Friendship and Beyond 9/?

Rated: R contains mentions of rape and torture, although not actual scenes. Possible HP/SS in later chapters, also HG/RW.

Authors Notes: I do not own Harry Potter or it's characters, that would be JKR. Subject matter not for children, although nothing too graphic, but be careful when reading just to be on the safe side.

Also, I have gotten a few reviews requesting longer chapters, I will try to oblige, but since I write these when I have the time, would you rather longer parts updated less frequently or shorter chapters every five or so days? Either way is fine by me.

A Chat By the Lake

As Harry made his way down the rotating stairs slowly after walking out of Dumbledore's office, he couldn't help but feeling guilty at the way he spoke to the headmaster. Although he meant every word, Harry had never seen the headmaster look so worn down and defeated. That he was part of the cause didn't sit well with the young wizard. What he said to Dumbledore was true, Harry did understand his reasoning although that didn't help the situation any. With the wards in place at Nott Manor the Order couldn't very well apparate inside, and if they did manage to breach the entrance they could easily have been trapped inside with no means of escape. They didn't have the time or recourses to make multiple port keys, especially with the Ministry in such discord. Perhaps if the rescue mission had gone according to plan than Harry would have found it within himself to forgive Dumbledore, but as it was too much had happened in the intervening hours to make forgiveness a dim prospect at best. The mere thought of discussing their ordeal with anyone, let alone his most hated professor, caused Harry to break out in a cold sweat, dread freezing him in place momentarily.

Ron and Hermione were waiting anxiously for him when he emerged from the stairwell, both were slumped down in the hallway.

"Still in one piece I see." Ron commented once he sat down beside them.

"So far." Harry murmured wearily.

"Everything alright then? We didn't hear any screaming so we assume everyone is still alive up there."

"Things are as well as can be expected I guess."

"Let's take a walk out by the lake." Hermione suggested. "We have a while yet before we need to talk to Snape."

Being near the water was relaxing to the trio. They were wrapped tight as a bowstring and didn't speak for a few moments, just sitting in the cool morning breeze.

"So what exactly are we going to tell Snape?" Ron asked after a while.

"It needs to be fairly accurate, as I'm sure he'll be able to smell a lie a mile away." Harry commented. "The man was a spy after all."

"True but as long as we don't go into details we should be okay." Ron said, thinking out loud. "I mean do we really want Snape of all people to know specifics? Besides the fact that he's a greasy mean-spirited git, he does report back to Dumbledore, and we already decided that it was none of his business."

"Okay, so how about we just keep to the bare essentials. Harry's vision and the port key, a distraction which we took advantage of to get back." Hermione suggested. "We don't go into our torture or your rape, we just stick to the facts. You dueled with Voldemort, during the commotion we happened to get away, which is the truth without all the details."

"Good idea." Ron agreed.

"And if he has any more questions he can just go hang." Hermione snarled protectively.

"Sounds feasible." Harry said, getting quite a kick out of Hermione when she gets into maternal mode.

"Anyone else find it bloody insane that we asked to be in Slytherin with Malfoy?" Ron chortled, finding the irony vastly amusing. "I mean we can now officially loose points for Slytherin. There's no way that Gryffindor won't win the house cup."

"Always looking on the bright side, hey Ron." Hermione smirked. "So, Harry do you think Snape will still take point off from you now that you're in his house?"

"We'll find out soon enough." Harry answered. "Come on guys, lets get this done."

The three made their way into Hogwarts and down to the dungeons, occasionally letting a snicker or a snort escape them until they were standing in front of Snape's forbidding office door. Before they could do more than glance at each other uncertainly the door swung open and their potions professor loomed menacingly in front of them.

"Well… Come in then, I haven't got all day." Snape ordered before stalking away in a dramatic fashion, leaving the trio to follow him inside.