Disclaimer: as you have probably guessed by now, I am not JK Rowling, and
the HarryPotter-verse does not belong to me (::thank goodness!:: I hear you
say); I am using the characters and settings for my pleasure, and hopefully
for yours, and I certainly don't deserve to be sued.
Summary: In Harry's seventh year, Voldemort issues a threat to the families of the Hogwarts staff, and they are forced to seek refuge in the school. This uncomfortable situation will allow us some insight into the family life of everybody's favourite Potions Master.
A/N: I know this chapter came a bit late (it was supposed to be here yesterday) but I was so ill last night I couldn't even crawl to the computer... I'm sorry! And I am *so* flattered by your reviews!!!! Really, you don't know how happy they make me!!! Thanks and a thousand kisses!!!!
Rating: PG or PG-13, just to be on the safe side.
Review this story as you would like yours to be reviewed! (I hope that will take all flames off my back; if it doesn't, I'll use them to save on the electricity bill)
FAMILY MATTERS
PART X
"Is there something you want to talk about, dear?" asked Mandy McGonagall from her place next to Harry. The boy looked at her concerned brown eyes in surprise, and nodded negatively, wondering from where had that, otherwise accurate, idea come from "While arguing, your friends said that they were very worried about you, and I thought you might want to tell me something"
"No, ma'am, everything is fine" he sounded false even to his own ears, but the old witch didn't press the issue any further.
"Very well. You know where my quarters are, if you ever need me, or just want to stop by for a mug of hot cocoa and cookies" She gave him a warm smile and wandered off to where Neville was giving her a half-terrified, half-hopeful glance.
Harry filed away the offer for a rainy night, thinking that a mug of hot cocoa and a pleasant conversation could take his mind off many things. Mandy's quarters were much closer than the kitchens, and he could also do a favour to the old witch, who seemed quite deprived of polite company, seeing that she spoke to anything with at least one working ear. Remembering the shortest way to Mandy's quarters reminded Harry of who had taken him there in his last visit.
Svetlana Snape. Since the first time Harry had seen her, the 1st of September in Platform 9¾, until the last time he had stared at her in the Library just before Quidditch practice, the woman had intrigued him for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint. Maybe it was the fact that she was attractive, her age and cold demeanour considered, or the fact that she had married the man who used to feature in Harry's nightmares when he was younger, or the fact that she didn't seem as interested in him as most of the teachers' relatives. Other than the cold inquiring glance she had shot him in Professor McGonagall's quarters, Svetlana Snape appeared quite unconcerned by him and Harry had to admit that it was a refreshing change from the overwhelming attention (positive or negative) he got from almost everyone else in the school, her husband and the Slytherins included. //That's a thought... I wonder if she's playing Mandy's role in the dungeons...//
"... When the main body of the Goblin army saw that both his flanks had been defeated and the communication lines with the trolls were about be to intercepted, like you can see in this map, it retreated towards the Himalayas, burning and destroying everything in its path. The general-in- command of the Goblins divided his troops in several manageable groups, and sent them in their separate ways to hide in the mountains, thus ending the First Goblin Rebellion. Any questions?" The first years Slytherins, who were still maddeningly taking notes, didn't have time to answer "Very well, I hope an A is the least you'll get in this essay" Svetlana stood up and walked towards a group of fourth years who were practicing the Summoning Charm with their Transfiguration textbooks "Here, let me show you" She took the hand of Louis Lestrange and guided it through the air in the flick, twirl and wave he had been unsuccessfully trying to reproduce "Flick as if there were a fly in the tip if your wand; twirl it like if you wanted to draw an S in thin air, and wave it saying good-bye to Professor Flitwick. Don't forget the pronunciation: 'Accio!'. Now try for yourself"
The boy did, resulting in the book flying shakily through the air, knocking into almost anything that crossed his path and falling with a 'thump!' at Svetlana's feet.
"It's only a matter of practice now" she said encouragingly, already moving forward towards Pansy Parkinson, who had her head buried in the Advanced Potions textbook, her face scrunched up in a gesture of despair. "First of all, Miss Parkinson, refrain from making such faces while in the presence of others" said the older witch severely, making Pansy jump in surprise.
"Sorry, Mrs Snape, I didn't see you" answered the seventh-year girl, smoothing her hair and adopting a more dignified posture than the one she had before.
"When you look like the promising young lady you are, you can try remembering that Professor Snape is not very likely to give you a D- in your exam" continued Svetlana, sitting down daintily, and leafing through Pansy's notes. "As soon as your nerves are soothed by the reassurance that you will get an acceptable grade, whether you work for it or not, you can start telling me what the test is about, and what you don't understand"
"It's not about the test, Mrs Snape, I think I've got it under control" answered Pansy, shutting the heavy Potions volume.
"Do you want to tell me why was it then that you decided to resemble the Tragedy Mask, or should I back off?" Svetlana's tone was still cold, although not unkind, and Pansy gave her an appraising look; just when she was opening her mouth to speak, Draco Malfoy re-entered the common room, and Pansy closed her mouth without making any sound "I see" commented Svetlana following the girl's eyes. "I'll talk to you some other time, then"
There was no getting away from it now. Svetlana had to go back to her quarters, even if it was simply to put Siena to bed. She might have been able top spend the whole day outside Severus Snape's range of influence but she couldn't avoid it any longer. Checking a sigh, she turned the doorknob and whispered the password; the door swung open, and Svetlana, with the heavy bundle of her asleep daughter in her arms, entered the room. At the very least, she expected to be received with a furious frown and the promise of yet another serious talk (in her eyes, her intrusion into the Slytherin territory, although authorised, was still remarkably distasteful and accounted for nothing less than an aggression), but she was pleasantly surprised by the image of a relaxed Severus reading in front of a fire, turning a neutral expression towards her when she entered.
The atmosphere of the room didn't seem to hold the unspoken words that had been hanging from the air when Svetlana had cowardly run from their argument the night before. Wondering to what this phenomenon could be owed, but thanking it nonetheless, Svetlana changed Siena, put her into bed, and went into the living room again, to avoid appearing as if she was hiding. Severus once again looked up from his reading and regarded her neutrally.
"Good night" said Svetlana softly, turning towards her door; the dreaded interruption came.
"Serguei had a problem today, apparently" commented Snape, putting down his book.
"What was it? He didn't tell me anything this afternoon..." Svetlana stopped, preferring not to remind the Potions Master of what she had being doing near their son.
"After dinner, just a few minutes ago, there was another Gryffindor- Slytherin corridor fight. It seems that a Gryffindor second-year, a Philip Creevy, was hit by a hex that puffed up his ears until they resembled those of an elephant" Even Snape was having trouble concealing the amusement in his voice, and Svetlana didn't bother hiding her grin.
"And Serguei did that?" she asked, her voice ringing with mirth.
"He denied any knowledge of the hex, obviously, and the Headmaster thought it better if instead of giving him a detention, I should notify his parents" Svetlana was grinning openly now, and Severus didn't resist asking the question "Did you teach him that? Unofficially, of course"
"Unofficially? Yes, I did... 'Curses and Counter-Curses' was a present for his ninth birthday, and he has been dying to practice since then" Svetlana smiled a bit more, and risked another comment. "I hope it won't get him into trouble..."
"No more than the average Slytherin..." answered Snape cryptically; another fact made a 'click!' in his head, and he kept the conversation going with another question "When did Serguei get his wand?"
"For his ninth birthday as well" replied Svetlana; her tone had lost its cheerfulness when she remembered that even *her* parents knew about her wand "Mahogany, ten-and-a-half inches, a sphinx's tail-hair"
"Why so early?"
"My parents bought me my wand when I was nine as well... besides, I thought it was better to give him a little training before school; I hope I didn't do anything wrong" Severus was frowning, and that was never a good sign, but he shook his head and dismissed the comment.
"Not at all; it was a very good idea, actually" The Potions Master picked up his book again, and Svetlana took the subtle hint.
"Good night" She heard her husband's reply when she was already leaning against a bed-post in her bedroom, grinding her teeth and praying that the sudden pain on her shoulder was nothing more than a fungus produced by the damp climate of the dungeons. She turned to look, and swore under her breath //No such luck, girl! The fleur-de-lis is burning and the thirteenth star is starting to appear... where will they send me this time, and how on Earth am I going to explain it to Severus?!//
"Draco!" called Svetlana, running down a corridor in search of the Head Boy, more than a week after her shoulder had burnt in warning; he turned and waited for her, surprised to see her indulging in such an 'undignified' activity. She stopped shortly before arriving at his side, her cheeks rosy from the exercise and looking younger than ever with her hair tied back in a simple ponytail. Draco Malfoy had to clear his throat before answering.
"Svetlana, how nice to see you!" she smiled in response, and Draco felt his voice was going to fail him again. "Is there something you need?"
"Oh, so I can't call after you anymore without having an excuse made up?!" asked Mrs Snape with exaggerated surprise "My apologies, Mr Malfoy, I realise your schedule must be very busy... hopefully you can find a gap for me in the next five years or so, and then..."
"That's not what meant, Svetlana, I'm sorry... I just thought it was something urgent, the way you were running like a Hell Hound behind me" answered the seventh-year, feeling more at ease with the conversation.
"It is very urgent" insisted Svetlana, her words contradicted by her playful smile "I had to see you again, after all, it's not as if I see you every meal at the Great Hall"
"It's not enough, is it?" asked Draco, biting his lip when he realised the question had been completely devoid of any sarcasm; to make up for the blunder, he changed the topic, in what he hoped was a smooth move "So, are you going to train this year's Slytherin athletics team?" //Real smooth, Draco, as smooth as the touch of a Blast-Ended Skrewt//
"I will leave all those manly matters into your capable hands, and dedicate myself to provide an attentive ear to those youngsters under my care, like a good wife should" Without her mocking tone, one could very well think that Svetlana Snape had become an activist of the Good Wife movement paraded by some pure-blood women such as Patricia Parkinson, Deborah Goyle and Marguerite Crabbe. "Now, but seriously, I did have a question to ask you... do you know where Narcissa is going this Christmas? I assume your father will be staying, like he does every year."
"Yes, Father has his work cut out trying to put some order into the Ministry: Minister Fudge can't blow his nose without my father telling him so... but Mother is going to France, to the villa we have in Saint-Tropez. Maybe you would like to join her?" Draco was both observant and intuitive, and Svetlana awarded him another dazzling smile.
"Maybe" admitted the witch, changing her smile to a melancholic look "It depends on how things are going in the dungeons when the holidays arrive; I'm sure you'll understand..."
"Of course" said Draco, arching one eyebrow in sympathetic understanding, and placing what he hoped was a comforting hand on Svetlana's arm. After a few other inconsequential remarks, Svetlana left and Draco was left with the feeling that it was too hot in the dungeons as he went to write an owl to his mother. His hand still tingled as he tied the parchment to his eagle- owl, and continued tingling through the night.
"Harry!" called Hermione; receiving no response, she turned to the red- headed boy besides her friend "Ron, darling, smack Harry in the head, he's doing it again..." Ron raised his eyes from his attempt at a Potions essay and did what his girlfriend told him.
"Ouch!" complained Harry "Ron, what was that for? It's the third time you hit me today!"
"You were doing it again" shrugged Ron, dropping his quill and welcoming the unexpected interruption.
"Doing what again?" asked Harry, nursing his head.
"Staring off into space while your quill left a puddle of ink in what was meant to be a star chart" informed Hermione, pointing to a large ink-stain in the half-written parchment.
"Oh, damn!" said Harry, looking at his spoiled homework "Do you have some of that ink-eraser, Herm? I don't want to write this again..."
"I have some, but I will not give it to you until you tell us what's going on" said the Head Girl firmly, holding the little bottle in her hand.
"There's nothing going on" sighed Harry, rubbing his temples and hoping this conversation wouldn't give him a bigger headache than the one he already had. "I'm just tired, that's all"
"Right, and I'm Pansy Parkinson" said Hermione sarcastically.
"So that's why you're trying to annoy Harry to death!" exclaimed Seamus suddenly, getting up from his place in a nearby armchair "That really explains a lot, doesn't it, Harry?" continued the Irish boy, braving Hermione's angry stare and dragging Harry away with him.
"You can always take some points off them" joked Ron, trying to distract Hermione from her attempt to Petrify Harry and Seamus with a glare.
"You owe me one, mate" said Seamus once both boys were in their dorm, letting go of Harry and falling on his bed.
"Sure I do" agreed Harry, fixing his robes where Seamus had taken hold of them "Thanks, Seamus, I wasn't in the mood for one of Herm's lectures, I really wasn't."
"And I have just the thing I want you to do in repayment!" exclaimed Seamus happily before Harry locked himself in the bathroom; the dark-haired boy groaned.
"I hope is nothing illegal, Imp" said Harry with a half-smile "I'm in enough trouble as it is"
"Well, I could think of some illegal things, like kidnapping Malfoy and using him as you sex-toy..." Harry made a disgusted face "No, actually I was thinking more along the lines of taking up on Mandy McGonagall's offer, and going for a cup of hot cocoa with her"
"What?" asked Harry; he didn't know whether to ask from where had that idea come from, how had Seamus found out about that offer, or why in Hell did he know that was just what Harry wanted to do.
"You heard me" insisted Seamus, bouncing up and down in his bed "You slip past Hermione and Ron, take the second corridor to the right as you go to the Great Hall, knock on the fourth painting and ask for a cup of cocoa" Harry was about to ask Seamus how he had such detailed information on the teachers' living arrangements, but one look at his grinning face told him it wouldn't be any use. "Just go, mate" said Seamus with a strangely soft tone "I know you need it"
"Very well" said Harry with a smile; he reached for his cloak and went over to the door "Thanks, Imp"
"Any time, Harry"
Summary: In Harry's seventh year, Voldemort issues a threat to the families of the Hogwarts staff, and they are forced to seek refuge in the school. This uncomfortable situation will allow us some insight into the family life of everybody's favourite Potions Master.
A/N: I know this chapter came a bit late (it was supposed to be here yesterday) but I was so ill last night I couldn't even crawl to the computer... I'm sorry! And I am *so* flattered by your reviews!!!! Really, you don't know how happy they make me!!! Thanks and a thousand kisses!!!!
Rating: PG or PG-13, just to be on the safe side.
Review this story as you would like yours to be reviewed! (I hope that will take all flames off my back; if it doesn't, I'll use them to save on the electricity bill)
FAMILY MATTERS
PART X
"Is there something you want to talk about, dear?" asked Mandy McGonagall from her place next to Harry. The boy looked at her concerned brown eyes in surprise, and nodded negatively, wondering from where had that, otherwise accurate, idea come from "While arguing, your friends said that they were very worried about you, and I thought you might want to tell me something"
"No, ma'am, everything is fine" he sounded false even to his own ears, but the old witch didn't press the issue any further.
"Very well. You know where my quarters are, if you ever need me, or just want to stop by for a mug of hot cocoa and cookies" She gave him a warm smile and wandered off to where Neville was giving her a half-terrified, half-hopeful glance.
Harry filed away the offer for a rainy night, thinking that a mug of hot cocoa and a pleasant conversation could take his mind off many things. Mandy's quarters were much closer than the kitchens, and he could also do a favour to the old witch, who seemed quite deprived of polite company, seeing that she spoke to anything with at least one working ear. Remembering the shortest way to Mandy's quarters reminded Harry of who had taken him there in his last visit.
Svetlana Snape. Since the first time Harry had seen her, the 1st of September in Platform 9¾, until the last time he had stared at her in the Library just before Quidditch practice, the woman had intrigued him for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint. Maybe it was the fact that she was attractive, her age and cold demeanour considered, or the fact that she had married the man who used to feature in Harry's nightmares when he was younger, or the fact that she didn't seem as interested in him as most of the teachers' relatives. Other than the cold inquiring glance she had shot him in Professor McGonagall's quarters, Svetlana Snape appeared quite unconcerned by him and Harry had to admit that it was a refreshing change from the overwhelming attention (positive or negative) he got from almost everyone else in the school, her husband and the Slytherins included. //That's a thought... I wonder if she's playing Mandy's role in the dungeons...//
"... When the main body of the Goblin army saw that both his flanks had been defeated and the communication lines with the trolls were about be to intercepted, like you can see in this map, it retreated towards the Himalayas, burning and destroying everything in its path. The general-in- command of the Goblins divided his troops in several manageable groups, and sent them in their separate ways to hide in the mountains, thus ending the First Goblin Rebellion. Any questions?" The first years Slytherins, who were still maddeningly taking notes, didn't have time to answer "Very well, I hope an A is the least you'll get in this essay" Svetlana stood up and walked towards a group of fourth years who were practicing the Summoning Charm with their Transfiguration textbooks "Here, let me show you" She took the hand of Louis Lestrange and guided it through the air in the flick, twirl and wave he had been unsuccessfully trying to reproduce "Flick as if there were a fly in the tip if your wand; twirl it like if you wanted to draw an S in thin air, and wave it saying good-bye to Professor Flitwick. Don't forget the pronunciation: 'Accio!'. Now try for yourself"
The boy did, resulting in the book flying shakily through the air, knocking into almost anything that crossed his path and falling with a 'thump!' at Svetlana's feet.
"It's only a matter of practice now" she said encouragingly, already moving forward towards Pansy Parkinson, who had her head buried in the Advanced Potions textbook, her face scrunched up in a gesture of despair. "First of all, Miss Parkinson, refrain from making such faces while in the presence of others" said the older witch severely, making Pansy jump in surprise.
"Sorry, Mrs Snape, I didn't see you" answered the seventh-year girl, smoothing her hair and adopting a more dignified posture than the one she had before.
"When you look like the promising young lady you are, you can try remembering that Professor Snape is not very likely to give you a D- in your exam" continued Svetlana, sitting down daintily, and leafing through Pansy's notes. "As soon as your nerves are soothed by the reassurance that you will get an acceptable grade, whether you work for it or not, you can start telling me what the test is about, and what you don't understand"
"It's not about the test, Mrs Snape, I think I've got it under control" answered Pansy, shutting the heavy Potions volume.
"Do you want to tell me why was it then that you decided to resemble the Tragedy Mask, or should I back off?" Svetlana's tone was still cold, although not unkind, and Pansy gave her an appraising look; just when she was opening her mouth to speak, Draco Malfoy re-entered the common room, and Pansy closed her mouth without making any sound "I see" commented Svetlana following the girl's eyes. "I'll talk to you some other time, then"
There was no getting away from it now. Svetlana had to go back to her quarters, even if it was simply to put Siena to bed. She might have been able top spend the whole day outside Severus Snape's range of influence but she couldn't avoid it any longer. Checking a sigh, she turned the doorknob and whispered the password; the door swung open, and Svetlana, with the heavy bundle of her asleep daughter in her arms, entered the room. At the very least, she expected to be received with a furious frown and the promise of yet another serious talk (in her eyes, her intrusion into the Slytherin territory, although authorised, was still remarkably distasteful and accounted for nothing less than an aggression), but she was pleasantly surprised by the image of a relaxed Severus reading in front of a fire, turning a neutral expression towards her when she entered.
The atmosphere of the room didn't seem to hold the unspoken words that had been hanging from the air when Svetlana had cowardly run from their argument the night before. Wondering to what this phenomenon could be owed, but thanking it nonetheless, Svetlana changed Siena, put her into bed, and went into the living room again, to avoid appearing as if she was hiding. Severus once again looked up from his reading and regarded her neutrally.
"Good night" said Svetlana softly, turning towards her door; the dreaded interruption came.
"Serguei had a problem today, apparently" commented Snape, putting down his book.
"What was it? He didn't tell me anything this afternoon..." Svetlana stopped, preferring not to remind the Potions Master of what she had being doing near their son.
"After dinner, just a few minutes ago, there was another Gryffindor- Slytherin corridor fight. It seems that a Gryffindor second-year, a Philip Creevy, was hit by a hex that puffed up his ears until they resembled those of an elephant" Even Snape was having trouble concealing the amusement in his voice, and Svetlana didn't bother hiding her grin.
"And Serguei did that?" she asked, her voice ringing with mirth.
"He denied any knowledge of the hex, obviously, and the Headmaster thought it better if instead of giving him a detention, I should notify his parents" Svetlana was grinning openly now, and Severus didn't resist asking the question "Did you teach him that? Unofficially, of course"
"Unofficially? Yes, I did... 'Curses and Counter-Curses' was a present for his ninth birthday, and he has been dying to practice since then" Svetlana smiled a bit more, and risked another comment. "I hope it won't get him into trouble..."
"No more than the average Slytherin..." answered Snape cryptically; another fact made a 'click!' in his head, and he kept the conversation going with another question "When did Serguei get his wand?"
"For his ninth birthday as well" replied Svetlana; her tone had lost its cheerfulness when she remembered that even *her* parents knew about her wand "Mahogany, ten-and-a-half inches, a sphinx's tail-hair"
"Why so early?"
"My parents bought me my wand when I was nine as well... besides, I thought it was better to give him a little training before school; I hope I didn't do anything wrong" Severus was frowning, and that was never a good sign, but he shook his head and dismissed the comment.
"Not at all; it was a very good idea, actually" The Potions Master picked up his book again, and Svetlana took the subtle hint.
"Good night" She heard her husband's reply when she was already leaning against a bed-post in her bedroom, grinding her teeth and praying that the sudden pain on her shoulder was nothing more than a fungus produced by the damp climate of the dungeons. She turned to look, and swore under her breath //No such luck, girl! The fleur-de-lis is burning and the thirteenth star is starting to appear... where will they send me this time, and how on Earth am I going to explain it to Severus?!//
"Draco!" called Svetlana, running down a corridor in search of the Head Boy, more than a week after her shoulder had burnt in warning; he turned and waited for her, surprised to see her indulging in such an 'undignified' activity. She stopped shortly before arriving at his side, her cheeks rosy from the exercise and looking younger than ever with her hair tied back in a simple ponytail. Draco Malfoy had to clear his throat before answering.
"Svetlana, how nice to see you!" she smiled in response, and Draco felt his voice was going to fail him again. "Is there something you need?"
"Oh, so I can't call after you anymore without having an excuse made up?!" asked Mrs Snape with exaggerated surprise "My apologies, Mr Malfoy, I realise your schedule must be very busy... hopefully you can find a gap for me in the next five years or so, and then..."
"That's not what meant, Svetlana, I'm sorry... I just thought it was something urgent, the way you were running like a Hell Hound behind me" answered the seventh-year, feeling more at ease with the conversation.
"It is very urgent" insisted Svetlana, her words contradicted by her playful smile "I had to see you again, after all, it's not as if I see you every meal at the Great Hall"
"It's not enough, is it?" asked Draco, biting his lip when he realised the question had been completely devoid of any sarcasm; to make up for the blunder, he changed the topic, in what he hoped was a smooth move "So, are you going to train this year's Slytherin athletics team?" //Real smooth, Draco, as smooth as the touch of a Blast-Ended Skrewt//
"I will leave all those manly matters into your capable hands, and dedicate myself to provide an attentive ear to those youngsters under my care, like a good wife should" Without her mocking tone, one could very well think that Svetlana Snape had become an activist of the Good Wife movement paraded by some pure-blood women such as Patricia Parkinson, Deborah Goyle and Marguerite Crabbe. "Now, but seriously, I did have a question to ask you... do you know where Narcissa is going this Christmas? I assume your father will be staying, like he does every year."
"Yes, Father has his work cut out trying to put some order into the Ministry: Minister Fudge can't blow his nose without my father telling him so... but Mother is going to France, to the villa we have in Saint-Tropez. Maybe you would like to join her?" Draco was both observant and intuitive, and Svetlana awarded him another dazzling smile.
"Maybe" admitted the witch, changing her smile to a melancholic look "It depends on how things are going in the dungeons when the holidays arrive; I'm sure you'll understand..."
"Of course" said Draco, arching one eyebrow in sympathetic understanding, and placing what he hoped was a comforting hand on Svetlana's arm. After a few other inconsequential remarks, Svetlana left and Draco was left with the feeling that it was too hot in the dungeons as he went to write an owl to his mother. His hand still tingled as he tied the parchment to his eagle- owl, and continued tingling through the night.
"Harry!" called Hermione; receiving no response, she turned to the red- headed boy besides her friend "Ron, darling, smack Harry in the head, he's doing it again..." Ron raised his eyes from his attempt at a Potions essay and did what his girlfriend told him.
"Ouch!" complained Harry "Ron, what was that for? It's the third time you hit me today!"
"You were doing it again" shrugged Ron, dropping his quill and welcoming the unexpected interruption.
"Doing what again?" asked Harry, nursing his head.
"Staring off into space while your quill left a puddle of ink in what was meant to be a star chart" informed Hermione, pointing to a large ink-stain in the half-written parchment.
"Oh, damn!" said Harry, looking at his spoiled homework "Do you have some of that ink-eraser, Herm? I don't want to write this again..."
"I have some, but I will not give it to you until you tell us what's going on" said the Head Girl firmly, holding the little bottle in her hand.
"There's nothing going on" sighed Harry, rubbing his temples and hoping this conversation wouldn't give him a bigger headache than the one he already had. "I'm just tired, that's all"
"Right, and I'm Pansy Parkinson" said Hermione sarcastically.
"So that's why you're trying to annoy Harry to death!" exclaimed Seamus suddenly, getting up from his place in a nearby armchair "That really explains a lot, doesn't it, Harry?" continued the Irish boy, braving Hermione's angry stare and dragging Harry away with him.
"You can always take some points off them" joked Ron, trying to distract Hermione from her attempt to Petrify Harry and Seamus with a glare.
"You owe me one, mate" said Seamus once both boys were in their dorm, letting go of Harry and falling on his bed.
"Sure I do" agreed Harry, fixing his robes where Seamus had taken hold of them "Thanks, Seamus, I wasn't in the mood for one of Herm's lectures, I really wasn't."
"And I have just the thing I want you to do in repayment!" exclaimed Seamus happily before Harry locked himself in the bathroom; the dark-haired boy groaned.
"I hope is nothing illegal, Imp" said Harry with a half-smile "I'm in enough trouble as it is"
"Well, I could think of some illegal things, like kidnapping Malfoy and using him as you sex-toy..." Harry made a disgusted face "No, actually I was thinking more along the lines of taking up on Mandy McGonagall's offer, and going for a cup of hot cocoa with her"
"What?" asked Harry; he didn't know whether to ask from where had that idea come from, how had Seamus found out about that offer, or why in Hell did he know that was just what Harry wanted to do.
"You heard me" insisted Seamus, bouncing up and down in his bed "You slip past Hermione and Ron, take the second corridor to the right as you go to the Great Hall, knock on the fourth painting and ask for a cup of cocoa" Harry was about to ask Seamus how he had such detailed information on the teachers' living arrangements, but one look at his grinning face told him it wouldn't be any use. "Just go, mate" said Seamus with a strangely soft tone "I know you need it"
"Very well" said Harry with a smile; he reached for his cloak and went over to the door "Thanks, Imp"
"Any time, Harry"