AUTHOR'S NOTE: Once again overwhelmed by the reviews – thank you so much – responses at end.
Seemed to have confused a few people with my little appeal of last time – sorry! The situation proposed was not for this story but for another one I was being distracted by. Which, incidentally, leads me to ask if anyone would be kind enough to volunteer to read the first chapter and tell me if it works. If you will, either e-mail me (address on profile) or review and leave your e-mail address and I'll send you the chapter.
Anyway, what you really want is chapter sixteen so without further delay…
Enjoy.
Chapter Sixteen: Same Old Brand New YouThings returned to normal quickly. Too quickly. Both boys were out of the infirmary before nightfall and once settled into their respective common rooms began sounding off about the other in a manner which had not been seen since their fifth year. Harry, chaffing under Remus' admonishment and Hermione's tears, had been holding court for twenty minutes without saying anything reasonable, fuelled by Ron's enthusiastic nodding and mutterings.
"…I mean where does he get off, just lying there, smug as smug can be, smirking, so fucking pleased with himself…"
"Harry!" Finally Hermione was able to interrupt; "there is no need for profanities."
"Sorry 'Mione," he had the grace to flush, looking away before continuing in his rant, not noticing as Seamus pulled Hermione to one side.
"'Mione what's happening? He hasn't let Malfoy get to him this much in years."
"I know, I keep thinking the same thin, then I wonder if maybe it's just harder to hear this time after seeing them as kids, so cute and friendly and…"
"Together."
"Yeah," she smiled softly, remembering how protective Draco had been of Harry, like everyone else she knew.
"One more thing 'Mione," Seamus smiled at his friend who had been thrown for such a loop by recent events, "he's not five anymore."
"I know…" she began indignantly.
"I think sometimes you forget. You've always mothered him, he brings that out in people, but now you've seen him like that it makes you feel it more and we can't risk him sensing something is off."
"I know," she agreed more calmly this time, "I saw it in Remus' face, whenever Harry exposed his vulnerability."
"And that's another thing," Seamus' face had a look of pure joy on it now, "what about Snape and Remus. That has got to worth an absolute fortune."
"Seamus," she tried to reproach him but could not help the grin that spread across her face, "and they've been together for like twenty years."
"I know! It's scary, you know, it almost humanises him. Did you see how he kept getting embarrassed."
"It was sweet," at Seamus' horrified expression she laughed, "well it was!"
"So Snape's sweet now?"
"Maybe!"
Seamus looked truly disturbed now so she took pity on him and changed the subject, turning back to Harry, who had finally ceased his ranting and was watching her and Seamus with interest.
"That reminds me Harry, what was Remus talking about, about his pack."
Too her utter amazement Harry flushed slightly with what she took to be a pleased embarrassment as he answered. "The wolf sees certain people as, well, his. His pack. That's why Sirius, my father and Pettigrew were able to be with him at the full moon. Remus took them as friends, Moony as part of the pack and he still recognised them in their animagus form. It's really quite a big thing, its only those who he really cares for that he takes as part of the pack."
"So who makes up the pack? Is there a set number of places, roles or what?" Hermione had gone into student mode, partly through genuine interest, partly as a way of keeping Harry's mind off Malfoy.
"I don't know really. I guess I take the role of cub, my father and Pettigrew were equals…and there's the role of mate. It's like the most important role. The mate is the only one who can control the wolf, he is the equal. The wolf will defer to him to keep him happy and visa versa. They mate for life so it's important they chose carefully, someone who compliments them in every way."
"The wolf chooses the mate?"
"Kind of, he chooses from those in the human's life, and kinda sense the right person. I didn't really ask for too much detail."
"Oh," something occurred to her, "you said 'he'. You know who Remus' mate is?"
"Well, I think…I mean it's obvious," at this she exchanged looks with Seamus, "the way they are together, everything…and it's so perfect too, one day we'll be a proper family."
"Harry," Hermione was worried now; "who do you think it is?"
"Sirius of course." The simplicity with which he said it, and the obvious pleasure he took in the idea cut through her and she was all set to say something, anything, but once again Seamus caught her eye and shook his head. Harry stood up, yawning slightly; "well I'm turning in."
"Good idea, after everything that's happened you need some shut-eye."
As the common room emptied Hermione smiled in soft self-reproach. She had never been able to hold back that instinct to protect Harry and now it was kicking in tenfold.
***
The situation was not that different in the Slytherin common room.
Draco, not surprisingly stung by Harry's for once unprovoked aggression, was all too ready to indulge in overt anger the like of which he had not allowed himself, or been allowed, since fifth year.
"…so I'm lying there, still out of it, and suddenly he's in my face, accusing me of sabotage. Do I look like a bloody Gryfindork? Credit me with some intelligence, I mean if I'd done something I would not have let myself get hit too. And I was across the room. Stupid Potter. Just wait until lessons tomorrow, I'll show him just what happens when I try to hurt him…"
Finally Pansy snapped.
"Shut the fuck up Draco," she yelled, startling them all. "Yes, he was out of line but really have some thought for other people. Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?"
"Oh love, I'm sorry, look I'm alright," he stood up and hurried over to her. Unfortunately he stood too quickly and keeled over into Blaise. "Ooh shit," he moaned, holding his head.
"Draco," Pansy was at his side in an instant. "Get Snape," she shouted at the others, who stared at her blankly, "Blaise!"
"Got it," he ran out the door, returning seconds later with Snape.
He hurried to his Godson's side, betraying himself once more. It was, he decided, not really that big a deal. He would just write the whole weekend off as an accident of emotion.
"Draco, can you here me?"
"Ugh my head feels like it's been used as a bludger," he winced as Snape hovered over him. "What happened?"
"You collapsed apparently," Snape drawled with a flippantness which did not deceive the other seventh years, unaware as they were that he could be trusted. "I think you should go to bed now."
"I'm not a bloody child Sev," he muttered resentfully.
"The show some maturity and go to bed."
"Fine," Draco struggled to his feet, his fellow Slytherins hovering at the periphery nervously. Leaning on his Godfather reluctantly he allowed the older man to support him as he went towards the seventh year dorm. Snape conjured up a fifth bed, transfiguring it from a spare chair and made his Godson lie down.
"Sleep," he ordered before sweeping out of the room.
The other seventh years flooded into the room once Snape had left, Pansy taking up her position at his side.
They sat in silence for several minutes, minds racing. Draco knew that, somehow, his friends had discovered the truth about Snape, a truth he should have told them himself. Pansy was busy wondering what side effect of the potion had caused this collapse, resolving to get Snape to give her a list of things to look out for in the next few days. Blaise for his part was wondering at the change in Snape, surely it couldn't last. The others were indulging in some full on confusion –what had they missed?
Finally Draco spoke.
"I'm guessing Blaise and Pansy already know some of this, but I need to tell the rest of you about what happened this summer."
"Not now, Draco," Pansy fussed, stroking his hair before getting a warning glance from Blaise which clearly said 'he's not five anymore.'
"I'm not dying Pansy love," he smiled at her, "it's not fair to Sev if I don't tell them."
"Fine, but don't overdo it," she warned as the others settled on Blaise's bed, which was closest to Draco's.
"For God's sake," he muttered before continuing in a normal voice, "Iturnedmyfatherintotheministry," he blurted out all at once, causing outcry.
"You did what?" Millicent shrieked, while several 'Bloody hell's!' could be heard.
"Draco, what happened," Delilah's voice showed her concern for her friend.
"I took his wand, placed him in a simple body bind. I the shock helped. I called Dumbledore and he bought the ministry over. And Sev. Mother…mother supported me, we judged her correctly, thank God, or I would not have stood a chance."
"So you decided Snape was OK just because Dumbledore bought him."
"Pretty much," he flushed at how naïve that made him sound. "But Dumbledore told me, afterwards, said it was OK, that Sev was OK. And we talked."
"Well it's a relief, I won't pretend otherwise," Delilah smiled at her friend, "but how did Blaise and Pansy find out if you didn't tell them?"
"Good question. Guys?"
"Um…well, the thing is…"
"What she means is…we kinda…"
"Hermione told us."
"Granger?"
"Uh-huh."
"The Gryffindor brainbox just decided to tell the evil Slytherins that Snape was on Dumbledore's side?" his scepticism radiated through his words, but there was an underlying tinge of something akin to hurt that Pansy couldn't ignore.
"You and Potter collapsed at the same time," Blaise explained in a matter of fact voice, "Granger wanted to get Snape and we were naturally…uncertain about informing a Death Eater that the Boy Who Lived was currently vulnerable. So naturally we objected and we kinda ended up telling them that he was a Death Eater, at which point Granger just looked at us and said they knew. Then we…accidentally told them we were exactly pro-Voldemort and they told us Snape was a spy since, well, forever." As he finished Blaise suddenly realised that his relationship with Lupin fit a lot better into the situation when you looked at it that way.
"You told the Gryffindor's everything," Draco was angry now, "what were you thinking?"
"Well I was somewhat preoccupied by your being a…unconscious," Pansy shouted back.
"After all we've done you just let them in like that. We don't even totally trust the lower end of Slytherin, there is no level on which we can trust the rest of the houses."
"Granger and Finnigan are part of Potter's inner circle, Granger's been his best friend for seven years," Blaise protested.
"Just like James Potter trusted Sirius Black?"
"Ah, about that," Blaise looked at Pansy, who nodded in confirmation. "You know that Wormtail guy?"
"Creep with the silver hand?"
"That's the one. Well his real name is Peter Pettigrew."
"What?"
"Black was innocent. They knew there was a spy and figured it would be either Black or Lupin, Pettigrew being seen as too weak and harmless to pose a threat. Potter trusted Black without reservation and chose him as secret keeper…"
"We know this bit," Edith interrupted impatiently but the others cried her down.
"Anyway, Black apparently felt he was too obvious a choice for secret keeper and convinced Potter to change, to use Pettigrew as a bluff, a decoy."
"Only little Peter was already a traitor and went off to Voldemort to hand them over," Pansy took up the story, "when Harry didn't die and Black realised what had happened he went after Pettigrew. When he corned him Pettigrew made it seem like Black was the traitor, blew up the street and transformed into his animagus form, a rat."
"Hence 'Wormtail.'" Blaise finished.
They had effectively stunned their housemates who were sitting their incredulous. They exchanged nervous looks, wondering if they had said too much, betrayed something they shouldn't have.
"And the Gryffindor's just told you all of this?" Draco asked sceptically but before they could answer Delilah had a different question.
"Why not Lupin?"
"What?"
"Why not Professor Lupin. Did they not even consider using him. When we were…researching I found some things about him. He was the quietest of the four, even more so that Pettigrew, but he was also kind of the centre of the group, holding them together. Potter and Black were the wilder ones, show-offs, competitive, antagonistic. Lupin was more serious, more studious. He was part of the group, but he was the grown up. There was never anything to suggest that they would distrust him, quite the opposite. He was described as being especially close to Lily Evans."
"Where did you get all of this?"
"Old diaries of my Aunt's. She was a Hufflepuff in the same year as Potter and co."
"How many years did they cover?"
"I only found the ones for her first four years at school."
"Well that explains a lot," he muttered to Pansy, "things changed," he continued in a louder voice, "they discovered Lupin was…a werewolf after the diaries finished."
"And they cut him out because of that? I thought Gryffindorks were loyal to a fault," Draco muttered.
"We don't know what happened, not all of it," Blaise lied quickly, "maybe they just grew apart."
"Hum," Draco grunted before remembering his previous question, "they just told you this?"
"Draco go to sleep," Pansy cut him off quickly and he assented, but not before giving her a look which clearly said 'we aren't finished.'
***
So things returned to normal.
Only more so.
For reasons which appeared completely unfathomable to all concerned the rivalry between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy was resurrected. Something which had, through a combination of maturity and preoccupation with other matters and a reluctance of the two combatants to have any prolonged connection after the disturbing conversation they had had during their fifth year, died down of late. Yes, they still had more physical, violent fights such as that at the start of their seventh year but the release these provided had resulted in a reduction in the more constant attentions which had characterised their interaction in their first four years of school. Those years which had seen each stand as the main focal point of the other's attention were returning to Hogwarts, and returning with interest.
Draco Malfoy was once again the centre of Harry Potter's world, that pivot around which everything else revolved. Dramatic? Yes, but oh so true.
In the morning Harry would come down to breakfast for it's very start and as he entered the hall would automatically look over at the Slytherin table, and if Draco was there he would sit and eat, shooting glares at the other boy intermittently, distracted to the point of often ignoring his friends as they talked to him. And while this was bad, his reaction if Draco wasn't already at breakfast was worse. If the Slytherin was not in his usual seat Harry would watch the door to the hall like a hawk, eating only because it was an automatic reaction, answering his friends only when a physical prompt to do so occurred. Then, when Draco finally appeared he would follow his entrance, watch as he took his seat before taking up his other breakfast pastime of exchanging glares.
Things had reached the point where, upon hearing Hermione Granger tell Briony Jasper in a voice laced with frustration that she was beginning to think that Harry only went to lessons because Malfoy was there, Pansy Parkinson had to admit that the same rang true for Draco.
For this was not totally one sided.
Just as Draco Malfoy was the centre for Harry Potter, so the reverse was true. Smarting over the unjust accusations thrown his way in the infirmary Draco was pleased to find the old antagonism was back in full force. Returning to the school at large on the Monday morning Draco had swept into the hall, eyes seeking out Harry's only to find the Boy Who Lived watching his entrance, glaring. Outwardly Draco glared, inwardly he smirked. He still had it. For some inexplicable reason he had decided that Potter needed that first contact, needed to be there, glaring. So he tried to get there first, varying his time of entrance to the great hall, ensuring that he was flanked by at least one person either side. If Potter had to meet his gaze then he won the first point, should his gaze turn to meet Potter's then he had first blood.
The new found intensity which characterised their interactions lasted throughout the day. The teachers were fast coming to regret their cunning plan of paring Gryffindor with Slytherin across the seventh year timetable. While neither boy actively disrupted the class, both were ready and willing to take advantage of any opportunity that arose. Any wrong answer would be met with snickers and snide comments, any points gained or lost would prompt a reaction.
Their new found antagonism quickly spread throughout their yearmates. The Monday after the accident the majority of the Gryffindor and Slytherin seventh years stood back in amazement as they saw that the old rivalry was back, and as childish as ever. Some were quick to support their housemate's antagonism, others required a more active prompting, one which was quickly given as Harry and Draco drew the battle lines to ensure that any hope of positive Gryffindor/Slytherin interaction was dashed.
***
Amidst all this antagonism Hermione Granger was feeling quite smug that she alone had managed to make friends with a Slytherin, that she had risen above this petty rivalry and managed to see beyond it.
As such she got a nasty shock when Harry, about two weeks after what had become known simply as 'The Incident', had come up to her and asked if she and Pansy Parkinson had called some sort of truce.
A truce!
She had started to feel resentful, had almost retorted before she stopped, suddenly speechless. Harry was not dense, nor was he as oblivious as people often thought. He was innocent about some things, idealistic about others, allowed himself to obsess about silly things – as evidenced recently! – but he was also very observant sometimes. And it was with no small sense of shame that Hermione was thus pulled up.
A truce.
She had been ready to insist that Pansy was her friend, that she had reached that stage where she could rise above petty house rivalries and find friends where she wanted, only she had suddenly realised that whatever their relationship might be now, it certainly was not a friendship.
She made a point of saying 'good morning' to her when they first met, had talked to her once or twice just before or just after class, and they worked civilly when paired up, but she never sought Pansy out for a chat, never smiled with her, laughed with her. She had offered friendship to the girl, something which she had seen meant a lot and had proved false at the first test. She had congratulated herself on being so…Gryffindor.
And suddenly she felt very, very ashamed.
"A truce? Well kind of," she finally answered a very confused Harry, before dashing off to think.
***
An hour later and Hermione was sitting by the lake, warming spell making her unmindful of the cold as her brain worked furiously on, for once, something more important than school. She had, she decided, like what she had seen of Pansy during The Incident. The other girl had seamed capable, open, caring and intelligent, someone, in short, that Hermione would like to know better. In fact, she mused, the same could be said for Blaise, but one thing at a time. She liked Pansy, she wanted to be friends with her, so why was it so different.
"Ugh," she cried out loud, dropping her head to her knees in frustration.
"Hermione," another voice cut across her frustration and as she looked up into the face of the speaker she suddenly realised that maybe here was someone who could help. "Are you alright."
"Remus, oh I'm actually glad it's you…I hadn't thought about it before but maybe you could help…I mean…rather I was wondering…"
"Hermione, slow down," the werewolf laughed, settling down on the grass, casting his own warming spell before pulling up his knees to mimic her position, "what is wrong."
"It's just…how do you make friends with a Slytherin?"
Suppressing the urge to laugh upon seeing how seriously she took this, he answered he seriously. "I think, Hermione, the first thing you need to do is don't make friends with a Slytherin. You make friends with people, not labels."
"I…I…" she flushed as he continued speaking.
"When I made friends with Sev I didn't think 'oh lets make friends with a token Slytherin, look how liberal that makes me.' I wanted to be his friend because I liked him. He was clever and funny and so very different to James and Sirius…" and Peter "…it was easier then, I suppose, but…it's hard to explain."
"I think I understand," Hermione looked up at him eagerly, "it's like in the muggle world, you don't make friends with someone who's gay or black just because they will complete your social circle or make you seem open minded, you make friends with the person and the other stuff come with them."
"You understand the theory well enough as always Hermione, but sometimes its not so easy when it comes to the practical. You have to want to be friends with the person, irrespective of the house. That this person is a Slytherin is just another layer, like your being female or my being gay."
He smiled at her as he saw that much admired brain working.
"I want to be her friend, but it's like there is this big barrier between us."
"There is," he smiled at her, "it's in your head, mostly, and in your friend's heads. Pansy, it is Pansy right? Well Pansy will understand that, but she will also recognise if you are trying to be friends with a Slytherin rather than with her. You have to be clear in your intentions. And not let Harry or Ron interfere."
Hermione smiled. It was one thing knowing it, another to have it spoken. It was, she decided, a similar situation to that she faced when she wanted to spend more time with Lavender, Parvati, Briony and Jess. She had to approach Pansy like she had approached them. It would be awkward but it was no different.
"Thanks Remus, I needed someone to tell me that."
"Glad I could help," he began to stand up when something else struck Hermione.
"No, wait," she reached out to him and he sat back down.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Harry. I think there's something you should know, only I'm not sure…I…it's kind of awkward."
"Hermione I'm not going to be angry with you, I promise."
"It's just that, well, I'm sure it's not too important or anything, I just thought you should know…HarrythinksSiriusisyourmate," she finally blurted out, going bright red and looking at the grass as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Harry what…he…oh," Remus finally translated the blurt. "Whatever made him think that?"
"I didn't ask, well I couldn't really, but I was asking about what you meant by him being part of your pack and he was saying how he was like a cub, and his father and Pettigrew had been equals and Sirius was the mate. And, oh Remus, he seamed all happy about it, like he'd got this perfect little family all planned out. I think he needs to know, at least know that Sirius isn't your mate I mean."
"Shit," Remus breathed, "did anyone say anything when he said that?"
"No, now that I think about it he always talks of 'Sirius and Remus', especially when he's talking about the future."
"Sev is going to kill me," Remus muttered. He really couldn't stand another round of Severus/Sirius jealously and one-upmanship. At the same time he also knew that his relationship with Harry required him to correct the boy. Finally he settled his gaze on Hermione's anxious, upset face, clearly worried she had said the wrong thing. "Thank you Hermione. You did the right thing."
"I haven't caused problems have I?"
"No, actually it's not the first time that people have made that mistake. It is somewhat frustrating. Sometimes you just can't have a close friend without people jumping to totally the wrong conclusion." Suddenly he seemed to recollect that it was a student he was talking to, "anyway, it's just another one of those fun things that makes life entertaining."
"Indeed," she smiled as he stood up, brushed the grass off himself and headed back towards the castle. Alone again with her thoughts Hermione, like many people who knew her, decided that sometimes she thought too much. Just do it, she told herself, consequences be damned.
So she did.
***
The next day she entered the Transfiguration classroom and, feeling slightly queasy with nerves, approached Pansy's desk.
"Can I sit here," she asked cringing at the note of insecurity in her voice.
Pansy studied her for a moment before smiling and nodding her assent.
Realising they had a few minutes before McGonnagol entered Hermione began to speak. "I'm sorry," she offered bluntly, "I said I wanted to be your friend and I do. Can we be friends?"
"Yes," Pansy could not get any further because McGonnagol entered and the lesson began.
***
From the back of the classroom Blaise Zabini smiled softly to himself.
He had seen and heard Hermione Granger's overtures to his friend during The Incident with no small amount of scepticism and had been both saddened and annoyed to find himself proved correct.
He had also seen the disappointment Pansy was feeling, as much as the girl tried to conceal it. They all admired Granger, there were few in the school who didn't, and Pansy had been unable to avoid feeling pleased and flattered that a girl well known in her own right as well as in her position in Potter's inner circle should want to be friends. He was also aware that Pansy, as well as a few other Slytherins, felt their isolation from the rest of the school more keenly than most, whether from a natural desire to be sociable or because they had family who entered other houses or simply because it showed that prejudices would remain. As such she had welcomed what Granger offered on so many levels and he had been hurt for her when it was taken away.
Now though it seemed that Granger was trying. Trying to do what he did not know, but the girl's eyes could not lie, and they showed a genuineness that made him forgive her a little.
Blaise was shaken out of his reverie when a balled up piece of parchment bounced off his head and onto his desk. He looked up to see brown eyes laughing at him and he threw the paper back at Seamus, hitting him on the nose. 'Score!' he mouthed in triumph as the lesson began in earnest.
END CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Wow that was longer than planned. Kind of got carried away with the talk in the common room thing.
Well, what did you think?
Review responses:
Castalia: aw I'm sorry. Hope this chapter didn't add to your anguish J Glad you like the Draco musing on Harry bit – I am unashamedly fond of that one.
Scorn-Silverstar: thanks for your POV, not really right for this but maybe useful for something else.
Megs5: thanks! Methinks they are a tad childish a times J
Yasmine1: um…good point about stubborn Harry. Thanks for responding.
Ms. Talon: oops, won't be finished for a while I'm afraid. My boys have a way to go I'm afraid.
lady shinigami2: thankyou so much – big head alert! Interesting idea, was very tempted to go with it but think you'll love my original plan. I hope so, anyway *nervous grin*
Esaure: good plan but he has to break up with Draco I'm afraid, so doesn't stand. Would you be interested in reading through the first chapter as mentioned at start of post? Just a thought.
Death-resurrected: evil laugh!
Alex Destine: aw thanks J
The Shadow Bandit: wow long review. Love them. You're making me blush. Yeah I dislike too much O/C as well which is why I was wary of that one. Your Ron comments helped loads. Thanks.
MOONBAY: five months?! Wow long time no computer. Glad you found me again. So what did you think of this chapter?
Baby Sphinx: thankyou so much darling, you really helped me with my Ron problem. Would you be up for a spot of reading as mentioned above? No pressure.
Wintermoon: yeay, want update now! Friendlier, no, juvenile yes.
Dragenphly: hadn't thought of Cho…hum *ponders* quick question – is she in the year above Harry? I think she is, but not sure. Maybe Seamus, good idea. Thanks.
the crazy ladies: *chokes* I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Here's a glimpse of happiness – chapter twenty (ish) for big smiles!
Voltor: amusing, yes. The idea made me smile.
ShaeLynn: ah thanks! Actually meant to go back and make it perfect replica but forgot, but effect was there! Thanks for reassurance re Ron. Not confusing, encouraging.
TigerBlak: ah thanks. Re appeal – very flattering *blush* and helpful. Thanks.
Cassa-Andra: yeah it was well short, but this one was longer! Thanks for praise.
Redmeadow: oops confused people. Appeal re different story. Soz for confusion.
Slice: no one's read it…yet! Glad you liked.
Jade Maxwell: aw disappoint at short review. Only teasing! Glad you liked again.
Also thanks to Fearless Kitty, Melissa, TheTrueSilver, Moonfairy2000, Sapphire, Hyakuhei, Last Hope and Cassie
Bye for now