Severus opened the door quietly into the library and slipped in. Harry was sitting on the sofa and leaning on the arm; book resting in the crook of his elbow.
He stood for a moment watching the boy as though he would somehow gain insight in how to deal with him. Knowing Harry knew he was in the room he walked over to the opposite sofa and sat to continue his studying. Sure enough Harry didn't even look up from his book but he saw that the boy's eyes had stopped moving. Gradually he noticed Harry relax again and his eyes rove over the pages before him. If it was anyone else in the room with him Severus knew he wouldn't have relaxed so easily.
Still…he didn't like Harry placing so much trust in him.
"Dumbledore wants me to use Occlumency on you" he made sure to keep his voice neutral to put Harry on his guard.
Still though, Harry didn't move…didn't even stop reading this time.
"What are you waiting for?" Harry asked in a bland voice, eyes still moving over the text.
Severus stared.
He wondered if he was wrong. Did Harry not trust him? Did the Bond mean nothing? Something curled in his stomach. Something like pain and hurt that Harry would expect him to do such a thing.
The clock on the mantle ticked the minutes away.
There came a sigh from Harry's lips and the slam as the book shut hard.
Then Harry raised his head slowly and stared at him.
Severus raised an eyebrow.
Still Harry stared.
Severus raised the other.
He wondered whether this was some form of challenge on Harry's part or something else. Either way he didn't look away, even as his eyes began to sting.
Then he noticed a small smile curl Harry's lips and a gleam in his emerald eyes.
He sniffed and looked away, eyebrows descending and blinking slowly so as to not look foolish.
Harry laughed quietly.
"You're so easy to rile up Professor" Harry murmured before he looked towards the clock. It was still an hour till dinner.
"Where are your friends?" He had spent most of the day in bed, being up till early morning wasn't a good thing in his book.
"They've gone back to The Burrow" The tone in Harry's voice told him to drop the subject but he needed to know what Harry had told them.
"What did you tell them?"
"Nothing" He could tell Harry wasn't lying, he hadn't told them anything.
"Surely they are curious. Why would you not tell them about your…change?"
Harry shifted in his seat and Severus could tell he was hiding something. Still he wasn't going to ask, Harry had every right to his secrets no matter how much it irked him.
"I don't really want them to know…not yet anyway"
An eyebrow went up again and Harry laughed.
Quiet filled the room again…comfortable silence.
"Hermione would want to read up all about what I am and what I can do and Ron…well. Ron would get jealous" Harry sighed
"Do you doubt Weasleys friendship that much?"
"It's not that I don't trust…" Harry paused and Severus noticed he looked pained.
"Ron has a temper and he's always trying to get some attention…I think he'd just take it the wrong way; like I was trying to outdo him or something"
Severus relaxed into the cushions of the sofa. He couldn't remember when he had last had a small 'almost meaningless' talk with somebody.
"You know his weaknesses then?"
Harry turned his eyes on him. He had no doubt that Harry was wondering why he had asked. Yet he also saw that the boy didn't deny it immediately.
"Everyone has weaknesses"
"Yes…but not many people pay attention to them"
Harry looked thoughtful and Severus watched him with a feeling of pleasure in his chest.
Minutes ticked by before Severus remembered the reason he had come in the first place. He stood and removed a package from his robe and pulled out his wand to re-size it. It turned out to be a pile of old tomes…all of which looked to be falling apart at the seams.
"These are all I have on Draconian's…I thought you might want to have a look"
Harry got up and gently lifted one of the old books. It was only being held together by magic.
"How old are these?" Harry's voice was filled with awe. Even he could appreciate something so old and full of knowledge.
"I am not entirely sure (meaning he hadn't a clue), Let us say that they are far older than even Hogwarts is"
He had had them for years. All the stories his mother had told him as a child had made it his first research project. It had cost him more than blood to get the tomes before him and even looking at them now made him feel tainted. As he watched Harry turning the pages carefully though, he felt some of his self-loathing fade.
He froze as he watched Harry's eyes move over the words, taking them in. Then he stuttered (for the first time in his life)
"How can you read that?"
-----x-----
Harry almost cursed himself. The language was in Ancient Greek and of course…before the change Harry didn't even know what Ancient Greek looked like never mind being able to read it.
'Damn it'
"Errr…" 'Clever Potter, make him think you're dumb AND slow'
Snape was staring at him hard.
There was no way he was going to get out of answering this…however it didn't mean he couldn't alter the truth a little.
"I not sure (mostly true…he hadn't actually been listening when it was explained), I couldn't read it before but I suppose the change lets me know it"
Harry knew without seeing the disbelief in Snape's eyes that that was the lamest excuse EVER.
-----x-----
(Flashback)
"Mum…"
"Yes baby, it's me" the soft feminine voice murmured lovingly.
"But…how?"
"You are here because you need to learn more of the skills you have inherited. You also need to learn how to control the memories you will be bombarded with for the next few weeks"
"I'm here…for lessons"
"That's right son…you'll get homework too" the male (his father) chuckled.
-----x-----x-----x-----x-----
It's coming, don't worry I'm working on the next chapter now…well not NOW but you know what I mean lol.
I hope I haven't lost anybody?
So tell me people…Should Harry and Draco become friends (mildly, don't think I can pull off 'best friends') or should they remain enemies?
Do I need to say it people…oh alright. That little 'go' button in the bottom left corner…press it. I'll leave the rest to you.
Lupa xxxxx
