Chapter 38: Nott a New Professor
That entire week was devoid of Defense Against the Dark Arts for all others, besides Harry. He had been handed a scroll at the end of a potions lesson. It had been an interesting lesson, because they had been taught nothing at all. Snape had sat there at his desk and glowered at them for the entire period. Harry had arrived late and had found his seat next to Theo and when Harry looked at his boyfriend for answers, Theo had shook his head and remained silent. Once class was dismissed Snape called after him and in the least words possible he instructed Harry; "The schedule. Meet in my Office."
Harry had left the dungeons and seeing Theo waiting he said; "You're no longer special. I have tutoring with Snape too."
After that, near the end of the week, Harry spent what was allotted for Defense with Ron in the library reading their text book; even though Ron was more interested in anything but the class they were missing. Draco and Theo found them there a little later—Draco slipped into the chair next to Ron. Harry was astonished to see that Ron did not even flinch about it anymore. Both Gryffindors noticed the countenance of their Slytherin friends and Harry asked; "What's wrong with you two?"
Draco frowned and stared across the table at Theo. "Let's say that you aren't the only one taking Defense Against the Dark Arts with Snape…" His voice was strained and he looked ghastly in all honestly. Harry hadn't been seeing much of him lately either, but he supposed that was the effects of the strange circumstances and odd class shift with said class being gone for a full week.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked finally looking up from his lap.
Draco Malfoy took the reins here and said, "Prof. Snape is replacing that Ainsley man and we are getting a new Potions Master."
Harry and Ron exchanged looks. Defense had once been his favorite subject, however, due to the recent events he hated it. Maybe Snape would make an improvement? Harry frowned saying nothing. The others went quiet again for a spell before Harry enquired; "How did you find out?"
Theo took over again. "I was going to go see him as usual and his office was empty of everything. Then I went to his classroom and he was taking things from his desk. He told me the plan. I asked who the new professor would be and he said Dumbledore had not said."
"Only thing I'm happy about is Prof. Snape's keeping his place as Head of Slytherin," Draco blew.
They went silent again and Harry closed his book and placed it in his bag. This was nonsense. Everything was utter nonsense. Harry got up from the chair and Theo got up when he saw Harry getting out of his seat. They walked off together—though Theo did not know where they were heading. Harry went up the stairs until he was in their favorite corridor. The classroom they'd snuck into constantly was still unused. Theo sat down in the chair and Harry climbed into his lap and placed his face in crook of his neck and shoulder. Theo felt Harry begin to shake and he wrapped his long arms around him and felt his trembling increase with the addition of sobs. Theo pressed his lips to Harry's hair and whispered, "It's going to be okay, Harry."
"No," Harry breathed. "Everything's gone wrong."
"That man was a skulk and he kept acting suspiciously toward you. There was nothing you could do except defend yourself when you felt threatened."
Harry swallowed a lump in his throat and then said, "They told me it wasn't my fault."
Theo closed his eyes and replied, "It wasn't."
Harry smelt Theo's bouquet. He always smelt strongly of mint tea and more often than not he smelt like the potions room. Harry grabbed one of his arms and pulled it from around him while the other remained firmly wrapped about his side. He held the hand and entwined their fingers. "So, that day I got to Potions Classroom late… what had happened?"
Theo snorted and said, "It's nothing you need to worry about. Someone broke into Prof. Snape's private storage. I think he believes it was Granger."
Harry let out a long sigh. He remembered when he was only a second year and they'd stolen those ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion. The only thing that was confusing now was why would Hermione break into the storage now? Did she have some big mystery going on this year by herself? Last time he'd actually spoken to her had been at Diagon Alley before the raid. He found a glimmer of adventure spark to life in the back of his head. He had another mystery himself, then. "Will you help me?"
Theo seemed confused and asked, "With what, Sweetness?"
"The Ainsley Mystery is essentially over—since he's deceased. But, now, we have the stolen ingredients from Snape's Private Storage."
"I don't think this is a good idea Harry. You saw how things with Ainsley went."
Harry shook his head. "I'm going to do this either way. You can help if you want or you can stay out of my way when I investigate."
Theo breathed out, "I will help."
"Do you still love me?"
Theo was smiling. A guilty pang washed over him. He'd left Harry alone for too long and now his slight boyfriend was worried that it was because he no longer loved him. "Of course, I love you. I always will if you so choose to allow it."
"Sir Theodore," Harry began in a more playful tone, tears gone and relief consumed him, "You are charged with the crime of negligence and laxity." His fingers still weaved in Theo's he kissed the top of each of them before saying, "How do you plead?"
"Guilty, Majesty."
Harry laughed and heard the snort he found so endearing. "I'm royalty then? Alright, King Harry rules his own courts. You are hereby sentenced to an eternity with the king."
"Hark, and alas, I can hardly find this ruling fair."
"An eye for an eye."
"A kiss for a kiss." Theo watched Harry's head turned up to face his and they sealed their fates with a warm passionate kiss and Harry moaned into his mouth as he allowed Theo's tongue to get reacquainted. As Theo pulled away he saw Harry staring moony eyed and it made him smile; the last few days had been awful and he should have known the best cure would be Harry.
Harry nuzzled his raven head closer into Theo's shoulder and said, "You're also charged with stealing the King's heart."
"That sounds bad enough to warrant an execution."
Harry smiled as he observed their clasped hands and said, "No, it's alright. You can keep it."
"This is why I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Theo."
Ω
After Theo had explained Snape's belief that Hermione had stolen from his private storage Harry became very aware of the girl. Why would she need to be in the man's things? That time, many years ago, they had been trying to figure out the secrets pertaining to the Chamber of Secrets, but now there seemed like little reason to be barging and stealing. Unless, this had something to do with Ainsley's death? Surely not. Harry could find nothing to correlate the two events. He was not even sure when the storage had been broken into. Either this was becoming another part to the Ainsley mystery or something entirely stationed on its own.
On the first day that all classes were supposed to be fixed and things were to be back to "normal" Harry had forgotten about what Theo and Draco had said about receiving a new Potions Teacher while Snape would take over in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry frowned when he entered the room and saw a strange old man standing behind a new and more decorated desk. Theo seemed to be hiding from the fact that his favorite teacher and Head of House was no longer in charge of his favorite class. This old man was round and lacked a lot of his hair, but Harry suppose that's where Snape's long hair came in—it would do enough for the both of them. Harry snickered and took a seat at his usual table. Ron had come down with him and sat right behind him as was also the new custom. Hermione had walked down with them and Harry felt a strange sense of happiness for being the "Golden Trio" once again; even if only in company. She had said a few things about breakfast to Ron and Ron had agreed whole-heartedly, but the two were still at oppositions when it came to "Molly Dawlish" making anything more come out as awkward.
Harry was just glad they could be in close proximity.
Theo and Draco both entered together and the two Slytherins took their chairs beside the Gryffindors. The new Professor seemed absolutely intrigued. Harry supposed he'd have to get used to strange stares again, because he was Harry Potter and dating a male Slytherin. "Now, back in my day; Slytherin and Gryffindor did not get along." Everyone else in the room was segregated except for those two tables, but it was enough to raise interest. "Morning, Class. I have heard about the news and Severus Snape will be missed…"
The man acted as if Snape had been killed as well. Harry hoped he hadn't, but after Ainsley's demise, why not? Harry heard some of the others begin to whisper, but the man knew he was spinning a yarn for attentions sake and added, "As the Potions Master. I am Prof. Horace Slughorn. My colleague Prof. Snape has been given the Defense Against the Dark Arts position in the stead of the late Prof. Ainsley."
This shut the class up in an instant.
Slughorn laughed jovially as if it were a fine relation indeed. No one else said anything and Harry saw Theo's fist curl. The man had just arrived and several weeks into the term as well—how he managed to make enemies so fast was astounding. Harry was as unimpressed.
"Let me take roll so I can try to put names to faces." From there he prattled off the names. They were in order by last names, but he took interest in; "Theodore Nott," Theo raised a finger to draw attention to himself, though it was obvious he did not want it. "I know your father. Used to be old friends." Theo did not reply but gave a dismissive curt bow of the head. When Slughorn said, "Harry Potter" Slughorn's eyes instinctively fell on his and he grinned wide and vast. "It is nice to get to meet you, Mr. Potter."
After getting lectured on Golpalott's Third Law. Harry watched Theo role his eyes when the man turned to the board and began to open his massive text. Theo was not one to shirk manners. It was strange to see him act so irritably especially to a teacher.
"Now, can anyone tell me what this Law states?"
Hermione Granger did not miss a beat and said, "The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components."
Theo shifted in his chair and Harry craned his neck and leaned back to see her on the opposite side of class. There was something off; except, no, not really. Hermione had always been quick to the answers and full of such an infinite assortment of knowledge that Harry was surprised she did not swim aimlessly in it. The suspicion on her as a thief; there was no way that it was correct. Hermione wouldn't. Or wouldn't she? She'd taken the side of Molly in the Weasley family crisis. It seemed more unrelated than the potions ingredients and Ainsley's death. Harry pretended to take note of what the frizzy haired girl had said, but instead he wrote;
Hermione—Potions Ingredients—Ainsley's Death.
He drew a large question mark beside it and slid it toward Theo while Slughorn exclaimed, "Twenty points to Gryffindor." And he went back to the board.
Theo looked over it a few times and wrote; Do you think she killed him?
Harry pointed at the question mark and shrugged.
Slughorn said, "Mr. Nott and Mr. Potter, while I am certain you are both gifted in Potions I must remind you that you two are students under my supervision and are required to pay attention in class." Harry flushed at the unwanted attention and nearly screamed when Slughorn said, "I don't need to read that note aloud do I?"
"Sorry, Sir," they both stated slowly and Harry folded the parchment and hid it in his bag beneath everything else.
They were dismissed and warned that they needed to brush up on their knowledge of Golpalott's Third Law for the next class because it was then that they would need to try to concoct their own antidote. Theo was called to stay behind for a moment, much to his dismay, and he told Harry to have fun in his next class before kissing his hand discreetly and turning back to the new Potions Master.
Harry left the Dungeon's with both Ron and Draco. As soon as the doors to the dungeons were behind them Draco began to complain stridently. Harry shook his head and saw Ron pat the blonde roughly on the back and tell him to calm down. Harry felt like the dynamics of everyone he knew and everything that used to be was shifting before his eyes.