"You know you must tell him, Severus."
Professor Snape let his head droop into his hands. He was tired. More tired than he had been for ten years.
It was Dumbledore's fault. Dumbledore's words that caused him such unrest. Dumbledore's constant prodding to tell the boy.
Severus Snape was Harry Potter's father.
There was no denying it now. In the Potions lessons he'd had with the boy he'd completely ignored him. He noticed that the boy usually worked with Draco Malfoy now and had wondered about his change of heart toward the blonde. Harry's other friend, Blaise Zabini, worked with the Know-It-All Granger.
Severus had inconspicuously added a certain Potion to the curriculum. A Potion that, when reheated at approximately one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, would provide parents' names of the one (or ones) who made it. He'd only given the ingredients for the Potion, not giving any details about its use. No one seemed to notice the lack of information; no one save Granger. He'd noticed her baffled expression all through the previous lesson as she and Zabini made the Potion. Severus had found the Potion in an old, forgotten book in the library. The book was really the only of its kind and he'd taken it, so that Granger couldn't have found the answer if she'd looked.
Severus snorted inwardly. Of course Granger would look, she's scour the entire library before she gave up.
He'd kept his eye on Potter and Malfoy's potion throughout the class, mostly watching them from his desk while pretending to be grading papers. He'd been smart in pairing Longbottom with Parvati Patil, who was an average potion maker but managed to keep the cauldron from exploding for the lesson. At the end of class, when Potter had given him the potion, he'd placed it very carefully on his desk.
He'd been extremely irritable for the last lesson, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw third years, being anxious to reheat the potion and see. Thankfully there were no major accidents, and he was alone.
Immediately he had conjured flames and poured a sample of the potion into a small cauldron. He'd watched the temperature diligently, and the second it had risen to one hundred degrees, there were letters in the potion.
First had come Narcissa Black. Then Lucius Malfoy. He'd frowned a little, impatient for Potter's parents to show up.
Lily Evans. And then - Severus had held his breath - Severus Snape.
If he had not been in need of his reputation he would have ran all the way to Dumbledore's office.
And now here he was, minutes after telling Dumbledore everything. And then he had to prod him with that infernal suggestion.
"I can't tell him, Albus. You have no idea . . . he will not like it at all. Me, the greasy Potions Master at Hogwarts, the one everyone hates . . . Harry Potter's father? If the Daily Prophet were to get wind of this . . ."
"They won't Severus. You must keep this a secret -"
"Exactly!"
" - between you and Harry."
Severus was silent, clenching his teeth.
"You know the only reason you aren't telling him is because you are afraid what he will think."
He looked up sharply. Dumbledore's face was quite serious.
"I understand, Severus, but there is no need for worry."
"Yes, there is, don't you see? He's been told his father was a hero, a brave man, and what will he think when he is told that his father isn't a hero, only a greasy old bad-tempered man who's bitter to everyone?"
"You seem to call yourself greasy quite a bit, Severus. You can easily fix that part."
A bottle of quite clear liquid appeared in front of Severus. He stared at it for a moment. Dumbledore obviously thought it was a good sign that he was considering shampoo, for he pushed the bottle toward him.
"You really must improve your self-esteem, Severus. Perhaps if you altered your hygiene habits, you would feel better about your appearance."
Severus looked back up, a mask of indifference upon his face.
"You know it won't matter. You know that I can't stop the way my skin works."
"No, but you can try and improve it."
After a moment's consideration, he snatched up the bottle.
"I'll try it." He said grudgingly.
"See what an effect Harry's having already? If I'd said this to you last year you would have stormed out on me after hexing my chair so that it burned a hole through my robes once I sat down."
"That's exactly what I /did/ do, Albus."
"Oh, yes, you did, didn't you? I /do/ remember walking into the Great Hall with a rather large hole in my nice purple robes, after all. I seem to recall the Weasley twins absolutely roaring with laughter at my flowered pajamas."
"You could always have changed into more suitable clothes before going in for breakfast rather than leaving on pajamas - flowered pajamas at that."
"Yes, well . . ." Dumbledore looked up quite dreamily. "I always did like those pajamas."
* * *
Severus pulled the bottle of shampoo from its hiding spot in his pocket once he'd reached his rooms and stared at it. It was obviously a potion. There was no label at all.
He'd been avoiding a shower for nearly thirty minutes now, trying to occupy himself with grading papers. But it hadn't worked, and his mind always returned to Harry. Harry Potter, /his son/. Severus got a strange feeling in his stomach every time he thought about it, like his stomach was warming up a little. It felt rather . . . nice, to be honest. Severus sighed and looked around his office.
Face set in determination, he stood walked into his bathroom, armed with shampoo.
"Hermione - what in the world - how did you -?" Harry spluttered when a bushy head appeared next to him in the Slytherin common room later that night. It was almost empty; only Harry, Blaise, Draco, and a first year remained up. The first year shot a curious look at Hermione before rising and going upstairs.
"You may want to leave before that first year tells the whole House there's a Gryffindor in the Slytherin common room." Draco muttered, taking his eyes off his Potions text to look at Hermione. Harry could tell that Draco was making a huge effort not to insult, yell at, or even sneer at Hermione. He was quite proud of the blonde for having restrained from all of these when he'd obviously been brought up to hate Muggle-borns like Hermione.
"I just had an idea. Remember that potion we made in Snape's class today?"
"Yeah, the one you kept muttering about, saying he should have given us more information?" Blaise said lazily, trying to keep her eyes open.
"Well, he should have. We don't even know what it does, or the name of it! What if it appears on a test? But, anyway, I've had an idea. I overheard some seventh year Gryffindors talking about a book full of unusual and rare potions in the library. It should still be open - it's not that long past dinner - and I think we need to get it. This could seriously affect our O.W.L.s, or even of N.E.W.T.s! We need to find more information."
"Why're you telling us this?" Blaise muttered sleepily.
"I just told you," said Hermione, a bit exasperatedly (is that a word?), "you should know what we find out too. Besides, I'll need help looking for it."
"All right, Hermione, but if we don't find it, the blame's on you." Harry said, getting up from his chair and putting his quill and Herbology essay on the table beside him. Draco read another line of Potions text before bookmarking his page and putting his book on Harry's essay.
"Hey! My ink could still be wet!" Harry said indignantly, pulling a sleeve of his robe down. Draco grinned at him.
"No it isn't. You haven't written anything for at least ten minutes. Unless you have ink that refuses to dry?"
"Neh . . ." Harry turned away and hauled Blaise to her feet.
"Huh?"
"Library." He said.
"Oh." She replied and opened her eyes.
Harry gave his sleepy friend a small grin before looking at his arm. He rolled up his sleeve quickly, facing his arm to the wall.
Sadie was looking at the snake tattoo and hissing slightly.
"Sadie?" he said very quietly, hoping no one else heard.
"What issss thissss, Harry?" she hissed softly. Harry's heart stung - his friend sounded extremely betrayed.
"Nothing. I . . . I'll tell you later, when we get back. I promise." He whisper-hissed. She gave him a sad look before slithering back up his shoulders and to his other arm. She curled around a particularly large scar around his biceps and flicked her tongue against his skin.
"Ready?" Hermione said, startling Harry. He turned, letting his sleeve drop, and nodded.
The four - Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Blaise - made their way quickly toward the library. Hermione and Blaise walked in front, talking animatedly about what the potion might do. Harry and Draco walked about a foot behind the girls. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Draco shoot Hermione a loathing-filled look.
"She's not that bad, you know." Harry said quietly. Draco looked at him.
"Who?" His voice was full of the usual arrogance.
"Hermione."
Draco sighed, staring at the back of Hermione's head. "She's a Mudblood."
"A what?" Harry asked. Draco stared at him as if this was the stupidest question in the world. "Hey, I spent nine years living with muggles and one year on the streets of London; don't give me that look."
"Mudblood. As in, not pureblood. Muggle parentage. They have dirty blood. They foul up the school."
It was Harry's turn to stare.
"Dirty blood? Foul up the school? In what way?"
But Draco didn't have the chance to answer. They had reached the library.
Madam Pince gave the group of four her usual hawk-like glare. Hermione hurried them past her.
"She's not fond of young people in her library. She thinks they'll mess up the books. She's not so harsh to me because she knows I love books." Hermione whispered to them. Blaise grinned.
"Where's this book at, anyway?" Harry asked. Hermione's eyebrows contracted and she led them deeper into the library.
"Here!" she positively squealed, pulling a thick leather-bound book off a shelf. She flipped it open immediately, looking over the pages. "Over a thousand pages, over five hundred potions!"
"Hermione's in heaven," whispered Blaise.
"Oh, let's hurry and check it out," Hermione said, already darting toward Madam Pince.
"What is it with her and books?" Draco asked. Harry shrugged.
"She loves them."
He shivered slightly when he felt Sadie's forked tongue brush against his skin. He still had to explain to her about the Mark he and Blaise shared.
/You okay, Harry?/
He looked at Blaise. She was leading them after Hermione.
/Fine/, he replied. He had almost gotten used to thinking at Blaise and having her reply, and her feelings had died down a little when he'd become used to them. Harry strained to feel what Blaise was feeling just now . . . concern.
Madam Pince glared at them again while she checked out Hermione's book, but her gaze softened a little when she caught sight of Hermione's ecstatic face as she took the book back.
Harry glanced around once before they left the library, brushing his dark hair out of his face.
"Why is your hair so long anyway?" Draco asked him as they fell in line behind Hermione and Blaise.
"I like it long." Harry said.
"Why?"
"Well, put it this way, can you imagine me with short hair?" he turned to Draco. Draco was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"You'd look like a nitwit."
"Oh, you mean I'd look like you?" Harry said teasingly. Draco glared at him before realizing he was joking.
Suddenly the staircase they were climbing gave a lurch and started moving. All four of them leapt to the railing and grabbed it.
"What's happening?" Harry yelled.
"Didn't your prefect tell you? The staircases will move and change places whenever they want to!" Hermione replied, sounding frightened.
They stopped moving. Harry looked up ahead of them. A tall, mahogany colored door loomed at the head of the staircase.
"Let's . . . let's go back down and go around." Hermione said, clearly unnerved by the door. Draco looked at her incredulously.
"Are you crazy? No way! Let's check it out."
"No! It's nearly curfew, we don't want to be caught out after dark!" Hermione hissed. The two glared at each other.
"I'm up for exploring," Blaise put in. Hermione turned to Harry with a withering look.
"It's up to you Harry."
Harry kept his eyes trained on the door. How could even out their arguments? He didn't want Draco losing it and insulting Hermione; he's been doing so well in keeping his tongue in check.
"Let's just see what's behind the door - just a quick look, then we'll head back." He said quickly when Hermione glared at him. "Just a minute to see, then we'll go back, Hermione. We'll be back in our dorms by curfew."
"Alright." Hermione sighed. She looked up at the door apprehensively.
"Come on, then!" Draco said and strode up the staircase. After exchanging looks, Harry and Blaise followed. Hermione, biting her lip, brought up the rear.
Draco pushed at the door. It didn't budge. Brow furrowed, he pushed harder.
"Well, it's locked, let's go!" Hermione said cheerfully, clutching the book to her.
"Hang on," said Blaise, pulling out her wand. Hermione's face fell. Blaise tapped the door. Nothing happened.
Draco growled and threw himself at the wall.
To their surprise and utter amazement, the door swung open creakily.
"Yes!" Draco hissed and hurried inside. Blaise followed.
"Come on, 'Mione." Harry said before jumping in too. Hermione followed.
Harry stared. There were cobwebs everywhere, lining the walls of the dark corridor. A few unmoving statues rested against the walls, chipped and covered in dust. There was an ominous feeling about the hallway. And at the very end of the corridor, a tall, dark door loomed.
"Okay, we've seen, let's go now!" Hermione said, a bit hysterically.
"What? But we've only just got here! Let's at least see what's behind that other door." Draco protested.
"Am I the only one who feels like we're intruding?" Blaise said quietly, looking around.
"We're not supposed to be here!" Hermione said. "This must be the third floor corridor! Don't you remember? We're not allowed! If Filch doesn't catch us, Mrs. Norris will! We have to get out of here!" She turned to go and gasped loudly.
Harry whirled around. A scrawny, dust-colored cat was peering up at them.
"Oh no," said Harry. "Oh no."
"Filch's cat." Hermione said sadly. "Filch'll be here any moment."
"It was nice knowing you, Harry, Hermione, Draco." Blaise whispered, catching sight of the cat.
"The door."
"What?" Harry turned to stare at Draco. He was staring at the cat.
"The door. You're right, Filch is going to catch us. We have to go through the door and hide until he's gone. We'll never make it out in time."
As if to confirm Draco's story, they heard a faint wheezing sound and soft footsteps.
"Let's go." Harry said.
They turned and ran for the door.
Harry reached it first. The streets hadn't left him with nothing: he was a good runner. But being a good runner didn't help when the door was locked.
"It's locked!" He hissed, trying to budge it.
"Goodbye, Harry. I hope I see you again some day." Blaise said, watching for Filch.
"Oh, get out of the way!" Hermione pushed him away and whipped out her wand. "Alohomora!"
With a creak the door started to swing open.
They all piled in, shutting the door after them and listening for Filch.
"Where are they, my sweet?" a wheezy voice reached them. Mrs. Norris meowed. There was silence for a moment. Harry turned to look at the room they were in.
He stopped dead.
"Never mind, they'll get what they're asking for. We'll catch them next time, my sweet."
"Thank goodness, he's gone." Blaise sighed in relief.
"Erm, guys?" Harry said in a shaking voice. The other three turned behind him and froze.
A giant, three-headed dog blocked most of the room. It was growling slightly, razor-sharp teeth bared.
"Maybe this is why the third floor corridor is forbidden," Blaise squeaked.
"Yeah . . ." Harry breathed. The three-headed dog's growling grew louder.
"M-maybe we should go . . ." Hermione suggested in a very small voice as the dog took a step toward them.
"Let's do that." Draco said and whirled around, shoving the door open. He spilled out of the room, Hermione and Blaise not far behind. Harry leapt out after them.
The four of them pushed at the door until it shut. As Hermione locked it again, Harry could hear the dog's vicious barks and a scarping of claws against wood. They leapt away from the door and hurried through the corridor.
Harry sighed with relief as they reached the grand staircase. Blaise and Draco closed the dark door after them. He looked at Hermione. She was clutching the potions book to her, face very white.
"Well, that was an interesting adventure." Blaise said as she started down the staircase.
A/N: Wasn't that lovely? Eight pages! I'm so proud. Last time it was only two.
Next chapter: Halloween!
By the way, did anything happen on Halloween for the fifth book? I couldn't tell . . . and I didn't want to go back and reread it. I'm already three quarters of the way through rereading the whole book, so yay!
Reviews:
CassandrAIarwen: Hmm . . . that's a good idea.
Wink At J00: Haha! Yesterday! I read from just past 8:00 AM to about 11:00 PM! I finished it all. I'm really quite sad at who died. I know, Harry really hasn't had much of a childhood. Then again, neither has Blaise, and I'm suspecting Draco didn't either. Really, Hermione's the one who ought to be the most childish, but instead, Blaise is. It's all very confusing.
Gryphnwng: YES and I am SO mad at who dies! I won't say in case someone who hasn't read it yet is reading this now. Yep, up to the 3rd floor! Hmm . . . that may just work. Hey, how old are you? I'm 13. Heh.
Desert Fox: Well, yeah, but the Dursleys would probably be happy. I dunno about what Dumbledore would do . . . probably track Harry down. No, the Slytherins don't all work for Voldemort. They're just more prone to it because they're generally the most power-hungry. People from other Houses work for Voldie as well . . . look at Peter Pettigrew! No, Snape doesn't have a removable tattoo. Only Blaise, Cepheus Major, Alada Avery, and Caelum Nott. They were . . . basically experiments of the Death Eaters'. Again, Harry and Blaise are not going to get married or snog or anything! I'm sorry I blew up at you, you just really ought to read the books; the fifth one is excellent. Heh, yeah I like Harry with Draco too, it just doesn't strike me as all that realistic. Well, in my story, Snape is Harry's dad, not James. You, however, like everyone else will have to wait for Snape to explain it. I, personally, have no idea so far. Up your kilt is a saying my friend and I invented. Yes, Lily and Snape make a great couple. Heehee!
Xirleb70: Erm . . . well, they were making me mad. ::blushes:: really? It's bloody brilliant? ::hides face:: Oh, I know! Harry's mad all the time! Gosh!
Nabiki: No, no, the scar does link him to Voldemort, but he has to get the actual Dark Mark, the one with the skull and snake together. He has a snake one, but he has to get the skull as well. Yeah, Draco will be a good friend. Yes, Harry's extremely protective over Blaise and them. You're right . . . I'll remember that. Snape should get to know Harry. But he may not tell him for a while.
Carey Miles: Yeah . . . another addition to SSDE. You know, Super Sexy Death Eaters. Heh. There's five now! EXACTLY! The first chapters and the last! I love the way he was making Dudley mad! Hmm . . . if you were sent to Saint Mungo's then you might get a room by Gilderoy Lockhart! Lucky you!
Shdurrani: Yeah, it seemed like a good idea for him to have Hermione as a friend. Oh, I don't know. I expected him to be, too, but you know, it would have been a bit much for him at the time. I love what Dumbledore said at the very end of the second to last chapter! (Constant vigilance . . . a bunch of people haven't read it yet, I don't want to give anything away)
Toria: Yeah, it seemed kinda natural for Hermione to want to prove Ron and them wrong and be friends with Harry and Blaise.
Boomerang-chan: Wow . . . I like your name! ::is suddenly speechless:: You . . . you . . . you did? Wow . . . Heh, I liked that chapter of Hagrid with a steak in his hand! I finished it all Saturday - read from just after eight AM to 11 PM with a few breaks for dinner and lunch, you know. YES! JELLO! The food of happiness! Oooooh . . . I LIKE Riye! BURNING TOASTED BAGELS WITH CREAM CHEESE! That's lovely, dear . . . don't forget your vegetables. Yes, I think it's your longest review too!
SEP: Thanks! I thought it was neat too. Yes, happy writing to you too!
Prongs: Hmm . . . good idea, but this one seemed to fit. Worked with the general plot, too.
Professor Snape let his head droop into his hands. He was tired. More tired than he had been for ten years.
It was Dumbledore's fault. Dumbledore's words that caused him such unrest. Dumbledore's constant prodding to tell the boy.
Severus Snape was Harry Potter's father.
There was no denying it now. In the Potions lessons he'd had with the boy he'd completely ignored him. He noticed that the boy usually worked with Draco Malfoy now and had wondered about his change of heart toward the blonde. Harry's other friend, Blaise Zabini, worked with the Know-It-All Granger.
Severus had inconspicuously added a certain Potion to the curriculum. A Potion that, when reheated at approximately one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, would provide parents' names of the one (or ones) who made it. He'd only given the ingredients for the Potion, not giving any details about its use. No one seemed to notice the lack of information; no one save Granger. He'd noticed her baffled expression all through the previous lesson as she and Zabini made the Potion. Severus had found the Potion in an old, forgotten book in the library. The book was really the only of its kind and he'd taken it, so that Granger couldn't have found the answer if she'd looked.
Severus snorted inwardly. Of course Granger would look, she's scour the entire library before she gave up.
He'd kept his eye on Potter and Malfoy's potion throughout the class, mostly watching them from his desk while pretending to be grading papers. He'd been smart in pairing Longbottom with Parvati Patil, who was an average potion maker but managed to keep the cauldron from exploding for the lesson. At the end of class, when Potter had given him the potion, he'd placed it very carefully on his desk.
He'd been extremely irritable for the last lesson, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw third years, being anxious to reheat the potion and see. Thankfully there were no major accidents, and he was alone.
Immediately he had conjured flames and poured a sample of the potion into a small cauldron. He'd watched the temperature diligently, and the second it had risen to one hundred degrees, there were letters in the potion.
First had come Narcissa Black. Then Lucius Malfoy. He'd frowned a little, impatient for Potter's parents to show up.
Lily Evans. And then - Severus had held his breath - Severus Snape.
If he had not been in need of his reputation he would have ran all the way to Dumbledore's office.
And now here he was, minutes after telling Dumbledore everything. And then he had to prod him with that infernal suggestion.
"I can't tell him, Albus. You have no idea . . . he will not like it at all. Me, the greasy Potions Master at Hogwarts, the one everyone hates . . . Harry Potter's father? If the Daily Prophet were to get wind of this . . ."
"They won't Severus. You must keep this a secret -"
"Exactly!"
" - between you and Harry."
Severus was silent, clenching his teeth.
"You know the only reason you aren't telling him is because you are afraid what he will think."
He looked up sharply. Dumbledore's face was quite serious.
"I understand, Severus, but there is no need for worry."
"Yes, there is, don't you see? He's been told his father was a hero, a brave man, and what will he think when he is told that his father isn't a hero, only a greasy old bad-tempered man who's bitter to everyone?"
"You seem to call yourself greasy quite a bit, Severus. You can easily fix that part."
A bottle of quite clear liquid appeared in front of Severus. He stared at it for a moment. Dumbledore obviously thought it was a good sign that he was considering shampoo, for he pushed the bottle toward him.
"You really must improve your self-esteem, Severus. Perhaps if you altered your hygiene habits, you would feel better about your appearance."
Severus looked back up, a mask of indifference upon his face.
"You know it won't matter. You know that I can't stop the way my skin works."
"No, but you can try and improve it."
After a moment's consideration, he snatched up the bottle.
"I'll try it." He said grudgingly.
"See what an effect Harry's having already? If I'd said this to you last year you would have stormed out on me after hexing my chair so that it burned a hole through my robes once I sat down."
"That's exactly what I /did/ do, Albus."
"Oh, yes, you did, didn't you? I /do/ remember walking into the Great Hall with a rather large hole in my nice purple robes, after all. I seem to recall the Weasley twins absolutely roaring with laughter at my flowered pajamas."
"You could always have changed into more suitable clothes before going in for breakfast rather than leaving on pajamas - flowered pajamas at that."
"Yes, well . . ." Dumbledore looked up quite dreamily. "I always did like those pajamas."
* * *
Severus pulled the bottle of shampoo from its hiding spot in his pocket once he'd reached his rooms and stared at it. It was obviously a potion. There was no label at all.
He'd been avoiding a shower for nearly thirty minutes now, trying to occupy himself with grading papers. But it hadn't worked, and his mind always returned to Harry. Harry Potter, /his son/. Severus got a strange feeling in his stomach every time he thought about it, like his stomach was warming up a little. It felt rather . . . nice, to be honest. Severus sighed and looked around his office.
Face set in determination, he stood walked into his bathroom, armed with shampoo.
"Hermione - what in the world - how did you -?" Harry spluttered when a bushy head appeared next to him in the Slytherin common room later that night. It was almost empty; only Harry, Blaise, Draco, and a first year remained up. The first year shot a curious look at Hermione before rising and going upstairs.
"You may want to leave before that first year tells the whole House there's a Gryffindor in the Slytherin common room." Draco muttered, taking his eyes off his Potions text to look at Hermione. Harry could tell that Draco was making a huge effort not to insult, yell at, or even sneer at Hermione. He was quite proud of the blonde for having restrained from all of these when he'd obviously been brought up to hate Muggle-borns like Hermione.
"I just had an idea. Remember that potion we made in Snape's class today?"
"Yeah, the one you kept muttering about, saying he should have given us more information?" Blaise said lazily, trying to keep her eyes open.
"Well, he should have. We don't even know what it does, or the name of it! What if it appears on a test? But, anyway, I've had an idea. I overheard some seventh year Gryffindors talking about a book full of unusual and rare potions in the library. It should still be open - it's not that long past dinner - and I think we need to get it. This could seriously affect our O.W.L.s, or even of N.E.W.T.s! We need to find more information."
"Why're you telling us this?" Blaise muttered sleepily.
"I just told you," said Hermione, a bit exasperatedly (is that a word?), "you should know what we find out too. Besides, I'll need help looking for it."
"All right, Hermione, but if we don't find it, the blame's on you." Harry said, getting up from his chair and putting his quill and Herbology essay on the table beside him. Draco read another line of Potions text before bookmarking his page and putting his book on Harry's essay.
"Hey! My ink could still be wet!" Harry said indignantly, pulling a sleeve of his robe down. Draco grinned at him.
"No it isn't. You haven't written anything for at least ten minutes. Unless you have ink that refuses to dry?"
"Neh . . ." Harry turned away and hauled Blaise to her feet.
"Huh?"
"Library." He said.
"Oh." She replied and opened her eyes.
Harry gave his sleepy friend a small grin before looking at his arm. He rolled up his sleeve quickly, facing his arm to the wall.
Sadie was looking at the snake tattoo and hissing slightly.
"Sadie?" he said very quietly, hoping no one else heard.
"What issss thissss, Harry?" she hissed softly. Harry's heart stung - his friend sounded extremely betrayed.
"Nothing. I . . . I'll tell you later, when we get back. I promise." He whisper-hissed. She gave him a sad look before slithering back up his shoulders and to his other arm. She curled around a particularly large scar around his biceps and flicked her tongue against his skin.
"Ready?" Hermione said, startling Harry. He turned, letting his sleeve drop, and nodded.
The four - Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Blaise - made their way quickly toward the library. Hermione and Blaise walked in front, talking animatedly about what the potion might do. Harry and Draco walked about a foot behind the girls. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Draco shoot Hermione a loathing-filled look.
"She's not that bad, you know." Harry said quietly. Draco looked at him.
"Who?" His voice was full of the usual arrogance.
"Hermione."
Draco sighed, staring at the back of Hermione's head. "She's a Mudblood."
"A what?" Harry asked. Draco stared at him as if this was the stupidest question in the world. "Hey, I spent nine years living with muggles and one year on the streets of London; don't give me that look."
"Mudblood. As in, not pureblood. Muggle parentage. They have dirty blood. They foul up the school."
It was Harry's turn to stare.
"Dirty blood? Foul up the school? In what way?"
But Draco didn't have the chance to answer. They had reached the library.
Madam Pince gave the group of four her usual hawk-like glare. Hermione hurried them past her.
"She's not fond of young people in her library. She thinks they'll mess up the books. She's not so harsh to me because she knows I love books." Hermione whispered to them. Blaise grinned.
"Where's this book at, anyway?" Harry asked. Hermione's eyebrows contracted and she led them deeper into the library.
"Here!" she positively squealed, pulling a thick leather-bound book off a shelf. She flipped it open immediately, looking over the pages. "Over a thousand pages, over five hundred potions!"
"Hermione's in heaven," whispered Blaise.
"Oh, let's hurry and check it out," Hermione said, already darting toward Madam Pince.
"What is it with her and books?" Draco asked. Harry shrugged.
"She loves them."
He shivered slightly when he felt Sadie's forked tongue brush against his skin. He still had to explain to her about the Mark he and Blaise shared.
/You okay, Harry?/
He looked at Blaise. She was leading them after Hermione.
/Fine/, he replied. He had almost gotten used to thinking at Blaise and having her reply, and her feelings had died down a little when he'd become used to them. Harry strained to feel what Blaise was feeling just now . . . concern.
Madam Pince glared at them again while she checked out Hermione's book, but her gaze softened a little when she caught sight of Hermione's ecstatic face as she took the book back.
Harry glanced around once before they left the library, brushing his dark hair out of his face.
"Why is your hair so long anyway?" Draco asked him as they fell in line behind Hermione and Blaise.
"I like it long." Harry said.
"Why?"
"Well, put it this way, can you imagine me with short hair?" he turned to Draco. Draco was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"You'd look like a nitwit."
"Oh, you mean I'd look like you?" Harry said teasingly. Draco glared at him before realizing he was joking.
Suddenly the staircase they were climbing gave a lurch and started moving. All four of them leapt to the railing and grabbed it.
"What's happening?" Harry yelled.
"Didn't your prefect tell you? The staircases will move and change places whenever they want to!" Hermione replied, sounding frightened.
They stopped moving. Harry looked up ahead of them. A tall, mahogany colored door loomed at the head of the staircase.
"Let's . . . let's go back down and go around." Hermione said, clearly unnerved by the door. Draco looked at her incredulously.
"Are you crazy? No way! Let's check it out."
"No! It's nearly curfew, we don't want to be caught out after dark!" Hermione hissed. The two glared at each other.
"I'm up for exploring," Blaise put in. Hermione turned to Harry with a withering look.
"It's up to you Harry."
Harry kept his eyes trained on the door. How could even out their arguments? He didn't want Draco losing it and insulting Hermione; he's been doing so well in keeping his tongue in check.
"Let's just see what's behind the door - just a quick look, then we'll head back." He said quickly when Hermione glared at him. "Just a minute to see, then we'll go back, Hermione. We'll be back in our dorms by curfew."
"Alright." Hermione sighed. She looked up at the door apprehensively.
"Come on, then!" Draco said and strode up the staircase. After exchanging looks, Harry and Blaise followed. Hermione, biting her lip, brought up the rear.
Draco pushed at the door. It didn't budge. Brow furrowed, he pushed harder.
"Well, it's locked, let's go!" Hermione said cheerfully, clutching the book to her.
"Hang on," said Blaise, pulling out her wand. Hermione's face fell. Blaise tapped the door. Nothing happened.
Draco growled and threw himself at the wall.
To their surprise and utter amazement, the door swung open creakily.
"Yes!" Draco hissed and hurried inside. Blaise followed.
"Come on, 'Mione." Harry said before jumping in too. Hermione followed.
Harry stared. There were cobwebs everywhere, lining the walls of the dark corridor. A few unmoving statues rested against the walls, chipped and covered in dust. There was an ominous feeling about the hallway. And at the very end of the corridor, a tall, dark door loomed.
"Okay, we've seen, let's go now!" Hermione said, a bit hysterically.
"What? But we've only just got here! Let's at least see what's behind that other door." Draco protested.
"Am I the only one who feels like we're intruding?" Blaise said quietly, looking around.
"We're not supposed to be here!" Hermione said. "This must be the third floor corridor! Don't you remember? We're not allowed! If Filch doesn't catch us, Mrs. Norris will! We have to get out of here!" She turned to go and gasped loudly.
Harry whirled around. A scrawny, dust-colored cat was peering up at them.
"Oh no," said Harry. "Oh no."
"Filch's cat." Hermione said sadly. "Filch'll be here any moment."
"It was nice knowing you, Harry, Hermione, Draco." Blaise whispered, catching sight of the cat.
"The door."
"What?" Harry turned to stare at Draco. He was staring at the cat.
"The door. You're right, Filch is going to catch us. We have to go through the door and hide until he's gone. We'll never make it out in time."
As if to confirm Draco's story, they heard a faint wheezing sound and soft footsteps.
"Let's go." Harry said.
They turned and ran for the door.
Harry reached it first. The streets hadn't left him with nothing: he was a good runner. But being a good runner didn't help when the door was locked.
"It's locked!" He hissed, trying to budge it.
"Goodbye, Harry. I hope I see you again some day." Blaise said, watching for Filch.
"Oh, get out of the way!" Hermione pushed him away and whipped out her wand. "Alohomora!"
With a creak the door started to swing open.
They all piled in, shutting the door after them and listening for Filch.
"Where are they, my sweet?" a wheezy voice reached them. Mrs. Norris meowed. There was silence for a moment. Harry turned to look at the room they were in.
He stopped dead.
"Never mind, they'll get what they're asking for. We'll catch them next time, my sweet."
"Thank goodness, he's gone." Blaise sighed in relief.
"Erm, guys?" Harry said in a shaking voice. The other three turned behind him and froze.
A giant, three-headed dog blocked most of the room. It was growling slightly, razor-sharp teeth bared.
"Maybe this is why the third floor corridor is forbidden," Blaise squeaked.
"Yeah . . ." Harry breathed. The three-headed dog's growling grew louder.
"M-maybe we should go . . ." Hermione suggested in a very small voice as the dog took a step toward them.
"Let's do that." Draco said and whirled around, shoving the door open. He spilled out of the room, Hermione and Blaise not far behind. Harry leapt out after them.
The four of them pushed at the door until it shut. As Hermione locked it again, Harry could hear the dog's vicious barks and a scarping of claws against wood. They leapt away from the door and hurried through the corridor.
Harry sighed with relief as they reached the grand staircase. Blaise and Draco closed the dark door after them. He looked at Hermione. She was clutching the potions book to her, face very white.
"Well, that was an interesting adventure." Blaise said as she started down the staircase.
A/N: Wasn't that lovely? Eight pages! I'm so proud. Last time it was only two.
Next chapter: Halloween!
By the way, did anything happen on Halloween for the fifth book? I couldn't tell . . . and I didn't want to go back and reread it. I'm already three quarters of the way through rereading the whole book, so yay!
Reviews:
CassandrAIarwen: Hmm . . . that's a good idea.
Wink At J00: Haha! Yesterday! I read from just past 8:00 AM to about 11:00 PM! I finished it all. I'm really quite sad at who died. I know, Harry really hasn't had much of a childhood. Then again, neither has Blaise, and I'm suspecting Draco didn't either. Really, Hermione's the one who ought to be the most childish, but instead, Blaise is. It's all very confusing.
Gryphnwng: YES and I am SO mad at who dies! I won't say in case someone who hasn't read it yet is reading this now. Yep, up to the 3rd floor! Hmm . . . that may just work. Hey, how old are you? I'm 13. Heh.
Desert Fox: Well, yeah, but the Dursleys would probably be happy. I dunno about what Dumbledore would do . . . probably track Harry down. No, the Slytherins don't all work for Voldemort. They're just more prone to it because they're generally the most power-hungry. People from other Houses work for Voldie as well . . . look at Peter Pettigrew! No, Snape doesn't have a removable tattoo. Only Blaise, Cepheus Major, Alada Avery, and Caelum Nott. They were . . . basically experiments of the Death Eaters'. Again, Harry and Blaise are not going to get married or snog or anything! I'm sorry I blew up at you, you just really ought to read the books; the fifth one is excellent. Heh, yeah I like Harry with Draco too, it just doesn't strike me as all that realistic. Well, in my story, Snape is Harry's dad, not James. You, however, like everyone else will have to wait for Snape to explain it. I, personally, have no idea so far. Up your kilt is a saying my friend and I invented. Yes, Lily and Snape make a great couple. Heehee!
Xirleb70: Erm . . . well, they were making me mad. ::blushes:: really? It's bloody brilliant? ::hides face:: Oh, I know! Harry's mad all the time! Gosh!
Nabiki: No, no, the scar does link him to Voldemort, but he has to get the actual Dark Mark, the one with the skull and snake together. He has a snake one, but he has to get the skull as well. Yeah, Draco will be a good friend. Yes, Harry's extremely protective over Blaise and them. You're right . . . I'll remember that. Snape should get to know Harry. But he may not tell him for a while.
Carey Miles: Yeah . . . another addition to SSDE. You know, Super Sexy Death Eaters. Heh. There's five now! EXACTLY! The first chapters and the last! I love the way he was making Dudley mad! Hmm . . . if you were sent to Saint Mungo's then you might get a room by Gilderoy Lockhart! Lucky you!
Shdurrani: Yeah, it seemed like a good idea for him to have Hermione as a friend. Oh, I don't know. I expected him to be, too, but you know, it would have been a bit much for him at the time. I love what Dumbledore said at the very end of the second to last chapter! (Constant vigilance . . . a bunch of people haven't read it yet, I don't want to give anything away)
Toria: Yeah, it seemed kinda natural for Hermione to want to prove Ron and them wrong and be friends with Harry and Blaise.
Boomerang-chan: Wow . . . I like your name! ::is suddenly speechless:: You . . . you . . . you did? Wow . . . Heh, I liked that chapter of Hagrid with a steak in his hand! I finished it all Saturday - read from just after eight AM to 11 PM with a few breaks for dinner and lunch, you know. YES! JELLO! The food of happiness! Oooooh . . . I LIKE Riye! BURNING TOASTED BAGELS WITH CREAM CHEESE! That's lovely, dear . . . don't forget your vegetables. Yes, I think it's your longest review too!
SEP: Thanks! I thought it was neat too. Yes, happy writing to you too!
Prongs: Hmm . . . good idea, but this one seemed to fit. Worked with the general plot, too.