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Measure of a Man	By : SailorSol Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 71274 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize from outside this story is owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. Lyrics recorded by Clay Aiken. Anything new is my invention, as is the storyline.

MEASURE OF A MAN

Would he walk on water?

Would he run through fire?

Would he stand before you,

Will he be your anchor when the dark unfolds?

Will he always love you, the best that he knows?

Would he gave his life up

To be all he can?

Is that, is that, is that how you measure a man?

Chapter 7:

The trio returned late to the castle, where they found Pansy Parkinson sitting on the top of the front steps, waiting for them. Her makeup was smudged and there were tear-tracks on her face.

�Professor, you�re wanted in the Headmaster�s office,� she said, rising to her feet. �Potter, you and Malfoy are supposed to go to the Hospital Wing.�

�What happened?� Harry asked. Pansy looked at him with an expression of fear he had never seen on her face.

�I can�t,� she said after a moment. �I just . . . can�t.� She turned and fled into the castle before any of the three of them could question her further.

Mystified and more than a little worried, the three entered the castle. Severus escorted Harry and Draco to the Hospital Wing before leaving for Dumbledore�s office.

Harry and Draco entered the Hospital Wing together. Ominously, the farthest bed from the door was surrounded by privacy screens. Lucius lay in the bed across the aisle from it. He was awake and gazing at the privacy screens, a troubled frown on his face. His Auror guard looked up as Harry and Draco approached, and then nodded and returned to reading the Daily Prophet.

Cautiously, the two young men approached the screened-off bed. They heard lowered voices, both female, which made them even more curious. One of the voices was recognizable as Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. The other seemed distorted for some reason.

When they came around the screens and saw the occupant of the bed, Harry gasped in horror. The occupant of the bed was Hermione, only recognizable because of Crookshanks curled next to her.

�Hermione,� Harry said, coming forward in spite of himself. Frightened eyes turned to him, and grew only slightly less frightened when she recognized him.

Hermione�s face was bruised and swollen from the cheeks down. Someone had carved �traitor� on her forehead, and her abundant brown hair had been messily chopped off close to her head. She was swathed in a white nightgown from the neck down, but her hands were visible, in some kind of brace to keep her from moving them.

�What happened, �Mione?� Harry asked. He moved around to the opposite side of the bed from his former Head of House. Draco kept his distance at the foot of the bed. Hermione�s eyes filled with tears and she looked at McGonagall entreatingly.

�Miss Granger was attacked by Mr. Weasley, Mr. Finnegan, and Mr. Thomas,� the older witch told them. �They used magic to cause her injuries, which is why she has not yet been healed. Professor Snape was experimenting with several potions to cure magically-induced injuries. Miss Granger has agreed to try them, in order to see if it speeds the healing process. The only thing we have been able to do so far is to repair her hands. The three of them made certain to break every bone in both hands, and shatter the bones in her wand hand.�

�I know this is going to sound prejudiced, Professor,� Harry said. �This just doesn�t sound like Ron, or any of them. I spent five years in the same dorm with them. I thought I knew them.�

�As did we all, Mr. Potter,� she replied. �I am afraid that nearly every generation produces those who abuse any power at their disposal.�

�Like the Marauders?� Harry asked. She nodded sadly, and then turned back to Hermione.

Harry turned towards Draco to find that they were alone. The blonde had crossed the open area to stand at his father�s bedside, gazing down at Lucius sadly. Harry sat down and reached over to gently touch Hermione�s arm. She flinched away from him, the tears in her eyes spilling over.

�What else did they do, Professor,� Harry asked. McGonagall shifted uncomfortably, and then cleared her throat.

�When Miss Granger is feeling better,� she replied. �If she wishes you to know, she will tell you. In the meantime, I think it is time you left.�

Harry nodded and rose to his feet. He blew Hermione a kiss and walked over to where Draco was standing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In Dumbledore�s office, Snape entered silently. He was surprised to see the Headmaster without his usual cheery greeting.

�You sent for me, Headmaster?� he asked softly. �What seems to be the problem?�

�There was an attack by three students on another student, Severus,� Dumbledore said. �It was not any of your Slytherins, but I need your experimental potions.�

�Which ones?� Severus asked. He was getting a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something terrible must have happened.

�The ones for healing magically induced injuries,� Dumbledore said. �Three Gryffindors attacked Miss Granger, and her injuries will not respond to the usual treatments.�

�As it happens, Headmaster,� Snape said. �I retrieved something from one of the Malfoy vaults that may help. Draco�s grandfather was a very skilled Potions Master himself, and his journals were in the vaults. One of them had a formula for just such a thing. I am pleased to inform you that I was on the right track. This simply assists me.�

�If you are certain that the formula will work, and is safe,� Dumbledore said, smiling at him. �By all means, brew the potion. Miss Granger has agreed to try nearly anything in order to undo the damage. We will also need a hair restoring potion. It seemed that her attackers thought it would be funny to cut off Miss Granger�s hair and scatter it in the halls.�

�I trust they are being dealt with,� Snape said. �You are not going to go easy on them, after previous problems this year.�

�Those problems are with the same students, I am sorry to say,� Dumbledore said. �I have sent for their parents. We are all shocked and horrified by this. Miss Granger has understandably requested that she be resorted as soon as she has recovered.�

�Of course,� Snape said. His smirk could have been mistaken for a grimace of distaste by someone who did not know him.

�With my luck, she will be in my house,� he said. �I will retrieve the potions, Headmaster, and then I will go directly to the Hospital Wing.�

�Very good, Severus,� Dumbledore said. �Keep us notified.�

Snape nodded and swept out.

***** *****

When Severus entered the hospital wing, he saw Harry and Draco huddled together near Lucius� bed. He approached them silently, and then folded his arms around them when they both threw their arms around him. Harry was shaking, and Draco was chilled. He tightened his arms around both of them in silent reassurance, and then told them why he was there.

Immediately, both young men released him and watched as he approached Hermione�s bed.

McGonagall rose when Snape approached, and the two of them had a whispered conversation. He nodded carefully, and approached the bed slowly, speaking in a low voice. Strangely enough, Hermione did not jump when he spoke, and she did not flinch away when he laid a gentle hand on her arm. He removed several potion vials from his robes, holding each one up and identifying it as he did so. Harry could see Hermione nodding at each one, indicating that she understood him.

Finally, he held up a bottle with an opalescent fluid in it. Hermione frowned in confusion, but she seemed to be listening intently as he explained what went into the potion and how it was made.

The conversation quite frankly bored Harry, but he could see that Hermione was interested, and that it was taking her mind off of whatever had happened. He could also feel Draco at his side, his body tensed as he paid strict attention to the explanation.

Finally, Severus helped Hermione sit forward and carefully fed her the opalescent potion. She almost immediately fell asleep, settling limp against him. He carefully settled her back against her pillows, leaned forward to inspect her face, and then nodded to McGonagall.

�The potion seems to be working,� he said. �She may need another dose. Now, tell me what is being done about those animals.� His voice was very low, as befitted the nature of his surroundings, but there was no doubt in anyone�s mind that he was furious.

�They are confined to a special room,� McGonagall replied. �When their parents arrive tomorrow, then they will be brought to the Headmaster�s office. In the mean time, Aurors are examining them to see if they were under any kind of coercion when they acted.�

�I suppose that is a possibility,� Severus admitted. �I would be very interested in finding out the results of the examination.�

�In the meantime,� McGonagall said. �I would suggest that you put your young men to bed. They look tired. If there is any news, whether good or bad, I will notify you immediately.�

�Very well, Minerva,� Severus said. �Please floo me if Miss Granger has any reaction at all to the potion, rather than a gradual healing. If she is in pain, she may have painkilling potions. Nothing more.�

�I understand, Severus,� she said. �Too many potions at once will counteract one another or have less of an effect.�

�Yes,� he said, �Goodnight, Minerva.� He turned and beckoned to his lovers, and then led them out of the hospital wing.

***** *****

The next morning, the atmosphere in the Great Hall was positively morose. Very few students were talking at all, and those that were used whispers. Some students ate in a normal manner, but silently. Some students ate slowly, as if breakfast were a chore to complete. The rest of the students either stared at their empty plates, or at the platters of food, or stared at their full plates, unable to summon the energy or appetite to eat.

When Harry and Draco sat down, they immediately noticed something that spoke volumes of the events of the day before. All of the girls were either sitting very closely to a boy, or they were part of a girls-only group at the end of the table. All of the girls looked frightened, from first years who only vaguely understood what happened, to seventh years who ate with their wands visible on the table.

�This isn�t good, Harry,� Draco said. �I think I�ve figured out what they wouldn�t tell us. If those three weren�t coerced into doing it, I think I�ll take it out on them myself. I may not have liked her much, but nobody deserves to be treated like that.�

Breakfast was nearly over when the doors to the Great Hall opened and three aurors entered the room. They strode directly to the main table and presented a sealed envelope to Dumbledore.

As Dumbledore broke the seal and read the contents, two of the aurors moved towards the end of the table where Severus sat, watching and waiting.

�There must be some mistake,� Dumbledore said. �Professor Snape could not be responsible for what happened yesterday. He was in London with Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy.�

�The ministry is well aware that Severus Snape is well versed in the Dark Arts,� the auror said. �He may not have been the one in London. At any rate, the testimony of the three boys does not contradict. Severus Snape put them under the Imperious Curse and ordered them to perform heinous acts on the person of a fellow student.�

�That�s not true!� Harry exploded, rising from his seat. �Professor Snape was in London with Draco and I all day yesterday!�

�According to the testimony,� the auror replied patiently. �They were placed under the Imperious directly after breakfast.�

�We left before breakfast!� Harry shouted. �Professor Dumbledore can vouch for that!�

�Headmaster?� the auror turned to Dumbledore. �Did you see them leave?�

�I know when they left,� Dumbledore said. �Because I know when they were no longer within the confines of the castle wards. Severus Snape, Harry Potter, and Draco Malfoy departed just after dawn, and did not return until after the dinner hour. Miss Parkinson, one of the Slytherin prefects, took it upon herself to wait for them, on the steps.�

�The minister was very specific about arresting the culprit for this crime,� the auror said nervously. He was not willing to go against Dumbledore and Harry Potter together.

�I have a question,� Draco said, rising from his own seat. �Were the perpetrators questioned under Veritaserum? If so, how do you know that they weren�t cursed by someone using a Polyjuice Potion?� He looked and sounded every inch the calm aristocrat. The auror was losing command of the situation, and he knew it.

�I do not know if they were questioned under Veritaserum,� the auror said. �I did bring up the question of Polyjuice myself, but the Minister�s secretary overruled me.�

�Who is the minister�s secretary at this time?� Draco asked calmly. Harry had to admire how much he looked like Lucius at the moment.

�Madame Umbridge,� the auror replied. His uneasiness grew when he heard a collective sound of unrest from nearly every student in the room. The one subject that nearly every student agreed on was their dislike of Dolores Umbridge.

�Without proof,� Dumbledore said. �I cannot accept the supposition that Professor Snape is guilty, especially since he has equally impeccable witnesses placing him in London at the time.�

�Since the question has arisen,� the auror said. �May I ask if they would know whether it was Professor Snape, or someone using a Polyjuice Potion?�

�Yes,� Harry said, calmer now that the auror was being reasonable. �I would know the difference between Professor Snape and an imposter. He has been teaching me Occlumency for over a year. There is a small link between our minds that would not be present in the case of Polyjuice Potion.�

�Besides,� Draco said, his trademark Malfoy smirk firmly in place. �Polyjuice Potion does not duplicate personal habits and knowledge. If the person in London yesterday was not Professor Snape, he would have given himself away.�

�How is that?� one of the other aurors asked suspiciously.

�He wouldn�t have kissed the same,� Harry shot at him, ignoring the scandalized look that bloomed on the auror�s face.

�You�re engaging in intimate relations with your Potions professor?� the third auror found his voice before his gobsmacked companion.

�Certainly,� Harry said, a note of sarcasm creeping into his voice. �That�s why my potions work is so abysmal.�

�I fail to see any humor in this, young man,� the first auror said. �The question of favoritism could become an issue.�

�Not when I have been grading Harry and Draco�s work,� Dumbledore said. �Their relationship with Professor Snape is registered with the correct agencies, and has the full knowledge of the Board of Governors. It is none of the Ministry�s business, how this school is run. They can discuss it with the Governors.�

�I don�t believe this is the end of this, Headmaster,� the first auror said. �We will have to inform the Minister that you refused to surrender Professor Snape, and that you challenged the veracity of the witnesses.�

He would have said more, but the doors of the Great Hall opened once again, to reveal five agitated adults. Molly and Arthur Weasley were at the front, and it was not difficult for anyone who did not know to guess that the remaining people were the parents of Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan�s formidable mother.

�If you will excuse me,� Dumbledore said, rising from the table. �I have other business. Tell the minister to feel free to send someone again, after he has satisfied us that the information is reliable.�

�Very well, Headmaster,� the auror said. �We will carry your message to the Minister.�

�Thank you, gentlemen,� Dumbledore said, smiling. He gestured for the parents to follow him, and led them out of view of the watching students.

�Everyone finish your breakfast,� McGonagall said loudly. �This is still a school day, and you will be expected to attend classes.� She stared down anyone who looked like they might think about protesting, and then nodded to Harry when his eyes flicked to Severus.

Uncaring of proprieties, Harry walked up to the staff table. A seat appeared next to Severus, and he sat down at it, trying to stop his hands from shaking. He had never had so much to lose as he did right now, and he had come very close. He never wanted to come that close again.

After breakfast, Harry ran with Draco to their dorm room, picked up their books, and then ran to Herbology, which they were sharing with Gryffindor. The hostile looks that Harry received were disheartening, but he affected to ignore them and concentrated on his lesson.

Just before the class was over, Harry began to feel uneasy. It was as if he was having a vision of danger to come. He looked at Draco, to find that his mate was just as agitated.

Madame Sprout dismissed the class early, as all of the Slytherins had picked up on Harry and Draco�s agitation, and were making it impossible for anyone to pay attention. The entire class was headed for the entrance to the castle when a shrill scream of terror made them all look up.

A broom went flying out of the windows of the Hospital Wing, with an unidentifiable rider on it in dark robes. The rider had another person by the arm, and the second person, dressed in a long white nightgown, was dangling in midair.

�Hermione!� Harry screamed. He vaguely heard Draco�s voice, and then his Firebolt was thrust into his hands.

�Go after them!� Draco cried. �It can�t be good! She could fall!�

Harry mounted the broom and was about to kick off when the sound of another broom roared from the Hospital Wing. A second rider, dressed in pajamas, took off after the first, identifiable only by the long platinum hair that flowed behind it. The Auror assigned to guard Lucius Malfoy appeared at the window, aiming his wand at the apparently escaping Death Eater.

Knowing that the Auror would not attack him, Harry kicked off and quickly placed himself between the Auror and Lucius. He had learned enough about the man from Draco and Severus to know that he would not turn on them. If he was after the man who had kidnapped Hermione, it was to rescue her, not to escape.

Halfway across the lake, additional riders met the first, and started firing spells at both Lucius and Harry. The kidnapper landed on a small island with Hermione and put up a shield that would keep them away. The shield did not keep out sound, however, and Harry had to steel himself as he heard Hermione scream again, this time in pain as well as fear.

The screams distracted Lucius, though, and one spell knocked him off of his broom. Harry dived down and caught the older wizard before he hit the water. He helped Lucius onto the broom, and landed carefully on the lake shore. The shielded island was less than fifty yards offshore.

Harry was about to kick off again when a well-placed spell blasted his broom from his hand and flung it against a nearby boulder. A resounding crack told Harry that the broom was badly damaged, perhaps permanently. Nothing mattered to him at the moment, except for getting to Hermione.

�Potter,� Lucius said, turning to him. �Can you shield someone else?�

�I don�t have time for this,� Harry screamed at him. �I�ve got to help Hermione!�

�Answer the question, Harry!� Lucius snapped at him, his ice blue eyes wild.

Harry nodded, wondering what Malfoy was thinking.

�Then shield me,� Lucius said. �I know what curses they will use, and I know the counters. You do not.�

Harry nodded. He recognized the look in Lucius Malfoy�s eyes, but he wondered if the other wizard realized what was happening. He had seen that look in Severus� eyes before Halloween, in Hogsmeade, when he had started facing Voldemort.

�Aquae Gradior!� Lucius Malfoy cast the spell on his own feet, and then stepped out onto the surface of the lake.

As Malfoy had promised, he seemed to know the counter spell for every curse that was thrown at him. He hit them with other curses that either knocked them off of the brooms they were riding or knocked the brooms out from under them. By the time he reached the island, there were no guards in the sky.

Harry couldn�t hear the spell Lucius used to get through the shield. He saw flashes of light and heard indistinct shouts while he paced on the shore. Lucius� guard and other Aurors arrived, as did Severus, Draco, and several of the professors. Dumbledore arrived with the Minister of Magic. They began casting counter spells at the shield, and eventually removed it. Harry wrapped his arms around Draco, hoping for all their sakes that Lucius was the winner of the fight.

Aurors Apparated to the island, and quickly took control of both the victor and the vanquished. They made the surface of the water solid to walk on, and led both Lucius and the wizard he had beaten to the lake shore where everyone else waited. Lucius was carrying Hermione, wrapped in a cloak borrowed from one of the Aurors. He looked both appalled at his actions, and also as if he had just been given the greatest gift possible.

While Harry watched, an Auror tried to take Hermione out of Lucius� arms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

�I don�t believe Miss Granger wishes to be separated from me,� Lucius said firmly. �She has had a harrowing ordeal, following her ordeal yesterday, and she is a powerful witch. I would not suggest that you upset her.�

�I have to take her back to Hogwarts,� the Auror insisted. �You are going to Azkaban where you belong.� He took hold of Hermione�s arm and attempted to wrest her physically from Lucius� embrace.

Hermione screamed shrilly when the Auror pulled on her, and there was an answering ominous rumble from the skies above. Ignoring the possible danger, the Auror pulled again. Hermione let out another piercing scream and a bolt of lightning speared from the sky to strike the Auror and send him flying away from Hermione and Lucius.

�I believe we should all be getting back,� Dumbledore said, gesturing to where several of the same carriages that brought returning students to Hogwarts waited for them. Lucius nodded his thanks and began carrying Hermione towards them.

Harry and Draco began following when Lucius passed them. Harry could see that Lucius was having trouble carrying Hermione, and trouble keeping his own footing. The man had been gravely injured only a short time before. He felt Draco draw his wand out, and then a whispered spell.

�Wingardium Leviosa,�

Lucius� signs of fatigue became less apparent, and he managed to make it the rest of the way to the carriage, and even to climb in. Harry, Draco, and Severus followed quickly, in order to prevent any Aurors from interfering.

As the carriage door closed, Harry finally got a look at the wizard that had abducted Hermione.

The abductor was Percy Weasley.

He was struggling against the hands of two aurors while two others searched him. One of them turned towards Fudge and Dumbledore with something in his hands. Dumbledore smiled in triumph. He spoke briefly to Fudge, who nodded. Dumbledore made his way to the carriage they were sitting in.

�There is nothing to worry about, boys,� he told them, including Severus and Lucius in his address. �They found a vial of what is easily recognizable as Polyjuice Potion, and they have his wand, which they have already determined was used to cast the Imperius Curse. Get back to the castle. Lucius, you get back in bed.�

The blonde wizard nodded absently at the order, but his main attention was focused on soothing the badly frightened witch in his arms. Harry could see blood on her nightgown, and rents in it where cutting curses had been used. She was trembling visibly, but she would not release her hold on Lucius, even though moving her hands must have caused her a great deal of pain.

By the time they reached the castle, both Lucius and Hermione were asleep, exhausted from the day�s events. Madame Pomfrey was waiting to take them in hand, and enlarged the stretcher she had with her to accommodate both of her patients. Silently, Harry led his two mates in following the Mediwitch to the Hospital Wing.

Once they arrived, there were a few moment�s problems until a bed was enlarged and both Lucius and Hermione were placed in the same bed. They both woke briefly as they were floated from the stretcher, but then they settled down together, Lucius cradling Hermione in his arms, and her with her head on his chest, as if they had been lying together for years.

TBC
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Measure of a Man