CHAPTER SIX: FERRET
"Hermione wants to meet you. I don't think she believed my explanation about last weeks detention," Harry explained as he collapsed into the sofa on a Friday afternoon a few weeks into term, "She's been bugging me about you all week, and I don't know what to do." It had been an exhausting week, in between Hermione's suspicions, Ron moaning about that weekends Quidditch tryouts, his Order initiation on Tuesday, Wednesday's clandestine planning involving him, Snape and the three Maruaders and not to mention planning, in his role as Quidditch Captain, for the aforementioned tryouts.
"She's not the only one. Draco Malfoy saw you leaving my quarters on Wednesday," Severus said, "He hasn't come to me for an explanation, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time."
"Probably waiting for daddy's orders." Harry mocked scathingly, despite his worries concerning this particular revelation
His father smirked in agreement, "And Daddy's waiting for orders from his master," he sneered, "It's pathetic really."
"Hermione I can cope with," Harry stated, But What are you going to do about Malfoy
Another smirk was the only response as they were interrupted by a knock on the door. A quick look at a foe glass revealed the disturber to be Draco Malfoy, "Speak of the devil," Severus muttered as he waved wand to open the doorway. The blond Slytherin walked through the entrance hole, a familiar sneer plastered on his face.
"What an awful colour scheme Professor." the xanthochroid drawled, as he took a seat next to the fire. He ignored Harry and didn't seem all that surprised to see his archrival.
"You get used to it after a while," Severus replied dismissively, "What can I do for you Draco?"
"I'm here on behalf of the council," he drawled haughtily, "We want to know were your loyalties lie, and the nature of your relationship with Potter."
"What do you know?" the professor asked his tone surprisingly pleasant.
"Darien claims that you're James Potter in disguise," It was clear that he didn't believe these claims, "He spun a nice little tale of Potter being your son, and of James Potter's betraying the light side. I think you're spying on the Dark Lord for Dumbledore." He spoke the headmaster's name with contempt.
The head of Slytherin remained impassive, "You are to inform the council that Darien is correct, and that Dumbledore wishes me to befriend the boy he believes to be my son." he commanded emotionlessly.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow, "And the Truth." he asked with a slight smirk.
The eyes of the Slytherins met in a fierce stare, "Can I trust you not to tell anyone, not even your father?" Severus asked harshly. There was a moment of silence.
"On my honour as a Slytherin." was the eventual reply, the tone. The blond was deadly serious.
"Darien would be correct, if, it weren't for my intervention." the Potions Master explained, "James Potter is indeed alive, and has spent the past fourteen years pretending to be me, pretending rather badly that is, and Seb here is indeed my son."
"Is Potter on our side?"
"Yes, he is on your side. He's the Dark Lords spy at Hogwarts," Severus replied, "Dumbledore thinks that he's repented, and I have no intention of correcting that misconception."
Malfoy gave his trademark smirk, "Why? I thought you were loyal to Dumbledore?"
"We have a deal. I teach his classes, he tells me what the Dark Lord is up to," Harry's father said with a vicious smirk of pride, "As for Dumbledore, he was convenient fifteen years ago. But, I don't want to get involved this time round, unless it's to protect Seb."
The Malfoy smirk deepened, as he raised an eyebrow, "So when do you plan to rejoin the old codger then?"
"Never," was the firm reply, "I don't trust him. But it doesn't matter, Voldemort will die on Halloween."
The smirk faded, "I wouldn't be too cocky, sir," the blond warned angrily, "We will win this time. Mark my words, we will win."
"If Voldemort survives Halloween you will win," Harry intervened, glaring at Malfoy, "But he's not going to. I'll be taking care of that."
"I warned you on the express that you'll be next, Potter," Malfoy sneered, "You can't destroy the Dark Lord he's too powerful."
"You just wait and see, Malfoy." Harry replied with a sly grin.
"I am, I've already got front row seats." Malfoy retorted with a triumphant smirk as he swept out of the Potions Masters quarters.
"Are you mad?" Harry hissed once the Slytherin had left, "How can you trust him?"
"He won't break a promise, Seb. A true Slytherin never breaks his word," Harry looked at his father somewhat sceptically, "We just don't make promises unless we can keep them."
"Right," he said sceptically, "I trust your judgement. At least I think I do. I don't trust him though."
"With good reason. Never trust a Malfoy. Now, you mentioned Granger."
"Yes. She wants to meet you."
Harry didn't see his rival again until Sunday when a scowling Draco Malfoy pulled him into an empty classroom.
"We need to talk," The blond sneered.
"No we don't," Harry said angrily, as he tore himself from Malfoy's grip, "Nothings changed between us."
"You misunderstand me," Draco drawled, "I'm merely here on behalf of my housemates. They're the ones who seem to think something has changed."
"I suppose Slytherins aren't known for their intelligence," Harry said with a shrug. He found the Xanthochroid's wand pointing at him.
"Do not insult my housemates, Scarface," he hissed violently, "Especially if you want to come out of this meeting unhurt."
Harry remained unmoved, "Well make it quick then." he snapped ignoring the wand pointing at him.
"They want to know the extent of your relationship with our Head of House," the Slytherin enquired
"Tell them that he's helping me," Harry responded. Pausing to think before answering, "Dumbledore's orders. They'll believe that."
"And the truth?"
"He's my father isn't he?" Harry replied disdainfully
"I know that," Malfoy sneered, "But how did you know him before now?" Harry looked at Malfoy in shock, momentarily forgetting to glare at him, "Oh, come on, Scarface. I saw the way you were looking at him. Not even a Gryffindor would be stupid enough trust someone that much after just two weeks."
"I've known him for nine years not two weeks. He just hasn't told me he's my father until now." Harry explained. He was annoyed by the nature of Draco's question
"How did you know him?"
"None of your business," Harry growled in response, "Now, Is there any productive reason why you've pulled me in here, other than to ask personal questions, or can I get back to the common room before Ron and Hermione start looking for me?"
"Is Snape loyal to Dumbledore?" Malfoy asked after a pause.
"Not really." Harry replied, "He doesn't trust the headmaster."
"Is he a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"
"I wouldn't know," Harry lied, "How am I suppose to know the names of the members of a secret order when I don't belong to the order." Malfoy gave Harry a fierce glare, obviously not falling for Harry's lies.
"I am not the Weasel or the Mudblood. Your pathetic lies may work with them but they don't work on me," Malfoy sneered coldly, "I repeat, is he a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Harry's glare hardened even more, "I thought you were intelligent enough to realise the meaning of the phrase 'Secret Order,'" he said, "So even if I knew who the members were I couldn't tell you anyway, unless you joined the order. And seeing as you won't be joining the order anytime soon, you'll just have to keep guessing."
"Why would I want to join your pathetic order?" Malfoy sneered, "I don't associate with losers or mudbloods."
"Of course," Harry mocked, "The Great Draco Malfoy only associates with his superiors, which is why he's here talking to me now."
"It seems that scar has finally addled your brain," Malfoy sneered, "My Mother was not a Mudblood, therefore I am your superior. You would do well to remember that." His ever-present smirk was more malicious than usual.
Harry tried to suppress the anger that was flowing through his veins. He was somewhat startled to realise that he had his wand trained on the Slytherin, who was smirking viciously at Harry's obvious annoyance and discomfort, "At least my mother liked me. She died to save me, Malfoy. Would your mother do that for you?" he hissed before sweeping before he did something he would regret, noticing only that his comment had wiped the blond's smirk off his face, and that for once the Slytherin didn't get the last word.
It was on Monday after classes that Harry finally took Ron and Hermione to meet Fangs. It had all been arranged so that any indication of James' presence or James himself was absent from the potions master's quarters and would be so for the length of the meeting.
The reaction to the Gryffindor colour scheme, and the general décor of the dungeon quarters was predictably one of surprise, especially on the part of Ron who still didn't really believe that their Potions Professor was any different, although the redhead refused to say so to Harry's face. In fact he was so surprised that he didn't notice the portrait above the mantelpiece until after Hermione commented on it.
"Oh, That's Severus' picture," Harry's father had responded, "He was good friends with Harry's Parents even after he joined the Death Eaters. In fact I haven't changed the room at all, after all Sev does still live here as well."
"Snape decorated his quarters in Gryffindor colours?" Ron exclaimed out of surprised.
"That was exactly my reaction. Sev was far more of a Slytherin than I ever was. Even if he was friends with Potter and Evans." Fangs commented as he sipped his tea. Hermione was concentrating hard on the Professor's words, obviously trying to flaws in the offered explanation.
"You knew Professor Snape when he was at School?" the bushy-haired girl asked.
"Before then. Sev's my younger brother." he said. Harry tried to suppress his laughter at his best friend's reaction to that particular image of information. Even if James and Severus weren't brothers, Harry's Father did indeed have an older brother, and Harry was sure Hermione knew the story of that particular man.
"You're the one who ran away into the Muggle World after refusing to become a Death Eater. I read about you." Hermione squealed excitedly.
"Yes," Fangs said with a gentle smirk, "Sev wasn't brave enough or strong enough to do the same, especially if it meant leaving his friends behind. It was easier for me as all my friends became Death Eaters, so I didn't feel guilty about leaving them behind."
The conversation moved on after that to talk about Harry's schooldays and his past much to Fangs' delight and Harry's annoyance. Harry had always been wary about talking his pre-Hogwarts years because they hadn't been particularly happy years for him, so naturally it was the first time Harry's friends had ever heard about those times in great detail, and as a consequence they were enthralled. They left just before dinner, Harry staying behind to discuss their plan for Voldemort's attack on Halloween. As a consequence Father and Son ate alone as Severus put the final touches to the plan that was to lead to the death of Voldemort. It also came as a shock therefore when they were interrupted by an irate Hermione at around half past seven, as they didn't know that Hermione hadn't been at dinner and that she had gone to the Library instead. She hadn't gone to the Library, she'd been searching the Potions Classroom for the Maruaders Map and then she'd gone down to the Kitchens to eat. It was the Maruaders Map that was the reason for her anger, as it showed three figures in the Potions Masters Quarters: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape and Sebastian Snape. It appeared that Hermione thought that that later wasn't her best friend, Harry.
Another chapter in which my muse surprised me. I didn't originally plan to have Draco in this Fic at all, but it appears I'm far to attached to him to ignore him completely. I wanted to put a cliffhanger in Chapter Four just before Sirius walked in, I hope I've made up for it here. Thank You for your feedback and your reviews, keep them coming. I'm not a review junkie, but I cannot write without feedback. Finally I wish to plug my other Fic in progress, "On Two Lords and a Prince." Go read!
Pink-Crane: Glad you liked the chapter. I hope to work in some more scenes involving the Maruaders and Snape and their relationship within the next few chapters.
Jessica Black: Interesting? I take it that you like the fic then.
Severitus: I'm not a huge James fan either. In fact I'm not really fond of any of the MWPP-era characters except Remus and to a lesser degree Severus. In this Fic however tried to encapsulate James in the tortured ex-death eater role normally reserved for Severus, whilst the later has had the time to deal with his crimes committed as a Death Eater.
Lisrael: Originality was one of the aims of the Fic. As for romance, the only pairing is some SB/JP. I am considering writing a sequel though, in which Harry would be paired, either with Hermione, Cho, Draco or a Male! Blaise, but not Ginny I have other plans for her.