Disclaimer: Nothing related to Harry Potter belongs to me. It belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Seven: Tenacious
Harry was awoken early the next morning by a shifting of the bed he was laying in. Without taking the time to think about it, he shot out an arm and grabbed hold of the person who was trying to leave the bed, refusing to release him as he snuggled further under the covers.
He was snapped into the waking world by his said person's sarcastic voice. "Mr. Potter, as much as you might want me to stay, I'm afraid I really must get up now. If you could please let go of my arm, I would be able to do so." Blinking blearily, he focused on his professor's scowling face and slowly let him go.
As Severus got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, Harry sat up and looked around the bedroom. He had been too tired last night to really look at the place. It seemed bare, almost, unlike the comfortable living area they had been in the evening before. The main object in the entire room was the huge four-poster he and Remus were laying in, with deep blue cotton sheets and a glossy black silk cover.
Harry found himself listening for sounds of Severus despite himself, worried that something might happen to the man while he was out of his sight. He knew that this couldn't be a good thing, since his loyalty was divided by two men, but for now, he didn't see what he could do about it.
He briefly considered shifting into his Jachyra form so that he would be able to track the older man very easily, but decided that the Potions Master, no matter how accommodating he was at the moment, might not take too kindly to having his privacy intruded on. Sighing, he did the only thing he could think of. Turning to Remus, he shook the werewolf, forcing him to wake up.
Before Remus was fully awake, Harry had pulled him out of bed and was dragging him out of the bedroom and into the living area, where his nose picked up Severus' scent again and he relaxed. Remus just gave him a bleary-eyed glare and sulked, "Is there a reason you dragged me out of bed, Harry?" Harry found it odd that none of them seemed particularly surprised or upset about the fact that they had all slept together in Severus' bed last night, but figured it must just be a side-effect of his bond with them.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I know it sounds ridiculous, but when he got too far away and I couldn't sense him anymore, I started panicking, afraid that something would happen to him without me there to protect him. However, I found that I couldn't leave you either, so I had to drag you with me. I'm sorry."
By the time he was finished with his explanation, Remus had woken up enough to be coherent and to understand what Harry had just said, and Severus had entered the room, listening to his explanation. Nodding now, he stated, "Since it is a weekend, we will use today and tomorrow to practice on your protectiveness, so that you can control it a bit better. After all, should you actually come with me to a Death Eater meeting - which I still think is a rather idiotic idea on your part - we can't bring Remus as well, not without getting him either inducted or killed, so you'll have to understand that we can be safe without you nearby."
Harry nodded in understanding, then frowned. "But I don't understand why it's like this. I mean, perhaps in Jachyra form, it would be understandable, but in human form as well?" Severus and Remus just shrugged in response, and Harry slouched in his armchair. This was really bad. If he couldn't control his protective urges, he'd had a whole lot of trouble on his hands. Of course, being Snape's apprentice would help matters, but what about Remus? Surely he wasn't going to share quarters with them as well? Maybe he'd be placed somewhere nearby.
Speaking of apprenticeships and living quarters, Harry asked another question. "When are we telling Professor Dumbledore, and what are we telling him? He'll know what a Jachyra is, but he might not let me apprentice with you, or he might not let Remus stay."
Severus headed for the kitchen as he answered Harry. "Well, I figured that you'd be the one to make him see the error of his ways if he tries that. After all, even Albus knows what a Jachyra is capable of. I'm sure he'll understand."
Harry sulked, but didn't answer. Remus looked over at him. "Harry, was what he did really so bad?" Ignoring the younger wizard's death glare, he continued, "He only did it so that he could bring charges against the Dursleys so that you won't ever have to go back to them, you know."
The Jachyra just scowled and retorted, "No, Remus, the Veritaserum stunt was just the last of many. He left me with the Dursleys when I constantly pleaded with him to send me anywhere but there. He refused to tell me that Voldemort might try to possess me, which led me to believe that stupid vision last year that got Sirius killed. He's also let me get into so much trouble, offering only enough help to keep me alive, barely. No, the fact that he lied to me and questioned me against my will was just the last straw."
Remus frowned, "What do you mean, he offered you just enough help to keep you alive?" By this time, Severus had walked back into the room with three cups of tea, which he distributed to his two guests before sitting down and lighting the fire. So Harry explained about his 'accidental' finding of the Mirror of Erised that led to him retrieving the Philosopher's Stone, and the sending of Fawkes' and the Sorting Hat that held Godric Gryffindor's sword during the Chamber of Secrets fiasco. Then in third year, he had allowed Harry both his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map, and had let him and Hermione use a time turner to help Sirius and Buckbeak escape. Fourth year, he couldn't really think of anything, although he was sure that there must have something he did concerning the Triwizard Tournament beyond hiring yet another minion of Voldemort's. Finally, there was last year, where Dumbledore permitted him to teach the secret student organization, Dumbledore's Army (DA for short), which he then led into the Department of Mysteries and danger, resulting ultimately in Sirius' death.
And now, this year, he had used Veritaserum on him. Yes, all of it may have been for the greater good, but it took away much of the control that Harry needed over his own life. After all, his life was already ruled by Voldemort and a prophecy; he saw no need for the Headmaster to get involved as well.
When he finally fell silent after his rant, he was slightly amused to find the two men struck speechless, staring at him wide-eyed as the implications of his accusations set in. "By Merlin, he knew! He knew what was going on, and he let you do it anyhow? And he let you lead others into danger with you?"
Harry just nodded in confirmation to Severus' questions. "Of course, you know that Professor Dumbledore knows everything that goes on in this castle."
Remus chuckled, attracting the attention of the other two wizards. "I always wondered how Sirius managed to escape with Buckbeak. He never was entirely sure how you managed to get there that night. Now I know."
Harry found himself grinning in response to the werewolf's amusement, but Severus just scowled. "I knew that you had something to do with. Locked up all night, indeed," he huffed. The teenager in question just grinned cheekily at him, not bothering to say anything.
Sighing, Remus stood up and moved towards the door. "I suppose we really ought to let Albus know what's going on. That is," he added darkly, "if he doesn't already know." The other two just nodded and stood up as well, all three of them heading for the Headmaster's office.
Once there, Severus gave the password, "Canary Creams," and they rode up the spiraling stairs. Once again, Dumbledore called them in before they had a chance to knock and announce their arrival. However, they gained a rather vindictive sense of satisfaction when they saw his eyes widen in slight surprise as the three of them entered the room together. The shock was soon covered up by that damnable twinkle, but none of them had missed the look.
Once they were all seated in front of his desk, having refused his offers of tea and lemon drops, Severus nodded to Harry while speaking to Albus. "We have discovered what kind of lycanthrope he is, and we need to work some things out." While he was speaking, the aforementioned lycanthrope slid to the floor and began shifting, doing his best to ignore the intense itching that accompanied the transformation, knowing that scratching wouldn't help him any, and might only make it worse.
Once he stopped shifting, he blinked and looked around the office, letting his senses do most of the work for him. The first thing he noticed was that the omnipotent Albus Dumbledore had been completely floored, although his facial expression didn't give anything away. Apparently, he knew exactly what a Jachyra was, and held a certain amount of awe and respect for the creatures. Harry resisted the urge to bare his teeth at the Headmaster, knowing that it most likely wouldn't do him any good, and might only serve to actually alarm the old wizard.
"Who's he loyal to?" was his first question, and the most important one at that.
Severus just gestured at himself and Remus, stating, "That's what we need to talk to you about. We're going to work on his control so that he doesn't require us both to be in the same room all the time, but we still need to stay relatively close to each other. We would like for him to be declared as my apprentice and we need for Remus to be allowed to remain in Hogwarts, preferably in quarters down in the dungeon very close to my own."
Dumbledore frowned,
looking as if he was about to object, but he was distracted by a
howling in his mind. Don't even open your mouth, Professor
thought Harry, growling out loud at him. You have no say in this
any longer. Just be glad that I happen to be bonded by loyalty to two
adults, rather than any of your precious students. Besides, don't you
think you've manipulated my life enough? Don't you DARE try to force
us apart now. It's too late
The Headmaster shivered
at the rage in the Jachyras voice, and spoke to Harry out loud. "I'm
sorry, Harry, but I really can't allow you to apprentice yourself to
Severus here. After all, he has his meetings-"
Here he
was cut off by a furious, snarling Jachyra. No! I'm not letting
you tell me what I can and can't do! You've ruined my life enough,
sir he spat out the title as if it were a profanity. I fully
intend on attending the meetings with him in this form. Before
the Headmaster could object, Harry told him exactly what he had told
Severus and Remus the night before. He then went on to rant and rave
about how much the old man's manipulations had hurt him, counting up
through the years. He finished with You gave me what I needed to
survive, Headmaster, but not to live. I won't let you take this away
from me.
Dumbledore bowed his head. He knew that he had
been beaten by the sixteen year old boy. No, not a boy. He had never
had the opportunity to be a boy, and now he had even less chance to
be a normal teenager. Harry was right. While he could disapprove of
this development, he knew the legends of Jachyras and knew that he
would not be able to deny this one anything. Sighing in defeat, he
just nodded. "I will arrange quarters for Remus next door to
Severus', with a door connecting the two rooms. Tonight, I will
announce your apprenticeship to Professor Snape to the staff members
that have remained here for the summer. However, you will be
responsible for explaining these sudden changes to your
friends."
Harry just smirked inwardly in triumph as he shifted back to human form. He had laid on the guilt to get what he wanted, and he knew he'd do it again if he had to. "That won't be a problem, sir. I plan on using concealment charms to hide the changes for a little while, gradually letting them show through until I can keep them off permanently. As for the apprenticeship, it's not really that hard to explain. After all, I'm number one on Voldemort's Most Wanted list, and it makes sense to be apprenticed to Sev--Professor Snape, since he knows how the Death Eaters work and is the most equipped to help me defend against him."
Dumbledore just nodded and offered a small smile. "Very well, I will send word to Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley informing them that you will be remaining at Hogwarts for the remainder of the summer holidays, and I will get some quarters for Remus set up in the dungeons. You go ahead and use the rest of the day to gain some control over your protective urges."
Nodding in acquiescence, the three men left the room and headed back down to the dungeons, where'd they'd employ their time well and hopefully get Harry at least to the point where he could function with only one of them in close vicinity.
