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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
- 8
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Disclaimer: I don�t own them, please don�t sue me.

MEASURE OF A MAN

Why do you ask him move to heaven and earth

To prove his love has worth?

Would he walk on water?

Would he run through fire?

Would he stand before you,

When it is down to the wire?

Would he gave his life up>br>
To be all he can?

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

Chapter 8: Twist of Fate

Draco and Harry sat huddled together on the couch in Dumbledore�s office, completely ignoring the emotional tempest going on around them. Fudge and Dumbledore were trying to work out how and when Percy had become a Death Eater. Arthur and Molly Weasley were both trying to get the answers nobody had: why Percy had joined Voldemort, and why he had instigated the attack on Hermione.

�The attack was meant to send a message,� Snape said finally. �We are to learn that we can trust no one, and that anyone is vulnerable to attack. The next target could be an instructor, or even the Headmaster.�

�I think Miss Granger is well protected, now,� Dumbledore said, smiling. �Other than yourself and your young men, I can�t think of a more capable wizard the Lucius. He has effectively demonstrated that he is willing to go to great lengths to protect her.�

�If you were to ask,� Snape said. �I think the person most surprised by his actions would be Lucius, himself. I doubt that he ever envisioned his life taking such a turn.�

A house elf appeared with a pop and handed Snape a folded piece of paper. It disappeared again immediately, before Snape could even question it as to the origin of the note.

Curious, Snape looked over at Harry and Draco, and then opened the note.

Severus;

I need to see you before She wakes.

L

�I seem to have somewhere else to be, Headmaster,� Snape said, nodding to the boys and heading for the door. �Do let me know if there is anything constructive I can add to this discussion.�

Harry and Draco got up to follow Snape, but Fudge�s voice made them pause.

�I don�t care if Snape goes,� Fudge said. �But Harry has to stay. We need to prepare in earnest for the day that he has to defeat You-Know-Who.�

�Harry is being prepared,� Dumbledore said. �You could not ask for better motivation for Severus and Lucius to prepare him, than the relationships he has built, all on his own.�

�Don�t give me that, Albus,� Fudge blustered. �Harry has to be trained by professionals, Aurors. There�s no other way.�

�Of course there is,� Harry said, finally paying attention to the exact conversation.

�I couldn�t get onto that island, today,� Harry said. �The only one who could was Mr. Malfoy. He knew what curses the Death Eaters knew, and he knew the countercurses. Who better to train me to defeat Voldemort than two former members of his Inner Circle?�

Fudge flinched when Harry mentioned the Dark Lord by name, and turned pleading eyes on the young man.

�I�m going with Severus,� Harry said, rising from his seat and pulling Draco with him. �I�ll start training in earnest tomorrow. Go ahead and send Aurors, Minister. It might be interesting to see how fast I can defeat them.� He ignored Fudge�s sputtering and followed Snape out, holding firmly to his other mate�s hand.

***** *****

In the Hospital Wing, Snape immediately went to Lucius� side of the bed and cast a silencing spell so that they would not be overheard.

Harry went to Hermione�s side and sat down. She looked peaceful in her sleep, but she still had not released Lucius. Her fingers were locked into his clothing, and she had a small stressed frown on her face.

The two of them sat quietly while Severus and Lucius talked under the silencing spell. Finally, Severus nodded solemnly and patted Lucius sympathetically on the hand and then stood up and cancelled the silencing spell.

�I have to write a letter to Gringott�s,� he told them. �The two of you may stay here for now, or you may come with me.�

�We�ll stay for a while, Severus,� Draco said. �I think that Harry should be here when Granger gets up.�

***** *****

It was just over an hour later when Hermione made a small sound, and then opened her eyes. She looked up at Lucius, who still had one arm wrapped around her, and then her eyes scanned the rest of the room.

When she saw Harry, she smiled tentatively.

�Hi, Harry,� she said quietly. �I feel much better, now.�

�You look better,� Harry assured her. �The marks on your forehead are gone, and your hair�s almost grown back completely.�

�Thanks,� she said. �It�s not that they did anything too dreadful. The professors found us first. It�s what they meant to do.�

�The rumors were that they did more than mean to,� Draco said. �I heard Pansy and some of the other girls talking about you getting raped.�

�Not quite,� Hermione said. �They vanished my clothes and immobilized me, and they were taking theirs off when Professor McGonagall came up. Someone heard me screaming when they were cutting off my hair and breaking my hands. She showed up with Hagrid and some of the other Prefects. I passed out while they were immobilizing and tying up the boys.�

�I don�t think that will ever be a problem again,� Draco said. He kept glancing at his father, who was watching Hermione with a puzzled but pleased look on his face.

�I was very confused when Percy came into the Hospital Wing,� she admitted. �I didn�t get frightened until I saw that he had a broom in his hand. Mister Malfoy tried to tell me to get away, but I didn�t have time, and I don�t have a wand, anymore.�

�That will be remedied shortly,� Lucius said. �Are you hungry, Miss Granger?�

�Call me Hermione, sir,� she said, her cheeks staining pink. �I am a bit hungry, but I doubt that it�s anywhere near lunchtime.�

�It�s just coming up to dinnertime,� Draco said. �I know that Father isn�t on regular food yet, but there�s no reason for you not to be.�

�And when did you become a mediwizard, Mr. Malfoy?� Madame Pomfrey�s voice startled all four of them. �Miss Granger is on a special diet until she�s not taking quite so many potions. There�s still damage that has to finish healing. Now you two run along to dinner and stop taking up space in here.�

She shooed the two wizards out into the hallway, and then closed the doors firmly behind her. Harry and Draco looked at one another for a few moments, and then they turned together to make their way to the Great Hall and dinner.

===================

Author�s Note: Sorry this is such a short chapter, but it didn�t want to get written. My muse has deserted me for the time being. I WILL continue, but I just don�t know exactly when.

July 2, 2007

Author's Note: YAY! My muse has returned! I should be updating by Saturday! I'm SO glad! I was afraid she was gone for good!
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Measure of a Man