Beginning of the End
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Fourteen: As the World Spins
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
*******************
Neville knew something was wrong. Harry and Snape, working together? Neville shock his head. How could Dumbledore allow this to happen? That greasy git had to be working for you-know-who, he had to be. Neville sipped at his butterbeer. "Trevor, Dumbledore will never listen to us. He won't even listen to Harry when it comes to Snape. Merlin, Trevor, what am I going to do!" Trevor looked up at his master and gave a load croak. Just then the portrait hole opened and Harry came stumbling in. Again.
"Harry, that is the 100th time you have helped that bastard out and the 100th time you have come stumbling back in here so tired you can hardly stand up. When is enough, enough?"
"Neville, you are becoming an alcoholic." //Gods I am tired of fighting with him!// "Listen, Snape is not working for Voldermort. I am not under a spell or curse. I am not about to die of exhaustion no matter what it looks like. And NO I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! I am working on Dumbledore's orders in addition to Snape's. You are too whether you realize it or not. Now I am going to bed. It has been a long day." Harry turned to go but Neville blocked his path.
"Of course I am working on the headmaster's."
Harry cut him off. "No, working with Snape."
"WHAT!"
"Where do you think those plants you and Sprout have been laboring over are going? Snape and I have been."
Neville cut in this time. "You've been wasting my work is what! Potions won't keep forever!"
"Neither do dry stores, but you didn't let me finish. Snape has been brewing the potions that do last, replenishing Madam Pomfrey's stock and adding some new stress relieving potions. The next year is going to involve more intense training for everyone. A war is coming. We have to be ready. Snape and I have also been doing the preserving work on the herbs you picked." //Yeah, and experimenting with several very nasty little surprise poisons for a few select members of a little organization that has a liking for silver masks, dark cloaks, and muggles in distress.//
Neville stopped pacing. He set down his butterbeer and turned to face Harry. He had been wondering who was drying and storing the plants after they matured.
"We have a lot of work to do Neville. Those plants maybe needed to brew more potions later. Please, for Merlin's sake, let me get on with this in peace! I have no idea how Snape was planning on getting this done without help. My gods, he would have needed an industrial strength time turner."
Harry smiled at Neville. Reluctantly, Neville returned the grin. He still thought something was up as Harry slowly crawled up to his bead. "Trevor, I am going to have to take action. For once I am going to live up to the Grifindore name." Trevor croaked. "What da ya mean how? I'm gonna confront Snape." Trevor trembled and hopped under the sofa. Neville took a large gulp of his now almost empty butterbeer.
************* A/N: I know butterbeer contains very little alcohol. But this is Neville. He has a low tolerance. Plus Madam Rosmerta might have a more potent form behind the counter. You never know! Pardon the lack of true drunken writing. Neville is not THAT drunk, not yet. And I have pity for him. I am making him an unsteady drunk, but an eloquent one, to a degree.
LL&P Saavik
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Fourteen: As the World Spins
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
*******************
Neville knew something was wrong. Harry and Snape, working together? Neville shock his head. How could Dumbledore allow this to happen? That greasy git had to be working for you-know-who, he had to be. Neville sipped at his butterbeer. "Trevor, Dumbledore will never listen to us. He won't even listen to Harry when it comes to Snape. Merlin, Trevor, what am I going to do!" Trevor looked up at his master and gave a load croak. Just then the portrait hole opened and Harry came stumbling in. Again.
"Harry, that is the 100th time you have helped that bastard out and the 100th time you have come stumbling back in here so tired you can hardly stand up. When is enough, enough?"
"Neville, you are becoming an alcoholic." //Gods I am tired of fighting with him!// "Listen, Snape is not working for Voldermort. I am not under a spell or curse. I am not about to die of exhaustion no matter what it looks like. And NO I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! I am working on Dumbledore's orders in addition to Snape's. You are too whether you realize it or not. Now I am going to bed. It has been a long day." Harry turned to go but Neville blocked his path.
"Of course I am working on the headmaster's."
Harry cut him off. "No, working with Snape."
"WHAT!"
"Where do you think those plants you and Sprout have been laboring over are going? Snape and I have been."
Neville cut in this time. "You've been wasting my work is what! Potions won't keep forever!"
"Neither do dry stores, but you didn't let me finish. Snape has been brewing the potions that do last, replenishing Madam Pomfrey's stock and adding some new stress relieving potions. The next year is going to involve more intense training for everyone. A war is coming. We have to be ready. Snape and I have also been doing the preserving work on the herbs you picked." //Yeah, and experimenting with several very nasty little surprise poisons for a few select members of a little organization that has a liking for silver masks, dark cloaks, and muggles in distress.//
Neville stopped pacing. He set down his butterbeer and turned to face Harry. He had been wondering who was drying and storing the plants after they matured.
"We have a lot of work to do Neville. Those plants maybe needed to brew more potions later. Please, for Merlin's sake, let me get on with this in peace! I have no idea how Snape was planning on getting this done without help. My gods, he would have needed an industrial strength time turner."
Harry smiled at Neville. Reluctantly, Neville returned the grin. He still thought something was up as Harry slowly crawled up to his bead. "Trevor, I am going to have to take action. For once I am going to live up to the Grifindore name." Trevor croaked. "What da ya mean how? I'm gonna confront Snape." Trevor trembled and hopped under the sofa. Neville took a large gulp of his now almost empty butterbeer.
************* A/N: I know butterbeer contains very little alcohol. But this is Neville. He has a low tolerance. Plus Madam Rosmerta might have a more potent form behind the counter. You never know! Pardon the lack of true drunken writing. Neville is not THAT drunk, not yet. And I have pity for him. I am making him an unsteady drunk, but an eloquent one, to a degree.
LL&P Saavik