Colin and Dennis drew a lot of negative attention to themselves, maybe too much attention.”

Seeing the confused looks of Hermione, Alex and Matt, he elaborated. “Well, you must have noticed that Colin wasn’t the quiet type? On the contrary, from day one here at Hogwarts, he was always running around with his camera and bugging people. Some found him funny, but others didn’t.”

~...~

“Hi Harry,” Romilda greeted as she walked down from the girls’ dorms and over to him.

“Hey,” Harry smiled at the witch before taking up the seat on the chair near the fireplace, while Cory, Dean and Seamus headed up to the dorms.

“Where’s your other half?” Romilda asked as she sat on the chair across from him.

“We’ll meet up in the Great Hall,” Harry told her, “I came up here because the others said they needed something from the dorm.”

“Oh ok,” Romilda nodded before she got up to leave. She stopped just a few feet away and looked back at him. “I really like you like this Harry. It’s nice to see you thinking for yourself and being on your own instead of having Granger and Weasley do it for you.”

Harry cocked his head slightly to the side and looked at her. There was something about her that caught his interest. ‘I’ll have Hedwig scan her sometime to see what she thinks.’ Shaking his head, he smiled at her. “Thanks.”

Romilda nodded before continuing on her way out of the common room.

Harry sighed and relaxed further into the chair. He felt a brush against his leg and looked down to see Sesshomaru.

“Hey Sesshomaru,” he bent down to pick the puppy up. “What are you doing here?”

-got bored in the room and your roommates are being a bit rambunctious-

-Sorry-

Sesshomaru cuddled into Harry’s lap. -think nothing of it. However, I did have another motive for coming down here-

-And what is that?-

-I would like to see the school-

-Ok. When the others get back, I’ll take you with me when we leave-

Sesshomaru yipped softly before leaning up to lick Harry’s chin.

“Oh that’s so cute,” Lavender and Parvati rushed over to Harry and dropped to the floor in front of him. They had just entered the common room and were heading to their dorm when the spotted him sitting with the puppy on his lap.

“He’s adorable Harry,” Parvati said as she reached out a hand to touch Sesshomaru’s head. The pup shifted so that both girls could easily reach him.

“Thanks,” Harry grinned, before he looked at the two girls. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?” Lavender looked up at him as she played with Sesshomaru’s paws.

“How come you two are sitting here talking to me?” Harry asked. “You’ve never done that before; even Romilda, who’s never really said anything to me before, spoke to me today, almost like she had just been given permission or something.”

The two girls exchanged looks before they scooted even closer to Harry.

“The reason why is because of Hermione and Ron,” Lavender pitched her voice low so that only Parvati and Harry would hear.

Harry looked at her in confusion.

“Back in first year,” Parvati picked up, “Ron basically warned the other students that you were practically off-limits. He said that while they could talk to you, he was the only one that would be your best friend. Sure some of us laughed, but then he said that Dumbledore knew that and his family could help and be there for you better than anyone because you lost your parents and you needed them.”

“It wasn’t until about third year or so,” Lavender added on, “that Hermione gave us a warning. She said that she was the only one that was allowed to help you with any work; she was the only that you were supposed to come to. She basically said the same thing Ron had said.”

Harry stared at the two girls in shock; never in his life did he think that either one of his former friends had done something like that, that their betrayal had run so deep. To think that the two had prevented anyone else from being a real friend to him...it was mind boggling. ‘How could I have missed that? Didn’t I see the betrayals because I expected them to be truthful even though I wasn’t?’

“I didn’t know,” Harry said finally.

“We know,” Parvati looked at Lavender. “Which is why, when you told off Ron last night, most of us were relieved. We’ve wanted to be your friend Harry, but before we couldn’t.”

“Now though,” Lavender grinned, “now we can.”

Hermione’s voice drew the attention of the three and they looked up to see her talking to couple younger years. The three got up and moved closer and they listened in on the conversation. When Hermione asked why Voldemort would order to kill the Creeveys and then shook her head disbelievingly at Michael’s explanation, watched on by the wide eyes Matt and Alex, Harry found himself answering.

“Because they were a danger to our world,” he said, shocking the others. Whispers broke out among the students that were there and they all stared at Harry, unable to believe that he would say that.

“What?” Hermione whirled around to look at him.

“Why would you say that?” Matt asked.

“Because it’s true,” Harry said.

“So what are you saying?” Hermione narrowed her eyes at him in disbelief. “They deserved to be killed? That they had to die? How can you say that?”

“You’re just as bad as You-Know-Who!” Ron came to Hermione’s side and accused Harry.

The whispers grew louder, drawing Dean, Seamus and Cory from the boys’ dorm.

“What’s going on?” Dean asked.

“Potter’s joined You-Know-Who,” Ron glared, “he just admitted it.”

“He didn’t say that!” Parvati glared at Ron.

“He all but admitted it though,” Alex countered.

Harry glared at Ron. “Again with the accusations Weasley?” he turned to the other students. “What I said was, the Creevey boys were—Colin especially—were a danger to the Wizarding World.”

“And they just jumped down his throat without giving him a chance to explain,” Lavender glared at Hermione.

“So explain then,” Matt demanded.

“It’s simple really,” Harry started, “everyone here knows how strict the Ministry is on keeping the Wizarding World a secret and how important it is that Muggles don’t find out about us, it’s why we have the Statute of Secrecy if the first place. Ever since Colin Creevey entered Hogwarts, he’s done nothing but put this world in jeopardy.”

“How did he do that?” Hermione asked.

Harry looked at her, his green eyes flashing with disgust—the second time he looked at her like that—causing Hermione to inhale sharply. “You’re not stupid Granger. Michael already explained it pretty well. Colin took photos of everything, from me, to Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, and then he developed them into Wizarding Photos and sent them back to his father, to his family. Now what do you suppose they did with those photos? They were proud of their son and would want to show them off to their friends, so that’s exactly what they did.

“I know some of you may scoff and think that that’s nothing, but it is something. Did any of even consider why the Statute of Secrecy was created in the first place? Did any of you wonder about what could have happened all those years ago that caused the Wizarding World to cut itself off from the Muggle world, and go to such great efforts to not have Muggles find out about them? Have you ever thought about just why it was that Salazar Slytherin didn’t want Muggleborns in Hogwarts? What Binns told us back in third year was a lie. I’m sure the Muggleborns and half-bloods have heard of the Salem Witch Trials that occurred in the United States many years ago, even you purebloods may have heard about it,” those who knew what he was talking about flinched, “The times of the Witch Hunt were not funny or harmless at all. Get a decent History book, go to any Muggle public library and read up on it if you don’t believe me.”

As Harry talked, he registered more and more students coming into the common room and stopping to listen to him, but he paid them no mind, although, inwardly, he was smirking.

“Contrary to what Ronald believes,” Harry continued, “I have no intention of joining a mad man, especially the one that murdered my parents,” he was talking about Dumbledore, not Voldemort, but only Cory knew that. “If You-Know-Who did kill the Creeveys, or ordered some of his Death Eaters to do it, then I’d suspect it was because he knew what they were doing. Before you ask how, there are students in this school whose parents are dark pure-bloods, some are even Death Eaters. My guess is, they were disgusted with what was happening and decided to do something about it.”

“But why?” Jack Sloper, the Gryffindor beater from last year, asked.

“Because,” Harry explained, “Pure-bloods, especially dark purebloods, still cling to the old traditions, traditions that are barely in use anymore. They are fiercely protective of Magic and the Wizarding world itself. In their mind, students like the Creeveys who still cling to their own Muggle traditions and who, without thought, talk to Muggles about the Wizarding World, are a danger to it. They obviously felt they needed to do something and they did.”

“And you just accept that? Where did you learn about history or what some bigoted pure-bloods believe? Or did Malfoy influence you with his pure-blood propaganda?” Hermione was aghast; she couldn’t believe that Harry could be so blasé about the young Gryffindor’s death. She could understand about Umbridge—now that she’d thought things over—and she knew the Creevey brothers were annoying and creepy, that still didn’t mean they deserved what happened. She knew Harry had changed over the summer, she just never realized he had changed so much.

“First,” Harry rolled his eyes, “I went to London this summer and I spent a lot of time in the British Library, the British Museum and others, the Muggle ones mind you. And somewhere else, I came upon real wizard history books, not that endless Goblin rebellion crap we’re supposed to learn from in Binns’ class. Although, I must say that Bathilda Bagshot’s book isn’t so bad if one has other books to cross check and clarify the information.”

He glared at Hermione. “And no, Draco didn’t influence me with what you call pure-blood propaganda. What he actually did was encourage me to seek out information and to learn to think for myself. Like I said, I read several Magical and Muggle History books over the summer, each detailing the Witch-hunts and the prosecution of magic.” When he saw that he still had everyone’s attention and that they all seemed some form of curious, he continued. “From the late middle ages to the eighteenth century many people were lynched or officially prosecuted and killed in Europe and the colonies because of religious and social prejudices.

“It doesn’t matter that most of those victims were Muggle men and woman falsely accused of witchcraft, because of course many adult witches and wizards could escape prosecution. Too many magical people lost their homes or were killed. Think of what happened to teenagers accused of witchcraft or to the smaller children if their parents were overwhelmed by a lynch mob? Children could and cannot Apparate for example. This is the historical background of why all wizard nations agreed on the Statute of Secrecy.”

Murmurs rose in the room as each student processed what Harry was telling them. Truth be told, none of them had ever truly thought about why there was a Statue of Secrecy or laws on underage magic.

Cory looked at his friend and hid his smile. He wondered if Harry knew that he sounded just like the Dark Lord when he was giving his lectures; captivating and alluring.

“During the times of the Witch-hunt there was a climate of mass panics which frequently led to a chain of hysterical accusations, be it of religious heresy or witchcraft, when the true reason often was fear or simple spite against others,” Harry continued with his explanation. “The illiterate, lower class Muggles of that time couldn’t explain the changing climate, the devastating plagues and the failing of harvests with their limited knowledge. They only experienced their life as miserable and out of their control, especially during the upheavals of the Reformation and the Thirty Years’ War in Germany. These Muggles sought scapegoats; they blamed people who were living solitary or who were in anyway different from the main population, for their misery; be they true witches or wizard, Jews or sometimes so called wise women who were learned in childbirth, healing and herb lore.

“The Muggle Church strove to destroy all belief into the old Gods, the Old Ways, ancient or traditional knowledge. Their male priests brainwashed large parts of the Muggle population into the firm belief that all kinds of magic or witchcraft were evil, that witches consorted with the devil and demons, that woman were general untrustworthy and far below men. There’s also a disturbing connection to birth control.”

“What kind of connection?” Lavender asked, her eyes wide from what she was hearing.

“One of the accusations against so called witches by churchmen was that they provided poisons to would-be murderers and facilitated abortions,” Harry said and gasps echoed throughout the room. He looked at the shocked faces around him. “Well think about; birth control seems normal and the right thing to do to us in this modern age. Imagine how many upper year girls would drop out of school otherwise, be them Muggles or witches.”

That got him a round of “Harry!” amidst gasps, blushes, nervous giggles and shuffles from his audience.

Rolling his eyes, Harry continued. “Oh come on, you can talk about it. About a thousand or a hundred years ago, Muggle women in Europe go pregnant year after year, because they didn’t have access to information, methods of birth control, like charms and potions for witches or condoms or the pill for Muggle women like in our modern times. Many women died in childbirth because of exhaustion or bad hygiene. Those surviving had terrible trouble rearing their many kids because of their poverty and wide spread diseases. Most kids died early as babies or toddlers. Many Muggle women, who had severe health problems, were caught in this vicious cycle without any escape. The people were suffering and desperate. The only one that could help them in secret were the so called wise women; either witches who could brew potions to prevent or terminate pregnancy, or Muggle women like midwives who still had some old knowledge of herbs to do the same. And that was forbidden knowledge. Many witches or Muggle women who dared to help others ended up hanged, burned at the stake or drowned in rivers if some tattletale accused them of witchcraft.”

The boys looked thoroughly uncomfortable hearing about the topic while the girls looked disturbed and shocked by such a barbaric concept.

“That’s so terrible,” Lavender gasped out, “I never thought about this before. But why?”

“As I already said,” Harry replied, “any witchcraft or sorcery was considered evil, the work of the devil or demons. And, the European Muggles in the Middle Ages and later times, believed it to be their Christian God’s will that as many babies as possible were born, regardless if the mothers were sick and starving and the kids only had a very slim chance of survival. Muggle priests told the people every Sunday that it was their Almighty God’s will that they suffer while living on Earth. That was just the way things were. After death, they would go to Heaven or Hell, depending on their sins.”

Some students—those from pure-blood families—scoffed at hearing that, but most of those from half-blood or Muggleborn backgrounds, looked pensive, having read something like that before, depending on the religious belief of their specific Muggle relations.

“That’s not the worst of it, you know?” Harry continued, “back then, most people couldn’t read, they couldn’t travel, there was no newspaper, no public library, radio or any other way to get information like there is today. And that meant that they didn’t have access to the knowledge to make an informed decision about their lives or bodies, not like we do now, which some of us take for granted. The saddest thing is though, today there’s widespread Muggle religion all over the world telling their believers that birth control is evil. The Clergy insists that it is better to multiply like rabbits and let children and mothers suffer and die, rather than prevent unwanted pregnancies. Totally barbaric.

“Here’s some more history to think about. Another thing I read was that during the decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Catholic religion, the perception of Ancient symbols was craftily changed by the Muggle Clerics. For example, the Muggle Church devil—as the embodiment of pure evil—is depicted as a dark figure holding a trident. In ancient times, this same trident was something positive, the symbol of Neptune, the name that ancient Romans gave to the powerful Greek god of the sea and earthquakes, Poseidon.

“The snake, once a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, healing and medicine, was reversed by the Muggle Church into the symbol of evil, associated with the devil, woman, betrayal and deceit. In ancient Greece, snakes were considered to be the wisest and cleverest of all animals. The snake—which periodically sheds its skin—was a symbol of healing, regeneration and renewal. Asclepius’ staff has only one snake entwined around it, which symbolizes healing, regeneration, and the consummate skill of the medical art. Hermes' Caduceus has two intertwined snakes, which also represent the need for balance, for optimum health maintenance and disease prevention.

“If you think about it, we are influenced by these mythological and warped religious concepts too - one of the first things I was told at age eleven, when I was introduced to the magical world, about Slytherin house was that they are all evil slimy snakes, untrustworthy and that the lion's house, Gryffindor, was all brave and good. It’s pathetic. The snake of Slytherin and the lion of Gryffindor are only symbols for school houses, for Merlin's sake! There are good or bad people in every house.”

Hermione blinked at him in complete shock, her thoughts going a mile a minute. ‘Harry read history books without me prompting and badgering him to study? He went to a library and a museum on his own? Where he did get access to other wizard books? Where exactly did he spend his summer? Now that he mentioned...yes...I read years back about the prosecution of witches and wizards. It’s true that Muggles cruelly hunted and murdered countless people over several hundred years because they were accused of practicing witchcraft or consorting with the Devil...but still, that doesn’t excuse Harry’s callous attitude towards the Creeveys. They or their father and family didn’t do anything wrong...didn’t they?’

“Look,” Harry narrowed his eyes and looked around the room at the students. “I know what I just said was shocking and that some of you may think I’m cold hearted or something because I’m not upset over the Creeveys’ deaths and truthfully, I really am not. I was never close to either brother to feel true remorse for them being gone.” His eyes and voice hardened and everyone seemed to stand a little straighter, especially the students that had been a part of the DA the years before. “Before anyone starts condemning me for my own feelings, you should be clear about something. This is a war; every day people die and some of them are people that we know. I know that better than anyone; I lost my parents, my godfather and every year since I’ve been here, I’ve had to fight to survive.” He directed his gaze to Hermione, Jack, Matt and Alex. “I’m sorry if none of you like that, but frankly I don’t care. I’m tired of people trying to make me feel guilty for something I had no control over. I wasn’t the one that told the Creevey brothers to expose our world, no matter how little the exposure, I didn’t tell the Slytherins to tell their parents and I sure as hell didn’t tell You-Know-Who to attack and kill them either.”

He switched his gaze to Ron. “So before you start accusing me of being dark, you should remember all the shit I’ve been through these past few years. If someone like the Creeveys barely even registers on my radar because I’ve got more important stuff to worry about, then I’m sorry.”

“What about the Slytherins?” Hermione asked, unwilling to let the situation go. “How do you think that looks to everyone else? To the Wizarding World as a whole?”

“What about them?” Harry turned to Cory and passed Sesshomaru to him so he could fold his arms. “I’m dating the Ice Prince of Slytherin himself and I made no secret about that.” Some of the students grinned when they remembered last night at the Opening Feast. “I’m also friends with two others and my best friend is the son of the two most infamous Death Eaters, but do I care about that? No. Do you know why? It’s simple; it makes no sense to blame the child for the sins of the parents. Yes Draco treated people—us Gryffindors especially—like crap, but like I told you last night, I forgave him.

“As far as I’m concerned, the past is the past and that’s where it should stay. I’ll say this again since it seems that everyone didn’t hear or understand me. This is a war! And I have more important things to worry about than petty house rivalries, like the fact that a madman wants me dead and will do anything he can to make that happen. Why would I spend my time fighting with Draco or any of the Slytherins when I could be preparing myself for the war? And as for the Wizarding World, I don’t care what they think. No matter what I do, it’s always going to be a problem. A muggle woman once said ‘Do what you feel in your heart to be right for you’ll be criticized anyway; you’ll be damned if you and damned if you don’t’ (1),” Harry shook his head and turned to leave the common room, when he got to the entrance, he stopped and turned back to look at Ron and Hermione.

“You know,” He looked at them with knowing eyes. “You keep going on about me taking up with the Slytherins, but the truth is, I’d rather be surrounded by venomous snakes in the dark of night than walk in the daylight with a lion. With the snake, you know from the start that they will attack if they feel threatened, but with a lion, you never know when they’re gonna turn cowardly and betray you to save their own skin.”

Ron and Hermione flinched as Harry’s words struck home and most of the Gryffindors turned to look at the two.

Harry smiled when he saw that reaction and then he turned and walk away, Cory smirking at the two before following immediately.

“Really guys?” Seamus looked at the two and the students that had started the talk. “Harry’s been through a lot of shit and you all get on his case because he’s not upset over Colin?”

“But Seamus,” Ron started.

“No Ron,” the Irish teen him off. “Harry’s changed yes, but that doesn’t mean he’s gone dark. Harry was your best friend until you started treating him like crap. You’re supposed to know him and because he grew up over the summer and realized he has to change a bit, you don’t like that so you accuse him of being dark. It’s just like fourth year all over again.”

Seamus shook his head and left the common room, Dean following him. After a few minutes, the other Gryffindors left to go their own ways, each talking about what had just happened and the information they had just received.

~...~

“That was perfect,” Cory laughed as he walked alongside Harry. He passed Sesshomaru back to his friend. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you planned it.”

“I didn’t,” Harry grinned as he set Sesshomaru on the floor. “But, when an opportunity presents itself, you take it, so I did.”

“You do know that the whole school is going to know what happened, right?” Cory asked.

“Yes,” Harry nodded. “People are going to start thinking outside the box and that’s exactly what we want.”

Cory shook his head with a smile. The smile became bigger when he saw Luna heading towards them.

“Nicely done,” Luna smiled as she pecked Harry on the cheek before moving to Cory’s side. “It was perfect and seeds that were planted are being further nurtured.”

“Good,” Harry smiled.

“Beware the bee Harry,” Luna said suddenly. “Be wary of its bright colours and favourite food as they are but a distraction from its manipulations.”

Harry stared at her for a few seconds before he nodded. “Thanks for the warning Luna-girl.”

“Anytime,” Luna grinned. “He will not succeed, no matter how hard he tries, however, insignificant thoughts should roam around; they should placate the bee.”

Harry nodded, understanding her meaning; Dumbledore will try to perform Legilimency on him, so he should keep his mind filled with unnecessary things.

The trio continued walking, Sesshomaru walking slightly ahead of them when Harry heard his name again. He turned and saw Dean and Seamus hurrying towards him.

“What is it?” Cory asked when the two boys caught up to them.

“Hey Luna,” Dean greeted.

“Hi,” Luna smiled at him.

Luna looked around before looking at Seamus. “Thank you. Harry doesn’t need controlling friends like them around him and it’s nice to see you on his side for a change compared to the first half of last year.”

At Seamus’ shocked look, Harry laughed and walked off. Cory grinned and he and Luna followed their friend.

Dean laughed and clapped Seamus on his shoulder before drawing the Irish teen into his arms and they went after their friends.

Harry was still laughing when he walked into the Great Hall so the few students that were in there, turned to look at him. He ignored them and headed over to the Slytherin table where Draco was sitting with Blaise, Pansy and a few other Slytherins.

“What’s so funny?” Draco asked when Harry walked up to him.

“Luna-girl,” Harry gave a quick kiss to Draco before sitting down next to him.

Draco smiled at the dirty-blonde Ravenclaw. “What did you do?”

“She was being herself,” Cory laughed. “And it shocked Seamus into speechlessness.”

Draco laughed and the sound drew the attention of the other students as they had never heard the Slytherin laugh so easily and freely before. Sesshomaru yipped before he leapt from the ground into Draco’s lap.

“Well hello Sesshomaru,” Draco scratched the pup behind his ears drawing a growl of contentment.

“So what do you have after this break?” Harry asked his boyfriend as he snagged one of the grapes from Draco’s plate. He laughed when Sesshomaru tried to grab a grape as well.

“Arithmancy,” Draco replied as he bit into a grape while giving the pup on his lap another. “And I have it with Granger.”

“Isn’t that your second class with her?” Cory asked.

“Yes,” Draco nodded.

“Ouch,” Harry exaggerated.

“Shut up,” Draco scowled briefly and threw a grape at him.

Harry laughed and caught it against his chest before throwing it in his mouth. Pansy laughed at the two.

“Dragon,” Luna smiled as she grabbed a grape as well. “Be good.”

“Aren’t I always?” Draco smirked at her. The bell rang; Draco handed Sesshomaru back to Harry as everyone got up to head to their classes.

Harry had a free period, while the others had classes. “I’ll see you at lunch?”

“Of course,” Draco smiled before he leaned for a kiss. It lasted a few minutes before both boys broke away, panting slightly.

Harry pulled Draco in for a hug and whispered into his ear. “Go, before I drag you to a room and take you.”

Draco shivered at the words and Harry’s breath in his ear before he pulled back and headed to his class.

“What’d you tell him?” Pansy asked as she passed Harry.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Harry grinned.

“Yes I would,” Pansy admitted without shame. “That’s why I asked.”

Harry just smirked, and it was so reminiscent of Draco’s own smirk that she couldn’t help but to huff, grin and shake her head.

“See you later Harry,” Pansy smiled before she left.

~...~

With the others in class, Harry decided to head to the library. He had gone back to the common room with Seamus and Dean to drop off Sesshomaru before heading back out.

Walking into the library, he smiled at Madam Pince, who gave a tiny smile and a slight nod of her head when she saw him. He walked through the aisles, passing other students and ignoring them as he did so. As he walked, he spotted a dirty blonde head of hair and smiled as he headed in that direction.

“Hi Harry,” Luna greeted, despite the fact that she had her head down and was reading.

“Hey Luna-girl,” Harry replied. “You waiting for me?”

“Of course,” Luna said as she finally looked up, closing the book she had chosen to read while she was waiting. She stood up and gathered some more books in her hand. “The chairs there are a lot more comfortable and we’d have more privacy.”

Harry nodded and the two walked down the aisles, bypassing the Restricted Section until they came to a blank wall. Harry let his magic flare just a bit and the walls retracted, revealing an entrance. The two stepped inside, the wall closing behind them, and walked the short hallway into an open room. The moment they stepped inside, various torches around the room lit up and the fireplace roared to life, casting a soft glow and warmth. The room held a few chairs with two couches and a table and the floor was covered with a forest-green rug that was soft, almost plush-like. The walls were painted sky blue and they had shelves—filled with books—running along them. It was like a common room and a mini library joined together.

Luna dropped into the chair closest to the fireplace and placed her books on the ground as she curled her feet underneath her.

“Tired?” Harry asked as he sat next to her, allowing the blonde to rest her head on his shoulder; in turn, his arm went around her shoulders allowing her to settle more snugly against him.

“I never quite realized just how taxing and irritating these students can be,” Luna sighed. “It is a relief to finally be myself though.”

“Anyone messed with you?” Harry moved his hand to run his fingers through her hair in a gentle motion.

“No,” Luna giggled, “yours and Cory’s warning were very effective. Now though, everyone’s acting nice and some of the girls have even asked questions about you. They were shocked when I spoke clearly to them and Cho was glaring daggers at me the whole time.”

“So, you had fun?” Harry asked with a chuckle.

“Oh yes,” Luna nodded, “quite a bit actually.”

“Good,” Harry said. After that, it was quiet between the two as they relaxed and enjoyed each other’s presence.

Harry broke the silence after a while. “What do you think he wants to talk about?”

“He is hoping to know why the things that have happened did so,” Luna said. “He also thinks you’ll be desperate to know what it is he wants to talk about.”

“Well,” Harry grinned, “he is in for a rude awakening.”

“Think Snake,” Luna cautioned.

“I will,” Harry agreed. The two were quiet once more.

Soon after, an alarm sounded, letting them know classes were over and it was time for lunch.

“Come on Luna-girl,” Harry stood up and held out his hand for Luna to take.

“Such a sweet big brother,” Luna teased.

“Only for you,” Harry grinned before he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her from the room.

~...~

When the two entered the Great Hall, it was to the sight of almost all the students seated. No surprise, everyone turned to the two and Luna smiled when she saw the envious glares sent to her by the girls and some of the boys. Getting a devious thought, she snuggled even more into Harry’s arm, smiling when he tightened his embrace slightly and dropped a kiss on her head. The glares increased in intensity and Luna allowed a smug grin to cross her face, shocking those that saw it.

“Let’s go visit a dragon,” Luna murmured to Harry.

“Alright,” Harry nodded. He looked at the Gryffindor table where Cory was sitting and nodded towards Draco. Cory nodded back and stood up from his seat, moving to the Slytherin table.

The Slytherins made room for them and Harry sat next to Draco, while Luna sat next to him. When Cory came over, he sat next to his girlfriend.

The entire Great Hall—with the exception of Slytherin of course—stared, despite the fact that it wasn’t a secret that the quartet was now friends and that Draco and Harry were dating. The Slytherins were shocked however, along with everyone else, when both Dean and Seamus got up from Gryffindor table and made their way over to them.

“Mind if we join you?” Seamus asked, directing his question not to his friends, but to the Prince himself.

Draco looked up at the two before looking at Harry, Cory and Luna. The three kept their expressions blank, not wanting to influence Draco’s decision. The entire hall—Slytherins now included—seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what the Slytherin Prince would do.

After a few moments, Draco smirked. “I’ve already acquainted myself to the Prince of Gryffindor himself, so I don’t see why not. Sit down.”

Seamus grinned excitedly and sat down, Dean following more sedately.

“No offence intended,” Pansy turned to the two new comers, “but what exactly made you decide to sit over here?”

“Well,” Dean spoke, “we figured that Harry was right. If he could forgive Malfoy for everything that’s happened in the past and move past it to become not only friends but boyfriends, then we could do the same.”

Pansy stared at the two for some time before she nodded. “Pansy Parkinson, Draco’s best friend since childhood.”

“Blaise Zabini,” Blaise spoke up from Pansy’s other side, “Pansy’s boyfriend and Draco’s best friend as well.”

“Seamus Finnegan,” Seamus smiled, “been Harry’s roommate since first year.”

“Dean Thomas,” Dean said, “Harry’s roommate since first year and Seamus’ best friend.”

“You know who I am,” Draco smirked.

“Drake,” Harry slapped his boyfriend’s arm, “be nice.”

“I’m not nice,” Draco sneered at Harry.

“Hmmm,” Luna hummed.

“Oh be quiet,” Draco looked over the blonde.

“I said nothing Dragon,” Luna giggled causing the others to laugh as well. The ice broken, the teens eased into other topics.

Around the hall, the students, though they had gone back to eating, still stared at the Slytherin table with looks of disbelief; it was a moment of ‘you had to be there to see it’.

Over at Gryffindor table, Ron scowled darkly while Hermione looked on in confusion and that same hint of longing.

McGonagall entered the Great Hall and stopped in shock when she saw Luna, Harry, Cory, Dean and Seamus sitting at the Slytherin table. Pulling herself together, she walked over to her students.

“Mr. Potter,” McGonagall came to a stop. “Is there a reason you’re sitting at the Slytherin table?”

“Is there a reason why I cannot sit here?” Harry countered and the Slytherins hid their smiles. “Nowhere in Hogwarts: A History or the rules that states we can’t sit at other houses. I think it’s prudent to show the school as a whole that I meant what I said. The time for House rivalries is over. A war is coming and I’d rather spend the time concentrating on that rather than petty squabbling with other students. It’s time we all grew up.”

McGonagall had no answer to that, so she nodded stiffly and walked away. Up at the staff table, Snape and Lucius watched the proceedings with amusement.

~...~

“He is changing things, isn’t he?” Lucius murmured to Snape, taking care to keep his voice down and casting a Silencing Charm.

“Very much so,” Snape nodded. “That is a good thing. It makes other jobs much easier.”

“Indeed,” Lucius agreed and the two men became silent, basking in the wonderment that Harry Potter was on their Lord’s side.

~...~

Lunch was over and it was time to head to the final class/classes of the day. Since Harry had gotten his Head of House to push for him to be in Potions, his last class was double Potions with students from each house.

The students got up from the tables and started heading to their classes. The friends separated, with Harry, Draco, Blaise and Theo heading towards the dungeons while the others went to where their classes were.

The four boys were talking among themselves, ignoring the other students around them. When they got to the dungeons where their class was, they stopped outside of the potions classroom. Harry noted that another Slytherin, a girl by the name of Daphne Greengrass if he remembered, was there. He looked around saw that there were four Ravenclaws—Terry Boot, Su Li, Michael Corner and Padma Patil—and one Hufflepuff, Ernie McMillan.

Harry leaned against the wall, Draco next to him, Blaise next to Draco and Theo standing slightly in front of them. The three were talking, so Harry just continued looking at the students. The sound of footsteps drew his attention and he shifted his gaze to see Hermione walking towards them. When Hermione saw him, she stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened in disbelief and shock. Harry smirked when he saw that and gave her a mocking wave.

Seeing that everyone was there, Blaise moved from his position on the wall to the door of the classroom and discovered that it was open. Grabbing his bag, he headed inside, the other students filing in after him.

Harry and Draco sat next to each other in the seats in the back near the wall, Blaise sat next to Theo in front of them while Daphne next to Theo. On the other side of Daphne, two seats away, the four Ravenclaw and one Hufflepuff student sat while Hermione sat in front of them.

Harry and Draco talked quietly amongst themselves, as did the other students. Once in a while, Hermione would glance back at her former friend, but her glances were ignored, or rather, they weren’t acknowledged.

The door to the classroom banged open and Snape stalked inside, robes billowing about him in their usual menacing glory. He got to the front of the classroom and pulled out his wand, waving it at the door, closing and warding it. He turned to the students.

“Welcome to Advance Potions. Due to your presence,” Snape began, “it is correct to surmise that you achieved the necessary grade that is required for this class. Some of you,” he glanced at Harry, “were able to be here due to...special circumstances. We will see if you do have the sufficient skills needed to brew a more than adequate potion, and whether you manage to stay in this class until your NEWTs. I will not tolerate any slacking off or accidents due to immature rivalries. Should you decide that it is above your feeble capabilities, there is the door. Please, do us all a favour and close it from the outside.”

The students looked at their teacher with hints of trepidation and slight fear. Nobody moved. Only Harry and Draco seemed to be amused. Blaise took one glance at them and calmed himself down.

Snape continued with his speech before he paired them off. He smirked at Harry as he announced his partner as Hermione. Harry barely shook his head and got up to move. Draco was paired with Blaise while Daphne was paired with Ernie McMillan.

When Harry sat down, he turned to Hermione and gave her a blank stare. “I don’t want to be sitting next to you, but as I’d rather not have Professor Snape all over me, let’s just put aside our differences for now and complete whatever assignment we’re given.”

Hermione was stung, but she didn’t let it show. She had no idea how he had even got in, but suspected Dumbledore had something to do with it. She knew he was horrible at potions and was hoping to use this class to show Harry that he needed her.

Snape glanced at Hermione and a tiny smirk played across his lips. ‘That foolish little girl will be in for a rude awakening if she believes that by showing her supposed superior skills to Harry will make him forgive her.’

He waved his wand at the board, revealing their exercise. “The potion you shall be brewing is known as the Stomach Soother Unction and it shall take you the entire potions class to do so.” He paused. “For those of you who manage to finish it correctly and before the time has elapsed, then you shall sit quietly until the others are finished. It might do you good to read your book, Advanced Potion Making by Libalius Borage. I do hope everyone got one?”

The students all nodded and chorused, “Yes sir” or “Yes, Professor Snape.”

“Very well,” Snape nodded, “Ingredients are in the cupboard. Begin.”

Harry looked at the potion on the board and smiled. It was a potion that was in one of the books from his library at home and he could brew this in his sleep. He glanced back at Draco and when he caught his eye, he tilted his head to the board and shared a smirk with the blond.

“I’ll get the ingredients,” Harry spoke to Hermione.

“Are you sure you know what ingredients to get?” Hermione asked as she pulled out her text book. “I mean, do you know how to differentiate because I can show you, you know?”

Harry glared at her and walked away. As he passed Snape’s desk, the man looked over at him and shook his head slightly after glancing his eyes at Hermione. Harry shrugged and continued on to the cupboard.

“Granger giving trouble?” Draco asked as he stood next to Harry in the cupboard, gathering his own ingredients.

“Not yet,” Harry replied. “But I have the feeling that she’s going to use this class to either show her “superior” skills or something.”

Draco laughed softly. “Behave.”

“I always am,” Harry grinned and the blond laughed again before leaving the cupboard. Harry finished collecting the rest of his ingredients and turned to go back to his seat.

Placing the ingredients on the desk, Harry made a mock bow. “Are these to your satisfaction, your highness? Did I do honourably and collected the correct ingredients? Or am I doomed to fall at your feet in the displeasure you shall surely find for I am naught but an idiotic schoolboy!”

Harry’s words drew the attention of the class and they laughed at them. Hermione flushed in embarrassment and some shame.

“Get to work!” Snape barked at them, prompting some to jump in fright. If one had looked closely, they would’ve seen the way their professor’s lips twitched with amusement.

Harry sat down, getting his chuckles under control, and pulled his own potions books out of his bag. One was the required Advanced Potions Making—with abundant notes in Harry’s handwriting in it, thanks to Snape’s gracious permission to copy the potion related notes in his own sixth year book which he had read through during the summer, and the other was one from the Potter Manor library, a text book aimed at Potions apprentices. Harry expected that Granger would grasp onto that fact. True enough, seconds later, she did.

“Where did you get that?” Hermione looked at the book with wide and curious eyes. “That is not the required text.”

“No shit Sherlock,” Harry snorted as he opened his book to the page the potions was on and scanned the instructions. Snape’s added notes in Advanced Potions Making correlated well with the Apprentice text; Harry intended to follow Snape’s improvements when in question. He then went back to his bag and pulled his normal iron potions knife, his new silver knife and some measuring scales out as well as a thin rod—a potion stirrer—and placed them on the desk.

Looking at his book, he pulled some Gurdyroots towards him and started peeling and chopping them into thin and even pieces according to the directions. When he was done, he grabbed the ginger roots, peeled and diced those into sizes around one centimetre. Both tasks proved quite difficult, because the roots were so uneven and very sturdy. He proceeded to carefully weigh the required amounts of both before mixing them together in a clean bowl and setting the rest aside.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Hermione looked over at him. “The textbook says those ingredients aren’t to be mixed until they are inside the cauldron.”

“Really?” Harry didn’t stop working as he set the cauldron up with half water, half sesame oil and waited for it to boil. “Isn’t that interesting?”

He glanced back at his book before looking at his lab partner. “Are you going to sit there and stare or are you going to help cut up whatever else needs cutting?”

Hermione looked down to her book; she was thrown off guard by Harry’s new found knowledge of potions. It made her wonder once again what Harry did over the summer. Shaking her head, she reached out to grab some of the ingredients, two Belladonna berries. Sighing, she grabbed her own knife and proceeded to cut them, before she could even begin though, her wrist was seized.

“Don’t cut those beans!” Harry whispered harshly. “You’ll get more juice out of them if you squash it with the flat side of a silver knife directly before adding them; their effect on the potion will be magnified.”

“Look,” Hermione scowled at him. The fact that he seemed better than her rubbed her the wrong way. She hated it. She was the one that was supposed to be the better one; she was after all the brightest witch to hit Hogwarts...ever since Lily Potter. “I know what I’m doing, better than you. Just because you suddenly seem to be able to grasp potions doesn’t mean anything. We’re supposed to do it according to the text book and that is what I’m doing.”

Harry stared at her with a blank expression for so long that Hermione started to squirm slightly in her seat. Guilt moved through her and she opened her mouth to apologize when Harry turned away from her.

“Very well,” Harry said slowly. “If that is the way you feel, since you believe you are so superior,” he pulled his wand from his robes and muttered the duplication spell on the cauldron, “you do the potion your way, and I’ll do it my way.”

Ignoring Hermione, Harry continued working on his potion, following the directions in his book. He quickly got up and headed to the cupboard to get more of the remaining ingredients and when he came back, he separated the ingredients he had already cut, weighed and mixed up in half; he waited until the cauldron was boiling and then placed half of the ingredients in the cauldron and left the other half on the table. He grabbed his rod and stirred the potion clockwise four times. He waited until the potion base in the cauldron was boiling and then placed half of the roots in the cauldron and left the other half in the bowl on the table. He grabbed his rod and stirred the potion clockwise four times. He then waited one minute before he checked the colour of the potion before he added the other half of the ingredients, stirring it clockwise another four times. While he waited a few minutes until the roots became sort enough to release the essential oils, especially the Gingerol, he squashed the Belladonna berries with the flat side of the silver knife, mixed them with opium and alcohol and added them to the cauldron along with the Gurdyroots and Gingerol. Taking up his stirring rod again, he stirred the mixture seven times counter clockwise slowly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione get up and go to the cupboard for her own ingredients. He turned back to his potion and watched as the potion changed colour; when it did, he set the cauldron from boiling to low and then turned back to the final ingredients, Flobberworms. He cleaned them and cut them into thin strips, weighed them and then carefully placed them to the side in another bowl. They wouldn’t be needed to go in until after a twenty minute wait period to thicken the mixture with the slime. He glanced at Hermione out of the corner of his eye and saw that she had resumed the work on her own potion, going exactly by the instructions in the school text and that meant she was at least three levels behind him.

He knew the potions would end up in the same result, but his way, would not only allow him to finish quicker, but it would make his potion more potent. He glanced at the time and saw that there was only five minutes left in the first half of the class, before glancing back at Draco and Blaise and saw that their potion was just about the same stage as his own.

Turning around, he glanced at Hermione and saw that her potion had just gotten to the second colour stage. He shook his head and turned back to his cauldron.

~..~

Hermione huffed under her breath as she recollected the ingredients. For all her genius, she couldn’t understand what had just happened. She had thought, and hoped, that Harry would turn to her as he always did for help, despite what had happened at the opening feast and today in the common room. After their DADA class, she had started thinking things through, but then the discussion in the common room had disrupted her flow of thoughts and she had once again found herself questioning Harry’s actions and words.

Absentmindedly, she gathered the necessary items and headed back to her work station. While she read over the book, her thoughts drifted back to her current problem. Even after all that and the not so subtle warnings that had been given to her, she had been looking forward to this class as she knew that while Harry was the best in their DADA classes and average in the others, when it came to potions, he was absolutely rubbish and therefore, she had seen this class as an opportunity to get back in his good graces, to show that he needed her and that she was willing to forgive everything that he had said to her, both at Diagon Alley and here in school. But once again, that option was shot down.

Shaking her head, she rid herself of her thoughts and concentrated on her potion. She followed the instructions and started on slicing and chopping the ingredients. Looking over at Harry, she was surprised and shocked to see that he was already approaching the final stages. Dismayed, she turned back to her own; when she realized that her potion was nowhere near the same stage as his, tears of frustration filled her eyes and she hastily wiped them away. Just in time as Snape descended on their table.

~...~

Snape looked out over his class, gaining immense pleasure of the quietness from the students. He knew that there was only one other teacher that could get the students to be quiet and that was Minerva McGonagall; however, the difference between them was that, the students in McGonagall’s classes learned of her preference for quiet after being in her class, while those under his tutelage learned just by his reputation alone and as such, the moment they entered, they became quiet. It was a power he enjoyed having.

His gaze swept over them as he walked along each pair of students. Those whose potions were off based, even if it was slight, he took great pleasure in informing them. He got to his godson’s potion and as always, pride enveloped him. Draco had spent most of his childhood around him and being who he was as he spent most of his time in a potions lab, his godson was there right next to him. He had felt pleasure the first time Draco showed an interest as he had found someone that seemed to love potions as much as he did.

“Excellent job Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini,” Snape murmured as he looked over their potion.

“Thank you sir,” Draco beamed as did Blaise.

Snape nodded and moved on to where Harry was with Hermione. When he got to their workstation, he stopped and looked at the two cauldrons.

“What exactly is the meaning of this?” he enquired.

Hermione’s startled eyes flew to him and she tried to formulate a response, but Harry beat her to it.

“It’s simple sir,” Harry looked at the potions instructor. “Granger disagreed with the way I was doing the potions, so I made a very easy decision; I duplicated the cauldron and got more ingredients from the cupboard and told her that if she disagreed, she would do the potion her way while I would do it my way.”

Snape looked at both potions, sneered at Hermione. “It seems as if your status as the Brightest Witch Hogwarts has ever seen, has compounded your ego and insufferable know-it-all ability to the point where you deem yourself to be more knowledgeable than others and not one willing to listen or accept a different course of direction.” His dark eyes bored into Hermione, holding her captive. “If you are to succeed in life Ms. Granger, then you must be willing to accept that you do not know or hold all the answers and that there is more than one way to reach a specific outcome.” He turned to Harry. “Commendable so far Potter; Perhaps you do have the skill necessary to be in this class.”

Harry ducked his head and grinned before he turned back to his potion. Hermione bit her lip to stop it from trembling and fought to keep her composure. Snape’s words stung. Truthfully, she was used to his unfairness towards Gryffindor students, but today, he had praised Harry; something that had never happened in the past. It was as if Snape had not only changed his looks during the summer, but also his mood and attitude, same as Harry, who was suddenly competent, polite and not antagonistic towards the professor anymore.

The bell sounded, signalling the end of class—for them, the end of the first half of this class—and Snape walked to the front and turned to look at his students. “The first block is over. Those of you, whose potion is at the twenty minute waiting stage, have a five minute reprieve. The rest of you, continue working.”

Murmurs echoed throughout the class, until a glare from Snape had them all quiet. Only Draco, Harry and Blaise were at that stage, so they relaxed. Harry exchanged grins with his boyfriend until he felt a gaze on him and looked around to find Hermione staring at him. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“I don’t understand,” Hermione whispered, her brown eyes once again filling with tears.

“What don’t you understand?” Harry raised an eyebrow and waited for her to continue. He could see the turmoil in her eyes and knew that her breaking point was coming. It wasn’t a matter of if; it was just a matter of when.

“Everything,” Hermione whispered as she wiped her eyes. “What happened? What changed? How is that you’re so good at potions and that you’re with Malfoy and Nev-Cory is suddenly your best friend?”

Harry looked at her, keeping silent for a few minutes before he spoke. “You lost all right to question me when you did what you did. However, due to certain facts of which you know nothing about, I don’t suppose you ever had the right to begin with. Despite all that though, I had still had hope that you truly were my friend.” His gaze scaled her body before he once met her eyes. “I suppose my hope was completely in vain.”

He turned away from her, putting his attention back to his boyfriend. The blond raised a delicate eyebrow and Harry shook his head with a shrug. The bell that signalled the start of the next period sounded and Harry looked at the time and saw that he had about ten minutes left. He got up from his seat and headed towards Draco.

Hermione watched him go before turning back to her own potion. Her mind was churning—again. Her getting reprimanded by Snape was no surprise, but him being nice to Harry...that was a shocker. She had never felt as lost as she did right then. Sighing, she refocused on her own potion. As she worked, she couldn’t help but to glance at Harry’s potion. She really had no idea where he got the book or how he was able to make a potion correctly. Ten minutes later, she was now halfway through with her potion.

Harry walked back to his seat and shook his head when he saw the glances Hermione kept throwing at his potion. Smirking to himself, he sat down; he gathered the final ingredients and set the cauldron back to boiling. When it did, he carefully slipped in the Flobberworm slices one after the other, while stirring in a pattern of seven times counter clockwise and three times clockwise slowly. He waited three minutes before reducing the heat to a light boil, and stirred another seven times, this time clockwise. The potion turned a lavender colour and Harry placed his rod back on the table and then he doused the flame. If everything was done right, five minutes after the heat was extinguished, the potion would become a thick syrup and pale pink—it’s final colour. When the five minutes passed, Harry smiled when he saw the pale pink. Grabbing three bottles, he took the ladle and filled them. The moment he was finished, he set them on the table and started packing his stuff back in his bag.

When he was done, he stood up and headed towards Snape’s desk, placing the three bottles down in front of him.

“You are finished?” Snape looked up at his student.

“Yes sir,” Harry nodded, showing the required respect to the man he had gotten close to over the summer.

“Very well,” Snape nodded, “clean up your area and then you are dismissed.”

“Thank you sir,” Harry smiled before he turned to go back to his seat. Blaise passed him with his and Draco’s finished work while the blond cleaned up.

Hermione took notice of the small exchange, although she was busy working on her own potion. Her thoughts tumbled one over the other. ‘This is unbelievable. During the entire lesson, Snape didn’t ridicule or scorn Harry’s efforts, he used only mild banter; and Harry was not cheeky or disrespectful as usual. What a difference that is compared to the last five years! But, how come? Is it only because Harry is now friends—dating Malfoy, Snape’s favourite student and because he’s also on good terms with Malfoy senior? Did the Malfoys somehow influence Snape to be so friendly to Harry?’

Harry pulled out his wand and cast Scourgify—voiceless—to remove the potion remains and to clean the table. Hermione did a double take. ‘When did he learn to do that?’

When he was done, he put away his cauldron and bent down to grab his book-bag. He stood up and saw Draco and Blaise with their bags over their shoulders, ready to leave as well.

Smiling, he went to them and the three made their way out of the classroom. The second they got to the door, Snape’s voice stopped them.

“Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy,” Snape said, “Remember your detention is tomorrow night. I will see you then. Do not be late.”

“Yes sir.” Echoed Draco and Harry before the three boys left.

“Back to work!” Snape growled at the rest of the students.

A/N 2: the end of chapter fifteen. Though we’ve had chapter sixteen already written, we had to scrap it and it’s currently in the process of being re-written. Hopefully, it’ll be done by next weekend *crosses fingers and prays*. So, now that you’ve read, review so we can know what you thought.

(1): a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, past First Lady of the United States of America

Much Love,

Kila & Tonks
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Rise of the Dark Angel