Title: The Art of Necromancy
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Time: begins right after GoF
Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts to spend the summer. Out of sheer boredom, he scours the library for books to read and stumbles across a book that will change his life…
Disclaimer: I own not a thing
WARNING!!!! THIS IS A SLASH STORY!!!! IF YOU DON'T LIKE SLASH OR THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!
Chapter Eight: Partners
When Harry woke again, Snape and Dumbledore were conversing in low voices near the foot of his bed. Dumbledore noticed his wakefulness immediately.
"Good morning, Harry," the Headmaster said cheerfully.
"It's morning then?"
"Yes, it's a little after nine," Dumbledore replied.
Harry nodded and flipped the covers back on his bed. "I'm going to shower," he said and slid out of the bed. "Then I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course, we'll wait here for you."
Harry walked towards the showers in the infirmary, dragging his feet. "Don't bother, I'm leaving after I'm clean."
Dumbledore chuckled. "We'll wait for you in my office then."
"M'kay," he replied, his voice still thick with sleep, as Dumbledore left the infirmary. "Morning, Snape."
Snape scowled and glared at Harry's back. "Potter."
Harry chuckled and turned. "Do you have any idea how incredibly sexy your voice sounds?"
Snape stared at him, shocked that his former student was able to say that without blushing. He cursed under his breath and stalked from the room. He was not blushing, it was the summer heat, damn it!
***
Snape paced the hallway outside of Dumbledore's office. He needed to think and he couldn't do that with the ever-cheerful, irritating Headmaster in attendance. So here he was… pacing the hallway.
He'd acknowledged that he was attracted to Potter, it should have faded by now! In the past, he'd always been able to set aside an attraction by acknowledging it then ignoring it. Perhaps he wasn't doing a good job ignoring it, but how could he when that infernal boy was constantly around him. Boy. Not a boy any longer, that much was glaringly obvious. It wasn't just the physical changes that made Potter appear much older than his years, it was the bloody confidence that for all his attempts he couldn't shake. Not that he really wanted to, it's just… damn! He use to have much more influence over Potter's actions and the loss of control was frustrating to say the least.
If that wasn't enough, Potter wasn't even embarrassed about what he'd read in the young man's journal. He'd said flat out he was attracted to his professor and his every action since his return said that attraction was still there. Then the Necromancer has the gall to completely heal him! He was totally in Potter's debt! And this bloody, infernal, unwanted… NEED for Harry Potter was driving him out of his mind!
And, Merlin! When he spoke! 'Do you have any idea how incredibly sexy your voice sounds?' He was aroused by his words and voice alone! …he wondered if anyone would notice if he killed Potter…
"Waiting for me?"
Snape jumped, surprised. He was so lost in thoughts, he hadn't noticed the going-to-be-dead-for-driving-him-insane-boy's arrival. He scowled. "I hate you."
Harry lifted a brow. "Oh? What brought this on?"
Snape glared and stalked into Dumbledore's office. Harry followed behind him concealing a smile. He had a fairly good idea of what Snape had been reflecting on. He had watched him pace, muttering under his breath, obviously very irritated. It was an incredible turn on to watch him, knowing that Snape hadn't noticed his arrival.
They settled down in Dumbledore's office under the amused gaze of its owner. Harry had a feeling that the Headmaster knew that he was pursing his former teacher and that his advances weren't exactly being discouraged.
"Professor," Harry began.
"Please, call me Albus."
Harry smiled wryly. "Albus. My questions are thus: what has been happening at Hogwarts and at the Ministry, and why were three students being initiated yesterday? They weren't even seventh years."
Albus nodded. "With Voldemort's return and your disappearance," Harry looked slightly guilty. "Many parents pulled their children from the school. We have less than half of the number of students we did when you left. The majority being Slytherins, of course. Though I was slightly surprised at the number of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs that left."
Harry frowned. "I see. Are they being taught at home then? And what of the Muggle-borns?"
"The students who did not return to school are all of wizard descent, and I assume that yes, their studies continue at home," Albus replied. "As to the Ministry, they are still officially saying that Voldemort has not returned and that your disappearance had nothing to do with him."
Harry's lips quirked up in a slight smile. "Which is true, but I'm assuming that isn't what rumor says."
"No. According to rumor, Voldemort kidnapped you and killed you. However, the Daily Prophet has been using an unnamed source to inform the wizarding world of some of it's hidden problems."
"An unnamed source? Who?"
"We don't know. They are saying that Voldemort has returned, and the Daily Prophet has printed many articles saying the Ministry is lying when it says that he hasn't come back."
Harry nodded slowly, digesting this new information. "What about the initiation yesterday?"
"Severus?" Albus prompted.
Snape sighed softly. He'd rather been hoping that he wouldn't be required to say anything. "I can only assume what Voldemort is doing as I am no longer privy to that information," he explained. "But I believe that the Slytherin students that withdrew because of Death Eater ties have been trained by either Voldemort himself or another one of the Death Eaters in his Inner Circle. I think even for Malfoy, learning the Cruciatus Curse would have been difficult. Those who are sufficiently trained are tested and initiated."
"With the addition of the students, his numbers will swell significantly," Harry said softly.
The room was silent as they considered what this meant to the side of light.
Harry looked up and met the gaze of Albus Dumbledore. "It is essential that we teach the students we do have, how to defend themselves from Voldemort," he said firmly. "What steps have you already taken to do so?" He glanced over to Snape before continuing. "Has there been any additional classes? Who is teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Albus leaned back in his chair. "Mad-Eye Moody is teaching the Defense classes."
Harry waited expectantly. "And?" he prompted after a moment.
"There have been no additional classes," Snape hissed. This was obviously a sore point.
"Why not?" Harry demanded.
"Because the governors of the school won't allow it," Albus replied shortly. "I can't go against them in this either. They have threatened to remove me from the school."
"Damn it," Harry cursed. He stared down at his hands, noticing absently that he was clenching them hard enough to turn the knuckles white. His hands eased the pressure as he cooled his temper. "Then it will have to be only a few select, trustworthy students," Harry said calmly.
"You are going to train them?" Snape asked in disbelief.
"Yes," he paused, a slightly malicious smile on his face. "And so are you."
Snape's mouth dropped open in shock. "What?!"
Harry glanced at Albus. The Headmaster's eyes were twinkling mischievously; he was obviously enjoying himself. Harry looked back at Snape. "Some of the students might have problems, at first, with someone of my tender years training them," he said, his voice slightly mocking.
Albus chuckled as Snape continued to gape at the pair of them. He looked over at Harry, his expression becoming serious. "Are you going to continue going on these other missions?"
Harry thought about it a bit before nodding. "Yes, I think a few. The ones where I feel as if my absence would cost us the mission. I will, however, always inform you before a Death Eater attack. It will be up to you to send operatives to the homes of those attacking," Harry said seriously. He glanced over at Snape who had yet to speak, seemingly still in some shock. "I request that Snape always be paired with me. I don't particularly care for the idea of him going on some mission without me. Myself excluded, he is at the top of Voldemort's hit list."
"Pair with you?" Snape choked out.
"I agree completely," Albus replied, ignoring the Potions Master.
"There is one other thing," Harry said.
"Yes?" Albus prompted.
"I'd like to make a few trips to St. Mungo's."
Albus nodded. "I understand. Will you being wanting Severus's company?"
Snape gasped. "Aren't I going to be with him enough?!" he sputtered.
"That would be entirely up to him," Harry replied.
"Severus?" Albus prompted. "You don't have to go. Of course, I would feel better if Harry did have someone go with him, and it seems natural for it to be yourself considering you will be partners in most things."
Snape glared at the Headmaster completely frustrated and totally guilt-tripped into doing something he wanted no part of. "Fine," he hissed.
***
TBC…