Well, we're not quite to 225 yet, so again we'll go from my dedication list (yes, I actually have a list…). This one is for Fire Senshi, who has been really cool since the beginning. Thanks for everything!
Iniysa: Well, you weren't on the mark, but the ones who were didn't list items. So I took it off my running list of dedications.
Kateri: I know I would feel awful if I had to spend the rest of the term with Gryffindors. And yes, I feel for the Slytherins too.
Little Suzi: Would moi put Severus in danger? Surely you jest! You'll just have to read to find out.
Lady Lightning: Snape cast a spell listing all of the injuries Harry had ever received. He had to sit and explain each one (the ones he could remember…I don't think he could remember some of the early ones).
Charlie YuY: A costume ball huh? Maybe for Halloween. That would be cool, I may just use that! Thanks muchness!
Luna Rose and Phoenix Child: Wow…that's out there. You guys are great…*mumbles* for Gryffindors…oh! Right…on with the chapter! *glances around nervously*
Saimhe: I haven't been updating as often as I used too…this chapter took a while. Glad you like it!
Saavik: Very useful that. Just came to me (hehe).
Chaser: Oh, will he ever…
Takari4ever7: That brings the total up to 5 other than Snape and Harry. There will be some Harry/Hermione moments in future chapters.
Lee Lee Potter: He probably didn't remember the ones from when he was younger, but most of them he could probably remember, as the Dursleys used him more as he got older. London in the next chapter (I think, don't quote me on that).
Floramorada: Probably a typical nurse. Doesn't care unless it affects her patient negatively. Hehe
Lei Dumbledore: Thanks! Here's some more.
The Kuro no Tenshi: Yes, you got one, ya freak. The Sword of Truth huh? Yer good people, but you are strange. But that's okay, because I am too.
Esperanza: Read on MacDuff! (Wow, was that corny)
Phoenix Flight: Original? I dunno, I guess my muse likes me (even though he is a Gryffindor).
Creamy Mimi: Till now.
Pineapplehead: Then we're in agreement. You know, one of my friends actually emailed me asking who Alan Rickman was (after I ranted a little in prior email). I still haven't gotten over the shock to even try to explain. I was floored.
Radcliffe-Lover: Yes, way too many injuries. But rest assured, he'll never be going back to the Dursleys (remember, they think he was eaten by a panther).
Fire Senshi: Totally! (Sorry, little "Bill and Ted" moment.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"An attack on Muggle London could have dire consequences."
"I know Severus, but what are we to do? This could expose our world to them in a most disastrous way. They may never trust us after this." Albus took off his half-moon spectacles and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Severus sunk down into the sofa.
"Does Voldemort know about his connection with Harry?"
"No, I don't think so. At least I hope not."
"Then we may be able to kill two birds with one stone. If Lucius is the only one he told, and Aurors are present to halt an attack, Voldemort will think Lucius is the spy." Dumbledore's eyes shot up in delight.
"You're absolutely right. How do we alert the Aurors without alerting most of the Ministry? Lucius would certainly hear of it and become suspicious." Severus thought for a moment before a light of discovery shone behind his eyes.
"We may not need the Aurors. The Underground." Dumbledore nodded and Severus swept off to the dungeons. They probably won't even remember who I am. Hell, I don't know if they still exist. He was stopped mid-thought by Poppy.
"Severus, have you seen Mr. Potter?" He stopped in his tracks and turned on the woman, noting the students in the hall with his eyes.
"Poppy, if Mr. Potter is not in the Hospital Wing where is supposed to be, then it is entirely your concern. I am far too busy to go on a search for an insufferable brat. Good day." He continued on his way and Poppy merely huffed and continued on her search.
~Where are you?~
~Hiding from Pompfrey~
~Why?~
~I hate that place~
~Come to the dungeons~ He entered his room to find Harry lying on the couch.
"I'm already in the dungeons." He sat up painfully and leaned back against the couch. "I'm hungry."
"You sound like an insolent child, and I will not tolerate it. If you feel well enough to traipse around the dungeons, you can go to the dining hall and eat something." Severus swept straight to his study and shut the door. Harry stared after him, wondering what had caused such a radical change. A knock on the portrait interrupted his thoughts. Snape was in his study, not to be disturbed, but if it was Poppy, he didn't want to answer it. She'd send him back to the Hospital Wing immediately. A voice penetrated the silence.
"Severus? Harry?" It was the Headmaster. Harry opened the portrait and smiled sheepishly.
"He's in his study. He seemed in a hurry." Dumbledore nodded and sat down on the couch, motioning for Harry to join him.
"He is contacting the Underground." Harry sat on the couch and stared into the fire.
"What's that?"
"The Underground is an elite group of wizards that are better than Aurors when it comes to defense against the dark arts. They were around when Voldemort first rose to power."
"Why didn't they just become Aurors?"
"Because, Harry, Aurors work for the Ministry, and can be compromised easily. Just as we have a spy in the Death Eaters' midst, they may have people on the inside. Such as Lucius Malfoy."
"So, the Underground is off the record?"
"Exactly. I'm sure by now you've heard of the Order of the Phoenix?" Harry shook his head. "The Order was organized to stop Voldemort. Your mother and James were both members, as were Sirius, Remus, and Severus."
"Did the Underground work for the Order?"
"In a manner of speaking. They had one representative at the Order who gathered information. They were the ones who took care of the covert operations; the ones where we couldn't afford to be seen." Harry smiled.
"Like in Muggle London. But who are they?"
"No one really knows. They don't even use their real names, only code names."
"And they still exist?"
"I'm sure they are still around. They lost their organization after Voldemort's downfall, but they're probably regrouping now."
"And how does Professor Snape plan on contacting them?" Harry threw a glance at the study, wondering what his father was doing in those walls.
"Certain members of the Order were given special scrolls that allowed him or her to contact the leader. There were only three with this privilege: myself, Severus, and Arabella Figg."
"Why just you three?"
"I was head of the Order, and Severus was our spy. Sometimes he had to contact them directly instead of going through the Order. Bell, well she needed the scrolls in case she needed to contact them over the years to protect you," Dumbledore said, smiling.
"You mean old Mrs. Figg? With the cats?" Harry asked incredulously.
The Headmaster chuckled, "Yes, she has quite an affinity for the animals. She was assigned to protect you."
"How do you get in?" Harry was getting excited now, but a voice from the hall broke his chain of thought.
"You must be chosen by the leader and survive a series of tests. It is not pretty and most people compare it to that of Death Eaters' initiation. You, however, need not worry about it." Severus sat in the chair and looked at the Headmaster. "Valiant agreed to organize his best operatives to take care of the London problem. Hopefully, deaths can be avoided." Harry smiled a little, and Dumbledore turned.
"Thanks to you, Harry."
Harry shrugged, "If I'm going to be forced to witness it anyway…" he trailed off, not really knowing what to say. His stomach grumbled, breaking the uncomfortable silence, and Severus and Dumbledore stood.
"Well, Severus, I'll leave you two. Let him eat something, then make him rest. As for you," he turned to Harry, "eat something light. You don't have to be in bed all day, but I would like it if you napped a little. Then you can lounge about or whatever. No strenuous activities." He nodded and the Headmaster smiled. "Good day!" He trotted out of the chambers and Severus nodded curtly.
"Let's get you something to eat then." Harry nodded and followed him to the dining hall. Dobby brought them food while telling Harry all about the Welcoming Feast from the kitchens. Severus ate in silence, while Harry offered a nod to the house elf every now and then. When Harry finished his soup, Snape took him to the guest chambers, where he slept for several hours. He awoke to his father note saying he went to dinner in the Great Hall and Harry shouldn't bother coming up. So he occupied himself with a game of chess against the board until Snape came back.
"Having fun?" Harry moved his bishop into checkmate and smiled.
"Yes." The other king dropped his sword and nodded at Harry. He reset the board and looked up at his professor.
"Care to play me?" Snape raised an eyebrow and sat opposite his son.
"I was never very good. Your mother always beat me." Harry smiled.
"Well then, I can win against someone for a change. Ron always beats me." Five minutes into the game, Harry began to sweat, and he looked up accusingly at Snape. "I thought you said you weren't very good?"
Snape merely smirked, "It's all about redirection." Harry scowled and concentrated harder on the game. In the end, they fought to a stalemate, and Harry pushed back. "That's it, I'm done!" He pulled out his Charms book he had bought with his school texts and began reading.
"When did you get that?"
"I went back to the Tower and got some of my stuff. Christmas holidays are coming up quick."
"We still have Halloween next week."
Harry smiled, "Just as long as Covial doesn't let a troll in, I'll be okay." Snape leaned forward in his chair.
"Just what happened that night? I doubt very seriously that Miss Granger would have gone looking for the troll herself." Harry laughed.
"Ron had insulted her that day, and she was crying all day in the bathroom. When Quirrell came in and we all returned, I realized she didn't know, so Ron and I ran to get her. We were about to go in when we heard the troll walking, so we hid and watched it go into the bathroom. We followed it and I, uh, attacked it. Somehow, I landed on its back and stuck my wand up its nose. It pulled me off and tried to cleave my head off, but Ron levitated the club over its head, then dropped it. Knocked it out cold. I grabbed my wand, and you came in." Finished, Harry waited for his father's response.
"That's certainly more feasible than her story. What about Black's escape?" Snape was going to take everything he could get.
"Well, uh, Dumbledore hinted at Hermione to use her time-turner, so we went back and freed Buckbeak, who we then rode up, and set Sirius free. He flew off and we got back to the Wing just before you came, er, storming in."
"I was quite livid."
"That's the understatement of the year. Of course, you weren't nearly as mad as you were in the Shrieking Shack."
"That was the first time I had seen Black since the night he annulled the marriage." Harry snorted.
"Then I'm surprised you didn't kill him on sight." Snape smirked in return.
"The thought had crossed my mind." Harry tried to suppress a yawn, but failed. "You should go to bed." Harry nodded and walked toward the hall. "Where are you going?"
"To bed, like you told me to." He continued as Snape watched in silence. "Good night," he called from the hall.
"Good night," Snape replied, still perplexed at Harry's actions. Surely the boy would be more comfortable in the room he occupied in the summer? Or Gryffindor Tower? He sat musing by the fire for several more hours until he, too, felt tired. Squelching the flames, he stood and stretched. He walked to his chambers, but stopped just outside Harry's door, wondering if he should check on him. Finally giving in, he opened the door a little and was surprised at what he saw.
Harry hadn't just brought "some of his stuff." The small bookshelf was lined with his old text books. A poster of the Irish Seeker hung on the wall. The room, which had originally been decorated in green and black, was now done in red and silver. The wardrobe, which was hanging open, showed many of Harry's leisure robes and clothes. Snape smiled a little at the sprawled figure on the bed and shut the door. Tomorrow, he would worry about anyone's suspicions. Tonight, he would let Harry sleep here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NOTICE: In your review, name one object (anything you like) and the 225th reviewer will have the next chapter (after the review) dedicated to them personally, and I will include the item somehow (promise it won't be hokey…unless it's something totally off the wall). If it ever gets that high, I will also do that with 250th reviewer, 275th, etc…so review away people!