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 10 – Wasting Too Much Time

"What is it now, Minerva?" demanded Ethan as he and Harry followed McGonagall down an empty corridor.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for disrespecting a professor, Mister Snape," snapped McGonagall.

Ethan snorted and said, "Oh get off your bloody high horse, Minerva.  I told them."

"Severus!"

"And I removed their Memory Charms."

McGonagall stared down at him, flabbergasted for a moment, then gasped, "Severus, that was very dangerous!  Your magic isn't as strong as it was before!"

"Bullshit," spat Ethan.  "And its Ethan now, not Severus, remember?"

"Yes, yes," replied McGonagall.  "What is Albus going to think of this?"

"To put it bluntly, I don't give a damn."

"Sev-Ethan!"

"Minerva, have you wondered how Lucius Malfoy and the Death Eaters got in?  Sweet Merlin, that sounds like a rock band."

Harry snorted with laughter behind the two, not only from that comment but also from the fact that – to his surprise – Snape and McGonagall (before the potions incident) had been friends!  It was a surprise to see the two Heads of House – well, one Head of House now – chatting calmly with the attitude that was between their Houses (or ex-House).

"I have wondered…"

"Then don't you find it strange that they should get past wards that have been in place for centuries to keep evil out?  Does it perhaps give one the idea that Albus wanted them to get in?"

"Se-Ethan, that's preposterous!"

"Is it?" said Ethan with a raised eyebrow.  "I ask you, Minerva, does Albus read students mail?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Then he should not know of a letter I received from Voldemort a month or so ago with condolences on the loss of my 'father'."

"You received a letter from You-Know-Who?" gasped McGonagall.

Harry blinked and said, "You didn't notice the owl that screamed like a person?"

"I did," replied McGonagall, frowning at him, "but I never guessed it would be from You-Know-Who."

"For cripes sake, Minerva, say his bloody name!" snapped Ethan.  "You know what Albus says…"

"'Fear of a name only prompts fear of the thing itself,'" intoned Harry.

"Thank you," said Ethan.  "You see, Minerva?"

"Harry did not live through You-Know-Who's days…"

"I lived in Voldemort fucking presence from age nineteen to twenty-four!" yelled Ethan.  "Have you ever looked madness in the eye, Minerva?"

"No."

"Then believe me, it scares the piss out of you.  Men went mad from staying in Voldemort's presence for too long.  That's how powerful his madness is, Minerva.  What do you think happened to Lucius?"

"Lucius was always a little bastard," snapped McGonagall.

Ethan nodded and said, "Ah, yes, he was.  Much like Draco.  But he wasn't a killer, was he?"

"No," came the reply.  Then, "How did you come out sane, Severus?"

"Whoever said I came out sane?"

Harry blinked at that then listened as Ethan continued, "Lucius fell because he was too damn Slytherin and power-hungry.  I'm a Gryffindor with Slytherin cunning."

"What about your sarcastic wit?" asked McGonagall jokingly.

"Natural Snape trait."

"I see."

They had now arrived at the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.  McGonagall said the password (Swirly Pudding) and the three of them stepped up onto the moving staircase.  When they arrived at the top of the stair, McGonagall pushed the door opened and motioned the two boy's to enter in front of her.  They did, taking the seats Dumbledore offered with a sweep of his hand as McGonagall closed the door then took her own chair.

"Ethan, Harry," said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling behind his glasses.  "I am glad to see the both of you safe."

"You'll need to fix the sink in Myrtle's bathroom," commented Harry.  "The Death Eater's decided to destroy it so now the entrance to the Chamber's completely open."

"I will handle that immediately," said Dumbledore.  "And Ethan…"

"Dare I say, Albus, that I believe you let those Death Eaters in?"

Dumbledore blinked then said, "Mister Snape…"

"Its okay, professor," said Harry.  "He told me."

Dumbledore looked sternly at Ethan and growled, "Severus…"

Ethan shook his head and said, "I couldn't lie to them anymore, Albus.  And its only Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.  No one else will ever know."

"We are lucky Lucius did not see you."

"I second that," said Ethan.  "And now I repeat myself.  Did you let those Death Eaters in?"

"Sadly," said Dumbledore, "yes."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"A test."

"A test?" spat Ethan, eyes flashing.  "That didn't look like a fucking test to me."

"Not to the Death Eaters, no.  They were after you.  The test was my idea."

"To what?" asked Harry, frowning.

Dumbledore sighed and looked at Ethan seriously.  "To test your loyalty."

"My loyalty?" snarled Ethan.  "God damnit, Albus, you should know me better than that!"

"I thought that perhaps you would be lead astray again, as you were before…"

"Well, if you thought that then fuck you.  Fuck.  You."  Ethan stood angrily, his dark eyes flashing fire.  "I will never in my life go back to Voldemort.  Never!  I lived for six years in his presence and it very nearly drove me mad!  Do you know what saved me?  You.  You and your ever-fucking-patience.  And if you dare doubt me just because I get reverted back into my fifteen-year-old self then fuck you, Albus Dumbledore!"

With that Ethan turned on a heel, flung the chair out of his way, and stormed out.  Harry spared Dumbledore one glance before he turned and ran after the other boy.

"That did not go as well as I hoped…" said Dumbledore.

McGonagall rose and left without a word, leaving the old wizard alone in his office.

* * * *

"Ethan!"

Harry raced out of Dumbledore's office, followed quickly by McGonagall.  "Professor…?"

"I know where he'll be going," said McGonagall.  "Come with me."

"Where?" asked Harry as he hurried along beside the professor, having to walk faster to keep up with her pace.

"Do you know of the other dungeon floors?"

"Yes, they're guarded by spiders.  The entrance is triggered by one of the torches.  I tripped down there and found it by accident when I tried to catch myself."

"You are one of the few students who shall ever go down there," said McGonagall.

Harry frowned and asked, "What's down there exactly?"

"I am afraid I cannot say."

"Ah, secrets."

McGonagall frowned at him then nodded and said slowly, "Yes."

"Hmm," was all Harry said and then there was silence between the two as they continued on down into the dungeons.  McGonagall strode purposely down the corridors, not halting when she came to the torch that opened the entrance into the lower dungeons.  She pulled the torch from its bracket, which triggered the entrance.  Harry slipped in after her as the stone slab door started to close.

"What about the spiders?"

"They aren't poisonous," explained McGonagall, "and they are only here to keep students out.  Stay close to me and they'll keep away from you."

"Okay," said Harry, tailing the professor close.  He heard a soft splat to his right – most likely a spider dropping to the floor.  Not that he was scared of spiders (there'd always been plenty of them in his cupboard) but he didn't want to be ushered out before he could find Ethan.

They ventured down several dark corridors before the sounds of metal on metal touched their ears.  The two looked at each other then followed the sounds, which ended at a heavy oak door.  McGonagall pushed it open and Harry gaped at what he was seeing.

It was an armory.  But judging by the mats on the floor, it was also a training room.  And at this moment Ethan was in it.

He had a long hunting dagger in his left hand, the hilt resting against his thigh with the blade pointing out away from him.  In the right hand, he gripped a long sword – an astounding feat to see as the sword was generally used by both hands.

Across the room stood a huge, hulking statue that was moving of it own volition.  It held a sword and dagger matching Ethan's and was coming slowly towards him.  Abruptly it roared, a sound like a rockslide, and charged, thrusting its sword at Ethan's belly.  Ethan stepped to the right, bringing up the hunting dagger to knock the swords blade down while he lifted the long sword above his head to bloke the oncoming blow from the statue's dagger.  He then kicked the statue in the side, sending it skittering back a few feet before he went on the offense, battering at the poor statue with sword, dagger, and feet.

"What's he doing?" whispered Harry to McGonagall.

The Transfiguration professor knelt down by her student and replied softly, "After he turned spy for Albus, Severus would come down here often to spar.  He – like you – had discovered the lower dungeons as a student and somehow made it past the spiders.  I found him down here often during those days, practicing with the swords.  He does not have a true style but he has a gift and knows exactly how to move the sword where he wants it.  I think he developed eyes in the back of his head after those days with You-Know-Who, which makes him a much more dangerous swordsman than he already was."

"That looked like kickboxing," commented Harry as he watched Ethan perform a flawless roundhouse kick on the statue, sending it halfway across the room to land hard on its back.

"Yes," said McGonagall.  "He knows hand-to-hand fighting styles as well."

"Courtesy of Voldemort?"

"Aurors," replied McGonagall and Harry looked at Ethan.  He had been an Auror?

"Stop," commanded a harsh voice suddenly.  The statue froze as it took a step towards Ethan, who wiped sweat off his forehead with his left hand.  "Thanks for the workout, Memren."

"No problem," rumbled the statue, standing straight as it released its weapons, which flew over to their respective places in the armory.  "Anytime."  The statue then lumbered over to where three more statues stood by the wall, taking up a place in the silhouette of his form.  Harry looked at the other three statues, all of whose heads were completely gone.

Ethan stood in the center of the room for a moment before he walked over to a table set up in front of a window that could not possibly be there yet was.  The half-moon shone through the window, lighting the room as Ethan waved a hand after placing his sword and dagger down on the table and the torches dimmed before flickering out.  He then stood there, still as Death, looking out into the night.

"Severus," said McGonagall softly.

"Can I not get one moment of peace, Minerva?"

"Y'know," piped Harry, stepping past McGonagall into the room, "I can't help thinking the same thing sometimes."

Ethan's head ducked and he said, "What are you doing down here, Harry?"

"I was worried."

"Much like I was earlier."

Harry winced and said, "I'm sorry, Ethan.  You're right.  I should tell someone.  I should have told someone.  But…where else would I go?"

"Harry," started McGonagall.

"My aunt and uncle practically starve me, professor," said Harry, looking away from her.  "To take words from Ethan, my ribs look like a dish rack."

"Scars," murmured Ethan.

"What scars?" gasped McGonagall.

Harry shot Ethan a glare then replied, "Beatings.  Belt mostly.  Before I came to Hogwarts.  Uncle Vernon stopped that after I got my letter – or should I say, Hagrid brought my letter."

McGonagall sighed and said softly, "Oh if we had known.  Harry…"

"I should have said something," interrupted Harry.  "But I was scared.  Scared I'd be sent to an orphanage or worse, put up for adoption.  How many people are there that would be thrilled to get their hands on me – and not for any good reasons?"

"We would have never…"

"What if Fudge had found out?  He'd have given me to anyone.  Anyone."

Ethan turned around, knowing what Harry was suggesting.  Fudge would have given Harry to the highest bidder – which would have been a Death Eater and, most likely, Lucius Malfoy.

"That will never happen," hissed McGonagall, touching his shoulder.  "No one will ever know."

"What about Albus?" asked Ethan.

"He probably knows already," murmured McGonagall.

"What?" exclaimed Harry, jumping back.  "If – if he knew, why didn't he stop them?  I lived in a cupboard for eleven years!  Before I got my Hogwarts letter, I was beaten every time I spoke up!  And after, I've been treated like scum and still starved to death!  Not as though they haven't treated me like scum all my bloody life."

"You and I have the same family history, you know," said Ethan, walking over to Harry.  "Both of us raised by our aunt and uncle, both treated like scum.  You're the lucky one out of the two of us, I think."

"How's that?" asked Harry.

"You'd never join Voldemort."  Ethan sighed and continued, "You've been against him ever since you came to Hogwarts.  I heard all about what he had done and ran right to him."

"Well," said Harry, a small smile appearing on his face as he wrapped an arm about the other boy's shoulders.  "Maybe this time around you can tell Voldemort to piss off."

"I think I will," said Ethan with a laugh.

McGonagall smiled at the two, marveling at how, even though he knew Ethan was actually Severus, Harry still was his friend.  Maybe the boy was beginning to see the world in gray, not just black and white.

"Come along," she said after a moment.  "I believe there are two young ladies sitting worried in Gryffindor Tower."

Harry and Ethan looked at each other, grinned, then started out into the corridor, McGonagall right behind them.  As they walked back up into the first dungeon level, she trailed behind the two boys, wondering what on earth she was going to do.  The Dursley's treated Harry worse than those Malfoy's had treated that poor elf Dobby and Ethan had no family to speak of.  Gods, if she could only take the both of them in…

A/N: Swirly Pudding is those little Jell-O puddings that have chocolate with the vanilla or whatever streak in the middle if your wondering.  I don't know if that's their real name but hey…it's a name.  Damn, I want another little pudding cup now…just ate the last one.