Snape couldn't sleep.
Well, he hadn't really slept since joining the Death Eaters, and in truth it was quite useful to be able to stay up as long as he wanted. Due to a potion all Death Eaters took, sleep was a luxury rather than a necessity. After all.Voldemort loved nothing more than an all night killing spree followed by a summoning precisely 10 minutes after his loyal servants had fallen asleep.
But something felt wrong tonight. Something he couldn't place about Potter. Ok, so he probably was foolish enough to get involved in a street fight in muggle London, and doubtless those ridiculous muggles he lived with had encouraged his *bravery*.but it was the stench of pain and misery emitted from the shadow in his office that bothered.
But..the boy was meant to be the saviour of the wizarding world, so it did make sense that it would look a bit stupid for him to have been beaten up by muggles. Rolling his eyes for even thinking Potter needed his help, Snape went back to marking exam scripts, but soon his mind was wandering again.
He couldn't get the picture of Harry out of his mind, lying like dead on the stone floor..swishing out of the door with a harder glare than Snape himself could manage..something had changed about the boy over the summer..honestly, some of the crazy things muggles do, Snape thought. But then again, Harry was growing up. His relatives had undoubtedly coddled him to within an inch of his life, and here was the stupid boy being moody.
This time, Snape carried on with his marking, pushing all thoughts of the boy out of his mind.
*********************
Draco couldn't sleep either. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. He pulled on the invisibility cloak that had been a gift from his father (anything Potter could have, so could Draco) and wandered through the cold corridors of the dungeon.
As he wandered he thought. Thought about his final decision to inform Dumbledore of Voldemort's plan to break the spells cast on Hogwarts. Over the holidays Dumbledore had strengthened the defences and the attack had failed miserably, at least seven Death Eaters being turned in to the Ministry. Fudge had also dismissed the Dementors from Azkaban, doubtless scared of Dumbledore, and instead placed unbreakable charms on the doors.
And he had saved Potter's life in destroying his fathers.
So why didn't he feel remorse?
He had lost everything.his father was rotting under the Ministry's care, his mother had disowned him. But Dumbledore and Snape were proud.and he had saved a life, maybe several. And he would never have to kill an innocent person.
Draco's thoughts were interrupted as he tripped over something.
"unngh..."
"What the..Potter..What the HELL are you doing?"
Harry squirmed under Draco's piercing silver gaze.
"Umm.I was tired?"
Draco looked at Harry shrewdly.
"You need to get some rest. In a BED. You've heard of those in the muggle world? I daresay you had the softest and warmest one money could buy with those bloody muggles. I bet....
"Shut up!"
"Aww, poor ickle Potter. You homesick? You could never understand pain, Potter. You are so perfect.How do you think it feels to be placed under the Cruciatus, eh? It bloody well hurts Potter. Nobody deserves it, but people get it anyway and it's all because of you. All because of your bloody stupidity. All because of your damned bloody bravery, that's why my bloody father is rotting in some prison.."
Harry only half listened. He was trying to figure out how to get together enough energy to punch Malfoy. Nearly, nearly, just a little more swing...
#CRACK#
"owwwwwwwww!" squealed Draco, sounding incredibly girlish.
Then he kicked out sharply, foot connecting with one of Harry's broken ribs.
The boy gave a slight grunt as the wind left him, and passed out again.
Then Snape appeared, black robes billowing around him.
*how does he do that?* wondered Draco. It was the last thing he wondered, as he suddenly realised he was lying next to an unconscious and VERY visible Potter in the hallway, invisibility cloak only draped over one of Draco's shoulders. And Snape seemed to be dragging him up by the scruff of his neck.
"Explain, Mr Malfoy, why you are out in the middle of the night, wearing a forbidden invisibility cloak, making enough of a racket to wake the dead (just then the Bloody Baron drifted past looking annoyed) and WHY Mr Potter is lying unconscious nearby your extended left leg?"
Draco gulped.
Snape's face twisted into concern.
"And what happened to your face?"
"Potter..hit me..I tried to stop him, he just went crazy.."
Snape's lip curled.
"We're going to the headmaster," He hissed, "and you are going back to your dormitory. 2 points from Slytherin. I'm disappointed in you Draco."
With that, he knelt next to Harry.
"Enervate!"
The piercing screams filled the hallway as Harry woke up.
Well, he hadn't really slept since joining the Death Eaters, and in truth it was quite useful to be able to stay up as long as he wanted. Due to a potion all Death Eaters took, sleep was a luxury rather than a necessity. After all.Voldemort loved nothing more than an all night killing spree followed by a summoning precisely 10 minutes after his loyal servants had fallen asleep.
But something felt wrong tonight. Something he couldn't place about Potter. Ok, so he probably was foolish enough to get involved in a street fight in muggle London, and doubtless those ridiculous muggles he lived with had encouraged his *bravery*.but it was the stench of pain and misery emitted from the shadow in his office that bothered.
But..the boy was meant to be the saviour of the wizarding world, so it did make sense that it would look a bit stupid for him to have been beaten up by muggles. Rolling his eyes for even thinking Potter needed his help, Snape went back to marking exam scripts, but soon his mind was wandering again.
He couldn't get the picture of Harry out of his mind, lying like dead on the stone floor..swishing out of the door with a harder glare than Snape himself could manage..something had changed about the boy over the summer..honestly, some of the crazy things muggles do, Snape thought. But then again, Harry was growing up. His relatives had undoubtedly coddled him to within an inch of his life, and here was the stupid boy being moody.
This time, Snape carried on with his marking, pushing all thoughts of the boy out of his mind.
*********************
Draco couldn't sleep either. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. He pulled on the invisibility cloak that had been a gift from his father (anything Potter could have, so could Draco) and wandered through the cold corridors of the dungeon.
As he wandered he thought. Thought about his final decision to inform Dumbledore of Voldemort's plan to break the spells cast on Hogwarts. Over the holidays Dumbledore had strengthened the defences and the attack had failed miserably, at least seven Death Eaters being turned in to the Ministry. Fudge had also dismissed the Dementors from Azkaban, doubtless scared of Dumbledore, and instead placed unbreakable charms on the doors.
And he had saved Potter's life in destroying his fathers.
So why didn't he feel remorse?
He had lost everything.his father was rotting under the Ministry's care, his mother had disowned him. But Dumbledore and Snape were proud.and he had saved a life, maybe several. And he would never have to kill an innocent person.
Draco's thoughts were interrupted as he tripped over something.
"unngh..."
"What the..Potter..What the HELL are you doing?"
Harry squirmed under Draco's piercing silver gaze.
"Umm.I was tired?"
Draco looked at Harry shrewdly.
"You need to get some rest. In a BED. You've heard of those in the muggle world? I daresay you had the softest and warmest one money could buy with those bloody muggles. I bet....
"Shut up!"
"Aww, poor ickle Potter. You homesick? You could never understand pain, Potter. You are so perfect.How do you think it feels to be placed under the Cruciatus, eh? It bloody well hurts Potter. Nobody deserves it, but people get it anyway and it's all because of you. All because of your bloody stupidity. All because of your damned bloody bravery, that's why my bloody father is rotting in some prison.."
Harry only half listened. He was trying to figure out how to get together enough energy to punch Malfoy. Nearly, nearly, just a little more swing...
#CRACK#
"owwwwwwwww!" squealed Draco, sounding incredibly girlish.
Then he kicked out sharply, foot connecting with one of Harry's broken ribs.
The boy gave a slight grunt as the wind left him, and passed out again.
Then Snape appeared, black robes billowing around him.
*how does he do that?* wondered Draco. It was the last thing he wondered, as he suddenly realised he was lying next to an unconscious and VERY visible Potter in the hallway, invisibility cloak only draped over one of Draco's shoulders. And Snape seemed to be dragging him up by the scruff of his neck.
"Explain, Mr Malfoy, why you are out in the middle of the night, wearing a forbidden invisibility cloak, making enough of a racket to wake the dead (just then the Bloody Baron drifted past looking annoyed) and WHY Mr Potter is lying unconscious nearby your extended left leg?"
Draco gulped.
Snape's face twisted into concern.
"And what happened to your face?"
"Potter..hit me..I tried to stop him, he just went crazy.."
Snape's lip curled.
"We're going to the headmaster," He hissed, "and you are going back to your dormitory. 2 points from Slytherin. I'm disappointed in you Draco."
With that, he knelt next to Harry.
"Enervate!"
The piercing screams filled the hallway as Harry woke up.