Part Twenty Nine
A Series of Talks
Harry walked out of his Transfiguration class beside Draco and began making his way toward the library where he and his friends had agreed to meet to continue research on the Philosopher's Stone and come up with possible people who would seek to use it to create the Elixir of Life, other than Voldemort who may or may not still be alive. Draco was silent as the two of them continued making their way down the corridors of the school toward the library.
"Do you really think someone will go after the stone?" asked Draco glancing at Harry.
"I don't know." Harry was silent for a long moment thinking hard about Draco's question. "We're only speculating at the moment but so far if someone does go after the stone then it's likely to be Pettigrew."
"That does seem likely." The blonde boy was silent for a long moment as they entered the corridor leading toward the library. "But I'm sure the headmaster and the other professors are keeping an eye out for Pettigrew. Not to mention, I think your godfather wants to rip Pettigrew into tiny pieces." He, like everyone else in the Wizarding World, had heard about the trial and about Pettigrew's framing of Sirius Black that got him sent to Azkaban.
"Probably," said Harry knowing it was more likely to happen than not.
The two of them walked side by side for several more minutes in absolute silence as they entered the library and made their way to one of the tables that lay down one the aisles in the library. Hermione and Ron were already there and, naturally, Hermione was already browsing through a book. Harry sat down across from her while Draco took a seat in front of Ron.
"Discover anything else yet?" Harry asked.
"Not much," Hermione said glancing up. "There isn't much information on the stone or on the elixir that it creates although I did do some researching on Cerberuses."
"Anything?"
"Not much. I did speak with Hagrid for a bit and he let slip that Fluffy can be calmed down when music is played," Hermione said.
Harry was silent for a long moment. "Hagrid gave me a flute for Christmas," he said thinking back to the many presents he had received on Christmas. "If I had the flute with me then I doubt we'd have gotten attacked by Fluffy."
"Yeah but we didn't know that until now," Ron said.
"True. I've also been thinking about some people who might want to get the stone," Harry said quietly. "And so far I think the only likely person is Pettigrew. I mean, he did betray my parents to Voldy."
"So you think he's serves You-Know-Who, mate?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded before he frowned. "Why don't you call him by his name?" he asked curiously.
For a long moment, Ron was silent and then he shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted. "I guess I grew up believing that if I ever called You-Know-Who by name then he'll come."
"I never knew that." Harry fell silent. "But if it is Pettigrew then we're going to have to keep an eye out for a rat missing a toe should Pettigrew attempt to sneak into the school again."
"Why don't we just tell a professor that the stone is in danger?"
"Because we don't have any proof yet and we've only been speculating, like 'Mione said, about everything."
"Harry has a point," Draco admitted.
"Why don't we get working on our Charms assignment?" Hermione suggested. "Since we have nothing really to talk about concerning the stone or who may or may not go after it."
"I left my Charms textbook in the Slytherin common room," said Harry getting to his feet. "I'll just run over there and grab it."
"I'll come with you. I left my textbook in there as well," Draco said also getting to his feet and the two Slytherins quickly left the library.
They made their way swiftly to the Slytherin common room, grabbed their Charms textbook and began walking back toward the library. As they walked, Harry was suddenly aware of a strange prickling pain from his scar as they walked through the shadowed corridors of Hogwarts.
He rubbed his scar and Draco glanced at him. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think, my scar's just hurting a little bit," Harry said.
"Like it was when Quirrell looked at you?"
"A little bit like that." Harry frowned when he spotted a rat scurrying alongside the wall of the dungeons and his scar started to tingle again. "That's weird."
"What's weird?"
"I just looked at that rat and then my scar stared to tingle."
Draco frowned before glancing at the rat and pulling out his wand. "Lumos," he murmured and his wand lit up. Draco angled the wand toward the rat who had suddenly come to a stop at the sudden light and Harry gasped when he noticed something unusual about the rat.
"Is it just me or is that rat missing a toe?" Harry said narrowing his eyes as the rat scurried away but not before Harry noticed that the rat was missing a toe.
"I saw that too."
The rat scurried away and Harry frowned when he noticed it was heading away from the dungeons and deeper into the school. "Where is it going?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"Come on. I'm pretty sure that's Pettigrew. We should probably make sure he isn't heading toward the third floor corridor. If we try to find a professor then we'll just lose him."
"I'll go tell Professor Snape at the very least, Harry," Draco said.
Harry nodded before he jogged after the rat as it scurried away. For being rather chubby, the rat Animagus sure was fast and Harry had a hard time keeping the rat in sight. He dashed past the library just as Hermione and Ron left and the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had to step back to keep from getting knocked down.
"Harry, there you are. We were wondering what was taking you so long," Ron said.
"No time for that, Ron," Harry said. "I think Pettigrew is within Hogwarts again. I just saw a rat missing a toe run past here."
"Where did it go?" Hermione asked.
Harry glanced down the corridor before frowning. "I think he managed to get away when I…"
"No, I see him," Ron said suddenly pointing nearby. "I'd recognize him anywhere as he used to be mine."
"We need to find it. He may be after the stone," said Harry and he, Ron and Hermione immediately jogged after the rat who took one look at the three advancing wizards and took off in the opposite direction.
Remus floo traveled over to 12 Grimmauld's Place before watching his friend as Sirius stood up to greet him. "Hello Remus, what are you doing here?" he asked as he greeted him.
Remus smiled faintly. "I finished grading and I had nothing to do so I decided to see how you are."
"I'm bored out of my mind," Sirius complained. "I would like to go back to my duties as an Auror but the department still insists that I stay on medical leave until a healer says I'm fully recovered from spending ten years in Azkaban. It's bloody boring doing nothing here."
Remus was silent for a long moment. "You were once an auror," he said, "perhaps I can speak with the headmaster and allow you to come to Hogwarts. You can be my assistant and you can always take over as the substitute teacher once a month. Besides, I'm going to need a sub soon; the full moon is later on this week."
"Anything is better than this boredom," Sirius grumbled. "Let me just speak with St. Mungos and see if I can and then I'll let Tonks know too."
"Very well, I'll go speak with the headmaster." Remus said his goodbyes to Sirius before he turned around and floo traveled back to his office at Hogwarts. Once he was there, Remus placed a floo call to the headmaster and, once he was sure Albus wasn't busy, he stepped over.
"What brings you here, Remus?" Albus asked from where he was sitting behind his desk, his twinkling blue eyes focused on the werewolf DADA professor.
"I was wondering if I could suggest a substitute for later on this week," Remus said. "It is the full moon and I don't want my classes to get behind."
"Oh? Who?"
"I was wondering if Sirius could take my classes. He is still an auror even if he hasn't gone back to the department yet."
Albus pursed his lips together in thought. "Let me think about it and I'll let you know. Have you decided where you will be staying during that…time?"
"The Shrieking Shack might be the only place I can go," Remus replied.
"Perhaps. Have you spoken to Severus about the Wolfsbane potion yet?"
"I will speak to him about it as soon as I can." Remus then floo traveled back to his office and turned around to place a floo call to Severus.
Severus glanced at him. "Lupin, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Albus asked me to speak to you about the potion as the full moon is coming up soon," Remus replied. "May I step through?"
Severus nodded curtly and Remus pulled his head back before stepping into the fireplace. "Professor Snape's office," he said before tossing the floo powder down and disappearing and reappearing in Severus's office.
"I have already started it, Lupin," Severus stated without preamble. "But it will take time to finish. It will be done by the time the full moon has come around though. Is Albus going to take over your classes during that time?"
"Ah…no."
Severus raised his eyebrows.
Lupin stayed close to the fireplace as he said, "I've actually requested that Sirius be allowed to be my substitute during that time."
Severus's eyes flashed. "He may be my son's godfather but I have no desire to be colleagues with that mangy mutt," he growled.
"I know, Severus, but Albus is a busy man and it'll only be for a couple of days," replied Lupin. "Well, that is, if Albus and Sirius don't take me up on my offer."
"What offer?"
"That Sirius becomes my assistant for the rest of the school year."
Severus scowled. "It's up to the headmaster," he said flatly. "And so if he agrees then I'll have to adhere to his decision. I do not like it however."
"I'm sure you two will refrain from hexing each other because of Harry, Severus."
"Perhaps."
"Professor Snape!" Severus glanced toward the door to his office before he waved his wand and the door opened to reveal Draco.
"What brings you here, Draco? I thought you and Harry were at the library," Severus said.
"We were but we forgot our Charms textbook and when we were heading back to the library, Harry spotted a rat that fit the description of Ron's former familiar, whom we know is Pettigrew."
"And he followed him?" Severus echoed.
"I think he might have met up with Hermione and Ron on the way but yes Professor," Draco replied.
"Bloody boy," Severus growled. "Doesn't he know that Pettigrew isn't someone to mess with even if he is a yellow bellied coward?"
"Why don't I find them for you, Severus?" Remus suggested remembering that Sirius had left him the Marauders' Map just in case he needed it. Besides, Sirius admitted he couldn't use it until he got his new wand and he hasn't had a chance to go to Olivander's to get a new one, which was another reason why he couldn't go back to his duties with the auror department.
Severus hesitated for a moment before nodding in reply. "I'll let the headmaster know that Pettigrew is, once again, in the school," he said. Remus nodded before turning around and floo traveling back to his office. He then walked to his desk and pulled out the map before taping his wand against it and murmuring the command phrase to open it. Once he determined where Harry was, on the fourth floor, Remus also looked for Pettigrew and discovered that the rat was also on the fourth floor and was heading toward the third floor.
He just does not know when to give up, Remus thought as he murmured the command phrase to close the map and slipped the map back into his desk. He then left his office and made his way toward the fourth floor.
Severus finished speaking with Albus about Pettigrew being within the school, yet again, and was scowling angrily when the headmaster still insisted that the Philosopher's Stone was to stay there. That old coot is going senile, Severus thought angrily as he walked back to his desk and sat down.
He was sure that Lupin would find his son and the others but he wondered if Pettigrew would really attempt to take the stone. Albus assured him that the wards around the stone had as of yet to be breached and so Severus could only hope that Lupin would be able to chase the rat away from the third floor. Although he did fear that Pettigrew would be able to get past the defenses and Lupin would be unable to find the rat and Harry before Pettigrew got the stone.
It wasn't until twenty minutes later that Severus learned that his fears were irrational for Lupin walked into the office with Harry just behind him looking a bit sheepish. Lupin glanced at the boy. "I'll let your father deal with you, Harry," he said gently.
"Great," Harry murmured almost too quietly for Severus to hear.
Lupin ignored that as he looked at Severus. "It would appear that Pettigrew managed to escape yet again and I have a feeling it was the same way he escaped from Hogwarts when Sirius was on his tail during his last attempt," he said.
"Is he out of the school?" Severus asked.
"I'll have to check the map but I am pretty sure that he's gone, yes."
Severus nodded before he turned in his seat to gaze at his son who was sitting in front and to the right of the desk. "Harry, what were you thinking going after Pettigrew like that?" he demanded.
"I…was just wondering why he was in the school and how he got in," Harry said a bit too quickly and Severus wasn't a spy for nothing, he could easily tell that his son was lying.
And he did not like it one bit.
"Don't lie to me, Harry," he growled angrily.
"I…"
"And don't even think about telling me you aren't. I know a liar when I see one. Now then, tell me the truth. Why did you go after Pettigrew?"
Harry stayed silent and Severus was finding it hard to stop himself from grabbing the boy and shaking him until the truth came out. It was obvious that Harry had followed Pettigrew for some reason, and Severus hoped that it wasn't the reason he was thinking of, and that placed him in danger. As Severus had told Lupin before, Pettigrew may be a yellow bellied coward but if he is under orders from Voldemort then he will do what he must to fulfill those orders.
"Harry," Lupin said gently while Severus pinched the bridge of his nose to calm himself down. "You know that you can tell us anything and your father is only concerned."
Harry was silent for a long moment. "I wanted to see if he was going after the stone," he said finally.
Severus's eyes hardened. "Stone?" he echoed impassiveness in his voice while at the same time he was wondering how the bloody hell did Harry learn about the Philosopher's Stone.
"Yeah, the Philosopher's Stone," Harry said softly. "Hermione, Ron, Draco and I think it's in danger and, well, I thought Pettigrew might be after it."
It was plainly obvious that Harry was keeping something from them but Severus, in spite of all his years as a spy, couldn't figure out what it was. Lupin didn't seem to be having any luck in that particular area either.
"So you thought you could handle it yourself?"
"No, well, I just wanted to see where he was going," Harry said. "It wasn't like I was going to try to stop him."
"At least there is some common sense in that brain of yours."
"Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley know about the stone too?" Lupin asked golden eyes narrowing.
Harry nodded slowly. "The four of us found out about it together," he said but he didn't elaborate and Severus knew for a fact that his son was keeping something from him, something big, something that would likely get him grounded for life if Severus learned about it. That much Severus could tell just by his son's guilty posture and the way he avoided Severus's gaze whenever he spoke to him.
"How did you find out about it?" Severus asked finally.
This time, Harry refused to answer.
"Harry…" Severus said warningly. "I asked you a question. How did you find out about the stone?"
Harry's posture still resembled the guilt that he was obviously feeling and he stayed silent. "If I told you then you would be furious with me," he said finally.
Severus's obsidian eyes narrowed while Lupin sat down in the second seat in front of Severus's desk. "And why would you say that?" he asked.
"You would, dad, I know you would."
"Son, that is for me to decide. If anything will make me furious, it would be you lying to me."
"I…" Harry was gazing at his shoes as he fell silent again clearly unable to talk.
Severus sighed. "Son, look at me," he said in as gentle a tone of voice as possible. "Just tell me the truth."
Harry was silent for a long moment although he did lift his head to gaze at Severus straight in the eye. He seemed to be gathering the courage that Severus was sure he inherited from his mother as he formulated the words for his story. "Well…it was really Goyle's fault," Harry said softly before he went on to explain how Goyle had insulted Lily and Severus, going as far as to call Severus a coward and Lily a mudblood whore. That caused a spark of anger to form within Severus at the insult to the only woman he ever loved. When Harry went on to describe Goyle's challenge and him deciding to take Goyle up on the challenge, Severus did his best to keep from scolding his son…or throttling him for breaking the rules as if they were nothing more than thin pieces of glass. Harry then went on to add that Draco would not let him go by himself, how they meet up with Hermione who insisted that if she spotted a teacher then she would tell them and was hoping that would happen before curfew and how they meet up with Ron who seemed to have guessed what Harry was going to do since he had been present when Goyle issued the challenge.
Harry swallowed before going on. "But Goyle never showed up and I think he did that on purpose," he said softly. "So we decided that we'd head back to our common rooms when Filch and Miss. Norris started figuring out something was going on so we ran. We didn't remember which way we had come so we just ran up a random staircase, which took us to the third floor. There, we wanted to get away from Filch so we hurried through one of the doors, which was the one where Fluffy was located." Harry smiled faintly before adding, "That's when we all agreed that we'd rather deal with Filch than with Fluffy so we ran again. We managed to make it back into our common rooms before anyone noticed we were gone though."
Harry's smile faded when Severus tossed his son a piercing glare that would have caused rock to melt. "This was on the day that the headmaster sent me on that brief errand, wasn't it?" he said flatly barely able to control his anger at his son disregard of the rules and recklessly endangering his life.
Damn Gryffindor traits. Those must have either developed by themselves within Harry or they came from an ancestor, Severus thought with a scowl as he glowered at Harry who nodded once in reply looking sullen.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Severus demanded finally when he was sure he wasn't going to throttle his son for his disregard of the rules and the reckless endangerment of his life.
"I…I was afraid that you'd be angry and disappointed," Harry said softly looking down again. "I mean, I messed up big time and I thought that perhaps you wouldn't want me as your son anymore."
"Where did that come from?" Lupin asked while Severus was stunned speechless.
"I just…thought you might want me to be perfect and I…and I royally screwed that up."
Severus finally managed to find his tongue to speak. "I do not expect you to be perfect, son," he said. "You are my son and I am as far from perfect as physically possible. While you did recklessly endanger your life and seem to have no regard for the rules, I would not disown you for that or for any reason whatsoever."
Harry glanced up. "Really?" he asked.
"Of course, son. I do not speak just to hear my own voice like your mangy mutt of a godfather."
Lupin chuckled faintly at that.
"You will still be punished, Harry," Severus went on ignoring the chuckle from the werewolf, "for disregarding the rules, endangering your life and then not telling me about it."
"What about Hermione? And Ron and Draco?"
"I will write to Draco's parents to let them know of what happened, Harry. You four could have gotten yourselves killed," Severus said firmly.
"It wasn't their fault," Harry protested. "It was mine. I wanted to go alone but they wouldn't let me. They can't get into trouble for my mistake."
"Your loyalty to your friend astounds me, Harry. You should have been a Hufflepuff," Severus said flatly with a slight sardonic tone in his voice.
"Actually, the sorting hat thought I'd fit in with any on of the houses."
Severus blinked but decided not to comment on that.
"Please don't get them into trouble. It was all my fault."
Severus narrowed his eyes at his son who was attempting to con Severus into not dishing out a punishment to the other three members of the quartet of friends. And all he was doing to achieve that goal was taking the blame for the entire incident.
"Besides," Harry added almost as an afterthought. "They were just going to make sure I was okay and they were already out past curfew so it wasn't like they would get into more trouble than they would already get in if they were found out. And Goyle never showed up so we weren't breaking that particular rule."
Severus had to admit that his son was correct and the truthfulness in his son's statement was a very…cunning way to convince Severus that Harry was fully at fault. Naturally, it astounded Severus that his son was exhibiting so many traits of all four houses at Hogwarts; he was cunning, he was intelligent, he was recklessly brave, he was loyal. No wonder his sorting took a long time, Severus thought.
"Very well," he said finally. "I will not inform Professor Flitwick or Professor McGonagall of what happened but I will be telling Draco's father."
"But…?"
"Draco went along with you willing on this, Harry," Severus reminded his son. "Now go get Draco for me. I wish to speak to him and hear his side of your story."
Harry nodded slowly before getting to his feet and walking away to disappear into the common room. Lupin glanced at him. "You do realize that Harry used the Slytherin traits he inherited from you against you, don't you?" he asked.
Severus smirked. "He truly is my son," he replied before he frowned when he realized the werewolf had been in his office for far longer than he had anticipated. "Now then, would you be so kind as to get out of my office?" It was worded as a simple request; the tone behind it suggested it was more of a 'get out before I kick you out' demand.
Lupin understood immediately. "I'll go check to see if Pettigrew is still in Hogwarts," he said before he floo traveled back to his office. Severus knew that Lupin understood why Severus disliked him; the sixth year incident where Lupin nearly killed Severus had James not saved his life was the main reason. Severus rubbed his head. Now that Pettigrew was once again out of the castle, hopefully, he could focus his thoughts on his son and godson.
But what punishment shall I give to Harry this time? He wondered silently as he waited for his godson to join him.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: and that was part twenty nine
Darth: that's cool so what's going to happen in the next chapter?
Severus: (lounging on couch in his closet-lab-apartment) Lucius?
Lucius: (lounging on recliner in his portion of the closet-lab-apartment) Draco and Harry's punishments will be delivered, an attack will occur concerning the same rat that keeps escaping everyone, Sirius will finally get his chance at revenge, Albus will finally see that keeping the stone within the school is too dangerous and more
Severus: next chapter will be from Draco's, Harry's and Severus's POV
Voldy: Severus! Lucius! Nagini! Bellatrix! Where are you?
Bellatrix: right here my darling baby
Severus, Lucius, Darth and Blaze: (rush away to be sick)
Nagini: (slithers into room) can I hide in here?
Blaze: YOU KILLED SEVERUS SO NO! (Brings out chainsaw dipped in basilisk venom)
Nagini: (quickly slithers away)
Blaze: (puts away basilisk venom dipped chainsaw) sorry about the long author's note. Please review and I will post part thirty as soon as I possibly can although I doubt it'll be anytime soon.
