Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
Serpens Erus Temptatio
"Serpent Lord's Temptation"
Chapter 5 – Miss the Colors"Professor Potter!"
Harry groaned softly and kept on walking. He did not need this confrontation right now.
"Potter! I need to speak with you!"
"But must you sound like Sev when you do it?" grumbled Harry under his breath as he stopped. Turning slowly about, he watched as Jupiter Moon stalked towards him.
My God, she is imitating Sev, thought Harry. Either that or its just a coincidence.
"Yes, Professor? What do you need?"
Moon glared at him, growling, "I need you to teach your students some discipline for one thing. Always running about late for my classes – and talking back to me! I have never experienced such atrocious behavior!"
"You should have been here fifteen years ago," muttered Harry.
"What was that?"
Harry shook his head and said loudly, "Professor Moon, it is not my duty to teach the students who look to me discipline. And dare I say that all of the members of Slytherin House are disciplined…"
"Then explain to me…"
"I wasn't finished," growled Harry.
"Oh." Moon swallowed hard as she glanced up into the serpentine eyes. "Sorry."
"Thank you. As I was saying, all of the members of my House are quite well disciplined. I cannot say it is your teaching method that prompts them to act the way they do but according to a young friend of mine, you could do well with being a little nicer in the classroom." Harry smiled tightly and added, "After all, there is no more need to whip and/or force the Dark out of the Slytherin's. In my opinion, there never was."
"B-b-but," sputtered Moon.
Harry held up a hand to silence the woman, a smirk playing across his features.
"Now, now, Professor. I know from experience about the trials Slytherin's have been put through to 'whip' the Dark out of them."
Moon looked confused at that statement.
"B-but I thought you were a Gryffindor…"
"I am an Heir of Slytherin," said Harry darkly. "I am therefore a Slytherin and evil. Is that not the truth?"
Moon, now white and nervous, could only sputter in response.
"I shall take that as a 'yes'," muttered Harry. "The point is…the war is over, Professor. And if there was one, forcing the Dark out of someone would not help. Allowing them to see what the Darkness really is…there's something to do. Do we understand each other?"
"Perfectly," breathed Moon, staring at him.
"Very good. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
Harry turned on a heel, a smirk on his face, and walked off briskly. Behind him, Moon just stared and opened and closed her mouth a few times in shock.
"Good eve, Harry," purred Mischa as she fell into step beside him. She had been waiting outside the Charms classroom for him to pass by. "What is this smirk about?"
Harry just continued to smirk and asked, "Do you know Professor Moon?"
"That drab old woman? Aye, I know her. She tried to…ah, what is the phrase the Americans use?"
"Hit on you?" Harry blinked and said, "She tried to hit on you?"
"Yes. That is the one." She nodded absently. "She did. But I set her in her place."
"Oh really? I'd like to hear this one."
"I should like to hear the story behind that smirk of yours as well. Shall we discuss it over dinner perhaps?"
Harry smiled and said, "That's the best suggestion I've heard all day."
Mischa laughed at that.
"Dinner or the discussion?"
"Both, Miss…Mischa. Both."
"I see. Shall we go to dinner then? I heard a rumor that the house-elves had prepared a dish from my homeland."
"Really?" said Harry. "Well then we should hurry before it gets taken." He courteously offered her his arm, which she took with a smile.
"Lead on, kind sir."
"As you wish, milady."
"Now that's an interesting match," muttered Flitwick as Mischa and Harry entered the Great Hall, the journeywoman on the Heir of Slytherin's arm. "Don't you think so, Minerva?"
"An interesting match, indeed," replied McGonagall, watching as the two chatted amiably on their way up to the Head Table. Harry was talking rapidly, his hands going through wild gestures and his eyes dancing. Mischa was watching him with a truly interested look on her face and appeared to be asking questions every once in a while. The sight brought a small smile to the Headmistresses face.
It was the happiest she had seen her ex-student since the last time he and Ginny had been together.
"Where did you say Miss Tatchya was from, Aubrey?"
"Lithuania," replied the small professor. "She's brilliant at Charms. Almost as good as Lily Potter."
"Almost as good as Lily? I see why you suggested she take over for you when you retire."
"Indeed. I wonder what they're talking about… It seems to be intriguing Mischa."
McGonagall smiled and said, "Now, now, Aubrey, let's stay out of other people's lives. Especially Harry's. He has had enough people meddling in his affairs for a few lifetime's."
"I concur… Though I still wonder what they are talking about."
McGonagall laughed.
"Curiosity killed the cat, remember. Now, tell me again about this new charm of yours…"
"You had such adventures!" exclaimed Mischa as Harry courteously pulled out her chair for her. On their walk up to the Great Hall, he had begun telling her of the many 'adventures' he'd had in his years at Hogwarts. He personally preferred to think of them as a lot of trouble.
"I wouldn't call them 'adventures' myself," said Harry as he sat down beside her. "More like…stupidity. I was a foolish teenager, getting into things I didn't understand."
"True," said Mischa, nodding. "I can't imagine what it must have been like. Battling Voldemort nearly every year of your life."
"It wasn't what I dreamed about as a kid, I'll tell you that."
Speaking of which, what had he dreamed of as a kid? Nothing that he could recall. What could a child who had lived in a cupboard for ten years of their life dream about?
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
Mischa frowned at him as he blinked at her. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Harry smiled amiably and replied, "Fine. Just…thinking."
"About what? If I may ask, that is."
"I'd rather you not."
"As you wish," said Mischa. "I won't intrude on anyone's privacy."
Harry smiled.
"That's a fine trait. There are some people who cannot help but intrude upon things. Most of them being things they have no right to intrude upon."
"I agree," said Mischa with a nod. Then, softer, "Harry, why are your eyes swirling black?"
Harry blinked and flushed slightly as he turned away. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, getting himself back under control. The memory of Dumbledore casting that spell upon him had returned and it had – as it always did – filled him with a quiet rage.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I…I had someone intrude onto something that was mine to worry about. The results were not pretty."
"But your eyes…"
"They are always swirling," interrupted Harry. "You just cannot see it. When I become angry, they begin to turn black. I'm sorry if I frightened you."
A gentle hand fell across his own and he looked up into Mischa's brilliant blue eyes. She smiled and said, "I'm certain that there are enough people afraid of you as is without me adding to the pile. Besides…you don't seem the sort of man who would be dangerous."
Harry scoffed at that comment. He began, "Now if you believe that…"
"Oh I don't," assured Mischa. "I believe you are a dangerous man. To your enemies. But to allies? I think not."
Harry smiled. She seemed to have him down pat.
"Too true, Mischa. Too true."