Okay, so I have decided to do some re-writes of all the previous chapters. That's what most of this year has been spent on when I've worked on A Slytherin Tale. I am using one of my closest friends as a beta. AO3 will be where the re-writes will be posted. For this site, I will simply continue to add to this story. Nothing is going up on AO3 until after the betaing for the majority of what I've already written has been completed.

Sorry this story is taking so long to get updated and worked on. I hope you like where its going! Thanks for reading! Thanks for the reviews!


Harry sat, listening to Dumbledore as the older man calmly explained what had happened to him, what had been happening to him since the beginning of the year. His heart was breaking as he listened to the story of how he, he, Harry Potter had poisoned and killed three people, nearly five in Hogsmeade. He listened as they told him about the memories they'd gathered and looked through, found that he'd been the one talking to the rusalka and brewing one of the most complex poisons in the wizarding world.

He could hear Dumbledore explaining that the shadow left from Voldemort's frequent use of his mind had left him paranoid, angry and even hateful. It was such a strange thing to hear, to be both relieved that you hadn't become a monster while being mortified that you'd been used to act like one by one.

"How do I ever…" Harry felt the tears burning in his eyes as he looked up at the only Professor he'd trusted with his life, with his very soul. "How do I fix what I've done."

"It's not your fault, Harry." Albus frowned, sitting on the edge of the bed that Harry was currently laying on. "I know you get tired of hearing that, but it wasn't. You didn't hurt anyone, Tom Riddle hurt them."

"I killed people." He knew he was crying now, could feel the tears on his cheeks and really, he didn't know what else he could do. The guilt was overwhelming, overwhelming like that night Snape had all but accused him of killing Sirius. "Even if it wasn't me, it was still me! I let him in, I let him…What if I had hurt Ron or Ginny or Hermione? What if I had hurt one of my friends?"

Albus closed his eyes and that frightened, Harry. The man he relied upon as a source of strength and encouragement looked tired and lost. Harry was forced to recognize how very old the greatest sorcerer the world had known, really was. For that moment, he looked frail and incapable of taking on the monster that was lurking outside the castle, that was apparently lurking within him.

"There are only two options, Harry," Albus began with a hesitant strain that Harry had never heard before. "and only you can choose which we do."

Harry wiped at his eyes and nodded, wanting to be strong so that Albus didn't have to be. "Tell me what they are. Tell me what I need to do."

"Once more, I can only give you the options. In the end, this decision is entirely up to you," Dumbledore warned. "The first is a spell. A very powerful spell that will sever the link that he uses to connect with you and take over your mind. It's a painful process and there are a great many risks. Loss of memories, emotional apathy, and possibly even damage to your ability to use magic."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened in alarm. "No, absolutely not. Please tell me there's nothing like that with the second choice. Please, Professor Dumbledore, I can't lose my magic."

"Agree, but the second option is by far the more difficult for you. It will test you and your patience. It's something you must commit to and put in your greatest efforts. Anything less and it won't just be you in danger." He really didn't like the way Headmaster Dumbledore was talking. It was making him even more anxious. "Return to your lessons with Snape, allow him to teach you."

Unbridled fury whipped through Harry as he shook his head. "I didn't end the lessons! He did!" He shouted. "He got mad because he kept messing with my head and when I did it back, he ended it all!"

Raising his hand, the headmaster shook his head. "It doesn't matter, Harry. All that matters is that Professor Snape has agreed to resuming your lessons. I'll give you the afternoon to think on it."


Hermione's mouth opened slightly as she stared at Draco. They were sitting beside the still unconscious Emery, as Draco explained what had really happened to her memories the other night. Subconsciously she touched her temple with her right hand as she listened to him explain how it all went down. He looked horrified, and some part of her wanted to calm him down but she was, too…shocked.

"Hermione, please say something." Draco frowned, his miserable eyes searching hers for some kind of reaction.

"I…" She started and then frowned. "Honestly, I don't know what to say, Draco." She admitted before biting at her bottom lip in concentration. "Part of me is hurt and irritated of course, you could have done irreparable damage and you didn't trust that I'd understand. But another part, the more logical, not only admits that I wouldn't have understood, but finds your actions completely justified."

He blinked in surprise and for some reason, that made her smile at him. Okay, so it wasn't some reason, it was a very specific reason that she'd been avoiding these past few weeks. She wondered if he was going to recover from his own shock, but didn't say anything. She felt as thrown and shaken as he clearly did.

"What's happening to all of us?" Hermione whispered softly, more to herself.

"We were somehow dumped into one of my father's nightmares." Draco smirked, but he did look like was recovering from his confession. "Hermione, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about and to be honest it's probably one of the scariest things I've ever said. Normally I don't worry about talking because good or bad, I always know how people will react."

Hermione leaned forward, looking into his eyes as she felt her heart race. Was she dreading what he was about to say or was she eager for it? She needed to sort it out quickly because she just knew he was about to confess a second secret and it would be so very wrong of her not to have a response for him; positive or negative.

"Go on." She encouraged.

"Well, believe it or not I know how you're going to react and I think I'm just as scared of it as…Nevermind." Draco shook his head. "I mean not never mind, but let me just say it. Not like I'm taking it back or anything, I just was gonna go down a different

"For fuck's sake Malfoy, spit it out!" Emery groaned without opening his eyes. "You'd think the man with the silver tongue could confess his undying love with just a bit more grace."

"Emery?" Draco blinked and was immediately at the taller boy's side, taking his hand and holding it tightly. Hermione was a bit surprised, but said nothing as she remained seated.

"Who else?" Emery smirked as his eyes opened very slowly, like it was an effort to do so. He waved Draco closer with his index and middle finger and waited until the blond Slytherin's face was closer to his before speaking again. "You can get back to it, I just figured I'd save you from drowning."

"You know I can hear you, right?" She informed the boy with a roll of her eyes and at once, she was troubled by the guilt she felt. She had wanted to hear what Draco had to say, had even considered acknowledging her reciprocation of those feelings, but seeing and hearing Emery awake she was reminded that she had entertained those same thoughts with him.

"Hate to break it to you, Emery, but you kind of spoiled the mood." Draco rolled his eyes; eyes that Hermione could see filled with guilt and concern.

"You're the idiot who decided to talk to a girl you dig in front of a half dead rival." He grinned and then, as his eyes found hers, he winked.

"I should go. I have a lot of studying to do." Hermione blushed as she walked to the other side of Emery. "Get better, okay?"

"Thanks." He nodded and then immediately looked back to Draco who was obviously torn between wanting to stay with Emery and following her. "Dude, I'm just lying here. Go!"

Finally releasing his hand, Draco nodded and then walked over to her, offering his crook once again. She noted that he didn't bother to look back at Emery, even as she did. It was a good thing he didn't either, because Hermione could see how hurt and miserable he looked, now that he didn't think he was being watched.

They headed into the hall and found themselves facing Severus Snape. She blushed even brighter when his black eyes focused on her hand and its location. She almost pulled it back, but Draco placed his opposite hand on top of hers and smiled at her, before looking boldly at his head of house. She wasn't sure what they silently discussed, but after a moment, Professor Snape inclined his head and then walked into the infirmary.

"What was that about?" She asked.

"Just making it clear that I don't care what he or anyone else thinks." Draco answered confidently. "I know Emery likes you, and I know you like him, too. When the house elf debate happened, watching you two scream and argue with each other was intense and it was obvious that there was a lot of repressed sexual tension."

"How very clinical of you." Hermione teased, but only because she found herself getting all nervous and excited again. She couldn't completely understand why he was bringing Emery up, because based on what she'd just seen and he'd just told her about not caring about other's thoughts, she was sure he was going to say he liked her.

"The point is, I don't care if you want to date Emery Graves, or not. I want a chance with you. I want a chance to see what you and I have." Draco stated. "I want to take you to the Christmas Ball."

"Draco, your house…your parents? You're still in danger." Hermione whispered, but she couldn't deny she was just as curious as he was. What was it that they had? Was it a silly crush? She'd read in many books that girls often found themselves liking boys only because they knew they shouldn't. Luna had a lot to say earlier about Emery's looks and attitude, but the same could be applied to Draco Malfoy. "Besides, you just admitted to ruthlessly obliviating at least an hour of my memories for the sake of a mission that nearly got your friend killed."

Her comment was such a low blow, and she regretted it immediately as she covered her mouth. What was wrong with her? She still hadn't learned not to say things just because they were logical. This wasn't even close to the first time that she'd hurt someone's feeling by analyzing events out loud. She was so sure that he would look as if she'd just kicked him that she was startled to see him smiling a little deviously.

"If you're really worried about that hour, let me give you some better memories to make it up to you." He offered.

"Draco!" She gasped. "You're terrible."

"I know," he smiled back as he caressed the top of her hand. "But, even as foul and loathsome as you think me, I want you to give me a chance. Date Emery at the same time, I don't care, but give me a chance."

"I-I don't want to come between you and Emery," she frowned.

"You won't. He's clearly not that petty and he means too much to me to let him back out of our friendship." Draco insisted. "Say yes, Granger."

"But there's still so much danger! Just because Crabbe and Goyle are suspended doesn't meant that you can just do what you want without…without your house freaking out!"

Some of the excitement and laughter faded from his eyes but he kept his smile as he tried again. "Look, I know there are dangers, but if you are just using them as an excuse to let me down easy, then don't. Just tell me you aren't interested in me. If you really believe that this chemistry between us is nothing, then tell me that." He said softly. "But if you really do like me, or think that you might like me, just say yes, because right now, that's all I care about."

Hermione could barely hear from the pounding in her ears, supplied generously by her racing heart. She grabbed his face quickly and pressed her lips to his, convinced that should it feel wrong, should it feel even the slightest bit slimy, she'd have her answer and so would he, because honestly, she couldn't make the decision with intelligence. She couldn't choose based on logic or analyzation, she just had to feel it.

And feel it she did.

She felt him slip and arm around her waist, while his free hand moved to cup the back of her head. She felt his tongue gently, passionately move against hers the moment she opened her mouth. She felt the warmth and the rising energy between them even as she carefully pulled back, her hands still holding the sides of his face. She felt a growing connection that she wanted to encourage.

"Yes," She nodded.


Severus Snape took one of the empty seats beside Emery. He had spent the day in classes and had patiently done all the tasks he normally did on a school day with the exception of his meals. His meals and any other free time he usually had, was spent in the infirmary. Any moment now he'd be asked to begin teaching Potter things he should have learned last year. Though if he were honest with himself, that wasn't the reason he was here.

He stared at the boy, knew he wasn't sleeping, and took a deep breath. He'd been debating himself all night long. There were too many things he had to figure out and not near enough time to sort them all out.

"Should I make another baseless and inappropriate accusation, Professor?" Emery asked and instead of the sarcasm that so often graced his poor attempts at humor, Snape heard fear.

He frowned and at once realized he was projecting. His walls weren't up and the boy had been picking up on his dread of the future, his anger at the world and its lack of fairness, and his fear that he couldn't deal with this situation at all. Without any context, it would likely seem as if Severus had some kind of terrible news to share.

And didn't he?

"I apologize," He told the boy. "I wasn't thinking about anything you're worried I was thinking about."

"So, my mother?"

"Her location remains a mystery." He assured him.

"Good." Emery smiled before he tilted his head and looked up at him. "So, then what's bothering you? What are you afraid of?"

There was so much he could tell him, but he didn't want to face any of it right now. After all, he still didn't know what to say. Lie or tell the truth. Either would endanger Emery and Harry. Either would require at least one performance and he didn't know which unstable teenager he trusted more. And what circle of Hell had he fallen in where he had to question whether or not Harry was a more trustworthy choice?

"Not very much." He finally answered.

"That's why I'm asking." Emery countered. "It must be bad to have scared you, so I want to know what it is."

"Tell me what you remember." Snape asked, purposely avoiding the question.

Emery didn't bother to hide his irritation as he rolled his eyes and Snape nearly cringed at the all too familiar reaction. While he had managed to hide his own reactions over time, he knew for a fact that the eyeroll had been his most used facial expression anytime he was around people who irked him.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Emery asked cautiously, some of the sarcasm dying.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't." He returned.

"Okay fine," Snape was a little surprised to see those eyes narrow on him as if he'd done some great evil to him. Then again, Theodore had practically cried anytime he spent more than two minutes in Emery's vicinity for the past twenty fours. Perhaps he'd gleaned some information off him. "I have flashes here and there of Hermione trying to seduce me, which I'm assuming was a siren. A rusalka to be specific.

"Then there's falling through the ice and nearly drowning and freezing to death all at the same time, followed immediately by a complete lack of control." His eyes narrowed further, his upper lip curling into a snarl as he faced Snape. "Someone not only flooded me with nothing but hatred and fury, but they used my vulnerability to slip past all my defenses and then they controlled me."

The boy spoke the last bit of his sentence quietly but with no less intensity. Severus couldn't help but blink in surprise. He couldn't have…He couldn't have possibly. To do what the boy was implying? Only one spell could do it and that spell wasn't a spell at all. It was a curse. An unforgiveable one at that.

"Why'd you do it?" Emery asked, "Just tell me why and I'll never speak of it again. Just please tell me why you did it."

"Mr. Graves,"

"Really?" Emery frowned the anger morphing to something much closer to pain. "My name is Emery. Stop calling me Mr. I'm not even seventeen yet, ok? Just stop." He brought his hands up and gripped the sides of his head by the roots of his hair before he took another breath and focused his eyes back on him. "Don't lie to me, don't jerk me around, because I am not stupid.

"I have gone over it again and again in my head. I couldn't have done what I did without a lot of help and the emotional override wasn't enough. I literally had no way of stopping what I was doing because you were the one in control. I could feel it, I recognized your anger and hate right away and the moment it was over…"

Severus closed his eyes instinctively against the boy's words. He couldn't face them or the implications. This had been a worse subject than discussing what was worrying him so much. He could hear Emery go silent and was aware that the boy had begun to watch him, likely waiting for him to say something to acknowledge him.

"Why'd you do it?" Emery tried again.

"Why do you think I did it?" He snapped as he finally opened his eyes and looked at Emery.

"Honestly? Because of…Him." The boy shivered and once again, Snape was frowning. He hadn't expected that.

"I need to know why you did it so that I know if I can trust you." Emery informed him. "If you did it for, if it's because I'm his…" Again he stalled, and Severus could see the horror in his face at such a possibility. "Either way, there are only two good reasons for you to have done it. The first to save my life because you're not a terrible person. The second to save my life on his behalf because you are a terrible person."

"After revealing your fears you've already decided what you think of my motivations regardless of what I say now." Snape reasoned and found himself a little disappointed that Emery hadn't waited for a reasonable explanation. Then again, were he in the younger man's shoes, he wouldn't have either.

"I guess I have." Emery mumbled as he lay back against his pillow, looking defeated and lost.

"Emery,"

"Do you think Hermione is too smart for me?" He asked suddenly.

"What?"

"I had a dream where you told me she was too smart for me." He shrugged. "Do you think she's too smart for Draco?"

"I thought you didn't want to be jerked around." Severus asked as he folded his arms. He despised talking to teenagers.

"It doesn't matter…"

Snape snorted as he crossed his legs and narrowed his disappointed, black eyes on his son. "First you tell me you're no coward, then you insist you aren't stupid and you follow it up with the request that I just be honest with you," Severus watched him squirm a bit and that made him feel decidedly better because he was in fact, a terrible person. "yet when you have the opportunity to get those answers, you tuck tail and run, while shutting down your mind to any plausible theories that you know exist and then proceed to navigate the conversation away from where it started."

"I'm not a coward!" Emery snapped as he sat up. "but you tell me one person who'd be proud to be that thing's son!"

"What makes you so certain that you are?" Severus asked.

"Because I heard him in my head!" He nearly shouted. "He called me Son, both on the back of my picture and then in my head just as he left!" Two tears fell from the boy's brown eye and Severus didn't know if his recoiling was from disgust or discomfort. "I can't be his son! I can't believe my mother would ever," and again the boy began to cry.

"Emery Graves you desist this blubbering at once!" Severus snapped as he stood from his seat. "You are a Slytherin and nearly an adult. This is unbecoming. It's weak and pathetic and I will not tolerate it.

"That man is not your father, he just thinks he is. He sees only what he wants to see, much like the addle-brained youth of this school! He wants it to be so, Emery, because that's just the sort of man he is. He sees things that are shiny or powerful and he takes them for his own. He stakes his claim and dares anyone around him to stop him.

"Other than parceltongue, there is nothing that you both share." Snape insisted. "Your ability comes from your mother's side, something you've been stressing to us since you were bit by Hagrid's infernal amphisbaena.

"Even if he were your father, what would it matter? Would it make you like him? Would it make you a monster? Would it mean you had to swear your loyalty to him?"

"No!" Emery shook his head, his tears streaked face angered all over again. "Never!"

"Then let it go. Who your father is shouldn't matter. He wasn't there to mold you; therefore, he has no effect or say in who you are, whoever he is. You are nearly a man; his influence should mean nothing at this stage in your life." He insisted.

"But it means David was right about my mother." Emery frowned.

"How so?"

"If Volde-" Snape stopped him by raising his hand and shaking his head. The boy seemed to understand after a moment and tried again. "If he thinks I'm his, then it's because he remembers being with my mother. I didn't even think he could you know…be attracted to someone. He's such a blatant narcissist and he seems incapable of empathizing enough with anyone to fake human interaction."

"That's what he is now." Severus frowned. "It's not what he was like the first time. When he started to rise during your mother's time, he was a lot like…" He paused and frowned, because he realized that Emery had no clue what James Potter or Sirius Black were like. He didn't know the Lucius Malfoy of old nor did he know the significance of any European witch or wizard that he wasn't currently attending school with. "It doesn't matter, the point is that he was very likable and very convincing. Especially if he had a chance to talk to you alone."

He could see the suspicion return to those blue and brown eyes at his words. The boy wasn't stupid, which meant he fully understood the implication of Snape's words. He was relieved to know that he wasn't lost, but he was also aware of how dangerous a tight rope he'd soon be walking if the conversation continued in this manner.

"It's not a difficult leap to make, you know." Emery sighed. "You know all the Death Eater's children. They all look to you for protection when they fuck up or need help. They don't go to anyone but you!"

"Go on," Snape encouraged, curious to see how close to the nail head, he'd hit.

"You talk like you know him personally, which means you do. You don't seem the type to fool yourself into believing you are close to someone if you aren't." The boy began. "But before you knew what I could do, you mentally cringed at the sounds of a specific word that gets thrown about Slytherin like it's candy.

"You have the trust of Albus Dumbledore, a wizard who doesn't seem likely to put up with his bullshit. He doesn't just trust you either, he relies on you. You can see it. If McGonagall is his right hand and school enforcer of rules and nurturer, then you are his left hand. The one who does his dirty work, the one who he expects to pick up the slack where 'good' teachers can't."

"What's your point?"

"You're a double agent." Emery shrugged with a casual quality that irked him all over again. To say it so simply, as if it were so damned obvious. "He doesn't wall himself off like you do, and neither do the other teachers. You didn't tell anyone, and Dumbledore doesn't seem to give a rat's ass if I'm siphoning off him like some fucking psychic vampire!"

He meant for the snort to sound irritated, but it came off far too amused for Snape's liking. It wouldn't do for him to think he was funny. When teenage boys believed that adults thought them funny, they became cocky and reckless. It was what pushed Black and Potter to further heights of cruelty and absurdity.

"Sorry, Professor." Severus raised a brow at his apology. "I got a little too familiar and then you shut down, I could see it in your face. You went from something like, 'heh, little shit' to really cold and angry."

"Sometimes you remind me of people I'd rather not remember," He admitted but quickly changed the subject. He refused to discuss a couple of dead fools. "As to your assumption, what if you were wrong? Or rather, what if I am, but you have the alliance wrong?"

"I don't recall specifying a true allegiance. Figuring out who you're the double agent for is the dangerous part, which is why I needed to know why you did what you did with the siren."

"And here we are, you've come around full circle." Severus stated. "Perhaps there's a bit of Slytherin in you after all."

"You guys put way too much emphasis on this school's housing system." Emery glared.

"Yes, I think we do." He agreed, because he did. People liked to believe that belonging to one house or another meant that you didn't have the qualities it would take to be a part of other houses. They liked to believe that their entire personalities were based off the desired traits of long since dead wizards and witches.

In the world outside of the school, house association still reigned supreme. People were discriminated based on their houses for jobs, for roles in one another's lives. It affected jobs outside of Europe as well. Even if the employer was schooled at SHAWW or Beauxbatons, they would hear of a house they didn't particularly like and they'd make assumptions.

Worse, children were indoctrinated into the belief that they were shy but loyal if they were a Hufflepuff, even if that wasn't the case. Ravenclaws had to be extremely clever and if they weren't they were ostracized and shunned. A Gryffindor like Neville grew up believing he'd been wrongly placed because he wasn't at all like the loud and brash Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. And Harry Potter, who should have been a Slytherin, was so afraid that dark wizards and witches only came from Slytherin that he begged the hat to place him anywhere, but.

"Perhaps the debate teams should argue whether the negatives of our housing system outweigh the positives." Snape added with the beginnings of a smile forming on his face.

Emery nodded but he was still eyeing him warily, reminding Snape of what they'd been discussing in the first place. He still hadn't answered the boy and he knew he had to. No matter whether he told Emery the truth of his parentage or not, he would require the boy's trust moving forward.

"I am a double agent, but my allegiance is to Dumbledore and his order." He whispered softly. "If you require proof,"

"No, I trust you." Emery admitted. "Dumbledore isn't an easy man to fool, so if he trusts you, I trust you when you say you're his man."

"Then why don't you trust me when I tell you that you aren't," Snape frowned, he really couldn't say his name right now. Not with the blasted mark there to tattle on him.

"Because I can't believe that David and Cassandra would hate me so much if it were just some lackey. They don't think I'm just some nameless criminal's son. They believe I'm his son and they're probably right." Emery frowned and Snape saw his desperation to believe it was true, even after his earlier scene and fear of what that could mean. "They might be awful grandparents, but they love their daughter. They're just afraid of me. I'm weird and I did practice dark magic. I even created my own hexes and curses when I was in school."

"Emery," Snape began, but again the boy interrupted.

"Professor, really, it's ok. I can handle it now. I'm calm and I'm not gonna cry about it ever again." He said firmly. "I'm sorry I disappointed you when I did."

"Emery's he's not you father."

"Oh yeah?" The boy had the nerve to smile at him as if he were a fool. "Then who is?" Severus found himself again unwilling to answer and so Emery continued. "According to Draco, Regulus black was a homosexual and had never been with a woman before he died. Sirius Black didn't have the dark mark, which rules him out as my mother swore the man she slept with had it. It's not Avery Nott because Nott despises Hufflepuffs and Americans. It's not Lucius Malfoy because my mother sort of liked Narcissa and never would have gone around her back, not to mention I don't look anything like Malfoy.

"Crabbe and Goyle seniors are unlikely because they wouldn't have been interested in her and again, there's just no resemblance. The others were either too young or too old. Oh, and I'm not a werewolf, vampire or half-breed of any kind.

"You saying he's not my dad just isn't enough. Not after he told me otherwise. I see what you're saying about him staking claims to things that aren't his, but unless you can tell me who my father is, I have to face this."

Severus frowned, but didn't argue further. Until he knew what he could or would say, until he'd had a moment with Harry and determined the best course of action, he'd have to let this stand. It was safest for Emery at this point anyhow. It was safest for them all. Clearly his mother had felt anonymity was the correct course of action. Who was he to disagree?

"I suppose only time will tell." Severus frowned.