Disclaimer: Um...Nope. Not really. No.

Authors Notes: Thanks so much for all your reviews. I'm glad I was able to get this to you folks a little faster this time. Severus' cane being carved from the Whomping Willow was stolen from An Obedient House by Rebecca Webb. You're gonna have to Google it. Ffdotnet is being cranky.

excessivelyperky is the best. Sing it with me now… is the best…is the best. excessivelyperky is the best, in the fanfic world! Many thanks for all your help. Did I mention you're the best?

And thanks a bunch to Bigstew! I really appreciate the help. You rock!

Enjoy

Chapter 29

The Story of William

Severus Snape felt a pang of regret as he settled himself onto the couch in the sitting room of his quarters, and thought about the encounter he'd just had with Draco and Potter in the dormitory. On the long list of Severus' bad habits was a tendency to take his frustrations out on his Slytherins when feeling particularly put upon by Minerva or Albus. This morning he'd had a dose of both of them. He'd actually had a double dose of Minerva when Albus had insisted he contact her via the floo and make her aware of the latest chapter of his prophecy. Severus of course hadn't explained the entire chapter, only the parts that pertained to Potter. She had been displeased, unconvinced, and had given him an earful. And as was his pattern, Severus went in search of some unlucky little snake to vent his frustration upon. Little snakes, Severus thought with a bit of a start, how in Merlin's realm did Potter wind up in that category?

Perhaps his shift in attitude toward Potter, more than Snape's sharp rebuke, explained the look of hurt betrayal that crossed Draco's face as Snape left the boy's dorm room. Although, if he wanted to get technical about it, Potter was a Slytherin, or he would have been one if the presumptuous little smart arse had let the Sorting Hat do its damn job. Severus had been furious when Albus had first told him, after the Welcome Feast the night the boy had arrived, that he had talked the hat out of putting him in Slytherin. If the boy had been sorted outright into Gryffindor, it would have been have been fine, but to find that the boy had lobbied against his house with such scant knowledge irked the man. Severus thought that perhaps the child knew more about the Wizarding World than Albus initially let on. He determined more strongly than ever to fulfill the second chapter of his prophecy, to teach the child to loathe the Darkness, by making the biased little brat's life miserable. However, the harder he was on the boy, the more Albus coddled him. The older wizard insisted rather than truly following his prophecy, Severus was settling old grudges, and then when Albus indulged the boy, petty jealousy. Severus had to admit, there was certainly some truth to that. When Albus took away the house cup at the end of Potter's first year, it was as much to punish his behavior as to reward the boy. Albus informed the Potions Master of his decision the morning of the feast. No amount of arguing that his attitude towards the boy strengthened his cover as a spy would dissuade the old man from his decision.

"I want you to give some serious thought as to how you are going about this," Albus had admonished as he dismissed the younger wizard from his office.

Severus felt a bit like he had when he was still in school and lost points for his house. The feeling was cemented by Albus' threat that Slytherin would never see another cup until he decided to take his responsibilities more seriously. The threat not withstanding, he refused to change his methods, and things grew steadily worse between he and Potter. The night they brewed the Nochebuena potion after their joint nightmare, Potter asked Snape if he would have liked him more if he had been more prepared that first class when the Potions Master had taken the boy to task for his very existence. Severus answered honestly that he would probably have loathed him more. But if Potter had been in his house, he would have found a way to do things differently. And if Potter had been sorted into Slytherin, it would also solve the current issue of Severus having embarrassed Draco by giving him a good telling off in front of the boy.

Draco was no doubt well used to Snape's scolding after six years in Slytherin. Severus had actually laid into him for his slovenliness when last they met when he had come to fetch Dobby. That had been Minerva's fault too, Snape thought grumpily. But being used to the standard Snape tongue lashing was a far cry from Draco being complacent about such being witnessed by Potter. Snape had attempted to even the score by finding something to get after Potter about as well. He had not initially intended to make the boy rewrite the essay. In fact he had been a bit impressed that he had completed the assignment in the first place, given the amount of stress he must have been under when he first learned of the prison break.

But Severus scolding Potter in front of Draco was not the same as Draco receiving a dressing down in front of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Severus decided he'd best go back and speak to his godson rather than let the wound fester. Draco and Potter would need to work well together and he didn't want any ill temper from him to interfere with that. Not to mention that he had distracted himself from his intention to talk to the boys about what they had learned thus far from Dobby. He wanted see if they had mastered anything that would help as they worked out the finer details of their mock capture, which had suddenly become more complex now that Albus had revealed the third chapter of the prophecy.

When thinking back on the morning's exchange with the boys, Snape got the impression that Potter, for his part, had been deliberately trying to ease the situation with his cheeky rejoinders. And loath though Severus was to admit it, the boy had managed to make him feel slightly less cross. Draco had clearly been intent on demonstrating how much more intelligent he was than Potter. Perhaps he thought it a good way to keep Snape's bad humor focused away from him. Snape had no doubt hurt the young Slytherin's pride by leveling such a crass and harsh rebuke in Potter's presence, even if the blond boy was used to such.

Severus had made it clear when Draco first came to Hogwarts how little patience he had for him behaving, like a spoiled, pompous little prince. This behavior included, but was by no means limited to his penchant for dropping his things wherever he stood as though the world were there to serve him, and behaving in a condescending and discourteous manner to his house mates.

Severus recalled one night early in Draco's first year. The Potion's Master had entered an extremely untidy first year dorm room and began to admonish the group of newly minted Slytherins to neaten up immediately. As they scurried to comply, their grumbled comments made it clear that most of the mess was Draco's, and his dorm mates were as irritated by it as Snape was.

"But Crabbe and Goyle," Draco began when Snape chastised him about it. "They don't have house elves. They're most likely used to tidying up," he surmised in haughty innocence.

Snape had already heard far too many whispered complaints from older Slytherins about that snobby, smart-arsed Malfoy boy, and decided his godson had earned his first in house detention. Much to their distress, Snape gave the house elves the week off from their cleaning duties in the Slytherin Common Room, and Draco was to tidy up after his house mates in their stead.

Before serving his first night Draco boldly entered Severus' office and complained.

"This is servants' work Uncle Severus," Draco began in angry petulance. "I am certain Father would not approve."

Since they were alone, Severus ignored the slip in formal address and calmly explained that while he was in Slytherin House the boy's discipline was his responsibility.

"I do not doubt Lucius' expertise on what it takes to be a Malfoy. You are going to have to trust that I can guide you in what it takes to be a Slytherin. When it seems that I am handling something differently than he might, or that he and I disagree, you just need to remember that I am your Head of House and I intend to do my best by you."

"I don't see how this could be best for me," the boy railed. "I'll be behaving like a common house elf? The other students will see me," Draco whined.

"I do believe that is the point, Draco," he told the boy, patiently. "Many have observed you in the two short weeks you have been here routinely disrespecting your house mates and their living space. Now they will see you taking pride in it."

"I'm certain there are others who leave their stuff everywhere too," he tried to argue.

"I am not concerned about the others at present," Snape said, his patience beginning to wane. "Furthermore, the issue is larger than that. I am concerned about your attitude, and while it may serve you well in Malfoy Manor, it will not serve you in Slytherin House. Here in Slytherin, we work together and respect one another."

Severus' words were having no effect whatsoever, and the boy retorted angrily.

"I'm going to owl Father," he threatened in a shaky petulant voice.

"You are of course free to do so, Dragon," Severus had deliberately reverted to his nickname for the child.

They both knew Draco wouldn't owl Lucius. Severus had too long been the boy's ally when it came to dealing with his father. Draco knew better than to do anything to jeopardize that.

"I won't do it!" He shouted as he finally lost control. "You can't make me!" The boy insisted as he crossed his arms stubbornly and stomped one expensively shod foot.

Severus let out a deep regretful sigh and decided that perhaps it was time Draco had a sharp conversation with William.

The first years were told about William during Snape's welcome speech to beginning and returning students. On the first night of the school term, the Slytherins lined up by year in the common room while Severus explained and reiterated procedures, expectations, rules, and consequences. One of the consequences for misbehavior in Slytherin House was William, a five foot cane that Severus had carved from a branch of the Whomping Willow tree on Hogwarts grounds. Every year Severus told the story of a gang of students from one house that were arrogant, pompous bullies who targeted a single student from an opposing house for abuse and cruel pranks.

"And since their behavior was never taken very seriously by their Head of House of House or the Headmaster, it escalated," Severus explained. "Until finally they risked the lone student's life by putting him in the path of a werewolf one full moon near the Whomping Willow tree."

Severus never said what houses the students were from, but in his first year or two of teaching, some of the older students knew the story well. Each year he stressed that such behavior was cowardly and un-Slytherin and that he and William wouldn't stand for such. He stated that he knew they would have their differences with other houses, but consequences for disputes with routinely uneven numbers would be dealt with severely.

"As Slytherins you are forbidden to fight among yourselves," he told them each year. "We are a family, and while we will not seek out disputes with other houses, nor bully any single student, we will stick together and defend one another. We will treat each other with the utmost respect and care because there are those beyond the walls of this dungeon who surely will not."

It was in January of Severus' first year as Head of Slytherin that he decided to carve William. He had been trying to find a way to establish some sort of order in his house and been failing miserably. Albus was clearly disappointed and Minerva and the other teachers were constantly complaining about the Slytherin's attitudes and behavior.

"You must try harder, Severus," the old man reprimanded, having summoned the younger wizard to his office. "You simply must do something to get your house in hand."

Severus thought it was terribly unfair, given the difficulty he was having, not to mention that he was not much older than his oldest students himself. Albus behaved as though Severus' six months with Voldemort had toughened him beyond needing any support or consideration. For a short while after his return to Hogwarts, it didn't seem to matter that he had joined the dark side on Albus' orders and had acted in accordance with his prophecy. Quickly it became clear that he blamed Severus for the Potter's deaths. Not just superficially, but he assumed the younger wizard had been the one to betray them to Voldemort, having overheard Trelawney at the Hogshead when Harry's prophecy was first revealed. When Severus finally realized what the problem was, he quickly went about setting the record straight.

"You need only look in my mind, Headmaster," he told the older wizard soberly. "You know I am speaking the truth."

It had been a long time since they had met along their Occlumency pathway. Severus was relieved to feel that the link still resonated with the same love, and it became clear to Albus that Severus spoke the truth. For a while they both believed that it must have been Black who betrayed his friends, but years later it became clear that the guilty party was Pettigrew. Before Severus understood the pain and misconception that motivated Albus, he blamed himself for the Headmaster's attitude. He had argued with the older wizard most disrespectfully before leaving to join the Death Eaters. Severus fairly cringed when he thought of his arrogant eighteen-year old self.

"I get more respect from the Dark Lord," he had complained bitterly about Albus' favoritism for the Marauders spilling over into the Order of the Phoenix. "Perhaps I shall join him in earnest!" Severus had threatened, not meaning a word of it.

He had known for quite some time that he would have to join if he was to spy for the Light, but to make such a threat was unconscionable. In darker moments he wondered if Albus had engineered the argument as he had so many things, in order to make it easier for him to send Severus to a fate so dark.

The threat had seemed to upset Albus so much that he had nearly struck the younger wizard, but in the end he merely sent Severus away to fulfill his prophecy and refused to speak to him for six months. Severus had attended a few Death Eater meetings prior to his exile and had been reporting back to Albus. Suddenly he had to deal with the darkness alone. He took the Mark as had been planned. However, he had to do so without his mentor, and with no one to ease his anxiety and tell him he was doing what he must. Severus would have rather endured Tobias' most brutal thrashing than suffer Albus' silence. He continued to try to follow Albus' orders, although the wizard refused to talk to him. Severus for a time passed messages through Minerva because although she did not know of the prophecy, she did understand early on that Severus was acting as a spy.

In those early days after Voldemort first fell when Severus had first been allowed back at Hogwarts, it seemed Albus was nearly constantly lecturing him on the need to do better. He did it over tea as though that might remove the sting of Severus getting his arse thoroughly chewed out every other day. The younger wizard didn't have the bollocks to complain that the behavior of his students was no different than what Albus and Minerva had let the Marauders get away with for years. Things were rapidly spiraling out of control. It was in a fit of desperation over his own impending failure and anguish over those who had failed him that prompted him to admit Slytherin housed many Marauders of its own. They targeted not only students from other houses, but most appallingly, unfortunate members of their own. If he were honest, he had to admit it was the same when he was a student. Yet a Head of House like Slughorn turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to such things, as he curried the favor with Hogwart's future celebrities. He wondered if Albus had ever given Slughorn's fat arse a dressing down for failing to manage his house, or Minerva for that matter. Severus had no desire to be as ineffectual as Slughorn and nor to have Albus constantly getting after him. Even without his fear of Albus' disappointment, he couldn't let the behavior he was witnessing among his students stand. It was in knowing first hand where such behavior could lead, if left unchecked, that symbolically led Severus to create William from a branch of the Whomping Willow. He was justifiably apprehensive about becoming like his father, but he had thought many times if James Potter had a father a bit more like his, he wouldn't have been nearly so full of himself.

Severus called his students together in the Slytherin Common Room, and had a frank conversation about not only what he had been observing, but he talked to them about what they wished it to mean to be a Slytherin. In reality it was but a small number of them who were causing the most trouble, much as it had been in the glory days of Gryffindor, when the Marauders ruled the castle. The fact that their new Head of House was speaking so honestly with them intrigued the Slytherins. They formed a tighter and closer circle around Severus and the fire as the night wore on that crisp January night. Little ones climbed on older students laps and his Slytherins scrunched ever closer, as they sought the warmth of not only of the common room fire, but that which Severus himself seemed to be providing. They spoke honestly of their thoughts and fears and not only how they saw themselves but how the rest of the school viewed them.

Together they came up with a set of norms and expectations. They formed a list of consequences, of which William and the thousand feet of parchment torture were just two of Severus' ideas. The students came up with many that were far more creative. If a Slytherin maligned the heritage of another Slytherin, the students created a chant the culprit would be required to recite for one hour while standing in the center of the Slytherin Common Room.

There are no mudbloods in Slytherin.

There are no halfbloods in Slytherin.

There are no purebloods in Slytherin.

There are only Slytherins in Slytherin!

Severus knew it would be a long time if ever that their attitude could find its way into their dealings with the rest of the school, but it was a brilliant start. Respect and loyalty for one another topped the list for what the students and Severus wanted it to mean to be a Slytherin.

It was respecting his fellow Slytherins that young Draco found so very difficult his first few weeks at Hogwarts. Underlying the basic lack of respect was the feeling that he was better than everyone else. Severus didn't fault the boy overmuch, as he had seen first hand that the boy's attitudes were a direct result of having been raised by Lucius. Still, Snape was always bothered by the underlying attitude of entitlement that made the boy behave that way. It reminded Severus far too much of Lucius. Although Severus would never tell him, that was one thing Draco had in common with Potter. Severus was always severely annoyed when he perceived either boy to be behaving too much like their father. While he saw nothing wrong with familial pride, Lucius always took it a step too far. It was a desire to disabuse the boy of this notion of inborn superiority more than anything else that made Severus contemplate eliciting the assistance of William when Draco refused his detention.

Having been created from the wood of a magical tree, William was extremely receptive to charms and Severus charmed the cane in a few key ways. First he charmed it to never scar or otherwise damage the skin of one of his students. He thought of the countless scars that adorned his body. The ones received between ages four and seventeen were a permanent reminder of similar attentions his father had paid him. Albus had left scars during this time period as well, and Severus was determined not to leave any of that variety either. He was thinking of Tobias when he charmed William with a modified reversal spell, so that if he were ever to use it in a deliberately cruel or unfair manner, he would feel twice the pain.

He had been caught by the charm a few times in the early years. In time he learned to feel the charm building, and he could change his mind and give what he called the threat of a hiding. Severus would put the culprit across his desk and force William to whistle menacingly through the air only to land with deliberate gentleness on their backside. Snape would warn them that next time they might get a real hiding, so they had better straighten up. He used this method often with his first years, not wanting to alienate those newly in his care. The unrepentant usually wound up feeling his hand on the seat of their school uniform at some point, but he resisted using William on the firsties. There had been a few times when Severus was using William at a time he ought not to when he felt the charm building but refused to heed it. There had been one memorable occasion when his anger had gotten the better of him and he had caned his entire Quidditch team and suffered the effects for hours afterwards. He remembered berating the group as he sent them off to spend the remainder of the day in their dorm rooms to contemplate their deplorable behavior. Severus made his way to his own quarters to do the same.

He had also charmed William so that if he held it in his hands in a student's presence, it would grow hot if the student were becoming more obstinate and cold if they were becoming less so. Severus often held it just after punishing a student as a means of determining whether or not they felt they had been dealt with justly. Many times the act of simply taking William in his hands caused a student to rethink their position. The evening of Draco's first detention when Snape first picked up William the wood was uncomfortably hot. However, once the boy spied the thing in his hands, it began to cool with almost with comedic speed. It corresponded with the color draining rapidly from the boy's already too pale skin.

Snape had a feeling the mere threat of a hiding would be enough for Draco and there would be no need to bring the full force of William's persuasive nature to bear. The ominous sound of William's shriek through the tense air of the office was enough to make the boy apologize profusely. The gentle tap on the seat of his school trousers reduced him to tears and fervent promises to do better. Although the boy had received much worse at the hands of Lucius, the mere thought that his dear Uncle Sev, who often intervened with his father advocating leniency, would thrash him was too much for the boy to bear. Draco quickly changed his mind and decided it would be best if he completed his detention. It took time, but Draco had improved year by year, though it took many trips over Severus' desk and the near constant assistance of William. It was not very long before he discovered that his dear Uncle Sev would indeed give him a real hiding.

During Draco's fifth year, disaster struck in the form of Delores Umbridge. Many Slytherins were advised by their parents to curry favor with the woman, so any admonishment from Severus to steer clear of her fell on deaf ears. When she was finally gone he wasted no time meting out consequences to her supporters.

"You took our prefect badges!" Draco accused shrilly as he and Pansy Parkinson rounded on Severus in the dungeon hallway shortly after Umbridge had been run from the castle in disgrace.

"And you," Snape hissed silkily pointing a long thin finger at each of them. "You took the side of that bloody …woman against your own house."

Draco and Pansy looked at him with alarm. They had gotten used to some colorful language from their Head of House but never before had they heard him speak against another Hogwarts teacher.

"Take a good look at the hands of some of your house mates," he suggested in a low dangerous voice. "I must not be insolent. I must not be late. I must not cheat." he quoted the various tattoos he'd seen thus far.

"But our badges..." Draco whined. It was the spoiled, selfish Draco, the one he had been trying to beat out of his sensitive, misunderstood godson for five years running.

"They were not your badges," Snape said snidely as he took in Draco and Pansy with a fiery glance. "They were entrusted to you only. A trust that you shattered by aligning yourself with someone who caused your house mates harm."

"Father told me to get on her good side," Draco argued. "But that's right, you don't agree with him on many things," Draco mimicked the oft heard words. "Well I'm starting to agree with Father when he says he doesn't know what side you're on." Draco said nastily. "Madam Umbridge was clearly after the Gryffs."

"I'm on your side," Snape reminded him sternly. "And you're right. I do not agree with Lucius on many things. For example, when he uses my office to hex you to within an inch of your life as punishment for getting perfect marks, just because they are a few points behind Granger's, I don't agree with that. And when he uses a lash hex on your hands until they bleed just for failing to catch the snitch before Potter, I most certainly don't agree with that. Or you Miss Parkinson," he turned his angry gaze on Pansy. "When your parents indulge you more in your quest for diet potions and permanent glamours, in an effort to see to it you marry well rather than develop your own brain…"

Draco had grown so red an angry glimmer of color could be seen along the part in his blond hair.

"You know what I think?" Pansy asked, shaking with indignant rage. "I think you're a right bastard. That's what I think."

"And I think it's far too long since you've had a trip over my desk," Snape threatened. "Either of you," he said spearing Draco with a look as well.

"I like to see you try," the boy spat, apparently having taken leave of his senses.

"Splendid," Snape inclined his head menacingly. "It's a date. I suggest you work it out between you which one is bringing the candy and which the flowers," Snape quipped as he spun on his heel to go.

But in the end, he hadn't caned either of them. He simply reiterated his disappointment, and had given them room to cool off and lick their wounds until the term ended as he had the rest of the Umbridge's Inquisitional Squad.

To his shame, he had failed Draco badly by underestimating the effect of Lucius' imprisonment after the incident and the Department of Mysteries. Severus thought it was good the boy was sticking close to his mother that summer, but in fact he had been under the close tutelage of Bellatrix Lestrange, who had temporarily moved into the Manor to support her sister. Severus was caught painfully unaware when his godson took the Mark. When sixth year began and he had received the task of killing Albus, Severus feared he had lost him. He was immeasurably grateful that in recent weeks it had seemed that would not come to pass. It was all due to Draco himself thinking things through and making the difficult decisions. Snape was incredibly proud of how much the boy had grown. Perhaps this was making him feel doubly guilty for having hurt his pride so by rebuking him in front of Potter

Having come to a decision, Severus pushed himself from the plush chair in his sitting room. He transformed back into Goyle and had a careful look around the corridor before exiting his quarters. He was gratified that Minerva had allowed him to use them, though when he first arrived via her floo she had been noticeably ungracious. She had lamented that she'd need to come up with a plausible excuse for the Order Members who were currently patrolling the castle as to why Gregory Goyle was being allowed to bunk in Severus Snape's quarters. He hoped he wouldn't run in to any just yet.

When he made his way back to the Slytherin boys dorm he found Draco stretched out on his four poster alone in his room. He was reading from a potions book. It was not the school text, but a dubious paper cover version called, The Best of the Brew: A Primer. Severus waited a moment for the boy to acknowledge him as he stared at the animated cover photo of two young witches and a wizard laughing as they stood around a table top glass cauldron. When it became clear Draco would not speak, Severus gave him a light tap on his hip with the back of his hand to indicate he should shove over. The bed dipped slightly as he sat down beside the boy and Severus cleared his throat noisily.

"I may have been a bit sharp with you, especially given Potter was present," the older wizard ventured.

"Yes sir," the boy agreed not taking his eyes from the text.

"I did mean the rebuke in earnest," Snape explained. "However, I believe doing so in front of Potter caused you undue embarrassment."

After a moment's silence Severus reached over and gently pushed the book down so it lay flat on the boy's chest and lifted Draco's chin with his hand.

"It's not that," Draco said irritably after a moment's silence. "It's just...Potter was being so...I don't know... disgustingly familiar," Draco tried to explain. "Didn't you want to hex him into next week?"

"When do I not want to hex Potter?" Snape quipped.

"It didn't look like you did," Draco opined sullenly.

"Where is Potter?" Snape asked, trying to cajole Draco into better humor with mock sternness. "I'll hex his overly familiar little arse right now," he stated, brandishing his wand.

"See that's just it," Draco stated with agitation coming up on one elbow and making the book tumble to the bed. "It's not just him. It's both of you," he tried to explain. "You say you'll hex him, but you won't really."

"Draco," Snape began patiently. "I threaten to hex my Slytherins almost constantly. How many times have I actually done it?" Snape winced inwardly at the fact he had just lumped Potter in with his Slytherins yet again.

"I guess you are not counting all the times you restrict someone to their quarters and those awful boils appear if they go out of bounds?" Draco asked.

"Certainly not," Snape replied haughtily. "That is a charm, not a hex."

"Hm," Draco frowned.

"You really want me to hex him because he was 'disgustingly familiar'?" Snape asked in an amused tone.

"It's not just that, sir," Draco ventured carefully after holding his eyes for a moment. "It's just… I… you seem a bit fond of him is all," he said uncertainly.

"There's no need to be insulting," Snape huffed, not nearly as appalled as he would have like to have been. He was shocked by the realization.

"It's true," the boy argued. "You can hardly deny it…And the more shocking thing is he seems fond of you…"

"Stop!" Severus intoned sharply, holding up one hand to silence him. "I mean it, one more ill-mannered word from you and I shall go fetch William," he threatened in mock seriousness. "What are you reading anyway," he questioned, suddenly wanting to change the subject. Severus grabbed the book deftly with an index finger and flipped the spine to rest on his palm. The chapter Draco had been perusing was called, Noche Suprema: Sleeping Never Was More Fun.

"Perhaps I should fetch William at any rate?" Snape said looking from the book to the boy and lowering a dangerous eyebrow.

"You wouldn't, " Draco opined, suppressing a chuckle. "Not just for my reading about it."

"Would I not?" Snape responded "It has been far too long," he observed, delivering a sharp smack to the boy's backside as he rolled laughing from the bed to move himself out of range."

"I was thinking," Draco began suppressing a grin.

"Always a frightening proposition ," Snape said, turning to face him.

"How does the Dark Lord think you are going to lure Potter to the apparition barrier?"

The man quirked an inquisitive brow, interested against his will.

"I was just thinking…" the boy said again.

"So you claimed," the older wizard interrupted, a hint of impatience coloring his tone.

"It needs to sound very convincing," Draco continued in a rush. "I mean, Potter wouldn't just follow Goyle to the apparition barrier, without a good reason, but it might be believable to be lured there to harvest a restricted ingredient to make a recreational potion to celebrate his coming of age. So I went to find this book."

"Loaned to you by our mysterious Ravenclaw girl," Snape opined doubtfully.

"Then I remembered that cottonfeather leaf grows just inside perimeter of the Forbidden Forest right near the barrier…"

"And you know this how?" Snape asked ominously.

"Uncle Severus," Draco intoned in a frustrated voice. "I'm seventeen."

"Which means you think you're too old for me to put you across my desk?" He questioned dangerously.

"I've thought that every since I was in third-year," Draco answered unfazed. "Fat lot of good it did then. But no. I only mean that I've been here long enough to know a few things," he explained. "Hell, everyone knows that many restricted plants grow inside the perimeter of Forbidden Forest," he opined. "I'm certain even your precious Potter knows that."

"My p-precious, P-potter?" Severus sputtered in shocked incredulity. "Oh, I shall certainly fetch William now."

One of the advantages of naming the willow cane William, was that Severus could blatantly threaten his students without seeming to do so. This came in very handy when he had reason to chastise a Slytherin in public. He had always kept his word to himself and them that he would never intentionally embarrass them by berating them in public as Albus had done so often with him.

He remembered coming across three of his Slytherin ruthlessly teasing a second year Hufflepuff in the corridor one evening.

"She's a little mudblood, what do you expect," one of his fifth year Slytherins was taunting cruelly.

"Aw, leave her alone," teased her companion in a baby voice. "She's a soft little Hufflepuff, you know how squishy they are."

"Look I think she's crying," another crowed.

Severus walked down the hall as though oblivious to the exchange.

"Have any of you seen William of late?" He asked casually barely breaking his stride as he passed the group. His query was answered with one muffled gasp and two slow, apprehensive shakes of the head. "Ah, it is no matter," he tossed over his shoulder offhandedly. "I am certain you will all encounter him before the day is out."

The unfortunate Hufflepuff probably assumed he did not hear the exchange or did not care. Only the miscreants knew what fate awaited them. The Slytherins would be punished for ganging up on another student. And although he had not officially made it against the rules to call a member of another house mudblood, Severus would certainly be thrashing them for that as well. Although he had used the word occasionally as a student, and more as a Death Eater, he did what he could to discourage its use among his students. He had taken to tanning Draco's hide weekly during his second year when the boy got into the habit of tossing that slur about.

William being William was useful when his students misbehaved in Potions class as well. He would often stop a student who turned in a substandard potion due to not paying proper attention before leaving his classroom.

"Your performance today was not quite what I had hoped," he would tell the student with false gentleness that only his Slytherins would recognize. "I believe you would benefit from a tutoring session with William and then you may come in on Saturday and repeat the potion."

It left the other houses complaining about favoritism and wondering who that William git in Slytherin was. There was often speculation he was a ghost. Only their own house mates would know how seriously they were being chastised.

One term Pansy Parkinson was particularly lax with her schoolwork. She was obviously spending more time researching elaborate hair charms and giggling at Draco than working on her essays. Severus warned her about it three weeks in a row before taking action.

"Ms. Parkinson, your essay still isn't quite up to standard," he said levelly, as he passed back the weekly homework for the Slytherin, Gryffindor Potions class. Please report for a tutoring session with William after your last class today and have the revision to me by tomorrow."

It caused the Weasley boy to complain in a low voice.

"Bloody Slytherins are always getting extra help," he grumbled to the other members of the trio. "Greasy bastard never lets us have extra time or help," he stated angrily.

If he had looked closely at Pansy Parkinson he may have noticed she was near tears at the prospect of getting extra help.

This particular incident must have been the last straw for the trio because a complaint of his favoritism made its way to Albus' ears. He called Severus up to his office to discuss it. It irked Severus no end how much influence Potter and his friends had at Hogwarts. It was painfully reminiscent of the Marauders. However, if Severus was honest, the trio did not have the mean mischievous streak of their predecessors. Although it rankled him no end to be questioned by the Headmaster due to a report from those Gryffindolts, Severus was pleased that Albus didn't have a leg to stand on.

"I should be delighted to give Mr. Weasley a tutoring session with William and allow him to rewrite his paper," Severus stated, his black eyes gleaming upon hearing the latest complaint that had arrived via Minerva. "Mr. Potter is welcome to join me for a session as well. I might also like to discuss with the both boys their use of the term Greasy Bastard."

"Don't be ridiculous, Severus," the headmaster admonished. "I am certainly not going to give you my permission to cane those boys, as much as you know I disapprove of you using it on your own students."

"Are you certain, Albus?" he asked in mock innocence. "It would be no trouble. After all, Potter and Weasley are my students as well, even if they are not in my house "

"Perhaps you might at least make them aware that you will accept their revisions as well," Albus suggested ignoring his query.

"The boys are friends with Ms. Granger, who has rewritten every essay she has ever received from me that was below an O," Severus stated.

"Miss Granger has never gotten a grade below O in your class, Severus," the Headmaster said in confusion.

"Yes," Severus explained with exaggerated patience. "That is because she has rewritten any grade below O since first year. I will admit she has never earned lower than an E. Although why the girl would want to rewrite an E is beyond me," Severus opined.

"I seem to recall you rewriting many an E throughout your years as a student, Severus," Albus said.

"That's because you would scold the hell out of me if you thought I wasn't doing my best," Severus stated, with a bit of heat.

"Ah, well perhaps Miss Granger's father is the same with her," he suggested, smiling affectionately.

"Are you comparing me to that know-it-all, Albus?" Severus asked snidely.

"Not at all, Severus. I was comparing your fathers," Albus said, his eyes twinkling. "And don't fret overmuch about my disapproval of William. Slytherin House is running smoothly, and it has been for years."

It took moment for the comment and the unexpected compliment to catch up with Severus, and his skin colored with pleasure. He let his long hair fall into his face for a moment to cover the emotion.

"You may go, Severus," Albus had said affectionately.

"Good day, Headmaster," he said making his way to the door.

"Although it would not be that great an insult if I were comparing you to Miss Granger," Albus put in before he could escape. "She is quite the brilliant young witch,"

As Severus made his way down the spiral staircase he chuckled about how the brilliant young witch had nearly begged him to be introduced to that William from Slytherin to help improve her grades. He had been sorely tempted.

"Oh, please, Professor," the bushy haired girl had implored. "William must be brilliant."

"Be that as it may, Miss Granger," he had quipped. "Unfortunately at present, William is only available to assist the Slytherins."

"But that hardly seems fair," she had pouted.

"If the policy should ever change, Miss Granger," he promised with dark humor, "You and your friends will be the first to know."

That was the beauty of William, he could be referred to publicly and none but a select few would understand the reference. In the here and now, Potter could easily be present while the Potions Master playfully threatened Draco and the Gryffindor would not be any the wiser.

888

"What you think?" Draco asked in bright enthusiasm when he finished laying out his idea to say Potter was coaxed to the barrier by the temptation of an illegal recreational potion. Part of the enthusiasm was a ploy to cover the fact that he knew far too much about the potion.

Draco watched in curious apprehension as Snape narrowed his eyes.

"Accio," the older wizard said sternly as he raised one hand in the air.

Draco's curiosity turned to horror and his skin paled. Suddenly he was taken back to a time in third year. Draco had milked being injured by that beast Buckbeak, who was subsequently sentenced to death. The Professor burst into his dorm and ordered his house mates to leave. Draco had been subjected to a severe tongue lashing and threatened with the hiding of his life.

"I have a good mind to put your dishonest arse across my desk, you little imbecile," Snape had seethed at the boy.

Draco, in a fit of courageous idiocy, had complained

"It's just a stupid animal, Professor, and I think I'm a bit too old to be going across your desk," he declared insolently.

After only a moment's hesitation Snape had quietly seemed to agree with him. He stuck his hand in the air, much as he was doing now, and Accio'ed William to Draco's dorm room. He then proceeded to put the boy across his knee, like he sometimes smacked the firsties, and wallop his arse. It had been the single most humiliating moment of his Hogwarts career to that point. The memory of the incident brought on by Snape's sternly uttered Accio caused the blond boy hold up both his hands and wave them in protest.

"I was only trying to help, for the love of Merlin," he explained shrilly. "It was just an idea, Uncle Sev!"

"I'm aware of that Draco," Snape said smoothly as the never-out-quill he had summoned came to rest gently in his outstretched hand. A moment after, he snatched a sheet of parchment from the air as well. "It is an excellent idea," he said sitting back on the bed. He used the book Draco had been reading to support the parchment. "I shall write to the Dark Lord this instant," he stated, quirking an amused eyebrow at his godson.

Draco knew instantly the older wizard had been having him on. His godfather just loved messing with people's heads.

"Bastard," Draco muttered, as he flopped down beside the older wizard, causing Snape to cuff the back of his head and quirk one side of his mouth up in a half smile. He took a moment to gently ruffle the blond boy's hair before settling in to write. When Draco contemplated the familiar gesture it suddenly became clear why it bothered him so much that Snape had cuffed Potter. When Snape cuffed one of his Slytherins on the back of the head, the gesture, even if delivered sharply, was often oddly affectionate. If the intent was truly affectionate, Snape would often stop to card his fingers through the student's hair as he did with Draco now, or sometimes he might give their neck or shoulder a little squeeze. Draco didn't even know if Snape did this consciously, but he had never seen his Head of House do it to any student who wasn't a Slytherin.

"Where is Potter?" Snape asked after he had completed the note to the Dark Lord. Draco thought the missive sounded like a proper little update on his progress thus far.

"I dunno," the boy grumbled moodily. "We had a bit of a row, I think."

"Indeed?" Severus intoned.

"Yes," Draco offered petulantly. "And it was all his fault. You should have heard the outrageous things he said," Draco couldn't really think of anything that Potter had said that was outrageous, but the mornings events had put him in a bit of a mood.

"Hm," Snape murmured.

"You should hex him," Draco said hopefully

"Draco..."

"Come on Uncle Sev, you've been taunting me with William for the last twenty minutes, the least you can do is hex Potter. I bet the little brat has never gotten a proper thrashing in his life."

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Severus could attest to the fact that Potter had received at least one sound thrashing quite recently. The boy himself and wisps of Occlumency images more than hinted at countless others.

"You'd be surprised Draco." he told his godson. "But if he's not working on his essay..." Snape said as he made his way to the door. "I'll consider it just for you."

As Severus entered the common room, he heard voices coming from the girl's dorm, and realized that Potter was not working on his essay.

"So you could actually use the web to wrap someone up?" Potter was asking Dobby when the Potions Master entered the girls dormitory.

The boy was sitting in the hall on a tidy four poster that had obviously been moved from one of the rooms. Dobby sat across from him on the couch that normally occupied the hallway.

"Research, Potter?" Severus asked as he took a seat next to Dobby in the comfortable make shift room. Potter had positioned a small desk and chair at the foot of his bed and a handsome maple trunk served as a sort of coffee table between the couch and four poster.

"Sort of," the boy said enthusiastically. "Dobby and I were just going over the stuff Draco and I learned this week and also the stuff I worked at Mrs. Figg's house. I'm trying to think of what spells might help us with the Death Eaters when they try to capture us."

Against his will, Severus felt a burst of pride at both boys for trying to puzzle out how to make the mission a success. He had been avoiding the issue ever since Albus revealed how drastically their mission had changed.

"And this has to do with your essay revision how?" He decided to heckle the boy. He almost felt guilty about the way the young face fell.

"Well…nothing," the boy replied uncertainly. "But isn't this a tad more important, sir? I can't believe you're making me revise that ruddy essay anyway."

He couldn't fault the boy his logic. He wondered vaguely why he was insisting on being so bloody stubborn about it. Perhaps it was because he was so bloody stubborn.

"While I tend to agree with you on both counts, Potter," he told the boy. "I am hardly likely to tell you that you do not have to revise it now that I have already instructed you to do so. It only took you forty-five minutes to compose the first version," he offered placatingly. "It should not take you much longer to revise it."

"But why is it so important given what we have going on in the next couple of days?"

Severus thought sadly that the boy didn't know the half of it. He had not been privy to the latest chapter of his prophecy.

"I suppose the only importance at this point is that you were told to do it, and I'm still holding on the faint hope that you might learn something akin to obedience some day soon," he explained dryly.

"Fine, I'll start," the boy agreed petulantly. "I have the perfect book in my room at the beach house actually," he said wistfully.

Severus thought for the briefest of moments and then came to a decision.

"Come," he said beckoning the boy with his arm as he got up from the couch.

"Where?" Harry wanted to know.

"There is no reason you can not complete your revision there," he offered mildly.

"We can go all the way to the beach house?" Harry asked, excitedly.

"Potter, it is as close as the portrait in the kitchen," Snape said with some amusement. "Not to mention we could also apparate in a moment's time. I shall floo Minerva to let her know," he said making his way to the door. "You have been staying in here?" he said looking around the cozy hallway once more.

"Yes," Harry admitted.

"Why did you help Draco tidy up then?" Snape wanted to know.

"Well it was the least I could do. He's been ever so kind to me," the boy quipped sarcastically. "Bloody arsehole," he muttered barely loud enough for the Potions Master to hear.

"I'm certain you'd like to mind your language?" Snape warned.

"No, I'm not sure I would," Harry told him cheekily. Snape cuffed the boy lightly on the back of the head, and as they made their way from the common room he gave his neck a little squeeze.

Hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to review.

Chapter 30

Lead Us Not

The Gryffindors and Slytherins were at least refraining from hexing each other, and Harry tried to breathe a bit easier. Still, they were glaring daggers across the Great Hall, and Ron in particular took exception to Harry standing on the side of the room with the snakes. Only he of his two companions realized the significance, when the red head threw a tiny pellet at Goyle's feet. All at once a tall wizard in bright robes with an impressive white beard loomed over the wide eyed Slytherin.

"You will obey me in this young man. I'll not stand for a moment more of your defiance," the Boggart warned sternly, its pale blue eyes flashing.

Almost as one the Weasleys exploded in gales of laughter.

"Dumbledore," Fred and George guffawed. "Goyle's biggest fear is Dumbledore?"