In the Infirmary…
Now that everyone else had gone to either attend classes or teach classes, Harry was beginning to feel a little bored. Harry looked at Draco's bed and sighed, trying to think of something he could do. The Slytherin prefect had fallen asleep, like a blinded hawk after he had covered his face with his pillow. Harry had stepped out of bed and wanted to take a walk but Madam Pomfrey stared at him icily and he turned back to sit on his bed. He let out a sigh of acquiescence. There was still a bit of Fenix's cake and he decided to snack, leaning against his pillow as he daydreamed.
The room darkened steadily and he heard the low growls of thunder, rumbling across the land. His thoughts turned to the sleeping Slytherin. I sympathize with that guy. He was a spoilt brat belonging to a wealthy, pure-blooded wizard family then got himself repudiated by his kin because he helped me, only to be carried away into a family that's organized by a strange woman. Just thinking about the idea that Draco's going to be part of their lives, just like how Fenix had gradually fitted Snape in their daily lives, was giving the young man a splendid headache. Harry was still deep in thought while munching away on the cake when the Headmaster entered the room, almost regally. Harry looked a little confused when he saw a dark shape looming over his right and smiled when he saw that it was Dumbledore.
"Good morning, Harry," the Headmaster greeted him and closed his eyes briefly when a bright flash of lightning hit the wall of the castle. "You are well, I hope?" he continued.
"Yes, I think I'm fine now. But Madam Pomfrey insisted that I remain here until tomorrow," Harry replied, suddenly wishing that he was back in classes than hanging about like an invalid.
"Sirius had told me some of your thoughts," Dumbledore began, taking a chair and carefully rearranged his robe before sitting down. "I am beginning to think that we should have suspended the lessons after all." He sighed almost regretfully and stared at Harry piercingly.
"But we still could send the students back right? Especially the juniors," Harry offered a cake as he said that.
"I am afraid it's too late now, Harry. The students and their families are already committed to fight Voldemort. Even now, there are plans of skirmishes to take down Death Eaters and the Dementors. While the other side also have plans to reduce our numbers," the Headmaster informed him as he took the proffered piece of cake. "There is a high possibility that we might have to cancel the exams," he paused for a moment to chew on the cake. "Interesting flavor," he remarked.
"Fenix baked it," Harry responded and Dumbledore smiled faintly.
"I wonder where she had found the time to bake this," he said, then looked solemnly at the young man. "Professor Trelawney had made another prediction."
Harry gazed intently at the Headmaster, whose aged eyes were looking at him worriedly. "The war between Voldemort and us would continue for until the planet Jupiter crosses the path of the sun, creating a solar eclipse. And that had already been calculated."
Harry stared mutely and waited for Dumbledore to continue. "The war will go on for approximately four years, ending sometime in winter of that year. That is if you live long enough. If you somehow died within that four years, the war will continue on for a much longer period," the Headmaster said gravely.
The Boy Who Lived was stunned by the news, color draining from his face quickly. Draco, who had been awake when the Headmaster came in and was listening to their conversation secretly, pulled his pillow from his face slowly. His pale face mirrored the same kind of horrified expression that was on Harry's face.
"I thought…" Harry choked on his words, not able to continue.
"It is war, Harry. I'm afraid that the confrontation between you and Voldemort will take longer than just a day, or a month," Dumbledore said gently. Harry covered his face with one hand as he trembled suddenly, trying not to think about how many casualties will result from this war. The thought of losing his close friends because of it was strong enough to make him cry. The Headmaster stood up from his chair and clasped his shoulder before quietly walking off, nodding to Draco on his way out.
"He definitely has a good sense of timing," Draco spoke up, staring at the beams and Harry could not tell if the Slytherin was being sarcastic. "Gloomy thoughts to complement the nice weather over the castle." Harry nodded his agreement and fell silent as a series of loud growls of thunder filled the room.
**********
Lunchtime…
The hospital wing was filled with murmurs of conversation, occasionally punctuated by thunder. The presence of their friends in the room helped the two boys to forget about the grim news that Dumbledore had passed on temporarily. Hermione was informing Harry just how much he was missing out on lessons and also told him that he, herself, and Ron made up a group to complete a Transfiguration project that McGonagall had given them. And the date when the project will be due will be sometime during the first week of October.
"Seems like homework is piling up on me," Harry groaned as he watched Hermione began listing down all that needed to be done. "And what about that Vigilencia potion?"
"Hasn't Snape talked to you about it?" Ron asked casually. Harry shook his head and Ron exchanged a look with Hermione.
"Well…" she began nervously. "He said that you and Ma-- Draco would resume making that potion on Saturday morning." Harry sighed as she finished her sentence and examined the list that Hermione handed over to him. It did not seem too bad to Harry and he brightened up.
Over at Draco's side, Montague was briefing his friend about his homework. His group of boys had boldly cast Parkinson's group aside without fear, as Crabbe passed Draco several Chocolate Frogs. The pale-haired Slytherin listened attentively to Montague's words while Alamanda squeezed herself into their group. She seemed to be very popular to the Slytherin boys much to Parkinson's horror, but she could not do anything about how Draco's gang was favoring the first-year girl. Warrington had made several veiled threats to everyone who decided to play tricks with Alamanda, eyeing Parkinson particularly as he said it.
Ginny was looking at them with a mystified expression on her face, whispering secretively to Hermione, both of them possessing the same sly glints in their eyes. "Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron whispered into her ear, feeling somewhat suspicious.
"I'm not doing anything," she calmly replied. "I just want to see how Draco will react to Alamanda's presence with Parkinson hanging in the background," she explained in a hushed voice, her eyes not leaving the bunch of Greenies. She smiled faintly when she saw Draco's face lit up when he caught sight of Alamanda, just when Montague finished his briefing. Alamanda was blushing prettily and seemed to be slightly breathless when the taller Warrington pushed her forward. She tittered nervously. The Gryffindors and Draco's group of friends waited somewhat anxiously.
Draco beckoned her closer and she complied making Parkinson narrow her eyes into mere slits. The pale-haired young man leaned towards the young girl and nervously whispered. "Did Snape say anything to you?" Alamanda blinked her eyes and nodded shyly. "So what did he say?"
"Detention on Friday at five," she whispered back. Draco lifted an eyebrow and asked her in an almost rakish way.
"Would you be there?"
Hermione quickly buried her face on Ron's chest,
trying to muffle her giggles. Alamanda nodded shyly then quickly pushed
past Montague and fled away again, her hands covering her flaming cheeks.
Draco's gang burst out in laughter and Warrington clapped Draco's back
carelessly.
"Good man," he grinned roguishly, ignoring Parkinson's shocked expression.
"Someone's turning really, really into a Greenie," Ginny whispered to her friends and they studied Parkinson, who was looking at Draco lividly.
"What is the meaning of this, Draco?" she hissed out angrily. Her friends chose that moment to leave the room and the Gryffindors surrounded themselves with conversation, trying not to listen to Parkinson's shrill voice.
"I thought it was obvious," the young man replied calmly. "You don't get it? Then I'll explain. I'm absolutely tired of your senseless chattering. I don't mind the cuddles but I rather like the cuddles to be silent without any kind of background vocals. So, to sum it all up, I'm breaking off with you."
The Slytherins fell silent and waited patiently. "You'll regret this!" she stormed off and the Slytherin guys sighed with relief.
"I'm so glad you finally did it that I could almost kiss you," Montague said fervently to his friend who just smirked, "and the rest of you, don't even dare try to court her or her friends." He looked fiercely at the rest of his friends.
"Don't you think it's better if you warn Alamanda to be careful, Montague? Parkinson really knows how to keep grudges," Alicia Spinnet called out to them. Warrington nodded and headed out along with Crabbe and Goyle.
The visitors waved their goodbye and left the room for their classes and left Harry and Draco alone again. The atmosphere turned bleak again. Harry studied Hermione's list but not really reading it. Not able to stand the silence and the heavy thoughts that were about to surface he stood up and walked over to the Slytherin's side, flopping on to a chair carelessly. Draco narrowed his eyes warily as he stared at his rival.
"I've been wanting to ask you this," Harry began, talking casually to the Slytherin.
"What?" Draco asked curtly.
"When I was out, I found myself standing near the edge of something. So inches away from solid ground was a curtain of blackness," Harry paused as lightning bolt hit the castle and a great roar of thunder vibrated through the walls. "And at the bottom-- somewhere below, I saw a steady flicker of light," he continued.
Draco leaned on his pillow as he looked at Harry thoughtfully. Finally, he spoke up. "It's a place where you can enter and never come back." At his rival's confused look, he began explaining. "You go in, you might never wake up from your comatose. That's how some people ended up from a state of unconsciousness into a brain-dead state." He casually tossed a Chocolate Frog to a shuddering Harry. "Now, it's my turn. What in the name of Bel happened to Snape?"
"I don't really understand the change either. But Fenix played a large factor in that. And you know… Snape's not even a Death Eater anymore. He doesn't even bear the Mark; if you had watched carefully during that particular train-hijack." Harry tore off the wrapping and chewed on the Chocolate Frog thoughtfully.
"I only saw something silver gleaming on his left arm," Draco mused.
"It was a Phoenix. Fenix was the one who gave him that. As far as I understand it, Snape's been given the full redemption," Harry informed him. "Did you receive any news about your father, Drake?"
The Slytherin watched him carefully. "No. But I suspect that my mother had been in contact with him. Peculiar, isn't it? She didn't trust me enough."
"I don't know if I should tell you this, but maybe I should."
That mysterious sentence made Draco sat up straighter and looked curiously at his rival. Harry cleared his throat uneasily. "Your father's sort of maimed right now."
"What?" Draco yelped, his eyes going round.
"There were several attempts from the Dark Lord to gain Snape back into their midst but Snape refused them firmly. Your father was dueling Snape at that time and Snape shoved a… this might sound a little revolting," Harry warned the Slytherin prefect.
"Go on," Draco instructed firmly. "He shoved what?"
"He took a sharp stick and jabbed it into your father's right eye," Harry quickly described what had happened. Draco inevitably winced and unconsciously rubbed his right eye. The queer thing that Draco noticed was that he was not even angry at what Snape did to his father. I'm just too tired to react properly I guess. I can't believe I'm talking to Potter right now. That woman must have grown on me when I was not paying attention. She probably was starting to influence me during the Defence lessons.
**********
In Sirius's office. Before dinner…
Snape knocked on Sirius's door and Harry's godfather admitted him in. Snape looked at him curiously and sat down on a chair, watching Sirius marking carefully on a student's parchment.
"Why did you want to see me?" Snape asked and Sirius looked at him blankly for a moment before snapping his fingers together.
"I almost forgot to tell you that Fenix and I would be scouting on Saturday evening," Sirius said then went back to marking his student's paper. Snape's mouth thinned as he suppressed his anger.
"Sirius, you're shorting her," Snape told him in a cold voice.
"I know, but she accepted the invitation. We're going with the wolves this time. It's risky enough with the centaurs being very selfish with their territory, bad enough there's one lost giant out there somewhere, and even worse that Death Eaters had came so close to the students. We need to keep a close eye on that Forest, so we'll be covering more ground than usual."
Snape took a deep breath to calm himself, but the offhanded manner Sirius had spoke somehow irked him. "Fine then," the Potions Master snapped out. "I have to inform you that Harry's behind his Advanced Potions so I have to give him some extra tutorials on Sundays."
"No," Sirius said flatly, and Snape instantly bristled. "Sunday's family day. It's the time the kids get to relax."
: I wonder if you really care about Harry's future, Mr. Black. : Snape's mindvoice was steely.
Sirius slammed his fist down and leaned forward, scowling furiously. : What are you implying, Snivellus? :
: I am implying that you are spoiling your godson too much. Having extra lessons won't hurt the boy. Or maybe… you are afraid that he might disappear even before you get to say that you love him? : Snape almost jeered at him.
: Yes! : Sirius stood up, staring eye to eye to the Potions Master. His face was pale with suppressed anger and Snape stared back angrily, his black eyes shining brightly.
: You are still the arrogant boy, Black. You can't even tell him a simple thing. :
: Harry doesn't need to be told, Snivellus. He has far more sense than you do! :
Snape had enough. Somehow all the tension from the day he had met the Dark Lord again at the Ministry finally caught up with him and lunged at Sirius, giving a powerful blow to the side of the Black's face. Sirius lay stunned for a while at a corner where he had landed, and shook his head a little. Harry's godfather retaliated by giving Snape a punch, and the Potions Master backed away from him with a bleeding lip. The Elementals watched them with alarm and amusement. Some wanted to inform their mistress about the two males but Krill told all of them to stand down, saying that the two men needed to break it all out.
Both of them were careful not to land on Sirius's desk for fear of ruining the students' answer scripts. The scene was ghastly, much like a brawl between two drunken men in a tavern. Since the two of them were sane and clear-headed, the damage was much more pronounced. Sirius was the first to give up, leaning against the window and took shallow breaths, clutching the right side of his waist. Snape followed, leaning against Sirius's cupboard, massaging his jaw.
"I think both of us have lost our minds," Sirius gasped in pain.
"I don't believe it myself. Brawling, like a bunch of fifteen year-olds. Gods," Snape agreed. "I wonder why the idea of a professional duel didn't came to me."
"Same here. Damnation. I promised Fenix that I would come down to the Hall for dinner."
"So did I." Snape gazed helplessly at him, finally looking at the damage he caused Sirius.
"Oh man. We are going to get killed." Sirius groaned, then slowly sat down. "What are we going to do?"
"You tell me." Snape snorted, flinging his head back and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw Sirius bowing his head down, body shaking. A light chuckle came out of Harry's godfather. It slowly turned to an all-out laughter. Snape shook his head in disgust at the situation, and helplessly joined in Sirius's infectious laughter.
"We're a pair--" Sirius doubled up laughing.
"--Of fools." Snape said weakly, laughing so hard that his eyes misted.
***********
Snape suppressed a brief sigh of resentment. He still needed to get changed. His robe was torn and several buttons of his shirt had popped off. Sirius helped the indignant Snape collect all the missing buttons, continuously laughing. He was peeking out from Sirius's office, hoping fervently that he would not bump into anyone out the corridor. It's a good thing I could still move swiftly. He gave a brief nod to Sirius and briskly walked to his office and let out a sigh of relief when he safely entered his office.
"You are still going to get killed you know," Krill's amused deep voice echoed in the room and the Potions Master winced.
**********
Sirius looked at the mirror and flinched at the sight of his bruised cheek and his eye was just starting to swell. At least I do have the reputation to be a rogue since I was a student here but Snape doesn't. He grinned wickedly and stepped out of his quarters and cheerfully went down to the Hall. He whistled and winked at the girls who were staring curiously at his handsome, battered face and entered the Hall as if he had not just engaged himself in a fistfight. He put on a bland expression on his face and tried not to wince as he sat down beside his oathsister. Fenix's fork had clattered noisily onto her plate when she caught sight of his face.
"What?" Sirius innocently asked. The people surrounding Sirius watched him with baffled expression. "What?" he asked in exasperation. So far I'm doing all right, but it will blow off anyway when Snape gets here. There were hushed whispers erupting from the Slytherins as they watched a figure clad in black strode forward calmly to the Gryffindor table. Ron choked his pumpkin juice and both Hermione and Ginny quickly patted his back. The Potions Master calmly sat in his place and began to eat his dinner in silence.
: Has she started screaming yet? : Snape asked in a worried tone, although his face remained impassive. Sirius copied his image.
: Surprisingly, no. : Harry's godfather answered calmly. He tried to watch Fenix by the corner of his eye and was careful not to sigh with relief when she picked her fork back up and resumed eating. Her silence was a warning sign and the two men who had misbehaved waited in trepidation. Sirius suddenly realized his best friend was missing from the table and asked Fenix in a soft voice.
"He's gone for his patrol with McGonagall, along with the wolves," Fenix said in an expressionless voice. Sirius remained silent after that and concentrated on his dinner. Then came the avalanche.
: Sirius, I'm disgusted at you, : she first said to Sirius privately and then to Snape. : And Severus, I am absolutely shocked. : She calmly left the table and exited from the Hall. Snape actually sunk in his seat a little. The students exchanged a baffled look and shrugged, staring at the two men who was actually flushing with embarrassment.
**********
After nine…
Sirius was walking down to the hospital wing unhurriedly. Peeves was loitering about the hallway and with a flick of his wand he triggered a complicated looking trap that the poltergeist was still fixing. Peeves wailed out in distressed and his cries attracted the Bloody Baron who picked the poltergeist up-- trap and all, before vanishing. He gave a wicked smile and jumped suddenly when a peal of thunder broke over the castle.
Entering the ward, he saw that Fenix was sitting closely to Snape and knew that she was Healing the Potions Master. He was a little surprised to see Harry sitting on a chair beside Draco's bed and the four of them seemed to be discussing about something. Draco lifted an eyebrow when he inspected Sirius. Even his godson was scrutinizing him carefully. Finally, Harry spoke up, via mindspeech.
: Sirius, : Harry began in a slightly pained voice, : what on earth possessed you that you picked up a fight with our greasy-haired Professor Snape? :
"That's easy to answer, Harry," Sirius said with full aplomb. "I always pick a fight with him when I have the chance to. It's his problem that he had chosen to participate." Harry laughed heartily at his thick-skinned godfather.
"Just for that, I'll let your eye swell shut," Fenix said firmly, not looking at Sirius. She clinically poked Snape on his back and he flinched. Sirius chuckled lightly.
: How are you doing? : Sirius asked his godson and Harry answered with a grin. : What were you guys talking about before I came in to interrupt you? :
Harry stretched his back as he answered. : We were talking about the night we were flying to the Headquarters but ended up taking a side trip. Draco wanted to hear the details about his father and about Snape's redemption. :
Fenix absently pulled Sirius close to her and began to Heal him automatically. He gave in to her administration and listened to their conversation distractedly. It was beginning to rain again. An hour passed and Fenix quickly gave all four males a hug, saying that she wanted to get some sleep. She gave a severe look at Snape and warned him to go to bed as soon as the healer chase them all out.
"She's quite an austere woman, isn't she?" Draco observed, eyeing Snape with dry amusement.
"Be nice," Harry responded. Madam Pomfrey came into the room and looked significantly at the four of them. Sirius sighed and motioned Harry to go to his bed. The lights were dimming quickly and Sirius took enough time to hug his godson.
: Goodnight, Harry. :
: You too. : He gave a small sigh. : Just one more night. I'll be sleeping in my own bed tomorrow. That's a nice thought. : Sirius chuckled at Harry's almost petulant mindvoice.
Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat impatiently and Sirius lingered long enough to tuck the blanket in. : Hey, : Sirius faltered, feeling a little embarrassed, : I love you, Harry. :
There was a sudden flash of lightning and Sirius briefly saw his godson's bright smile. : I know. : The room plunged back into darkness. : And I love you too. I sort of regretted that I had never said that to you, especially when I thought that you were really gone. :
: Well, no more regrets then, : Sirius said cheerfully, feeling as if a great deal of weight disappeared from his shoulders. : Have a good sleep. : Sirius quickly took himself out of the ward before Madam Pomfrey could complain and joined Snape as they headed back to their quarters while the infirmary was watched by the Elementals.
***********