Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
Chapter 9 – This World of Mine
"You're going with Hermione?"
Ethan nodded solemnly and Harry's jaw dropped even further.
"Wow…"
"I'm glad you think I couldn't possibly get the brain of Hogwarts to look once at me."
"Its not that."
"Then what?"
"Its just…Hermione? I think everyone's always thought of her and Ron being together."
"That'll just make the two of us showing up together an even bigger shock, won't it?" quipped Ethan with an evil grin.
Harry laughed at that.
"More than likely!"
"Have you finally chosen a likely date from your many followers?"
"Er…yeah."
"Let me guess – red hair, a year below us, possibly the only girl in her family?"
"How'd you know?" asked Harry dumbfounded.
"One," said Ethan, "I'm not blind. I saw her jump on you when we got locked up on the seventh floor. Two, its as bloody obvious as the moon."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Do you like her?"
"What?"
"Do. You. Like. Her?"
"Er…well…um…I guess."
"You guess?"
"I don't know! Do you like Hermione?"
Ethan frowned.
"I…"
Do I? thought Ethan. I really shouldn't go with her. I'm thirty-bloody-six, for Slytherin's sake! No, no – I'm fifteen now. I'm stuck at fifteen again. It feels wrong but – oh, fucking teenage hormones!!
"Well?" asked Harry entreatingly.
"I suppose…" Oh holy hell spawn and damnation. "…yes."
"Cool."
"I tell you I like a girl and all you can say is 'cool'?"
"Would you rather have me say 'you bloody bastard' and attempt to throttle you?"
"Not really."
"Then stop complaining."
"Has the lovely redhead asked yet?"
"No."
"So you are forced to wait patiently until she either A) builds up the courage or B) Hermione forces her to do it. There is also choice C."
"What's choice C?" asked Harry.
"You break down and go ask her yourself despite the rules of the Ball," replied Ethan.
"Oh."
"Yes."
"When's the Ball again?"
"For cripes sake, it's December 27th. Write it down, man."
"On what?"
"Your forehead."
"Oh, so I can read it backwards in the mirror? No thanks."
"Now there's a likely suggestion…"
Harry rolled his eyes and crumpled the Transfiguration paper he had just completely fouled up into a ball and threw it at Ethan's head. The other boy caught it in one hand and sent it sailing into a bin across the common room. From his chair by the fire, Harry scowled.
"Bastard."
* * * *
The Yule Ball…Most of the school had stayed over the Christmas holidays with the exception of all of the first and second years and every third year but two (who had managed to snag dates). Every member of the higher grades had remained in the school and Hogwarts had pulsed with excitement over the days before the Yule Ball. Now it was The Day, as it had come to be called, and the corridors were empty. Every House was in its rightful place, its occupants getting ready for the Ball that night.
"Is there an exact reason why girl's take so long to get ready?" asked Seamus a few minutes after all of the girl's in Gryffindor had vanished up into their dorms.
"I think it's something in their genes," replied Ethan. He peered about the common room then leaned back in his chair and said, "Someone ought to go tell Harry that all female presences have currently left the common room and he may venture down."
"I'll go," said Neville after a moment in which no one moved. "I've got to put my book up anyway." He trudged up the stairs to the fifth year's dormitory as the rest of the Gryffindor boys relaxed.
"When should we get ready?" asked a fourth year.
"Just before the Ball starts," replied Dean.
"Why would we do that?" asked the fourth year, his brow wrinkled.
"Guy tradition," replied Dean and Seamus in unison.
Fred (or was that George) nodded and said, "Yes, we only get ready a few moments before the ladies come down.
George (or was that Fred) nodded in agreement with his brother then called, "How ya doin', Harry?"
A low growl answered him as Harry came down the staircase, Neville trailing behind him. The dark-haired boy looked severely wiped, like he had an immense hangover that wouldn't go away. He scowled at the twins and snapped, "I feel like shit."
"That's never good," muttered a seventh year.
"Sod off," snarled Harry, throwing himself into an empty chair between Ethan and Ron. "The damned wards failed in the middle of the night and the Horde attempted to maul me in my sleep."
"Ouch," chorused all the boys, all knowing about the gaggle of girls still following Harry even after Ginny had (with a push from Hermione) asked him to the Ball.
"That word does not begin to describe my pain," muttered Harry. He got a sudden dangerous gleam in his eyes and pulled out his wand, laying it across his thigh. "The next girl that comes near me besides Ginny or Hermione," he growled, "is going to be in danger of getting a hairstyle consisting of snakes. Or perhaps worms. Which would be better?"
"Snakes," said Ethan, echoed by Fred and George.
"Worms," chorused a few fourth years and sixth years.
"How about spider legs?" asked Ron.
"Or grass?" asked a seventh year lying spread-eagled on the floor.
"I think I like snakes," mused Harry, running a finger over his wand. "Gives them a sort of Medusa look."
"Meh-whosa?" said Ron.
"Meh-doo-sa," corrected Ethan. "She was a beautiful young woman who loved her hair and said that she was more beautiful than one of the old Greek or Roman goddesses. So the goddess turned her hair into snakes and anyone who met her gaze was turned to stone." When he got several stares from about the common room, he shrugged and said, "What? Sue me, I have a thing for Muggle myths and legends."
"Right," said Seamus. "What time is it?"
"Three o' clock," replied a fourth year.
"Holy cricket, we've got four more hours."
Fred and George grinned at each other then said loudly, "Snowball fight?"
"Yes!"
* * * *
Three hours later…"I think I've got snow in places I didn't even know I had."
"It'll melt," said Ethan as he followed Ron into Gryffindor Tower, unwinding his scarf from about his neck. When he saw a fourth year girl coming down the stairs, he hissed over his shoulder, "Harry! Exnay on the coming inay."
"Girl?" asked Harry softly, crouching outside the Fat Lady's portrait as Neville and a sixth year went on past him.
"Fourth year," replied Ethan.
"Blast." Harry looked down the corridor and saw a band of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth years heading his way. "Nevermind mind the one fourth year, I've got ten fifth years heading my way! I'm getting my scrawny ass safely inside!"
"Scrawny ass?" joked Seamus as Harry dashed passed him. His only response was a dark scowl.
When the fourth year caught sight of Harry she let out a squeal, which was promptly answered by a swiftly drawn wand.
"One step," spat Harry, "and you'll have snakes for hair for three months!"
The girl froze in her tracks and stared blankly at Harry as he turned and dashed up the stairs to the boy's dormitory and even after he was gone. When Ethan went past her, he waved a hand in front of her face. That having not worked, he shrugged and moved on up the staircase.
"I think you killed her," he quipped as he entered the dorm just in time to see Harry pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the bed with his cloak, scarf, and sweater. His eyes widened when he saw the other boy's skinny torso and his very visible ribs, plus the few scars that were littered here and there. "Holy Hades…"
Harry blinked and stared at Ethan for a moment then flushed slightly. He hurriedly turned and scrabbled about in his trunk.
"Sorry."
"Harry, your…"
"Thin? Yeah, I know."
"They starved you, didn't they?" asked Ethan seriously.
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Harry stalwartly, pulling on a new shirt before going back to digging through his trunk.
"You know exactly what the fuck I'm talking about! Now answer me!"
Harry's shoulders tightened and he turned to face Ethan, expression stony. "How do you know?" he asked.
"Mione told me. I asked, she told."
"Well, thanks for your concern but I'm just fine."
"Your ribs poking out of your chest like a dish rack is not a crystalline definition of fine," sneered Ethan, throwing off his cloak.
"Just leave it alone, Ethan. Please."
Ethan scowled, mind whirling darkly. He had to tell Dumbledore about this. Potter could not under any circumstances stay with those Muggles any longer! Lily's sister or not, Petunia Dursley was a shoddy person in general and a spoiling mother if he could judge by the small glimpse he'd gotten of her son over the years. The boy needed two whole chairs to sit down in and even then his bottom was overlapping the sides!
"Okay," growled Ethan, "I'll leave it alone. But you should talk to Dumbledore. Your relatives shouldn't be starving you."
Harry turned fierce green eyes on the other boy and growled, "Leave. It. Alone."
"I'm saying this as a friend, Harry."
"Then, as a friend, leave it alone, Ethan."
Ethan sighed and shook his head sadly. He started to say something but stopped when Neville entered, followed by the other three boys.
"Something going on?" asked Dean as he came in last and closed the door behind him.
"Nothing of importance," replied Harry, finally finding his dress robes and pulling them from his trunk.
Ethan shook his head slowly, eyes closed. Damn that Gryffindor courage…
* * * *
Ten minutes later, Harry and Ethan trudged downstairs to the common room in their dress robes. Harry's were the same bottle green one's he'd worn the year before, his hair as wild as ever, while Ethan had trudged out the only pair of dress robes he owned. They were black as pitch with red that seemed to shimmered yellow and orange stitched about the cuffs and tail in the shape of fire. Stitched onto the back of the robes was a large Chinese dragon, its scales the color of flame. The robes had had to be shrunk as they had been worn by a much taller sixth year but beyond that, nothing had changed them from the way they had been first worn. Ethan had had the good thinking to tie his shoulder length hair back into a pigtail, though by now two green locks of hair had escaped it and were tickling both of his cheeks.
"Is that allowed?" whispered Lavender to Seamus as she watched the two boys cross the common room to the fireplace.
"What?" asked Seamus, looking at his date.
"That dragon on the back of Snape's robes."
Seamus chuckled and said, "I don't think he really cares."
Across the room in front of the fireplace, Ethan began, "Harry…"
"If this is about earlier," came the snappy reply, "you can shut up right now."
"Cripes, man, I'm just worried."
"I don't want your worry, Ethan. Thanks for it but no thanks."
"Snobby git."
"Tie-dyed freak."
"I am not tie-dyed!" snapped Ethan.
"Close enough."
"It's bloody not close enough…great scott."
"What?" asked Harry as Ethan's eyes grew as round as saucers and his jaw dropped into his lap. "Ethan?" When there was no response, Harry turned around in his chair and his own jaw dropped to the floor.
Coming down the girl's stair was possibly one of the most beautiful creatures in the world. Sleek flame hair was pulled back from an angelic face with silver freckles winking in the light. The flaming hair was twisted into a bun then left to flow free, curling exotically. A trim little figure was clad in, not a dress robe, but a dress, the fabric the pure color of a flawless emerald.
"Is that…Ginny?" gasped Harry.
Ethan nodded solemnly and slowly picked up his jaw. Then he leaned forward and pushed Harry's still gaping one up. It fell back down and he sighed.
Ginny, for that was who the girl who had caught the eye of every boy in the room was, continued down the stairs, her soft brown eyes looking about the room. When she spotted the two beside the fireplace, a smile crossed her face and she practically glided over to them.
"Hey," she said softly, looking down at the still gaping Harry.
The dark-haired boy was lost for words, his emerald eyes wide upon her. After a moment he closed his mouth then opened it again to breathe, "Wow."
Ginny blushed, her silver turned freckles glowing against her pink cheeks. "Too much?" she asked.
Harry, finally getting himself back together, pulled himself out of his chair and shook his head at her. She was so bloody beautiful!
"Not too much," he murmured. "Not too much at all."
Ginny blushed again then looked at Ethan, saying, "Mione'll be down soon. She was trying to tame her hair when I left."
Ethan smirked and said, "I should go up and tell her her hair is quite fine as it is."
"She hates her hair," explained Ginny as she sat down in Harry's evacuated seat, which he hurriedly offered her. He leaned on the arm of the chair as she continued, "She spent two hours trying to get it to stop frizzing."
"I thought she said she wasn't going to do that again after last year," said Harry in confusion.
Ginny simply shrugged then looked up as the door at the top of the girl's stair opened and the other most beautiful creature in the world came out. Clad in a dress as well, this one a deep royal blue and revealing bare skin everywhere by the slim spaghetti straps and the slooped back, with her hair sleek and shimmering darkly up in a bun matching Ginny's was Hermione.
"We," gasped Ethan as his dark eyes watched her descend the stairs, "are in possession of the two most beautiful creatures in the school and, Merlin help me, I love it."
Harry chuckled as Ginny said, "Actually I think we're in possession of you."
"Either way works," murmured Ethan, watching Hermione as she approached them. His brain started whirring, dreaming up odd little fantasies that he hurriedly shoved to the back of his mind. Damned teenage hormones, he cursed. Then he looked at Hermione again and thought, But Merlin, she's beautiful.
"Snape's in looove, Snape's in looove," taunted the twins from across the common room as they caught the dreamy look Ethan was giving Hermione. Well until Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell came up behind them and whacked the two on the back of their heads.
"Fred and George are whiiiped," sang Harry back, "Fred and George are whiiiped."
"Harry'll be deaaad if he haaarms our siiister," sang Fred and George back, both scowling at Harry. This earned a frown from Ginny, who marched swiftly over to her brothers and gave them such a swift and harsh reprimand that their heads nearly spun.
In the meantime, Hermione had walked up to Ethan, who was still looking at her in awe. She smiled slightly and spun in a circle, the full skirt swirling around her legs. "What do you think?" she asked.
Ethan stared at her for a moment, was dumbfounded for words, gaped a few more moments, then just relaxed and let whatever words would come come.
"You look a dream," were the first words that came out of Ethan's mouth and he was shocked by this fact. This isn't a good idea, repeated his brain over and over. But as it had done with Lily, brain went completely out the window and the heart won out. It, at the moment, was going over every lovely piece of Hermione.
"Shh," hissed Harry to Ethan, "its s'posed to be a surprise."
"A surprise?" said Ginny as she walked back over.
"Mmmhmm."
"You two should stop planning things."
"Oh, but its so much fun," said Harry with a grin. "So, what say we head on down to the Hall? Ron said he'd meet us there."
"Did anyone ask him?" asked Hermione as the four of them weaved through the crowd in the common room.
"I assume someone did," replied Harry as he stepped out into the corridor. "I think one of the sixth year Ravenclaw's who were chasing me decided I wasn't worth the trouble and asked Ron."
"I think a lot of them decided you weren't worth the trouble," quipped Ethan, earning a slap on the arm.
Beside Harry, Ginny smiled and said softly, "Your worth all the trouble, Harry."
Harry looked at the girl beside him and smiled.
"Thanks, Gin."
Ginny only smiled in response and Ethan rolled his eyes mentally. Love birds. Then an arm looped about his own and he turned his head, immediately staring into Hermione's deep brown eyes. And I'm right there along with them.
Hermione smiled at him and Ethan frowned, saying, "What?"
"Nothing," replied the girl, her eyes scouring his face. Her scrutiny unnerved him.
"Problem?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Hermione shook her head in reply then said softly, "I was just wondering…"
"Wondering what?"
"How on earth I fell in love with you."
Ethan started to come to a complete halt but he kept his pace, eyes wide upon the girl beside him. "Are you regretting it?" he found himself asking.
Hermione smiled and replied, "No."
"Then why wonder?" Why does this conversation sound familiar?
"Why indeed?"
Ethan smiled at her and shook his head, laughing inside. He remembered having this exact same conversation with Lily when they'd first started dating. That conversation had ended with the two of them snogging in one of the dungeon rooms. This one would probably not end that way.
By now the four of them had reached the entrance hall and they saw Ron descending the stairs with his date, who was, as Harry had said, a Ravenclaw. Ron grinned when he saw them and hurried down the stairs, his hand in that of his dates.
"Hey, you lot," he said cheerfully. "This is Taya."
"Hi," said Ginny, smiling at the sixth year.
Harry just chuckled, earning a small smile from Taya.
Hermione smiled and said, "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," echoed Ethan, thoroughly enjoying the look on Ron's face when he saw Hermione's arm wrapped about his own. If he liked her, he thought, the stupid arse should have told her earlier. But then again, Hermione likes ME. Oh bugger, I've really dug myself a hole, haven't I?
"What…?" gasped Ron, looking from Hermione to Ethan then back again. "Hermione…what?"
"What?" asked Hermione snappishly, her eyes flashing darkly as she stood tall, glaring up at Ron. "Something wrong?"
"Why – why are you and Snape together?"
"Possibly because she asked me," replied Ethan.
Ron's eyes bugged out and he gasped, "A-asked you?"
"Yes, Ron," said Hermione in a faux sweet voice laced with bitterness. "This was a girls-ask-guys thing, if you don't recall."
Ron simply gaped at the two of them, looking dumbfounded. Hermione glared at him for a moment or two then sighed and said, "Shall we go, Ethan?"
"Whatever milady wishes," replied Ethan, smirking mentally at the look on Ron's face. Dear Merlin, he so bloody loved messing with people!
As the two vanished into the Hall, Ron whirled on Harry and gasped, "She asked him?"
"Yes, Ron," replied Harry, speaking slowly. "She. Asked. Him. Just. Like. Taya. Asked. You."
"Er, right," said Ron. His eyes then narrowed and he looked from Harry to Ginny, whose hands were clasped. "And what are you doing with my sister?"
"Oh for Merlin's fucking sake, Ron!" spat Ginny. "Figure it out!" She then promptly dragged Harry into the Hall, leaving Ron to stare blankly after them, Taya shaking with silent laughter.
"Well, that was marvelous, wasn't it?" said Ethan as Harry and Ginny caught up with them.
"He'll be in shock for a few minutes, I think," said Ginny with a laugh. "Eventually he'll catch up."
"And then he very well might try to kill me," said Harry mournfully.
"Not on my watch!" snapped Ginny, stamping one foot. "He even tries it and I'll make him wish he'd never been born!"
"Feisty, isn't she?" whispered Ethan to Harry, as Hermione pulled on his arm. "Hmm?"
Hermione smiled and said, "Come on."
"Where are we going?" asked Ethan as he waved a goodbye to Harry and Ginny.
"Guess."
"The moon."
Hermione laughed and shook her head, eyes dancing. "No, silly," she said.
"Hmm, I hate guessing games. Enlighten me."
"Have a look around."
Ethan frowned and looked. The two of them were standing in the middle of the Hall – which was the space that had been cleared for dancing. He looked down at Hermione and said, "I thought we'd eat first."
"Not this year."
"And how, pray tell, do you know this?"
Hermione laughed and tapped a silver badge Ethan had not noticed hanging from a string about her neck.
"Ah," he said, "a Prefect. A fit job for you."
"Pardon?"
"Miss Law and Order. Miss Let Us Not Do Bad Things. Miss Let Us Not Be Late To Class…"
"Hey!"
"Miss It Is Dangerous. Miss I Must Study, Study, Study…"
"I think I'm being insulted," grumbled Hermione as the band started up and Ethan took her left hand in his right, placing it on his shoulder.
"Not at all," quipped Ethan, watching as a few other couple's stepped out onto the floor and began to slowly sway. He laid his left hand on Hermione's waist as he said, "If you weren't around, I am fair certain Harry and Ron would have been expelled long ago."
Hermione snorted with laughter and said, "More than likely!"
"So you see," explained Ethan as they slowly revolved in place, "all of the traits they may dislike are one's they need. Its ironic."
Hermione smiled up at him and nodded in agreement.
"Ironic," she repeated. Meanwhile she was thinking, And how ironic that I should fall in love with the Potion Master's son.
Ethan returned her smile, his eyes dashing to Dumbledore and McGonagall, who were both smiling encouragingly at him. With a mental sigh, he thought, Blast and bugger to the both of you grinning fools. He then looked down at the girl in his arms and said to himself, How am I going to tell her that she's fallen in love with, not the Potion Master's son, but the Potion Master himself?
* * * *
After the tables had been set up again and food had been eaten, the floor was once again clear for dancing. Ethan and Hermione were sitting on the sidelines watching Harry and Ginny when a part of Hell broke loose.
Dumbledore stood up an instant before the great front doors were thrown open by force and a troop of black robed figures marched in. Each wore a stark white mask underneath their dark cowls and every student knew instantly who they were.
Death Eaters.
At the sight of them, Ethan felt a prick in his left arm, right where his Mark would have been. But he had not joined Voldemort until after he graduated. And he would never go back into that madman's service. He'd die first.
The leader of the Death Eater troop strode forward, students skittering backwards away from him (or her). He/She stopped in the middle of the Hall and gave a mocking bow towards Dumbledore.
"Forgive for interrupting the festivities, Headmaster, but my Lord insisted."
Lucius, hissed Ethan in his head. He glanced around and saw Harry's face twisted into a dark scowl, emerald eyes burning with hate. He knows. His eyes went on to Draco, whose face was without expression. But those gray eyes told wonders and Ethan saw fear in them. And he knows too.
Dumbledore, expression stony, looked coldly down at the Death Eater and said, "Give me your reason for being here and I'll consider not returning you to your so called Lord in a bag."
Hermione gasped softly and Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. When she looked at him, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. He knows what he's doing."
"'Course he does," whispered Harry. He and Ginny had crept back through the crowd towards them, crouching beside the chairs the two were sitting in. The dark-haired boy looked up at Ethan and asked, "What are they here for?"
Ethan saw the look in the green eyes and whispered back, "It could be anyone."
"But it might not be," whispered Harry.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Ginny in a stage whisper.
"We'll find out in a second," replied Harry.
The Death Eater did not quaver at the threat and seemed to smile behind their mask. "A brave threat, Dumbledore. But never fear. We have not come to harm your precious little students."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed behind his half-moon glasses as the Death Eater finished, "Although we have come for one of them."
A few people glanced back at Harry, who was staring stonily through the crowd at Lucius, ignoring them.
"Who?" asked Dumbledore.
The Death Eater bowed halfway mockingly and said, "Why, Ethan Snape, of course."
Hermione hissed and turned to Ethan, whispering hurriedly, "You have to get out of here."
"I can't run," replied Ethan, "if they can get in the school this easily, they can get in anywhere."
On the floor beside him, Harry smirked and said, "Not anywhere."
Ethan looked down at him in confusion for a moment then caught the smirk and smiled.
"No. Not anywhere."
"What are you two…" began Ginny.
"The Chamber," replied Harry, looking at the girl beside him for her reaction. Her eyes widened and she shivered before nodding slowly.
"That would be safest. But how are you going to get out of the Hall?"
"The doors behind the Head Table," replied Hermione, pointing. "I don't know where it leads though."
"A room," replied Harry, remembering it from the year before. "I think I saw a door in there last year."
"Go," hissed Ginny.
"Why," asked Dumbledore in a grave tone, "would you want Mister Snape?"
"My Lord wishes to give his condolences in person," replied the Death Eater, prompting whispers all about the Hall.
"Why would You-Know-Who want Snape?"
"Why would he want to give condolences?"
"Maybe Snape was a Death Eater!"
Damnit, thought Ethan, glancing from one student to another. Then he looked at Harry and spat, "Let's get out of here."
Harry only nodded and the two of them rose to their feet, crouching down so they wouldn't be seen as they ran down towards the Head Table. Once there, Ethan cursed under his breath and nudged Harry's shoulder.
"There's a great gap right here. If we run across, we'll be seen for sure."
"So," whispered a female voice into Ethan's ear, "you need a distraction."
"Mione," began Ethan only to be cut off as the girl placed a finger over his lips.
"Hush." She drew her wand and pointed it at herself, taking a deep breath before she muttered the words of a spell. Her form shimmered and then Ethan crouched in her place.
"Hermione…" started Harry, staring at her.
'Ethan' shook his head and said, in Hermione's voice, "It's a glamour, not transfiguration. I can distract them while the two of you get to the Chamber."
"If they catch you, your dead," said Harry sharply.
"Then they won't catch me." 'Ethan' smiled at the two of them and said, "Go." With that he rose and walked off back down to where Ginny was still crouching.
Ethan started after 'Ethan' but Harry grabbed his shoulder and hissed, "No!"
"We can't let her do this! It's too dangerous!"
Harry shook the other boy and hissed, "Hermione can be just as stubborn as Ron sometimes and once she's got her mind made up to do something, she going to bloody do it."
Ethan stared blankly for a moment then said, "Let's get ready." He looked down to where 'Ethan' was crouching beside Ginny and thought, You had better not get yourself killed.
* * * *
"Your going to do what?" hissed Ginny, staring wide-eyed at 'Ethan'.
"I'm going to distract those Death Eaters while Ethan and Harry get down to the Chamber."
"What if they catch you?"
"They won't," replied 'Ethan' seriously.
Ginny frowned then asked, "How long will the glamour hold?"
'Ethan' shrugged. "Maybe an hour. Why?"
"I just had an epiphany…"
* * * *
"Is she going or not?" hissed Ethan.
"And here I went and thought you were worried," said Harry jokingly.
Ethan scowled at him and spat, "I am worried."
"That makes two of us."
"Shh," said Ethan. "He's talking again."
"Will you give the young Snape to me," asked Lucius, "or shall I have to go find him myself?"
Dumbledore replied coldly, "I will never give one of my students over to Lord Voldemort." Several students gasped at the use of the name.
"Then we shall have to take him by force," growled Lucius. He pivoted on a heel and snapped to the other Death Eater's, "Find him!"
"You will not leave this castle with Ethan Snape," spat Dumbledore.
Lucius smirked behind his mask and looked over his shoulder at the older wizard. "Oh but I will," he purred.
"Then come get me!"
'Ethan' burst from the crowd of students, shot a hex at Lucius, and yelled, "Meep, meep!" before taking off into the entrance hall, ducking past Death Eaters to race down a corridor.
"After him!" bellowed Lucius.
"After him? Why not after me?"
Another 'Ethan' pranced out of the crowd, a defiant smirk on 'his' face. He planted his feet squarely and stared Lucius down as he said, "I'm the real Ethan."
"Who would that be?" hissed Ethan to Harry.
"I've not the foggiest, but let's use the nice distraction they're causing featuring Malfoy's turned back, shall we?"
"Agreed."
The two boys dashed for the door behind the Head Table, the both of them swearing Dumbledore winked at them. They charged through the empty room and out the door into an equally empty corridor.
"Get back!" snapped Harry, shoving Ethan back into the room as one of the other 'Ethan's' came barreling down the corridor with three Death Eater's behind him.
Ethan winced as he tripped and fell on his rear, grumbling, "What was it?"
"Another you," replied Harry as he helped the other boy up. He opened the door again and peered out. "They're gone. C'mon, we've got to hurry."
"You don't have to tell me that," growled Ethan as he followed Harry out into the corridor. They made it up to the third floor before they were spotted.
"Potter! POTTER!"
Harry and Ethan looked at the Death Eater then at each other and both said simultaneously, "Bloody hell." They took off down the corridor, racing the Death Eater for Myrtle's bathroom, making it there only a few minutes before he did. Ethan slammed the door shut behind them and bellowed, "Where's the damn lock!"
"It hasn't got one!" replied Harry, rushing over to the sink that hid the Chamber's entrance.
"Well then get that fucking thing open! I can barely hold this blaggard back!"
"I'm getting it, I'm getting it!" yelled Harry. "Open!"
The sink slid down into the floor, revealing the pipe that lead down into the Chamber. Harry looked at Ethan, who had sweat sliding down his face from trying to hold the door. His green streaked hair had come completely out of its tie and was sticking to his even paler than usual face. When he sensed Harry looking at him, he turned his head and grunted, "Get going. I'll dive in after you."
Harry's expression turned dark and he growled, "You'd better. If you're not after me in half a minute, I'm coming up here after you."
Brave boy. "Whatever," said Ethan. "Just get going!"
Harry nodded and sat down, pushing himself off down the pipe. Ethan only had a few seconds after that before the muscles in his arms cramped and his hands jerked, releasing the door handle. As the Death Eater threw the door open, he ran for the pipe, diving in head first just as a voice he recognized as Macnair's cried out "Stupefy!" and a beam of red light hit the wall above the pipe. He heard the man cursing as the entrance closed behind him and sighed in relief.
Ethan landed with a crunch, skeletons scratching his face and hands as he plowed head first into them. Hands pulled him up and then he was looking into Harry's worried face.
"You okay?"
Ethan only nodded and Harry slung one of the other boy's arms about his shoulders, grabbing him about the waist and dragging him into one of the tunnels. He propped him against the wall then slouched down beside him with a heavy sigh. They sat in silence for a long moment before Ethan spoke.
"You think they're okay?"
"Yeah," replied Harry, eyes closed.
"You worried?"
"Yeah."
"Make me feel oh-so-confident, why don't you?"
Harry chuckled and opened his eyes to look at the boy beside him. He gave Ethan a nudge with his elbow and said, "They'll be okay. Dumbledore and the professors won't let anything happen to the students."
"I'm not sure I trust Dumbledore," mumbled Ethan.
Harry blinked at him and asked, "Why not?"
"Don't you think that the wards about the castle would have kept those Death Eaters out? And did you notice that he stood up just before they came in? Like he was expecting them." Which I certainly wasn't.
Harry frowned for a moment then nodded slowly.
"You have a point. But why would Dumbledore let Death Eater's in the castle? Especially to get you?" He shook his head and continued, "I mean, he trusted your dad and he was a Death Eater."
"Spy," corrected Ethan.
"Yeah. Spy. Death Eater spy. Dumbledore's spy."
"Reason he was killed."
"Like Karkaroff."
Ethan looked up in surprise. "Karkaroff's dead?"
Harry blinked at him.
"You knew him?"
Oh, bravo, old man. "Er, yeah. He was at the manor sometimes. I didn't know he was dead though."
Harry nodded slowly and said, "At the beginning of the year. Sometimes – sometimes I see things Voldemort is doing in my dreams. There's some connection due to my scar or something. Anyway – he killed Karkaroff just after term began." The boy frowned, biting his lip before he looked at Ethan. "What I don't understand is why I didn't see him killing your dad. If he found out he was the spy, he'd have been feeling a lot of hate. That's what triggers the dreams, I think."
"That's horrid," said Ethan, his stomach churning. A fifteen-year-old boy cursed to see the murdering, raping, and rampaging of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Merlin's beard, does someone up there hate this boy? And dear Lord, how do I explain to him the reason he never saw my 'father's' death is because I'M Severus Snape? Ethan sighed mentally at that thought. Or I used to be…
"You get used to it," said Harry softly.
"Nobody can get used to seeing killing," said Ethan mournfully, thinking back to his first days as a Death Eater. He had hated the torture – hated it with a fiery passion – and had given his own victim's the swiftest death he could. In the case of the Death Eater's victims, the Killing Curse was not a cruel death. It was mercy.
"No," whispered Harry, eyes closed. "No, they can't, can they?"
Ethan looked at the boy beside him for a long time and started, "Harry…" before there was an explosion from above them and the sound of someone coming down the pipe.
"Shit," spat Harry, leaping to his feet. "They destroyed the sink!"
"Is there anywhere else we can go in here?" asked Ethan, pushing himself up as he heard another person come sliding down the pipe.
"Yes. We have to hurry!"
"You don't have to tell me that!"
The two boy's took off at a run down the tunnel, leaping over the snake skin's coils as they reached it then scrambled up a pile of fallen rocks to squeeze through a hole near the top. As Ethan dropped down, he saw Harry running ahead of him, wand lit. After lighting his own, he sprinted after the boy, coming to a halt when he saw a huge circular door engraved with snake's swinging slowly open.
Behind them came the sound of rocks before violently moved and the two boys leapt into the chamber beyond the door, Harry snapping at it to close the instant they were inside.
"They can probably get through that too," breathed Ethan as he eyed the door.
"It'll take them longer than it did the sink," replied Harry, turning and walking down the length of the chamber to where a large skeleton lay beside a pool of water. A statue towered above it, mouth open as though something had come out of it. Ethan tailed the other boy, gaping at the statue.
"Is – is that Salazar Slytherin?"
"The one and only," came a rumbling voice that seemed to come from the statue's mouth.
"Never did that," mumbled Harry as he looked up from where he was crouched beside the empty skull of the basilisk.
"I never had meaning to, foolish boy," said the statue, the open mouth not moving. "I knew you could defeat that little imp who dared control my Nysalis."
"Nysalis?" said Ethan, looking at Harry in confusion.
Harry pointed at the basilisk skeleton and Ethan got it.
"Oh."
Harry nodded then looked at the statue and said, "What do you mean 'little imp'? I thought he was your Heir."
Slytherin's statue laughed loudly at that.
"That fool my Heir? Surely you jest, lad!"
Harry looked at Ethan in confusion then back at the statue.
"Er, no."
Slytherin laughed some more before he said, "That little imp has my blood (how else would he have my gift?) but he is not my Heir." The words after 'but' were uttered in disdain, as though the idea were preposterous.
Ethan blinked several times before he said, "Newsflash for us."
"Definitely," agreed Harry. He turned back to the statue and asked, "So who is your Heir? Or is there not one?"
"Oh, there is one," said Slytherin. "But I doubt he would wish to know of it."
"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" mumbled Ethan to Harry.
"Why would he?" asked Harry, not answering Ethan's comment.
"Because he thinks badly of Slytherin because of his meeting with a member of the House and the words of a Halfling."
Harry paled to a pasty white at those words and Ethan stared at him. "You okay?" he asked.
Harry did not answer. His green eyes were locked on the statue and his voice squeaked as he gasped, "Me?"
"Give the lad a clap on the back," said Slytherin proudly. "Yes, my boy, you."
"But – but I'm a Gryffindor!"
"Yes," hissed Slytherin, his tone a bitter one. "A Gryffindor by House. But what House did the Sorting Hat wish to put you in? What House does it still wish to place you in?"
Holy shitfire and hell spawn, thought Ethan, staring at Harry. This was who the Sorting Hat had been talking about!
"Slytherin," said Harry softly, ducking his head.
Slytherin's statue let out a growl and snapped, "Don't be ashamed of your heritage, boy!"
"But," said Harry, lifting his head to stare at the statue, "you hated Muggleborns."
"Think, lad! Think of the time we founded Hogwarts in. Magic was believed in then and was considered a sin. A sin, boy. They burned women and men they believed were witches. Had we taken in Muggleborns during those days as Godric, Helga, and Rowena wished, we would have brought forth the end of our world!"
"Survival," whispered Ethan, nodding. "It was all about survival."
"Yes," said Slytherin. "And those fools thought I was prejudiced."
"But you left the school…" began Harry.
"Because they allowed the Muggleborns in," explained Slytherin. "I feared they were bringing death down upon our heads. I was sadly mistaken and I forever regretted my decision."
"What was the basilisk for then," asked Ethan, "if not to rid the school of the Muggleborns as Tom Riddle used it?"
Harry looked at Ethan in surprise and Ethan ignored him. He would deal with the repercussions of that statement later. It was high time he told Harry and Hermione anyway. Especially with how he felt about Hermione.
"Nysalis," explained Slytherin, "was my pet. I was forced to leave her here in the Chamber when I left, as there was no other exit from the Chamber beyond the one that led from the girl's bathroom. When that imp Riddle came and claimed he was my Heir she only did what she was taught by me. To obey those of my bloodline." Slytherin sounded mournful as he made this statement.
"If she was supposed to obey those of your bloodline, why did she try to kill me?" asked Harry.
"You did not know you were my Heir. And I believe you may have smelled too Gryffindor for her taste. She was very picky, my Nysalis."
"I think he's a tad crazy," whispered Ethan to Harry.
"Crazy?" said Slytherin, causing Ethan to wince. "Perhaps. But aren't all great wizards a little crazy?"
Ethan and Harry looked at each other and smiled, thinking of Dumbledore. "Yes," they said in unison.
"I take it you now such a wizard?"
"He happens to be Headmaster of Hogwarts now," said Harry.
"May I ask who?"
"Albus Dumbledore," replied Ethan.
"Ahhhh," sighed Slytherin. "A Dumbledore. I remember the first of those little bumblebees. He went insane and killed his wife later in life."
Ethan and Harry both winced at that then looked at each other. Maybe Dumbledore's craziness wasn't the best sort in the world…
"But I'm sure that part of the bloodline has been long drowned out," said Slytherin as though sensing the two boy's thoughts. There was suddenly a loud bang from the direction of the circular door and a reverberating sound as the metal echoed the blow. "Are you two being followed?"
"Yes," said Ethan and Harry in unison.
"By who?"
"Voldemort's followers," replied Harry.
"Imp of a Riddle!" bellowed Slytherin angrily enough that the floor shook. The statue's eyes rolled and looked down at the two boys, the stone they were made of pulsing with anger. "He shall not have two young lads. And especially not my Heir!"
"Well how do we get out?" asked Harry. "You said there was no other way out."
"I correct myself," admitted Slytherin. "There was no way for Nysalis to get out. There is, however, a man-sized exit in my ear. It will let you out – if memory serves me correctly – just behind the staircase in the entrance hall."
"Hope the Death Eaters aren't about there," said Harry, looking at Ethan before he walked over to the side of the statue and began to climb. As he did, he asked, "A question, Slytherin."
"Salazar," corrected Slytherin. "And ask."
"Salazar," said Harry as he pulled himself up by the statue's ear. "If I'm your Heir, then why did I pull Gryffindor's sword out of the Sorting Hat?"
"As I said, perhaps you were too Gryffindor at the time. You have a dash of Gryffindor spirit and bravery, dear boy, but you are Slytherin blooded. I believe if you go ask Godric's dear hat, he has a hold of my weaponry along with Helga and Rowena's."
"What are those?" asked Ethan as he hauled himself up to stand beside Harry.
Slytherin replied, "Helga preferred to use a staff – with magical properties, I assure you – whilst Rowena was skilled with a bow. Her arrows would always strike an enemy target in the heart and never harm a friend."
"And your weapons?" asked Harry.
"I'll leave that for you to find, my boy. Now hurry. I am thinking of toying with these foolish followers of that little imp."
Harry looked over his shoulder at Ethan, who shrugged, then spat, "Open." The inner part of the ear slid back and away and the two boys clambered inside the dark, long unused tunnel. As the ear slid back in behind them, forcing them to light their wands again, the door into the inner depths of the Chamber opened from the inside and Slytherin let out a brash laugh that sent the Death Eaters running for the pipe back up to the castle.
* * * *
"Where are they?" hissed Hermione an hour later after the glamour had worn off. Beside her Ginny shrugged, watching as the Death Eater's trudged across the lawn, Dumbledore marching a few steps behind them to make sure they left.
"I don't know but those Death Eater's came back babbling about the Chamber and someone laughing."
"Harry and Ethan?"
"Are they capable of scary laughter?"
"No," said a voice from the portrait hole. "But Salazar Slytherin is."
"Harry!" cried the two girls and spun about. Ginny ran across the room and leapt upon the boy, ignoring the fact that he had slime on his robes and it was staining her dress. Harry pulled her close and murmured, "Good to see you too, Gin."
"Where were you two?" asked Hermione as she pulled back from Ethan, having encircled him in a bear hug.
"Chamber," replied Ethan.
"And what was that about Salazar Slytherin?" asked Ginny, looking up at Harry.
"Remember the statue in the Chamber?" asked Harry.
"Yes."
"It can talk."
"It can what?"
"Talk," repeated Harry. "As in form sounds that form words that form sentences that form paragraphs that form pages that form books that form several volumes of text…"
"I get the point," said Ginny, covering his mouth with her hand.
"What did he say?" asked Hermione. Harry frowned at that and looked about the common room, which was fairly empty but had a few people in it. Ethan saw the boy's look and spoke.
"I know an Anti-Eavesdropping charm if that's what you're worried about."
Harry sent him a grateful look and nodded. He then said, "Let's go over there to the couch."
Ginny and Hermione gave each other a Look but complied. Harry settled on the couch, Ginny beside him while Hermione sat down in the chair across from him. Ethan was perfectly compliant to sit on the floor, casting the charm as soon as he was settled.
"Okay," said Harry, "I know this is going to sound crazy but Slytherin, for one thing, never really hated Muggleborns. He was just afraid that Muggles would find out about the wizarding world and go on a witch hunt."
"Makes sense," said Hermione.
"Yeah, it does. Oh, and the basilisk? That was his pet."
"A pet that killed Moaning Myrtle," spat Ginny. "A pet that I was forced to control by Tom."
Harry patted Ginny's hand and said, "She was just doing what she was taught, as Slytherin said. He said he taught her to obey anyone of his bloodline. Being as Tom was of his bloodline, she had no choice but to obey him."
"That brings forth the question of why she obeyed Ginny," said Hermione.
"Probably sensed Riddle in Ginny," explained Ethan, leaning back against the chair with his head propped against Hermione's leg.
"Anyway," said Harry, "I found something out down there. Something about my family."
"What?" asked Hermione and Ginny at the same time.
Harry paused for a long moment, looking at Ginny the entire time. Then he looked away from her, as though ashamed, and mumbled very hurriedly, "I'mactuallytheHeirofSlytherin,notVoldemort."
"I didn't catch that at all," grumbled Hermione whilst Ginny stared blankly at Harry. He kept his face turned away from her for a minute or so then slowly turned and looked up, his eyes searching her face.
"Sorry," he muttered, ducking his head. Before his chin touched his chest, a slim hand caught it, lifting his face back up. Harry opened his eyes and looked into Ginny's brown ones, which were sad.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," she whispered. "It was my choice to trust Tom. And you are not him."
"He's also a few generations away, according to Slytherin," said Harry with a slight grin.
"You're related to Slytherin?" gasped Hermione, realizing what Ginny had been saying.
Harry nodded solemnly and Hermione blinked a few times before asking, "How?"
"Not a clue. And now I've got a question for you, Ethan." Harry turned his gaze upon the other boy and said, "How did you know that Riddle was the one who attempted to get rid of the Muggleborns?" Ginny and Hermione turned their gazes upon him as well at this question.
Ethan sighed and closed his eyes, thinking, Guess its time to let the cat out of the bag.
"Well about that…I heard it from Dumbledore."
"When?" asked Ginny.
"Second year," replied Ethan softly.
Hermione frowned and said, "But you weren't here in our second year."
"But I was," said Ethan, drawing his wand. "You just don't remember." He then pointed his wand at each in turn and muttered, "Memoria reverto." The tip of his wand glowed and three little motes flew out, each landing on one of the three's foreheads. They flashed then vanished, releasing the memories that had been suppressed at Ethan's behest. But he couldn't stand it. He couldn't lie to these people anymore.
Ginny and Hermione were both bent over clutching their heads a moment later while Harry had his elbows propped on his knees, his green eyes staring in disbelief at Ethan.
"Pro-professor?"
"Not anymore," said Ethan/Severus mournfully. "Dumbledore sent the remains of that potion to Master Vorinhoff at Durmstrang – he taught me when I was going for my own Mastery and knows far more about potions than I ever shall. He analyzed it and now…" Ethan spread his arms wide. "…I'm stuck like this. I have to live my life over again though I daresay I won't fuck it up as much the first time around."
"And – and what you said…about my mum?"
Ethan only nodded to which Harry shook his head slightly. He then looked at the boy on the floor and said, "Y'know what? I thought for a second I'd be royally pissed at you. But I'm not. You're – you're a fairly decent guy when you're not being a complete bastard."
"Thanks. And that was a very bitter man," said Ethan, head bowed. "I'm not him anymore. I'm Ethan. I can never be Severus Snape again. I never will be again."
"Dean told me," gasped Ginny as she sat up, eyes wide. "When I was going to Potions that day. I – I couldn't believe it."
"Why?" asked Hermione, still bowed over. "Why tell us now?"
Ethan couldn't look at her. He didn't want to know if she hated him now.
"I couldn't stand it anymore. I – I couldn't stand lying to the three of you anymore."
"What about Ron?" asked Ginny.
"Ron'd decapitate him," said Harry solemnly. "Or beat him into a pulp."
"Like to see him try," muttered Ethan. He then got up, turning towards Hermione and kneeling down. "Mione…"
Hermione looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with tears. She hissed softly, "I don't know what to think anymore. You're what? Thirty-six?"
"In mind only," said Ethan mournfully. "Beyond that I'm fifteen."
"But you're not," said Hermione. "Are you Snape or Ethan? Does Ethan really exist?"
"Yes!" declared Ethan. "Merlin's beard, Mione, do you think I'm playing my own son as a joke? I'm stuck in this role now!"
"Which would you rather be?" demanded Hermione, looking straight into his eyes. "Would you rather be Severus Snape or Ethan Snape? Would you rather be the bastard who has made the last four years Hell for nearly every Gryffindor or the boy I fell in love with?"
Ginny and Harry looked at each other then at Ethan, waiting for his answer.
"You want the truth?" asked Ethan.
"Yes," answered Hermione, eyes bright.
Ethan looked up at her and their eyes locked. He said softly, "I would rather live my life as a boy who did not exist until a few months ago rather than a man who gave up his soul to a madman. I would rather live my life with you than anyone in the world." Lily strikes a close second, he added. But I don't think she ever loved me back as much as you.
"Oh, Ethan," breathed Hermione and enveloped him in a hug, sobbing into his shoulder. Ethan knelt in confusion for a moment then slowly reached up and pulled the girl out of the chair onto the floor with him, rubbing his hands up and down her back.
"Shh," he whispered. "Shh, Mione."
Hermione hiccupped into his shoulder then began to laugh, which sounded choked through her tears. Ethan arched an eyebrow at her as she leaned back, her face blotchy now, and laughed.
"What?" he asked.
"I just realized something," she choked. "I fell for the greasy Potions Master!"
Ethan smiled gently and said, "I won't hold it against you. And your hair would be greasy too from leaning over cauldrons all day."
Hermione began to laugh again at that and Ethan pulled her into a hug, looking at Harry and Ginny over her shoulder. The two of them smiled and started to rise to leave when the portrait opened and McGonagall stepped in.
"Mister's Snape and Potter," she said when she spotted them. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak with you."
Harry nodded and rose from Ginny's side, walking across the room to stand by the Transfiguration professor. Ethan watched him go, dispelling the Anti-Eavesdropping charm with a flick of his wand. He then pushed Hermione gently away from him and whispered, "Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine," mumbled Hermione, brushing away tears. "I can escape from Death Eater's in a cinch so I think I can handle it when my boyfriend turns out to be the dreaded Hogwarts Potions Master."
"Now I see how you got in Gryffindor," said Ethan. He then looked at Ginny and added, "You two stay together till Harry and I get back, alright?"
Ginny nodded and Ethan rose to his feet, pulling Hermione up with him. He squeezed her hands reassuringly before he stepped back with a smile then turned and went to join McGonagall. The two girls watched as the two boys they loved stepped out of the common room and the portrait closed behind them.Memoria reverto – Memory return
A/N: Kudos to Jim Butcher's latest book Summer Knight for the "Meep, Meep" line and parts of the sentence it's in. If you haven't read him and you like wizards and such, go and bloody find his books! I don't know if he's written more than The Dresden Files but if he has, give me a ring. Oh and the books probably have a rating of R. Thought I'd mention that…
Cheers for every wizard with the name Harry (yes, the main characters name in the Files is Harry)! ^_^
A/N2: And may I mention that I am a somewhat hopeless romantic (Amelie has a hand in that, I assure you)? Plus, I just HAD to do an SS/HG fic. It was screaming to be done. If you don't like that ship – tough luck, mate. And if anyone's wondering, I take just about any ship. Within reason. You popup with some crazy thing like GL/MD (that's Gilderoy Lockhart/Marge Dursley) or HG/DD (I'll let you figure THAT out) and I'll look at you like you've grown four heads named Bob and have begun speaking German. Now that I've begun to go off, I'll shut up now.
A/N3: Oh, and yes, I love torturing Harry by making him the Heir of Slytherin. Its so much fun. I feel you sometimes have too much fun. Here's the person who wanted to string me up above a vat of piranha. Oh, and WHO wanted to turn me into a toad? That wouldn't have killed you. And run me over with a car? At least it would have been Saerry's car. *glare* *rolls eyes* Boys…