Before I start this chapter, I have to tell you all to read the most
touchingly beautiful songfic ever written (in my humble opinion). It's
called Somebody Told Me and it was written by Jade Maxwell (you should be
able to find her in my reviews and you can get to her fics from there.)
I've read it three or four times, including just now with the accompanying
music playing in the background. The lyrics themselves along with the
story she wrote around it are enough to make most people cry, but if you
have the CD or you download the song (Hero by Chad Kroeger) and listen
while you read, you'll be almost certain to need a tissue by the end. It's
absolutely fabulous and deserves lots of readings and reviews. I highly
recommend it, even if you don't like songfics.
Now, on with the show.
Review: James and Lucius are working on a dark-detecting-preventing project as a punishment. Lucius has a thing for Snape but is promised to Narcissa. In the present, Draco & Harry become friends, then secretly boyfriends. Hermione hates Draco, Ron is accepting. Harry is studying dark arts and wants to meet with Voldemort. He's got a hidden agenda that he believes will help him save those he loves. James and Lucius explain to their friends that they'll be completing the 'project' and express their nervousness, they drink the potion and are suddenly (and inexplicably) faced with a punishment from McGonagall. In the last 1997 chapter, Harry's missing. Ron and Draco find out Peter Pettigrew is at the edge of the grounds. Harry's meeting w/ Death eaters and won't tell Draco anything about it. Sirius writes back and people are noticing Harry's energy has changed. Harry & Dray plan to meet for a snog, but Harry snogs Lucius instead (eww) and then they all realize that the younger James and Lucius are in 1997~!!!!!!!!
~*~*~*~*~
Harry stood there in shock, refusing to accept what he was seeing before him. 'I know everyone thinks I've gone crazy, maybe they're right.' He could think of no other explanation for seeing his father. Yes, of course, this is the wizarding world and seven years ago he would have denied the possibility of most everything he'd seen and done since coming to Hogwarts, but even so. . .
Even in all that he had seen and done in that seven years, he'd never heard of the dead being brought back to life, or time travel, or ghosts suddenly coming 'round to visit after sixteen years (not to mention this was obviously a corporeal body, not the shimmery ghosts he was used to.) No, there was definitely no explanation other than insanity. During these thoughts, Harry felt as though he were standing on a cloud so far up in the sky that no sound could reach him. His body was numb, and his mind was racing. Time seemed to stand still as he stared into the eyes of the hallucination of his father. Then, that hallucination took a step towards him. That step, the small movement and the sound of the foot on the stone floor and the rustle of his robes, were amplified countless times as the sound waves made their way into Harry's mind.
Suddenly, Harry began to hear the thoughts and feel the emotions of the other three people in the room. His soul was open, raw and confused from the sights around him, and the thoughts and emotions rushing at him felt like sandpaper grating against an open wound and sounded like being in the middle of the Quidditch stands when the fans have all amplified their voices.
//. . . Merlin, this must be my son. . .// //. . .I don't understand how . . .// ~confusion~ //. . .why would the Potter boy be so shocked. . .// ~pride~ //. . .our fathers are here. . .//
//. . . wrong with him?. . // //Dumbledore knows?// ~worry~ //couldn't possibly. . .// //change time// ~joy~ //Severus. . .//
//so grown. . . // ~hope~ //his mother// //my father// //he'll know// //Malfoy was right// //together?//
"Stop it!" Harry's scream broke through the silence and cause the others to jump in shock. "Just stop it!" Draco ran over to Harry and took his hand, gently leading him to one of the desks to sit. "Harry," he began quietly. "It's okay, it's okay to be confused. But I don't understand what you want us to stop."
James walked over and sat opposite Harry, watching silently, amazed at how quickly his son was comforted by this boy. He could practically see the magic and energy crackle between them. "Harry?" James said hesitantly. "Harry Potter?"
Hearing his name, Harry looked up. As he gazed into the face so like his own and heard his father (his DEAD father) speak to him, all Harry's coherent thoughts ceased to exist. His mind in turmoil, his chest aching as though he'd been underwater for hours, he could do nothing but stare into the dark brown eyes. When his own green eyes began to fill with tears, it stirred an anger in Draco. He glared at the newcomer.
"Of course he's Harry Potter, you bloody git!"
At that statement, before anyone else could speak or even breath, Harry stood up. He was funneling so much energy that the entire room seemed warm and in the dim torchlight the others could see a crackling glow surrounding him. The power was palpable, but his facial expression and voice showed nothing but utter calm.
"I'm not sure how or why, but it's obvious that Dumbledore sent you here to impersonate my father and attempt to control me," he paused, considering some new possibility as the others (especially James and Draco) looked on in surprise and confusion. "Perhaps you ARE Dumbledore with a PolyJuice Potion or a glamour charm or something. Whatever. I am not amused, nor am I that easily fooled. I don't intend to be subjected to this farce any longer." With that he turned and started toward the door pulling Draco by the arm. At the door he paused to speak quietly to Draco. "Please don't come after me. I need some time. I'm fine, I just need some time. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
Draco nodded slowly, not agreeing, but accepting. "I love you Dray."
"I love you too. Come see me if you change your mind, okay?"
"Of course."
Draco hugged his boyfriend, still very aware of the excessive amounts of energy coursing through and around him. He stood quietly and watched as Harry left the room and promptly became invisible as he walked through the corridor. He took a deep breath, willing himself to believe that Harry would actually come to him when he was ready to talk. Draco decided that some explanations would be helpful to the both of them, so he turned to James and Lucius and offered his trademark sneer with one eyebrow lifted. "So," he drawled, "how old are you and how did you get here?"
"Seventeen" both of them answered at the same time. "I think further questions should be saved for a meeting with Dumbledore," Lucius continued. "He is still the Headmaster?"
Draco nodded.
"A few things seem to be obvious," James said. He looked from Draco to Lucius, then back to Draco before speaking again. "You are the son of Lucius Malfoy?" Draco nodded again. "And that boy, Harry, his parents are James and Lily?" Draco nodded again.
"You know we should be talking to Dumbledore before we ask too many questions, Potter."
"Stuff it Malfoy, there's something important that I need to know." Draco looked at him, not speaking. He marveled at the resemblance between father and son as he waited patiently for James to speak again. James' brown eyes were filled with sorrow and pain as he met Draco's icy blue ones. He seemed resigned to his fate as he plaintively asked, "How long ago did I die?"
No one spoke. Draco, James and Lucius looked at one another in the silent classroom. Draco still had no idea why or how these two had come to his time, but he was quick enough to realize that if too much was revealed, it could change the world as he knew it.
With the perfect sense of timing that only comes in action movies and suspenseful dramas, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall walked into the classroom at that moment.
~*~*~*~
Harry went to the lake and wandered around a bit, then walked up to the Astronomy tower to gaze mindlessly, and finally ended up in his dorm room, staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows flickering around the room as a result of the one small candle by his bed. Though Harry never even realized how tired he was, he was sound asleep by the time Ron came in that evening.
"It's a lie, you're not my father." Ron looked at the sleeping boy. He was fairly used to Harry talking in his sleep, but it wasn't usually that clear. He had to wonder what his friend was dreaming about. "You won't change me, I'm going."
"Going where?" Ron wondered aloud.
"You don't need to know," Harry's sleeping form replied.
Ron was intrigued by this. He'd known for some time that Harry was up to something. He and Hermione had tried desperately to get closer to him again, the way things used to be, but found that he was rarely around and never quite seemed himself. "Why?" He thought a conversation with Harry's subconscious might clear up some of the questions he had.
"Because I won't tell anyone. It's not safe for them. And you can't fool me. You're not my father."
"Okay," Ron said calmly. If he got Harry too agitated, it may bring him out of the dream. "When are you going?"
"Tonight. They're coming to get me tonight."
"Who?"
"Hrmmph"
"What?"
"Not telling you. Won't even show your face." With that, Harry rolled over and seemed to be finished with the conversation. Ron thought over his statements and decided he needed to talk to Hermione right away.
~*~*~
Draco paced the hallway outside the stone gargoyle impatiently. He didn't understand why he couldn't be involved in the discussion taking place in the Headmaster's office. Well, he did understand, he just didn't like it. After all, what could he possibly learn from the past that would change his future? Finally, the gargoyle moved over, revealing the spiral staircase. Draco looked up, curiously, and waited. After a moment, he decided this was an invitation to him, so he ascended to the office and found Professor McGonagall waiting for him at the door.
"Come in Mr. Malfoy. Please, sit down." She motioned to a seat facing the fireplace, to the left of the time-travelers. "We'll begin in a moment. There's one other person we're waiting for. A glance at Lucius and James told Draco that they had no idea who this other person was to be. Draco briefly wondered how Dumbledore could have contacted anyone without them knowing who, but the professor's next words answered the question for him. "It's almost time for a standard meeting anyway, he should be here shortly."
The headmaster smiled with his ever-twinkling eyes and picked up a bag of crawling sour worms to offer to the others in his office. "Help yourself, they're quite excellent, really. You have to chew them properly, however. If you don't, they'll crawl back up." He shook his head in a 'you don't know what your missing' manner as all those present declined the candy worms, mildly disguising their distaste.
After the briefest moment of awkward silence, the door opened and the Hogwarts potions master walked into the room. He paused noticeably at the sight of the blonde and raven heads in front of him, not yet noticing an almost identical blond head sitting slightly behind him to his left. "Good evening Albus, Minerva," he began politely. "Might I ask what Misters Potter and Malfoy are doing here this evening?"
Albus Dumbledore smiled and Snape found it annoying to see that the old man's eyes were twinkling even more than usual. Dumbledore loved the opportunity to surprise people, especially people who were typically difficult to surprise. After silently offering the sour worms to the potions master, (who declined and waited for an explanation somewhat impatiently), Dumbledore spoke. "Of course, Severus. They are here as the result of a very special project assigned to them a very long time ago. It appears to have been successful during tests, and if all goes well, they will be putting the Wheel of Time in its proper order."
Needless to say, Snape was quite confused by this answer. He turned to look at Minerva and finally caught site of Draco. Raising his eyebrows in surprise, he quickly whipped around to look at the other two boys. He glanced at James for a moment, registering that something seemed very un- Harry about him, then finally looked at Lucius.
If Snape had been anyone else, his jaw would have hit the floor, his eyes would have clouded with confusion and emotion and he would have found a seat quickly to hide the weakness in his knees. Snape, however, was not anyone else. He was Severus Snape. Death-Eater turned Spy for the Order of the Phoenix. He was a veteran of many battles, a grudgingly respecting friend to Harry Potter, a former pawn of Voldemort. He was a potions master unmatchable in skill and a professor who believed that students must be challenged. He, above all, was someone who had learned long ago to hide his true feelings. Feelings leave one open to pain, rejection and lack of control. Severus Snape had learned this as a teenager when he first fell in love with someone who could never love him back and who had eventually been changed into a cold, heartless bastard by Narcissa Black. The boy Snape had loved was as good as dead nearly twenty years ago, yet he was staring into Snape's eyes in the Headmaster's office.
"Lucius?"
~*~*~*~
Ron sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, looking anxiously into the caramel colored eyes of the girl he loved. "We've got to do something, don't we?"
"Ron, he was dreaming. He didn't even say who was coming to get him or who was pretending to be his father. It was just a dream."
"You don't know that, though. Do you?" He glanced down, fidgeting with the seam of his robe. "You said Harry told you he's a seer. What if he's seeing something in his sleep?"
"Even if he were, he wouldn't listen to us. You know how he's been lately."
"But, 'Mione, I don't think I can stand it if. . ."
"If what?" She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arm around his torso, leaning her head on his shoulder. It was a gesture that seemed to comfort them both.
"If someone DOES take him away. . ." he took a deep breath, "like they did you" Ron wrapped his arms around her in return and felt the tension that seemed to be constantly present in her body. "Will you tell me something? Please?"
She sighed, resigning herself to comply with his wishes, but yearning for the time when there would be no more questions. "Yes, what is it?"
"When Harry told us about Malfoy," he began to trace loving patterns on her back, trying to keep her calm, "you said something about keeping Narcissa Malfoy entertained. . ." He paused, suddenly unsure he wanted to hear the answer, but finally asked it. "What did she do to you?"
Hermione closed her eyes tightly, wishing she'd thought before speaking after Harry's revelation. She knew that Ron loved her and would do anything to comfort and help her, but it didn't make talking about it any easier. "Narcissa put me under the Imperious curse. I tried to fight it. I know it can be done, but I couldn't seem to find the strength." Her voice dropped into a very low monotone, almost as if her mouth was speaking but her soul wasn't there. "She told me to do things. . . to her. She said Lucius was never good at loving a woman, and she thought another woman would be better at making her feel good."
Ron tightened his hold on Hermione, trying with all his might to provide her with calm acceptance while inside he was raging. On top of the torture, the various hexes and curses they'd put on her, the pain they caused, the starvation, the times they threatened her life, the way they'd tried to get her to trick Harry into coming for her, this news was sufficient to break the last bit of reserve Ron had. No one would get away with torturing and violating Hermione Granger. Not as long as Ron Weasely was around!
Hermione eventually fell asleep in his arms, so exhausted that she didn't realize when he laid her down on the bed, covered her gently and left the room. Ron quickly ran through the common room and burst into the seventh year dorm. He walked directly over to Harry's bed, intending to convince him that something must be done to Narcissa. He knew Harry still cared. Deep inside, he knew Harry would help him get revenge for what had been done to Hermione. "Harry, get up. It's important," he said as he pulled back the curtain, reaching in to shake his friend awake. His voice fell on an empty mattress and his hand reached only blankets.
A quick survey of the bed and bedside table told Ron that something was wrong. Harry's glasses and wand were on the table. His shoes were by the bed. His school robe was draped over the end of the bed. Harry might have gone to the bathroom or the common room without his robe or shoes, but he wouldn't go anywhere without his glasses and wand. There was only one explanation. Someone had taken him away.
~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I was going to add more to this, but I decided to stop here and begin writing the next chapter while you are all reading this. I really was hoping to surprise you all with a wonderful, long, detailed chapter, but I'm so anxious for reviews that I couldn't control myself. Please forgive me. I'm hooked on the reviews, it's like oxygen! I have to say, whenever I'm feeling down about my life and think I can't do anything right, I read through my reviews and you are all so flattering and wonderful and praising me and my writing and my plot and my stories and it just makes me smile and almost makes me cry. It's the best feeling in the world! (okay, aside from sex and chocolate and hugs from my daughter)
Thank you all for being such wonderful and amazing and dedicated readers! I'm going to try replying to a few reviews here, but please don't be offended if you get left out. I lost about 8-9 of my reviews when ff.net had that drug problem last week.
Jade Maxwell: I'm so glad that last chapter helped. I'm even more glad you like Lucius. Believe me, there's more of "non-prat Lucius" to come! Wow, I didn't realize a review from me would get that kind of reaction. I think that's how I would react if Frizzy ever sent me a review, though. *grins*
Menecarkawan: Ooops, sorry. I certainly didn't mean to tease you! *sly, evil grin* Siriusly, I didn't! *wide innocent eyes* LOL, prized cow. That was a good one!
Azhure: time paradoxes? No. . . that couldn't POSSIBLY happen, could it??????
Cassa-Andra: Wow, you are so flattering to my ego. I hope this one had enough plot in it for you.
HP IceAngel: Wow, all in one sitting! I'm so excited a new reader and you read it all at once! I do hope you like this chapter too.
Louise: Yes, Narcissa is a baddie, a royal supreme bitch like none other, if you must know. No worries, James never had eyes for anyone but Lily. Thank you for the praise and compliments. I love it!
Aranami: thank you so much! I do hope you like where it's going to go!
Delie: well, this sort of answered one of your questions, but not really. I have to say I love the interest and it makes me giggle to know that many readers are going to be asking some of the same questions all the way to the sequel! Glad you liked the 'tabby-cat teacher' bit. I was a bit shocked that no one picked up on the other joke I put in there. Hint - go back and read the letter from Snuffles. Remember while you read it that it's written to Harry Potter from Sirius Black. Then let me know if you see what I laughed at when I wrote it! *grin*
Amethyst Shard: love your name, and I loved Bad Faith but I'm upset that it hasn't been updated. Have you given up on it? Please don't!! And like I said before, WOW - you read all this in one sitting? *jumps around with excitement thanks to her faithful readers and her brand new readers*
Sooooooooooo - click that little blue button down there and leave me some comments or cookies or whatever you feel like leaving. I'm working on the next chapter already! And many, many thanks to all of you who have put me on your favorites list. It's such an honor!
Now, on with the show.
Review: James and Lucius are working on a dark-detecting-preventing project as a punishment. Lucius has a thing for Snape but is promised to Narcissa. In the present, Draco & Harry become friends, then secretly boyfriends. Hermione hates Draco, Ron is accepting. Harry is studying dark arts and wants to meet with Voldemort. He's got a hidden agenda that he believes will help him save those he loves. James and Lucius explain to their friends that they'll be completing the 'project' and express their nervousness, they drink the potion and are suddenly (and inexplicably) faced with a punishment from McGonagall. In the last 1997 chapter, Harry's missing. Ron and Draco find out Peter Pettigrew is at the edge of the grounds. Harry's meeting w/ Death eaters and won't tell Draco anything about it. Sirius writes back and people are noticing Harry's energy has changed. Harry & Dray plan to meet for a snog, but Harry snogs Lucius instead (eww) and then they all realize that the younger James and Lucius are in 1997~!!!!!!!!
~*~*~*~*~
Harry stood there in shock, refusing to accept what he was seeing before him. 'I know everyone thinks I've gone crazy, maybe they're right.' He could think of no other explanation for seeing his father. Yes, of course, this is the wizarding world and seven years ago he would have denied the possibility of most everything he'd seen and done since coming to Hogwarts, but even so. . .
Even in all that he had seen and done in that seven years, he'd never heard of the dead being brought back to life, or time travel, or ghosts suddenly coming 'round to visit after sixteen years (not to mention this was obviously a corporeal body, not the shimmery ghosts he was used to.) No, there was definitely no explanation other than insanity. During these thoughts, Harry felt as though he were standing on a cloud so far up in the sky that no sound could reach him. His body was numb, and his mind was racing. Time seemed to stand still as he stared into the eyes of the hallucination of his father. Then, that hallucination took a step towards him. That step, the small movement and the sound of the foot on the stone floor and the rustle of his robes, were amplified countless times as the sound waves made their way into Harry's mind.
Suddenly, Harry began to hear the thoughts and feel the emotions of the other three people in the room. His soul was open, raw and confused from the sights around him, and the thoughts and emotions rushing at him felt like sandpaper grating against an open wound and sounded like being in the middle of the Quidditch stands when the fans have all amplified their voices.
//. . . Merlin, this must be my son. . .// //. . .I don't understand how . . .// ~confusion~ //. . .why would the Potter boy be so shocked. . .// ~pride~ //. . .our fathers are here. . .//
//. . . wrong with him?. . // //Dumbledore knows?// ~worry~ //couldn't possibly. . .// //change time// ~joy~ //Severus. . .//
//so grown. . . // ~hope~ //his mother// //my father// //he'll know// //Malfoy was right// //together?//
"Stop it!" Harry's scream broke through the silence and cause the others to jump in shock. "Just stop it!" Draco ran over to Harry and took his hand, gently leading him to one of the desks to sit. "Harry," he began quietly. "It's okay, it's okay to be confused. But I don't understand what you want us to stop."
James walked over and sat opposite Harry, watching silently, amazed at how quickly his son was comforted by this boy. He could practically see the magic and energy crackle between them. "Harry?" James said hesitantly. "Harry Potter?"
Hearing his name, Harry looked up. As he gazed into the face so like his own and heard his father (his DEAD father) speak to him, all Harry's coherent thoughts ceased to exist. His mind in turmoil, his chest aching as though he'd been underwater for hours, he could do nothing but stare into the dark brown eyes. When his own green eyes began to fill with tears, it stirred an anger in Draco. He glared at the newcomer.
"Of course he's Harry Potter, you bloody git!"
At that statement, before anyone else could speak or even breath, Harry stood up. He was funneling so much energy that the entire room seemed warm and in the dim torchlight the others could see a crackling glow surrounding him. The power was palpable, but his facial expression and voice showed nothing but utter calm.
"I'm not sure how or why, but it's obvious that Dumbledore sent you here to impersonate my father and attempt to control me," he paused, considering some new possibility as the others (especially James and Draco) looked on in surprise and confusion. "Perhaps you ARE Dumbledore with a PolyJuice Potion or a glamour charm or something. Whatever. I am not amused, nor am I that easily fooled. I don't intend to be subjected to this farce any longer." With that he turned and started toward the door pulling Draco by the arm. At the door he paused to speak quietly to Draco. "Please don't come after me. I need some time. I'm fine, I just need some time. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
Draco nodded slowly, not agreeing, but accepting. "I love you Dray."
"I love you too. Come see me if you change your mind, okay?"
"Of course."
Draco hugged his boyfriend, still very aware of the excessive amounts of energy coursing through and around him. He stood quietly and watched as Harry left the room and promptly became invisible as he walked through the corridor. He took a deep breath, willing himself to believe that Harry would actually come to him when he was ready to talk. Draco decided that some explanations would be helpful to the both of them, so he turned to James and Lucius and offered his trademark sneer with one eyebrow lifted. "So," he drawled, "how old are you and how did you get here?"
"Seventeen" both of them answered at the same time. "I think further questions should be saved for a meeting with Dumbledore," Lucius continued. "He is still the Headmaster?"
Draco nodded.
"A few things seem to be obvious," James said. He looked from Draco to Lucius, then back to Draco before speaking again. "You are the son of Lucius Malfoy?" Draco nodded again. "And that boy, Harry, his parents are James and Lily?" Draco nodded again.
"You know we should be talking to Dumbledore before we ask too many questions, Potter."
"Stuff it Malfoy, there's something important that I need to know." Draco looked at him, not speaking. He marveled at the resemblance between father and son as he waited patiently for James to speak again. James' brown eyes were filled with sorrow and pain as he met Draco's icy blue ones. He seemed resigned to his fate as he plaintively asked, "How long ago did I die?"
No one spoke. Draco, James and Lucius looked at one another in the silent classroom. Draco still had no idea why or how these two had come to his time, but he was quick enough to realize that if too much was revealed, it could change the world as he knew it.
With the perfect sense of timing that only comes in action movies and suspenseful dramas, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall walked into the classroom at that moment.
~*~*~*~
Harry went to the lake and wandered around a bit, then walked up to the Astronomy tower to gaze mindlessly, and finally ended up in his dorm room, staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows flickering around the room as a result of the one small candle by his bed. Though Harry never even realized how tired he was, he was sound asleep by the time Ron came in that evening.
"It's a lie, you're not my father." Ron looked at the sleeping boy. He was fairly used to Harry talking in his sleep, but it wasn't usually that clear. He had to wonder what his friend was dreaming about. "You won't change me, I'm going."
"Going where?" Ron wondered aloud.
"You don't need to know," Harry's sleeping form replied.
Ron was intrigued by this. He'd known for some time that Harry was up to something. He and Hermione had tried desperately to get closer to him again, the way things used to be, but found that he was rarely around and never quite seemed himself. "Why?" He thought a conversation with Harry's subconscious might clear up some of the questions he had.
"Because I won't tell anyone. It's not safe for them. And you can't fool me. You're not my father."
"Okay," Ron said calmly. If he got Harry too agitated, it may bring him out of the dream. "When are you going?"
"Tonight. They're coming to get me tonight."
"Who?"
"Hrmmph"
"What?"
"Not telling you. Won't even show your face." With that, Harry rolled over and seemed to be finished with the conversation. Ron thought over his statements and decided he needed to talk to Hermione right away.
~*~*~
Draco paced the hallway outside the stone gargoyle impatiently. He didn't understand why he couldn't be involved in the discussion taking place in the Headmaster's office. Well, he did understand, he just didn't like it. After all, what could he possibly learn from the past that would change his future? Finally, the gargoyle moved over, revealing the spiral staircase. Draco looked up, curiously, and waited. After a moment, he decided this was an invitation to him, so he ascended to the office and found Professor McGonagall waiting for him at the door.
"Come in Mr. Malfoy. Please, sit down." She motioned to a seat facing the fireplace, to the left of the time-travelers. "We'll begin in a moment. There's one other person we're waiting for. A glance at Lucius and James told Draco that they had no idea who this other person was to be. Draco briefly wondered how Dumbledore could have contacted anyone without them knowing who, but the professor's next words answered the question for him. "It's almost time for a standard meeting anyway, he should be here shortly."
The headmaster smiled with his ever-twinkling eyes and picked up a bag of crawling sour worms to offer to the others in his office. "Help yourself, they're quite excellent, really. You have to chew them properly, however. If you don't, they'll crawl back up." He shook his head in a 'you don't know what your missing' manner as all those present declined the candy worms, mildly disguising their distaste.
After the briefest moment of awkward silence, the door opened and the Hogwarts potions master walked into the room. He paused noticeably at the sight of the blonde and raven heads in front of him, not yet noticing an almost identical blond head sitting slightly behind him to his left. "Good evening Albus, Minerva," he began politely. "Might I ask what Misters Potter and Malfoy are doing here this evening?"
Albus Dumbledore smiled and Snape found it annoying to see that the old man's eyes were twinkling even more than usual. Dumbledore loved the opportunity to surprise people, especially people who were typically difficult to surprise. After silently offering the sour worms to the potions master, (who declined and waited for an explanation somewhat impatiently), Dumbledore spoke. "Of course, Severus. They are here as the result of a very special project assigned to them a very long time ago. It appears to have been successful during tests, and if all goes well, they will be putting the Wheel of Time in its proper order."
Needless to say, Snape was quite confused by this answer. He turned to look at Minerva and finally caught site of Draco. Raising his eyebrows in surprise, he quickly whipped around to look at the other two boys. He glanced at James for a moment, registering that something seemed very un- Harry about him, then finally looked at Lucius.
If Snape had been anyone else, his jaw would have hit the floor, his eyes would have clouded with confusion and emotion and he would have found a seat quickly to hide the weakness in his knees. Snape, however, was not anyone else. He was Severus Snape. Death-Eater turned Spy for the Order of the Phoenix. He was a veteran of many battles, a grudgingly respecting friend to Harry Potter, a former pawn of Voldemort. He was a potions master unmatchable in skill and a professor who believed that students must be challenged. He, above all, was someone who had learned long ago to hide his true feelings. Feelings leave one open to pain, rejection and lack of control. Severus Snape had learned this as a teenager when he first fell in love with someone who could never love him back and who had eventually been changed into a cold, heartless bastard by Narcissa Black. The boy Snape had loved was as good as dead nearly twenty years ago, yet he was staring into Snape's eyes in the Headmaster's office.
"Lucius?"
~*~*~*~
Ron sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, looking anxiously into the caramel colored eyes of the girl he loved. "We've got to do something, don't we?"
"Ron, he was dreaming. He didn't even say who was coming to get him or who was pretending to be his father. It was just a dream."
"You don't know that, though. Do you?" He glanced down, fidgeting with the seam of his robe. "You said Harry told you he's a seer. What if he's seeing something in his sleep?"
"Even if he were, he wouldn't listen to us. You know how he's been lately."
"But, 'Mione, I don't think I can stand it if. . ."
"If what?" She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arm around his torso, leaning her head on his shoulder. It was a gesture that seemed to comfort them both.
"If someone DOES take him away. . ." he took a deep breath, "like they did you" Ron wrapped his arms around her in return and felt the tension that seemed to be constantly present in her body. "Will you tell me something? Please?"
She sighed, resigning herself to comply with his wishes, but yearning for the time when there would be no more questions. "Yes, what is it?"
"When Harry told us about Malfoy," he began to trace loving patterns on her back, trying to keep her calm, "you said something about keeping Narcissa Malfoy entertained. . ." He paused, suddenly unsure he wanted to hear the answer, but finally asked it. "What did she do to you?"
Hermione closed her eyes tightly, wishing she'd thought before speaking after Harry's revelation. She knew that Ron loved her and would do anything to comfort and help her, but it didn't make talking about it any easier. "Narcissa put me under the Imperious curse. I tried to fight it. I know it can be done, but I couldn't seem to find the strength." Her voice dropped into a very low monotone, almost as if her mouth was speaking but her soul wasn't there. "She told me to do things. . . to her. She said Lucius was never good at loving a woman, and she thought another woman would be better at making her feel good."
Ron tightened his hold on Hermione, trying with all his might to provide her with calm acceptance while inside he was raging. On top of the torture, the various hexes and curses they'd put on her, the pain they caused, the starvation, the times they threatened her life, the way they'd tried to get her to trick Harry into coming for her, this news was sufficient to break the last bit of reserve Ron had. No one would get away with torturing and violating Hermione Granger. Not as long as Ron Weasely was around!
Hermione eventually fell asleep in his arms, so exhausted that she didn't realize when he laid her down on the bed, covered her gently and left the room. Ron quickly ran through the common room and burst into the seventh year dorm. He walked directly over to Harry's bed, intending to convince him that something must be done to Narcissa. He knew Harry still cared. Deep inside, he knew Harry would help him get revenge for what had been done to Hermione. "Harry, get up. It's important," he said as he pulled back the curtain, reaching in to shake his friend awake. His voice fell on an empty mattress and his hand reached only blankets.
A quick survey of the bed and bedside table told Ron that something was wrong. Harry's glasses and wand were on the table. His shoes were by the bed. His school robe was draped over the end of the bed. Harry might have gone to the bathroom or the common room without his robe or shoes, but he wouldn't go anywhere without his glasses and wand. There was only one explanation. Someone had taken him away.
~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I was going to add more to this, but I decided to stop here and begin writing the next chapter while you are all reading this. I really was hoping to surprise you all with a wonderful, long, detailed chapter, but I'm so anxious for reviews that I couldn't control myself. Please forgive me. I'm hooked on the reviews, it's like oxygen! I have to say, whenever I'm feeling down about my life and think I can't do anything right, I read through my reviews and you are all so flattering and wonderful and praising me and my writing and my plot and my stories and it just makes me smile and almost makes me cry. It's the best feeling in the world! (okay, aside from sex and chocolate and hugs from my daughter)
Thank you all for being such wonderful and amazing and dedicated readers! I'm going to try replying to a few reviews here, but please don't be offended if you get left out. I lost about 8-9 of my reviews when ff.net had that drug problem last week.
Jade Maxwell: I'm so glad that last chapter helped. I'm even more glad you like Lucius. Believe me, there's more of "non-prat Lucius" to come! Wow, I didn't realize a review from me would get that kind of reaction. I think that's how I would react if Frizzy ever sent me a review, though. *grins*
Menecarkawan: Ooops, sorry. I certainly didn't mean to tease you! *sly, evil grin* Siriusly, I didn't! *wide innocent eyes* LOL, prized cow. That was a good one!
Azhure: time paradoxes? No. . . that couldn't POSSIBLY happen, could it??????
Cassa-Andra: Wow, you are so flattering to my ego. I hope this one had enough plot in it for you.
HP IceAngel: Wow, all in one sitting! I'm so excited a new reader and you read it all at once! I do hope you like this chapter too.
Louise: Yes, Narcissa is a baddie, a royal supreme bitch like none other, if you must know. No worries, James never had eyes for anyone but Lily. Thank you for the praise and compliments. I love it!
Aranami: thank you so much! I do hope you like where it's going to go!
Delie: well, this sort of answered one of your questions, but not really. I have to say I love the interest and it makes me giggle to know that many readers are going to be asking some of the same questions all the way to the sequel! Glad you liked the 'tabby-cat teacher' bit. I was a bit shocked that no one picked up on the other joke I put in there. Hint - go back and read the letter from Snuffles. Remember while you read it that it's written to Harry Potter from Sirius Black. Then let me know if you see what I laughed at when I wrote it! *grin*
Amethyst Shard: love your name, and I loved Bad Faith but I'm upset that it hasn't been updated. Have you given up on it? Please don't!! And like I said before, WOW - you read all this in one sitting? *jumps around with excitement thanks to her faithful readers and her brand new readers*
Sooooooooooo - click that little blue button down there and leave me some comments or cookies or whatever you feel like leaving. I'm working on the next chapter already! And many, many thanks to all of you who have put me on your favorites list. It's such an honor!