I've had this one written since Friday, but I just could not find the time to post it! They moved me (something about squadron integrity) to another dorm, so I spent all day Saturday moving my stuff from the first floor of one building to the second floor of the building next door. Oh well. I can post it now. 262 reviews! Y'all are awesome!
Kateri: I'm sorry, but the mayhem isn't in this chapter. Just a little minor face off, nothing big. *snickers conspiratorially* Wait till next chapter!
Little Suzi: Hehe…I was so gonna leave it there, then I realized I hadn't worked the item in, so y'all really got two chapters in one. Oh well, that's life.
Selke: Oh! Oh! *glares at Padfoot with Selke* Yay!
Pineapplehead: Hehe…I normally don't like tormenting Malfoy, but since I made him a prat in this fic, I have to keep with Rowling tradition *pictures invisible Harry throwing mudball at Malfoy's head* hee hee
Sparrow: Like I said, y'all all got lucky.
Charlie YuY: I did a costume ball, thanks for the idea! Bond weapon huh? Ever read "Snake of the Vampires?" You'd probably like that fic.
Esperanza: You like the Underground too? Well, I'll just have to keep them around!
Suni, Coffee-Addict from Hell: Congrats on the last chapter! More Sev huh? I think I can manage a little something for ya!
Lee Lee Potter: Ah, romance…not my forte. Now ask me to write a fight scene, I'm all over it!
Angel: They will eventually. With Voldie around, it's a might dangerous.
Kaat ShadowLover: Well, you're not the 250th, but welcome! I imagine smirking runs in the family!
Takari4ever7: Are ya happy? They kissed! He's not really mad at Harry per say, just confused. He doesn't know the whole story remember?
Radcliffe-Lover: Well, you were the 250th, but no item. Sorry bud, better luck next time!
Kitala: Welcome! Glad you like it!
Mikee: Long review! Draco in Gryffindor would have been too cliché, so I stuck him in HUFFLEPUFF! I am so mean. You're item is really cool, and though you weren't the 250th (251 actually) I may use it! How on earth did you lose your favorites? That's odd. Lucius is probably having a heart attack as we speak…er, type.
Lady Lightning: That was my humor chapter! Glad you liked it!
Snape coolgirl: I wanted to get his real appearance in there somewhere.
Alana: Wow, that's high praise…there's a lot of chapters! ;)
Charma1219: Such high praise! I thank you!
Phoenix Flight: Which one? Harry's smirking Snape? Or perhaps Malfoy's ferret costume (courtesy of Ginny). Some liked Flitwick's munchkin.
Bonnie Millard: Here's the next chapter for you!
Saavik: I'm getting the feeling you people liked the costume party. Just a hunch…
Floramorada: A "lol" even. Wow…y'all are good people.
Iniysa: I had this one out the same day as the last, but I couldn't post it. So here it is!
Alecatq: Maybe Harry'll ask Snape that very question…(wow, that's called blatant foreshadowing). I do try to please readers. It kinda keeps em comin' back for more!
Ok, on with the chapter! This one's for Little Suzi because, well, you were on my dedication list and the 250th didn't list an item. So here ya go!
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Harry put on navy blue robes the next morning, after Dean made him take off the black ones.
"Leave the black ones, Harry, I'll need them for your funeral."
"Very funny, Dean. You're not helping!" He flattened the mop on his head that had just been ruffled by Seamus and sighed. The whole of Gryffindor escorted him to the Great Hall in some sort of funeral procession. When they entered the Great Hall, Fred and George took up a call.
"Dead man walking! Give him some room!" They repeated this over and over (until Hermione batted them on the head with her book). He sat down and people piled food on his plate.
"Let us give thanks for this last meal, shared by friends. We're here to honor the life of—"
"Knock it off Fred!" Ron yelled. Harry ate his food silently, while talk spread throughout the Hall. Students threw glances between Harry and the potions master, who was looking livid. The Slytherins were smirking away, prepared to watch their Head of House defeat the Gryffindor Celebrity.
In truth, Snape had summoned up the rage he felt at seeing Black again and poured it out. The professors gave him a wide berth, not wanting to incur his wrath collaterally. Finally, Dumbledore nodded, and Snape stood. The entire Hall went dead as the potions master strolled to the Gryffindor table.
~Sorry~ he projected on his walk.
~For what?~
~For this~ He stopped right behind Harry, and tapped him on the shoulder. Harry, for his part, paled visibly, and stood.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Potter, of all the irresponsible, immature things you could have pulled, this is at the top of that list. You are no better than your father and that scraggly murderer he hung around." Snape's voice rose in volume, and Dumbledore stood. "I thought your level of stupidity had reached an all-time low, but you must once again prove me wrong. Follow." He turned and swept out of the room. The Slytherins smirked triumphantly as the entire Hall watched their exit. The Headmaster slipped out unnoticed and joined the two in the Entrance Hall.
"Right then, let's go." They exited the castle and made for the forest. Harry kept strides with the older men and looked at them puzzled.
"Where are we going?"
"You will learn where as soon as you're of age to Apparate," Snape said tersely. Dumbledore turned to them.
"Severus, I must go ahead. Walk Harry through the forest, it's the shortest route out of the barriers. Once there, Apparate with him." Severus nodded and Dumbledore winked out, then he shook his head.
"I'll never understand how he does that. Come along." They walked into the forest, and Harry suppressed a shudder. The last time he was in here, the Dementors…he shoved that thought out of his brain and focused on his surroundings. No need to go off into dreamland in the Dark Forest. Despite it being almost 10 am, the forest canopy blocked all light, rendering it dark as night. Something rustled in the bushes next to him, and he peered closely while carefully walking around it. A rather large spider leapt out and scampered away, causing Harry to jump closer to the man.
"Don't tell me you're scared of spiders?" Snape asked. Harry shook off some of the creepy feeling and looked up at Snape.
"No, but Ron is terrified of them. In our second year, just before Hagrid was taken off to Azkaban, he told us to follow the spiders. So we did, and they led us in here. That was the first time I've ever seen a spider the size of a Buick."
"A what?"
"A car? Anyway, we talked to Aragog, the gigantic spider, and he told us that the monster of the chamber was the only thing feared by spiders. That, coupled with some other facts, led us to the basilisk. Hermione figured it out before we did, but she was petrified before she could tell us."
"How did you open the Chamber?"
"Parseltongue, another gift from Voldemort," Harry replied darkly. As they walked deeper, the creepy feeling in Harry's gut grew. "What happens if something attacks us?" he asked, turning to the potions master. But Snape was no longer there, well, in human form. The sleek, black panther prowled next to him, senses alert for anything amiss. Strangely, Harry felt a little safer, and discreetly stepped closer to the animal. If he noticed, Snape made no indication as they walked along in silence. Unbidden, that little voice in Harry's head returned.
You know, this would be a perfect time for Death Eaters to ambush you.
Look, if he wanted to turn you over to Voldemort, he would have already.
Unless he was waiting for Dumbledore to leave.
If we don't show up, the Headmaster knows he was the only one with you. He'd know right where to look.
Really? Does the Headmaster know where Voldemort's lair is?
I don't know, but Snape is not going to turn you over to the Dark Lord. As if hearing his argument, the panther placed his head under Harry's hand, giving it a small reassuring nudge. Harry smiled and shook his head clear of any thoughts, instead concentrating on the scenery.
Though still in the forest, Snape transformed back and silently held out his hand. Harry took it, and almost immediately, the scenery shifted from a dark forest to a brightly lit meeting room.
Harry decided Apparating was far better than a portkey as he looked around the room. Remus was already there, as well as old Mrs. Figg and Sirius. Harry looked past them to see Mad-Eye Moody eyeing him warily. Harry's eyes widened.
~His eye!~ Severus nearly jumped at his son's voice in his head, and resisted the urge to turn and berate him.
~What?~
~Mad-Eye Moody! His eye can see through anything!~
~Then don't you think he would have said something by now? He may be an eccentric old fool, but he's not daft. If he does see you, then he's smart enough not to say anything~ Harry seemed to accept this explanation for now, but he kept a close eye on the former DADA professor.
Dumbledore took his place at the head of the table with a figure cloaked in royal blue on his right and Severus on his left. Harry took a seat next to Severus, which forced him across from Sirius. Snape and Black exchanged snarls (Snape's feline, Black's canine), but Harry cleared his throat, and they whipped their heads toward Dumbledore. More arrived shortly, and soon, Fawkes floated in trilling. Harry smiled at the bird, which trilled back at him from his perch on Dumbledore's shoulder.
"Welcome back, everyone. I must say that in these dark times, we will be relying on each other much more. It has come to our attention that Voldemort is planning an attack on Muggle London." Chatter broke out, and Dumbledore quieted them down by clapping. "Please, I must ask that you hear me out. Valiant has already agreed to handle the situation and has organized his best operatives for the job." Dumbledore motioned for the cloaked man to stand, and he did in one graceful motion. Harry realized as he looked at the man that he couldn't make out his face. He didn't have a mask on, nor were the shadows of his hood interfering, he just couldn't see a face. He could see the outline of one, and the outline of the features, but nothing specific, like eye color or complexion.
~What's wrong with his face?~
~That is how they mask their identities. No one knows what they really look like~ Harry's eyes widened and he leaned in, prepared to take in all information possible from this stranger.
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That's really it this time. You people made me miss my cliffie last chapter, but I will have the last laugh! *laughs maniacally, but chokes on sunflower seed* Hey *cough* who put *cough* this in my *cough* coke?