A/N: Good...well, morning. It is currently 12:34 am here in Thunder Bay. :P So, on with Chapter 12.
"Oh, Harry, you're awake," Dumbledore said as he entered the hospital wing to find Harry buttoning up his shirt. He had just been about to leave the infirmary and now he had a feeling he would not get to leave for some time.
When he had woken up, he had been surprised to see Severus in a chair next to his bed, immersed in a book. He knew the professor wanted to talk to him later that night about 'things' but to sit and watch over him while he slept because there was no one else there…he wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Hello, Professor," Harry said, sitting back on his bed. "Can I do something for you, sir?"
"I simply wished to speak with you, my boy," Dumbledore said, conjuring a chair and sitting by the bed.
"About?" Harry asked even though he was pretty positive what it would be about.
"What you saw last night," Dumbledore said and Harry nodded, refraining from rolling his eyes. "What happened, Harry?"
"I don't even know how I saw it because Voldemort wasn't there. I was in this street and all the lights were out. One streetlamp came on and the Death Eaters arrived. I followed them into the house and upstairs to the bedroom. One of the Death Eaters lit their wand and then they started attacking Hermione's parents. I woke up after they started attacking. I don't understand how I saw it though because Voldemort wasn't there and neither was Nagini," Harry told him.
"Perhaps it is similar to what happened last year, Harry, with the vision of Sirius. Except it was a true vision instead of false like that one," Dumbledore suggested.
"Maybe." Harry shrugged. "Was that all, Professor? No offence, but I'm feeling hungry. I didn't eat much breakfast," he said, standing up.
"Of course, Harry. Have a good day, my boy." Dumbledore nodded. Harry smiled slightly and headed out the door, but not before sending one last glance at Professor Snape who was busy treating Mrs. Granger. Their eyes met for a moment before Harry broke it and left the hospital wing.
Harry breathed deeply as he walked through the corridors, heading for the Great Hall. He was sure it was all around the school by now that he had had a vision and helped save Hermione's parents. Since it was lunch, however, there were no students in the halls, so he was able to avoid confrontations.
"Mr. Gryffindor!" He heard Draco call and turned around to see Draco running down a hallway he knew led to the library.
"Hey, Mr. Slytherin." Harry smiled at his friend.
"Glad to see you out of the infirmary," Draco said. "Is that your first time in the hospital wing this year?"
"Prat. I'll have you know that, yes, it was my first time this year," Harry said, shoving his shoulder.
Draco laughed. "Well, you still have time. I'm sure you'll be in there a few more times by the time June comes around."
"Oh, shut up." Harry shook his head in amusement.
"So, what's going on with you and Mr. Godfather of Mine?" Draco asked as they walked to the Great Hall.
"Why do all you people assume there's something going on? You all make it sound like we're attracted to each other or something." Harry frowned.
"Well, you are both gay." Draco gave a little shrug and Harry shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face again.
"You are such a prick, Draco. I am not attracted to him at all, you know that," Harry said. "He's gay?" he said as an afterthought.
"You didn't know? Hmm, interesting. Anyways, I'm just saying that he is your type. Male, gay, older, Slytherin. Need I go on?" Draco raised an eyebrow, grinning.
"How exactly do you figure that's my type?" Harry crossed his arms.
"Always knew your tastes ran to Slytherins," Draco said. Harry shook his head and stopped walking, stepping off to the side, pulling Draco with him. "What?"
"Why are you pushing this?" Harry asked.
"I'm just teasing you, Harry. I know you don't like him that way and I don't know your type. Hell, you don't know your type besides that it has to be male," Draco told him.
"This is true. I just want to be his friend, that's all," Harry said and they walked into the Great Hall.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind it either," Draco said as they walked to the Gryffindor table.
Harry snorted. "Draco, that's the last thing he wants."
"You never know," Draco said in a sing-song voice. Harry rolled his eyes and they greeted Ron. Filling their plates, the three ate and started a light-hearted conversation.
"Enter," Severus called and Harry walked into the professor's quarters.
"Hello, Professor," Harry greeted, standing a few steps from the door.
Severus looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I remember you usually coming in here and sitting down rather unceremoniously and ungracefully."
"Yeah, but that was when we had a truce. As I recall, it seemed to have disappeared quite quickly," Harry said with a shrug.
"Sit down, Potter," Severus said, pointing to what had been Harry's regular seat.
Harry nodded and sat in his old seat, the recliner across from the fireplace. "What did you want to talk about, Professor?" he asked.
"As if you don't know, Potter," Severus said, moving from his desk to sit on the sofa. Harry's lips twitched but he didn't speak. "Kingsley spoke with me."
"That's my line, Professor," Harry said, unable to stop his small smile.
"Cheeky brat," Severus said. "Is what he said true?"
"It's not obvious?" Harry asked. Severus arched an eyebrow. Harry sighed. "Yes, it's true. As you know, I've respected you since fourth year and it's only grown since then. Since last year, I've wanted to try and get to know you."
"And why would you want to do that? Our past has not been the most pleasant," Severus asked.
"Perhaps not but you also told me personally that it wasn't me you hated, but what I reminded you of. Look, I know you don't want to be my friend for Merlin knows how many reasons and I get it. However, if that's all I'm going to hear, I'd prefer to know now so I can leave. No offence, Professor," Harry said.
Severus looked at him contemplatively. "That is not why you are here, Mr. Potter."
"Then why if not to shoot me down? It's not like you not to humiliate me every chance you get," Harry said, leaning back and crossing his arms.
"Potter, it is a dangerous thing to be close to me," Severus said.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Excuse me for being rude, sir, but didn't I just say I don't want to hear this?"
Severus glared at him. "Watch yourself, Potter. If you had let me finish, I was going to say that, while it is dangerous, I do have others close to me. All are very persistent, as are you."
"Are you trying to have a discussion about having a friendship, Professor?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a problem?" Severus asked casually.
"No, sir. Just curious as to where this is going and why you haven't insulted me yet," Harry said. He was secretly very happy with how the conversation was going. Sure, it was missing the banter side of it, but he knew that wouldn't last too long.
"Your brain capacity is extremely limited," Severus said blatantly. "Better, your Majesty?"
"Much. We can't have a functional conversation without the insults," Harry said with a smile.
"We've managed before," Severus said.
"It's not the same." Harry shook his head, still smiling. "Anyways, we were discussing being friends?"
"Now you can focus. Where's that concentration when it counts?" Severus asked.
Harry gave him a faint glare. "Was that necessary?"
"You wanted insults, Potter." Severus shrugged and Harry shook his head.
"No need to push it," Harry muttered. "Now why am I really here, Professor?"
"Are you sure about this, Potter?" Severus asked. "It would have to be secret and I am the bastard of the dungeons."
"Professor, for the third time. I don't care about your reasons for this not to happen. You know I want to be your friend," Harry told him. "Besides, you wouldn't be Professor Snape if you weren't the bastard of the dungeons."
"You really are a brat, Potter," Severus said, crossing his arms.
"'Harry'," Harry said, eyes shining.
"We must be discrete with this, Po-Harry," Severus told him.
"Just a bit." Harry shrugged. He sighed when Severus' eyes narrowed. "I know, Professor, okay? I may be dense but I know when I have to be secret."
"Excuse my surprise," Severus drawled and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Are we really discussing this as if we were planning a relationship?" Harry said.
"Harry, I'm a practical man. I do not accept anyone or anything into my life easily," Severus told the boy.
"Professor, it's fine. Let's just take it one step at a time. It's just friends. There's nothing else to stress about, sir," Harry interrupted.
"Call me 'Severus' in private," the Potions master said and Harry smiled. "Be here tomorrow night for our lesson. It's late. You should get back to the Tower."
Harry nodded and grabbed his bag, standing up. "Good night…Severus," he said and left the quarters with a smile. Severus watched as the door shut with a look of wonder.
Perhaps this could work.
"Potter! Malfoy! If you two want to speak, why not coming up here for the demonstration?" Professor Sallon suddenly said in the middle of his lecture on the Imperius Curse. Harry and Draco glanced at each other before slowly walking to the front of the classroom. "Excellent. As I understand it, you two had been successful at throwing off this curse in your fourth year."
"Harry can but I can't," Draco said to the professor.
"Pity," Sallon muttered before pointing his wand at the young Slytherin. "Imperio," he whispered.
"Draco," Harry said, staring at his friend in shock. He glanced at Ron and Hermione who looked back helplessly. Suddenly, Draco pulled his wand and pointed it at Harry. "Draco? Draco, what're you doing? Draco, it's me," he said, flicking his gaze between the wand and Draco.
"Crucio," Draco whispered so quietly that no one apart from Sallon and Harry heard it. Harry jumped to the side to avoid the curse.
Sallon broke the spell on Draco and turned to the class. "As you could see, Mr. Malfoy was completely under my control. Now, let's see Mr. Potter throw the curse off."
"Professor, I—" he broke off as the spell hit him. He shook his head as his mind clouded over.
"Curse Malfoy," a voice said and Harry frowned. Curse Malfoy? Why would he do that? "Do it, Potter. Curse him," the voice said again and Harry shook his head again. It was only after a couple more minutes that Harry broke the connection, falling to his knees.
"Harry," Draco said, running to his side. Their eyes met and they looked at their professor, both holding a little bit of fear in their eyes. "What did he make me do?" he quietly asked the Gryffindor.
"I'll tell you after," Harry whispered.
"Stay after class, you two!" Sallon yelled. "Stop interrupting my class. Get back to your seats."
Draco helped Harry up and they went back to their desk behind Ron and Hermione. Draco pulled a piece of parchment towards him and wrote on it, sliding it across the desk to Harry. Harry looked down at the parchment and read it.
What did I do?
Harry looked at Sallon who was writing on the board about the Imperius Curse and its effects. He grabbed his quill and wrote a reply.
I don't think you want to know.
Yes, I do. Tell me.
Harry hesitated before answering his friend. He could feel Draco tensing beside him. Taking a deep breath, Harry wrote back.
He had you cast the Cruciatus Curse at me, but you didn't hit me. I moved out of the way.
He watched Draco out the corner of his eye and cursed silently when he saw the Slytherin go white. He knew he shouldn't have told him.
You didn't hit me, Draco. It's fine. No harm done. Sallon's just completely mental, okay?
Okay.
Harry folded the parchment and shoved it in his bag. It wouldn't do for Sallon to get a hold of the note. As if the professor didn't hate them enough as it was.
"Dismissed. Get out of here, all of you! Except for you two, Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter," Sallon said when Draco and Harry tried to escape with the crowd. They groaned and turned back around but did not go any closer to their Defence professor. They stood next to each other stiffly, hating to be alone with the man.
Harry always wondered if the man was a Death Eater or if he was at least on Voldemort's side, even if not in the madman's ranks. Draco had told him that Lucius had never mentioned anyone named Sallon but not to hold any importance to the words as Lucius had rarely—if ever—shared information about the Death Eaters and meetings with Draco. Harry had thought that maybe he could ask Professor Snape but immediately dismissed the idea. The man was private and he knew it wouldn't be appreciated if he went digging in Severus' past as a Death Eater, or even his present as a spy.
"Now, what to do with you?" Sallon said, slowly moving towards the two boys. They both desperately wanted to turn and run but knew it would be worse than just standing there, so they stood their ground and waited. "Some kind of punishment is needed for you did interrupt my teaching several times."
Harry and Draco stepped closer to each other as their professor began to circle them. Harry's heart was beating painfully in his chest. What was going to happen? This seemed to be different from the other times they were along with the man. He knew something different was going to happen…but what?
"What to do? What to do?" Sallon mused, still circling them in a fashion much like a vulture.
"Professor, we'll be late," Harry said despite the fact that…
"You both have a free period, Mr. Potter," Sallon said and Harry groaned. "My, my. Clearly that sentence on your hand does not mean anything, does it?" he said mockingly, his eyes flicking down to the scar on Harry's hand that said 'I must not tell lies' and Harry glared at his professor.
"Hey, back off, you bastard," Draco said angrily, stepping towards the older wizard.
Sallon quickly turned, his hand flying through the air. The sound of skin connecting with skin echoed in the silent room and Draco fell to his knees with the impact. "Language, Mr. Malfoy, and manners," the professor said as Harry dropped down to the floor to examine his friend's bruising cheek.
"Oh sweet Merlin." Harry gasped as he saw Draco's face. The beginnings of a black eye were already forming along with a large bruise covering nearly the entirety of Draco's face on the left side. He glared at Professor Sallon. His heart stopped, however, when Sallon pulled his wand on them again.
"Let's do this," Sallon said and began muttering an incantation as he pointed his wand at Harry. Draco watched in horror as Harry's eyes glazed over as if being put under the Imperius Curse but Draco knew this was something else. He got his bearings back a few seconds too late, however, and when he was about to try stop the professor, the wand had been turned on him, the same incantation being chanted.
Sallon lowered his wand a couple minutes later with a smirk. He pocketed his wand as the two teens shook their heads and seemed to come back to themselves. "Get out of here. Get out! Now!" he shouted.
Startled, Harry and Draco looked at each other with a little bit of confusion before grabbing their bags that had somehow fallen to the floor and ran from the room. They continued running until they were a good distance from the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Harry," Draco said.
Harry stopped walking and frowned as Draco's voice registered in his head. He looked at the Slytherin. "You," he whispered.
"Harry?" Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "Harry, something's missing in my mind. Do you feel the same?"
"You," Harry repeated and began backing away.
"Harry?" Draco said again, this time a little bit of concern bled into his words. He was just reaching out to his friend when Harry jerked away and ran off. Draco watched him go in confusion, wondering what the look of fear and anger had been doing on his friend's face and why it had been projected at him.
A/N: So, yes, Severus really negotiated having a friendship with Harry. Weird? Well, it's Severus. It's something he would do. :P So, from now on, they're..."relationship"...will be stable. They are now going to be friends and while they may have arguments, they are more stable. It will now be a stable friendship unlike the change between nearly killing each other to getting along and sharing their deepest, darkest secrets. :P
Hope you liked it and see you next time. :]