Changed Perspectives
"Weasley!"
Ron jumped slightly and nervously swung around at the enraged voice sounding across the Hogwarts grounds from behind him. Coming up quickly from the entrance hall of the school was an obviously infuriated Severus Snape followed by a smirking Lucius Malfoy. The Gryffindor lad gulped nervously as he saw his dreaded potions master stalking towards him.
"It seems," Severus said in his quiet voice that all knew was reserved for when he was really angry, "that I can't even enjoy a Saturday relaxing without hearing of some stupid incident occurring with the ever impulsive Gryffindors involved. This is outrageous however being that it happened while visitors to the school were here. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Ron glared back heavily at the head of the Slytherin house. "You never failed to punish Potter during those times but I don't see you doing that now. Is it because he has decided that your house is better than ours?" Many of the Gryffindors around Ron winced at the statement which they knew would just irate the Slytherin professor even more.
"The reason I am not punishing Mr. Potter, Weasley is because it seems he has finally matured to the point where he knows better than to pick fights with others of a younger age and a lesser amount of education than he does."
The Gryffindor glared at Harry when he saw Snape glance upwards in thought. "I have decided to come up with a—imaginative—detention for you, Mr. Weasley. You are to be at the library every night for the next week for two hours from seven to nine. You may not have to stay there all night but that all depends on what Mr. O'Connor wants to do every night. If he wants to go to the potions lab for research then you will go with him and do whatever he asks be that it is not life-threatening."
"You're making me become a servant for a week?" Ron asked incredulously.
"That seems to be correct, Mr. Weasley. Good day." With that, Severus swung around in his traditional flurry of ebony black robes and marched away talking quietly to Lucius along the way. No one noticed however when they paused just within seeing and hearing distance.
"So, Potter, it looks as if you've got Snape on your side now as well. Hope you enjoy hell because I'm about to send you there." Ron growled as he moved forward to slam his fist into Harry's face. But just as his hand was inches away from its target and Harry began to move into action, an irritated hiss was heard and Salazar the snake was on Ron's hand with his head in the Gryffindor's face. Ron screamed and shook his hand hard as he saw the gleaming blue eyes (can snakes even have that color eyes?) staring at him. Salazar was sent flying into the air and Harry caught him neatly.
"Salazar doesn't take well to anyone threatening me." Harry stated calmly as he handed the black asp over to Pansy. "But this is for what you were trying to do to me before my pet scared you and for attacking Shawn. And if I should go to hell I'll be seeing you there." And with that Ron was sent flying into the Hogwarts lake by a nicely placed left-hook to the face.
*
Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy both smiled slightly and laughed quietly at the scene they had just witnessed. "Yes, he is definitely Lily's son."
*
Severus led Lucius and Narcissa into his office and locked the door and silenced the room. "So what is it that you two wished to discuss with me?" he asked as he motioned for the couple to sit down on one of the couches around an unlit fireplace.
"Voldemort, Severus. What else is topic for conversation these days?"
"Ah," Snape moved to his liquor (is there a difference between that and liqueur?) cabinet and drew out a bottle. "Do you want a glass of brandy?"
Narcissa declined politely while Lucius just took a glass and filled it to the brim.
Severus filled his own glass and sat down in his favorite leather chair watching the other two with observing eyes. "And what is it about our lord that you wish to discuss? And at Hogwarts no less?"
"You can cut the crap, Severus. We both know that you either do not want to be in service to Voldemort or you are spying by now. We just came here because we don't want to be among his Death Eaters any longer as well."
"And what do you suppose I do about it?" Severus asked shrewdly. "I know you, Lucius. You never give out any information that could harm you in the long run unless you plan on working alongside that someone."
The blonde Slytherin male laughed softly and nodded. "You know me too well, Severus. Narcissa has told me that while talking to many of the other Death Eaters' wives she found out that many did wish to revolt against Voldemort as well but they do not discuss it freely so they go about pretending that they are happy with what they are doing. And none of us would ever want to willingly go to Dumbledore."
"So what is it that you are asking of me?" Severus asked.
"We need your help coming up with a plan to get rid of our lord."
*
Narcissa Malfoy went looking for her son later that day while her husband was still talking to Severus. She found him by himself in the school library looking through some Muggle poetry books. After watching him picking a book from the shelf, flipping to the back, cursing, and placing the book back a few times she decided to make her presence noticed and coughed. "What is it that has gotten my son so frustrated and where is your dear friend, Mr. Potter?"
"Harry is in a meeting right now with Severus right now about possible potions tutorials as he is absolutely abysmal in that class and he has to be able to be able to grasp the concepts for the advanced classes we are taking this year and our O.W.L.s. Later we're planning on trying to summon an object that's been missing for a little while if possible." Draco scowled as he put back another book back onto its bookshelf and picked up another.
"And what are you looking for?"
"I had a dream last night. In my dream there was a poem spoken that I'm positive was called 'Longing' but I can't seem to find it anywhere."
"Ah," Narcissa said as she went over to a bookshelf one row down. "What happened in your dream? And who was in it?"
"That's the problem. I can't seem to remember." Draco slammed a book down in anger and the librarian, Madam Pince, glared over at the Slytherin teen. "All I know is that it has a connection with a poem called 'Longing'. The poem had something to do with coming in dreams or something of the sort. And I remember green eyes—they made me think of Harry." The blonde boy ended his sentence in a despondent tone.
Narcissa looked questioningly at Draco and asked. "Why would that be such a terrible thing? Harry would be a good match for you I believe. And you two would be so handsome together."
Draco started to splutter. "Mother! He told us before that he isn't even gay. We have no chance with each other so keep that out of your thoughts and wishes."
The woman smiled as she pulled a book from the top shelf of her section. "Has he ever said that he was of either orientation?"
"No, not necessarily." Draco said quietly. "But he's Harry Potter. He wouldn't be gay figuring with my luck."
"Draco, Malfoys are known for being persuasive. If it turns out that he isn't homosexual then you'll just have to get him to change his mind." Flipping to a seemingly random page in her book, Narcissa handed the book over to her son. "Is this the poem you were looking for?"
After just reading the first line, Draco immediately remembered it from his dream. "Yes, that's it. I still can't remember who was speaking it though… How did you know where to find it?"
"That was one of Harry's mother's favorite poems*. I still remember her dragging me into the library to make me read that poem. She was scandalized that I had never even heard of it before."
"Thank you, mother." Draco said as he went to the librarian's desk to check out the book of poetry.
*
In the late afternoon, all the fifth year Slytherins outside by the lake with Shawn discussing Harry's very complex history and the Marauder's Map.
"I'm still trying to get all the facts straight." Pansy complained in a mock pouting voice. "Peter Pettigrew is alive and is that blasted Wormtail that my father says is an annoying git. Sirius Black is innocent and is Harry's godfather. Lupin from our third year was a prankster once and a nice werewolf not hungry for blood. And Harry's dad was friends with them all."
"Got every single one right, Pansy." Harry pulled out his wand and started to twirl it nervously. "Might as well try to get this over with. Accio Marauder's Map!"
The room waited in silence for a minute before Harry sighed. "I guess that Crouch Jr. destroyed it at the end of last year." But then a piece of parchment zoomed into Harry's lap. The Slytherin picked it up and gasped. "It's still activated. That means that it was used recently."
Suddenly they heard barking and a voice shouting from nearby. "Snuffles! Slow down, you mutt!" The Slytherins all stared in shock as a grim-like dog was seen being chased by Remus Lupin.
Remus stopped as stopped as he saw the students staring at him. "Ah. Sorry about that. My dog here just got loose. Have any of you seen a piece of parchment suddenly go flying by? I was looking at it when it suddenly flew out of my hands. And it appears that Snuffles, my dog, believes that it came around here."
Harry stood up. "Moony? What are you doing at Hogwarts?"
Remus gaped. "Harry? You really are in Slytherin?" he asked looking at the badge on Harry's robes. "And here I was thinking that Minerva was joking with me. Congratulations are in order, I presume for you entering a new house that I'm hoping you are happy with."
Harry quirked an eyebrow. "You aren't angry?"
Remus smiled. "A little disappointed that it seems that Gryffindor is not your house anymore but angry? Never." He then noticed the map in Harry's hands. "So I now understand the phenomenon of the flying map."
The Slytherin then looked to his godfather in his dog form. "And Snuffles here isn't too angry is he?" The dog just barked loudly before turning to look back at the school.
"I believe that Snuffles is trying to suggest that we go back into the school to discuss this with less chances of being overhead." Remus said before looking to the other Slytherins. "I hope you don't mind me taking Harry for awhile to go talk to."
The Slytherins all shook their heads and watched as the two people walked away followed by a dog. "But what are you doing at Hogwarts, Remus?"
TBC…
*Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For then the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.
Come, as thou cam'st a thousand times,
A messenger from radiant climes,
And smile on thy new world, and be
As kind to others as to me!
Or, as thou never cam'st in sooth,
Come now, and let me dream it truth;
And part my hair, and kiss my brow,
And say: My love! Why sufferest thou?
Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For then the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.
I have also just written a (very bad) one-shot named Anywhere. So here's an excerpt to be used as a blatant suggestion that you will go read it and review. *hint hint—wink wink*
Excerpt from Anywhere—
Draco Malfoy had just lain down at his favorite place in a secluded shaded area by the Hogwarts lake after having his a small snack in the kitchens (as he had skipped the early dinner that night) when he was nearly run over by a running Harry Potter. The Slytherin quickly grabbed Harry's legs and pulled him off his feet and into his lap as he sat up on the quilt he had spread beneath him. "Harry? Harry, what's wrong? We weren't supposed to meet until ten, weren't we?" he whispered urgently into his lover's ear as he held Harry close, feeling him shaking slightly.
The Gryffindor blinked, holding back tears, before speaking; his voice muffled by Draco's neck. "They're planning on sending me away. And I'm going to be gone by ten tonight"
Story Suggestions:
Should Sirius—
a) react angrily but then be made to see reason
b) be sorry for never telling Harry about his mother and be accepting
c) just be happy that Harry wants to continue the Marauder legacy even if it's with Slytherin
d) have some other detailed reaction
Who should capture Wormtail in rat form at the school?
a) Harry
b) Draco
c) some other Slytherin
d) a boy who is fascinated by rats and captures him hoping to keep him as a pet
e) a girl who hates rats and decides to bash the creature on the head with a shoe
f) have the boy and girl fight over what to do with the rat and Harry come and take Wormtail from both of them (my personal favorite)
What poem(s) should be used in the next dream? Please leave the title and writer.
Please review and don't be afraid to leave any suggestions. I read every review.