Chapter 35: All Planned Out?

Severus Snape, Resident Potions Master of Hogwarts, was having a seriously murderous week. Not that it was killing him. It was the urge to murder a particular set of Gryffindors who refused to desist with their childish pranks. It seemed to bring back the thoughts of James Potter and Sirius Black. Those bastards.

And a sudden thought of Remus Lupin. Severus felt his anger morph to hurt. He never liked the werewolf but he hadn't hated him either. The thought of him and his wife.. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and growled. Anger was definitely easier to cope with than the remorse of the previous Wizarding War. He stomped out of his office in search of the two Gryffindors. Just wait until he got ah-

SPPPLLLLASSSHHHH!

Severus Snape will never forgive his pride for falling for the same prank twice in one week. As soon as he'd left his office, the door opening had triggered a pail to tip over spilling... sniff sniff, some flowery smelling crap on him.

He heard the scuffle of the children trying to run. He allowed them to the count of three before he whipped out his wand.

"Incarcerous." Ropes flew, two bodies fell. Severus felt a wicked laughter on his insides.

"We're sorry, sir!" Albus shouted as he rolled around like a Weasel. Scorpius rolled his eyes and remained still.

"I'm not. Totally worth it."

"Really..." Severus said. "Was it? Totally.. worth.. it..?" He touched his fingertips together as he slowly stalked around the Gryffindors. "Is being denied access to my personal quarters worth it? Is not being able to visit with Louis worth it?"

"You wouldn-"

"Langlock." Severus snapped. Both boys winced as their tongues glued to the roof of their mouths. "It is rude to speak while being spoken to." He took a few more steps. "What a pleasant surprise. Quiet at last." But he made the mistake of looking down at his captive students. There they were, just two young lads. One the son of his own godson. The other with the beautiful eyes of his Lily. Currently these eyes were tearing up. Severus felt the anger boil. HE COULDN'T NOT PUNISH THEM! IT WAS SO UNFAIR FOR HIS SENSE OF HUMANITY TO TAKE OVER AT THIS POINT! THIS WAS THEIR FAULT! HE WAS SPORTING RED HAIR AND SMELLED LIKE A... like a... a lily...

Did they know? Potter had told him personally that he would keep his true feelings for Lily a secret. He looked at Scorpius, who up to this point remained defiant. It only took a moment to brush against the blonde's mind.

He sighed in relief. It was a coincident. "Finite" He was no longer in the mood to play the evil Potions Master. He turned and left two bewildered boys.

Louis had summoned the courage of his inner Gryffindor and had snuck out of the Dungeons without a companion. Lately, with him learning to stay focused on Severus Snape, he hadn't been experiencing as many proclamations of love from others. What he really wanted was a moment to himself, but a moment where he didn't feel caged up. Not that he didn't like staying with Severus, he truly loved it. He couldn't begin to explain, even to himself, why he felt so at home with his potions professor. At the same time Severus had been very moody lately and Louis didn't know how to help him.

He found himself walking the grounds outside, not too far from the Forbidden Forest. That's when something interesting caught his eye. A glimmer in the trees. Without thinking, Louis headed straight toward it.

It was such a beautiful glimmer. Entrancing almost. The closer Louis walked towards it the farther it seemed to go into the forest. Then it just suddenly stopped. Louis felt himself trembling. The glimmer was coming from a creature, a Veela. She was beautiful; long silver hair cascading down her back. Her beak was a striking purple and her eyes seemed like galaxies, dark voids shimmering with reflected lights. And her feathers looked so soft, Louis found himself reaching out to stroke one of her wings. The Veela cooed and encircled the both of them with her massive wings.

Louis looked up into her eyes and felt so at peace. She leaned forward and nuzzled his neck. He found himself in a warm embrace and felt the Veela purr. Suddenly he felt warm like his entire body was with fever. Louis tried to pull back, but the Veela held tight and cooed again. It sounded almost like a song. Louis could smell something sweet, and the air around them felt thick. He could taste the sweetness on his tongue. With every breathe he took, the more feverish he felt.

What was happening to him? What is she doing to me?

Then, as quickly as his fever set in, Louis found himself cooling down. Finally the Veela allowed him to pull back a bit. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. When he attempted to ask her what had happened nothing but a squawk came from his mouth! Louis quickly reached up to his face and felt a beak on it! A hard and smooth beak! And then he realized that he was covered in feathers! Lush and soft, white feathers that seemed to shine like opals in the light! He felt panicked and squawked at the Veela again! She leaned forward to nuzzle him once more before taking flight into the air, leaving Louis falling to the ground from the powerful gust of wind from her wings.

She was gone and Louis was stranded, looking like an giant bird with no wings! What am I going to do?

Harry found that he couldn't sleep. After spending the entire day, evening, and most of the night Astoria watching the two wizards found themselves back on the badly transfigured couch. Malfoy had quickly passed out and was snoring rather loudly. Harry groaned at how sweaty his hand felt, still in a vice like grip with Draco's. He missed Ginny, her presence a comfort for him. He knew she was still upset about everything. She had been avoiding him mostly or just glared knives at Malfoy. On the other hand, Lily had found their situation hilarious. She must have taken a hundred photos of them on her cellphone. He wouldn't be surprised if she ended up selling them to the highest binder just for the humor of it. Harry groaned.. he just knew Lily was a Slytherin.

Malfoy chose that moment to roll over their invisible line on the bed. Harry grunted and tried to push Malfoy back to his side, but he ended up being hugged like a giant teddy bear. "Ugh..." Harry let go of Malfoy's hand so that he could try to unwrap himself to no avail. Suddenly thinking about how nice it was to have his hand free, Harry decided to ignore the arm and leg thrown over him. I can be a little spoon. Harry pulled the covers up tighter and closed his eyes. At least like this, he could pretend that loud snoring person behind him was Ginny.

Ginny would find the two early in the morning and woke them up with her laughter. With all the intense feelings floating around, finding Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy snuggling was enough the light her world. Ginny made sure to snap a few shocked photos of the two before flooing to Astoria.

"What the hell, Potter?" Malfoy growled. Harry was sitting up and rubbing his hair in confusion. What had just happened? Malfoy had decided he was still too tired to care and tighten his hold around Harry's waist. "Nev'rmind. I'm going back to sleep."

Harry shrugged and laid back down. "Can I be the big spoon now?"

"No." Malfoy muttered. "I'm the big spoon." Harry rolled his eyes and didn't push. He was still tired himself. He needed his sleep if he was to be spying from more bushes today.