"Please wait here."
McGonnagal had stopped them just past the statue that led up to Dumbledore's old office. She turned around once as she was walking up the stairs, as if to make sure they wouldn't run away the moment her back was turned.
Once she was out of earshot, Harry ventured to ask, "So, I suppose when we get up there, we have to change back to our own bodies to prove to Snape who we really are."
Harry had never completely conquered his original attitude toward Snape--half hate, half respect, and he was slightly fearful at thought of Snape's expression when he saw two respectable old men transform into Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, his most hated student and his favorite student from their Hogwarts days.
Draco, once again, seemed to be thinking what Harry was.
"It'll certainly be amusing, the expression on Snape's face, when he sees us back in our real bodies," he said, barely suppressing a grin, but doing so admirably. It would not do for McGonnagal to return and find two serious American Auror Diplomats laughing over some trivial matter.
"D'yeh think he'll be any different?" Harry wondered aloud.
"You mean from his old, greasy, ass-like self?"
"Yeah." Harry grinned. "Wonder if he still hates me."
"He never hated you. Just strongly disliked."
"Hah And now I suppose you're going to try to convince me that Voldemort was just a confused, misunderstood little boy."
"Precisely."
"Very funny. Seriously, though, how do you think he'll react to seeing us?"
"Shock, disbelief, pride, hate. In that order."
"Pride? Why pride."
"Come on, Harry. "He has to feel a little bit of pride. After all, he taught the joint defeaters of Voldemort, fairly or not."
Harry nodded and began examining the trinkets and pictures along the wall. It was actually pretty funny, he thought, that Snape could be proud. Of him, no less.
Harry ran his hands idly aling the walls, wishing McGonnagal would hurry up. However, he was startled out of his thought to discover the painting of none other than Sir Cadagon, the insane knight who had, admittedly, helped Harry for various reasons, several times. Cadagon was looking up at Harry in a mixture of shock and amazement. Harry had no doubts he had heard his and Draco's conversation, consisting of the reaealing that these two men were really Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Finally, Sir Cadagon seemed to return to his senses.
"My good sirs!" he exclaimed delightedly. "You are really the famous-"
"Shut up!" Draco hissed in alarm. Helooked nervously up the stairs, confirming that it was still empty. Then he turned back at the painting. His eyes were narrowed, and he glancd at Harry for help.
Harry decided to make his conversation short and to the point, so as to not lose Sir Cadagon's interest.
"He means that this is a very serious matter, Sir Cadagon. Very grave indeed. We request, respectfully, that you mention this conversation to no one. I would not be asking this of you if I didn't know for a fact that you were trustworthy."
Sir Cadagon swelled at these last words. "I would do nothing to betray your trust," he announced proudly.
"Thanks," Harry and Draco said together, in relief.
Just then, footfalls could be heard coming back down the stairs. McGonnagal stood before them once more.
"Headmaster Snape will see you now. Please follow me."
Harry and Draco glancd at each other before following.
They reached the top, and McGonnagal pushed open the ornate oak door.
a/n: sorry peeps! i know you all want them to get to snape's office, but i had to have this chapter in here. it's important for later in the story. and for all you wanting flashbacks on how harry and draco got together, just hang in there for a couple more chapters.
McGonnagal had stopped them just past the statue that led up to Dumbledore's old office. She turned around once as she was walking up the stairs, as if to make sure they wouldn't run away the moment her back was turned.
Once she was out of earshot, Harry ventured to ask, "So, I suppose when we get up there, we have to change back to our own bodies to prove to Snape who we really are."
Harry had never completely conquered his original attitude toward Snape--half hate, half respect, and he was slightly fearful at thought of Snape's expression when he saw two respectable old men transform into Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, his most hated student and his favorite student from their Hogwarts days.
Draco, once again, seemed to be thinking what Harry was.
"It'll certainly be amusing, the expression on Snape's face, when he sees us back in our real bodies," he said, barely suppressing a grin, but doing so admirably. It would not do for McGonnagal to return and find two serious American Auror Diplomats laughing over some trivial matter.
"D'yeh think he'll be any different?" Harry wondered aloud.
"You mean from his old, greasy, ass-like self?"
"Yeah." Harry grinned. "Wonder if he still hates me."
"He never hated you. Just strongly disliked."
"Hah And now I suppose you're going to try to convince me that Voldemort was just a confused, misunderstood little boy."
"Precisely."
"Very funny. Seriously, though, how do you think he'll react to seeing us?"
"Shock, disbelief, pride, hate. In that order."
"Pride? Why pride."
"Come on, Harry. "He has to feel a little bit of pride. After all, he taught the joint defeaters of Voldemort, fairly or not."
Harry nodded and began examining the trinkets and pictures along the wall. It was actually pretty funny, he thought, that Snape could be proud. Of him, no less.
Harry ran his hands idly aling the walls, wishing McGonnagal would hurry up. However, he was startled out of his thought to discover the painting of none other than Sir Cadagon, the insane knight who had, admittedly, helped Harry for various reasons, several times. Cadagon was looking up at Harry in a mixture of shock and amazement. Harry had no doubts he had heard his and Draco's conversation, consisting of the reaealing that these two men were really Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Finally, Sir Cadagon seemed to return to his senses.
"My good sirs!" he exclaimed delightedly. "You are really the famous-"
"Shut up!" Draco hissed in alarm. Helooked nervously up the stairs, confirming that it was still empty. Then he turned back at the painting. His eyes were narrowed, and he glancd at Harry for help.
Harry decided to make his conversation short and to the point, so as to not lose Sir Cadagon's interest.
"He means that this is a very serious matter, Sir Cadagon. Very grave indeed. We request, respectfully, that you mention this conversation to no one. I would not be asking this of you if I didn't know for a fact that you were trustworthy."
Sir Cadagon swelled at these last words. "I would do nothing to betray your trust," he announced proudly.
"Thanks," Harry and Draco said together, in relief.
Just then, footfalls could be heard coming back down the stairs. McGonnagal stood before them once more.
"Headmaster Snape will see you now. Please follow me."
Harry and Draco glancd at each other before following.
They reached the top, and McGonnagal pushed open the ornate oak door.
a/n: sorry peeps! i know you all want them to get to snape's office, but i had to have this chapter in here. it's important for later in the story. and for all you wanting flashbacks on how harry and draco got together, just hang in there for a couple more chapters.
