Primoris Oraculum Duo (First Prophecy Two)

Chapter 21:

Snape strode into the Slytherin Common Room, robes seeming to swirl even more menacingly around him than usual. As prefect, Draco had made certain that every student of every year was present. They stood grouped by year, robes immaculate, and expressions suitably respectful. This second meeting in as many weeks had them on edge. They knew that it had been their Head of House who had been the subject of the Board of Governors's investigation. Some of the senior students had been gleeful in their assurance that Snape would be out, according to their parent's letters. Now that the Board had declared the charges to be false, they were on uncertain footing. Without guidance from their families, they were at a loss as to how they should behave.

After some covert discussion, Blaise and Pansy had decided that as Draco's father had been in charge, and Draco had been questioned and was still among them, the situation must have been under control. Perhaps they should lie back and wait for further word from their parents. They had conveyed this wait and see position to the other children of Death Eaters and now they stood, attention focused on their Head of House.

Snape surveyed them intently and sharply, causing a few first years to burst into tears. Without hesitation, Snape pulled a handkerchief from the pockets of his robes for each child, giving them a brief pat on the head as he pressed the cloth into their hands. There were more than a few stunned expressions, which were quickly masked, from the upper years.

He waited until the nose-blowing was done before he began. "As you well know, the reputation of the House of Slytherin was under attack this morning."

Pansy interrupted, "You mean your reputation was under attack, sir."

He pierced her with a scathing glare. "No, Miss Parkinson, I mean our house." He kept his eyes locked on hers fiercely until she paled and looked away. "When one member of our house falls under suspicion, we all suffer for it. The name of Slytherin has a vast history of pride, of solidarity. There is an old Muggle saying that says 'one bad apple spoils the whole lot'. When there is a bit of rotten fruit in the basket, the decay and spoiling spreads quickly to the good fruit."

The students were staring at him. Some were wondering if he had lost his senses to be talking about fruit. But the oldest Slytherins understood the symbolism and they were shifting uneasily.

"It is enough that the houses of Hogwarts compete against each other for points, Quidditch glory and the House cup. Conflict within the house itself weakens the bonds we must maintain. Little bits of rot allowed to fester will ruin the whole house, if not excised."

Pansy and Blaise looked at each other sideways. Draco stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back. Snape caught his eye and Draco gave him a barely noticeable nod. Snape let his black eyes settle onto the two leaders. "Slytherins do not behave like spineless Hufflepuffs, being led about by the nose, and maneuvered into whatever the stronger person wants them to think or do. Slytherins are free thinkers, examining the information laid before them, peeling back the layers until the truth is exposed. Slytherins are not afraid to take a path that is more difficult, if that path is the right one."

Now Pansy and Blaise understood him. He was challenging their belief in the right of following the Dark Lord. Pansy looked uncertain, whereas Blaise had clenched his teeth in determination.

"I believe what my parents believe, " Blaise muttered. "I believe that Mudbloods should be kept out, that Muggles are lowlifes –"

Snape had stepped forward and stood towering over the student, nose-to-nose. His voice was soft. "Have you examined your family tree in detail, Mr. Zabini? If not, I happen to have unabridged editions of Wizard Family History, Obscure Bloodlines, and Linking The Past With the Present. It is most interesting to note that so-called Pure Blood Families derived from a past of intermarriage with Muggleborns, Muggles, and Half- bloods. Do you honestly believe that simply obliterating the evidence from a page or a chart obliterates the truth?"

Blaise swallowed hard and then said, "They would tell me if that was so."

"Would they? Would they admit that if it meant that their loyalty to the wrong side might be questioned?"

Blaise flushed angrily. "You're saying that they pledged their lives to the wrong side? When I tell my father –"

"Oh, please do tell him. I'm sure that he will hurry to prove me wrong and in doing so uncover even more truth."

Snape walked slowly down the line of Slytherins. 'Yes, I believe some research into each of your own family trees might prove enlightening."

"But we all know our family tree. We've been taught our heritage all our lives." Pansy glared up at Snape.

"You know what they wish to be true, not what is true." He gave them considering looks. "The seventh years will begin tonight. I want a complete pedigree showing your lineage back ten generations, on both sides. You will find what you need in the volumes I provide. You will help one another, seeing that there are no secrets or omissions regarding your bloodline. The prejudice will end in the House of Slytherin and it will end now."

With a nod to Draco, Snape turned and strode out of the common room.

Draco said quietly, "First through sixth years are dismissed to get to your dormitories. Seventh years will stay here to work on your pedigrees."

Blaise sneered at him. "I suppose you are exempt, Malfoy?"

"No. Professor Snape made it clear that I was included in being expected to complete the assignment."

Blaise relaxed a bit, knowing that Draco wasn't getting any special treatment. The seventh years began to gather at the table to start their research.

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Draco was surprised when the Slytherins began to become very interested in their family histories. Once they started, parchment was strewn over the table and floor as they mapped out lines of descent, marriages, and births. Even Blaise and Pansy became immersed in the project, scribbling notes next to names, whispering to each other with worried eyes.

Draco worked alongside Goyle and Crabbe, dismayed, but unsurprised at finding several instances of ancestors who married Muggles or Half-bloods in his direct line. Snape had assured him that these reference books had not been tampered with or spelled to falsify lines, as had so many that so called Purebloods had in their home libraries. He had cast spells to ensure that these could not be changed to show anything but truth.

By the time they had finished, it was well past curfew. Snape came back into the room as they were rolling up their parchments. Holding up a hand, he said quietly, "Post them on the wall. The House of Slytherin will share the truth about each member's bloodline."

Blaise reddened. "You're trying to embarrass us."

"The pedigrees will be posted here. Each of your pedigrees can be shared with those outside only if you wish it. I would not have your lessons learned be shouted to the other houses." He waved a hand and muttered an incantation. "They are now sealed so that while other Slytherins may view them, only the owner may divulge the details to any outside Slytherin."

The seventh years places sticking charms on their pedigrees and placed them on the wall. Snape nodded. 'Now to bed. Tomorrow night, you will assist the first years with theirs while the sixth years do their own. Over the next few evenings, you will also help the fourth years, and then fifth. Sixth years will help second and third."

No one dared to protest. Knowing their Professors usual method of detention, this was quite easy, even if it was disturbing as a result. At least he wasn't having them post their family lines in the Great Hall. The walked silently to their dormitory, leaving the Potions Master perusing the parchments that now hung on the wall.

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When Harry woke up again, he felt ravenous. Sitting up in the bed, he noted that he wasn't at all dizzy, nor did he feel the weakness caused by being feverish. He was just getting out of the bed when Madam Pomfrey walked in.

"Get back in that bed this instant, Mr. Potter."

"But, I –"

"Do not argue." Snape stood in the door. "Until she checks you over, you will remain in bed."

"But I feel fine now. I'm not even dizzy!"

Harry huffed in exasperation and climbed back in, lying on top of the sheets with his arms crossed. Pomfrey ran her wand up and down the length of him several times. Finally, she sighed, "He seems to be back to his normal baseline. He has no sign of fever, and his magical status shows no sign of depletion. He does, however, need to eat."

"I want to eat with my friends." He looked up at Snape hopefully.

Snape was giving him a considering look. "You cannot let yourself to be led into any kind of confrontation. I will allow it, but the moment I observe you getting upset, I will remove you from others. I expect you to monitor yourself as well. Until we know how this energy works in you, we must be careful."

Harry jumped out of the bed with a smile. "I'll be careful." He pulled on the clean robes that Snape held out to him.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head as they walked out, calling, "Do try to make me miss you before you come back again."

Harry stopped. He looked up at Snape for a moment and then walked back to stand in front of the mediwitch. "You've always taken care of me when I've been hurt or sick. I've always been in such a hurry to get out of here that I don't think I've ever said thank you." His green eyes were solemn. "Thank you for everything. I will try not to be back too soon."

Pomfrey gave him a stern look before briskly patting his shoulder. "Go get your breakfast before I change my mind about letting you out of here."

Harry hurried back to Snape and they continued back to the Great Hall. At the door, they went to their own tables. The Gryffindors welcomed Harry back, loading up his plate with assorted breakfast foods.

The twins questioned, "So, Harry …"

"Are you playing tomorrow …"

"Or not?"

Harry looked at the hopeful team that had quickly surrounded him. In his mind, he heard Snape. 'Are they asking about Quidditch?'

Harry glanced up at the head table. 'Are you letting me play?'

'I have spoken to the Headmaster. We believe that with planning, you may be able to. It will be a volatile situation, you understand.'

Harry answered him and his teammates at the same time, "I think I'll be up for it. I want to."

The table erupted in cheers, drawing the attention of the rest of the hall. Ron and Hermione looked uncertain until they looked up at Snape. Seeing him give a small incline of his head, they turned back to Harry with smiles as big as everyone else's.

Quietly in Harry's ear, Hermione asked, "What are they doing to keep you safe?"

At Harry's casual shrug, her frown returned, but she said nothing else.

Harry was glad to be back in class. Even History was bearable, now that he was looking at it with a different perspective.

The Slytherins seemed eerily subdued, making Harry ask through the link after Charms, 'What did you do to your house? These aren't the same people as the other day. They're actually staying out of my face, and they're not trying to bait Hermione.'

'Do not concern yourself with them. I am taking care of them.'

'I know, but how?'

'This is one of those times –'

'Okay, okay. Forget I asked. As long as they stay like this, I guess I don't have to know why.'

'Very good of you to realize that.' The mind voice was sarcastic

'I know,' Harry quipped back.

Dinner was even more exciting than breakfast, now that classes were past and everyone began to anticipate the coming game in earnest. Harry didn't feel nervous, but he knew himself well enough to know that was coming. He knew Snape would be having him checked by Pomfrey again, and he knew that he would probably be talking to him about how to behave during the game.

Sure enough, the request came at the end of dinner.

'Harry, bring Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger with you to the room where you dueled Draco and I.'

Harry stood up and motioned to his friends. "Come on. Time to find out the answer to your question, 'Mione."

They followed him to the dungeons. Ron and Hermione stopped short upon entering the cavernous room. Harry moved to Snape and looked at him intently.

Snape answered his unspoken question, "No surprises this time. We are all planning together. The headmaster and I have decided that isolating you is not the answer. You have to be able to be with others and maintain control."

Harry looked around. In addition to Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Flitwick were there. Draco walked in and was standing next to a scowling Ron.

Snape stepped to the middle of the room and beckoned them all around. "Harry will play tomorrow. He needs to focus on the game, so we will be on the alert for anything that may cause him to shift his focus to anyone or anything else. If it does happen, our duty will be to shield as many students as possible if he loses control of his magic."

He looked at Harry. "What you need to do is to have a planned focal point to send your attack, if it comes to at that. You need to have chosen a place or an object so that you will not have to find it at the needed moment." He spoke inside their minds, 'Do you think you can provide a safe demonstration if I give you a focal point now? They need to see what you are capable of so they will understand the magnitude of it.'

'Can you say something to make me angry?'

'Am I not a Slytherin?'

Harry smirked and nodded. Snape stood back. "Your focal point is this suit of armour." He waved a hand, conjuring the heavily tarnished suit to the center of the floor. "Harry has agreed to allow me to provoke him so that you may witness his combined offensive and defensive abilities. Draco and I will duel him as before, this time with Harry knowing the plan. The rest of you to the sides of the room. When you feel any heat, please drop to the floor. Secure your wands now."

Harry almost laughed at the grip Draco had on his own wand as he moved into position. Snape looked as if he had a determined hold on his too. He wondered what Snape could say that would give him provocation, with him expecting it.

After everyone was in place, Snape intoned, "Begin."

Draco immediately sent a volley of hexes and jinxes at Harry that were repelled easily. Snape moved to a position like they had before, where Harry could only see them by moving his head from one to the other.

Snape gave him an evil-looking smile. Those observing would have been very worried if they had not been warned about the purpose of this exercise. "So you think you can win tomorrow, do you? You haven't been on a broom more than a half dozen times since last year. Your house merely feels sorry for you, Potter." He flung an array of hexes to shower Harry.

Hermione felt Ron tense beside her and laid a gripping hand on his arm to prevent him going to Harry's defense.

Draco doubled his efforts. "You should just give it up, Potter. I've been practicing all the time you've been out of commission. No way will you be able to get the snitch before I do." He gave Harry a challenging grin. "I can't believe you actually know how to shield and fight at the same time. Last time was an accident you can't repeat."

Snape and Draco were sending endless attack at Harry, of which he countered most. A few began to get through and he felt the sting and cramping in his muscles from some strong ones. Throwing up a hand and swinging it in an arc around himself, Harry erected a shield that was visible as a shimmer of electric blue light. Through it, he aimed some hexes of his own at his opponents. Snape repelled the ones meant for him, while Draco grunted as the one sent to him found a vulnerable opening through the shields he tried to set up.

Snape sent Harry a mental image of morsemordre hanging in stormy clouds.

The people in the room felt the rush of hot wind as it surged through the room. Following Dumbledore's lead, they hit the stone floor.

Snape shouted in Harry's mind, 'The armour! Focus on the armour!'

Thunder shook the room as a brilliant flash of light left the observers temporarily blind. If they had not been on the floor already, they would have been flung backwards with the force of the heat that slammed outwards from Harry.

There was silence for a long moment. The sound of footsteps had everyone lifting their heads.

Snape was on his knees beside Harry, who was on his knees. Draco had got up and walked to the spot where the armour had stood. There was a six foot wide crater in the stone. The armour was totally gone.

Draco went to the observers and helped Flitwick up while Dumbledore helped McGonagall. Ron and Hermione were already hurrying towards Harry.

Snape had a hand on his forehead, relieved at not feeling fever. Harry looked up at him, eyes enormous. 'Is everyone alright?'

'Look around and see for yourself. They appear unscathed. The armour, on the other hand, is no more.'

Dumbledore was standing beside them then. "Well done, Harry. You focused successfully and the rest of us are unhurt."

Ron said, "That was bloody brilliant! I could feel the magic of your attack. Good thing we were on the floor."

Hermione was patting her robes. "Is my wand the only one missing?"

Everyone immediately found that their wands were missing as well. Harry reached into a deep inside robe pocket and withdrew a handful of wands. Holding them out, he let the owners retrieve them.

Snape stood up and drew Harry to his feet. He felt shaky, but otherwise alright. He smiled weakly up at Snape's questioning expression. "Better this time. But I think some of it got away, didn't it? I felt it go out all around as I tried to focus on the armour."

"Yes, it did. But no one was hurt."

"You really think I should play?"

"I do not want it said that Slytherin won because you were not there. When we win, it will be because we have the better team."

McGonagall heard that comment and snorted in a very unladylike way. "Slytherin wouldn't have a chance if half our team was out. Even without Harry, this is the best team in years."

Flitwick tiptoed up toward Dumbledore and asked in a loud whisper, "Care for a friendly wager, Albus?"

The Headmaster put his hands up in surrender. "I prefer to remain neutral, Filius. As far as I am concerned, Hogwarts has four champion teams."

Harry and Draco looked at each other. Harry said quietly, "I expect you to do your best to win, you know."

"Oh, I'll win."

"I mean without cheating, Draco."

Draco looked at him with narrowed eyes before finally sighing, "I suppose that was deserved. But you can count on me doing my best to beat you."

"Good."

"Good."

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