Author's Note: I honestly feel like such a bitch because my technical first chapter of this story is a short af prologue. :/ Like how deceiving in case anyone ever gets a TheoMione fic rec and they think they're in for a treat of … however many chapters this turns out to be, but then one of them is short and is repeated in the actual proper first chapter. *sigh* Any other writers/readers ever think about this stuff?
Just an FYI I will probably change up how the characters are referred to depending on which character is being tracked in my third person narration. So Theodore will think of Hermione as Granger/Mudblood for a long time. But when it's another character's third person POV, then the names used will change.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related canon do not belong to me. I have no financial/legal rights to the series. *moths fly out of my wallet*
~ Waiting, Waiting ~
Theodore returned to the Slytherin common room, but avoided making any verbal contact with his house mates. He couldn't believe his O.W.L. exams were actually over. The entire school year in preparation… and just within a week, the purpose of that preparation was now history. His father had talked of bringing private tutors to the Nott Estate in the summer after his third year. At the time Theodore was irritated at his father's keenness to have him studying for his O.W.L.s over a year in advance. Come the next summer, those plans were not recalled by Nott Sr.
After he'd gone home for his summer holidays after the TriWizard Tournament Theodore had observed his father carefully and casually. There had been no noteworthy correspondence between Theodore and his father for a long time. Looking back on the memories he realised his father's letters about Gringotts' inheritance accounts was not as random as they had seem at the time. His father's Dark Mark had been paining him but he wasn't saying so in the letters (a necessary precaution as well, to avoid writing about such matters where it could possibly be seen by someone other than Theodore).
Theodore tried to keep himself distanced from his father's dealings with the Dark Lord. Lying in bed he found himself contemplating why he always lost the urge to read the books he wanted to read that were unrelated to his revision just as time freed up for him to do so. He wasn't as industrious as Anthony Goldstein or any of the other Ravenclaws in his grade, but still he managed approach his studies with discipline.
The Mudblood Granger took her academic revision to a level that no other student in their year could match. Theodore wondered how someone like Granger celebrated the end of exams. She seemed like an over-eager study freak from a distance. Maybe it would depress her to not have something to work towards? A little while later Theodore retreated to his dormitory, even though he knew sleep wouldn't come to him so soon. He wanted to be away from the common room's noise. He fell asleep before the other four boys came to bed, his mind unconcerned with exams, suspicious Gryffindors, or his father.
Snape's lip curled into an obnoxious sneer as Remus Lupin's wolf Patronus announced that his student's godfather had not been removed from Grimmauld Place and was unharmed. Not because he was delighted Sirius was safe, but because it meant Harry had been wrong. It was too soon for Harry to feel embarrassed that his painful dream supplied by Voldemort had tricked him successfully. Right now he felt so happy and relieved, not fully comprehending just then what the consequences would have been if he had opted to check Grimmauld Place and the Department of Mysteries without talking to Snape. A tremendous pressure was being relieved within his chest.
"You have your answer, Potter. Now leave." Snape made no comments about how Harry's refusal to protect his mind had wasted time.
Just as Harry stood up, another Patronus now entered Snape's office; a silvery dog, large and dark-furred. This time Sirius's voice spoke curtly.
"If it's possible to come to headquarters, then come quickly. Everyone is curious to hear about what Harry saw. We just realised we need to analyse why Voldemort showed exactly what he did. It might provide hints to what he was or is still planning. Then we'll know what to tell Dumbledore."
Snape sighed. Looking up at Harry he asked "Did you leave anything out before in what you told me?"
Harry shook his head. "No but maybe I should go with you," he said looking at Snape. "Sir," he added quickly.
"Potter, return to your dormitory and distract yourself with post-exam activities. Your presence will not be needed at this meeting."
"Please, Professor? I just want to see him for a while." Harry was mortified at how choked up his voice had become without warning and was surprised to see Snape give a curt nod.
"We'll have to use one of the fireplaces in the kitchens. Come Potter. I do not wish to delay this business. I have to oversee N.E.W.T. student preparations for my house as well." Snape swept out of his office in a swish of black robes, Harry following closely, amazed at his luck and not really processing that Snape was using N.E.W.T.s as a lame excuse.
When they reached the painting of the fruit bowl hiding the entrance to the kitchens Snape checked to see if anyone else was in the corridor. He tickled the pear and turned to Harry and "Hurry, Potter, if anyone comes looking for you we can't waste time."
Dobby spotted Harry and rushed over. "Professor Snape! Harry Potter sir! How can Dobby help? Is you wanting something to eat that isn't being served now at dinner?"
"We need access to the fireplace here," Snape answered curtly. He looked around the kitchen and said "Forget that Potter or myself are here. If anyone asks you didn't see us. Understood?"
There was a chorus of "Yes, Professor" from the rest of the House-Elves. Snape reached into his pocket and withdrew a small green pouch with "FP" printed on it in yellow.
In the Gryffindor common room Hermione, Ron and Ginny were all very nervous, though only Hermione was acting sure of herself. She felt it was necessary to boost morale temporarily between them three, not say that there was absolutely no problem at all. Hermione was certain Voldemort had shown Harry the vision of Sirius being hurt at the Ministry to egg Harry to take some dire action. She felt disappointed in Harry realising he had lied about his progress with Occlumency. That wasn't the most important thing right now, but the fact couldn't be ignored in Hermione's opinion that Dumbledore had been right (as Dumebledore usually was about such matters) that Voldemort had harnessed the link between his and Harry's mind in order to achieve a surely detrimental goal.
Ron had wanted to contact Fred and George or his parents, but Ginny pointed out there was no way to word what Harry had seen in a way that was understandable to them that would stop any spies from finding out about Sirius. Again Hermione stressed to both Weasleys that Snape was helping Harry even now. Ginny seemed appeased slightly but it was clear Ron still felt uncertain about this. No one wanted to go to bed. Hermione, Ron and Ginny waited in the common room together. Many students were staying up later than usual in a better mood now that O.W.L.s were over. Neville sat with the group for a while but then went up to the boys dormitory saying he wanted to write to his grandmother about how his exams had gone. Ron gave no sign that he had heard but Hermione and Ginny bade Neville goodnight.
Hermione felt a little guilty at her lack of conversational effort with Neville but she thought it was probably best for Neville to not know about Harry's dream because unlike Ginny, Neville didn't know about them being in contact with felt it would be better for as little people to know about Harry's vision as possible. Especially not knowing if it was real yet. She had felt concerned earlier that the Slytherin student Theodore Nott might have heard something she or Ron had said outside Snape's office but she quelled that thought. Even if Nott was the son of a known Death Eater, neither of them had said anything that could really implicate Harry, Sirius or the Order. Now there was still nothing but to do but wait for Harry to return.
Author's Note Continued: I don't have a beta reader so I apologise for any errors. Please feel free to point them out! Please review with your thoughts on the pacing of the story; I know it seems slow moving but I don't want the ship to evolve just on forced sexual tension or anything. I want it to have… substance. Ya feel?
Oh and would anyone hate me if I started a Lucius/Hermione fanfic..? I've been re-reading Eden by obsessmuch repeatedly since February and I feel rather inspired.
xo Sabrina
