Disclaimer: Do I own it? No. Do I wish? Yes.
A/N: Might not update till next Thursday. I'm going out of town for fall break. I may be able to, but I'm not sure. Also, I assure you I will not be going into such detail of his every day like I have, but I just wanted to give an overview of his first official day of classes :D Enjoy.
Chapter Eight: Cant undo my spell on you
If Julian thought that Severus was in his element during their lessons over the summer holidays, it was nothing compared to how he was when he taught an actual class. His brilliance – as expected – was completely wasted on the idiotic creatures currently sitting at their benches, not paying attention.
When it was time for the practical portion of the class, Julian began making his rounds. Their abilities – or lack thereof – were really quite pathetic, if one stopped to think about it. Mistakes are a part of any learning process, Julian realized this, but the mistakes they were making were ridiculous.
"Are you trying to blow up the class room, or are you just a fool?" he snapped at Pansy Parkinson. "Your slices are much too thick! It's nearly double the recommended amount. I would think a Slytherin would know better."
Pansy narrowed her eyes at him. "Do shut up, Malfoy. You're just sore you got sorted into Gryffindor. You're a disgrace to the Malfoy name," she spat.
"Am I?" asked Julian, his voice low and dangerous.
"Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you leave Miss Parkinson to do her work," said Severus who had appeared beside them.
"Very well, Professor," Julian said. He waited until Severus turned his attention elsewhere before leaning in close to Pansy, his lips nearly touching her ear. "I'm sure your father's Master would be very interested to hear how you are treating his heir. Very interested, indeed. Shall I inform him?"
Pansy, Julian knew, was really not a fool – not that she didn't try at every given moment to prove that the opposite was true. When he pulled away, her eyes were wide and fearful, and her already pale-face had lost what little color it had. Julian's eyebrow rose in questioning. She quickly shook her head before returning her attention to her potion. After taking one last look over the Slytherins' progress, he stalked towards the Gryffindor side of the room.
The Dark Lord was going to be very unhappy with him, but it would not do for Pansy to fight him every step of the way. It would make an already unbearable situation that much more unbearable. Perhaps now she would leave him alone. He had spoken the truth, however. Pansy's father had reason to worry. The Dark Lord wasn't too pleased with the number of servants who renounced him after his fall. There was coming a day – sooner than they realized – when they would pay. Lucius would have paid as well, if not for Julian.
He sighed as he moved around the room, observing the class. With the exception of Draco, Blaise, and – loathe though he were to admit it – Granger, the entire class was absolutely useless. He corrected mistakes as he saw them, but by that time, many of the potions were already ruined.
And Longbottom definitely was the most hopeless of them all.
"No!" cried Julian, grabbing Longbottom's wrist before he could add the powdered hellebore. "You have to wait until the color changes, else you risk an explosion. Unless you enjoy being doused in extremely poisonous solutions?"
Longbottom shook his head quickly, his dark hair falling into his face. "No," he muttered, glumly. "I wouldn't enjoy that at all."
"What do you know?" grumbled Weasley from beside Longbottom.
"Obviously more than you, otherwise you would not have watched as he nearly killed himself and took you along with him," snapped Julian. "I'm merely trying to help. If you'd rather I not…" he trailed off.
"No," Longbottom nearly pleaded. "We do need your help."
Julian nodded once. "Now add the hellebore – slowly, mind you."
He watched sharply as the boy did so, heaving a sigh of relief as the bubbling solution turned a deep blue. "In five minutes – and not one minute more – bottle it. If you leave it on the heat for more than five minutes, it'll ruin." He told the pair of boys before moving onto the next table.
Granger was sitting with a nondescript blonde girl. Julian wanted to say her name was Lavender Brown but he couldn't be sure. Granger's lips were pursed and her brow furrowed in obvious frustration. Julian took a look into her cauldron. Her potion was a deep purple instead of the blue it was supposed to be.
"Your color is off," he commented.
"I'm aware of that," she snapped with a huff.
Julian ignored her remark and continued. "You've not taken one look at the board, have you?"
"Why would I need to? The book's directions were satisfactory!"
"Of course they were," he soothed in a mocking tone, "that would be why the color of your solution is correct."
"Well, what would you have done?"
"Me?" he asked innocently, widening his eyes. She nodded. "I would have listened to the Professor's lecture and read the instructions on the board. Books are not infallible, Granger. There was a mistake in the printing of this particular edition. One you would have noticed had you bothered to look."
"Indeed," said a silky voice behind them. "I think that will be five points from Gryffindor for your inability to pay attention and another five points for your attitude towards my apprentice. Oh, and Miss Granger? Evanesco."
Ignoring the indignant look on Granger's face as her potion was vanished; Julian went back to the other side of the room. The majority of the students were already finished. There were several Gryffindors still working but Julian's patience was wearing thin, and he desperately needed a break from them. He smiled when Blaise caught his eye as he quickly made his way to their bench. A vial of deep blue potion sat between them.
"You look a bit frazzled, cousin," Draco drawled, earning a glare from Julian.
"Thank Merlin this class is nearly over. I do not know how Professor Snape does this day in and day out ! I'm one step away from hexing half the people in this room!" sighed the blonde-haired boy.
"You really are quite good," remarked Blaise. "Not one explosion this entire period. It must be some sort of record."
"Next we have Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Black," Draco said. "I'm sure you know all about him, Julian. It's a pity he was proven innocent. He was my mother's cousin before he was disowned. Do you think he actually is innocent?"
"Unfortunately," muttered Julian. He knew, more than most people, that Peter Pettigrew was very much still alive – for the moment. Though he wished it were not so, fool of a man that Pettigrew was. "He and my father were quite close in school, I believe." In truth, it was Julian's belief they were lovers of a sort. He had little proof except the pained look on his father's face whenever the name, Sirius Black, was brought up. That and the fact that Aunt Andromeda had visited more often since the man's escape from Azkaban.
Class ended with Severus berating those who were unable to finish their potions and assigning the class an essay on their next potion and its ingredients. Julian watched as Longbottom packed his supplies and readied himself to leave the class.
"Julian!" snapped Draco. "Are you coming or not?"
"Of course I'm coming," Julian said. He pursed his lips for a moment. He had no desire to babysit Longbottom all term long. If he offered to tutor him, not only would he be able to get close to him, but it would save him a lot of trouble in the long term, and perhaps he could use it to fulfill a portion of his required lab hours. "Wait for me outside; I need to talk to the Professor for a moment."
With a nod, Draco and Blaise left the room. Longbottom was still packing when Julian reached his bench. He saw Severus turn his gaze on him as he approached Longbottom.
"Longbottom, I've decided to tutor you rather than risk my life on a daily basis," stated Julian.
"Tutor me? Why would you want to?" asked the boy, his confusion apparent.
"Besides the reason I've already stated?"
Longbottom nodded, eyeing Julian warily.
"Do you enjoy being humiliated every time you step into this room?" asked Julian, perhaps sharper than he'd intended to be.
"No!" said Longbottom quickly. "'Course I don't!"
"Then you shouldn't be concerned on why I want to help. Just be glad that I'm willing. Wouldn't your grandmother be pleased if your potion's marks were to rise?"
A defiant look crossed Longbottom's face. "All right, if you're sure you don't mind."
"Quite sure," said Julian smoothly. "I'll let you know when I'm available, hmm?"
Julian leaned against the bench as Longbottom left the room.
"A word, Mr. Malfoy, if you please," said Severus when the room was emptied.
Julian smiled coyly at Severus as he walked to the Professor's desk. "You can have as many words as you want," he said.
"What do you think you're doing?" hissed the Potions master when Julian was in front of him. "Do you have any idea who Longbottom is?"
Julian gave the man a pointed look. "Of course I do," he snapped.
"Then, I repeat, what do you think you're doing?"
"Only what is requested of me, Master Snape," snarled Julian. "Or have you forgotten that I am not here on a holiday? Besides, I've no malignant plans for him. I'm merely giving him the tutoring, tutoring he desperately needs, in case it's passed your notice."
Obsidian eyes narrowed. "I am well aware of Longbottom's many inadequacies. Don't forget to report here after your last class, and do not be late. I've a copy of your schedule, so I shall know if you dally."
Julian gave the man a terse nod before leaving the room. Defense Against the Dark Arts was a total nightmare. If the glare the man gave him when he entered the room was any indication, Professor Black seemed determined to hate him though Julian had given him no provocation,
"There are three spells which are forbidden to use. Use of any one of the three is enough for a life sentence in Azkaban," stated the Professor. "Something I can assure you that each and every one of you should avoid. Who here can tell me the three spells?"
The entire class was shifting in their chairs, glancing nervously at one another as if too frightened to even speak of the curses.
"Ridiculous," muttered Julian as he thrust his hand into the air. He shouldn't have expected any less though from the people too frightened to even utter the Dark Lord's name.
"No one?" said the ex-convict as he looked around the room before finally noticing Julian's hand. "Malfoy, then."
"The spells together are called the Unforgivables due to the prison sentence incurred with their usage. Separately they are known as the Cruciatus, the Imperius, and the Killing Curse. Shall I continue?" asked Julian politely.
"That's…er … right," said Professor Black reluctantly, but he did not award any points.
Granger hesitantly raised her hand. "Can they be blocked?" she asked when he called on her.
"There is no known way to block any of the Unforgivables. Avoiding them is your best bet," he said. "Now, the incantations for them are…"
Julian's mind began to wander as the professor continued his lecture. He was quite familiar with the Unforgivables. His uncle had taught him all about them, of course. He had no desire to use them, though. There were plenty of other spells designed to do similar things – none of them carrying a prison sentence. Besides, if Julian were to kill someone, he'd not want it done painlessly. Using the Killing Curse would be far too easy. But his uncle was particularly fond of the Cruciatus, however, as was the Dark Lord, so he had learned to cast them.
"Why bother teaching them at all if we can't block them or cast them?" Draco asked him when class was over.
Julian shrugged. "Personally, I don't see the harm in the "Unforgivables". I'd much rather be hit with the Killing Curse instead of, oh, say the Disembowelment Curse. And the Cruciatus? How amateur."
"You're scary," stated Blaise.
Julian flashed a wicked smile. "All in a day's work."
Julian left Draco and Blaise to attend their Charms class while he went to his Transfiguration class with the Gryffindors. Professor McGonagall was an adequate teacher though he already knew the material she was teaching. He took notes, however, if for no other reason than to pass the time and was the first one in the class to turn his flower into a cactus, earning five points to Gryffindor much to Granger's chagrin. She'd glared at him and thrown herself into completing the transfiguration. It seemed the mudblood was used to being top student. No doubt Julian was a most unwelcome opponent for her.
After Transfigurations was lunch. He walked with the other Gryffindors to the Great Hall, but instead of following them to their table, he took the empty chair next to Blaise and opposite of Draco at the Slytherin Table.
"Tired of the Gryffindors already?" asked Draco with a smirk.
"Yes," sighed Julian. "Granger's all worked up because I've proven to her that those with a pureblooded lineage are better students than those without. Of course, she didn't use those exact words. I believe what she said was: 'Oh, you think you're so clever!' And if I have to listen to Weasley or that wretched Irish boy moan about Quidditch being canceled this year, I won't be held responsible for my actions."
Blaise raised an elegant eyebrow. "Funny, that. I've had to listen to the same from Draco here. I keep telling him it's the Triwizard Tournament. It's practically a once in a life time event."
"Tournament or no tournament, I still can't believe there's no bloody Quidditch this year," whined Draco. "Especially now that I've got a Firebolt."
"Any idea when the other schools are arriving?" asked Blaise.
Julian pursed his lips. "End of October, I believe."
"Any of your friends coming?" asked Pansy who had avoided talking to him since Potions.
"Several… acquaintances of mine will be attending, yes. I'm not incredibly close to them, but we did train for the tournament together last year. I suspect they aren't too keen on me being their opposition now. Not when I was the best in our lessons," said Julian.
"Julian, you are as humble as ever, I see," Draco remarked.
"Come now, Draco, why should I be humble? Malfoys always strive to be the best, as you well know."
Pansy groaned and Blaise rolled his eyes.
"I thought one of them was bad, and now we have two," said a boy named Theodore Nott. Julian eyed him speculatively. His father had been a Death Eater and was now in Azkaban. Not a very talented wizard, but loyal nonetheless.
"Well," said Blaise brightly. "We don't exactly have two of them, do we? One of them belong to the Gryffindors, but it is comforting to know that if we lose Draco, we've got a spare!"
Julian glowered at him. "Kindly stop discussing us as if we were possessions!"
Everyone laughed and continued eating as if he hadn't spoken at all. The rest of the day passed without event, and before he knew it, he was back in the Potions classroom. Severus, who had been marking essays, looked up when he walked in.
"The headmaster has requested you join him in his office," he began.
Julian's breath caught in his throat. So soon… "Why? I've not broken any rules," he asked. The word yet hung uncomfortably in the air.
"The headmaster did not see fit to tell me the reasoning behind his request, Mr. Malfoy, only that he would like to speak with you. If you would follow me, please," said Severus.
Julian fiddled with the chain on the locket while he followed Severus to a pair of gargoyles.
"Blood pops," Severus told the gargoyle.
The door opened up, revealing a circular staircase.
"Do not forget to come back to the class when he is finished with you," snarled Severus before stalking away from him, "and for the love of Merlin – stop touching that locket!" the last part was a deadly hiss.
Julian snatched his hands away from the aforementioned necklace. In truth, he had not even been aware he was touching it. He stepped onto the circular staircase and as it moved, he frantically tried to reinforce his occlumency shields.
The headmaster was sitting behind his desk reading a thick tome when Julian stepped into the office. Julian's eyes scanned the room quickly. The magical energy in the room was heavy.
"Mr. Malfoy, my dear boy, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face. I hope you are settling into Hogwarts?" asked the elderly wizard. "Please, have a seat." He motioned to an empty chair.
Reluctantly, Julian took a seat. The locket was burning white-hot against his chest as he looked at the wizard in front of him. He felt an all encompassing rage that was not his own.
"Mr. Malfoy? Are you well?" asked the man, kindly.
Julian blinked. He had not realized that the Professor had been speaking to him for several minutes without response. The knuckles of his hands were white with the strain of clutching the chairs handle, his fingers desperately wishing to grab for the wand in his pocket and kill the headmaster.
"Yes," said Julian quietly. "Forgive me, Professor, it's been a long day. I must have drifted off." He took a deep breath in a vain attempt to reign in his anger. He had to get it together! Malfoys were not weak. The Dark Lord trusted Julian to do this – and do this well. Failure was not an option.
"It's quite all right. It is for that very reason I have asked you to join me this afternoon. Would you like a cup of tea?"
Julian shook his head. "No, sir, but thank you all the same."
"Very well. How are you settling in?" queried the man as he fixed himself a cup of tea.
"Fine, Hogwarts is a charming place," intoned Julian.
The headmaster smiled. "That it is, my dear boy. Now, I've been informed that you have offered to tutor our young Neville?"
Julian eyed the man speculatively. Nothing escaped his notice. Julian would certainly have to be more careful from now on. It would not do for the man to become aware of his other plans. "Is that a problem, sir?" he asked softly. "I felt it would be remiss of me to not do so if I've the talent. Not when he has the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulder."
Professor Dumbledore beamed. "I daresay that shall not be a problem. It is most splendid, in fact. I hope the two of you will become close friends."
Julian cocked his head to one side as he felt the tell-tell brush of legilimency flutter across his shields. The heat of the locket intensified with the subtle probing nearly causing Julian to cry out in pain. "May I be excused, Professor? If you need nothing further, of course," he bit out.
"Certainly! Have a good evening, Mr. Malfoy," the headmaster said with an odd look in his eyes.
Julian managed walk calmly out of the office – just barely. His hand clenched over where the locket. His breath was coming out in harsh gasps when he finally found the potions classroom. The heat was fading now, but Julian could feel the skin around the locket blistering. He began yanking at his robes, struggling to remove the layers he wore.
Severus was frozen at his desk, quill in hand. "Julian? What happened?" he asked.
"I have to get it off!" cried Julian, his fingers deftly unbuttoning the buttons on the long-sleeved shirt required of all students to wear. His outer robe and jumper already lay discarded on the floor. Severus was at his side at once.
"You cannot disrobe in a classroom!" Severus said, dumbfounded, trying to ignore the twitch of his groin as he watched the boy undressed.
"I have to – I have to get it off!"
Severus grabbed the boy's clothing form the floor and led him to his private office. Merlin, what was that fool of a boy thinking? He took a deep breath and turned to find Julian bare-chested. On his chest lay an ornate silver locket with a circle of angry-looking blisters marring the otherwise smooth surface.
"I'm going to ask once more – what happened?"
"Do you have any healing balm?" Julian asked, sidestepping Severus' question completely as he struggled with the fastener. The pain had receded a bit once the fabric was no longer rubbing against the inflamed skin, but had not gone away completely. He was surprised, however, to discover the fastener would not unlock. He could not remove the locket.
"I do, but you ought to go to the Infirmary," said Severus, but he did go to an elaborate cabinet where he kept his finished potions and began searching for the requested balm.
"I can't go to the Infirmary," Julian stated firmly. He gasped when he felt a cold sensation on his chest. The professor's fingers were gliding softly over his chest, taking the pain away and leaving a tingling sensation.
"This is not an ordinary locket." It was a statement, not a question.
Julian bit his lip, nervously. "No, it is not," he agreed, sinking into a chair.
"How did this happen? What caused it?"
Julian breathed a sigh of relief as the last of the blisters disappeared. Severus pressed the container of balm in his hand before taking the seat beside him.
"I didn't know this would happen – he never told me it was possible!" Julian exclaimed suddenly. "He should have warned me – I should have been prepared. And he should bloody well get his emotions in order straight away. He can't possibly expect me to be in control if he is going to do this every bloody time!" Julian continued to rant.
"I expect you to answer my question, Julian."
"I'll tell you – I probably shouldn't, but I suspect this situation may occur from time to time, and I may need your help in the future. You must never ever tell, Professor. Ever. First, I want you to cast the strongest privacy ward you know – the strongest."
Severus gave him a withering look and a long-suffering sigh, but did cast the ward effectively sealing them in an invisible bubble.
Satisfied, Julian continued. "The dark lord will be furious with me for telling, but he should have thought about that before." He paused. "Have you ever wondered why it was the Dark Lord survived after being hit with the Killing Curse?"
Severus' eyes narrowed slightly. He pursed his lips. "As I told the Dark Lord, I had little reason to believe he survived; indeed I thought – until this summer – that he was very much dead."
"He can't. Be killed, that is. He's taken certain… measures to ensure his longevity."
Obsidian eyes widened. "Horcruxes," he breathed. "The Dark Lord is immortal."
"Indeed he is," agreed Julian.
"And the locket? It's a horcrux, isn't it?"
"Just so. He gave it to me for safe-keeping. It offers a certain amount of protection for me as well, and – as you have just witnessed – it cannot be taken off. It seems he failed to mention the other… side effects," Julian snarled.
"What happened when you met with Dumbledore? Did he suspect anything?"
"I very nearly killed the headmaster just moments ago, that's what happened! Had I not managed to restrain myself, he would be dead as we speak. I don't understand what happened, not fully at least. My best guess is that the Dark Lord's hatred for the headmaster left an imprint on the portion of his soul encased within the locket. As for whether he suspects something… I can't say. He asked me about my offer to tutor Longbottom," Julian smirked maliciously. "I told him I was only doing what I could to help prepare the Chosen One."
Severus nodded. No doubt the headmaster did suspect something, but he'd not take any actions. "I shall leave you to get dressed then. I hope you weren't under the impression this would excuse you from your lessons this evening," said Severus, arching an ebony eyebrow.
"Of course not," said Julian. He grinned at the Professor as he exited the office. Finally alone, Julian's head fell against the back of the chair, the enormity of the situation threatening to overcome him. How would he ever get through an entire year here if he could not get through an entire day of classes? He dressed quickly and went to join Severus. He could admit – only to himself, of course – that perhaps he was in over his head, but he would persevere, and he would most certainly be writing to his uncle this night. He had some words to exchange with the Dark Lord.
