Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Blood Quill Consequences	By : EarthandWater Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 31160 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We make no money from the writing of this.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
WARNING: Neville and Luna fluff. Mention of past domestic abuse. Crabbe and Goyle being skeevy bastards.
Disclaimer: We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We gain only amusement from writing this.
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Neville Longbottom sat under an oak tree reading up on his weekend potions homework. Since Malfoy had become a TA for potions things were much easier for him in that class. It wasn't as though the potions suddenly became less complicated or anything. It was that he no longer was being hovered over by professor Snape. Logically Nevile knew that the potion master wouldn't harm him, couldn't without facing severe consequences, but logic didn't help much when it came to phobias and that's what it was, a full blown phobia. He closed his eyes and sighed. He really was far too much of a cringing coward for Gryffindor, he always wondered why he'd been sorted into the house he'd been placed in rather than Hufflepuff. At least he was from what he knew of himself anyway.
He didn't excel in anything but herbology, wasn't cunning or ambitious and he was a coward, by his mind the best house for him would have been Hufflepuff yet the Hat had put him in Gryffindor. Why? He wouldn't have really minded being put into Hufflepuff. He knew most people considered that the worst house to be sorted into but he never had. Hard-working and loyal to him were two traits that were just as important as bravery, intelligence, or ambition. More so really, because the hard-working and loyal had more friends than the lazy but brave or the smart but fickle or ambitious but callous. Not that he thought his housemates were lazy nor did he think Ravenclaws were fickle, far from it but when he thought of himself he really thought he was more the type to fade into the background and be happy to work steadily in the corner rather than step out into the spotlight. Plus he liked badgers, thought they were some of the most fascinating animals really.
From all he could see, he was far more suited to Hufflepuff than Gryffindor and it baffled him that he was in Gryffindor. What could the Sorting Hat have seen in him that made a Gryffindor?
He was broken from his musings when he saw a pair of first year Ravenclaw girls backing away from the hulking figures of Crabbe and Goyle. He looked around for someone else, a professor, another student, anyone, and swallowed hard when he saw no one. He considered running to find help but when one of the girls made a small, fearful shriek as Goyle made a grab for her, he knew he wouldn't find anyone in time. He got to his feet, pulled out his wand, gnawing on his bottom lip nervously as he snuck up on the Slytherins, and went over the hexes Harry had taught them in DADA. When he got in range of the two bullies he cast Petrificus Totalus as fast as he could and breathed a sigh of relief when Crabbe and Goyle froze in place. He then looked at the two girls and gave them a shy smile. "Are you two alright?"
The two girls bobbed their heads in answer and Neville cleared his throat a bit uncertainly. "Um do you want me to walk you to Professor Flitwick's office so you can report Crabbe and Goyle?"
The girls surged forward and clung each to one side of him with a cry of relieved agreement, much to his red-cheeked embarrassment. "Alright then." He pat them both on the shoulders and started walking away from the frozen Slytherin bullies. He searched his mind for something to say as they walked and recalled that they were in the same house as the delicate blond girl Ginny Weasley had introduced him, along with a few other Gryffindors, to. "Er...do you two know Luna Lovegood?"
That seemed to be all the two needed to chatter his ear off as he lead them to Flitwick's office. The two girls seemed to be of two different minds as to Luna's sanity and Neville frowned a bit when one of them used the 'Loony' nickname and called her a plain mad ninny. "I don't think Luna's crazy or mad at all. She sees things from a different point of view, not always the popular one, and dances to her own music, that's more beautiful than a veela in charming mode any day. And she is most certainly not an idiot, she's wiser than people give her credit for."
He finished speaking just as they arrived at the professor's office, the girls stunned speechless by his defense of Luna, and he explained the situation shortly to Flitwick before being sent on his way with assurances that he wouldn't be getting in trouble for hexing the two Slytherins.
Up close to the ceiling, sprawled out on a wooden beam Luna Lovegood watched Neville walk down the corridor. Her cheeks were flushed a pale pink and she watched the Gryffindor leave with contemplating pale blue eyes. She had been looking over the wooden beams in the castle for wiggleticks, because lord only knows what chaos would follow if Hogwarts got infested with the little buggers, when she had heard the girls. The two girls hadn't said anything that she hadn't heard before and honestly it really didn't bother her all to much to be called crazy anymore, at least that was what she liked to tell herself when her things mysteriously disappeared and the pages of her school books were spelled to stick together. Then to hear someone defend her like that...That was something she had never experienced before and it made something warm and fragile blossom inside her.
Maybe it was time to get to know Neville Longbottom better?
With silent movements Luna made her way down from the beam, climbing stealthily until her bare feet touched the stone floor of the castle. With one last look around her she set off, following the dark haired Gryffindor down the hall. The wiggleticks would have to wait.
Neville headed back to the courtyard, pausing in one of the archways and glancing around furtively to see if Crabbe or Goyle was around. Fortunately it seemed as though the two hulking bullies had been removed from the courtyard. He headed back over to the tree and picked up the book he'd set aside when he'd spotted the trouble, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw that it hadn't been damaged or fallen into a mud puddle. He straightened and turned, intending to go to the library to finish studying so as not to be in the courtyard should any revenge bent Slytherins appear, and paused, holding still when he saw Luna Lovegood standing a few feet behind him. His eyes widened a bit in surprise. When and how had she gotten there, and so silently? He gave her one of his shy, fluttering smiles. "Um hullo."
"Hello." She watched him with large unblinking eyes before offering up a real smile of her own. Luna walked closer and watched the tree closely with suspicion, it looked like a perfect place for Nargles and she didn't want to be exposed to them...Not again. When she had deemed the tree Nargle free she plonked down beside Neville, beaming up at him and wiggling her green painted toenails. "Thank you."
He tilted his head a bit in confusion before settling back down, figuring it rude to stay standing when the blond girl apparently wanted to talk. "For what?"
"For talking to Emmeline and Nora back there...Defending me. No one has ever done something like that before except for papa of course." She gave him another dreamy smile. "Also you're very brave for helping them like you did."
A faint blush suffused his cheeks. "W-well I don't know about brave, there wasn't anyone else who could help around and it wouldn't have been right not to do something. Ron or Harry probably would have shouted at them to back off, wands out and tempers blazing. I just snuck up and tossed a curse." He pushed some of his hair out of his face. "And I just told the girls the truth. I don't really get why people call you mad just because you believe in things they don't. Just because they've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
"But you see Neville that's the thing, it was brave and there are not many in this school who would have done the same." Luna ran her fingers through her hair to check than no wiggleticks had transferred from the wood to her hair. "You are very perceptive too and I'm still grateful." She leaned her head against his shoulder and hummed happily.
His cheeks heated further and he murmured softly. "You're welcome." He really wasn't sure what to do right now, having so little experience dealing with members of the opposite gender, but it felt nice having Luna so close. He could smell the light scent coming from her hair and considered what it was. He'd smelled it before he was certain, it was, "Helleborus niger, commonly called Christmas rose."
Luna turned her head so that she could look at him but she didn't remove it from his shoulder. "You recognize it by the scent? Impressive. Did you know that it keeps the flobbers away? And that if you mix it with honeysuckle you attract the fair folk?"
At first Neville was embarrassed that he'd let his mouth move before he thought, not many people were as interested in plants as he was, matter of fact most went out of their way to stop him from talking about plants and their properties. Never before had anyone offered up any information about plants around him in fear of being caught for hours. He smiled brightly at her. "I recall reading about the fair folk attraction but I'm afraid I don't know what flobbers are, unless they're like flobberworms. I do know that it has necromancy and protection spell uses. It's notoriously difficult to cultivate though so most people prefer to find alternatives to it. It's so beautiful though, they really should go to the effort. It's an oft under-appreciated flower."
"It is. My mother used it a lot in her different potions, especially the medical ones. It still grows in our garden at home and I like the smell of it. It reminds me of her." Luna's voice grew a little wistful at the the mentioning of her mother. "Tell me if you need it for anything and I can have papa send you a few plants."
Neville had an entire bed of the plant in an enchanted greenhouse at home. He could send instructions to the greenhouse for tending of the plants inside and it would carry them out exactly, right down to the drop of water or stirring of soil. It was a gift from his Grandmother so his garden would remain healthy while he was at Hogwarts. So he had plenty of the flower but gifted hellebore had special qualities, especially in protecting from negative energies. He gave Luna another smile. "I'd like that." He tilted his head. "So your mother made potions?" He lay his book down, homework forgotten in favor of discussing plants, potions, and various unknown creatures with Luna.
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Narcissa Malfoy nee Black was slicing some potion ingredients when a gentle tap came at the window and she looked up to see her son's eagle owl waiting imperiously for her to let him in. She wagged a finger at the window, opening it wandlessly. "Hello Cadeau." She held out her arm, letting the owl hop onto it casually as she took the letter off his leg. She carried him to the perch in the kitchen and offered him a treat. "Now what did you bring me from my little Dragon." She opened the letter and slowly her brows rose as she read. Once she'd finished she touched a finger to the small seal at the bottom that made the letter burst into flame. Her gaze went to the owl. 'So my baby is breaking away from the dark and becoming his own man.' She was proud of her son for making the decision to choose his own path but worried as well. If Lucius were to discover this before Draco had a safe retreat he'd kill their son. And those two Draco kept with him, they might be old family 'friends' but they'd toss her baby to the wolves without a second thought.
She'd long ago regretted choosing Lucius as her husband but wizard marriages were truly 'til death do you part', there was no divorce. If a spouse was abused then they could separate and petition for safety from the abuser but they remained married. She was strong enough now to prevent Lucius from severely injuring her but he'd take gleeful advantage of any slip up and all he needed was one to land her in St. Mungos. She looked at her potion station and calculated. Yes wizard marriages were 'til death do you part' but nothing was saying that death couldn't be helped along should it become necessary. Should Lucius become a true danger to her son then Narcissa would do whatever was necessary to protect her son, even kill her husband and go to Azkaban for it.
She took out a parchment and set about composing a letter to her son that held many subtle warnings couched as inquiries into the well-being of Draco's friends and a few clever comments on his father. She also made sure he knew that she was incredibly proud of him. She signed her letter with a flourish and gave it to Cadeau. "Fly swiftly."
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Hermione stared at the letter Sirius had sent her. It had been eye-opening and somewhat horrifying. According to him Narcissa's first year or so of marriage had been punctuated by magical 'mishaps' and visits to healers for injuries that everyone knew had been caused by Lucius. Sirius painted a picture of a coolly elegant and confident woman reduced to a fearful rabbit at her husband's hands. Sirius wrote that she'd reclaimed her spine when she'd become pregnant with Draco and had come to him for help with a few spells that would force a respectful distance from Lucius.
The muggleborn witch flicked the letter into the fire and stood up to go for a walk on the grounds to better ponder the new information.
Draco sat on a log by the lake reading the letter from his mother. He was glad to have her support but he took her warnings seriously too. He knew that his father was a very dangerous man and he wouldn't do anything before he knew his mother would be safe too. Draco would not jump ship and leave her with that deranged excuse of a wizard. He looked out over the lake pondering how he was going to approach Granger with his wishes to switch sides. He knew that Pansy would follow him but he wasn't sure in which camp Blaise belonged, he didn't dare ask him before he was sure.
Hermione kicked a pine cone along in front of her, her thoughts absorbed. She was disturbed by Sirius' letter on two levels. One was the righteous crusader of equality, the side of her that prompted her to create S.P.E.W. The other was a confident, strong witch. She liked to think that she, herself would never allow someone to abuse her yet Narcissa had been strong and confident as well and she'd been torn down by her husband, though she had built herself back up for her son. It disturbed Hermione to think that even strong, confident witches were vulnerable to domestic abuse.
Something small and hard hit Draco and he looked up with a glare, ready to tear into the attacker when he noticed a familiar head of bushy hair. He picked up the small object and gave it a look before throwing it in the water, watching it float. "Watch it Granger, what are you trying to do? Kill me by pine cone?" Draco's tone was dry but amused.
The girl's head shot up, her eyes briefly startled then a small flush of embarrassment crept over her face. "Sorry. I didn't see you there Malfoy, I was a bit absorbed in thought." She studied the boy in front of her. She had to admit he looked much better now that he didn't grease his hair down, even his nose looked less sharp with the silvery hair falling charmingly into his face. She twitched just a bit. 'What on earth am I thinking?! This is Malfoy, no matter that he's not the totally irredeemable git I've always thought he's still Malfoy.'
"You should be more vigilant, you could have hit someone other then little harmless me." Draco looked up at her failing spectacularly at looking harmless and innocent. Not knowing exactly what he was doing he spread out his cloak on the log and offered her a seat. For some twisted reason he actually found himself enjoying the meddling Gryffindor's company...The world must be coming to an end. "So what has you thinking so hard that you forget the world around you?"
She eyed the cloak for a moment as if she expected it to turn into a cobra then tucked her skirt under and sat next to him. His presence was surprisingly warm. For such a contained boy she'd have thought he'd be cold but he wasn't, he threw off an impressive amount of body heat. It was rather nice as it combated the nip in the autumn air. She leaned over, setting her elbow on her knee and propping up her chin as she pondered how best to answer him. "Relationship rights I suppose, in a manner anyway."
"Relationship rights?" Draco looked baffled. "Is this something like the house elf organization you made? FART was it?" Draco hadn't spent much time contemplating relationships, all he knew was that he didn't want to get married, he was terrified of becoming trapped in the kind of marriage his parents had. What if he was like his father? What if he got married only to turn into a copy if Lucius? Draco would never be able to live with that, it was better being alone, at least then you couldn't be hurt or hurt someone else.
She gave him a small glare. "It's S.P.E.W. and no. I was thinking more of...well how even witches and wizards can get trapped into unhealthy relationships." She turned her gaze out to the lake. "My mum does charity dentistry for muggle women and their children who've been victims of domestic violence so I've always known it happens but...I suppose I thought that a witch, a smart, strong witch, wouldn't get in that position but that's not accurate is it?"
Draco clenched his fists, once again his thoughts wondered to his mother. He knew what her life had been like before he was born, if you knew how to ask, house elves and portraits were surprisingly chatty. "I don't really know what's it's like in the muggle world but here it's hell. When it comes to bondings the wizarding world is stuck in the dark ages. A bonding really is for life, nothing can sever it except for death and you don't get an out if you regret your decision. Also I don't think it matters how strong you are, constant tearing down and abuse is enough to make anyone crumble."
Hermione winced and muttered, "Should be some kind of rebound spell made for bondings." She blew a bit of hair out of her eyes and looked at him. "There's nothing a witch or wizard can do if their bondmate is hurting them?"
"Well in extreme cases they can file to live apart from their spouse, apart and protected but they are still bounded, their magic still entwined." Draco sighed. "The only hope is to strike back I suppose, to be even more vicious than the one hurting you...This is why I will never marry."
She looked over at him in surprise. "You don't want a family of your own?"
"Honestly? No, not if they would be like mine." Draco unclenched his hands and studied his immaculately manicured nails. What was was it about this slip of a girl that loosened all ties on his tongue? Draco should be mortified by how much he was blabbing but it felt...Comforting, being able to speak to someone, someone who he felt wouldn't judge him too harshly.
"Your father..." Hermione shook her head, "is a cruel, heartless, conscienceless, vile bastard. As for your mother...I've never met your mother but from the way you spoke about her the first lesson, the look on your face, I think she must be a very good mother. You shouldn't let your father's darkness take away any chance you have for happiness." She poked him lightly in the side. "You're not a complete git afterall. Find someone you adore and I'll lay a bet that you'd make a very good husband and father, one day if you choose."
Draco flushed and ducked his head at the strange warmth that coursed through him at Hermione's touch. "My mother is a great and wonderful woman but she's still trapped with him isn't she? No I think I'll leave the mushy adoration stuff to goody two-shoes like you and the prats you call friends."
"Malfoy...Draco, she might not be able to divorce him but, if she wants to, I'm sure that we could find a way to get your mother away from him. Harry, Ron and I have done the impossible before you know and getting your mother to a safe place isn't impossible."
He turned sharp grey eyes on her, that was exactly what he hoped for. "Do you swear it Granger? Can you swear that my mother will be kept safe from my father? He has quite a long reach you know."
She nodded, meeting his gaze steadily. "You have my word of honor, on my magic I swear that your mother can and will be kept safe from Lucius Malfoy."
Taking a deep shuddering breath Draco kept his eyes firmly locked on hers. "Then, Hermione Granger, I think we have a lot to discuss." This was it, Draco's heart was beating a mile a minute, he was about to turn his back on everything he was raised for. He was about to betray his father.
"Yes." She stood up, offering him a hand. "Come on, we'll get Harry. He's the direct line to the owner of the safehouse."
Making a face Draco took the offered hand and rose from the log. "Ah well I do suppose we need little boy wonder for this don't we?" He added with a mock suffering sigh.
She shook her head as she started to lead him towards the library where she knew Harry was right now. "I know you and most people like to think of Harry as being the wizarding world's happy little darling but consider something will you? He lost his parents when he was a baby, was dropped off with muggles who despise anything they don't consider 'normal', has been facing deadly situations since he came to Hogwarts, and just last year he had someone he respected and admired killed in front of him. The press constantly seek to defame his character and this year is the worst of it all plus whenever he's seen as anything less than the perfect 'hero' masses of people who say they're his 'friends' turn their backs on him. He's not a boy wonder, he's been fate's whipping boy since his first year of life."
Biting the inside of his cheek Draco considered Hermione's words, he knew that what she said was true and he felt an unwanted wave of sympathy roll up for Potter. It wasn't easy though, to lay aside years of rivalry and animosity. "Granger please...baby steps here. I'm already going against my Slytherin core...At least leave me my given right to be snarky." He said in a whining voice.
She chuckled. "Oh no worries. I have no doubt you and Harry both will grow old and gray and still be snipping at each other. Just leave off on the 'fame' as there's plenty of other things for you to poke at." She looked back at him and lifted a brow. "And what is more Slytherin than using even the resources of your rivals to achieve your ends hm? The Sorting Hat never said Slytherins are all evil or dark, just cunning and ambitious."
"True, true." Draco agreed while mentally trying to figure out new non-fame insults to throw at Potter. "But what fun is it if you can't be a little evil or dark?" He shoved her lightly with a grin as the looming shadow of Hogwarts rose in front of them.
She just gave him an amused shake of the head. "Turn that devious frame of mind to the task at hand." They wound through the halls of the school to the library, the girl giving Madam Pince a bright smile, then marched over to where Harry was jotting notes down. "Harry."
Harry looked up from his homework, ink splattered both on his fingers and his cheek from an exploding quill the twins had snuck into his bag. He raised his eyebrows as he saw Hermione and their companion. Hermione looked a little on the smug side and Malfoy looked tense and even more pale than usual. "Mione?"
Oh God was this the hope of the wizarding world? Draco looked at the ink covered moron and was of half a mind to turn on his heel and walk away, take his chances on his own. The warmth of Hermione standing beside him stopped him though.
The girl cast a quick scourgify charm on Harry before murmuring, just loud enough for him to hear. "We need to talk, somewhere no one can overhear, Harry. It's important."
Harry stilled. "Okay. Meet me in the Room of Requirements in ten minutes, I'll just gather my stuff and I'll meet you there."
She nodded and left with Malfoy to the seventh floor and the room. Instead of the usual muggle study objects she envisioned a comfortable sitting room and a crackling fire set before deep, chairs. She settled in one and pulled out parchment and quill, starting to make a list while they waited on Harry.
Draco paced the room nervously, unable to relax. There were great things at stake here and even though he knew he was doing the right thing and even though he had gotten his mother's blessing there was a lead lump of worry resting in his stomach. No matter what happened now his life was about to change.
Harry rushed into the room a little bit later, tossing his bag onto a low table and moving towards the comfy armchairs. "Okay, what did you want to talk about?"
The witch didn't beat around the bush but leaped right into it. "We need to get Lady Malfoy away and safe from her husband Harry. Could you convince Snuffles to give her shelter?"
"Sure, Snuffles has plenty of room, I don't think it will be a problem." Harry considered the conversations he'd had with both Snape and Hermione, for some reason he really hoped that the Potions Master would be pleased by this turn of events. Harry turned to Draco. "Your mother will be completely safe with Snuffles, he lives in an undetectable safe house."
Draco only nodded shortly. Who was Snuffles and what kind of ridiculous name was that anyway. "I'm jumping ship Potter, before it sinks and drowns us all but I won't do anything until I know Mother is safe."
"I'll send word to Snuffles tonight, hopefully he'll be able to reply quickly." Harry nodded seriously.
Hermione put a hand to her face. "Honestly Harry, just floo him." She pointed at the crackling fire and the small jar of floo powder on the mantle.
"Err, right, of course...Sorry." Harry grinned in embarrassment and hurried over to the fireplace where he grabbed a fistful of floo powder from the jar, tossed it in the fire and called on Grimmauld place.
Sirius tapped his finger on the table, scowling at Kreacher as the rotten old elf went about 'cleaning' the room then jumped when he heard Harry's voice. He turned a grin towards the fireplace and moved to talk with his godson. "Harry! What do I owe this great surprise to?"
As always Harry's heart clenched when he saw Sirius, it was so unfair that the other man was still accused of treason and murder and it was so unfair that Harry couldn't live with him when there was nothing he wanted more. "Hi Snuffles, hope everything is alright with you." Harry sent him a beaming smile. "We have a bit of a situation here and I have something to ask you."
The man frowned in concern. "A situation? What's up? I hope Snape isn't being a bigger git than usual."
"No, no, nothing like that. In fact Snape has been...alright lately." Harry ignored the stirring inside him at the thought of Snape and tried to concentrate on the task at hand. "We need to get Lady Malfoy out of Malfoy Manor and hide her away from Lucius. I was wondering...would it be alright if she stayed with you?"
Sirius stiffened and his eyes darkened as a growl slipped out of his throat. "Is that bastard hurting Cissy again?"
Harry didn't know what to say but it turned out he didn't have to say anything because suddenly Draco was there, kneeling in front of the fire place. "He hasn't hurt Mother yet that I know of but I am afraid he will when he finds out what I've done." Draco wasn't stupid, he recognized the man from the wanted posters still plastered on almost every wall of Diagon Alley. "Please help her Lord Black."
The dog animagus studied the teenager critically. He looked a great deal like Lucius but the shape of the boy's eyes and the cheekbones were all Narcissa as was the strong emotion in the gray eyes. "You don't have to plead with me boy. Cissy is family and she's welcome here for as long as she needs shelter. Harry," he turned back to his godson, "I'll owl a one use portkey for Draco to get to his mother, something that won't raise Lucius' suspicion. If I remember correctly she's fond of emeralds so Draco sending her an emerald pendant shouldn't turn a hair."
"Thank you so much Sirius, I really appreciate this." Harry spoke softly and Draco nodded beside him. "Yes, thank you Lord Black. I will make sure Mother will have her most important things packed and that she's ready to leave when the portkey arrives. Father...He doesn't take defiance or deception well."
The man shook his head. "I know well how Lucius takes not getting his way. He might just find his throat in a Grim's jaws soon. That or maybe I'll ask Moony to pay him a visit." A feral baring of teeth accompanied that comment.
Hermione scolded the man. "You already have enough criminal charges levied against you Sirius Black and don't you dare even suggest putting Professor Lupin through that! You know how he feels."
Sirius actually ducked his head at the girl's scolding. "Sorry Miss Granger."
"Hrumph!"
The man grinned at Harry again. "I'd better go. The sooner I get the portkey made the soon it can get to Cissy."
Harry smiled back but the smile was laced with sadness and longing. "Okay Siri, be careful though, no unnecessary risks, promise me that." Harry wished he could reach through the flames and give his godfather a hug, he had a feeling both of them could use one. "Tell Moony hi if you see him."
"Will do and I'll behave. Moony'll have my tail if I don't. Take care Harry and don't let the greasy git push you 'round." With that he disappeared from the fireplace.
Hermione shook her head. "I swear he gets more and more canine every time we see him."
Harry chuckled. "True but I can understand him, he feels trapped and helpless being forced to stay inside as he is. Snuffles is his only retreat and I really do get why he embraces that side."
Draco narrowed his eyes, not really liking the fact that he had no clue what Hermione and Harry was talking about. "Right then, I should probably go send word to Mother."
Hermione's gaze drifted back over to him and she nodded. "Knowing Snuffles he'll pick an owl that will be here within twenty-four hours so that would be best." She caught a flicker of confusion on Draco's face at the nickname for Sirius. "We," she waved a hand to indicate herself, Harry, and the absent Ron, "can't call him by his name outside of the safehouse so we use a nickname, Snuffles for his animagus form."
"Animagus form?" A slender silver brow rose. Draco hadn't heard anything about Sirius Black being an animagus but he supposed it wasn't too much of an impossibility. Plenty of wizards kept their other forms a secret, at least plenty of Slytherins, he just hadn't expected it of a Gryffindor. Weren't they all about honor and truth? "I won't be mentioning him by any name in the letter to my mother, just that she needs to get ready."
"Good, go write her the letter then." Harry grinned and patted Draco on the shoulder. "Welcome to our side, the winning side." He added just for the pleasure of seeing Draco choke on air.
Once he had caught his breath Draco rolled his eyes with a haughty look on his face. "Of course we will win seeing as I don't like to lose." He nodded his head to Hermione and swept out of the Room of Requirement to make his way to the owlry to write his mother a letter.
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Narcissa was reading peacefully in the library, undisturbed by her husband as he was out trying to find something on how to get at the Potter boy. Lucius desperately wanted to be the one to deliver to boy up to the Dark Lord, thinking that it would put him in a higher standing over the other Death Eaters. Narcissa didn't know if it would nor did she particularly care. She knew nothing about the Potter boy, aside from her son's complaints about him always being one-upped by 'Potty' without 'the messy haired git' even really trying. As much as she loved her baby boy, she was glad that someone at the school was effortlessly better at some things than her son. It would keep Draco grounded as well as make him strive to improve himself. She wanted her son to grow into a man who could hold his head high without perfection, wanted Draco to know he was flawed just as every other person on the planet. She would not have her baby growing into another Lucius Malfoy and if Potter outdoing her baby helped keep Draco grounded then it was to the good.
She turned a page in her book just as an owl came flapping ito the room. A delicate blond brow lifted at the sight of a school owl and wondered what Draco had gotten into now as a letter was dropped into her lap and the school owl perched on the back of the chair. She opened the letter and her lips parted in soft shock. She knew her son would not joke or make light of the possibility of an escape nor would he tell her to make sure her things were packed unless he was absolutely positive that she had a safe, undiscoverable place to go to but she still found it hard to countenance that Draco had found an out for her. She ran her fingers over her lips anxiously as fear and elation unfurled through her. Freedom from Lucius. The very thought, the very taste of the thought made her almost giddy but she clamped down on the reaction and made sure to destroy the letter before rising from her chair.
She went out to the garden, allowing the owl to hop up on her shoulder, and set about making a small bouquet of anemones, carnations, daffodils, tiger lillies, and one bird of paradise flower to convey her anticipation, joy, and pride in her son. She knew he would see it also conveyed understanding an readiness from her. She gave the bouquet to the owl and sent it off before going inside to start a packing charm. As soon as she was able to leave, a simple flick of her wand would have all belongings marked with the spell shrinking and nestling into her purse. Her lips curved a bit wickedly. Not all the things she was marking were hers, Lucius would soon find himself missing quite a few artifacts that he placed high value on.
--------------------------------------------
Snape swept into the DADA classroom, his robes billowing as per usual, and cast a baleful glare over the flock of fourth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. "Today's lesson is on casting the Patronus spell. The Patronus is a physical manifestation of joyful memories cast to protect one from dementors. The strength of a Patronus depends upon the strength of the memory used to cast it. The form of a fully corporeal Patronus is unique to each witch or wizard casting it but it is usually an animal and it also often represents what or who makes you feel safe. Most of you who actually manage it won't succeed in casting a fully formed corporeal Patronus, I'm of the opinion that you're all too absorbed with teenage angst to focus strongly enough on the 'happy' memories necessary for success." He strode to the blackboard, where Harry was already sitting on a stool next to it and scrawled some basic information on it. "Mr. Potter will demonstrate the Patronus for all of you and I suggest you pay attention."
Trying his best to hide his amusement due to Snape's comments about teenage angst Harry got up from the stool and walked the few steps to the middle of the class room. "Thank you Professor." He inclined his head and turned to the rest of the class. "Right...Um there really isn't a trick or shortcut to cast The Patronus charm, just reach inside you, think of the things that makes you happy and let it flow out of you as you cast the spell." Harry closed his eyes for a moment, centering himself and then opened them again. "Like this." He waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" The familiar silver mist surged out of his wand to form the shape of the great stag. Harry let it run though the classroom between the students before it slowly faded away.
Luna watched intently while she tried to sort through her memories, thinking about what would be a happy enough thought to let her cast the spell.
Snape very nearly rolled his eyes at the impressed gasps followed by the, unfortunately familiar, tittering of the female student population over the beauty of the stag. If he were to be truthful, he himself did find the stag impressive but at the same time it turned his stomach, reminding him of Lily and James and his own idiocy. He stifled his reaction and lifted an imperious brow at the class before drawling. "Well? Get to work!" He let a smirk flit over his lips as he observed the class and the sheer, mind-numbingly pathetic first attempts most of them pulled out. His gaze landed on the Lovegood girl and a brow lifted at the small smokey wisp of light that came from her wand. While it wasn't anything that would drive off a dementor, it was the best first try he'd seen yet.
Harry walked among the students, correcting the way they held their wands and encouraging them that they could do it. The air was thick with with waving wands and shouted charms, Harry almost felt worried that someone would lose an eye or find themselves with a wand lodged in a very uncomfortable place. He ducked away from an over enthusiastic Hufflepuff girl and hurried over to Luna. "Excellent Luna, just a little more and you'll have it." He smiled at the pale girl.
Nodding Luna closed her eyes tightly, thinking back on the memory of her mother and father smiling brightly at her as they thought her about both flowers and herbs as well as the strange creatures that no one else believed in. "Expecto Patronum!" The silver mist was thicker and stronger this time but it still didn't have a corporal form.
"See you're doing great." Harry smiled again.
Snape nodded in agreement even as he tilted his head to the side and caught a wand that had been flung out of someone's hand by over enthusiastic waving. He pinned the Ravenclaw culprit to the spot with a dark stare. "Correct me if I'm wrong but did you not learn how to properly move your wand in Charms class, in first year? I would hate to have to inform Professor Flitwick that one of his Ravenclaws did not take to the instructions."
The slender brunette boy eeeped and looked as if he wanted the ground to open and swallow him up. His skin was green tinted and his eyes bulging with fear as he trembled under Snape's gaze. "N-no Professor, I-I'll try to d-do better." The boy ducked his head.
Harry took pity on the terrified Ravenclaw and gave him a small pat on the shoulder. "Just try and be a little more careful yeah? You'll be fine."
Snape harumphed and passed the wand back to the shivering twit before moving on through the crowd, giving some pointers, others received impatient reprimands for stupid behavior, such as the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff who were poking each other with their wands. Really! Fourth years were usually fifteen, you'd think they'd have gained some small measure of maturity but apparently not. He reached Luna Lovegood, who by this time had managed a fairly large cloud that was beginning to group together in small clumps, trying to make a form. "Miss Lovegood you're doing well but a suggestion, use your happiest memory. One that made you feel a bit as if you might be able to sprout wings and fly."
Again Luna nodded and tried to focus harder on the memories that she treasured most, that made her the happiest. For some reason Neville's face flickered before her eyes and she remembered just how she had felt when he had defended her and the time they had spent together talking afterwards. "Expecto Patronum." She shouted again and almost stumbled back in shock when her silver cloud took the shape of a silver hare, jumping happily across the classroom.
The professor nodded in satisfaction. "Well done Miss Lovegood, ten points to Ravenclaw." He then moved back to his observation point. "A corporeal Patronus, such as the one Miss Lovegood just cast, can do one thing more aside from protect you from dementors. They can deliver messages that are a great deal more secure and verifiable than any other method. The Patronus identifies the caster and is absolutely Dark-proof. However it should only be used to deliver a message in extreme circumstances," he cast his gaze around the room, "if I see any Patronus gamboling about the school without there being an extreme emergency that another method could not achieve the same results, there will be heavy consequences."
The excited whispers that had broken out at the messaging news came to an abrupt stop and the students shrunk back a little. No one wanted to get on Snape's bad side and the thought of being punished by him was enough to give them nightmares. They continued to practice under both Snape and Harry's watchful eyes but at the end of the lesson Luna was still the only one who had managed a corporal Patronus but a lot of silver mist had fluttered through the room.
Snape dismissed the class perfunctorily, aside from the Lovegood girl it had essentially be precisely what he'd expected, and flicked his wand at the blackboard to erase the writing on it before scrawling on it instructions for the third years, involving a few hexes and dealing with a boggart. He wasn't fond of Lupin but he had to admit that the man had been rather good as a professor. Not that he'd admit it, even under torture. "Potter, set up the trunk will you?"
"Yes Sir." Harry peered at Snape over his new, sleek, square frames before floating the large heavy trunk to the front of the room, settling it just in front of the black board. The boggart rattled inside the trunk, clearly not pleased with being moved. "Um...Professor...Do you remember the conversation we had a few nights ago?"
A dark brow rose as he finished setting out the information. "Be more specific."
"Er, after our last Occlumency lesson. We spoke of not needing to follow certain things just because it's expected." Harry almost cringed himself at how fuzzy he was being. He just didn't know if Snape was comfortable discussing this here in the DADA classroom.
The professor stilled and turned to face the teen, inclining his head in a nod. "What of it?"
Fiddling with his robes Harry met Snape's eyes seriously. "Well, I think the following has stopped. In fact I think it will be the direct opposite of following."
The set of Snape's shoulders relaxed a bit and a small light of amusement lit in his eyes. "Potter you are abysmal at subtle information, never become a spy." He moved to set up a few jars of large spiders and cast a silencing spell. "Does he need assistance for his mother?"
Harry grinned. "Nah I think I'll leave the spying to the professionals...I'm more the charge in and win things with dumb luck kinda guy. And no I think we have Lady Malfoy covered. Snuffles will send a portkey and Malfoy will get it to his mother. Snuffles has promised that lady Malfoy can stay with him, she'll be hidden and safe."
The man twitched a bit. "Somehow the fleabag does not inspire confidence. He's more impulsive than you are. Narcissa however, knows well how to hide and I imagine she'll be able to keep somewhat of a leash on Snuffles." He left out that Sirius was also petty, cruel, and more like his family than most thought. He'd let the boy keep his illusions about his godfather's innate goodness.
Harry heard something in Snape's tone of voice that made him narrow his eyes and wonder what it was but he decided to let it go. For once he and Snape sort of got along and Harry wasn't too keen on jeopardizing that. "Yeah well, I just wanted to let you know so you'll be prepared when all hell breaks lose...Hey if we're lucky them maybe Lucius gets so mad he'll explode and drop dead...Err sorry, shouldn't have said that."
"And why not? It would certainly solve a number of problems." Snape settled onto the desk.
"Still it's not something one should say, Mione would tear me a new one if she heard me speaking like that." Harry stepped closed and sunk down at one of the abandoned student desks. "Will he be safe here? Malfoy I mean. Will he be able to stay in school or will he need to go into hiding too? He's a snarky pompous git but I don't want him hurt, it's a brave thing that he's doing."
Snape nearly sneered. Gryffindor sentiment, it was why so many evil wizards had risen as high as they had. He ignored the noble sentiment of the first sentence and concentrated on the latter comments. "He is a Slytherin, he will have at least four different plans should he find himself in danger. In addition he has friends in his house, ones that I doubt he realizes will back him up especially should it come out that he no longer supports the path he'd been pointed at since infancy. The children of Death Eaters are mostly a minority in my house Potter and we have just as many muggleborns and half-bloods as the other houses, perhaps more. It is simply that Death Eater children are trained from the cradle to seize power where and when they can so they have the most...presence in the mind of the other houses."
"That's good then." Harry breathed a breath of relief. "Maybe a few people will even find the courage to follow Malfoy...I'm not getting greedy but it can't hurt to hope. I have a feeling we're going to need all the help and all the backup we can get."
The corner of Snape's mouth kicked up in a humorless smirk. "Oh you've no idea Potter. Seek friends in every house and make the bonds to hold strong and fast for when the real fight begins you will need every single one."
Harry nodded, looking very unhappy. "I'll do my best but...But I don't make friends easily. Most people don't even see the real me. I don't want to lead people on, to have them follow some poster boy hero that doesn't exist."
"Then make him exist in the eyes of the others. People will follow a hero Potter, into the very bowels of hell they will follow a hero. Look at the sheer number of those who follow the Headmaster without question, do you think any of them could name a single fault of his? His favorite color? His favorite sweet out of the dozens he eats? His greatest fear? His worst nightmare? I greatly doubt it. They follow him because to them he is a hero and they wish to take part in whatever glory he might find. To win this war you will need to pull off a deception rather global in nature and make people see you as the hero. Set aside the annoying Gryffindor quality for complete honesty and learn to deceive those who don't bother to try and truly learn who you are Potter. Those who will not come close enough to see your warts do not deserve the truth and those that do come close enough to learn about the real you will become priceless comrades and friends that you should cling to with every ounce of your will."
Snape flicked his wand and a series of articles appeared before him, all centering on Harry. "This printed drivel can be a tool in the right hands. It is just propaganda true. These," he pointed at the articles that painted Harry as a powerful wizard, defeating You-Know-Who even before he could walk and a great man in the making, "were a ploy by the Ministry to have themselves linked to a famous hero. The others were also a ploy by the self-same people to disassociate themselves from unfavorable light because you were telling the truth, a truth the world needed to hear yet the Ministry did not wish it to get out because if it did then the wizarding world would lose faith in Fudge. So he arranged to vilify you and is still attempting to do that to pull his irons out of the fire for Umbridge's stunt."
Snape vanished the articles. "You need to take your own publicity in hand Potter, tell the world the truth, your truth, and let them make their decision. Some will continue to believe the pretty lies the Ministry spins while many more others will accept reality and make provisions for it. A muggle author by the name of Terry Goodkind made a very astute observation about human nature, 'People can be made to believe anything, either because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it's true.' You simply need to play on that."
It went against everything Harry believed in and the mere thought of whoring himself out to the press, pretending to be the hero that he absolutely wasn't made his stomach turn but even Harry could see that what Snape said made sense. If by doing this he got more people to turn away from the lies of the ministry and if it could help in some way, keep people from getting hurt then Harry knew he had to do it. "Oh bloody hell, let's do it. If it can be of use than I'll even snuggle up all nice and cozy with Rita Skeeter herself. Just promise to slap me if I start buying into the hype." Harry made a grimace of disgust.
The professor smirked. "I do believe I would like you to put that permission to slap you in writing. You should know I would gleefully take advantage of the opportunity should you get a big head." That bit of levity dispensed, the man shifted and sobered once more. "I would suggest you seek Miss Granger's assistance in arranging an interview. In your circle of friends she is the most levelheaded and most likely to know the best course of action to take to manipulate the weak minded masses."
The smile that had lit up Harry's face at the slapping comment dimmed. "Yeah I think you're right, Mione's definitely the one to talk to, she will know which reporters to approach and she'll tell me what to say and do." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Can I just say one more time that I absolutely hate this?" Harry looked over at Snape and wondered to himself just when he had started to count on the older man as the one he could talk to, the one he could count on to keep him grounded and sane?
"You are welcome to say it as much as you wish Potter. I certainly would not wish to be in your position." Snape picked up a teacher's copy of the defense book and paged through it to settle on the correct pages for the next lesson. He rather...liked this truce with Potter if he were to be truthful. It was rather pleasant not to have to force an old hatred to the surface.
"Um but you kind of are; aren't you Sir? In my position I mean. You have to pretend to be someone you're not everyday too..." Harry was a bit sad that it had taken him almost five years to really comprehend what Snape's double life entailed. He couldn't help to wonder how the real Snape was, if he even existed anymore.
Everything in Snape went utterly still, the instincts of the spy feeling ready to bolt and the rest of him insanely, inordinately pleased that the sixteen year old had comprehended his situation at last. Though the battered youthful soul hidden under all the regrets and mistakes of the past was scared out of its wits as well and worried that the teen in front of him would hate him once he told him of his part in Harry's parents' deaths. "Not particularly Potter, I don't have to deal with the vultures who call themselves the press. And the key to being a successful spy is not to put yourself into a character too far outside your norm or revert to how you once were."
He met Harry's eyes. "You need to understand that. I truly was a Death Eater Potter. I wasn't just some little spy from the start who joined only to aid Dumbledore; I believed in the Dark Lord's cause and followed him as his favorite Death Eater. I was one of the worst and most loyal until that loyalty cost me something precious and opened my eyes to the truth of what was happening. I am naturally just as bad-tempered and scathing as you see, I simply do not allow my better qualities to show to the world at large."
Harry held Snape's gaze for a while before he allowed his to slide away. There was something in those dark fathomless eyes that made something inside him ache. "You did open your eyes though, that's what matters and I think you should give yourself more credit." It sounded a bit lame even to Harry's own ears but he wasn't sure what he should say. Snape had been a part of this war since before Harry was even born, even with all his loss Harry couldn't begin to understand what Snape had been through.
"Hm, that remains to be seen." A glance at the clockface in the room told Snape that the next class would soon be trickling in and he canceled the silencing charm, effectively ending the conversation. He doubted the youth would hold the opinion he'd just expressed once he knew the truth and somehow he knew that if he let himself feel worthy of more than he had it would hurt all the more to be hated by Potter once again. 'Once this bloody war is over I may very well find a secluded cottage and settle myself to brewing potions in peace and solitude. I'm so tired of this mess.'
Harry tried to concentrate on the lesson once the students trickled in but his eyes went to Snape more than once. The man was a riddle and Harry wanted to learn more, even though he wasn't sure he would like all he got to know. He wished there was someone he could talk to about Snape, someone who knew him back in the days. Sirius was out of the question, their mutual hatred of each other was clear as crystal. Harry continued to be distracted until Snape sent him a seething glare and he shook himself out of his thoughts to help a boy with the boggart.
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