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Not Myself by Saerry Snape

Chapter 151 – Fire Power

"So no more Gauntlet?"

"Nope."

"No more throwing fireballs?"

Harry frowned and gave Draco a Look.  Mika had told Ginny the events of Harry and Severus' rescue of him and somehow it had gotten around to the blonde.  How Harry hardly knew as none of his friends would come within ten feet of the Malfoy Heir unless they were required.

And even then they did so as slowly as possible.

"I doan know…"

"Give it a go.  I've been wanting to see what Davids was talking about since I heard."

Harry frowned and wondered if he could summon fire again.  Could it only have been an effect of the Gauntlet?

Or – was it one of the destructive powers that his father claimed lay within reach of the Tethdaìr?

Shrugging, he tried remembering the moment he had destroyed the door of Mika's cell.  He remembered the hard ball of anger he had created then released in all its fury.

But he wasn't angry now.

And he couldn't force himself to be as such.

Hmm.  It was quite the dilemma…

"Well?" said Draco.  "What about it, Harry?"

"I'm gettin' to it, I'm gettin' to it," grumbled Harry, scowling slightly.

Or perhaps it wasn't anger he needed to create the fire without the channeling power of the Gauntlet.  Perhaps he need to focus his magic itself into that ball of energy.

It might just work.

Closing his eyes, Harry focused, trying to draw a small portion of the magic that lay within him into a ball of energy.  Magic resisted but he pulled and a piece came away, forming into the sphere that he wished.  It glowed green in his mind's eye and he smirked in triumph.

Now the real test…

Lifting his right arm, Harry opened one eye to a slit and focused a finger towards a pitiful looking brush that was growing just a few feet away.

He then grabbed a hold of that green sphere and created a mental image of it hurtling down the length of his arm, expanding and becoming the hungry flames of a raging fire.

There was a roar and Draco shouted something that sounded very much like Slytherin's drawers.

Opening his eyes to see the bush burning merrily, Harry turned towards the blonde and said, "I doan believe Slytherin would like ye talking about his undergarments."

"Oh, sod off," snapped Draco.  His gray eyes were wide as he looked from the fire to Harry then back again.  "That's some power."

"Yeh," said Harry, scowling as he saw that the sleeve had been burned off his shirt again.  At this rate he was going to run out of shirts…

"Shall I tell you now that you frighten me?"

"Ye just did."

"Good.  'Cause you do."

Harry gave the blonde another Look and sighed.

"I frighten meself sometimes, Draco."

* * * *

Two weeks later Harry had gotten a firmer control of his power over fire and could now keep the sleeves of his shirts and sweaters intact.  This control had come from the burning of several bushes in the gardens and the rather forced participation of a certain raven.

You burnt my tail feathers!

I did nothing of the sort! Snapped Harry back, glaring at his bond mate.

Yes, you did! howled Jardin.  He landed on the ground of front of the dark Slytherin and fanned his tail.

Indeed a few of the inky feathers were smoking.

Sorry, Jar.

The raven puffed up in anger and glared balefully with one golden eye, his head cocked to the side.  You should be! he shouted.  What shall Mordi think of this?

Nothing, replied Harry, repairing the feathers with a flick of his wand.  All better.

Humphf.  I surely did not do something in four hundred years to deserve this.

Jar, your making me feel bad.  I really am sorry about singing your tail feathers.  It won't happen again.

Of course it won't! hissed Jardin.  I am never going to be your guinea pig again!  Allow Malfoy to do the job.

Harry smirked and said, Don't have to.  I think I've got all the practice I need.  To prove his point, he cupped his hands and focused slightly.  His palms heated and fire erupted, flickering wildly in his hands.  He lessened the flame with a though and cupped it in one hand before tossing it between both.

Jardin watched with a baleful stare.

Impudent pup.

Old bat, shot Harry back, eyes glittering with mirth.

No better than your father I see, said the raven.  Now, if you'll excuse me.  I have a crow to see and babies to attend.

They hatched?

Jardin paused, wings raised, and nodded.

Nearly five weeks ago.  Flight training is today.

Harry chuckled and wished Jardin good luck as the raven took flight.  He continued to toss the fire from one hand to the other until a weight came down upon his back, causing him to jump.  The fire fell from his hand and was gone before a wisp of it could touch the ground.

"How's it go?" whispered Niamh into his ear, her breath tickling.

"I's better now," replied Harry as he slid an arm behind him and around her legs.  Striking the inside of her knees with his forearm caused her to collapse right into his arms, her surprised shriek turning into pleasant laughter.

"Now see here," she snapped good-naturedly, tapping his nose.  "You can't go about pulling me into your arms without my permission."

The dark eyebrows arched and the emerald eyes glimmered with mischief.

"Oh, I can't, can I?"

"Actually you can," said Niamh with a grin as she slid one arm about his neck.  "I just wanted to say that."

Harry snorted and leaned forward, kissing her gently.  When someone coughed behind them, he pulled away and they both turned to glare at the offender.

Neville twitched but stood his ground, stammering, "Pro-Professor Snape wa-wants to see you, H-Harry."

"Alrigh'.  Come on, ye heavy wench.  Get off me."

Niamh snorted and crossed her arms, lifting her chin in defiance as she refused to move.

"A wench, am I?"

"A very dangerous wench," said Harry lightly.

"Still a wench."

But you're my wench, said Harry mentally, his thoughts tinged with humor.

Niamh glared at him then sighed and rolled off his lap.  He rose with an easy grace and extended a hand to her.  She took it and was pulled very easily to her feet.

Harry squeezed her hand gently, muttered a goodbye, then turned and headed towards the castle, long braid flopping behind him.  Niamh scowled after him and mentally called, Chauvinist pig!

Wench! Came the humor laced reply and the dark-haired girl chuckled, causing Neville to stare at her.

Shaking her head, she said, "C'mon, Nev.  I fancy a kitchen raid…"

* * * *

When Harry entered his father's rooms, he was surprised to find Sirius and Mika sitting in front of the fire talking quietly.  He looked around and saw Severus standing with his back towards him, obviously otherwise occupied.

"Da?"

The two heads by the fire turned towards him then towards the darkly cloaked man on the other side of the room.

Severus slowly turned and looked at his son with shadowed eyes.

"We go tonight."

Harry blinked then realized what he was talking about.

They were going to get Amadeus tonight.