After hearing Draco's extraordinary announcement, Harry decided he was quite keen on seeing Snape's reaction.

Snape, for the moment, sat in shock. The weird little half smile he had plastered on when Harry and Draco had arrived was still faintly visible. He reacted fairly quickly, though, stood, and glared sharply at Draco.

"Malfoy?" he hissed, still struggling to regain his composure.

The play of emotions that were on Snape's face for the briefest moment, Harry noticed with interest, was almost exactly as Draco had said they would be. Shock-- eyes disgustingly wide, disbelief--eyes and eyebrows lowering and scowling, pride--this was the briefest- a faint trumphant look, and then- back to Snape's almost-permanent scowl. Interesting. Perhaps dear old Draco had known Snape better than Harry had thought.

During Harry's strenuous, albeit brief, thinking, Snape unbelievingly repeated his inquisition.

"Draco Malfoy?" he asked in astonishment.

Draco looked at him and grinned slightly.

"That's me," he said. "Good to see you, Snape. How've you been?"

Snape ignored the question. He had resumed his normal, haughty, unruffled self admirably. Nevertheless, he was extremely curious. He placed his elbows on the table, laced his fingers together, and gazed at only at Draco, who was still standing. Snape had obviously completely forgotten about "Chester", in the recent turn of events.

"Tell me," he said, fascination evident in his voice, "if you will, why you are back in Europe, and at Hogwarts, of all places?"

Draco started to say, "Well we-," but then stopped. "One moment, please," he said, holding up a finger.

Turning to Harry, who had sat down and was watching Snape and Draco's conversation with interest, sat up when Draco said softly, "NOW would be a good time, Harry."

"Okay." Harry stood, said the spell, and became the young man instantly recognizable since the age of one in the wizarding community all over the world as THE Harry Potter, all black hair, green eyes, and lean body of him.

Snape stared.


a/n Fear not! i'm working on nine AS WE SPEAK! Should be out by today or tomorrow. im doing these two so close together to make up for absence from a computer due to camp, for almost three weeks.