A/N- Yes, I know it's been a while since I updated, but Chapter 16 turned out to be very long, including what I think is the longest piece from Sev yet. Big things will be happening soon, even though Endora keeps muttering about me being cliché and weird. Oh well. Thanks go out this chapter to Claws, Iniysa, Caz Malfoy (Well, denial isn't just a river in Egypt, you know.), Rei-Chan (I hope your arm gets better soon!), Jordan (Four Firebolts plus the ones on the reserves. ^.~), Endora, Ms. Padfoot, and Hrei-siesn. You all are the best, and you help me keep writing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise. That stuff belongs to Ms. Rowling. According to my calendar, there's only 48 more days until the real Order of the Phoenix comes out. I can't wait!
Bonds of Pain
Chapter 15
In which there are potions, frustrations, and flirtations
Severus muttered to himself as he bent over one of the cauldrons in his private lab. Due to the Pensieve of Voldemort-related experiences in Arabella's class, the students were treating him with respect for a change, instead of fear and hatred. The Slytherins were, for once, thoroughly chagrined over their previous behaviour. He now had free time to spend in his lab again. Hagrid was already halfway through fifth-year work and making rapid progress. Severus agreed with his colleagues that the half-giant would be ready for his OWLs at around Christmas.
~If only these potions would cooperate the way Hagrid is,~ he thought sourly. He was once again working on a cure for lycanthropy, not for the sake of Remus Lupin, but for one of his own cousins. Artemis Snape was a lovely young woman, about the same age as Bill Weasley, and had been home-taught magic because her parents would not put others in danger.
Severus had developed the Wolfsbane Potion so his aunt and uncle would be safer during the transformations, but he still wanted to stop Artemis' suffering completely. Why did talented, kind people like his cousin have to be cursed in such a fashion?
Of course, now that Lupin was in the castle, he could do practical research again, experimenting with tiny variations in known aids. He had tried more complex potions before, but perhaps the key was something simple. Maybe even… Wait.
~Perhaps if I added a sample of the werewolf's fur to the Wolfsbane Potion, it would key it to the werewolf and provide a more permanent aid in subduing the wolf…~ He made a note of the inspiration and began evaluating it in his head. He would be sure to collect some fur from Lupin during the next full moon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry was about to beat his head in. he didn't care that it was time for lunch, despite the rumblings of his stomach. He had wandered into a seemingly deserted section of the castle—Fluffy's hallway—after Defence, and he was hitting his head against one of the columns.
Of course, he had a reason. At the end of class, Professor Figg had asked him to stay behind. The slender woman had nervously tied back her long, honey-coloured hair before speaking.
"I wanted to apologize to you, Harry. I… I should have kept a closer eye on how those ruddy Muggles were treating you. I should have noticed you were wearing that lard-ball's cast-offs when you were little. I didn't even notice that you went from a happy, bouncy, burbling baby to a very quiet and withdrawn little boy. Lils and Jamie should never have made me your godmother."
Harry was gobsmacked. His godmother? And what was she talking about, saying she should have noticed? "Say what?"
"And to think, every time they sent you over to me, I bored you with pictures of cats. Merlin, I don't even like cats, but I needed a cover to watch over you, and what better than an eccentric old cat lady? Or so Dumbledore said. I'm so sorry, Pronglet."
"'Pronglet?'" His eyebrows disappeared under his bangs.
"That was Jamie, Remy, Petey, and Siri's nickname for you. You do know they were the Marauders, right?" At Harry's nod, she continued. "Since you were Prongs' little boy, they dubbed you Pronglet until you became an Animagus."
"Ah." He understood now. What goofballs. "Well, I'm working on that." The slender professor, now seated atop one of the student desks, leaned towards him.
"Really? Are the other members of the Dream Team learning as well? What are they showing so far?" Professor Figg sounded very eager to learn what their forms might be.
"Er, well… With the potion, I got a coat of black fur, and I've managed to get a cat's tail since. Draco is some sort of albino snake: his tongue changed this weekend, and he started speaking in Parseltongue. Ron has golden fur and whiskers, and his hair gets a bit darker and shaggy. I think I saw his ears go sort of round and furry the other night. Lavender has rabbit ears and fur the same colour as her hair. 'Mione gets brown feathers, and her eyes go really big and round, and Gin gets red and brown feathers." All of the girls were beginning to get smaller when they transformed, while Harry and Ron were gradually getting larger.
"Interesting. Two felines, two birds, a snake, and a rabbit… I wonder why those particular forms. Don't worry, I'll help you with code names once you've managed complete transformations. Now run along, Pronglet. You don't want to miss lunch!" With that, the woman had disappeared into her office.
Harry had left and tried to get himself lost, but, of course, it hadn't worked. At least most of the students still thought Fluffy's corridor was off-limits.
{What the hell are you doing, Potter?} Draco asked him. Since they'd been working on the bond, they could bespeak each other anywhere on the grounds. It helped when they got lost.
~I'm trying to beat my brains out. What did you think?~
{No wonder I've a splitting headache. Any particular reason you want to spread pink goo all over the castle?} If he'd been there, Draco probably would have had his hands on his hips.
~You remember me telling you about Mrs. Figg the cat lady? Professor Figg is one and the same.~ Harry started banging his head on the stone again.
{Oh. So she was a witch and never told you. Stop acting like dobby for a bit. I'm bringing food.} Draco's announcement was welcomed by more draconic growling from the black-haired boy's midriff.
~My life must be some sort of hell, designed to torture me at every turn,~ Harry mused, leaning against the pillar and closing his eyes.
{How can it be a hell when you have friends like the Dream Team?} Draco asked. {Oh, by the way, the others are following me. I think they're learning to tell when we bespeak each other.} Just what he needed. A pity party.
~Tell them to sod off. I don't want their pity. If they're all going to expect me to defeat Voldemort, then they should expect things like this!~ I took a while for the blond to respond, but Harry expected he was relaying the message.
"HARRY POTTER!!!" Ginny's furious voice drifted in from the direction of the stairwell. Obviously they were close.
~Will you tell Gin to pipe down? I doubt she wants a detention from Filch for yelling in the halls.~ As he sent the thought, the redhead in question rounded the corner and spotted him.
"What the hell is your problem this time?" she hissed. Dear Merlin. She sounded furious.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco rounded a corner to see the youngest member of the Dream Team chewing out her boyfriend. Sure, Harry was his friend, but it was fun to see him squirm from time to time. As Ginny ranted, the blond heard a clicking behind him. He turned to see Snuffles sporting a wide doggy grin.
Smiling at the Animagus, Draco moved to allow him access to the corner between the wall and a column. The dog winked with one mischievous blue eye before scrunching into the shadows. As soon as he was out of danger of being spotted by wandering students, he transformed.
"Reminds me of James and Lily," Sirius commented.
"What, Harry getting all depressed and Gin yelling at him for it?" Draco asked, amused. Sure, Harry was acting all scared, but the bond was telling Draco that the ebon-haired Boy Wonder just wanted to kiss his girlfriend. "Looks like I should just tell Miss Weasley when he gets like this."
"It's not the getting depressed part, it's the yelling part that's so similar. What do you mean, just tell Ginny?" Draco looked at his friend's godfather with one eyebrow raised.
"He's forgotten about being depressed and now just wants to kiss her. She tends to have that sort of effect on him. Plus he's not having nightmares about the Third Task anymore."
"Really? Well, that's good. I guess he's still having visions during attacks and meetings, though?"
Draco sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. He had one last night, in fact. Another family of Muggles dead, and they're plotting to take Azkaban."
"Bloody hell. Does Dumbledore know?"
Draco nodded. Harry had been given a notebook that was connected to another in the headmaster's possession. Whatever was written in one appeared in the other. The two men, near opposites save the colour of their eyes, watched in silence for a few minutes. When the pair they were observing locked lips, both of them chuckled.
"Didn't I see Snuffles flirting with Professor Figg the other morning?" Draco asked, and sly grin on his face. Sirius went red and began to stutter, and the blond laughed. "What? Did you have something with her in school? It looked like she recognised you."
"Er… well… yeah. She knows about Padfoot. Has for years." The man was still red, and his eyes were on the floor. "She, Lily, a Slytherin girl by the name of Altair, and a few other girls used to hang out together a lot, and the three of them knew about us being Animagi." The ex-convict had the grace to blush further.
"It wouldn't be Wendolyn Altair, would it? A little short, nondescript brown hair, hazel eyes?" The description brought a sharp look from the older man.
"Exactly. Where did you meet her?" Draco Grinned.
"Muggle London. She runs a shop called I Carry a Wand. I think she's interested in Uncle Sev, but he seems to like your Ms. Figg." When Sirius' countenance darkened in anger, Draco laughed and jabbed him in the ribs. "From what I can see, you needn't worry. I think she likes you as much as you her." A ray of hope shimmered in the tropical sea of the Animagus' eyes, and Draco winked. "Go get her, Padfoot."
With that, the hulking, black, blue-eyed dog disappeared down the corridor. The blond revelled in the warm feeling he got from setting up couples that already liked each other.
Will Sev's idea with the Wolfsbane Potion work? Is Voldemort going to move from Muggles to Muggle-borns anytime soon? Will the Dream Team have a part in the coming war? Find out next chapter! Please review!
Beth Weasley