Disclaimer: NOT Blonde, Not rich, not living in Britain, initials are not JKR therefore don't own. Love the characters and the setting so I am just playing, I get nothing but the reviews my readers give me. Authorship shared with Darkshadowedrose. Beta read by Alix33.
A/N: Sorry for slow updates. Summer heat kills my creativity and I have so many projects both with writing and RL that I'm just slow.
Trust is a Relative Thing
Chapter 36 Making Peace
Harry felt strange. At Professor Lupin's request Sunday afternoon they had tea, Harry quickly discovered that while the Professor could tell him stories about his father but he had relatively few about his mother.
"Lily was wonderful. She was smart. She excelled at Potions and Charms. She loved James very much. She- they loved you very much, I think the day you were born was the happiest day of their lives."
Harry wanted to say, 'Well, duh she married him.' And he already knew that she excelled at Potions and Charms from her journals. Subconsciously though it was very reassuring to hear from someone who had known them that they loved him very much.
"Professor.."
"Yes, Harry?"
"I've been wondering if...never mind it's stupid."
""What Harry? I very much doubt if anything you could ask would be dumb."
Harry mentally cheered, he wanted extra defense tutelage. "I just, well...Last year, Lord Voldemort tried to return. He tried to kill me once before, he did kill my family. He doesn't strike me as the type to worry about collateral damage. He took Neville to force me to do what he wanted. I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me and my friends extra defense. Last year Quirell wasn't really very good and Lockhart was a danger to himself and others."
"I'm flattered. But what about your other classes?"
"We're all top students. I just somehow know that being my friends is going to one day put them in danger. If not from Voldemort, then from his followers."
"You would think about his followers, given you're in Slytherin."
"Are you one of those people that think if you're in Slytherin you're automatically Dark?"
"What? No! I know better, that's like people who say werewolves are automatically evil. I could never do that, not with what I am. I just meant that a lot of the families in Slytherin were followers."
"Yeah, I suppose. Most of the students in the house are okay with my being there but there are a few... Professor Snape kind of laid down the law after Draco Malfoy attacked me last year. The dark ones pretty much act like I don't exist. Which is fine."
"Draco Malfoy attacked you?"
'Yes. I kind of provoked him into it though."
"Why? How?"
"Why? Because the git was messing with my grades trying to get me in trouble with the teachers. I figured if I got him in hot water they would back off. It worked. He almost got expelled, if his father hadn't stepped in and used his influence he would have been. How? Well...That was a thing of beauty, see I said..."
Remus listened to the story and was enthralled. He laughed loudly when he heard what Harry said about Lucius Malfoy. It was obvious that Harry did have a prankster streak and he understood human nature very well. The whole thing was well done, it definitely showed that Harry understood the political side of life as well, something Lily had understood but that had escaped James completely until after seventh year. It was also sad, because while Harry's eyes sparkled with delight as he told the story, as the story ended Harry's mask came back over his face.
"So you can see why I think it would be good if my friends got some extra defense training." Harry concluded.
"Yes, yes I can see that. I'll have to discuss it with the Headmaster, to see if I can open up a defense practical to allow students to expand their knowledge."
"Oh, but-"
"Harry I could teach you alone because I was good friends with your father but as soon as I open that teaching up to your friends I have to open it to the student body or it becomes grounds for accusations of favoritism and it could get me fired."
Harry's expression clouded. "I see. I'm sorry. I didn't think about that." Harry thought carefully. He supposed it was possible for him to learn from Lupin, and turn right back around and teach his friends. "I'll have to think about it then."
"Okay. I wanted to talk to you about your godfather." Remus was astonished at how fast Harry shut down.
"What about him?"
"I don't know what he said to you, but I know he didn't really mean it. He's still...confused because of Azkaban."
"Maybe but in my mind that makes it more, not less, likely that he would say what he really thinks. He despises me for being a snake rather than a lion. His prerogative, just as it's mine to have nothing to do with him."
Remus winced. He could now see that less than forgiving side that Severus Snape said Harry had. "Sirius has issues, he spent so much time in-"
"Save it. Yes, he has issues, serious ones if you'll pardon the pun, not the least of which is a puny mind. Leave it, Professor."
Remus debated saying more but decided not to risk the fragile rapport that he was establishing with Harry.
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Healer Smethwyck was stymied. He was positive it was possession by some spirit but he had traced no means by which the spirit could have connected to the soul of this girl. The spirit was slowly but surely draining her. Sooner or later this girl would die if he didn't figure this out. The ward nurse knocked softly on his office door.
"Yes, Janice?"
"This just arrived via a snowy owl."
"What is it?"
"I don't know but it is addressed healer in charge of Ginerva Weasley's case."
"Then I guess I should open it, shouldn't I."
To the healer in charge of Ginerva Weasley,
I am a fellow Hogwarts student of Miss Weasley's. I have spoken to her brother and I understand the diagnosis for Miss Weasley is possession, but that you're having difficulties finding the means by which this has happened. I was having a conversation with another acquaintance of Miss Weasley and she mentioned that Miss Weasley's only current friend appeared to be a diary. I, myself, have not seen the diary and have not spoken with Miss Weasley, but feel it is an an avenue worth exploring.
Sincerely, a concerned Hogwarts student
Healer Smethwyck sighed if he were one whit less desperate in this case he would simply pitch this letter into the trash. Unfortunately he was that desperate, and they were at the the point where any lead was worth following. He headed to the ward to find Molly Weasley.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
The school relaxed a bit as no more attacks occurred. Slytherin stomped Hufflepuff in their quidditch game, and were looking forward to the match with Ravenclaw. They were in the lead for both the quidditch cup and the house cup, and contrary to previous years they were playing a mostly clean game instead of bullying their way there as they had done previous years.
The teachers were no closer to figuring out how to get access to the Chamber than they had been after the return from the winter holidays and they were starting to consider bricking over the entrance to the girls bathroom that Myrtle lived in.
Harry and Neville finally persuaded their cadre of friends to rise early and join them for exercise in the mornings.
"Why are we doing this again?" Susan panted to Daphne, Hannah, Hermione, and Tracey .
"Because if we're fit we'll be able to cast longer and be better able to dodge, besides more boys will notice us if we're shapely than if we're blobs." Hermione answered, knowing that the other girls were interested in boys, and fighting her own resentment of the situation. Her mother had voiced a concern over the Easter holidays that Hermione was gaining a little more weight than was strictly healthy due to not balancing her book reading time with more active pursuits, joining the group for morning exercise was her answer. At least this way she wasn't the only girl here, Lavender and Parvati mocked Hermione saying that she was foolish and would doubtlessly wind up an old maid because what wizard would want a girl that wasn't soft, and was smarter than them. Which left her feeling afraid of the future in many ways because she did want a husband someday, but she wasn't willing to compromise her principles to do so.
Harry had overcome Michael and Blaise's objections by pointing out that while, yes, they were wizards not muggles, having hand-to-hand skills meant that if they were in the muggle world they could definitely avoid being accused of breaking the Statute of Secrecy by being able to defend themselves without magic. He also mentioned how girls noticed strong and fit boys. Harry shook his head inwardly because for all their intelligence the boys were rather simple, and both had entered the stage of thinking with their gonads. Harry dreaded the day when his own body started acting that way. It wasn't that he was still a little boy thinking girls had cooties, but he didn't really see the draw yet and he preferred to avoid acting the idiot that so many boys did around girls.
Even Aaron had joined them although he didn't participate in the actual hand-to-hand portion. The research into osteogenesis imperfecta having convinced him that exercise, like tai chi and walking, could actually help his bones get stronger. He walked while the others ran, and couldn't wait for summer when he would swim, or so he told Harry.
The last few months of school went by, Harry's cadre studying hard, Harry taking Remus up on the private tutelage and turning around and teaching it to his friends. During one of his weekend games with Ron Weasley he heard that they had found a diary with the name Tom Marvolo Riddle on it that was responsible for Ginny Weasley's possession. But that curing her wasn't as straightforward as they thought, because so far the diary had resisted all attempts at destroying it. Experts from the ministry's Unspeakables were studying it.
Draco never again allowed his belongings to overrun Harry's side of the room. The thing Harry couldn't figure out was how when he was so infernally sloppy with his belongings yet he always managed a neat as a pin appearance especially since Draco wasn't allowed his wand. He found it annoyingly unfair. He was tidy in his habits, but due to his hair always presented a ruffled appearance. Blaise, after a couple weeks of snorting amusement at Harry's disgruntlement, explained that all magical children learned to perform a few simple self care charms wandlessly, most by the age of eight. He took pity on Harry and showed him all the basic charms to brush his teeth, press and spot clean his clothing, and to clean his face and hands. He explained most wizards did these charms several times a day as a matter of habit. Blaise also tried to teach him the charm that wizards used on their hair but Harry quickly gave up on that one when his hair went from looking a bit like hedgehog spikes to looking like something was trying to make a home in his hair. Harry thought at least with the spikes, his hair was obviously clean.
Finally the last weeks of term arrived, and with it finals. After Harry's last test, he went to his Head of House's office.
"Yes, what is it, Mr. Potter?"
"Sir, I've kept quiet about something all year, not wanting to cause panic or to be blamed for something I didn't do, but with the plan to brick over the girls bathroom I feel that I should say something. Bricking up the bathroom is a poor solution to the problem in my opinion, what would stop someone from vanishing the bricks? The only way to ensure the basilisk is never used to harm students again is to kill it, is it not?"
"I agree but without a parseltongue to open the chamber we have no way of doing so."
"Can you give me your word never to tell anyone what I am about to tell you without my express permission and without garnering the same promise from them?"
Severus Snape's instincts sharpened. Here was possibly his chance to build a tie to the world's next powerful wizard. He didn't kid himself: Albus was old, and he had his eye on Harry as a successor. Harry- while quiet- was a powerful young wizard in his own right, despite how much as he personally might wish to deny the fact. He instinctively drew his wand and used the wording of a wizard's oath to answer. "I, Severus Snape, swear on my magic to hold the information Harry James Potter tells me to myself. Telling only those he gives me permission to tell, and only after getting an oath of secrecy from them."
Harry recognized the wording and a half-smile crept across his face at the glow from Professor Snape's wand. "I am a parselmouth. I am not completely sure of the how. I spoke with the portraits of my ancestors over the Christmas holidays and one mentioned a dark spell that has in the past been used to steal family magics. If a family was hunted to extinction before the last member was killed this spell could be used to take magic that is traditionally passed by the blood. But if both were the last of their line and the attacking wizard failed in his attempt then his family magic would be the one forfeited. I believe that Voldemort was the last of Slytherin's line and that he had intended to take the Potter family magics. But when whatever happened happened it cost him the Slytherin magics instead. I tell you this because I believe I could possibly open the chamber of secrets so the basilisk could be dealt with."
"You have spoken with a snake before?"
"Yes, several times. To me it just sounds like English, but I've been told I'm hissing."
"Interesting. I agree that the plan to brick over the bathroom is impractical. Your explanation as to how you, a Potter, is a parselmouth also makes sense. I will need to speak to the Headmaster-" Snape watched as Harry's face hardened. "Why so much dislike for the Headmaster? He is the acclaimed Leader of the Light, to dislike him is to cast one's own goodness into question."
" I tell you this in confidence, under the same instructions as the fact I am a parselmouth. I dislike those that deny others their right to choose their own path: those that manipulate, tell half-truths, and guilt or otherwise force others into doing their bidding. Those who, while maybe having good intentions, commit heinous acts in the name of the greater good. Who is to say his greater good isn't the road to hell? To quote a muggle saying, the road to hell us paved with good intentions. I know this is a rather heretical notion in the wizarding world, but I believe that everyone has a bit of larceny deep down in their soul. I find myself asking what is in it for the Great and Powerful Albus Dumbledore as I look at how he tries to force me into a certain mold.. I ask what is his greater good going to cost me, and finally, would I also count it as worth the price?
"He has lead the wizarding world for the better half of the last half-century. But prejudice is rampant even here at Hogwarts or perhaps I should say especially here. The wizarding world is limited in philosophy, art, music and in many respects it lags far behind the muggle world. If this is his idea of leadership, perhaps it's time for someone with new ideas. Just so it is clear, when I say it's time for new ideas; I don't mean ideas of the sort that Voldemort espouses. That if anything is moving us backwards."
Severus felt stunned. He had never before heard such a succinct summation of the Headmaster's modus operandi. "So, do you want to be this new leader?"
"Not really, I'm actually somewhat lazy at heart. I want to be happy, to have work to do, people to love, and things to keep my body and mind stimulated. I want the world around me to be a mostly happy, safe and prosperous place."
"That's it? That is the sum of your ambition?"
"Yes."
"But..." Severus Snape blinked dumbfoundedly at the boy across from him. "How could you possibly be sorted in to Slytherin with that bit of Hufflepuffish drivel as the sum of your ambition?"
A half-smile crossed Harry's face, "Consider who I am, and who seeks to use me, and who seeks my destruction, Professor. I find it ambitious enough." Harry thought for a moment. ""You have my permission to tell the Headmaster I came to you and informed you I am a parselmouth, but that is all you may tell him, nothing of my speculation of how that came to be and certainly nothing I've said of my motives. With Marcus leaving, you and I are going to be forced into a working relationship of sorts. If even a whisper of my motives or ambitions becomes known I will know from whence the leak was sprung and rest assured what little trust I place in you will dry up and blow away. Don't disappoint me." Harry rose to his feet and left the office, leaving the Professor to contemplate the truth in his words and to decide how and what to say to the Headmaster.
Severus Snape sat -quietly turning over what he'd been told in his head- for several minutes. He was startled when a knock sounded on his office door. It was Draco.
"You sent for me, sir?"
"Yes, come in, Draco. Take a seat. I have something for you." He used his wand to close his office door and set up a few privacy wards. "You are still having problems with the attack?"
Draco drooped and looking at his lap he said, "Yes, sir."
"Draco, the shame of what happened is not on you, indeed it belongs to Lockhart and to myself and the other faculty for not protecting you."
"But- I'm the one he... he-"
"I know. But you are not at fault. Be quiet a moment. I have helped you keep this secret, have I not? I have brewed potions for you, yes?"
Draco nodded, unsure of where this was going.
"In the magical world among magicals rape is unheard of, we have no means by which we can counsel those who are raped or almost raped. This is not the case in the muggle world. I have in between my duties here at school sought out muggle rape counselors and made an effort to learn what they know. I have done this because your father would never consent to send you to a muggle therapist. I will ask that you read these books, Draco. Do the exercises in them, and I will come and talk to you we can discuss these books or anything else when I come each week. This must stay between us, Draco. If your father knew of it, he would surely forbid it. I believe if you and I do this then you may get better. You do wish to get better?"
"Yes, I do and I understand." Draco took the books. He found himself wondering if this was what Harry had meant. He had a great respect for the other boy. His father would be furious to hear him say it, but he did. Harry kept his word: he had not told anyone, he had not mocked Draco for his nightmares, he had not insulted Draco or his family unless provoked, he even had followed through and burned Draco's belongings when they were left on his side of the room. Potter took care of his friends, he worked hard for the things he got and expected neither praise or adulation. He was a good person. He would act for the benefit of others even if it gained him nothing as long as the cost was worth it in his mind. His biggest fault that Draco could see was he had a temper. He was slow to trust and even slower to forgive.
Draco found it odd that he did want Harry's forgiveness, for his actions first year. It had taken a long time but Draco had come to understand that he had overreacted to Potter's words. He had even come to see that he had partly deserved it and that the timing of that confrontation was positively Slytherin, despite the other boy's Gryffindorkish traits. Given all of those things Draco honestly wanted to be counted as one of Harry's friends. He knew however, after what was said first year that his father would forbid it, and that his father wasn't above using the children of his fellow Death Eaters to spy on his son's activities.