Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Pirate's Tail	By : SamHill Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 3181 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Not in any lifetime does Harry Potter (and his universe) belong to me. They are the sole property of J.K. Rowling, et al. I make no money and I mean not copyright infringement.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
A/N: See Chapter One for all disclaimers and warnings

Chapter Seventeen:

The little girl was sound asleep beneath the bushes just a few feet from the small dungeon window when Draco crept by the next morning. The sight of her dirty face and the small hands flecked with blood made his stomach knot and he wished for a glass of milk. It was the only thing that seemed to soothe the constant pain in his belly as the days passed. Keeping a watchful eye on the path just beyond the bushes, Draco shook the child awake and pressed a finger to his lips to signal her silence.

Intense green eyes – so reminiscent of Harry’s, save for the flecks of brown that darkened them and ringed the edges – watched Draco eagerly as he crouched down. She studied his face for a long moment then said the one thing he wasn’t expecting. “Draco.”

His name was coarse in her accented, young voice, but there was enough clarity that he didn’t need her to repeat it. “How do you know my name?” he asked warily.

She pointed to the barred window almost hidden by the shadows. “Harry.”

“You know Harry?

“Ja.” Her little brow scrunched up and he almost smiled at the picture she made. “Snape!” she said excitedly, and Draco felt the blood drain from his face.

Whipping around, he half expected to see the man standing behind him and could sigh with relief that he was not. Regardless of their familial connection, Snape would show little mercy for Draco’s betrayal. With another cautionary glance around, he looked back at the child. “What is your name?”

“Mette!” the child proclaimed, her voice wavering only slightly. And then he heard the voice he thought he’d never hear again.

“Draco?” Harry called. Everything fell into place for the blond at that moment.

~ * ~

Neville stood over the large, boiling pot slowly adding crushed berries of Belladonna and whole Oleander blossoms. He had spent so many years immersed in studying the very nature of such plants that he was confident he could mask the flavor of the poisons. Those closest to the newly crowned King would never know what hit them. He didn’t so much as hesitate when a knock came, simply called out to permit entrance.

“Hello, Neville,” Luna sang softly. She moved across the room to the shelves that lined the windowless wall and began unloading her basket of goods. “I found those plants you were asking about. I’ve got them all here. Shall I start preparing them?”

“Please, if you don’t mind, Luna,” Neville replied, a smile making his rather plain features decidedly handsome.

Luna hummed a little tune as she began chopping and dicing, her hips swaying to music only she could hear. Neville watched her for a moment then returned his attention to the old fashioned cauldron. They worked in companionable silence until the door flew open once more, this time admitting a very agitated Snape.

“Severus? Is everything alright?” There was a moment when time seemed to stand still and Neville feared the man’s next words.

“What? Oh, yes, of course. The tiresome brat is, of course, infested with disease and infection, yet he lives on still.”

Luna smiled. “Did you help him?”

Snape shot her a disparaging look which she blithely ignored. “Of course I did, you half wit. If we’ve any hope of truly winning this battle, he’s it. I, for one, would like to reclaim my family lands sooner rather than later.” It was complete contradiction to his earlier words, but being back on England’s soil had brought a homesickness he had long forgotten.

“Well, this batch is almost done. I’ve got the vials all ready to go.” Neville looked worriedly at the deadly brew. “Are you certain this is a good idea? I mean, what if the villagers get the contaminated food?”

“Have I ever poisoned someone I did not intend to? No, I have not. Kindly bottle what you have so I may take it with me. I shall also need to replace these.” He dumped the empty containers on the counter and Neville got to work refilling them.

“How go the plans?” Snape asked after a long moment of silence.

“Very well, Severus.” All three heads jerked to the doorway where Cedric stood. “How is Harry?”

“Better than I would have hoped, all things considered. Now, if I am no longer needed, I must get these back to the castle.” He glanced around at the dimly lit room. “You do not think that Voldemort will know you have taken over homes of his dead followers?”

Cedric shook his head. “This land belonged to the younger Lestrange brother; the King has always overlooked him and with no heir to the Lestrange name, they are simply here for the taking. I shall reclaim them all when this is through and award them to those who have helped so closely in this war.”

Snape sniffed. “I have my own home, thank you.”

“Of course, and the Crown shall see them back in your hands immediately.”

Snape paused at the doorway, dark gaze hooded. “Should I not make it out of this war, I intend the lands to be passed on to Mr. Potter to do with as he sees fit. I would have less than I already do were it not for him. Speak of this to anyone else and Potter will have no other option than to assume the throne himself.” The words were softly spoken but the threat could not be missed; Cedric smiled as Snape swept past.

~ * ~

Hours later they set out with their poisons, and when they were done, they reconvened at their makeshift camp, Luna in the lead and Snape bringing up the rear as he kept a wary eye out for any guards still moving. Madame Pomfrey was off at the larger camp making certain that all the medics there had the herbs and medicines that would be required to treat the wounded. There would be no differentiating between friend and foe when it came to giving aide, so their supply stock was as large as they could make it.

Luna had wandered off to the edge, pot of soiled water in her hands, when Neville heard her dismayed cry. Rushing forward, he found her sprawled on the ground, one hand pressed to her side as she stared up in surprise at her attacker. The pot of water, still boiling hot from the fire, sat undisturbed on the ground and Neville reached for it as he shouted at the man.

Travers, one of the lower end followers of the falsely crowned king, spun to face him, only to receive a face full of scalding water. He let out a guttural cry of pain that ended in a hiss that was preceded by the loud bang of Snape’s gun. The blast took off half the man’s head, but Neville was oblivious to the mess as he scrambled over to Luna’s side.

“Luna, are you all right?” He watched worriedly as Snape lifted the young woman and carried her back to the camp, setting her down on his cot.

“Fool, rather than waste time, fetch me my bag! And what kind of idiot throws water when he has a gun?”

“I don’t have a gun!” Neville replied, looking slightly dismayed. “I’m a botanist!”

“And I am an apothecary owner. That has not stopped me from possessing a weapon with which to defend myself!” He stripped away her vest and tugged open the brightly colored shirt beneath, laying bare the torn flesh. “You are lucky, wench, that the blade was not poisoned...” Snape looked up as he spoke, his words dying on his tongue when he saw how still her face had become. She had not, in fact, moved since he had carried her over. Before he could react, she began to laugh.

“I- I’m so sorry, Severus, but you looked so serious. Really, it barely hurt.”

Snarling, he leaned close to her. “I am not the one whose feelings you should be concerning yourself with.” Spinning on his heel, he stalked away, leaving Luna alone with the young man.

“L-Luna,” he stuttered, “I- I thought you were dead.” His face was pale, the bag clutched in his hands shaking.

“Oh, Neville, I’m sorry. I only meant to tease Severus a little.”

He gave her a wan smile. “I don’t know why. Mr. Snape’s right scary even on his good days.” Sitting down beside her, he began pulling out gauze and antiseptic.

~ * ~

tbc
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- 18
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A Pirate's Tail